Split (1)

train · 452k rows

pred_label stringclasses 2 values	pred_label_prob float64 0.5 1	wiki_prob float64 0.25 1	text stringlengths 95 1.02M	source stringlengths 39 45
__label__cc	0.534496	0.465504	This Old App This Old App • Episode 4 Learning and Shipping with Flutter April 17, 2018 • Episode 4 • 24 minutes By CTO Think • View the Website Mark Thompson discusses his learning and launching a native app using Flutter, a new cross-platform framework developed by Google. by CTO Think Follow @thisoldapp Mark Thompson website Mark Thompson on Twitter Mark Thompson on LinkedIn TotallyStrong Join a community of real people dedicated to reaching their fitness and lifestyle goals Flutter.io Seth Ladd - Flutter Product Manager @ Google Resources for Learning Flutter Google Codelabs Building Beautiful UIs with Flutter Firebase for Flutter Flutter Community on Gitter Flutter.io is a cross-platform framework for building native mobile applications Flutter uses Dart, another language developed by Google A big motivation for using Flutter are the Animation features that are built-in to the framework Left to learning an alpha product, Flutter, @marktechson had to dig right into the code and start reading it. If you're using a new framework, get a Hello World pushed as close to production as possible, before you get too far down the development path. Flutter comes with a built-in features for unit testing: https://flutter.io/testing/ The Flutter community is very responsive, especially on Twitter. Seth Ladd @sethladd, a product manager with the Flutter team, was a great resource for @marktechson while trying to launch. [00:00:00] Megan Schemmel: Welcome to this old app a podcast about learning coding matching stuff together breaking things apart startups failing winning and any other buzzwords we can think of Randy Burgess: I would like to welcome Mark Thompson back to our show. Mark, you were a visitor and you are a guest on our CTO Think podcast a few weeks ago. Go ahead and reintroduce yourself and tell us what you're up to. Mark Thompson: Absolutely. Well first thanks for having me on it is always a pleasure to talk with you and I really appreciate you taking the time. Yeah, so my name is Mark Thompson. I am a software engineer and I work in education right now. And I'm also the founder of a small little company called Totally Strong Inc where our primary product is a fitness app called Totally Strong and if folks are interested in more about that. they can go to TotallyStrong.me where they can sign up for our beta awesome. Randy Burgess: So we've [00:01:00] talked before about this and I follow you on Twitter. What's your Twitter handle again? Mark Thompson: Yeah that's @marktechson. So that's @marktechson. Randy Burgess: Okay, so people follow you on Twitter. Um, then they know that you've been working on this project for a while. And you are using a technology that I'm not very familiar with called Flutter. So today I wanted to talk to you about Flutter. Why you chose it? Um, what like what is it? Why you chose it your experience. So let's go with what is Flutter Mark Thompson: Flutter itself is a library that's created by a team at Google for cross-platform mobile applications. Randy Burgess: So it's. Like react native in that sense, right? Mark Thompson: And that's it. But here's what flooded differentiates itself in a unique way flooded primarily does not use JavaScript at [00:02:00] all. It actually uses Dart which is another internal language use that Google but it's getting a little bit of speed now and interest because people are starting to jump on the Flutter bandwagon so to speak so it's getting more popular. Randy Burgess: So talk about Dart then before we go back into Flutter. Like what is Dart? Why? Why is Dart around? I mean JavaScript is kind of the hot language in both the you and I have taught JavaScript to a lot of our students. What like, what is Dart and why are people moving in that direction? Mark Thompson: Yeah, so many many moons ago Google created Dart as a way to write JavaScript in a more structured way. So the back in the Wild West of JavaScript Dart came out and he used to be able to transfer dark down to JavaScript to run in the browser and recently. What happened was I guess the team at Google decided that when they were working on this new library for cross-platform. Mobile apps that have really high performance that don't use [00:03:00] JavaScript they chose Dart to do that and there's some really interesting articles out there about the the reasons why dark works so well with Flutter. I'm not as deep into that side of it yet. But I you know, there are resources out there to find out more. Randy Burgess: So even before we talk about Flutter, how did you learn Dart and what like based on your learning curve of other tech you know, how what was the difficulty? How did you learn? What was it difficulty? Just how did you get into Dart in the first place? Mark Thompson: Yeah, so weird art it really came around from the fact that when I saw Flutter in a Google I/O talk. I know I noticed that that was the language being used and I started to dive deeper into Dart and in terms of learning curve, it's a little bit interesting for me. So primarily over the last five years I've done five or six years. Actually I've done mostly JavaScript front-end web development and then in full stack still using JavaScript. On the Node side, but before that I was actually a Java [00:04:00] engineer for many many years of my career. And so I had a lot of experience with the idea of the statically typed language or you can you know define your types and use them in your code and you can get all kinds of help from the compiler, etc so dark is almost what I call a cross between Java and JavaScript and the fact that it does support some Dynamic typing where you don't have to know the type at the time you declare a variable but it also supports static typing which gives you a lot of power to have runtime checking and compile time checking excetera. Randy Burgess: So then did you spend a lot of time learning Dart first before you dove into Flutter? No, I read a couple of articles on the Dart lang website. And I think just and that part of that comes from the fact that I have had so many years experience coding. I just said okay, you know what? Let me just read some of the ideas about what we need to do and how it should work and then I'll jump back in the Flutter because I really [00:05:00] wanted to stick to this deadline that I had set for myself with this project. Randy Burgess: Okay, so so for an experienced developer you may not. To learn all the ins and outs of Dart just to get started with Flutter may help but it's not completely necessary. I mean frankly I did the same with rails. I learned rails framework before I learned much Ruby at all. Um, so going now into Flutter. Um, I remember reading your tweets. This is back in December and your tweets were always like a lot of them were about motivation of getting your project. But some of it had to do with Flutter and you were using a beta product so between you know December now, it's around April, 4 months later. Um, how what has been your experience with this beta level platform? And is it even in stable yet? I don't even know. [00:06:00] Mark Thompson: Yeah great great question. So when I started it hadn't even hit beta yet. It was still Alpha and my experience was a mixed bag. So I usually will tell anyone who came up to me and said hey Mark, I want to build an app really quickly. What should I use? The first question I'm going to ask is what do you know? What do you know and say let's find a tool that matches your skill set so you can be as productive as possible and I would have done that with Flutter but or with some other product, but I didn't want to I really want to push myself to say. Is there anything out there that I have not used that I could learn from that has. Really high up side if it works and that was my motivation behind Flutter because not only does it not use JavaScript. It also gives it a performance boost when you want to do things like high quality animations, and we all know that if you use the react native or NATO script or some other language that has a JavaScript Bridge. The common [00:07:00] animation side is really tough. And with the competitive landscape of apps I think static apps that just go from one page to the other. I think those don't have as much of a benefit when it comes to wowing users, especially when I'm thinking about my demographic people want to feel good with the tool they're using so I said, okay and I used that. That once I learn how to do the animations, they'll be easy to do and they'll work out of the box cross-platform. Randy Burgess: Yep. So you're working on an alpha program and maybe this could be different but my experience of alpha is not much documentation. Not much examples online or tutorials online that you can use and not a whole lot of StackOverflow or debugging site-type of resources. So what did you have available when you started using Flutter versus what's available now, Mark Thompson: the Flutter website [00:08:00] itself was pretty well documented for a lot of the core components I found and I mean things like how to make a page itself, but then when you want to dive deeper, I found that that was that the real documentation from the Flutter team. I found that it was missing some parts to be honest with you. And that was challenging. There was really no StackOverflow that was valid because it was so Alpha that things changed since the time some of those questions were answered. One of the things that I had was there are two CodeLabs on Google which I didn't even know about this resource to be honest with you. There's a site uh by Google called CodeLabs and they walk you through a lot of their technologies and there's like a 60 to 70 minute, uh, interactive tutorial. So I use that a bunch of times. I rewatched some of the Google I/O presentations and I would pause the screen to see what was on their slides. So I can see at that time. What was what was working? Okay, I don't really know what to do and that was available to [00:09:00] me and the final thing that I use the most was the chat app Gitter. So a lot of the devs hang out on there and I would go and get her and I'd ask questions sometimes because they are like 100 of us asking at the same time a question might go unanswered. Sometimes I post questions on StackOverflow but again, it might go on unanswered because people aren't really looking there or they don't have the skills kind of answer those questions yet. So kind of options. Randy Burgess: So what you're telling me and this is especially for any listeners that are new to code and learning you are a teacher, you teach people which in some ways makes you an expert in a lot of people's eyes on the code you're teaching which may not be true, especially sometimes I'm teaching things. I don't use all the time, tools that is, but you are describing what you are doing as an experienced developer to learn and you're watching videos and you're pausing in the [00:10:00] middle and you're going back and re-watching things and you're going you're talking straight to the dev community about that particular tech and I do the same but I sometimes I feel like our students often get like freeze and they don't reach out and do those things and I'm not sure why we do it versus what they do is experience. I think but you are doing that like you are basically admitting I don't know how to do this and I'm going to hammer this into my brain or talk to the people directly to get it done. So I think that's just a it's a good lesson for anyone that's trying to learn a new technology that especially in an alpha situation, you may have to go the old fashioned route and just talk to people one way or the other to find out things. So go ahead and Mark Thompson: I think with talkin to the people, I went on Twitter and I was investigating people like mentioning them in my tweets that were part of the [00:11:00] Flutter team and I was asked him questions literally directly on Twitter and that I get the feedback of well talk to this person via the Google message boards or then go back to like I said the Gitter community or go on StackOverflow and I would read a lot of code like that was another thing that I did because sometimes I just couldn't understand the example or the example will be missing. So I would go to the code and I view the raw source and see if I understand. Okay, what are these parameters supposed to be? How can I and then I use some list of tools from the code where you can click on a class and then you can see well this class extends this class and there's inheritance so I can start to trace the inheritance chain and start to see what I could find out that way. Randy Burgess: So digging into the code is a pretty for I would say a lot of beginners that would be brand. Like they'll be going farther than they've ever gone before. How often did you do that with JavaScript Mark Thompson: almost never exactly never do that. Randy Burgess: And [00:12:00] neither do I and I don't know if I ever will but yeah, I mean when you don't have a lot of resources. Sometimes it means like opening the hood looking at the engine directly kind of thing. Um, so you've launched you basically you have do you have it on multiple platforms or are you using just one now? Mark Thompson: I laucnhed them iOS and Android. Randy Burgess: Okay. How is that experience even with an alpha product, or an alpha framework work? How is pushing it to those two? Um platforms? How did that go Mark Thompson: one thing they do pretty well with Flutter is they have a checklist that you can walk through and say here's what you need to do to actually get it off your machine good into the different app stores. So that part was good, but getting it into the App Store was a nightmare for me to be honest with you. Like I Was defeated one night because I just couldn't figure out what Google wanted and it wasn't really the Flutter problem. That was just my experience of working with the [00:13:00] Android Google Play store. Then when I went to I I couldn't figure out how to create all the different images that it needed for the different resolutions to the screen sizes? Like that was a you know, you need like 15 different image sizes and I didn't realize that so when I do my build and then try to set up, you know, the different test groups all the things so that part was I hated that to be honest with you. Randy Burgess: So so I guess if you were to go back in time and you know tell yourself at that point, hey, you need to be prepared for certain things. How would someone go about answering those questions ahead of time? Where would they get the information I guess. Mark Thompson: Oh, that's a good question. So I did a lot of searching but I think the better experience is what I teach students to do now always tell students now is that if you have a new product project to be turned in one of the first things I want you to do is get a Hello World working and submit it up to [00:14:00] Heroku, like get it off immediately. Not the night before it's due not an hour before do it in the first couple of days because once you get the process working, you don't have to learn those hard lessons. That's what I would do again knowing how the App Store works and how you can upload multiple versions more multiple builds of your app. Yeah, you could do that. So I would do that early on like literally the first week. I will probably set up the I will set up the deployment to the App Store early on. Randy Burgess: Okay, and you know what when you deploy you don't have to have it out there. It's not accepted until you turn the switch on so to speak. So if there's nothing wrong with deployment to the App Store because you it doesn't go to review until you tell it to correct Mark Thompson: exactly. Randy Burgess: Okay. Well, that's great advice. I again I would tell my students the same thing quit messing around with GitHub Pages like at the last minute push that up to the front and get a Hello World going. So that's great advice. So [00:15:00] now um, I don't know it's just still and this is Fluttering beta now or what's the stages that now. Mark Thompson: So Flutter in the second beta right now and they did a lot of updates around using the second version of Dart which allows you to do some really cool things. So when you're in your code and you have to type new or const everywhere it has really intelligent features where you can you can avoid typing that and it'll know to instantiate or use a a constant version of an object and that's pretty fantastic because you can cut down on the code, you know, the verboseness of the code a bit. Randy Burgess: Yeah. Are there any tools that you're using with Flutter? Like what are you're using for your Editor to build to use Dart and Flutter? Mark Thompson: Yeah started off with Android Studio. Actually, that was my first tool but I was not familiar with that platform and that's a really huge tool. Just like when you have Eclipse right Eclipse was a huge Java, you know Behemoth and after a while, it just can't do hard to use the feet and starting to [00:16:00] begin. So I started there and then I love Visual Studio code for front-end development and I'm really familiar with that. So I use Visual Studio Code editor. There's a Dart plugin that is community-based. Actually that is really excellent. And so between those two things I do that I get an iPhone and an Android phone that I use for my development sometimes use the emulators but a lot of times I want to test it on the phone itself. So that's not advice, uh, get the work done to get. To get the app on the phone as soon as you can because that's also is very easy on on Android. You just plug it in via USB button. You actually have to have a paid developer account just a test on the phone. So getting that set up again. That's one of the things I would say get that done early. Randy Burgess: Yep, that makes perfect sense. So I guess where are things going to the Flutter? Like what? Well, okay. Let me actually rewind that the next question is you made the choice of Flutter because you wanted to have better [00:17:00] animations on that was a one made or stressed on. How are they? How did that work with Flutter? Did you get the experience you were looking for there? Mark Thompson: So I have not built into animations yet. And I keep in the back of my mind thinking of something that I'm going to do and maybe a second release, but the other thing I liked about Flutter was how declarative the you eyes were like and that could you could really read it once you look at the code you can actually read predict with some certainty what's going to happen because everything's a widget so you can say new widget or start new center, you know, and you know that whatever is a child of that widget is going to be Centered for a new column new row and you put those types of that type of language that's have a domain language into your code.It really helps it to be easy to to create. Randy Burgess: Anything, any tools you use for testing that might be unique or that work with Flutter on that part Mark Thompson: for testing, they there's [00:18:00] actually a unit test framework that's already kind of built in that ships with the with the scaffolding part of the app. So when you scaffold a new app, it says if your test first so you can also do that and that's what I use right now. Randy Burgess: Oh cool. So what do you do anything for acceptance testing like integration testing? Yeah for acceptance testing right now I ship out a so when I ship it I have someone who's actually going through and testing we don't have anything automated have someone who volunteer to just be you know, like a user UAT tester for me before I send it out to my entire Alpha Testing group. I have one person who gets to build first and then he goes through and doesn't testing Randy Burgess: awesome. Okay, um that I think that covers most of it. Um, what are you looking forward to that Flutter says is on the way. Mark Thompson: I'm actually looking forward to just more completeness. To be honest with you. There are some parts of the app that has all the framework that I think still needs some [00:19:00] some Polish and when I started my process I get my stuff like this 30-day window to do the entire thing. And the reason I did that was because I just wanted to see if I could ship. And I know for a lot of developers if you talk to 9 or 10 developers will all say I had the idea for XYZ app but I never got around to finishing and so I said okay rain or shine, you know success or failure in 30 days I'm going to ship this app. And so I did not have a lot of time to wait for a new features to come. I need a lot of things like right now and that process was was really interesting because it really pushed me to practice a lot of what I preach the students things like the what my philosophy about design or software development is make it work make it right make it fast. And so a lot of things just make it work then make it right. So go back and refactor make things better than make it fast, you know do optimizations after I've already identified that they must have problem that needs to be optimized. So a lot of that got put into the [00:20:00] forefront when I was doing this really 30 day sprint. Randy Burgess: Cool, um last question before we call it a day. How what's the community like you talked about? You've been on Google Groups. You talked on Twitter? What's how many people are you able to work with? Um, Not connected not directly. But how big is that community related to compare to other platforms you've worked on? Mark Thompson: You know, I think the community is much smaller than other platforms because I think you find tons and tons of JavaScript help. But what I did notice is that one, the community is growing. The second thing is the community's really responsive. They're quite a few people who followed me on Twitter after they find out I was trying to do this 30 days Sprint with uh, my products. And people who are really influential in the community and they'd offer not only more support but like code support people say how's this going? Look at this repository this may help you and lot of people, uh one guy, Seth Ladd, [00:21:00] who was one of the pro... Think he's one of the program managers for Flutter at Google he would from time to time just send me like mentioned me on Twitter and say hey, how's it going? You know, we're rooting for you and like I think that's amazing that you know, people would do stuff like that because it kept me going when I wanted to quit. Which is pretty common when anyone's developing something that's challenging. Randy Burgess: Oh, no doubt. So they are that you're not going to get that from a whole like a lot of communities just so many people best pretty awesome. So actually I've got another question for get my last question thing if I decided tomorrow that I wanted to get into Flutter, um and build something what would you recommend as the first step? Mark Thompson: I'd do the Google code lab where they show you how to make the chat app because I won't cover so many different parts of the of the platform and get you familiar with how to make just what we call it, the material [00:22:00] app on the Google side, or you can where you can do with a custom UI if you want to write so you have those options and so I say go with that with the codelab walk through it do all the steps type it yourself and then I think it'll set you up where again the documentation is great and it's constantly improving so you can go back later on and find out more information and you start to ask a question like how do I make a button that looks like this and you start to look through the repository of content and all the plugins that are growing and so you find what you need overtime. Randy Burgess: Awesome. Well, thank you very much for being on the show educating us about Flutter and the all the support around it and the new community. Congrats on launching the app again. Um, we will put all the links TotallyStrong.me is where people can look for your app and we will put links to all the other things you refer to in the show notes as well. But uh, we'll call it a day and thanks for being on [00:23:00] Mark. Mark Thompson: I really appreciate your time. And as always it's been a pleasure. Thank you. Megan Schemmel: Thanks for listening to This Old App. Notes and previous episodes can be found on our website at https://www.thisoldapp.online. Reviews on Apple and iTunes are always appreciated and help promote the show For questions, comments, or things you would like to hear on future shows, please email us at hello@thisoldapp.online Show music is Guns Blazing by Fab Claxton, music licensed by pond5. Voiceover work by MeganVoices.com. You'll hear from us soon! What is This Old App? A podcast about learning, coding, smashing stuff together, breaking things apart, startups, failing, winning, and any other buzzwords we can think of. All audio, artwork, episode descriptions and notes are property of CTO Think, for This Old App, and published with permission by Transistor, Inc.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1657
__label__cc	0.690096	0.309904	User:Nikon/Changing Perspectives From Shifti < User:Nikon Revision as of 21:07, 6 January 2008 by Nikon (Talk \| contribs) (Adding Series Bar to page) None Paradise: Blue's Story Succeeded by: Paradise story universe This is a story I wrote after a discussion in #transformations about Jon's story, A Kind of Paradise. It's set in the same story universe. Please read Jon's story first, or you may find yourself lost while reading this one. This is the very first story I've ever finished, please be kind with comments. Thanks to Bard and Felix with editing, I would be lost without you two. Author: Nikon I'm a human. But I'm also a fur. I dream of being a being that walks around on two feet, and is covered in fur, with a muzzle, and tail. I go to cons, wear fake ears and tails, and have lots of friends who do the same. Lately though, things have gotten a bit strange. More and more folks are getting into the community, and more and more are claiming to be actual furs. Not humans with animal souls, but actual furs. Some of us just laugh them off, but not the old timers, the ones who came in before me. And lately, what I've been seeing at conventions and meetups, has me questioning my sanity. Current Mood: WTF? Current Music: Alice Cooper - 9 – Poison Tim stared at the LJ post he just put up, then over at his roommate for this con. Joe had fallen asleep again in his fox ears and tail, though Tim could almost swear they didn't look like faux fur. He shook his head, feeling his headbanded raccoon ears slide a bit. “I'm going nuts. Maybe I just need a walk.” It took forever for the elevator to get to his floor, but that was normal at cons. Tim let his mind wander a bit; turning over the strange things he'd seen so far this weekend. The ears that shouldn't have been able to move. The same with tails. Folks that looked to be in full suit out of the corner of his eye, but turned out not to be when he looked at them. The elevator dinged, opening for him to get in. Tim stepped in, lost in thought. He didn't notice the skunk or fox in the elevator with him until one spoke up, “Going to the Lobby, dear?”, someone asked. Shook out of his thoughts, he jerked his head and stared. “Oh, um, yes. Sorry.” Tim looked at the pair. They looked so real. There was no way no way they could be wearing suits, but still alarm bells about his sanity went off in the back of his head. Another ding, and the doors opened to the low roar of hundreds of folks talking. Stepping out of the elevator, a headache instantly slammed into his skull. Everyone seemed to be in suit. 'It's not possible', he thought to himself, ‘there can't be that many!’ But everyone was anthro there in front of him as he walked out to the lobby of the hotel. Somehow he got himself over to one of the benches in the lobby, and put his head in his hands. The migraine making it feel like his head is about to explode. Tim felt a hand, an odd hand, touch his shoulder. “Are you alright, Blue?” Blue was Tim's character's name, as he played a blue raccoon online. The voice was familiar, so he looked up. He saw a paw, not a hand, but a paw! The claws tipping it. That fur. It could only be a-- a paw. Then up at the anthro, the fur, standing over him. Tim blinked a few times, and saw a kangaroo. One that looked so real that it must have hopped right out of a zoo. Except for the bigger head, the intelligent eyes, the more dexterous hand-- paws, the-- “You don't look so good, want me to get con staff?” the kangaroo asked. His, its muzzle moved perfectly with the speech, there was no way that was animatronics. Tim was feeling that he really must be losing it. He looked at the roo, helpless, clueless, and then spotted a namebadge. ‘Bounder’ it said, one of his friends from furnet. “Bounder? Oh, please go and get someone, my head feels like it's going to explode.” Curling up tightly, Tim clutched his head in his hands. “Ok, I'll go have someone get Perry.” Bounder said. Tim heard the roo hop off. Not walk, hop. Tim heard the THUMPTHUMPTHUMP of the hopping. He looked back up. Every species you could think of was wandering the lobby, with the stray human here and there. And the smells. Smells that he hadn’t noticed before. Not just fanboy funk. Different smells. Like the last time he'd been to a farm. The kangaroo with his friend's name came back, followed by a husky. “Bounder?" Tim asked. "Is that you? And when did you get a suit?” Another wave of searing pain pulsed through his skull, and Tim clutched his head again. It was like his skull was going to explode if he didn't hold it together. “Suit? I haven't gotten a...” Tim looked up at the shock on Bounder's face-- muzzle-- whatever. “Oh. Perry, let's get him to a quiet room-- is one of the meeting rooms open?” A warm furry arm snugged around Tim, helping him up. Furry-- furry-- it just couldn't be-- Perry, the husky, looked at him. “Do you think you can walk for a bit?” Tim nodded as he was helped down one of the hallways by a kangaroo and a husky. ‘Yeah, this is normal’, he thought. Tim was led to one of the rooms used to host panels during the day, full of chairs. He blinked as he noticed that all, all, the chairs were tail friendly. They were all arranged facing a table that the panel members would sit at. The husky set Tim down at the edge of a row of chairs. Perry smiled at him, “Just lie down if you need to.” Turning to close the doors, he called someone named Fox over the radio to please come to the conference room, quickly. Bounder sat sideways on one of the chairs. “How you holding up Blue? Feeling any better?” In fact Tim was feeling a bit better. Especially now that he was away from the crowd. Still he felt very odd, laying here with a Kangaroo and Husky looking over him. “Yeah, a bit. Just-- I think I'm losing my mind.” Bounder put his paw on Tim's knee. “I understand completely. Fox'll be in here in a moment, he's best with explaining things to newbies. But I guess I should tell you now, everything you're seeing is real. Yes, real. Are you feeling any changes with yourself at all?” Tim stared, blinking. His mind ground to a halt from what Bounder had said. He didn't feel any different himself, but-- The rest of the world-- That can't be! He was here. And they were there-- here. “No, I don't feel any different, but you all-- You're all anthros!" He sighed. "It can't be true, but-- I feel so confused.” There was a knock on the door, and a fox peeked in. Somebody, something nodded, and the fox came inside. Looking right at Tim for a moment, he turned to Bounder, “What's going on?” “Um... I think the field just collapsed for Blue, I think. I mean, he can see us.” Fox looked at Tim again. “Well-- well then! Welcome to the Twilight Zone, Blue. Just kidding, but really, we are furs. Anthros. Morphs." He took a deep breath and let it all out in one long explanation: "This is real. There are just over a million of us, and these cons are where we can get together and meet without worrying about the norms. This has been going on for about 20 years now, and our population seems to double each year. No one has any idea why it happens, but it just does. It seems that being here, at this con, has broken down the 'field', as we call it, and allowed you to see the world as it actually is.” Turning to Perry, he asked, “Can you get him a glass of water, it looks like he needs it.” Tim watched Perry get him the water. Perry was digitigrade, walking on his toes. Tim just watched, admiring the movement. Seeing those legs in motion was another nail in the coffin of his sanity. This was real. Tim turned to the fox and roo. He pointed to each of them in turn. “So, you're really a fox, you're really a roo, and you're really a husky? And I haven't been going insane the last few cons?” Fox smiled. “Yes on the first three, and no on the last one. Trust us, we all know how you feel. We all went though the same thing, though it was us that was changing.” Tim looked from one to another to another and back. “So, I guess, my next question is, well, what now? I mean, I can't go acting like I see talking animals; they'll lock me up. I mean-- I feel like I've just been let in on the biggest secret ever, and I can't tell anyone.” Fox put a paw on Tim's shoulder. Tim felt the pads though his shirt, and the small claws. “It's ok, there's still another whole day of con, and I'm sure some of the locals of your town can help. Granted, this is the first time I know of where someone who hasn't been transformed could see us.” Perry handed him some small orange pills. His claws against Tim's skin felt-- strange. Trying to focus on reality, the new reality, Tim looked down at the pills. “Some Motrin," Perry supplied, "for the headache, should help till you get use to reality.” Looking at the pills, Tim shook his head, and then popped them in his mouth, gulping the pills down with some water. “Thanks, you all. I feel a lot better now. Um, could you show me around the con? You know, tell me who is who? I don't think I'll recognize anyone anymore. I-- This isn't what I thought the rabbit hole would be like.” Tim stood up, a little shaky, but quickly getting his legs. He got a shock as he was suddenly hugged on three sides. He hugged back, knowing that his friends were still his friends, even though the world had changed. He knew he could handle it. He knew that the world had changed. In a good way. Guys, disregard the last entry. Something came up at the con, and helped me get my head on straight. In fact you could say my eyes were opened. I'll say one thing, life will not be boring again. Going to head to bed now. Been a long night, met a lot of new furs, and there's still a long day at con tomorrow before we all head home. For now, I'm going to fight for my half of the bed. Current Music: A fox snoring Retrieved from "https://shifti.org/index.php?title=User:Nikon/Changing_Perspectives&oldid=4937" Stories By Author Stories By Setting Stories By TF Stories By Genre TSA-Talk Shifti Writer's School Stories that need Editing Stories that need a Critique About Shifti	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1659
__label__cc	0.729121	0.270879	Alex from online hookup rituals of the american male Olympic Village Hookups Free Granny Hookup Hookup Chat Free Hookup Sights Omaha Hookup Mature Hookup.com Better Than Craigslist Hookup Follow quepenser.com on Facebook Follow quepenser.com on Twitter Follow quepenser.com on Pinterest Follow quepenser.com on Instagram Advises or advices in dating MANDY OLGAFriday, July 19, 2019 10:07:41 AM Most of us, at some point in our lives, have heard a great piece of advice about love. My friends come to me... Perhaps it's something from your mother or father, a grandparent, a mentor, a friend, something you've read -- a piece of advice that has stayed with you and has helped you in finding love, understanding love or staying in love. It's the kind of advice you repeat to yourself during difficult moments, or find yourself re-telling your friends. More: Fun Dating Sites Sqsio with dating basketball wife jennifer I wanted to hear more of these stories from other women, all sharing those Advises or advices in dating moments from their lives. What simple piece of wisdom or guidance resonated with them, and why was it so meaningful? When I was 16, the love of my young life yes, Joe B. Sobbing on my bedroom floor, my mother, who was, and still is, head-over-heels in love with the same man for 51 years, sat down next to me, put her arm around me and said, "There are a lot of fish in the sea. You will find the perfect person who loves you as much Advises or advices in dating you love him, and you'll look back on this and laugh. Twenty years, three children and a dog later, I'm still married to the man who loved me back. My mother, Ingrid Teichner, always said "to love is to be happy with. I always felt this to Advises or advices in dating a simple and beautiful phrase that removes crazy expectations from relationships and keeps perspective on love so simple. I also believe in giving more than your partner. Never calculate-- just keep on giving. This is a sure recipe for happiness! Especially if both lovers give more on each side! My grandparents died before I was born and my parents are deceased and never liked anyone I dated, really. So, I go by the rule of the litter box. Don't marry anyone who won't help with the cat litter box when you are away, busy or when you are sick. The couple who served as my polestars for love shared litter box tasks and everything else. That is my advice to myself in midlife, seeking love. The litter box is the litmus test for love and compatibility. Whether you're freshly single or... Now the question is, will I listen to it? But it isn't necessarily. Take it from the pros:... Love can come in lots of different ways and lots of different guises. She's talking about her experience as a single woman artist nearing 50, but it's a great reminder for all of Advises or advices in dating, no matter our relationship status or age. Not only can love be found everywhere -- in an idea, an experience, a lover, a friend, etc. The trick is being open. As Emily Dickinson wrote, "The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. Her first book, Among the Suitors: The most important piece of love advice I ever got was this: I can no longer remember who first passed on the wisdom. In my mind, it's some sexy woman-of-a-certain age with five ex-husbands, smoking a Virginia Slim But the real identity is lost to me. Even so, the advice has stuck in my head all these years, and I still recite it to single friends who seem to have trouble making romantic relationships stick. The point is not that you should act arrogantly or as if entitled, but that, if you act as if you have value in the world, others are more likely to treat you that way. In the hetero world, this means letting the guy pursue you. Which is to say, not calling too much or being too accommodating to his needs. Conversely, if he fails to call, hold your head high and walk away. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I still think that, in the early days of a relationship, the onus falls on the opposite sex. My dad said something which has never left me in my 14 years of marriage, "You only have to answer to yourself. No one is living your life except for you. If you can live with this man don't let others influence your decision. And always remember that this man is the father of your children. The best advice I ever got about love was from my grandmother, right before I got married. She said, "Marriage goes through cyclical phases, it's almost like the movements of planets. Sometimes you're so close, the two of you, your orbits are in synch, and sometimes you move so Advises or advices in dating away from each other, you feel you'll never reconnect, never reenter each other's orbits, you're too far apart. The trick to marriage is having faith in the reconnection, waiting for the inevitable closeness again. She died a couple of years later. My marriage lasted 12 years. I never forgot this advice; we moved far away from each other many times, and I waited it out, and sure enough, we came back into synch again. And then at the end, we moved too far apart to ever reenter each other's orbits, out of each other's fields of gravity, and that's when I knew it was over. My parents have been married 35 years. The best advice about love I got from my father, Michael Rockland. He told me that when a married couple fights, no one wins. This advice has helped me realize that if I fight with my husband, getting in little digs doesn't matter, because it hurts us both. I think the 13th Century Persian Poet Rumi sums up love so eloquently. If you feel you are worthy of love, then Advises or advices in dating can fully love. It sounds so simple, and yet we know how hard loving ourselves can be. But I've seen miracles happen when people work at this And yet the only thing that's changed is the relationship you have with yourself. I have been wracking my brain about this idea of "Mr. One thing that has been on my mind lately is the way media, television and film portray women. The values that have been promoted since the advent of the moving picture have sent a message to women. In commercials, women are most often in a kitchen. Men are most often at an office or on a couch. What these messages deliver are pretty obvious. In television and film, the primary conversations that woman have revolve around men, dating men or how to Advises or advices in dating date "Advises or advices in dating." Male characters' conversations are often about catching bad guys. Again, these messages are pretty transparent. Advertising is purposeful and manipulative. Millions to billions of dollars are spent on how to sell a costumer something they don't need to buy, or portray an image they don't necessarily want to subscribe to. When I was a young person and having a hard time dating, my mother would say, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs in order to find your Prince. I have been through many wonderful love affairs; I have been through divorce and near-death illness; I have traveled the world and been on the covers of magazines. Through all of Advises or advices in dating, I have come to understand that I control my ultimate happiness. I am the reason that I am still alive. I am the reason I will continue on. All this may sound super new-agey and self-possessed, but I can't help but fall back on that old maxim, "happiness comes from within. The Cut's advice columnist, Heather... Her first e-book is forthcoming from The Atavist. The worst relationship I ever had was also the most important one of my young life, in that I learned more about myself from that year-long ordeal than from any other. I was 18, and as often happens with first love, was completely blind to the fact that "Advises or advices in dating" was being manipulated and taken advantage of. My mother knew, of course, and while she could see the eventual train wreck at the end of that relationship, she let it happen because she knew I had to feel that hurt, face his betrayal and manipulation, and stand Advises or advices in dating for myself in the aftermath of that injury to my heart and ego. I'm sure she warned me in many small ways, but she never stood in the way of what must have been, from her perspective, an excruciating progression from infatuation to heartbreak. When I'd finally had enough, and I ended the relationship once and for all, she sat on the floor of my room as I tearfully exorcised my pain by cleaning out my closet. Again, I don't remember what she did say to me that day, but I treasure what she did not say, something I don't know that I would have been able to keep to myself. She sat there as I cried and helped me put clothing in bags for donation, and never, Advises or advices in dating once, did she say"I told you so. So often, the best relationship advice is the advice that's passed on from mom to daughter, from one friend to the next, from father to daughter. Understanding each other's stories helps us to understand our own. Connect with Shannon Kolakowski on Facebook. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. On Learning From Heartbreak. On Staying In Love. On Self-Worth In Love. In the comments below, share the best love advice you've ever received. Go to mobile site. My friends come to me for love and support and advice, and I can usually of things to remember, when it comes to relationships and dating. Cataloged in Advice. 50 Timeless Pieces Of Advice About Love & Relationships Be the man or woman you would want your future or current child dating. The Cut's advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, tackles readers' dating and relationship questions in her column Ask Polly. MORE: Christian advice on hookup and courtship Amateur mature russian threesome party Guna matching - kundli matchmaking free Here is relationship advice from... Dark women xxx We asked men to spill... Mature white bitch atm black cock It's the kind of advice... Hook up near me 2. Give 90% Radiocarbon dating bones episode Cataloged in Advice. 50 Timeless... How can i make my wife feel sexy YOU ARE HERE: Fun Dating Sites › Free Granny Hookup Privatos xdating Sexy boys armpits Que es bisexual diccionario Megan mace and connor mcdonough hookup Koffee cakes xxx Awesome panty pics Xxx grany pussy Granny Porn Pictures presents the... Athlete hookup reality series on ephesians 411 Radio News Blogs Mature gay stories Mature Bi-Man shows me the... Very hot mature woman fucked Milf monique fuentes back rub sm65 Relationship dating three months Two lesbian milfs seduce teen Seo ji sub lee yeon hee dating Post malone dating Post Malone is one of... Milf cutie mary masturbating her pussy Watch MILF Cutie Mary Masturbating... Mature cuck and wife blowing bull Mature Wife Cucks Husband With... Black adult chat Meet Black men and Black... See you more According to the pratfall effect,... Dhatu varisai online dating People relationship family love courtship... FREE Mom Videos at quepenser.com... Many people considering divorce are... Things you absolutely should know... What our members say: How to make girls horny over text Women sexual health facts Big horny egyptian milf need to fuck List of all known sexually transmitted infections trichomoniasis Upskirt milf calcinh atolada Mature mexican tumblr Mature crossdresser wanks herself off Hayatta kalma oyunu online dating Doki Doki Edebiyat Kulübü'nde Anime-Etkilenen... Big nippels pictures Sexual health sheffield publications international ltd books Itthipat wife sexual dysfunction What the commercials don't show... Jameis winston hook up Former Florida State quarterback Jameis... quepenser.com mature creampie videos, free... You must be a registered... Full help on finding the... annual conference of the International... Twelve Tips for Parenting in... Youtube ang hookup daan debate vs pastor appreciation quepenser.com @quepenser.com © 2018 - 2019 quepenser.com Limited	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1661
__label__cc	0.548785	0.451215	SIDtoday (22) Internet Content (3) Computer Network Operations (2) Encryption and Cryptanalysis (1) Internet Metadata (1) Phone Content (1) USN-846 (1) CENTER ICE (2) BLACKHOLE (1) BOUNDLESSINFORMANT (1) BRICKTOP (1) CAMBERDADA (1) KARMA POLICE (1) OCEAN SHIELD (1) PROFORMA (1) GCHQ (4) ODNI (1) Italy (ITA/IT) (46) Germany (DEU/DE) (31) France (FRA/FR) (28) Norway (NOR/NO) (20) Spain (ESP/ES) (20) Netherlands (NLD/NL) (19) Sweden (SWE/SE) (19) Canada (CAN/CA) (18) Denmark (DNK/DK) (18) Japan (JPN/JP) (18) Korea (KOR/KR) (15) India (IND/IN) (13) China (CHN/CN) (12) Australia (AUS/AU) (10) Afghanistan (AFG/AF) (9) Austria (AUT/AT) (9) Russia (RUS/RU) (9) Hungary (HUN/HU) (8) Taiwan (TWN/TW) (8) Greece (GRC/GR) (6) Iran (IRN/IR) (6) Ethiopia (ETH/ET) (5) Croatia (HRV/HR) (4) Switzerland (CHE/CH) (4) Tunisia (TUN/TN) (4) Cambodia (KHM/KH) (3) Lebanon (LBN/LB) (3) Malaysia (MYS/MY) (3) Slovenia (SVN/SI) (3) Albania (ALB/AL) (2) Belarus (BLR/BY) (2) Bulgaria (BGR/BG) (2) Chad (TCD/TD) (2) Costa Rica (CRI/CR) (2) Cuba (CUB/CU) (2) Macedonia (MKD/MK) (2) Mali (MLI/ML) (2) Morocco (MAR/MA) (2) Niger (NER/NE) (2) Oman (OMN/OM) (2) Slovakia (SVK/SK) (2) Sri Lanka (LKA/LK) (2) Togo (TGO/TG) (2) Andorra (AND/AD) (1) Angola (AGO/AO) (1) Antarctica (ATA/AQ) (1) Antigua and Barbuda (ATG/AG) (1) Armenia (ARM/AM) (1) Azerbaijan (AZE/AZ) (1) Belize (BLZ/BZ) (1) Bhutan (BTN/BT) (1) Bolivia (BOL/BO) (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH/BA) (1) Burkina Faso (BFA/BF) (1) Cameroon (CMR/CM) (1) Central African Republic (CAF/CF) (1) Colombia (COL/CO) (1) Comoros (COM/KM) (1) Congo (COD/CD) (1) Djibouti (DJI/DJ) (1) Dominican Republic (DOM/DO) (1) Ecuador (ECU/EC) (1) Equatorial Guinea (GNQ/GQ) (1) Eritrea (ERI/ER) (1) Estonia (EST/EE) (1) Fiji (FJI/FJ) (1) Gambia (GMB/GM) (1) Ghana (GHA/GH) (1) Grenada (GRD/GD) (1) Guatemala (GTM/GT) (1) Guinea (GIN/GN) (1) Guinea-Bissau (GNB/GW) (1) Guyana (GUY/GY) (1) Haiti (HTI/HT) (1) Honduras (HND/HN) (1) Kiribati (KIR/KI) (1) Kyrgyzstan (KGZ/KG) (1) Lesotho (LSO/LS) (1) Liberia (LBR/LR) (1) Liechtenstein (LIE/LI) (1) Lithuania (LTU/LT) (1) Luxembourg (LUX/LU) (1) Madagascar (MDG/MG) (1) Malawi (MWI/MW) (1) Maldives (MDV/MV) (1) Marshall Islands (MHL/MH) (1) Mauritius (MUS/MU) (1) Micronesia (FSM/FM) (1) Moldova (MDA/MD) (1) Monaco (MCO/MC) (1) Mongolia (MNG/MN) (1) Mozambique (MOZ/MZ) (1) Myanmar (MMR/MM) (1) Nauru (NRU/NR) (1) Nepal (NPL/NP) (1) New Caledonia (NCL/NC) (1) Nicaragua (NIC/NI) (1) Palau (PLW/PW) (1) Panama (PAN/PA) (1) Papua New Guinea (PNG/PG) (1) Paraguay (PRY/PY) (1) Peru (PER/PE) (1) Saint Kitts and Nevis (KNA/KN) (1) San Marino (SMR/SM) (1) Sao Tome and Principe (STP/ST) (1) Senegal (SEN/SN) (1) Seychelles (SYC/SC) (1) Sierra Leone (SLE/SL) (1) Suriname (SUR/SR) (1) Swaziland (SWZ/SZ) (1) Timor-Leste (TLS/TL) (1) Tonga (TON/TO) (1) Tuvalu (TUV/TV) (1) Uganda (UGA/UG) (1) Uruguay (URY/UY) (1) Uzbekistan (UZB/UZ) (1) Vanuatu (VUT/VU) (1) Vatican (VAT/VA) (1) Venezuela (VEN/VE) (1) Western Sahara (ESH/EH) (1) Zambia (ZMB/ZM) (1) Italy (ITA/IT) X Countries Mentioned [filter] SIGINT Seniors Making History – in a Good Way This 2005 article from the internal NSA newsletter SIDToday describes the conclusions of a meeting of the SIGINT Seniors group – the participants committed the 12 nations to deploy a tactical communications system in Afghanistan and build on the successful partnership during the Athens Olympics Games in advance of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy […] DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) SIGINT Seniors Making History - in a Good Way FROM: FAD's MultiNational/Second P... CENTER ICE Afghanistan (AFG/AF), Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Norway (NOR/NO), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), United States (USA/US) SIGINT Partnership Agrees to Greater Sharing This 12 August 2010 post from the NSA’s internal newsletter SIDToday describes the outcomes of the annual Sigint Seniors Europe (SSEURP) conference, which agreed in principle to increase information sharing: see the Intercept article The Powerful Global Spy Alliance You Never Knew Existed, 1 March 2018. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (S//SI//REL) SIGINT Partnership Agrees to Greater Sharing on Afghanistan, CT, Piracy, and ... OCEAN, OCEAN SHIELD Afghanistan (AFG/AF), Australia (AUS/AU), Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Norway (NOR/NO), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US) The International Security Issues Build-Out This section of a 17 May 2006 article from an internal NSA newsletter makes it clear that Japanese foreign policy and trade activities are surveillance targets for the agency: see the Intercept article Japan Made Secret Deals With The NSA That Expanded Global Surveillance, 24 April 2017. DYNAMIC PAGE - HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI TK 7 REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (C) The International Seemin’ Issues Build-Out Global Capabilities Manager. ISI (S2C) Ru... Belgium (BEL/BE), Brazil (BRA/BR), France (FRA/FR), Georgia (GEO/GE), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Mexico (MEX/MX), Spain (ESP/ES), Ukraine (UKR/UA), United States (USA/US) Classification Guide for SIGINT Material Dating from 16 August 1945 – 31 December 1967 This NSA classification guide, dated 21 November 2011, covers signals intelligence material that as to be kept secret for more than the standard 60 years: see the Der Spiegel article The NSA in Germany: Snowden’s Documents Available for Download, 18 June 2014. TOP SECRET//SjyTK//NOFÜRN NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE (U) CLASSIFICATION GUIDE FOR SIGINT Material Dating from 16 August 1945 31 December 1967 Effects Dale: 21 De... Albania (ALB/AL), Algeria (DZA/DZ), Austria (AUT/AT), Belgium (BEL/BE), Bulgaria (BGR/BG), Cambodia (KHM/KH), China (CHN/CN), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Hungary (HUN/HU), Israel (ISR/IL), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Jordan (JOR/JO), North Korea (PRK/KP), Korea (KOR/KR), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Norway (NOR/NO), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Poland (POL/PL), Romania (ROU/RO), Saudi Arabia (SAU/SA), Singapore (SGP/SG), Sweden (SWE/SE), Taiwan (TWN/TW), Tunisia (TUN/TN), Turkey (TUR/TR), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US), Vietnam (VNM/VN) Tier B allies This undated internal NSA document illustrates the degrees of cooperation in the agency’s relationships with different foreign powers. “Tier A” and “Tier B” are elsewhere referred to as Second and Third Parties: see the book No Place To Hide, 13 May 2014. Page 123 CONFIDENT1AL//NOFORN//20291123 TIER A Comprehensive Cooperation Australia Canada New Zealand United Kingdom TIERB Focused Cooperation Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark G... Australia (AUS/AU), Austria (AUT/AT), Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), Czech Republic (CZE/CZ), Denmark (DNK/DK), Germany (DEU/DE), Greece (GRC/GR), Hungary (HUN/HU), Iceland (ISL/IS), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Korea (KOR/KR), Netherlands (NLD/NL), New Zealand (NZL/NZ), Norway (NOR/NO), Poland (POL/PL), Portugal (PRT/PT), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), Switzerland (CHE/CH), Turkey (TUR/TR), United Kingdom (GBR/GB) NSA Washington Mission This excerpt from a 2006 NSA memo written by the global resources manager of the International Security Issues (ISI) mission underlines the importance of data on energy resources, production and international investment to the agency: see the book No Place To Hide, 13 May 2014. Page 138 (U) NSA Washington Mission (U) Regional (TS//SI) ISI is responsible for 13 individual nation states in three continents. One significant tie that binds all these countries togethe... Belgium (BEL/BE), Brazil (BRA/BR), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Mexico (MEX/MX), Spain (ESP/ES) Italy, Spain – Last 30 Days This Boundless Informant slide shows the number of Italian and Spanish phone records collected day-by-day between 10 December 2012 and 8 January 2013: see the Spiegel article How the NSA Targets Germany and Europe, 1 July 2013. SPAIN - Last 30 Days Q«. c* * ■ ITALY - Last 30 Days Q m D os- % ■ 5.000000 Oec 10 0«:17 Cc24 Otcll Jan BOUNDLESSINFORMANT Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Spain (ESP/ES) About the Virtual Private Network SIGDev Working Group... A brief description of a working group focused on monitoring and helping to exploit virtual private networks, or VPNs. Established in 2004, the working group publishes regular "VPN Target Activity Reports" on dozens of countries and organizations around the world. "These reports may help you exploit targets' VPNs more successfully," the chair of the working group writes. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (TS//SI) About the Virtual Private Network SIGDev Working Group... FROM: Chair NSA VPN WG, Ad... Bahrain (BHR/BH), China (CHN/CN), Egypt (EGY/EG), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), India (IND/IN), Iran (IRN/IR), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Israel (ISR/IL), Italy (ITA/IT), Jordan (JOR/JO), Korea (KOR/KR), Kuwait (KWT/KW), Lebanon (LBN/LB), Oman (OMN/OM), Qatar (QAT/QA), Russia (RUS/RU), Saudi Arabia (SAU/SA), Turkey (TUR/TR), United States (USA/US), Yemen (YEM/YE) Interview with... Charlie Meals, Signals Intelligence Deputy Director In an interview, the deputy director describes his early days in the NSA's "weather shop," decrypting Soviet weather reports. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS<br>TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL <br><br>(U//FOUO) Interview with... Charlie Meals, Signals Intelligence<br>Deputy Director<... China (CHN/CN), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Korea (KOR/KR), Pakistan (PAK/PK), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US) United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada InSIDer's View of History... A Lesson in Personal Accountability (repost) (Repost) SID Chief of Staff Charles Berlin discloses something startling: "As many of you know, our forces in Iraq are dropping bombs on the strength of SIGINT alone." He says this while sharing a story of a commander who was concerned about culpability for war crimes. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS<br>TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL <br><br>(U) InSIDer's View of History ... A Lesson in Personal Accountability<br>(repost)<b... Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Italy (ITA/IT), United States (USA/US) CROSSHAIR – Foreign Partners Filling HF/DF Gaps for the US This 24 February 2005 article from the internal NSA newsletter Foreign Affairs Digest describes third party cooperation and interoperability in High Frequency Direction-Finding (HFDF): see the Intercept article Japan Made Secret Deals With The NSA That Expanded Global Surveillance, 24 April 2017. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (C) CROSSHAIR -- Foreign Partners Filling HF/DF Gaps for the US FROM: Corporate HF S... Australia (AUS/AU), Austria (AUT/AT), Canada (CAN/CA), Denmark (DNK/DK), Ethiopia (ETH/ET), Hungary (HUN/HU), India (IND/IN), Israel (ISR/IL), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Jordan (JOR/JO), Korea (KOR/KR), Netherlands (NLD/NL), New Zealand (NZL/NZ), Norway (NOR/NO), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Saudi Arabia (SAU/SA), Sweden (SWE/SE), Taiwan (TWN/TW), United States (USA/US) Better for the Stretching: At the Close of an Air Force Career A retiring colonel in the U.S. Air Force writes about his 30 years of service working in the world of signals intelligence for the military. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) Better for the Stretching: At the Close of an Air Force Career FROM: Colonel Unknown Run... Italy (ITA/IT), Korea (KOR/KR), United States (USA/US) A 'Glimpse of the Future' of NSA's Foreign Partnerships The NSA's foreign affairs director briefed the signals intelligence committee on foreign partnerships in the coming years. He stressed the importance of the agency's relationships with Ethiopia and Pakistan, and said his directorate is helping Iraq and Afghanistan "establish their SIGINT capabilities." DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) A 'Glimpse of the Future' of NSA's Foreign Partnerships FROM: Sharon Linkous Foreign Affa... Afghanistan (AFG/AF), Ethiopia (ETH/ET), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Italy (ITA/IT), Pakistan (PAK/PK), United States (USA/US) EP-3E Collision: Cryptologic Damage Assessment and Incident Review A joint US Navy and NSA report, prepared three months after a US spy plane was forced to crash land in China, assesses the degree to which surveillance secrets were compromised: see the Intercept article Burn After Reading: Snowden Documents Reveal Scope of Secrets Exposed to China in 2001 Spy Plane Incident, 10 April 2017. […] TOP SECRET//COMINT//NOFORN//X1 EP-3E Collision: Cryptologic Damage Assessment and Incident Review Final Report Prepared by the EP-3 Cryptologic Assessment Team July 2001 Classifie... USN-846, USN-846 MARTES, PROFORMA Australia (AUS/AU), Belarus (BLR/BY), Cambodia (KHM/KH), Canada (CAN/CA), China (CHN/CN), Cuba (CUB/CU), Egypt (EGY/EG), Georgia (GEO/GE), India (IND/IN), Iran (IRN/IR), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), North Korea (PRK/KP), Korea (KOR/KR), New Zealand (NZL/NZ), Norway (NOR/NO), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Philippines (PHL/PH), Russia (RUS/RU), Sri Lanka (LKA/LK), Taiwan (TWN/TW), Thailand (THA/TH), Ukraine (UKR/UA), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US), Vietnam (VNM/VN) An Easy Way to Win: Using SIGINT to Learn about New Viruses (Project Camberdada) This 2010 NSA presentation describes Project Camberdada, an attempt to subvert popular antivirus software by means of surveilling email traffic: see the Intercept article Popular Security Software Came Under Relentless NSA and GCHQ Attacks, 22 June 2015. TOP SECRET//COMINT//REL TO USA, AUS, CAN, GBR, NZL An Eas Using S about P fwmuuuu IGINT to Learn iew Viruses Project CAMBERDADA ByHH, 1412 (IAD) V252\|\| Derived From: NSA/CSSM... BRICKTOP, CADENCE, CAMBERDADA, MAILORDER, PINWALE Austria (AUT/AT), China (CHN/CN), Finland (FIN/FI), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Iceland (ISL/IS), India (IND/IN), Israel (ISR/IL), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Korea (KOR/KR), Norway (NOR/NO), Poland (POL/PL), Romania (ROU/RO), Russia (RUS/RU), Slovakia (SVK/SK), United States (USA/US) DAPINO GAMMA Target Personalisation Centres This 2011 Wiki page details aspects of GCHQ’s DAPINO GAMMA operation against mobile SIM manufacturer Gemalto: see the Intercept article The Great SIM Heist: How Spies Stole the Keys to the Encryption Castle, 19 February 2015. [edit] Target Personalisation centres ( non 5 eyes): [edit] France • La Ciotat • Meudon - On outskirts of Paris • PontAudemer [edit] Poland Tczew [edit] Czech Republic [edit]... Brazil (BRA/BR), Canada (CAN/CA), China (CHN/CN), Czech Republic (CZE/CZ), Denmark (DNK/DK), Finland (FIN/FI), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), India (IND/IN), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Malaysia (MYS/MY), Mexico (MEX/MX), Norway (NOR/NO), Poland (POL/PL), Russia (RUS/RU), Singapore (SGP/SG), South Africa (ZAF/ZA), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), Taiwan (TWN/TW), United Kingdom (GBR/GB) Who’s Who in Afghanistan? This 2 November 2009 post from the NSA internal newsletter SIDToday explains how agency resources are deployed in Afghanistan: see the Intercept article The Powerful Global Spy Alliance You Never Knew Existed, 1 March 2018. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) Who's Who in Afghanistan? FROM: (U//FOUO) Afghanistan/Pakistan Mission Managemen... Afghanistan (AFG/AF), France (FRA/FR), Georgia (GEO/GE), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Pakistan (PAK/PK), United States (USA/US) Third Party Partners This short excerpt from an NSA document shows that nine European States – Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden – have a second-tier ‘third party’ relationship with the agency: see the SVT article NSA “asking for” specific exchanges from FRA – Secret treaty since 1954, 8 December 2013. (S//SI. REU) SSEU’R. members are the Five Eyes nations (Australia, Canada. New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States] and the following Tliird Party partners: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germ... Australia (AUS/AU), Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Netherlands (NLD/NL), New Zealand (NZL/NZ), Norway (NOR/NO), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US) Cable Master List These July 2009 documents provide a full list of the fibre-optic cables GCHQ had access to at that point, including details of location, bandwidth and corporate partners: see the Süddeutsche Zeitung article Snowden-Leaks: How Vodafone-Subsidiary Cable & Wireless Aided GCHQ’s Spying Efforts, 25 November 2014. […] partner_cables.pdf: Partner Cable UK? REMEDY GERONTIC DACRON LITTLE PINNAGE STREET CAR VITREOUS Apolo UK IRU/LC DCO IRU/LC IRU/LC IRU/LC CANTAT 3 UK DCO IRU/LC Concerto UK D... GEMINI, ARCANO, BROKER, CATEGORY, DACRON, DONNINGTON, ELAPSE, GERONTIC, GIB(B)US, GRASP, HIASCO, KIRKISTOWN, KNAPWEED, LATUS, LINNELL, LITTLE, MONDELLO, NIGELLA, NUMDAH, PFENNING ALPHA, PINNAGE, PRESCOTT, REMEDY, SCEPTRE, STELLABLUE, TEMPORA, VITREOUS Australia (AUS/AU), Bahamas (BHS/BS), Belgium (BEL/BE), Bermuda (BMU/BM), Canada (CAN/CA), China (CHN/CN), Denmark (DNK/DK), Egypt (EGY/EG), Finland (FIN/FI), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Guam (GUM/GU), Iceland (ISL/IS), India (IND/IN), Ireland (IRL/IE), Isle of Man (IMN/IM), Italy (ITA/IT), Jamaica (JAM/JM), Japan (JPN/JP), Korea (KOR/KR), Latvia (LVA/LV), Malta (MLT/MT), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Nigeria (NGA/NG), Philippines (PHL/PH), Poland (POL/PL), Portugal (PRT/PT), Russia (RUS/RU), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), United Kingdom (GBR/GB) Exhibit F This document lists the 193 governments, intragovernmental organisations and other entities which the NSA was granted the legal authority to intercept communications “about” for foreign intelligence purposes in August 2010: see the Washington Post article Court gave NSA broad leeway in surveillance, 30 June 2014. TOP SECRET//NOFORN EXHIBIT F IN THE MATTER OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, FOREIGN FACTIONS Ns?F^yyiG#i 11- ENTITIES, AND FOREIGN-BASED POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS >■,, f;f \|:VV DNI/AG 70... ODNI Afghanistan (AFG/AF), Albania (ALB/AL), Algeria (DZA/DZ), Andorra (AND/AD), Angola (AGO/AO), Antigua and Barbuda (ATG/AG), Argentina (ARG/AR), Armenia (ARM/AM), Austria (AUT/AT), Azerbaijan (AZE/AZ), Bahamas (BHS/BS), Bangladesh (BGD/BD), Barbados (BRB/BB), Belarus (BLR/BY), Belgium (BEL/BE), Belize (BLZ/BZ), Benin (BEN/BJ), Bhutan (BTN/BT), Bolivia (BOL/BO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH/BA), Botswana (BWA/BW), Brazil (BRA/BR), Bulgaria (BGR/BG), Burkina Faso (BFA/BF), Burundi (BDI/BI), Cambodia (KHM/KH), Cameroon (CMR/CM), Central African Republic (CAF/CF), Chad (TCD/TD), Chile (CHL/CL), China (CHN/CN), Colombia (COL/CO), Comoros (COM/KM), Congo (COD/CD), Costa Rica (CRI/CR), Croatia (HRV/HR), Cuba (CUB/CU), Cyprus (CYP/CY), Czech Republic (CZE/CZ), Denmark (DNK/DK), Djibouti (DJI/DJ), Dominica (DMA/DM), Dominican Republic (DOM/DO), Ecuador (ECU/EC), Egypt (EGY/EG), El Salvador (SLV/SV), Equatorial Guinea (GNQ/GQ), Eritrea (ERI/ER), Estonia (EST/EE), Ethiopia (ETH/ET), Fiji (FJI/FJ), Finland (FIN/FI), France (FRA/FR), Gabon (GAB/GA), Gambia (GMB/GM), Georgia (GEO/GE), Germany (DEU/DE), Ghana (GHA/GH), Greece (GRC/GR), Grenada (GRD/GD), Guatemala (GTM/GT), Guinea (GIN/GN), Guinea-Bissau (GNB/GW), Guyana (GUY/GY), Haiti (HTI/HT), Vatican (VAT/VA), Honduras (HND/HN), Hungary (HUN/HU), Iceland (ISL/IS), India (IND/IN), Indonesia (IDN/ID), Iran (IRN/IR), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Ireland (IRL/IE), Israel (ISR/IL), Italy (ITA/IT), Jamaica (JAM/JM), Japan (JPN/JP), Jordan (JOR/JO), Kazakhstan (KAZ/KZ), Kenya (KEN/KE), Kiribati (KIR/KI), Korea (KOR/KR), Kuwait (KWT/KW), Kyrgyzstan (KGZ/KG), Latvia (LVA/LV), Lebanon (LBN/LB), Lesotho (LSO/LS), Liberia (LBR/LR), Libya (LBY/LY), Liechtenstein (LIE/LI), Lithuania (LTU/LT), Luxembourg (LUX/LU), Macedonia (MKD/MK), Madagascar (MDG/MG), Malawi (MWI/MW), Malaysia (MYS/MY), Maldives (MDV/MV), Mali (MLI/ML), Malta (MLT/MT), Marshall Islands (MHL/MH), Mauritania (MRT/MR), Mauritius (MUS/MU), Mexico (MEX/MX), Micronesia (FSM/FM), Moldova (MDA/MD), Monaco (MCO/MC), Mongolia (MNG/MN), Montenegro (MNE/ME), Morocco (MAR/MA), Mozambique (MOZ/MZ), Myanmar (MMR/MM), Namibia (NAM/NA), Nauru (NRU/NR), Nepal (NPL/NP), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Nicaragua (NIC/NI), Niger (NER/NE), Nigeria (NGA/NG), Norway (NOR/NO), Oman (OMN/OM), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Palau (PLW/PW), Panama (PAN/PA), Papua New Guinea (PNG/PG), Paraguay (PRY/PY), Peru (PER/PE), Philippines (PHL/PH), Poland (POL/PL), Portugal (PRT/PT), Qatar (QAT/QA), Romania (ROU/RO), Russia (RUS/RU), Rwanda (RWA/RW), Saint Kitts and Nevis (KNA/KN), Saint Lucia (LCA/LC), Samoa (WSM/WS), San Marino (SMR/SM), Sao Tome and Principe (STP/ST), Senegal (SEN/SN), Serbia (SRB/RS), Seychelles (SYC/SC), Sierra Leone (SLE/SL), Singapore (SGP/SG), Slovakia (SVK/SK), Slovenia (SVN/SI), Somalia (SOM/SO), South Africa (ZAF/ZA), Spain (ESP/ES), Sri Lanka (LKA/LK), Sudan (SDN/SD), Suriname (SUR/SR), Swaziland (SWZ/SZ), Sweden (SWE/SE), Switzerland (CHE/CH), Taiwan (TWN/TW), Tajikistan (TJK/TJ), Tanzania (TZA/TZ), Thailand (THA/TH), Timor-Leste (TLS/TL), Togo (TGO/TG), Tonga (TON/TO), Tunisia (TUN/TN), Turkey (TUR/TR), Turkmenistan (TKM/TM), Tuvalu (TUV/TV), Uganda (UGA/UG), Ukraine (UKR/UA), United States (USA/US), Uruguay (URY/UY), Uzbekistan (UZB/UZ), Vanuatu (VUT/VU), Venezuela (VEN/VE), Vietnam (VNM/VN), Western Sahara (ESH/EH), Yemen (YEM/YE), Zambia (ZMB/ZM), Zimbabwe (ZWE/ZW) SID Around the World: The Rhineland This internal NSA post from 16 September 2003 describes one agency staffer’s experience of working at the NSA’s German stations: see the Der Spiegel article Spying Together: Germany’s Deep Cooperation with the NSA, 18 June 2014. {U//FOUO)SIDArnunhthe World: The Rheinland FROM Unknown Run Date: 09/16/2003 (S//SI) Having served on one field tour at NCEUR, Stuttgart, Germany, in the mid-1990s, I was once again ... Austria (AUT/AT), Croatia (HRV/HR), Czech Republic (CZE/CZ), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Hungary (HUN/HU), Italy (ITA/IT), Slovenia (SVN/SI), Switzerland (CHE/CH) The European Security Center to Become the ‘ESOC’ This internal NSA post from September 2006 describes the evolution of the European Security Operations Center and the focus of the US-German collaboration in signals intelligence: see the Der Spiegel article Terrorverdächtige: NSA nutzte Erkenntnisse aus Deutschland-Filiale für Tötungen, 15 June 2014. (U//FOUOKTh^European. Security Center to Become the 'ESOC' FROM: A&P‘s Director, Enterprise Management (S2) Run Date: 09/11/2006 (S//SI) NSA to help build up capabilities of the intell... Algeria (DZA/DZ), Chad (TCD/TD), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Lebanon (LBN/LB), Libya (LBY/LY), Mali (MLI/ML), Mauritania (MRT/MR), Morocco (MAR/MA), Niger (NER/NE), Nigeria (NGA/NG), Tunisia (TUN/TN) NSA's 'Oldest' Partnership -- A Debate Turkey may not be the NSA’s oldest third-party partner, the writer says. Earlier signals intelligence foreign relationships are described. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) NSA's 'Oldest' Partnership -- A Debate FROM: Foreign Affairs Directorate, Special Advisor... China (CHN/CN), Italy (ITA/IT), Norway (NOR/NO), Taiwan (TWN/TW), Turkey (TUR/TR), United States (USA/US) Intelligence Need Released to Third Parties The NSA released its first-ever "intelligence need" ”” a request for assistance in collecting signals intelligence from Second and Third Party partners ”” in monitoring a specific information target relating to the Iraqi election. An Italian partner responded with an extensive report. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U//FOUO) Intelligence Need Released to Third Parties FROM: formerly of FAD's SID Operations... Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Italy (ITA/IT), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Norway (NOR/NO), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US) SIGINT Seniors Making History - in a Good Way The SIGINT Seniors conference includes signals intelligence leaders from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. At the 2005 conference, the participants committed the 12 nations to deploy a tactical communications system in Afghanistan and build on the successful partnership during the Athens Olympics Games in advance of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy and the FIFA World Cup in Germany. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) SIGINT Seniors Making History - in a Good Way FROM: FAD's MultiNational/Second Party Offi... SID Around the World: Life in the Field An employee of the Cryptologic Applications Directorate writes about tours in Europe. DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS<br>TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL<br><br>(U) SID Around the World: Life in the Field<br>FROM:<br>NCEUR/CApps Chief of Staff (... France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Korea (KOR/KR), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Switzerland (CHE/CH), Togo (TGO/TG), United States (USA/US) Broadcast/Intenet Radio Exploitation and Analysis This GCHQ research paper from 6 November 2009 outlines what kinds of data the agency can extract from internet radio stations and their listenership, grouped by country: see the Intercept article Profiled: From Radio to Porn, British Spies Track Web Users’ Online Identities, 25 September 2015. broadcast-analysis-p1-normal.gif: UK TOP SECRET//COMINT//REL FVEY Broadcast/lnternet Radio Exploitation and Analysis 6th November 2009 OPD-NAC Distribution (via email) (ST2) BS... Internet Metadata, Internet Content BLAZING SADDLES, KARMA POLICE, BLACKHOLE Afghanistan (AFG/AF), Algeria (DZA/DZ), Argentina (ARG/AR), China (CHN/CN), Czech Republic (CZE/CZ), Egypt (EGY/EG), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), Iran (IRN/IR), Iraq (IRQ/IQ), Ireland (IRL/IE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Kazakhstan (KAZ/KZ), Mauritania (MRT/MR), Mexico (MEX/MX), Netherlands (NLD/NL), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Romania (ROU/RO), Russia (RUS/RU), Singapore (SGP/SG), South Africa (ZAF/ZA), Spain (ESP/ES), Sudan (SDN/SD), Tanzania (TZA/TZ), Ukraine (UKR/UA), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US), Zimbabwe (ZWE/ZW) NSA Intelligence Relationship with New Zealand This NSA information paper from April 2013 describes the state of the agency’s intelligence relationship with its New Zealand counterpart: see the New Zealand Herald article NZ’s spy reach stretches across globe, 11 March 2015. TOP SECRET//SI//REL TO USA, FVEY National Security Agency April 2013 Central Security Service Information Paper (U) Subject: NSA Intelligence Relationship with New Zealand (U) Execu... Antarctica (ATA/AQ), Australia (AUS/AU), Bangladesh (BGD/BD), Belgium (BEL/BE), Canada (CAN/CA), China (CHN/CN), Denmark (DNK/DK), France (FRA/FR), Germany (DEU/DE), India (IND/IN), Iran (IRN/IR), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), North Korea (PRK/KP), Korea (KOR/KR), Netherlands (NLD/NL), New Caledonia (NCL/NC), New Zealand (NZL/NZ), Norway (NOR/NO), Pakistan (PAK/PK), Singapore (SGP/SG), Spain (ESP/ES), Sweden (SWE/SE), Thailand (THA/TH), United Kingdom (GBR/GB), United States (USA/US), Vietnam (VNM/VN) This update from the NSANet intranet shows that the International Security Issues section of the agency shows a growing emphasis on gathering economic and financial information on the 13 countries under its remit: see the Fantástico article Veja os documentos ultrassecretos que comprovam espionagem a Dilma, 2 December 2013. DYNAMIC PAGE - HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL Welcome! Friday. 09 Nov 2012 • Web search • Agency-all Emails • SID-all Emai... Belgium (BEL/BE), Brazil (BRA/BR), France (FRA/FR), Georgia (GEO/GE), Germany (DEU/DE), Italy (ITA/IT), Japan (JPN/JP), Mexico (MEX/MX), Spain (ESP/ES), Turkey (TUR/TR), Ukraine (UKR/UA), United States (USA/US)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1685
__label__cc	0.530485	0.469515	Topic IP Telephony Understanding UC SubTopic IP Telephony Systems IP Telephony ROI IP Telephony Systems VoIP Migration and Implementation VoIP QoS and Performance Understanding presence in unified communications Defining presence technology in unified communications Presence technology benefits How to deploy presence in the enterprise Using location-based technologies to improve mobile presence Understanding unified messaging Unified messaging vs. unified communications: What's the difference? Evaluating unified messaging and email platforms Voicemail in your VoIP environment Understanding instant messaging Understanding audio, video and Web conferencing How Web, audio and video conferencing compare Voice and video conferencing basics Understanding Web conferencing infrastructure Video conferencing types How video conferencing works with unified communications Unified communications technology terms to know IP private branch exchange (IP PBX) Plain old telephone service (POTS) Private branch exchange (PBX) Public switched telephone network (PSTN) Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Softphone Unified messaging This content is part of the Essential Guide: Unified communications technology basics Posted by: Margaret Rouse Contributor(s): Thomas Payne A PBX (private branch exchange) is a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between enterprise users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. The main purpose of a PBX is to save the cost of requiring a line for each user to the telephone company's central office. The PBX is owned and operated by the enterprise rather than the telephone company (which may be a supplier or service provider, however). Private branch exchanges used analogtechnology originally. Today, PBXs use digitaltechnology (digital signals are converted to analog for outside calls on the local loop using plain old telephone service (POTS ). Nonetheless, PBXs can include network switches that accommodate analog phones into the enterprise's digital PBX system. The equipment used in a PBX varies depending on the complexity of the system, for example, whether it is a traditional PBX to which copper telephone landlines are attached, whether the PBX accommodates a mix of analog and digital lines, whether it uses voice-over-IP (VoIP) hosted at the enterprise, or whether it's a cloud-based PBX system. Each is described below. Traditional PBX phone systems use landline copper-based telephone lines that enter a business' premises where they are connected to a PBX box. That box contains telephony switches that allows calls to be distributed to different phones in an office and to allow those phones to access a limited number of outside lines (trunk lines). An IP PBX uses digital phone signals, rather than analog landlines, to send calls. Because you can use Ethernet cables to connect your phones instead of traditional phone ones, no rewiring is needed. IP PBX systems can also be hosted by management service providers. While hosted systems require monthly fees, there are fewer end-user hardware costs associated with its use. Smaller PBX systems, often referred to as virtual PBXs, offer hosted service but with fewer features. They are more appropriate for very small businesses. Hosted PBX service is sold by numerous provIders, including Nextiva, Vonage and Ring Central. The equipment needed depends on the complexity and use of the PBX, for example, the types of phones used at a particular site. In general: Telephone trunk (multiple phone) lines that terminate at the PBX A computer with memory that manages the switching of the calls within the PBX and in and out of it The network of lines within the PBX Unified communications router (wireless and wired) Phone handset (USB, VoIP and SIP) Internet router Cables, cabinets, uninterruptible power supply Telephony application server In some situations, alternatives to a PBX include centrex service (in which a pool of lines are rented at the phone company's central office), key telephone systems, and, for very small enterprises, primary rate Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). PBXs installed within the enterprise are sold by numerous vendors. They include: Northern Telecom (NORTEL), Rolm/Siemens, NEC, Fujitsu, Cisco, Avaya and Alcatel-Lucent. Hosted PBX systems are sold by Nextiva, Vonage and Ring Central, among others. See also: IP PBX, private automatic branch exchange (PABX), Direct Outward Dialing (DOD), Direct Inward Dialing (DID) This was last updated in May 2011 Continue Reading About private branch exchange (PBX) Pulling the plug on desk phones and PBX phone systems Soft PBX adds flexibility to VoIP business continuity strategy The future of IP telephony still trapped in the PBX era cloud telephony (cloud calling) Cloud telephony, also known as cloud calling, is a type of Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) that offers voice ... See complete definition A leased line is a bidirectional telephone line that has been rented for private voice, data exchange or telecommunication use. See complete definition VoIP (voice over IP) is the transmission of voice and multimedia content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. VoIP historically ... See complete definition dadameq - 27 Jun 2014 6:44 PM Great paper. I have had a very good expercience with Teo Technologies (teo.tech.com), these guys have been able to shrink down the solution into a single device which is currently used by govt agencies and offer the only DoD approved Secure End Point in the industry. File Extensions and File Formats	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1686
__label__wiki	0.797177	0.797177	Terrified TUT students' pleas are heard. Now they want action Robbery and abuse of women rampant as Police minister steps in after listening to desperate students Article Number: 9 / 24 Siphe Macanda The security protocol for a visitor driving into the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Soshanguve Campus takes about 15 minutes. Yet all of these strict security procedures seemingly do not deter criminals. For students, the reality of crime is a harsh one, so when third-year legal assistance student Mitchel Moloto had the opportunity to meet Police Minister Bheki Cele, she set in motion an intervention plan. Cele has now established a programme to into the safety of students on the campus. The TUT/SAPS Task Team already had its first meeting on May 16.Most vulnerable are the majority of students who leave the campus late at night, since the campus is in a crime hot spot in Soshanguve, TUT student representative council (SRC) president Katlego Makyobola said. “We have about 17,000 registered students and can only accommodate about 4,500. This means the rest live off-campus. The library closes at 10pm, so then they are forced to leave.”Other students raised concerns over the lack of proper lights and night patrols by security personnel. Makyobola said that in 2017 a student died after being stabbed repeatedly while on his was back to Block L, Soshanguve after leaving the library at night. They know of many more incidents in which students have been robbed on and off campus, or had their belongings stolen in their residences. “Students do not even report some of these incidents any more, because we have case numbers but get no feedback on the cases,” he said. Moloto told Cele that crime has turned the campus into a mini war zone, with cases of women abuse on the rise. The most recent incident of assault and attempted rape occurred early this month when a man gained access to the campus and allegedly tried to rape a female student. In 2016 a student was shot and robbed on her way back from church.“Your parents think you are safe here, but the recent incident has made us fear for our safety. Our campus security is not effective enough; most times they just guard university property. During the recent incident the girl screamed for about 30 minutes but no one came. But if it was students protesting they would come running,” she claimed. She said that since Cele’s visit they have noticed a lot of police around the campus. On a visit to the campus the Sunday Times saw no security guards at the male residences, and noticed thick bushes surrounding the campus. “What will it take for management to realise that the issue of safety here is serious?” a frustrated Makyobola said. TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruiter said the safety of all students is a priority. “TUT has been engaging with important stakeholders for funding to assist in implementing a comprehensive security plan.” It will be implemented as soon as funding is released by the Department of Higher Education and Training, she said. “Some of the interventions include the building of a new perimeter wall, the introduction of a biometrics system and 24-hour camera surveillance on these campuses.”De Ruiter said TUT welcomed Cele’s visit, which included a dialogue with students, a meeting with members of the executive and campus management committees, as well as a walkabout in the community. “The university is excited by the minister’s announcement that TUT will become the first higher education institution in South Africa where the pilot project of a comprehensive, SAPS-led campus safety strategy will be rolled out,” he said. The minister’s announcement that one of the SAPS tactical response teams will from now on patrol the streets around the Soshanguve North campus on Fridays and Saturdays, was also encouraging. “This will go a long way in making our campuses safer.” In addition, the minister ordered the demolition of the illegally occupied building adjacent to the Soshanguve North Campus, which posed serious security risks for students. Cele's spokesperson, Nonkululeko Phokane, said students raised a number of serious complaints related to campus safety, crime incidents and an increase in women abuse. The police's response rate was another matter raised, as well as the slow turnaround time on cases, allegations of corrupt police officers at the station, and the close proximity of taverns to the Soshanguve North Campus. These taverns operate until 2am. “The minister called on the head of the detectives to revisit the three murder cases that had been reported . “The theme ‘Taking a firm stand for the safety of women and child’ talks to Cele’s vision of seeing young girls or women walk anywhere in South Africa at 2am without fear of assault or rape.” New school of thought: exit-level exam for Grade ... Degrees of deceit: SA's professors of academic ... 'It feels forever, but it also feels like it was ... Rape, beating and murder of women in fiction must ... Little Johnny won’t much like this class monitor By Neil Connor Hard lessons from the 'Old Man': My life as Madiba's grandson By Matthew Savides	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1691
__label__cc	0.559455	0.440545	Democrat Staffer Headed to Prison for Politically-Motivated Crimes Against Republicans Climate Change Documentary Predicted Mass Destruction… in 2015 In the fall of 2008, “Good Morning America” promoted their ABC program titled “Earth 2100,” which engaged in the normal fear mongering and shaming all-too-associated with climate change. Check out this hyperbolic intro: “Rome fell. Maya civilization disappeared. Easter Island collapsed. Are we next?” Rather dramatic, don’t you think? Especially the show warned that “extreme weather” would have a “catastrophic impact on the United States by 2015.” WND has the details from the rather inaccurate promo: JOHN HOLDREN: We’re going to see more floods, more droughts, more (fire noise) wildfires! UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (channel change sound effect) Flames cover hundreds of square miles. MAN 1: (storm b-roll noise) We expect more intense hurricanes! MAN 2: Well, how warm is it going to get? How much will sea level rise? We don’t really know where the end is. MAN 3: (channel change sound effect) Temperatures have hit dangerous levels. MAN 4: (channel change sound effect) Agricultural production’s dropping because temperatures are rising! HEIDI CULLEN: (images of hungry people) There’s about one billion people who are malnourished. That number just continually grows! TEENAGE BOY: (prediction of the future) It’s June 8th, 2015. One carton of milk is $12.99. MAN 5: (prediction of the future) Gas has reached over $9 a gallon! MAN 6: I’m scared (bleep) right now. But I have to get this out. Seriously, you have to see this promo, which includes scenes of Manhattan being completely abandoned. I guess that I don’t have to tell you that these doomsday predictions have not come to pass. Will this prompt any sort of self-reflection on the climate change-hysteria crowd? Of course not. Fear is the purpose. James Murphy put it best. “With the climate hysteria movement, fear is everything. How much fear can they ignite in the population is the key to their future governmental plans. Unfortunately for them, people like freedom, and it turns out and they have to be petrified in order to give it up.” Despite being continually wrong, the climate alarmist movement persists. Any extreme weather event is treated as “proof” that the climate is changing for the worse. And those claims are always anchored to calls for the governments of the world to “do something.” It must be terrible being a part of a movement which has to root for disaster and death to occur in order to make their point. And even if any of this were true, the governments of the world would be the last entities we should trust to do anything about it. Especially any corrupt “global” government based out of the United Nations. Climate hysterics like to claim that their assertions are all about “science.” But the ironic reality shows us that it’s true scientific inquiry that the movement fears. When President Trump, an anthropogenic global warming skeptic, suggested a special White House panel to study the issue and determine if climate change (so-called) is truly an existential threat, climate hysterics went predictably bananas. NASA climate scientist Katie Marvel said such a panel was “like assembling a panel of gravity skeptics who insist it’s safe to jump off tall buildings.” Marvel’s reaction is not that of a true scientist but more like a religious fanatic whose beliefs are challenged. Real scientists welcome review of their work, especially skeptical review. If the science is truly “settled” and conclusive, why the fear of another climate panel? Hat Tip: WND and The New American Image Credit: Screen shot of the promo Britain Bans Ads with ‘Harmful Gender Stereotypes’ Oberlin College’s Cruel Mob Tactics Give Store Owners a Stunningly Huge Damage Award… and a Warning to Other Leftist Bullies The Federal Government Overspends No Matter How Much Money It Makes selfgovern Anti-gun protester finds himself in a major violation of the very laws he supports	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1692
__label__cc	0.540239	0.459761	Tapped: The Prospect Group Blog On TAP: Kuttner + Meyerson Checks: Political Money & Democracy Eliza Newlin Carney Gabrielle Gurley Robert Kuttner Harold Meyerson Adele M Stan Paul Waldman Sam Wang Trickle Downers By Harold Meyerson \| Jun 11, 2019 The Supreme Court of the Republican Party? Last Sunday, close to a million people jammed the streets of Hong Kong to protest pending legislation that would permit the government of mainland China to extradite Hong Kong residents for whatever constitutes “crimes”—actual or ideological—in the eyes of Xi Jinping’s government. Yesterday, Carrie Lam, the CEO of Hong Kong’s Beijing-dominated government, said that she would continue to advance the extradition bill through the city’s also Beijing-dominated legislature, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong residents don’t want their justice system made an appendage of China’s. (At one million, the crowd that assembled Sunday constituted one-seventh of Hong Kong’s total population.) But Lam, though officially the CEO of Hong Kong, is actually a servant of Xi’s neo-totalitarian regime. Lam isn’t the only powerful leader who serves a master distinct from the jurisdiction she’s supposed to serve. The five Republican justices on the U.S. Supreme Court may well be poised to dispel forever any thoughts that their loyalty is to the United States. Later this month, the justices will rule on two landmark cases. The first concerns whether the 2020 Census will be conducted as the Census always has, tallying every person who lives in the U.S., or whether it will include a new question asking respondents to say whether or not they’re citizens, which is intended to reduce the number of immigrants, or households with immigrants in them, who answer. That, in turn, would reduce the recorded population of immigrant-heavy states like California—which is to say, reduce the number of seats Democrats will hold in the House of Representatives following the 2020 redistricting. The second case concerns the legality of gerrymandering by state legislatures, which in this age of computer-assisted demographic precision has enabled Republicans to so cluster various groups that they dominate state legislatures and congressional delegations even in states where Democrats outvote them statewide. (North Carolina and Pennsylvania are among the prime examples.) Gerrymandering at this level negates two fundamental premises of electoral democracy: majority rule, and the ability of electors to select their representatives (which in a gerrymandered state becomes the ability of representatives to select their electors). In short, the Gang of Five—Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh—could misshape the electorate and thwart majority rule to the long-term advantage of a group to which they’ve pledge their true loyalty: the Republican Party. If they deliver such rulings—and recent remarks by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggest that they may well—they will have continued a long line of major decisions intended to cement Republican rule in place, even if a clear majority of the nation favors the Democrats. These prior decisions include those in Janus (designed to weaken public employee unions, which often have the most extensive voter mobilization campaigns during election time), Shelby (which decimated the Voting Rights Act and thereby loosed a wave of Republican voter suppression), Citizens United (enhancing the role of big corporate money in elections), and the granddaddy of them all, Bush v. Gore—no explanation required. Each of these rulings gave a clear partisan advantage to the Republicans, and two more such decisions may be right around the bend. So just as Carrie Lam actually represents mainland China rather than the entity she nominally serves as CEO, so the chief justice and four associate justices of the United States may actually have taken their real and binding oaths to the Republican Party. We’ll see soon enough. Barr Throws Trump Under the Bus A declaration by the attorney general makes it just a little harder for Trump to pretend that he is above the law. Today on TAP: Legal, Safe, Rare—and Bad Advice Private Equity’s Latest Scheme: Closing Urban Hospitals and Selling Off the Real Estate Mike Elk Thousands are expected to rally Thursday against the closing of Hahnemann University Hospital, a 171-year-old facility in Center City Philadelphia. Mark Janus Wants His Union Dues Back Robin Urevich A year after Janus v. AFSCME, right-to-work forces organize against organized labor in California. Trump Seeking to Effectively Outsource Asylum Seekers to Guatemala Marcia Brown & David Dayen If the U.S. signs a “safe third country” agreement with Guatemala, migrants seeking refuge will have to file for asylum in the Northern Triangle country. Help support our non-profit journalism One year of our print magazine for $19.95 One year of our digital magazine for $9.95 a combined print/digital subscription for $24.95 On TAP with Robert Kuttner and Harold Meyerson	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1694
__label__wiki	0.54712	0.54712	Research ArticleDevelopment Wingless Promotes Proliferative Growth in a Gradient-Independent Manner Luis Alberto Baena-Lopez1,, Xavier Franch-Marro2,3,, and Jean-Paul Vincent1,† 1Department of Developmental Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. 2Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. 3Institut de Recerca Biomèdica, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. ↵†To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jvincen{at}nimr.mrc.ac.uk Science Signaling 06 Oct 2009: Vol. 2, Issue 91, pp. ra60 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2000360 Luis Alberto Baena-Lopez Department of Developmental Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. Xavier Franch-Marro Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.Institut de Recerca Biomèdica, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Jean-Paul Vincent For correspondence: jvincen@nimr.mrc.ac.uk You are currently viewing the abstract. Log in to view the full text via AAAS login AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions. Become an AAAS Member Purchase Access to Other Journals in the Science Family Register for free to read this article As a service to the community, this article is available for free. Existing users log in. Become a AAAS member Log in via OpenAthens. Log in with your institution via Shibboleth. Purchase digital access to this article Download and print this article for your personal scholarly, research, and educational use. Purchase this issue in print Buy a single issue of Science for just $15 USD. Morphogens form concentration gradients that organize patterns of cells and control growth. It has been suggested that, rather than the intensity of morphogen signaling, it is its gradation that is the relevant modulator of cell proliferation. According to this view, the ability of morphogens to regulate growth during development depends on their graded distributions. Here, we describe an experimental test of this model for Wingless, one of the key organizers of wing development in Drosophila. Maximal Wingless signaling suppresses cellular proliferation. In contrast, we found that moderate and uniform amounts of exogenous Wingless, even in the absence of endogenous Wingless, stimulated proliferative growth. Beyond a few cell diameters from the source, Wingless was relatively constant in abundance and thus provided a homogeneous growth-promoting signal. Although morphogen signaling may act in combination with as yet uncharacterized graded growth-promoting pathways, we suggest that the graded nature of morphogen signaling is not required for proliferation, at least in the developing Drosophila wing, during the main period of growth. Vol 2, Issue 91 You are going to email the following Wingless Promotes Proliferative Growth in a Gradient-Independent Manner By Luis Alberto Baena-Lopez, Xavier Franch-Marro, Jean-Paul Vincent Science Signaling 06 Oct 2009 : ra60 Proliferation of cells in the Drosophila wing does not require a gradient of the morphogen Wingless.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1699
__label__wiki	0.937238	0.937238	/ Tennis Novak Djokovic gets by Bautista Agut to reach 6th Wimbledon final Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in a Men’s singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic watched his Wimbledon semifinal opponent’s shot hit the net tape, pop in the air and slide over for a winner that tied things at a set apiece. Centre Court spectators stood and cheered, perhaps thinking Roberto Bautista Agut was ready to keep this one tight, after all. Walking to his changeover chair, Djokovic nodded and waved his racket, then his right hand, at the crowd, sarcastically encouraging folks to get louder, as if to say, “Yeah, good for him and good for you. Enjoy it while you can.” Soon enough, the defending champion was bellowing and shaking his fist after putting away an overhead to go up a break in the third set. Moments later, he was ending a 45-stroke baseline exchange — the longest on record at Wimbledon, where such stats date to 2006 — with a backhand winner to save a break point. Djokovic eventually overcame Bautista Agut 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Friday to reach his sixth final at the All England Club. “I had to dig deep,” Djokovic said. In Sunday’s final, he will seek a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th Grand Slam trophy overall when he faces either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. Those two great rivals were scheduled to face each other later Friday in their first meeting at Wimbledon since the epic 2008 final won by Nadal, 9-7 in the fifth set as darkness descended. “Of course I will watch it,” Djokovic said of the day’s second semifinal. “My coaches will probably see the whole match. I’ll definitely see parts of it. I’m a fan of that matchup, as well. Federer-Nadal is one of the most epic rivalries of all time. So it’s fantastic to see them play today.” Korean tears at consolation goal in 30-1 world water polo rout Juico calls for unity ahead of SEA Games, Malacañang clears Cayetano The opening semifinal was played under a cloudy sky and with a breeze that topped 10 mph, occasionally bothering the No. 1-seeded Djokovic. It was his 36th career appearance in the final four at a major tournament — and the debut in that round for Bautista Agut, who was seeded 23rd. Even HE didn’t really expect his visit to the All England Club to last this long: The Spaniard was supposed to meet a half-dozen of his buddies on the island of Ibiza this weekend for his bachelor party. Instead, those pals were sitting in a guest box at Centre Court on Friday. “He was not really overwhelmed, so to say, with the stadium and with the occasion. He played really well,” Djokovic said. “First set, he was still probably managing his nerves and he made some uncharacteristic unforced errors. But later on, at the beginning of the second, he established himself.” After a flat forehand return winner off a 107 mph serve on the very first point, Bautista Agut certainly did lose his way for a bit. Djokovic won 14 of the next 18 points while pulling out to a 3-0 lead — and he didn’t need to produce much magic to do so. Just one of those initial 14 points came via his own winner; 10 resulted from Bautista Agut’s unforced errors. But the second set saw a shift. Djokovic stopped his until-then successful tactic of offering some variety and heading to the net when he could. His forehand also became problematic, while Bautista Agut couldn’t seem to miss a shot. Bautista Agut already beat Djokovic twice earlier this season. Could he do it again? No, largely because Djokovic rediscovered his best abilities. He came up bigger in the longest points, eventually holding a 29-17 edge when they lasted at least 10 strokes. Once his volley winner found the net tape and trickled over to cap the third set — turnabout was fair play, in this instance, after the way the previous set ended — the outcome seemed inevitable. Djokovic broke to lead 2-1 in the fourth, and again for 4-1, then needed a handful of match points to seal the victory. Whether he faces second-seeded Federer or third-seeded Nadal next, it will be the 22nd Grand Slam final involving two members of the Big Three, and the seventh at Wimbledon. One of that trio will be the champion at an 11th consecutive major tournament and for the 54th time in the past 65. TAGS: Bautista Agut, Novak Djokovic, Sports, Tennis, Wimbledon	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1711
__label__wiki	0.96105	0.96105	‘Hold My Daughter!’: Family Fistfight Breaks Out in ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ (Graphic Video) Children and fellow parkgoers in Anaheim, California, were left stunned on Saturday after a family feud of goofy proportions broke out in Disneyland’s Toontown, somehow only resulting in the brawlers being escorted out of the park. Equestrian Show-Down: Watch Wild Horses Fight Each Other Horses weigh 500-800 kg, and are armed with formidable weaponry: their strong hooves and teeth. Libyan PM Warns EU About Almost Million of Potential Migrants, Echoes Gaddafi Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the head of Libya's National Army, loyal to the Tobruk government, has announced an offensive to take over Tripoli, where the UN-backed government is located. What You Need to Know About Libyan Oil as Conflict Flares Up In light of the renewed tensions between the eastern and western parts of Libya, much seems to be at stake if the North African country plunges into further chaos. UN Chief Calls For Immediate Halt to Fighting in Libya - Report UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the military escalation near Tripoli and called for an immediate halt to the fighting, AFP reported. Number of Displaced People in Libya’s Tripoli Reaches 3,400 - UN Agency UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The number of displaced people fleeing from the fighting in Libya’s capital Tripoli has reached 3,400, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Russell Geekie told Sputnik. Briton Who Fought Daesh in Syria Said 'Our So-Called Country Should Be Proud' Aidan James, 28, is on trial in London for engaging in acts of terrorism and attending a place used for terrorist training. The YPG is not a proscribed organisation in the UK, although the PKK is on the list of banned groups. Kickboxer Knocks Out Rival With Destructive 'Tornado' Strike (VIDEO) At the end of the first round, Romanian fighter Eduard Gafencu forced his opponent to retreat to the ropes and knocked him out with a U-turn strike, also known as a "tornado". The bout was for competitors in the up to 81 kilograms weight category. MMA Pro Diaz Reportedly Backs Out of Fight With Khabib, Brands Him Coward in Twitter Feud Khabib Nurmagomedov from Russia beat Conor McGregor in the fight for UFC Lightweight Championship in October 2018, but the bout’s aftermath does not seem to want to die down. Nate Diaz, who had also beat the Irish MMA star, earlier called out Khabib to face him in the Octagon but started a fight with the current champion on social media instead. UFC Star Under Fire for Shutting Up Female Journo Over Positive Drug Test Question American light heavyweight Jon Jones is set to fight Swede Alexander Gustaffson despite testing positive for a small amount of a prohibited anabolic steroid earlier in December. Apart from a ritual stand-off between the two fighters, their pre-fight presser of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been marked by a showdown of another kind. Russian MoD Reveals How Iskander Missile System Proved Its Effectiveness in Syria This comes after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced in September that Russia would take a spate of measures to enhance safety of its troops in Syria, including the deliveries of the S-300 systems to the Arab country. Despite Stalling UFC Career, Conor McGregor's Whiskey Business is Booming Conor McGregor has apologized to fans after his branded whiskey, Proper No. 12, sold out too quickly for many to purchase it – what was originally intended to be a six-month supply flew off the shelves in 10 days. McGregor 'Has Puncher's Chance' Against Khabib in Biggest Fight in UFC History Promoter Dana White has described this weekend's fight between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov as the "biggest fight in UFC history". Sputnik spoke to MMA fan Sal Mannan about what is at stake. The 'Forgotten Front': When British and French Fought Side By Side With Russians Everybody knows about the Western Front but one campaign has been almost erased from history. Sputnik spoke to Alan Wakefield, from the Imperial War Museum, about the Salonika Front, where British, French, Russian, Greek, Italian and Serbian troops all fought on the same side. Hundreds Flee in Huge Libya Prison Break Near Tripoli - Police Some 400 detainees escaped after a riot on Sunday at a prison in the southern suburbs of the Libyan capital Tripoli, AFP reported. Afghan Forces Free 149 People Abducted by Taliban; 21 Still Captive – Reports Even as the Afghan government announced a three-month-long ceasefire in view of the Eid-ul-Azha festival, Taliban militants reportedly abducted almost 170 people in Kunduz on Monday, prompting government forces to launch an offensive to free the abductees. WATCH Violent Broomstick Brawl Erupt in NY Beauty Salon Over 'F****d Up' Eyebrow The conflict, which began between clients and the salon’s staff, resulted in an intense fight where a broomstick, bottles and other makeshift weapons were used. Two of them were later booked by police. Russian Envoy: Iran Plays Very Important Role on Fighting Terrorism in Syria TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – Russia cannot force Iran to leave Syria where his presence is in line with the international law and plays an important role for combating terrorism in the country, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov told the Channel Ten broadcaster on Monday. UN: Fighting in Southern Syria Prompts Thousands to Flee Toward Jordan Border WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A military offensive by the Syrian government has forced up to 270,000 civilians to flee toward the Jordan border, United Nations spokesman Brenden Varma told reporters on Monday Defending Its Home: Orangutan Fights Off Digger The animal was seen furiously lashing out against a digger in the Sungai Putri forest in Borneo, Indonesia, as loggers bulldozed through.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1712
__label__cc	0.616158	0.383842	Taboo Sanitary Products Our Mission + Values Our Journey & Milestones The Monthly Taboo Newsletter TABOO TALKS History Lesson – Sanitary Products Through the Ages July 25, 2018 July 25, 2018 by Alicia Franceschini Lucky enough for us ladies pads and tampons have changed quite a bit since their first and somewhat primitive incarnations. Those five wonderful days of the month are hard enough without having to think about what ill designed and socially snubbed contraption you’re going to strap to your undergarments to help you function. At Taboo we’ve dusted off our history books and taken a somewhat harrowing look back at the sanitary products, or lack thereof, that the women of yesteryear had at their disposal. The earliest use of tampons has been thought to date all the way back to ancient Egypt when women are thought to have used soft papyrus. Likewise Roman women used wool tampons in the fifteenth century B.C. Japanese women also fashioned early tampons out of paper, which was held in place by a bandage and changed up to 12 times a day. Who has time for that nonsense! Materials such as cloth, animal skins, grasses and sponges were also used by our ancient ancestors as pads, with these types of materials still being used by women in less industrialized countries to this day. You can imagine that not only are these types of materials less than sanitary but also ineffective at capturing a heavy flow. So when did sanitary products as we know them today first come into being? Unfortunately, not until quite some time later. The first commercial and disposable pads appeared in America in 1896 and were created by health care company Johnson and Johnson. Lister’s Towels, as they were called, were made of cotton pad in a muslin casing, not too different from the materials used today, but think surfboard size. The pads were held in place by an elasticated belt that was fitted around the waist and through the wearer’s legs. However these early pads did not sell well due to the sensitive moralities of turn of the century America and the TABOO mentality that surrounded menstruation at the time. For these reasons Lister’s Towels were eventually pulled from the shelves. The 1920’s saw the launch of another range of pads called Kotex by pharmaceutical company Kimberly Clarke in order to find a use of leftover cellucotton initially meant for use in World War One bandages. Like Lister’s Towels before them, Kotex pads initially suffered from poor sales due to the prudish nature of the women who were too embarrassed to ask for them at the drug store, even though the name Kotex was allegedly invented so that women wouldn’t have to ask for sanitary pads at all. Fast-forward to 1971 and the first wave of feminism. Women demanded their place in the work force and equal rights. With women playing a larger role in the community and at work, traditional and bulky pads just couldn’t keep up with the busy and active lifestyle of the now liberated 1970’s career woman. Johnson and Johnson introduced both the Mini and Maxi pad, which were some of the first sanitary products that didn’t need the bulky and cumbersome belt to affix them to the wearer’s underwear. These pads featured the genius design of an adhesive strip on the underside of the product that still remains on pads today. These pads were also smaller in size but still offered the same absorbent qualities of their surfboard like predecessors. Finally! But what about our good friend the tampon I hear you ask? Dr. Earle Haas first trademarked the term Tampax in 1933. And yes, the word tampax is said to have been invented so women didn’t actually have to ask for tampons at the chemist BLUSHES FAINTS. This would’ve been around the time that tampons started to look somewhat similar to the little cotton wonders that we use today, except the 1930’s versions always had an applicator that the tampon sat inside of. A woman called Gertrude Schulte Tenderich bought the company from Dr. Haas and promptly hired a team of women to help her manufacture and sell the items. She also enlisted the help of nurses to inform women of the benefits of tampons. Throughout the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s numerous studies were conducted on the effects of the use of tampons on women’s bodies, with results finding that when used correctly tampons had no negative effects on the mind or body. Today women have a myriad of choices when it comes to what they use when surfing the crimson wave. Whether it be pads, tampons, period proof underwear or a menstrual cup, the freedom to choose what’s right for us and our bodies, without shame, feels pretty darn good. Words by Alicia Franceschini Alicia Franceschini Homelessness and Periods June Business Update The Pill and Depression Previous PostA Girl Walks Home Alone At Night Next PostTaboo in India The Environmental Impact of Pads & Tampons May Business Update The monthly taboo is created to discuss all things taboo, and to brighten your mail once a month! Enter your deets below.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1719
__label__cc	0.642277	0.357723	Walmart to raise tobacco purchase minimum age to 21 HealthcareNews BriefsRetail by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net) May 9, 2019 8:00 am 97 views Photo credit: Irina Iriser Walmart joins the ranks of Walgreens and Rite Aid to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products in its stores to 21. The retail giant made the announcement this week in a blog on its website. Walmart said the minimum-age requirement will become effective July, 1 across all of its stores in the U.S. including Sam’s Club. The retailer said it will also discontinue the sale of fruit- and dessert-flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems in an effort to increase compliance. Last month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) threatened to fine Walmart, Family Dollar, Kroger and several convenience store chains for illegally selling tobacco products to minors. The FDA said Walmart had a violation rate of about 17%. In a letter to the FDA on Wednesday (May 8) Walmart attempted to correct the record on the number of sales to minors. “Since 2010 the FDA has conducted approximately 12,800 retailer compliance checks involving minors at Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs. Over that period Walmart passed with 93% and Sam’s Club passed 99% of the checks. Last year Walmart passed 94% of the checks and Sam’s Club passed 100%,” the letter noted. John Scudder, Walmart’s U.S. chief ethics and compliance officer, noted in the blog the retailer is not satisfied with anything less than passing 100% of the checks. He said Walmart is taking a number of corrective steps such as more stringent penalties for stores that fail the checks, increased training and other controls and processes to enhance the company’s compliance rates. “We unequivocally acknowledge that even a single sale of tobacco product to a minor is one too many, and we take seriously our responsibilities in this regard,” Scudder noted in the letter to the FDA Mainstream clears annual IT audit UAMS surgeon teaching students about financial health, business of medicine	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1720
__label__wiki	0.795122	0.795122	Follow @joshtpm Josh Marshall is editor and publisher of TalkingPointsMemo.com. Articles by Josh Today Tony Lewis has December 30, 2000, 8:29 PM EST Today Tony Lewis has a column (pointed out to me by one loyal Talking Points reader) on the Times OpEd page which focuses in on a topic that I've left either implicit or unmentioned in my previous discussions of the Ashcroft nomination, both here and in other publications. The point has to do with the torpedoing of the judicial nomination of Ronnie White. As we've discussed earlier, it seems very hard to see how race was not a major factor in Ashcroft's decision to go against White's nomination. But was it the only one? Or was it really that simple? Likely not. Lewis makes the argument - already rehearsed in a number of articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch - that White was the victim of John Ashcroft's reelection campaign against Mel Carnahan. At the request of the Pope John Paul II, then-governor Carnahan had commuted the sentence of a death-row convict. Ashcroft wanted to make a campaign issue of this commutation, arguing that Carnahan was soft on the death penalty (and, one must assume, also soft on the Pope). To make the point more forcefully, Ashcroft decided to fight President Clinton's appointment of Ronnie White - whom Carnahan had earlier appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court - because he was allegedly also, like Carnahan, soft on the death penalty. (Still with me?) By the way, Lewis also concisely details Ashcroft's scurrilous and baseless attacks on White's character and record as a judge. So does this mean that Ashcroft isn't guilty of attacking White because of his race but only guilty of shamelessly politicizing the judiciary? No. Honestly, I think it shows he was guilty of both. Ronnie White's race just added to the political effect Ashcroft was trying to achieve. So it may be less that Ashcroft had a gut-level problem with White's race and more that he was trying to use it for political effect. But think about it this way: Is it worse to have racial animus in your heart? Or just exploit racist fears and animosities to further your political career? Sort of a tough call, isn't it? I just received an December 29, 2000, 10:26 PM EST I just received an email from the Bush/Cheney press flaks with the list of official "surrogates" (what a concept) for Don Rumsfeld. In alphabetical order they are: Dr. Ken Adelman Senator Bill Bradley Frank Carlucci Dr. Henry Kissinger John Robson Dr. George Shultz Wait a second. BILL BRADLEY. I thought he was a Democrat. A Democrat who wanted to freeze or cut defense spending. Al Gore spent much of the primaries arguing that Bradley wasn't a loyal party man. Geez, I guess he was right. The only answer I can think of is that both Bradley and Rumsfeld went to Princeton, which would mean that Bill Bradley is more loyal to Princeton University than the Democratic party. (Not a big surprise) Don't get me wrong. I don't have any beef with Princeton (honestly, I went there too, and here's the embarrassing evidence). But couldn't Bradley hold off on making it clear just one more time that he's just not much of a team player, and a bit of turncoat. P.S. And in case you're wondering. No, Talking Points is not a big fan of Bill Bradley. Okay a few thoughts Okay, a few thoughts on the Bush cabinet. The more I look at this crew I give Bush pretty high marks. Not on substance but on strategy. Let's assume what I hope is not the case: that every one of Bush cabinet appointments gets approved. Let's also assume that Bush nominates James Talent (mentioned earlier in TPM) as his Labor Secretary, which is what I'm hearing. You have what looks like a pretty moderate cabinet, which in many respects it is. But conservatives get pretty much all the choice slots they wanted. Ashcroft, needless to say, is beloved by hardcore right-wingers. He's virulently pro-life, no friend of civil rights enforcement, has no concept of the separation of church and state, the list goes on and on. (An old Newsweek article by Howard Fineman, which I have in front of me, says Ashcroft literally had his head anointed with oil as prescribed in the Old Testament just prior to be being sworn in as senator - I presume religious conservatives will derive some pleasure from this too.) But it's more than just Ashcroft. Don Rumsfeld is a perfectly reasonable choice for Defense Secretary. It's pretty hard to say he's not up to the job since he's already done it once before. And Rumsfeld is known as basically a get-along-go-along moderate in Republican ranks. But â¦ and this is a big 'but' ... he's also joe-missile-defense. He was the head of the commission which a couple years back said that the US was much more vulnerable than commonly thought to attacks from rogue states and thus was in great need of rapid moves toward deploying a missile shield. That report had a decisive effect on the missile defense debate and played a big role in the Clinton administration's support of a limited missile defense option. So Rumsfeld looks like a moderate, and in many respects he is. But he's a big missile defense man. And conservatives LOVE missile defense. So they love him. Clever, very clever. (Who's doing Bush's thinking for him? Can't be him, can it?) Then take Jim Talent, the possible Labor Secretary. Talent looks like an inoffensive enough fellow. But he's about as anti-labor as they come. Hopefully Democrats will mount a strong fight against him (certainly big labor will insist on it). But unfortunately he probably gets confirmed. So the upshot of it all is that Bush gets the image of a pretty moderate cabinet (which, as I said, is partly accurate) and yet he gave conservatives a lot - a whole lot - of the plums they wanted. Sure, they didn't get a complete wing-nut at HHS. But, hey, you can't have everything, can you? And besides Tommy Thompson ain't no Donna Shalala. P.S. Several editors have been asking me to come up with the unifying principle that pulls together all of Bush's nominees. I think I've got one: people who were just rejected by the voters of Missouri! John Ashcroft lost for Senate last month; Jim Talent lost for governor. It's almost like a jobs program for Republican losers from the Show-Me-State. And in case you think I'm beating up on Missouri -- Back Off! Talking Points was born there. Damn Is this a December 29, 2000, 1:22 AM EST Damn! Is this a great article, or what? You've got to read this installment of Slate's Chatterbox by Tim Noah. It's about the supposed Democratic elder statesman Bob Strauss, an elder statesman and a wise man who's not really an elder statesman or a wise man, but more like a fixer, a sly self-promoter, and a hack. (Come to think of it, maybe we should come up with a word for this Washington breed. We could call them hack-men or wise-hacks or elder-fixers. Personally, I think it's a close call between hackmen and wisehacks, and I probably go for the former.) But anyway, back to my story. Do read Noah's article. It'll tell you more about Washington and the Democratic party and the new administration and influence-peddling than you'll get from a whole month of the New York Times and the Washington Post combined. P.S. Tim, no thank you note required. Just spread the word about Talking Points. That'll do just fine. P.P.S. Hackmen, Wisehacks, Elderfixers? Which one sounds best? Anyone else wanna take a stab at this? Should it be a contest? Don Rumsfeld may be Don Rumsfeld may be a decent choice for Defense Secretary. But between you and me, his George W. Bush imitation leaves a lot to be desired. Is Robert Torricelli running Is Robert Torricelli running for the role of Senate-Democrat-Most-Likely- to-Stab-His-Own-Party-in- the-Back-for-No-Good-Reason? The position is open after all, what with Bob Kerrey and Pat Moynihan retiring, and Joe Lieberman adopting a more partisan, team-player tone. Just think. Bob Torricelli â¦ First Senate Dem to call on Al Gore not to file any lawsuits in Florida. First Senate Dem to call on Al Gore to drop out of the race. First Senate Dem to publicly say Al Gore blew it and shouldn't run again. First Senate Dem to give John Ashcroft a thumbs up for AG. Do I need to go on? P.S. Next post, what did then-congressman Bob Torricelli tell Talking Points in 1990 when Talking Points interviewed him for his low-budget college radio station public affairs show? Alright now were talkinIt Alright, now we're talkin'! It took a few days for the mainstream media to pick up my story about John Ashcroft's interview with the Southern Partisan magazine (first published here five days ago, thank you.). But finally we're off and running. This article published overnight by the Associated Press covers the story in some detail. And, yes, in case you're wondering they came out with it after my piece appeared in Slate, and gave no credit. But enough of my pathetic whining! It's actually a pretty solid piece. Well worth reading. Now the fun part starts. We get to listen to the Ashcroftians spin the story and explain why the whole thing's really not a big deal. Attempt Number One Bush spokeswoman Juleanna Glover Weiss (whom Talking Points remembers as being quite helpful back when she was spokeswoman for Steve Forbes) said Ashcroft's comments reflected that he "believes in an exact reading on history." He believes in an exact reading on history â¦ And that means what exactly? Attempt Number Two The Bushies and the Ashcroftians told the AP: As Missouri governor from 1985 to 1993, Ashcroft signed into law a state holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader; established musician Scott Joplin's house as Missouri's only historic site honoring a black person; created an award honoring black educator George Washington Carver; named a black woman to a state judgeship; and led a fight to save Lincoln University, which was founded by black soldiers. You know, I also hear he once went to dinner with a black guy from Kansas City. Okay, sorry, that was uncalled for. But really. So Ashcroft was not wacky enough to be one of the one or two governors who tried to veto an MLK holiday bill. And he appointed one black woman to be a judge. I mean, geez, no one's saying Ashcroft is a Klansman after all. I would hope he'd named one African-American to the bench during eight years as governor of a state with a large African-American population. But, wait, there's more! When Ashcroft thought of running to be the head of the RNC in 1993 he said the party should be "tolerant" and avoid being "mistakenly portrayed as petty, divisive and mean-spirited." That's bold -- way bold. More on point is the fact, reported in the AP story, that George Bush, Sr. appointed Ashcroft to his commission on race and minorities in America. And Ashcroft was one of only two of the forty commission members who refused to sign the final report. Ashcroft said the report's "generalizations about setbacks in progress are overly broad and counterproductive." Talking Points hasn't seen the report. But he imagines that since it was sponsored by President Bush it probably wasn't a particularly afro-centric document, if you know what I mean. Anyway, the point isn't that Ashcroft's a racist. But then that's not the standard, is it? Given all the evidence, let's just say that civil rights enforcement just doesn't really seem like John Ashcroft's cup of tea. And since the AG is the head civil rights enforcer. Maybe he just ain't the right guy for the job. Today Talking Points finally Today Talking Points finally got his hands on an actual copy of John Ashcroft's interview with the Southern Partisan magazine. If anything the quote in question is even more damning than the clipped version noted previously. (If nothing else, it's funnier: the intro praises Ashcroft for being "a jealous defender of national sovereignty against the New World Order.") Speaking on the evils of historical revisionism, Ashcroft said: "Your magazine helps set the record straight. You've got a heritage of doing that, of defending Southern patriots like [Robert E.] Lee, [Stonewall] Jackson and [Jefferson] Davis. Traditionalists must do more. I've got to do more. We've all got to stand up and speak in this respect or else we'll be taught that these people were giving their lives, subscribing their sacred fortunes and their honor to some perverted agenda." So, in other words, if you really want the straight scoop on the nation's past read the revisionist, crypto-racist claptrap printed in the Southern Partisan. Man! This guy's got civil rights written all over him, doesn't he? If you want Talking Points two-bits on this latest development, check out this article he wrote today in Slate. Ya know, for the first time I'm actually starting to think Ashcroft may not make it. P.S. I can't name him because I didn't ask his permission, but Talking Points would like to send out an extra special Talking Points 'thank you' to the reader who faxed him a copy of the Ashcroft interview. By all means read December 26, 2000, 12:57 AM EST By all means read this excellent column by USC law professor Erwin Chemerinsky in yesterday's Los Angeles Times. After rehearsing the valid and increasingly well-known reasons for rejecting John Ashcroft's nomination for Attorney General on the merits, Chemerinsky proposes a broader, strategic rationale ... considering how many judicial nominations are likely to be coming down the pike, Senate Democrats should take this opportunity to make the ground rules clear: no hardcore right-wingers on the bench or as AG, period. No 'ifs', 'ands', or 'buts' about it. Chemerinsky says the Dems should even be willing to filibuster the nomination if need be (and the need probably will be.) That makes good sense both substantively and politically. This December 8th New York Post column (by none other than Talking Points himself!) makes the point more broadly. George W. needs to understand that there's a price to be paid for jimmying the lock and sneaking into the Oval Office by the back door. If Bush wants smooth sailing during the cabinet confirmation process, the Dems need to tell him: only moderates and mainstream conservatives get appointments to the important posts, period. This isn't payback; just a recognition of the reality of this election. And finally, why hasn't more been said about Ashcroft's interview with the Southern Partisan magazine? I'd like to take heaps of credit for being the first to mention this story late on the evening of December 22nd. But, honestly, a few Nexis searches are all that's required to get all the details. But a quick search on the self-same Nexis reveals that only one article (that by Tom Edsall in the Washington Post) has even mentioned the Southern Partisan interview since Ashcroft's nomination (and even then only in passing). Isn't this sort of a big deal? Is it really too much to ask that nominees for Attorney General not give interviews to crypto- (or not-so-crypto) racist publications like the Southern Partisan? I was just going I was just going to lead off with another hit on Attorney General designee John Ashcroft by telling you how he once received an honorary degree from Bob Jones University. (During this year's Senate campaign the late Mel Carnahan challenged Ashcroft to return the degree. Ashcroft said he'd do so if Carnahan returned campaign contributions from pro-choice groups -- an equation which tells you a lot about John Ashcroft.) But then I thought: hey, maybe I'm being too hard on the guy. It's not like he's off giving interviews to borderline-racist, Neo-Confederate magazines after all. Right? Well, okay, maybe he is. Back in 1998 Ashcroft gave an interview to Southern Partisan magazine in which he said that ''traditionalists must do more'' to defend Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. ''We've all got to stand up and speak in this respect," Ashcroft continued, "or else we'll be taught that these people were giving their lives, subscribing their sacred fortunes and their honor to some perverted agenda.'' Talking Points thought slavery was a "perverted agenda." But, hey, let's not quibble. So what is the Southern Partisan magazine? The Southern Partisan is a leading publication of the Neo-Confederate movement which extols the Confederacy, Southern culture, and at least flirts with the idea of Southern secession from the United States. It also has some rather disturbing things to say about African-Americans. Talking Points doesn't want to label the magazine racist; but it does publish many articles which most people would likely find deeply racially offensive. Some examples? A 1984 article in the Southern Partisan argued that "Negroes, Asians, and Orientals (is Japan the exception?); Hispanics, Latins, and Eastern Europeans; have no temperament for democracy, never had, and probably never will.... It may be impolite and unpolitic to bring the subject up, but can our democratic system endure unless we close up the frontiers to peoples who are not ... predisposed to honor its assumptions?" In 1990 an article called David Duke "a candidate concerned about `affirmative' discrimination, welfare prolifigacy [sic], the taxation holocaust ... a Populist spokesperson for a recapturing of the American ideal." A 1996 article claimed "slave owners ... did not have a practice of breaking up slave families. If anything, they encouraged strong slave families to further the slaves' peace and happiness." (These quotes come courtesy of this excellent article on the Southern Partisan and its editor by Benjamin Soskis in The New Republic.) And George W. wants this guy in charge of enforcing the country's civil rights laws?	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1721
__label__cc	0.661727	0.338273	Australian authors, British authors, Malaysian authors, review My eclectic holiday reads: Sydney-Singapore-Penang November 11, 2016 Stuart Campbell 3 Comments Eastern and Oriental Hotel, Penang I left home with a packed Kindle last month for my first ever cruise. My eclectic reading tally was as follows: Peter Ralph’s The CEO: White Collar Crime took me up the Eastern seaboard from Sydney to Cairns. Mr Ralph specialises in corporate thrillers that are apparently based on extensive experience of the business world. I’d read his Dirty Fracking Business previously and been struck by his profound knowledge of the fracking industry in Australia. The CEO: White Collar Crime is a madcap morality tale of how not to do business: Protagonist Douglas Aspine is a monster, intent on gobbling up profits, women, cars, and anything else that falls onto his plate in his quest to be a top CEO. Alas, the trail of damage lengthens until there is only one way out. In Australia, we have an old-fashioned expression ‘Ya wouldn’t read about it!’ as a reaction to something implausible. Alas, I have a horrible feeling that Australia has more than a few Douglas Aspines, and here’s where you’ll read about it. After Cairns, we were solidly in the tropics and on course for Darwin. Our ship’s ultimate destination was Singapore, after which we were to fly to Penang, and then return to Sydney via Singapore. So what better book to read next, but Tan Twan Eng’s award-winning The Gift of Rain, set in George Town, Penang, a city I hadn’t visited in more than twenty years. This sinuous novel is the tale of a half-English and half-Chinese son of the powerful Hutton trading family during the Japanese occupation of Penang. It’s a big, ambitious novel that often veers towards the mystical. The star of the book was the Eastern and Oriental Hotel, where we were booked to stay, and I finished the book the day we checked into the Record-breaking Armenian moustaches dear old thing, with its white shutters and lovely banquet rooms, and photographs of the Sarkies brothers. These gentlemen, bearing record-breaking moustaches, were the very same Armenian brothers who founded Raffles in Singapore. I wandered George Town, summoning up Tan Twan Eng’s images of the Japanese occupation, but in the meantime I’d started on his The Garden of Evening Mists, an exquisite novel set in the years after WWII, and dealing with the pain of guilt and betrayal as a former prisoner of the Japanese in Malaya rebuilds a Japanese garden in memory of her dead sister. I finished it on the last night of a stopover in Singapore, and after a pre-departure dinner at the venerable Zam Zam Restaurant, I was ready for Kerry J. Donovan’s Cryer’s View, the latest in his The DCI Jones Casebook series. I’m a big fan of Kerry Donovan, who matures as a writer with every book, and now works in a range of genres: Note his experimental The Transition of Johnny Swift, and his American small town debut On Lucky Shores. In Cryer’s View, we see a strengthening of Donovan’s skill in building complex characters, so that what is at face value a police procedural is a more profound piece of work. I knocked off Cryer’s View just before BA15 touched down at 6am in Sydney, well chuffed, as I think Detective Sergeant Phil Cryer might have put it. Overall, a great reading experience, and the cruise wasn’t bad either. I’ll award 20 out of stars for the lot. You can read about my books here. Kerry J DonovanPeter RalphTan Twan Eng Previous PostShould I rewrite history to make it fit my novel?Next PostNovember books: Four novels, four good reads, and four stars each 3 thoughts on “My eclectic holiday reads: Sydney-Singapore-Penang” Kerry J Donovan says: Shucks, mate. Thanks for the mention, and the review. So glad you enjoyed the novel. Big smiles. 🙂 Thanks millions mate. I’ve left a message. 🙂 Kerry J Donovan #1 International Bestselling Author of the DCI Jones Casebook series of crime thrillers. http://kerryjdonovan.com/ Peter Ralph says: Thanks, Stuart. Cheers, Peter	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1728
__label__cc	0.586848	0.413152	170236711 (Talk \| contribs) (Corrected some punctuation and grammar to make the text flow a bit better. Also added some extra information to clear ambiguity- have also added a reference to show where I have got this extra information from.) (Realised my references didn't come out correct on the list so have edited that.) Translation is a crucial process in the central dogma of molecular biology as DNA makes RNA by transcription and RNA makes protein by translation. Genetic information in DNA is used to code for mRNA which is then used as a template for protein synthesis<ref name="Berg J.M, Tymoczko J.L, Gatto Jr G.J, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 8th Ed, New York: W.H Freeman & Company, a Macmillian Education Imprint. 2015. ">'in DNA is used to code for mRNA which is then used as a template for protein synthesis'</ref>. This is an essential process as proteins are responsible for the vast majority of cell function and structure. Protein synthesis involves [[MRNA\|mRNA]] and [[TRNA\|tRNA]] along with other [[Proteins\|proteins]] and has three main steps: Translation is a crucial process in the central dogma of molecular biology as DNA makes RNA by transcription and RNA makes protein by translation. Genetic information in DNA is used to code for mRNA which is then used as a template for protein synthesis<ref>Berg J.M, Tymoczko J.L, Gatto Jr G.J, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 8th Ed, New York: W.H Freeman & Company, a Macmillian Education Imprint. 2015.</ref>. This is an essential process as proteins are responsible for the vast majority of cell function and structure. Protein synthesis involves [[MRNA\|mRNA]] and [[TRNA\|tRNA]] along with other [[Proteins\|proteins]] and has three main steps: #[[DNA replication\|DNA replication]] The genetic code is degenerate as it has 64 codons but only 20 amino acids, therefore most amino acids are coded for by more than one codon. 61 of these codons are used for amino acids, and three are used as stop codons which will terminate translation. Only one codon is used for the amino acid Methionine, and this is often the start codon (AUG). The [[TRNA\|tRNA]] acts as an adaptor molecule to decode the [[MRNA\|mRNA]] into the protein byinteracting with the [[MRNA\|mRNA]] through its anticodon.The [[TRNA\|tRNA]] is also responsible for [[Proof-reading\|proof-reading]] the [[Amino acids\|amino acid]] chain in order to ensure that the error rate is kept low (less than 1 per 10000). This is done by many [[TRNA\|tRNA]] having an editing site as well as an activation (acylation) site. These change or reject [[Amino acids\|amino acids]] if they are larger or smaller than they should be- the editing site is involved in cleaving smaller amino acids, and the activation site rejects larger amino acids. There are three main steps in Prokaryotic translation: Initiation, Elongation and Termination. === Elongation: === Elongation requires the elongation factors<ref>Stryer, Biochemistry, Seventh edition, 2007: 936</ref> EF-Tu, EF-Ts and EF-G as well as GTP to supply the energy. Elongation describes the process of aminoacyl tRNA molecules binding to the codon at the A site of the ribosome<ref name="Berg J.M, Tymoczko J.L, Gatto Jr G.J, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 8th Ed, New York: W.H Freeman & Company, a Macmillian Education Imprint. 2015. ">'binding to the codon at the A site of the ribosome'</ref>. A [[Peptide bond\|peptide bond]] is formed between the amino acid of peptidyl tRNA in the P site and the amino acid of ami tRNA molecule that has just arrived at the A site; the formation of this peptide bond is catalysed by the 23S subunit. The amino acid in the P site is released from its tRNA molecule, and the ribosome moves along to transfer the tRNA currently in the A site into the P site. This step is known as translocation. The uncharged tRNA, i.e. tRNA without an amino acid, moves into the E (empty) site. <ref>http://rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/translate.htm</ref> Elongation requires the elongation factors<ref>Stryer, Biochemistry, Seventh edition, 2007: 936</ref> EF-Tu, EF-Ts and EF-G as well as GTP to supply the energy. Elongation describes the process of aminoacyl tRNA molecules binding to the codon at the A site of the ribosome<ref>Berg J.M, Tymoczko J.L, Gatto Jr G.J, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 8th Ed, New York: W.H Freeman & Company, a Macmillian Education Imprint. 2015.</ref>. A [[Peptide bond\|peptide bond]] is formed between the amino acid of peptidyl tRNA in the P site and the amino acid of ami tRNA molecule that has just arrived at the A site; the formation of this peptide bond is catalysed by the 23S subunit. The amino acid in the P site is released from its tRNA molecule, and the ribosome moves along to transfer the tRNA currently in the A site into the P site. This step is known as translocation. The uncharged tRNA, i.e. tRNA without an amino acid, moves into the E (empty) site. <ref>http://rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/translate.htm</ref> #EF-Tu: It will bind to aminoacyl-tRNA in GTP form and then release the aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome when GTP is hydrolysed into GDP. Translation is a crucial process in the central dogma of molecular biology as DNA makes RNA by transcription and RNA makes protein by translation. Genetic information in DNA is used to code for mRNA which is then used as a template for protein synthesis[1]. This is an essential process as proteins are responsible for the vast majority of cell function and structure. Protein synthesis involves mRNA and tRNA along with other proteins and has three main steps: Translation is the most complex; it consists of the nucleotide sequence of mRNA being translated into the amino acid sequence of the specific protein. The direction that translation is carried out is very significant; it occurs in the same direction as transcription (5'-3') which results in proteins being produced more efficiently as translation can occur during transcription [2]. The mRNA and tRNA play very important specific roles during translation: firstly mRNA acts as a template for the production of the polypeptide chain from the genetic code. The genetic code has three important features: Triplet code Non-overlapping The tRNA acts as an adaptor molecule to decode the mRNA into the protein byinteracting with the mRNA through its anticodon.The tRNA is also responsible for proof-reading the amino acid chain in order to ensure that the error rate is kept low (less than 1 per 10000). This is done by many tRNA having an editing site as well as an activation (acylation) site. These change or reject amino acids if they are larger or smaller than they should be- the editing site is involved in cleaving smaller amino acids, and the activation site rejects larger amino acids. 1 Initiation: 2 Elongation: 2.1 Elongation factors: 3 Termination: Initiation: This involves the initiation factors IF1, IF2, IF3 and GTP which is required for energy. IF1 and IF3 bind to the free 30S subunit, releasing it from the 50S subunit. IF2 forms a complex with GTP and binds to the 30S subunit, which attaches to an mRNA molecule. mRNA has a ribosome binding site (RBS), which is adjacent to the start codon AUG. The start codon is approximately 7-10 nucleotides away from the RBS. It is important to note that the 30S subunit is complementary to the ribosome binding site, so base pairing can occur with the 16S rRNA. A charged initiator tRNA (fMet-tRNAfmet), then binds to this start codon. IF3 is released, allowing a 50S subunit to bind to the 30S complex to form the 70S initiation complex which has a P (peptidyl) and A (acceptor) site. During this formation, IF1 is released, and both IF2 and GTP are hydrolysed. GTP--> GDP + Pi. Elongation: Elongation requires the elongation factors[3] EF-Tu, EF-Ts and EF-G as well as GTP to supply the energy. Elongation describes the process of aminoacyl tRNA molecules binding to the codon at the A site of the ribosome[4]. A peptide bond is formed between the amino acid of peptidyl tRNA in the P site and the amino acid of ami tRNA molecule that has just arrived at the A site; the formation of this peptide bond is catalysed by the 23S subunit. The amino acid in the P site is released from its tRNA molecule, and the ribosome moves along to transfer the tRNA currently in the A site into the P site. This step is known as translocation. The uncharged tRNA, i.e. tRNA without an amino acid, moves into the E (empty) site. [5] EF-Tu: It will bind to aminoacyl-tRNA in GTP form and then release the aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome when GTP is hydrolysed into GDP. EF-T: It induces dissociation of GDP in EF-Tu and restores EF-Tu to GTP form enable it to bind to another aminoacyl-tRNA. EF-G: It enhances translocation by displacing peptidyl-transferase in A-site to P-site of the ribosome. Elongation factors: Amongst other proofreading mechanisms in translation, elongation factors are involved mainly in proof reading of amino acid sequences, in the newly forming polypeptide chain. This takes part in 2 ways: While leading the aminoacyl- tRNA towards the ribosome, theGTP bound elongation factor EF-Tu checks whether the match between the tRNA and the amino acid is correct. The exact details of how this is accomplished isn't clear. However, 1 hypothesis suggests that correct matches between the tRNA and an amino acid has a narrow affinity for EF-Tu. This allows the EF-Tu to selectively choose the correctly matched tRNAs before bringing them to the ribosome. EF-Tu monitors the initial match between the codon and the anti-codon. When the aminoacyl-tRNA arrives in the A site of the ribosome, the GTP bound EF-Tu allows formation of hydrogen bonding between the mRNA and the tRNA, but bends the aminoacyl-tRNA into a conformation which prevents the interaction between the amino acid and the growing polypeptide chain. This prevents peptide bond from forming. Only when the correct codon-anti codon match is made, the ribosome triggers hydrolysis of GTP on the EF-Tu which releases the tRNA and dissociates from the ribosome. This allows the tRNA in the A site to donate its amino acid, thus peptide bond forms between the newly recruited amino acid and the growing polypeptide chain A stop codon attaches to the A site, and the newly synthesised polypeptide chain occupies the P site. Proteins called release factors binds to the stop codon, initiating the release of the polypeptide chain which is transferred to the cytoplasm[6]. Several release factors are involved as they recognise different amino acid sequences. These are RF1, RF2 and RF3. RF1 recognises UAA or UAG. RF2 recognises UAA or UGA. RF3 mediates integration between the ribosome and RF1 or RF2. [7]RRF (ribosome release/ rec-cycling factor), EF-G and GTP hydrolysis promotes the dissociation of the ribosome from mRNA so the mRNA can be released[8]. ↑ Berg J.M, Tymoczko J.L, Gatto Jr G.J, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 8th Ed, New York: W.H Freeman & Company, a Macmillian Education Imprint. 2015. ↑ Berg et al., 2007:869 ↑ Stryer, Biochemistry, Seventh edition, 2007: 936 ↑ http://rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/translate.htm ↑ http://staff.jccc.net/pdecell/proteinsynthesis/translation/steps.html ↑ Jeremy M. Berg; Biochemistry; 7th edition; ↑ Bruce Alberts. Molecular Biology Of The Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. Page 377 Retrieved from "https://teaching.ncl.ac.uk/bms/wiki/index.php/Translation"	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1735
__label__wiki	0.567854	0.567854	Google Speculation Brought A Smile To Gowalla CEO's Face [Video] For those placing bets on which startup Google will buy next in its impressive social shopping spree (Jambool, Slide, etc.), you might want to lower your wager on Gowalla, at least for now. According to founder, CEO Josh Williams, Google has yet to initiate takeover talks with the the location based service— although, he says reading the market speculation “made me smile just a little bit.” Google or no Google, Williams remains adamantly upbeat, even as competition escalates in the scorching hot LBS market and rival Foursquare sprints ahead. At last count, Foursquare has racked up about 2 million users, while Gowalla is pushing ahead with a more modest army of 400,000 users. You could attribute some of Williams’ optimism to a recent pick-up in Gowalla’s numbers— according to his figures, the service is adding a couple thousand users a day now, a 50% increase from last month and the percentage of daily active users is increasing at an even faster rate— but Williams also seems genuinely comfortable with Gowalla’s pace, at least for now. We got a chance to talk to Williams via Skype about competition, the new API (and why it took so long), the “6 commandments” and his fascination with the “real check-in,” video above. While an analogy to Aesop’s cliche fable of the tortoise and the hare is probably unfair, Gowalla has moved carefully and deliberately relative to its rivals, focusing on sharp design and holding back product launches until they’re fully baked. Take for instance this week’s formal announcement of Gowalla’s Check-In API with full write-support. While Foursquare’s full API has been out since last November, Gowalla only released a read-only version in February and has been developing the full API with OAuth2 support for the last six months. “It was something that we’ve been really pondering the right way to do for awhile now and some of the delay in getting out the door was due to some technical limitation on the Gowalla platform that have now been fixed,” Williams says. “And then some of the other delays were simply around us wanting to make sure we had our head in the right place when we rolled it out. Again ya’ll [TechCrunch] had some fun with the six commandments of Gowalla check-ins but we wanted to make sure that we were providing the right ecosystem for developers.” I interpret “head in the right place” as code for understanding brand identity. Although Gowalla does not seem to be in a rush to acquire as many users as possible, Williams has been very focused on refining Gowalla’s message and differentiating his startup from the rest of the field— namely Foursquare. As Williams implies (and as my colleague MG Siegler points out in Monday’s post), the core of Gowalla’s identity is strongly reflected in the API’s 6 commandments: * Check in where the user actually is * Don’t encourage checking in where the user isn’t * Never check in without permission from the user * Encourage social behavior, discourage bot-like behavior * Rapid, repeated checkins are not tolerated * Use the API responsibly Or to put it more succinctly: authenticity. “At the very least, we wanted to provide some guidelines for developers…that gave them a little bit of an idea of what…the character and vision of Gowalla is, specifically that of connecting real people and real places,” Williams says. Elaborating on his vision even further, Williams says, “I think the goal for us has always been to find ways for people to share their love and connection with real places, we kind of have this metaphor of the passport, that being a record or log of the places you’ve been, the places that are important to you. And we definitely see even the new features that we’re building as being extensions of that…As time goes on, I think we all understand that location is going to become a very much commoditized asset on the social web… [And] I think that once that starts to happen, the nuances and the differences and the values behind all those services will start to become more apparent.” As Williams insinuates, fake check-ins have no place in Gowalla’s mission. The operative mantra is “real people and real places,” which he says will be more evident in the coming months, as Gowalla builds new layers on top of the check-in process. He didn’t want to give away too much, but later this month users can expect new tools to help them share their affinity for specific locations and eventually, Gowalla is expected to support video-sharing (i.e. quick 10-20 second clips). Is that enough to set Gowalla apart from Foursquare and more importantly, provide a strong value proposition for prospective users? Not yet, at least not in its current form, but there’s still plenty of time to catch up—- or get acquired.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1736
__label__wiki	0.536057	0.536057	PC i3G7 DataWind launches first Intel powered tablet 'PC i3G7' in India In addition to regular voice calling functionality, this tablet supports 1.2 GHz Intel Quad Core X3 64 bit processor, which will offer breakthrough Internet-delivery platform covered by 18 US and international patents allowing the devices to deliver the fastest mobile web experience on regular GSM-EDGE-based (or 2G) networks.ANI \| April 07, 2016, 17:02 IST NEW DELHI: Leader in providing affordable mobile Internet connectivity in emerging markets, DataWind, Inc. has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of its new Intel powered tablet 'PC i3G7'. In addition to regular voice calling functionality, this tablet supports 1.2 GHz Intel Quad Core X3 64 bit processor, which will offer breakthrough Internet-delivery platform covered by 18 US and international patents allowing the devices to deliver the fastest mobile web experience on regular GSM-EDGE-based (or 2G) networks. This unique technology reduces bandwidth consumption by up to 97 percent, allowing the delivery of web pages across even congested 2G networks in five to seven seconds - with even faster speeds on 3G and 4G networks. Priced at Rs. 5999, the tablet comes with free Internet browsing for one year with Reliance Communication on prepaid GSM sim cards. Exemplifying great style combined with superior technology, the device aims to be the perfect companion for people who wants to stay connected while on the move. The tablet comes with the latest software offering seamless and enhanced user experience. The tablet will debut in the market with a partnership with gadgets360.com, the largest technology news and product review website in India, which recently launched an e-commerce website. "With this new product, we are offering Indian consumers a unique combination of superior technology and unmatched style. Like its predecessors, the tablet offers the right mix of features and on-the-go connectivity," said CEO DataWind, Suneet Singh Tuli. "The launch of our new tablet reinforces our commitment to empower consumers with the best and most unique technology at a great value. Our low cost Internet-enabled products enable more people to join the digital age. Our focus on introducing technologically advanced devices at the most affordable prices is our way of contributing to the Digital India Vision," added Tuli. The DataWind Tablet PC i3G7 comes with 8GB of built-in storage that is expandable via microSD card-up to 32GB. It also has an Android Lollipop 5.1 and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Micro-USB connectivity options. The tablet also supports 3G via SIM. The tablet PC is lightweight and delivers terrific performance with talk time of up to four hours and standby time of up to five days. It also features HD playback and comes with the DataWind proprietary web delivery technology that offers high speed Internet browsing at the lowest data costs possible. All-in-all, DataWind's Tablet PC i3G7 is an affordable, complete infotainment package for the discerning Indian customer. Tags : Devices, PC i3G7, Intel, Datawind, android	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1739
__label__wiki	0.71485	0.71485	Telecom regulator Helio M70 5GCongress MediaTek guns for 5G technology to counter Qualcomm MediaTek has sharpen its focus to bring fifth-generation or 5G technology to the centerstage.Muntazir Abbas \| ETTelecom \| Updated: August 10, 2018, 23:03 IST NEW DELHI: Chipmaker MediaTek has sharpen its focus to bring fifth-generation or 5G technology to the centerstage, following the aggressive adoption strategies by telcos and heightened rivalry particularly with the US-based Qualcomm. Taiwanese chipset company that has started to work closely with the existing handset vendors worldwide including India, is expecting mobile devices tuned to the 3.5 Ghz frequency band, are on the way to hit market shelves by 2019. “MediaTek is heavily investing in 5G development. We expect devices aligned with 3.5 Ghz range to come by 2019,” MediaTek director— Technology Mohamed Elsaidny,” said, adding that the company’s pipeline includes 5G routers and modems. The new MediaTek-powered smartphones would also be relevant for the Indian market as the government is all set to auction radio waves in the 3.3Ghz-3.6Ghz spectrum range, recommended by the country’s telecom regulator. One of the first chip makers participating in the 5G Device Forerunner Initiative together with China Mobile, MediaTek, in June this year said that its Helio M70 chipset based on new radio (NR) standard interface will be ready in 2019. Based on M70 chipset, Elsaidny said that the company will launch 5G NR modem in 2019. Rival Qualcomm expects that original equipment makers would launch 5G smartphones early 2019, and the US-based chipmaker has already introduced Snapdragon X50, a 5G-enabled modem late 2017, though giving a trivial market edge. “We will continue to keep focus on mid-tier market for 5G, and is committed to offer enhanced design experience,” MediaTek’s top executive said. Hsinchu-headquartered company’s consistent strategy skewed towards mid-segment device makers, and of late aggression, however, may push it to close a market gap with Qualcomm in newer technology. Canalys, a Singapore-based market research firm attributed MediaTek’s incapability to advance its LTE (Long-Term Evolution) technology portfolio, used for fourth-generation or 4G wireless protocol, as a barrier to its growth last year. In 2017, smartphones backed by Taiwanese company had a global market share of 20%, ahead of iPhone-maker Apple’s 15%, but it drifted behind arch rival Qualcomm which had 34% of market pie, according to the research finding. Elsaidny, a former Qualcomm engineer, said that the company is also working aggressively to reduce power consumption in upcoming 5G-enabled smartphones which, according to him, is a key requirement as the upsurge in data usage, would drain battery quickly. Citing industry studies, the executive said that 8.9 billion mobile subscribers are expected with LTE to remain major cellular technology contributing 63% of the total base while 5G would account for 12% by 2023. Catch all the action in the 5G space at ETTelecom's upcoming event The 5G Congress 2018 Tags : Devices, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Apple Inc., Telecom regulator, Helio M70, China Mobile, 5GCongress, 5G, 4G	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1740
__label__wiki	0.859817	0.859817	Jio Chat Hike Messenger Reliance's Jio Chat app reaches to 9 countries The IM app has already crossed 2 million subscribers in India and has voice, video and conference call capabilities and competes with Skype, WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Line and Bharti-promoted Hike Messenger.Muntazir Abbas \| ETTelecom \| Updated: December 05, 2015, 12:04 IST NEW DELHI: Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio’s instant messaging app Jio Chat is now available across nine countries, including the US, UK, China and Singapore, besides India, a company source told ET. The IM app has already crossed 2 million subscribers in India and has voice, video and conference call capabilities and competes with Skype, WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Line and Bharti-promoted Hike Messenger. Jio Chat has now become available in Canada, United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, South Africa, Singapore and Australia, a Jio spokesperson said. “The company is excited to launch our services in eight new countries as it will help in boosting our international presence and will also let our customers based in India connect seamlessly with their loved ones abroad,” the person added. The chat app offers HD quality video and can be seamlessly integrated with other Reliance Jio applications and works on Android OS version 2.3 and above, and on Apple smartphones with an iOS version 6.0 and above. Reliance Jio is also creating special promotional campaigns to engage and educate customers about the innovation-driven chat offering. The oil to telecom business giant is currently working aggressively on its ambitious fourth-generation (4G) rollout and is banking on a gamut of app-based services, including mobile wallet Jio Money and entertainment content. Reliance Jio has 2300MHz spectrum across the country and 800MHz or 1800MHz or both in 20 out of total 22 circles. Tags : MVAS/Apps, WhatsApp, WeChat, Skype, Mukesh Ambani, Jio Chat, Hike Messenger	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1741
__label__wiki	0.535538	0.535538	Trip to Memory Lane /Stories/Episodic , Kashmir/Trip to Memory Lane Posted on 16/11/2017 by Rumi Dasgupta wrote in Episodic, Kashmir. It has 0 Comment. About Rumi Dasgupta Rumi Dasgupta is a lecturer, researcher and Editor in-Chief of a scientific journal she has just started. She is working to promote the importance of research in the field of toxicology and forensic sciences in India. She loves to talk about anything and everything under the sun, listening to music and travelling. Back to Jammu - 17/11/2017 Trip to Memory Lane - 16/11/2017 The Same Questions - 15/11/2017 Traveller’s Haven - 14/11/2017 The Inevitable - 13/11/2017 From the ruins of Sun Temple, Bajee drives us to Wani uncle’s place. He is an ex-colleague and a very close friend of Bajee. We stop over his place for a late lunch. Like Hamid uncle, Wani uncle too is very welcoming. Everyone starts chatting̱ up in Kashmiri and I sit there observing. The feeling of love and respect really overshadows all the negativity which has ever been there around the valley. The playful stories of their past, the urge of Kashmiri Pandits to relocate in Kashmir, trying to convince Bajee to move back to Kashmir makes my head go for a spin. Now is the time to revisit the memories. Wani uncle accompanies us. We start with John Bishop Memorial Mission Hospital where Rinku Didi, Arun’s sister, and Arun were born. Initially Arun was not interested to visit the hospital but as we enter the premises, he gets more excited while Bajee becomes nostalgic. He goes inside to meet the manager and then visits the ward where Arun was kept. Coincidentally Rinku Didi and Arun shared the same hospital and the same ward. From there we start for Nagbal which used to be the school where Rinku Didi, Raju Bhaiya (Arun’s brother), and Arun went. Inside the premises there is a spring, in front of which an idol of Anant god is installed; hence the name Anatnag! In the same premise Boytoth’s (Arun’s grandfather) kuthiya is situated where he used to perform yagnas. When we visit, the kuthiya is not there. Only shambles. Bajee is feeling the pinch and it is evident from his expressions. The old Nagbal School too is no longer there. The new school building is now under Indian Army. The condition of the building is equally debauched. Arun is somehow trying̱ to give me a picture of how it all used to look like and I can sense the disappointment. The only thing that still exists is the Ram Mandir. The temple has silver coins ingrained on the floor. I am told that Bajee & his friends, when they were kids, would try to dig out those coins. Wani uncle tells us how they used to come from the top of the hill and try to throw stones in the spring. There are four springs in Nagbal out of which two are sulphur springs. The school children used to swim in the spring after school. Arun shows me the place where all the kids would bathe and they used to feel that the spring was too deep whereas it was not. It was the kids who were small. Sulphur springs are good for people with skin problems. And then there is a small man-made room for the ladies to bathe, where the water from the springs came directly. People have littered all over the place in Nagbal. Even the temple premise is dirty. A committee has been set to take care of Nagbal. Bajee is saddened to see the sight. We come out to visit the Goja Mohalla, the lane where Goja’s used to stay, while Wani uncle leaves for his prayers from there. Bajee stops the car and starts walking towards a dumping ground. When we are in the middle of the ground, Bajee stops and says, “This was our home!” Nothing is left here except for the land, which is now a waste-land. I don’t know what to say. Dumbstruck I just keep looking all around. This too is Kashmir! The ugly side where humanity seized to exist. Bajee goes on describing what used to be his home once, where he grew up. It was a beautiful, lively four storey building. The house was burnt by the militants after they left. He tells us how militants would come at night and eradicate families mercilessly. He shows me the house where Taithi, Arun’s aunt, used to stay. I want to see the seven storeyed Jad house, Arun’s maternal uncle’s place, but we are late. It is dark now and we have to reach Nagdandi as soon as possible due to security reasons. With a heavy heart and disturbing thoughts, we leave for Nagdandi ashram, the place we are scheduled to put up for the night. Nagdandi ashram is maintained by our relatives. The ashram (illustrated in cover image) was founded by Swami Ashokanand. Bajee and all his siblings used to visit and spend lot of time there as kids. For him it is like his second home. When we reach there it is already dark and there is no power. While we sit for a while and freshen up, the power comes and we go for dinner. After dinner there is not much to do as people sleep early here; we too follow the decorum and hit the bed. Read the next part – Back to Jammu… In Iran Episode 45 The White Shadow Part 2 The Same Questions Back to Jammu Kashmir : Synopsis The Inevitable Traveller’s Haven The Same Questions Back to Jammu	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1742
__label__wiki	0.655475	0.655475	Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid Author(s): Dylan Thuras; Rosemary Mosco Calling all curious kids! It's time to pack your bags and embark on the journey of a lifetime. Created by the same team behind Atlas Obscura, the #1 New York Times bestseller that has over 600,000 copies in print in its first year, The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid is a thrillingly imaginative expedition to 100 of the world's most mysterious and mesmerising places. The hottest place on earth, and the coldest. Lava lakes and the otherworldly Blood Falls of Antarctica. An underwater spaceship graveyard and a museum of dancing mummies. As compelling as the destinations is the way the book unfolds. Imagine the world's most ingenious tour guide working with an unlimited budget, and this is the journey you'd take: hopscotching from country to country in a daisy chain of connecting attractions. For example, visit the site of a mysterious meteor crash in Siberia, then turn the page and learn about one in the Yucatán. While in Mexico, visit the fantastical crystal caves, and then turn the page to find yourself in another massive cave, this time in Vietnam. Illustrated in gorgeous and appropriately evocative full-spread watercolours, this book is a passport to a world of hidden possibilities. Publisher : Workman Publishing Company, Incorporated Imprint : Workman Dimensions : ---length:- '11.88'width:- '9'units:- Inches Author : Dylan Thuras; Rosemary Mosco Illustrator : Joy Ang	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1751
__label__cc	0.66894	0.33106	An Update on The Science of Ownership Posted on December 24, 2016 by ownershipblog You might have noticed that it has been rather quiet here on The Science of Ownership for the past few months. We have been occupied with a million of projects that deserve being brought to your attention. Here is some of what has happened within the realms of ownership research in 2016 and some of what to expect in 2017. (Note that all respective references are listed in alphabetical order at the end of this post.) Contributions to a soon-to-be-released Book on Psychological Ownership We are happy to announce that one of our important voices of ownership, Joann Peck together with Suzanne Shu are editing an entire book on psychological ownership next year. Joann will at some point in the future hopefully be able to tell us more about when exactly the book will be launched, but being among the contributors ourselves, we already know that it features cutting-edge reviews from the likes of Jon Pierce, Ori Friedman and Colleen P. Kirk among others. As to what to expect from us: Stephan Dickert wrote a piece on ownership and economic decisions, Sophie Süssenbach and Bernadette Kamleitner wrote a piece on ownership and sustainable behaviors, and Bernadette authored another chapter on questions of psychological ownership of data with Vince Mitchell. Details about all contributions as well as the book in general will be disclosed as soon as possible, but we are certainly not lying when we say that it will be another stepping stone for the field of psychological ownership. New Research on Ownership This year research on ownership was present at most leading marketing and consumer research conferences. The contexts in which the concept was embedded ranged from sustainability and care for the environment to the links between specific emotions and more general affect and ownership. For example, at the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter Conference in St. Pete Beach, FL in February this year, Sophie Süssenbach and Bernadette Kamleitner shared insights from their paper on the relationship between perceived environmental knowledge and ownership for the environment (for details see Süssenbach & Kamleitner 2016 at the end of this article). Antje Graul and Aristeidis Theotokis from Leeds University Business School presented work on the relationship between lay rationalism, psychological ownerhship and consumers’ participation in access-based consumption (see Graul & Theotokis 2016). Joshua Morris and Szu-chi Huang from Stanford talked about their research on expense ownership and financial decision-making (see Morris & Huang 2016). Joann Peck with her colleagues Bowen Ruan, Robin Tanner and Liangyan Wang gave a presentation on the impact of haptic roughness on psychological ownership (see Ruan et al. 2016). And Jaeyeon Chung and Gita Johar from Columbia Business School shared their work on how product ownership induced identity activation affects product (un)related task performance (Chung & Johar 2016). [CLICK] here to go directly to the SCP conference proceedings. After sunny Florida in February came Nordic Oslo in May. There, our entire team attended the European Marketing Academy Conference to present two very early projects on ownership and emotions as well as ownership and brands (see the reference list for details). The conference program can be accessed [HERE]. On we went to the annual Association for Consumer Research (ACR) conference, which was held in beautiful Berlin, Germany in October this year. Again ownership was featured strongly in several contributions including one by us (see Kamleitner et al. 2016). For example, Matthew Hall and Xin Zhao shared their work on perpetual dispossession, in which they explore the concept of ownership without possession (see Hall & Zhao 2016). Elena Fumagelli, Luca Visconti and Kristine De Valck (see Fumagelli at al. 2016) talked about how our own body is connected to the concept of ownership. Rui Chen, Leonard Lee and Yuhuang Zheng presented a paper on the reversed endowment effect in living goods transactions (See Chen et al. 2016). And Colleen Kirk together with her colleagues Scott Swain and Joann Peck introduced situations in which psychological ownership leads to territorial responses (see Kirk et al. 2016). Further contributions were made by Friedman & Pesowski (2016) who talked about how ownerhship shapes children’s judgements, Atasoy & Morewedge (2016) who studied ownership in the context of digital and physical goods and Valsesia, Nunes and Ordanini (2016) who looked at the relationship between psychological ownership and consumer ratings. Further Projects In addition to this vast amount of conference presentations, there are also a number of new publications on psychological ownership that appeared this year. These include Dawkins et al. forthcoming, Hair et al. 2016, Hartley et al. 2016, Kim et al. 2016, Sinclair and Tinson 2017 and Spiekermann and Korunovska 2016 (for detailled references, please scroll down to the end of this page). With so much work apparently in progress – a lot appears about to come out. We too have been busy finishing up papers on the topic. Without giving away too much, we can already tell you that the projects we and others are working on illuminate psychological ownership from an array of different lenses, including but not limited to the contexts of personal information, social networks, streaming, crowdfunding, and product design. We’ll make sure that you – our loyal readers – will be the first ones to know more about these projects once we can confidentially disclose more details about them. On this note, we would like to thank every single one of you who has contributed to The Science of Ownership so far and will continue to incorporate extraordinary scholars from all over the world as collaborators on our blog. Finally, we plan to repeat the successful ownership workshop that we organized in 2013 by hosting yet another little ownership gathering in 2017. We are currently in the process of arranging everything. Mostly we will curate a highly interdisciplinary group of participants but there will also be some open spaces, so stay posted. We are looking forward to a fantastic year 2017. May it start and end with a bang and feature lots of inspiring and fruitful [research] moments in between. We wish all of you a Happy Holiday & a Joyful [and productive] New Year! The Science of Ownership Editorial Team Featured References Atasoy, Ozgun & Morewedge, Carey (2016). Better to Have a Book in the Hand Than Two in the Cloud: Consumer Preferences for Physical Over Digital Goods. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Chen, Rui, Lee, Leonard & Zheng, Yuhuang (2016). The Reversed Endowment Effect in Living-Goods Transactions. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Chung, Jaeyeon & Johar, Gita V (2016). The Bounded Self: Effects of Product-Ownership Induced Identity Activation on Product (Un)Related Task Performance. SCP Winter Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA, 25.02-27.02. Friedman, Ori, Pesowski, Madison (2016). Ownership Shapes Children’s Judgments about Material goods. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Fumagalli, Elena, Visconti, Luca M. & De Valck, Kristine (2016). To Me or Not to Me: Personal Body as Contested Ownership. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Graul, Antje & Theotokis, Aristeidis (2016). Mine is mine and yours is mine: Understanding the relationship between lay rationalism, psychological ownership and consumers’participation in access-based consumption. SCP Winter Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA, 25.02-27.02. Hall, Matthew & Zhao, Xin (2016). Perpetual Dispossession: An Exploration of Ownership without Possession. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Kamleitner, Bernadette and Süssenbach, Sophie and Thürridl, Carina and Ruzeviciute, Ruta (2016). The fine line between me and mine: Brand psychological ownership as a distinct and powerful construct. European Marketing Academy (EMAC), Oslo, Norway, 24.05.-27.05. Kamleitner, Bernadette, Süssenbach, Sophie, Thürridl, Carina, Ruzeviciute, Ruta (2016). This Brand is MINE: Brand Psychological Ownership as a Distinct Construct and Powerful Driver of Consumer Behavior. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Kirk, Colleen P., Swain, Scott & Peck, Joann (2016). You Stepped on My Toes: When Does Psychological Ownership Lead to Territorial Responses? The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Morris, Joshua & Huang, Szu-chi (2016). When Your Hands Are Tied: The Impact of Expense Ownership on Financial Decisions. SCP Winter Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA, 25.02-27.02. Ruan, Bowen, Peck, Joann, Tanner, Robin & Wang Liangyan (2016). Grip not to Slip: How Haptic Roughness Leads to Psychological Ownership. SCP Winter Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA, 25.02-27.02. Süssenbach, Sophie, Kamleitner, Bernadette (2016). I know it, I own it and I care for it: How perceived environmental knowledge strengthens ownership for the environment. SCP Winter Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA, 25.02-27.02. Thürridl, Carina, Kamleitner, Bernadette, Dickert, Stephan, Ruzeviciute, Ruta & Süssenbach, Sophie (2016). Happy, possessive and loyal: From consumption affect to brand loyalty. European Marketing Academy (EMAC), Oslo, Norway, 24.05.-27.05. Valsesia, Francesca, Nunes, Joseph & Ordanini, Andrea (2016). I Got Here First! Feelings of Psychological Ownership and Consumer Ratings. The Association for Consumer Research Conference (ACR) 2016, Berlin, Deutschland, 27.10.-30.10. Dawkins, Sarah, Tian, Amy Wei, Newman, Alexander & Martin, Angela (forthcoming). Psychological ownership: A review and research agenda. Journal of Organizational Behavior. Hair, Joe F., Barth, Kati, Neubert, Doreen & Sarstedt, Marko (2016), Examining the Role of Psychological Ownership and Feedback in Customer Empowerment Strategies. Journal of Creating Value, forthcoming. Hartley, Phillip, Sun, Jie & Raggio, Randle D (2016). Psychological ownership as a crisis management advertising appeal – antecedents, outcomes, and moderators. Journal of Marketing Communications, 1-15. Kim, Sangmi, Kim, Seong-Gyu, Jeon, Yoonsin, Jun, Soojin & Kim, Jinwoo (2016). Appropriate or Remix? The Effects of Social Recognition and Psychological Ownership on Intention to Share in Online Communities. Human–Computer Interaction, 31 (2), 97-132. Sinclair, Gary & Tinson, Julie (2017). Psychological ownership and music streaming consumption. Journal of Business Research, 71, 1-9. Spiekermann, Sarah & Korunovska, Jana (2016). Towards a value theory for personal data. Journal of Information Technology. Posted in Conferences, General, News, Research / Tagged acr, Conferences, consumer research, emac, marketing, News, ownership, ownership research, publications, scp, workshop / Leave a comment	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1752
__label__cc	0.728672	0.271328	Drive: Tribute to Jeannette Tate The Springs Jeannette Tate didn’t get her driver’s license until she was 47 years old. But boy, did she ever take that mobility and run. Long before then, she’d arrived as a new mother in the place she’d call home the rest of her life. Piedmont, SC. She’d come to the area when her husband John ascended to the Chicago Cubs AA affiliate stationed in Selby, they brought six month old daughter Debbie along too. Sunkissed Southern summers spent by the ballparks of 1950’s Carolina. Nine years after Debbie, John Jr. was born and the family was whole. And all that time, she never drove. At all. At least, until 1973 when Jeannette suddenly found herself…a little stranded. With a husband gone to work, a daughter all grown up and a teenage son in her care, she needed to find her mobility in life for herself. She needed, in retrospect, her drive. And when she found it — a woman approaching 50 — she floored it. Debbie snuck off one day with her mom and they scored Jeannette’s first driver’s license. Debbie’s husband bought Mrs. Tate a car to mark the occasion. Soon thereafter, she was everywhere; driving up I-85 to visit Debbie in Gastonia and John Jr. at his home. Jeannette became something of a community leader, with this newfound reach of hers. She was elected 1990’s Citizen of the Year at the Piedmont Lions Club for her efforts delivering meals on wheels. There was nothing Jeannette would not do for the folks in Piedmont. She had drive, alright. When John Sr. passed away in 2001, Jeannette moved into a little apartment and kept right on serving the ladies of Piedmont. And when, in 2013, she moved to Simpsonville, S.C.’s famed independent living community The Springs at Simpsonville, she brought that drive right with her. She was happy all the time at the Springs; a persistent smile and laugh. She joined the ladies club — The Spring Chickens — and served her heart out. Even when dementia forced her to move into a memory care community within the Springs, she was helping. Assisting. Her daughter Debbie and son John Jr. buried Jeannette Tate in her Springs Chicken shirt — a nod to her unshakable commitment to her people — in the days that followed the July 4th celebrations this year. Tates legacy, of giving and service, family and community, and relentless drive were honored then, as they will be for as long as the Tates are still driving the Carolina streets. Janie – Resident of the Month Community News, Featured, Resident Highlight Janie was born and raised high in the northwestern corner of South Carolina along the… Community Spotlight – Peggy Masterson! Community News, Featured We are so excited to introduce our new Executive Director of the Springs at Simpsonville,… Helping Your Loved One Manage Senior Anxiety Featured, Senior Health Many people can be affected by anxiety throughout their life, but will it the same… The Springs Spreads its Wings A Century of Cool, A Quilt of Valor	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1753
__label__wiki	0.875279	0.875279	Tag Archives: Robert Young 1937, ★★★, Classics The Emperor’s Candlesticks (1937, George Fitzmaurice) 30 March 2019 Andrew Wickliffe Leave a comment The Emperor’s Candlesticks starts with an exceptional display of chemistry from Robert Young and Maureen O’Sullivan. They’re at the opera, it’s the late nineteenth century, it’s a masked costume ball, Young is a Grand Duke dressed as Romeo, and O’Sullivan is the sun. Then it turns out O’Sullivan is working with a bunch of Polish nationalists who want to kidnap Young and ransom him for a political prisoner getting a pardon from the Czar (Young’s dad). Young and O’Sullivan aren’t the leads of the picture, the leads of the picture are William Powell and Luise Rainer. Powell’s an ostensibly apolitical Polish noble who’s more interested in philandering than revolting, Rainer’s a Russian noble who’s a professional spy. So Powell gets the mission to bring Young’s letter to the Czar and get the prisoner freed. Simultaneously, Rainer’s compatriots have discovered Powell’s actually a spy too. So she’s charged with bringing evidence of his treachery to St. Petersburg. They both have a mutual acquaintance in Henry Stephenson, who wants Powell to take a pair of candlesticks to a Russian princess Stephenson is courting. The candlesticks have this awesome hidden compartment and Powell’s more than happy to do Stephenson the favor, since the hidden compartment is perfect for the letter he’s got to transport. Powell gets ahead of himself and puts the note in before taking possession of the candlesticks, which Stephenson wants to have delivered to Powell at the train station. Seems like everything’s going to be fine, until—just missing Powell—Rainer pays Stephenson a visit and he can’t resist showing her the hidden compartment either. Powell’s worried about getting his document into Russia, Rainer’s worried about getting her documents out of Poland. It doesn’t take much for Rainer to charm Stephenson into letting her deliver the candlesticks to his lady friend. Rainer puts her documents in the other candlestick; they’re distinguished by some slight damage. So there’s already the trouble—for Powell—of catching up to Rainer and getting at the candlesticks. But then there’s Bernadine Hayes, Rainer’s maid, who’s let thief Donald Kirke talk her into robbing her mistress of her jewelry… and her candlesticks. So then there’s going to be trouble for everyone, leading to a sometimes joint effort from Powell and Rainer, sometimes separate, across the continent. Powell’s mission has a timeline (the prisoner’s execution is set and, therefore, Young’s is as well). Powell and Rainer falling in love doesn’t help things, especially for her, since she knows about her mission and its repercussions for Powell (he’ll be arrested, then shot by firing squad), while Powell is just trying to make sure neither the prisoner or the Grand Duke run out of time. Powell and Rainer falling for each other pretty early, which works out well because they’ve got to bring enough chemistry to overshadow the memory of Young and O’Sullivan’s at the beginning. They do, with Rainer doing the heavier lifting as she’s falling for a man she’s condemning, but the film’s got to keep that angle pretty light—Powell’s whole persona in the picture is based on him not acting at all like a secret agent, but a playboy, including when he’s hustling to get the candlesticks. He’s doing it—he tells Rainer—because as a gentleman he should be aiding a lady in distress. Little does he know he’s causing Rainer a great deal more distress than she anticipated. With the exception of Frank Morgan’s out-of-place introduction (he’s Young’s sidekick, in and out of captivity), Candlesticks is a joyous. Powell and Rainer are wonderful, O’Sullivan and Young are great, Stephenson’s fun. Morgan’s a little much but not enough to hurt the experience. And Morgan’s fine, he just takes up time Young could be spending with O’Sullivan. Fitzmaurice’s direction is good. Every once in a while Candlesticks will go to second unit exteriors, which gives it a nice scale. With the exception of a (second unit-fueled) montage sequence, Conrad A. Nervig’s editing is poor. Lots of harsh cuts, a handful of severe jump cuts. Some of it is lack of coverage, but Nervig doesn’t have a good rhythm. Luckily the actors are so good and the Harold Goldman and Monckton Hoffe script is so strong, Nervig’s rough editing doesn’t do much damage. It’s occasionally grating. Otherwise, the film’s technically solid. Thanks to Powell and Rainer (and Young and O’Sullivan), The Emperor’s Candlesticks is a constant delight. Directed by George Fitzmaurice; screenplay by Harold Goldman and Monckton Hoffe, based on a novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy; director of photography, Harold Rosson; edited by Conrad A. Nervig; music by Franz Waxman; produced by John W. Considine Jr.; released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring William Powell (Baron Stephan Wolensky), Luise Rainer (Countess Olga Mironova), Robert Young (Grand Duke Peter), Maureen O’Sullivan (Maria Orlich), Bernadene Hayes (Mitzi Reisenbach), Donald Kirke (Anton), Frank Morgan (Col. Baron Suroff), and Henry Stephenson (Prince Johann). OTHER FILMS STARRING WILLIAM POWELL OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY GEORGE FITZMAURICE THIS FILM IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN SUM UP \| LUISE RAINER: AN INCOMPLETE FILMOGRAPHY. Frank MorganFranz WaxmanHenry StephensonLuise RainerMaureen O'SullivanMetro-Goldwyn-MayerRobert YoungThe Emperor's CandlesticksWilliam Powell The Toy Wife (1938, Richard Thorpe) The only impressive thing about The Toy Wife (not good, not admirable) is the film’s ability to keep going professionally, no matter how stupid it gets. There are no easy outs in the picture; even when people start dying off to up the tragedy, there’s still a seemingly endless amount of run time remaining. The film only runs ninety-five minutes but seems like 195 years. (The present action is something like six years, it gets a little unclear towards the end). The problems with Toy Wife start before the action does. They start in the opening titles, when Theresa Harris’s credit as “Pick” appears onscreen. As in, holy shit is there going to be a slave named “Pick” in this movie? The answer is yes, yes indeed there is going to be a slave named “Pick” in Toy Wife. Because slavery is very important to Toy Wife. How wonderful it was for all the Louisianans to have slaves. There’s even a scene where—apparently in an attempt to humanize the character—rich widow Alma Kruger gives the gift of Jesus to her “black people.” Toy Wife is based on a French play from the nineteenth century. The play is based in Europe. So screenwriter Zoe Akins added all the horrific racism. Whether it was her idea, the studio’s, or producer Merian C. Cooper’s… well, they’re all responsible and accountable regardless of who had the idea. And it’s not like Akins’s script would be good without all the racism. Akins’s script is the problem with the film. Director Thorpe staying engaged enough to get through the slough of a story… again, it’s not commendable but it’s impressive. One hopes other folks would have quit instead of putting this tripe to screen. The Toy Wife of the title is “lead” Luise Rainer. She’s the younger daughter of wealthy plantation owner H.B Warner (who’s barely in the movie and comically bad when onscreen). Barbara O’Neil, in what turns out to be the film’s worst role, is the older sister. Warner moved the family to Europe when Rainer was just a baby. Now they’re back; in the source play, Rainer’s character is sixteen; in the film, her age is never mentioned, but she’s clearly not supposed to be twenty-eight like Rainer. Because then it wouldn’t make sense when “leading man” Melvyn Douglas, who’s eight years older than Rainer, calls her “child” in the movie. At least he doesn’t do it during one of their chaste but not too chaste love scenes. Editor Elmo Veron does know how to imply with his fades. O’Neil has been in love with Douglas since childhood, except once they return he’s only got eyes for Rainer because he’s a gross old man and she’s a flirt. Douglas wants to propose, O’Neil talks Rainer into accepting. Rainer, meanwhile, would rather be with Robert Young. He’s a drunken rich boy, a lot more fun than serious Douglas. But she acquiesces and marries Douglas and the film skips forward four years. Or five years. Whatever. Fast forward to the future—Rainer is still a bunch of fun, Douglas is still a stuffed shirt, they just now have a four year-old son (Alan Perl, who’s awful). After Rainer seduces Douglas for a little morning nooky, Douglas decides he’s going to go visit O’Neil (who never told Douglas or Rainer she was in love with Douglas) and beg her to come manage the house. Because… wait for it… Rainer’s way too nice to the slaves. She doesn’t work them hard enough. O’Neil agrees, moving into the house and assuming the head of household role, including dictating toddler Perl’s childcare. Douglas is just happy someone is making the slaves behave, Rainer slowly gets more and more miserable her sister has assumed her role, and Young’s back to try to seduce Rainer away. Will this assortment of loathsome human beings ever find happiness? Who cares. And O’Neil gets more loathsome, then it gets qualified, then gets less, then gets more. Same goes—sort of—for Douglas. Rainer meanwhile never gets any character development, even when it’s obvious her character has changed circumstances. She has no reaction to them, not in script or performance. Apparently Rainer hated the movie, but whatever. It’s not like she broke into the vault and had the prints burned. All the performances lack in one way or another. Sometimes because of the script, sometimes because of the actor. It’s not really worth itemizing the film’s failures on a granular level. Toy Wife has zero potential. Even if you equivocate away the grossness, it’s still a terrible, boring motion picture. Technically, it’s competent, but never anything better. The Toy Wife is a dreadful experience. All 195 years of it. Directed by Richard Thorpe; screenplay by Zoe Akins, based on the play by Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac; director of photography, Oliver T. Marsh; edited by Elmo Veron; music by Edward Ward; produced by Merian C. Cooper; released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring Luise Rainer (Frou Frou), Melvyn Douglas (George Sartoris), Barbara O’Neil (Louise), Robert Young (Andre Vallaire), H.B. Warner (Victor Brigard), Theresa Harris (Pick), and Alma Kruger (Madame Vallaire). OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY RICHARD THORPE Barbara O'NeilLuise RainerMelvyn DouglasMerian C. CooperMetro-Goldwyn-MayerRichard ThorpeRobert YoungThe Toy WifeTheresa Harris 1971, ⓏⒺⓇⓄ, Television Vanished (1971, Buzz Kulik) 23 June 2017 Andrew Wickliffe Leave a comment Even for a TV miniseries, Vanished feels like it runs too long. There are always tedious subplots, like folksy, pervy old man senator Robert Young plotting against President Richard Widmark. Widmark is up for re-election and he’s vulnerable. Even his own press secretary’s secretary (Skye Aubrey) thinks Widmark is “an evil man,” possibly because he’s going to end the world in nuclear war, possibly because he’s a secretive boss. It’s never clear. Aubrey, both her character and her performance, are the most tedious thing about Vanished until she, well, vanishes. A lot of characters just vanish. After meticulous plotting, Dean Riesner’s teleplay throws it all out after the resolution to the first part “cliffhanger.” The setup for Vanished is probably the best stuff it has going for it. At the beginning, it all seems like it’s going to be about that press secretary–James Farentino–who’s new to job and dating his secretary (Aubrey). He’s got an FBI agent roommate (Robert Hooks) and spends his time at happening parties with friends while avoiding reporter William Shatner’s intrusive questions. There’s also a significant subplot involving Widmark’s best friend, civilian Arthur Hill, who’s an active older American. He and Eleanor Parker as his wife are great together. For their one scene. Because then Hill goes missing–he’s Vanished, you see–it’s up to Farentino and Hooks, unofficially working the case, to track him down. While avoiding Shatner’s intrusions and Aubrey’s annoying behavior. And Riesner–and director Kulik–manage to make Farentino’s a believable amateur detective. The plotting helps out with it, as does Widmark’s mysteriousness. Shatner’s not very good in Vanished, mostly just broadly thin, but he’s a decent enough adversary for Farentino. Eventually, Widmark’s part grows and he too gets an adversary. CIA head E.G. Marshall thinks Widmark’s keeping too much from him and gets involved with Young’s scheming senator. Marshall’s so good at playing slime bag, especially the quiet, unassuming one here, those scenes pass fairly well. Farentino’s decent, Hooks’s good, Widmark’s fine. Aubrey’s bad. And no one is anywhere near as compelling as Hill and Parker, or even Farentino before he just becomes an exposition tool. Maybe if Vanished kept him around in the last hour, except for awful bickering scenes with Aubrey, it’d have finished better. Instead, after dragging out the first couple hours–including a pointless excursion to Brazil for Hooks–Farentino vanishes too. Parker goes somewhere towards the end of the first hour, Hooks somewhere towards the end of the second, Farentino in the third. At least in Hooks’s case, it’s so Reisner can perturb the plot. But Farentino just stops being interesting. And the interesting thing is supposed to be the reveal, which is way too obvious towards the end of the first half of Vanished. Reisner doesn’t have anything to do with it (presumably) as he’s just adapting a novel. Instead of spreading it all out, however, Vanished would do much better, much shorter. It still wouldn’t fix the stupid resolution, which comes during a lot of reused footage for the “action” sequences, but at least shorter there’d be less time investment. Because Reisner and Kulik don’t answer the most interesting questions. The film skips any number of good scenes to “go big” with stock footage of aircraft carrier take-offs. There’s also a lot of grand, “real world” spy technology in the second half, which is a waste of time. Well, unless Kulik had made it visually interesting, but he doesn’t. Vanished is a disappointment, but one with mostly solid (or better) acting. Nice small turns from Murray Hamilton, Larry Hagman, Don Pedro Colley; plus a really funny single scene one from Neil Hamilton. Maybe if Farentino and Hooks weren’t such appealing leads–or if Hill and Parker didn’t imply they’d be able to do great scenes together–Vanished wouldn’t disappoint so much. But it even fails Widmark; after intentionally obfuscating him for over two and a half hours, Vanished wants the viewer to rest their emotional weight on him. Vanished is reasonably tolerable throughout, just not adding up to anything, until the bungled reveal sinks it. Directed by Buzz Kulik; teleplay by Dean Riesner, based on the novel by Fletcher Knebel; director of photography, Lionel Lindon; edited by Robert Watts; music by Leonard Rosenman; produced by David J. O’Connell; aired by the National Broadcasting Company. Starring James Farentino (Gene Culligan), Richard Widmark (President Paul Roudebush), E.G. Marshall (Arthur Ingram), Robert Hooks (Larry Storm), Eleanor Parker (Sue Greer), Arthur Hill (Arnold Greer), Skye Aubrey (Jill Nichols), William Shatner (Dave Paulick), Murray Hamilton (Nick McCann), Tom Bosley (Johnny Cavanaugh), Larry Hagman (Jerry Freytag), Denny Miller (Big Bubba Toubo), Don Pedro Colley (Mercurio), and Robert Young (Senator Earl Gannon). OTHER FILMS STARRING ELEANOR PARKER OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY BUZZ KULIK THIS FILM IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN SUM UP \| ELEANOR PARKER, PART 4: GUEST STAR. Eleanor ParkerLarry HagmanMurray HamiltonNBCRichard WidmarkRobert YoungTom BosleyVanishedWilliam Shatner 1984, ★★, Mystery Lassiter (1984, Robert Young) 24 October 2012 Andrew Wickliffe Leave a comment Lassiter suffers from a definite lack of charisma. Not from leading man Tom Selleck, who looks a tad too tall to be a jewel thief, but from his leading ladies, Jane Seymour and Lauren Hutton. Seymour plays the girlfriend, which should give Lassiter an edge–if Seymour and Selleck had any chemistry together. Sadly, they don’t. Maybe it’s because Seymour’s two feet shorter than Selleck, maybe it’s because her performance is so tepid. As for Hutton… she’s laughable as a Nazi witch. Her sidekick, Warren Clarke, however… he’s good. All of Lassiter‘s supporting cast is outstanding–Joe Regalbuto, Ed Lauter, Bob Hoskins–so when Seymour’s off-screen and Hutton isn’t around, it’s a much better movie. But Lassiter‘s other big problem–and one recasting can’t help–is the lack of story. Selleck’s jewel thief has to rob the German embassy in 1939 London. While the film beautifully creates the period (Peter Mullins’s production design is fantastic), there’s not a lot of story. David Taylor’s script tries to get a lot of kilometers out of Hoskins’s vicious thug of a cop, but it just doesn’t work. Hoskins is more of a danger than the Nazis and Lassiter‘s an attempt at an amiable thriller. There’s no place for noir elements whatsoever. It’s hard to blame Young for that failing. His direction is never particularly impressive, but it’s never bad. It’s just a faulty project, but a mostly pleasant one. Selleck’s good, Ken Thorne’s score is excellent. Lassiter‘s positively mediocre. Directed by Robert Young; written by David Taylor; director of photography, Gilbert Taylor; edited by Benjamin A. Weissman; music by Ken Thorne; production designer, Peter Mullins; produced by Albert S. Ruddy; released by Warner Bros. Starring Tom Selleck (Nick Lassiter), Jane Seymour (Sara Wells), Lauren Hutton (Kari Von Fursten), Bob Hoskins (Inspector John Becker), Joe Regalbuto (Peter Breeze), Ed Lauter (Smoke), Warren Clarke (Max Hofer), Edward Peel (Sgt. Allyce), Paul Antrim (Askew), Christopher Malcolm (Quaid) and Barrie Houghton (Eddie Lee). OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY ROBERT YOUNG Bob HoskinsDavid TaylorJane SeymourLassiterLauren HuttonRobert YoungTom SelleckWarner Bros.Warren Clarke	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1755
__label__cc	0.655594	0.344406	All posts tagged "Broadway" Welcome to the Show May you never fail to point your shoes back home, wherever that may be. “Take Me Out” Revival to Take the Mound Next Spring Second Stage Theatre announces most of its upcoming season, which will include a revival of the 2003 Tony Award Winning Play,... By Joe Danbusky Breaking Angles Breaking Angles: Tony Hawk Developing a New Broadway Musical Sometimes a piece of news comes across our desk that is just a picture perfect representation of The Turf. By Ned Donovan Breaking Angles: New York Giants Legend Tiki Barber Joins Cast of Kinky Boots Tiki Barber is joining the Factory at Kinky Boots! By Joanna Krupnick Under The Lights: Could Tom Brady Pull Off Being In Hamilton? Justin goes way too deep into this... but he found some answers, and somehow more questions... These Kids Are Not Too Shab-B-E-E The 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee started with approximately 500 spellers. When the final round started at 8:30 on Thursday night... By Katie Pierce What’s in a Name? When Tradition and Progress Collide Author’s Note: I find it especially important to stress that the views expressed in this article are my own. They do... Who to Root for in the Super Bowl Based on Your Favorite Current Broadway Show! Tonight is a big night for everyone. It’s a big night for the people who love to cook, who love to... Annie’s Anthem Quest It was a stunningly beautiful day. The sun was shining, there was a breeze, the temperature was perfect – the kind... By Annie Edgerton	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1757
__label__wiki	0.528983	0.528983	Everything You’ve Seen On The Big Screen About High School Cliques Is A Hollywood Fabrication By Maegha Nilavarath, July 15th 2015 http://tcat.tc/1GlHgwh We all remember the iconic exposition scene in Mean Girls where outcast Janice Ian breaks down the high school food chain to Lindsay Lohan’s naive newcomer character Cady Heron. The jocks, the nerds, the artsy freaks, and the plastics were just a few of the classic stereotypes that were engraved in our minds by every coming-of-age film we could think of. Movies that we hold near and dear to our hearts like The Breakfast Club pioneered the idea that high school was a caste system where you were branded the moment you registered. At the age of 14, you become and your inmates are sentenced to four years of judgment, stress, confusion, fearlessness, and utter denial of responsibility and adulthood. That’s definitely what I believed at age 14 when I embarked on my dreaded journey as a low rank freshman. I saw high school as a terrifying prison where I’d stumble upon a plethora of Regina Georges. But alas, to my surprise, I couldn’t see the generic characters I was so used to. There wasn’t a tyrannical blonde storming through the halls calling all the shots in a tiny cheerleading outfit. There wasn’t a helpless brainiac being thrown into the dumpster by an alpha male jock. The same poor brainiac also didn’t rise to the role of underdog hero who defeats the bad guys in some type of epic duel in the movie’s climax. Instead, the lines between these characters blurred and everyone maintained admiral individuality. I met jocks who spent their weekends tutoring others for the SAT. I interviewed a few cheerleaders for the school newspaper and discovered them to be some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. That’s when I realized that everything movies had taught me about high school seemed to be one big production of overused stereotypes.. Movies might also influence you into spending the four years searching for you’re Ryan Gosling or Channing Tatum to fill the shoes of your Nicholas Sparks’ inspired romantic counterpart. Maybe you’ll find that person, but you might not. A big part of high school is realizing that it’s okay. You don’t and you never will need another person to make yourself whole. Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried were badass enough even without their leading men. We love high school movies for their comedy and relatable conflicts, but we often get too wrapped up in the same aesthetics portrayed in every plot. We expect to only be filling the shoes of either the jock or the nerd. But in reality, we are born to play our own role, not Lindsay Lohan’s. Everyone will experience a different path in high school, and we can’t expect to all fall into the same script. On some days it really will feel like prison and nothing like the picture perfect adventures you see on the big screen. Throughout the duration you’ll be dying to quit, but you’ll eventually stick it out. Along the way you’ll make some friendships that could last a lifetime. You’ll cry, laugh, scream, and want to give up all together. But you won’t. You’ll suck it up and finish out your sentence. And when you finally get parole (graduate), everything will seem pretty damn worth it. Amanda Seyfried Channing Tatum Cliques Culture & Art High School Hollywood Lindsay Lohan Movies Rachel McAdams Ryan Gosling Stereotypes Writing & Expression 17 Things People Born In The Early 90s Are Currently Experiencing Overcoming The Hispanic Stereotype Put Yourself In Crushing Debt, All The Cool Kids Are Doing It 31 People On The Celebrities They Grew Up With And What They Were Like Back Then Translating My Bad Teenage Poetry The Fall Of The Cool Kids Screw You, Hollywood	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1764
__label__wiki	0.840669	0.840669	Instagram Stories Tops 200M Daily Users, Now Bigger Than Snapchat It’s been eight months after Instagram copied Snapchat’s Stories, and now, the cloner has now officially become bigger than Snapchat. It was announced by Facebook, the owner of Instagram, that over 200 million people are using Instagram Stories everyday. Snapchat averaged 158 million daily users in the fourth quarter of 2016. Of course, this figure could have grown since this information was disclosed by Snap Inc. back in February 2017. The 200 million number is a continuation of Intstagram’s trend of adding about 50 million million daily Story users every three months. The feature counted more than 150 million daily users in January 2017, up from 100 million in October 2016. Instagram’s figure even means that half of their 400 million daily users are checking out the Stories feature that appears on the top of the app’s main screen, as well as the Explore tab. This is the same ratio that Instagram reached in January. Not only has Instagram over taken Snapchat’s user count, it is aso taking some more of its rivals features to both Stories and Instagram Direct, its private messaging feature that was updated to be more Snapchatty earlier this week. Now people are able topin text, emoji and stickers to particular spots or objects in their videos, like a 😼 on the head of an actual cat, and the text/emoji/sticker will stick to whatever object it’s pinned to. That’s already possible on Snapchat Kitty Smiley – Snapchat GIF from Snapchat GIFs You can even create your own stickers as well. Just tap a smiley face icon to take a photo of an object, and you can place it anywhere onto a photo or video. These particular stickers are being dubbed by Instagram as selfie stickers since the idea is to take photos of them selves, then convert them into stickers. But really, you can take a photo of anything and turn it into a sticker. This is already possible on Snapchat, but with Snapchat, you can trace out the sticker, and on Instagram, the selfie sticker has to be circular. Now, more people are able to use geostickers that are customized to the city where a person is at the time of the image. Since geostickers rolled out in New York and Jakarta, Indonesia, last month, Instagram finally added ones for people in Chicago, London, Madrid and Tokyo to add to their photos and videos. This is possible for Snapchat, although not for folks in Chicago, Jakarta, Madrid or Tokyo. Source – Tim Peterson	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1767
__label__wiki	0.885064	0.885064	Brazos Drawbridge, Napa River, California Tide Chart Local time: 2019-07-16 Tue 10:20 AM PDT Brazos Drawbridge, Napa River, California 38.2100° N, 122.3070° W 2019-07-16 Tue 2:39 PM PDT Full Moon 2019-07-16 Tue 3:22 PM PDT 5.6 feet High Tide 2019-07-16 Tue 8:16 PM PDT 2.6 feet Low Tide 2019-07-16 Tue 8:31 PM PDT Sunset 2019-07-16 Tue 8:41 PM PDT Moonrise 2019-07-17 Wed 1:48 AM PDT 7.1 feet High Tide 2019-07-17 Wed 5:59 AM PDT Sunrise 2019-07-17 Wed 6:37 AM PDT Moonset 2019-07-17 Wed 9:09 AM PDT -0.5 feet Low Tide 2019-07-17 Wed 4:00 PM PDT 5.6 feet High Tide 2019-07-17 Wed 8:30 PM PDT Sunset 2019-07-17 Wed 8:59 PM PDT 2.6 feet Low Tide 2019-07-17 Wed 9:23 PM PDT Moonrise 2019-07-18 Thu 2:26 AM PDT 6.9 feet High Tide 2019-07-18 Thu 6:00 AM PDT Sunrise 2019-07-18 Thu 7:34 AM PDT Moonset 2019-07-18 Thu 9:44 AM PDT -0.4 feet Low Tide 2019-07-18 Thu 4:35 PM PDT 5.6 feet High Tide 2019-07-18 Thu 8:30 PM PDT Sunset 2019-07-18 Thu 9:40 PM PDT 2.6 feet Low Tide 2019-07-18 Thu 9:59 PM PDT Moonrise 2019-07-19 Fri 3:04 AM PDT 6.6 feet High Tide 2019-07-19 Fri 6:01 AM PDT Sunrise 2019-07-19 Fri 8:31 AM PDT Moonset 2019-07-19 Fri 10:18 AM PDT -0.3 feet Low Tide 2019-07-19 Fri 5:07 PM PDT 5.6 feet High Tide 2019-07-19 Fri 8:29 PM PDT Sunset 2019-07-19 Fri 10:23 PM PDT 2.5 feet Low Tide 2019-07-19 Fri 10:32 PM PDT Moonrise 2019-07-20 Sat 3:42 AM PDT 6.3 feet High Tide 2019-07-20 Sat 6:01 AM PDT Sunrise 2019-07-20 Sat 9:28 AM PDT Moonset	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1769
__label__wiki	0.526417	0.526417	arc double Buffalo Grand pays big Twitter The American subsidiary of global gaming machines innovator Aristocrat Leisure Limited has announced that Tuesday saw a lucky female player in southern Nevada hit the jackpot ... ‘Osaka-first strategy’ for MGM Resorts International The boss for American casino operator, MGM Resorts International, has used a recent conference call with investors to detail that his firm is hoping to be given permission to build an integrated casino resort in the Japanese city of Osaka. Building local alliances: According to ... Business improves in Atlantic City The nine-casino market in Atlantic City reportedly had a good January after recording an almost 20% increase year-on-year in aggregated gross gaming revenues to $229.6 million helped by a 53% overall rise in takings from online gambling to $33.5 million. Continuing progress: According to ... Topping-off for coming California casino In northern California, the federally-recognized Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of Enterprise Rancheria reportedly held a topping-off ceremony for its coming Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento yesterday some 17 years after first envisioning the project. Autumnal appearance: According to an official press release and a ... Turner Sports alliance for Caesars Entertainment Corporation A little over a month after inking a multi-year partnership deal with the National Football League (NFL) and casino operator, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, has now announced the signing of a similar arrangement with the Turner Sports division of American media giant Turner Broadcasting ... Worldwide release for Jin Ji Bao Xi slot American lottery and gaming machines innovator, Scientific Games Corporation, has announced the launch of its Jin Ji Bao Xi slot along with the associated new TwinStar Wave XL cabinet to class-three markets around the world. Widespread availability: The Las Vegas-headquartered firm, which is currently exhibiting ... american caisno and entertainment properties llc Stratosphere to be renamed The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Skypod As part of its $140 million upgrade, Golden Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:GDEN) has announced it will rebrand the iconic Stratosphere resort that has called Las Vegas Boulevard home since April 1996. The new name of the property that at 1,149 feet boasts the tallest freestanding observation tower in ... Japan may be planning to go big As it prepares to begin the licensing process for its three coming integrated casino resorts, the government for Japan has reportedly outlined the minimum requirements it may expect in terms of the future venues’ conference and hotel space. Large footprints: According to a report ... Encore Boston Harbor debut unchanged The boss for American casino operator, Wynn Resorts Limited, has reportedly reassured investors that his company is planning to open its under-construction Encore Boston Harbor property on schedule despite the fact that the firm has yet to receive a green light from the ... Hard Metrics joint venture launches Business-to-business online sportsbetting technologies provider, Metric Gaming, has announced the signing of an agreement that has seen it establish a United States-facing joint venture in partnership with Maltese operator, Bethard Group. Hard Metrics debut: The firm has offices in London and Las Vegas and used an ... Gaming alliances help NFL marketing revenues American sponsorship consulting and valuation firm, IEG, has announced that marketing spend on this season’s edition of the National Football League (NFL) increased by some 5.1% year-on-year to reach $1.39 billion thanks in part to a rise in the value of deals the ... Colorado trio being offloaded by Affinity Gaming American casino operator, Affinity Gaming, has announced the signing of a definitive agreement that is set to see it offload its trio of small casinos in Colorado to rival Twin River Worldwide Holdings Incorporated for an undisclosed amount. Black Hawk trio: The Las Vegas-headquartered firm ... encore boston harbor Nevada Penalty Fee for Wynn Resorts Limited American casino operator, Wynn Resorts Limited, is reportedly set to pay an undisclosed fine in order to settle an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that were last year levied against its former Chief Executive Officer, Steve Wynn. Investigation failings: According to a Monday report from ... Wynn Resorts Limited settles Las Vegas lawsuit American casino operator, Wynn Resorts Limited, has reportedly settled the five-count trademark infringement and unfair competition lawsuit it had filed against Malaysian counterpart, Genting Malaysia Berhad, in late-December regarding the latter’s under-construction Resorts World Las Vegas property. Casino comparison: According to a Monday report from the ... Sweden triumph for Scientific Games Corporation American lottery and gaming machines innovator, Scientific Games Corporation, has announced that online casino and bingo solutions from its SG Digital subsidiary are now being utilized by Sweden’s state-owned gambling operator, Svenska Spel AB. Triumphant trio: The Las Vegas-headquartered firm used an official Friday press ... Economy/Finance Las Vegas Sands Corporation hails Macau performance Las Vegas Sands Corporation has released its unaudited financial results for 2018 showing that it experienced a 7.8% increase year-on-year in net revenues to $13.729 billion alongside an associated 8% rise in casino income to $9.819 billion. Dominant contribution: The Las Vegas-headquartered casino operator ... andrea domingo Casino market thriving in the Philippines In the Philippines, a steady stream of foreign high-rollers reportedly helped to push aggregated gross gaming revenues for 2018 up by around 13% year-on-year to hit an all-time high of approximately $3.79 billion. Record-setting performance: According to a report from GGRAsia citing a Tuesday ... Sportsbook wager cap of $5m proposed in New Jersey The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has reportedly proposed changing the eastern state’s regulations on sportsbooks so as to prohibit licensed operators from accepting individual ... 2282:Hong Kong Keith A. Meister named MGM Resorts’ independent director Las Vegas-based global hospitality and entertainment company, MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), recently added a member to its Board of Directors. The appointment of Keith A. Meister (pictured), Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner for Corvex Management LP, which owns about three percent of MGM Resorts’ ... Malaysian court sides with Wynn Macau Limited In Malaysia, a High Court Judge reportedly made history on Friday by ordering local gambler, Paul Poh Yang Hong, to pay off the entirety of a debt he allegedly ran up while playing at a casino owned by Wynn Macau Limited. Momentous decision: According ... PlayCentral 54 unleashed by Scientific Games Corporation American lottery and gaming machines innovator, Scientific Games Corporation, has announced that it has rolled out its PlayCentral 54 self-service advance for retailers in the states of ...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1772
__label__wiki	0.898267	0.898267	AmnesiaJohn Fic I've spent the last week trying to decide if this fic should be left for 14valentines but I've finally decided that it doesn't really fit with my theme (yes, I'm aiming for a theme, with 3 days left. Yeesh) Title: His Way Through the Constellation Pairing: John/Rodney Rating: PG-13 (I know, I know, it's a lot of words for very little sex) Length: 8200 words A/N: I finished the first draft of this sometime in December. It was 2000 words and I sent it off to janne_d. She sent it back with a very nice note attached that basically said "You're missing something. I think it's called plot." So, uh, yes, she deserves even more praise than she normally does for this one. A/N 2: Many months ago aurora_84 asked for amnesiac!John and, uh, here it is. Better late than never, eh? They find him by chance. They've looked and looked for the past six months and found nothing, no clue. Then Katie Brown and a couple of the new Marines go off-world to investigate some alien flora, get distracted by a market and find him there; not for sale, as Rodney immediately assumes on hearing, but working the stalls, healthy and whole and free as you like. It took Katie less than a minute to realise he didn't remember her, didn't remember any of them, and rather than pit her size 02, trowel-wielding self against a USAF trained colonel who didn't want to be moved, she came home. She didn't tell Elizabeth, didn't tell Lorne, didn't tell Ronon or Teyla, just went to Rodney's lab and whispered it in his ear, putting a hand on his shoulder and standing between him and the world while he blinked away his shock. They've been looking for six months, they're all exhausted and heart broken. He doesn't tell any one either. John's easy to find. The market's a busy, sprawling, country sort of thing, but John Sheppard is the centre of attention. He's running a stall of what looks like everything and nothing, bright and incongruous in the midst of farmers dressed in a hundred shades of brown and selling sheep, cheese and gourd. Rodney pushes his way to the front of the crowds and the come home with me now demand he was going to make dies on his lips. John looks good, really good; his clothes are dark and loose and his hair's grown out. He's smiling at everyone, flirting them into a sale and from the flurries of money changing hands, he's doing well. "Hey," John says when he catches Rodney staring. He smiles but it isn't a hey buddy smile; it's empty and doesn't reach his eyes. He doesn't know who Rodney is. "Can I help you with something?" "I, uh." Rodney shakes his head; he doesn't know what John's place is here, but he's obviously got one, Rodney probably won't be able to just drag him away. "Yes." He casts his eyes around, looking for anything worth buying. There's a small carved whale in the middle of one table, it's the most innocuous looking thing he can see. "How much is that?" John picks it up, runs his fingers over the shape. "Twenty grots." "Twenty grots," Rodney starts to protest, because that sounds like a lot for something that small, then he hesitates. "What's a grot?" John frowns at him. "Grots," he says, pulling a couple of roughly shaped pieces of black metal out of his pocket. "All the worlds in this quadrant use 'em, where are you from?" "I-" Rodney starts then decides to ignore the question. "I don't have any of those." John shrugs, his eyes shift away from him, scanning the crowd for his next customer, already bored with Rodney. "You won't get very far around here without 'em," he says. "Wait," Rodney says, anxious and suddenly irrationally afraid that if he loses John's attention he'll lose John again. There's a small, flat, rectangular object sticking out of John's back pocket. Rodney waves his hand at it. "What's that?" he asks. John's hand goes to it immediately. "That's not for sale," he says. Rodney thinks he sees the object glow faintly when John touches it and he's instantly curious. "What does it do?" John's palm curves around it, protective, and it's definitely glowing now. Rodney hopes John actually knows what it does and that it's not going to do the sort of thing Ancient tech often does; namely blow up. "Nothing." "It only turns on for you, right? Not for anyone else on this backwater… around here." John stops backing away, his gaze snapping back to Rodney, hard and focused. "How do you know that? Who are you?" he asks. His voice is sharp but underneath he looks lost, afraid, like someone who must have woken up less than six months ago with no clue who he was. Without thinking it through, Rodney reaches out, puts his hand over John's. "John," he says. John snatches his hand back, eyes wide and shocked. Rodney wonders what he's done, maybe this planet has a touching-taboo; in the Pegasus Galaxy, that wouldn't even be weird. "That's not me," John says, and stumbles backwards. He steps into the person behind him, a tall, broad man, younger than him. The man laughs and steadies him. His hands come around John's waist and settle on his hipbones, and John leans back against him, looking relieved, and there goes Rodney's touching-taboo theory. The man whispers something in his ear and John nods. He glances back at Rodney then looks away, hurrying from the stall and into one of the tents where Rodney had seen other sellers milling earlier. "Hey!" Rodney calls, starting to follow him. "Wait." The guy who was just groping John stops him. "Hey, man," he says. His voice is slow and drawly and Rodney thinks either John is contagious or he actually stumbled on a planet where he fits in. "You can't go back there, traders only." Rodney starts to argue, then spies a path leading to the tents from the other direction. "Absolutely," he says quickly, "My mistake," and starts pushing his way through the crowds. Rodney's never been a fan of markets. His mother once took them to a Christmas one; it had been a claustrophobic rush of people and smells and noise and he'd grabbed Jeanie's hand and taken her to hide underneath one of the stalls until their mom was ready to leave. This one's ten times busier, but Rodney's a man on a mission so he barely notices. It's much easier to get to the tents when a hairy, colonel-molesting hulk isn't standing in his way and Rodney doesn't even feel the need to sneak when he reaches the tent John disappeared into; there's no one around this area. There's also no door, just a thick curtain and Rodney pushes it aside, swatting at it impatiently when it tries to smother him. "Honestly, I know you've lost your memory, but" he says before he's fully escaped the over-eager curtain. Then he takes in the scene before him and stops abruptly. John's on one of the two low-lying beds that make up half the tent's furniture. His shirt is unbuttoned, his pants riding dangerously low, and there is a man, not the man from outside even, spread out on top of him, kissing him, one hand rubbing circles in his chest hair. "Oh my God," Rodney says, and smirks viciously when the guy sucking on John's tongue jumps and nearly falls off the bed teetering on the edge until John jerks upright and pushes him the rest of the way. "What the hell are you doing here?" John demands, voice thick and scratchy. Rodney has to close his eyes briefly not to be turned on by that. "What are you doing?" Rodney snaps back. "You've always been slutty, but what? Are you a whore on the side now?" John's face flushes red then white. "I'm sorry?" he asks, all icy calm and Rodney might not have seen John for the past six months, but he remembers that tone. The guy who was making out with John obviously knows that tone as well and he looks between them then scrambles to his feet and disappears out of the tent. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" John demands, crowding Rodney backwards, getting into his space. Rodney knows he should be intimidated, is intimidated, but John's shirt is still gaping open and it's weirdly distracting. This wasn't how this was supposed to go; this wasn't how he was supposed to act when he found John again. "I'm sorry," he says and is surprised by how sincere he sounds. Four years in another galaxy and he's finally learned when to apologise. "I didn't mean that, can we just start over?" John has a hand fisted in Rodney's shirt and Rodney's taken aback by how threatening that really is. He's seen John angry plenty of times, but John's normally only annoyed with him, irritated, and there's always been an underscore of amusement; John's only been truly angry with him once and Rodney tries not to remember that ever. "I don't know who you are," John snaps, "And I don't care. Now fuck off before I decide to be insulted by what you just said." But Rodney's waited a long time for this. "I'm Dr Rodney McKay," he says, "And no, I won't. I’ve spent the last half year looking for you and the least you can do is hear me out." He lifts his chin and closes his eyes, waiting to be punched. He waits a long time. Just as Rodney's peeking his eyes open, John lets go of him and crosses to the other side of the tent. He ducks down under the bed and pulls out a box. Rodney can see John's uniform, folded neatly, John's tac-vest, his radio - everything John had on him when he disappeared. But what he pulls out is metal and shiny and fits inside the fist that curls tightly around it. His dog tags. "You know me?" John asks, but it's not a question. Rodney nods, straightens his shirt, clears his throat. "Yes." John looks down at the tags in his hand, rubs his thumb over the surface. The metal is dully shiny in the dim light; it looks as if John's worn it smooth. "What's my name?" "John Sheppard." Rodney thinks of the nit-pickiness of the American military and corrects himself. "John F. Sheppard." John doesn't react in any way except a tightening of his grip, Rodney can see the rubber edges of the tags press into John's palm. "And these numbers?" "Your social security number. 078-05-1120. The AF at the end stands for Air Force, it's the organisation you work for." This time, there's a flicker of expression in John's eyes. Rodney doesn't think about how John, his John, how Colonel Sheppard, would react if he knew just how much of his life Rodney had memorised. When John starts to ask something else, Rodney interrupts him. "Anything else or have I proven that I know who you are? Or would you like me to tell you about the scar on your neck or the blue mole on your arm?" John shrugs. "It doesn't prove anything," he says, but he doesn't sound sure. "Just because you know what it says on these things." "They're called dog tags," Rodney says quickly. "Identification tags. You wear them because you're in the military." John looks at him. Finally. "I'm a soldier?" "You're a pilot," Rodney corrects him, strange how the distinction always seemed irrelevant to him before. "You fly things. Aeroplanes. Metal machines that fly through the air." Something in John's expression shifts, going open, curious, maybe excited, just for a moment before he pulls the blank screen up again. He shakes his head. "I'm a trader. You must have the wrong person." "Oh come on!" Rodney snaps. "You don't believe that. What, is this the world's, the universe's biggest coincidence? Or maybe I'm just psychic, huh?" John frowns, he's looking lost again. Seeing an advantage, Rodney presses on. "Can we please just sit down and talk? Just hear me out and." Rodney stops there, he can't say And then I'll go because he won't. Slowly, John nods. "Okay." He waves his hand to the bed, watching while Rodney sits down then pulling up a squat little stool and sitting crossed-legged on it; he's between Rodney and the door, something similar to one of Teyla's fighting sticks within easy reach. Rodney clears his throat. "We were on a planet, a really crappy planet with too much nature and there was this girl, with you there is always a girl. You flirted with her and she took you seriously. When you didn't follow through, she got mad. Overdosed you on this memory-altering pill their pathetic excuse for chemists had made. When you woke up, you didn't remember us. You were still pretty high and paranoid and. You ran." John shrugs. "I don't remember that." "Like I said, you were pretty high." And frightened, John'd been so frightened and Rodney hadn't wanted to see it, had gone off with Ronon to cool both their heads. The solar system only had one ‘gate and the planet had an electromagnetic shield; the ‘jumper and their radios had all been useless. But they’d known that when they missed the check-in Elizabeth would send a rescue jumper, all they'd had to do was make it through ‘til then and then they could get home, get John fixed. They'd left Teyla with John and it hadn't been fair to blame her for John getting loose, but that didn't mean they hadn't done it. They'd been stupid, too confident, hadn't fully realised that John wasn't John anymore, that they had a stranger in his body. They'd made a mistake assuming John would trust them, assuming he wouldn't hurt Teyla to get away. "Who's we?" John asks. "You and me?" "Yes. You, me and the rest of our team. We live in a city called Atlantis and-" "The city of the Ancestors?" John interrupts, eyes wide. "Yes," Rodney says, trying to be patient. "That Atlantis. As I was saying, you lead a team that travels through the stargate, uh, the ring. We explore other planets." John's looking interested, but then he frowns. "Why?" "Because." The urge to say we just do is strong, but it would be wrong to treat his team leader like a small child, even if that is his default behaviour. "Because we're at war with the Wraith and we need to keep looking for new and exciting ways to defeat them." John's expression tightens; he knows about the Wraith then. "Everybody's at war with the Wraith, Dr McKay." "Rodney," he snaps, surprising himself with his own vehemence. "You call me Rodney. Or sometimes, when you're pissed at me or trying to maintain some macho, military distance, you call me McKay." He doesn't mention that that had been happening less and less often lately, that they'd finally been shifting from people who had to be friends to people who wanted to be. "And yes, everybody is at war with the Wraith, but we actually have some hope, a faint hope admittedly, of achieving something. Look, come back with me. You'll see that I'm telling the truth and our doctors might have a way to fix your memory." Carson found what he thinks is an antidote to the memory drug months ago, but without actually testing it on anybody, they can't know for sure. John's expression goes tight, worried. "No, thank you, and, hey, look, it's been great meeting you and all, but I have work to do and-" Rodney shakes his head, crosses his arms and tries to look as immovable as possible. "You can't tell me you aren't curious." The expression on John's face tells Rodney he's winning. "It doesn't have to be forever," he presses, even though inside he's screaming Yes it does, of course it does, I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again. John sighs, he looks tired. He turns away from Rodney and concentrates hard on buttoning his shirt. Rodney can see the tension in his shoulders. "Fine," he says eventually and a tightness Rodney hadn't been aware of eases in his chest. "Just to see." Rodney bounces to his feet, unable to conceal just how elated he feels. "Great, that's great." He waves his hands at John, who hasn't moved. "Come on. Come on. Grab your coat." John looks bemused. "You want me to come now?" Rodney starts to smile, he can't help it. The last six months have sucked, but he can finally see the end. "Either you come back, or I think Atlantis will fire up her own star drive and come to you. She misses you." John laughs, a surprised and surprising sound. "It's a city, Rodney." Rodney doesn't try to explain it; no one but the Colonel would have been able to and he never tried. "You'll see," he says instead. And he feels something burn in his chest, something like happiness, at the thought that John actually will see. The city goes into spontaneous orgasm the moment they step through the 'gate, and lights that Rodney hadn't even noticed were dimmed start shining brightly all over. But even though something passes across John's face that lets Rodney know that he feels the connection, John doesn't relax, doesn't give into the happiness exploding around him. They're greeted by four Marines and (acting Lieutenant Colonel) Lorne, P90s in hand. It's logical considering Rodney hadn't told any one except Chuck that he was going, but it makes John tense, hand going to the knife Rodney's learned he keeps in the belt doing nothing to hold up his pants. It's almost funny, seeing the stunned looks pass across everybody's face. Hell, it is funny. It's funny until Elizabeth comes racing down the stairs and tries to hug them; first Rodney who allows it and then John who does not; until he sees the tears on Teyla's face, the way Ronon can't seem to speak. John looks around himself, doing an excellent imitation of a dog that's walked into a cage and is starting to think oh shit. The sharp lines of his cheek bones are flushed; he looks confused and anxious and embarrassed, as the whole expedition starts to appear, seemingly out of the woodwork, wanting to see him, touch him, welcome him back. Just as John's really starting to look panicked, and Rodney is wishing he'd thought of a way to do this differently, Ronon gives a well-timed growl and everyone backs up a few steps. But the corridors and balconies are still packed, everyone crowding around to see. "Rodney," John asks, sotto voce, eyes fixed on Ronon, expression somewhere between wariness and overwhelming gratitude. "What the hell? Am I some kind of prince?" Rodney doesn't quite know how to answer that. The first week is strange. Rodney's gotten so used to John not being around, that seeing him in corridor, passing him in the mess, gives Rodney a physical, painful jolt. But while John might be back, he still doesn't trust them. He agrees to stay for the moment; he doesn't agree to do anything else. He won't let Carson near him with any needles, walks out of three of the four meetings Elizabeth tries to have with him, and when Lorne shows him the armoury, he runs his fingers over the weapons but won’t let Lorne test him to see how much he remembers. The only person he'll voluntarily spend time with is Ronon. If Rodney weren't as jealous as hell, he'd think it made sense. Seeing them do the rounds is like going back two years, only this time, it's John who's the outsider and Ronon who's showing him around, getting him comfortable again in his own city. Initially, they put John in his old room, but the few times Rodney's gets up the courage to visit him there, he isn't in. Rodney's not sure he's using the room at all; his golf clubs have a layer of dust on them, and his CD collection is too neat, untouched. Then, one night, Rodney finds John on the balcony of the southwest tower at three in the morning, curled in one of Teyla's soft hunting blankets and staring out at the waves. Rodney has a word with Lorne and gets John permission to move into one of the unused rooms. When John's been back two weeks, Lorne's team goes off-world to a planet with a spacegate. John happens to be in the gateroom when they go and the expressions on his face (awe, shock, want) make Rodney realise that no one's shown him the 'jumpers yet. "John," Rodney says and touches his elbow. "Come on." It was Rodney who showed him the 'jumpers the first time around, Rodney likes the symmetry of getting to do it again. That time, the first time, John had been delighted, but he'd also been freaked, worried about Sumner, about a city that had just risen from the bottom of the sea, about being in a new galaxy. Now, he's just excited. He smiles at Rodney and Rodney thinks finally. Then he thinks that of course it takes spaceships for John to like him again. John, predictably, wants to take a 'jumper out at once; his love of flying seems to be buried somewhere deeper than his memories. Rodney expects him to ask Ronon to go with him, which of course Rodney would have to veto since Ronon doesn't have the gene. But John asks Rodney. Teyla offers to go with them, but "No," Rodney says, too fast to be anything but rude. She doesn't seem offended though, just smiles her understanding smile and nods her head. John wants to go to the mainland, but the idea of crossing all that water with a pilot who doesn't remember flying makes Rodney feel shaky. So, Elizabeth gives them permission to fly to P98-67H where the population is both sparse and friendly and where there's lots of open space for John to learn how to fly again. Flying from the 'jumper bay into the gateroom and through the 'gate is almost all autopilot, but Rodney still feels better being the one in the pilot’s seat. They land on a grassy meadow on the other side of the 'gate and swap places. When John sits in the pilot's seat, the 'jumper lights up all around him and he closes his eyes. He looks peaceful and right for the first time since he came back and Rodney can't get over how stupid they were not to think of this before. "What do I do?" John asks him. His grin is huge and real. "Just think on," Rodney says, strapping himself in. "And then." The 'jumper rocks once, twice then glides forward smoothly. "Uh, yes," Rodney says, "Do that." They fly for hours. Over the planet, up into the atmosphere (even though Rodney squawks and rightly points out that no one's taught John how to do that yet). They're over the southern hemisphere, when the vague disconnected feeling Rodney's been able to ignore for the past half hour morphs inevitably into hot flushes and rolling dizziness. Once he's explained what hypoglycaemia is, John looks gratifyingly worried and lands on the next available flat space. They have lunch out on the grass; Rodney's got a second chance at making a first impression so he carefully doesn't complain (much) about his allergies. When they've finished eating, John lies on his back and smiles up at the sky, he closes his eyes and Rodney can't help taking the chance to look. John's hair is still long and it falls into his eyes, it makes him look younger, softer. His high cheekbones are flushed with the thrill of flying and weak, spring sunshine is turning the dark red lights in his hair a sort of burnished gold. As Rodney looks, John's eyes flicker slightly then open. Taken by surprised, Rodney is pinned, unable to pretend he wasn't looking and strangely unable to look away. With his face framed by the excessively, almost unnaturally green grass, John's eyes are very green and very soft. His lips have a slight upward curve, but it's his eyes that are really smiling. Rodney feels light-headed, and he's just eaten so he knows it's not blood-sugar related. "Aren't you curious?" Rodney finds himself asking. John blinks at him, and yes, those weren't the next words Rodney had expected to come out of his mouth, either. But it's a question that's been bothering him and this is the first time he's seen John's guard down since he got back. Rodney knows he'd be curious; if there were a switch he could flick to give himself more knowledge than he currently has, he couldn't imagine not taking it. John doesn't pretend to misunderstand. "Of course I'm curious, Rodney, it's my life. But what if-" "What if what?" Rodney can almost see John brace himself; force himself to admit his fear. "What if… I don't like it. I can't just un-remember again." Rodney can't help it, he laughs. "That's it? That's what all this has been about? You think you won't like yourself? Seriously, are you a fourteen year old girl?" John just smiles sadly. "Just, just give me a little longer, okay?" That, of course, is when everything goes to hell. Something cold and metal presses suddenly against Rodney's temple and a voice growls, "Your money or your life?" Some distant part of Rodney boggles that people actually say that, but the rest of him settles for freaking out because someone is saying it to him. "We don't have anything," he says, standing up slowly and trying to sound calm; he watches John do the same. He thanks Jesus, Moses, Buddha and the Ancients that they remembered to cloak the 'jumper. "That's a shame," says the voice. Rodney can just about make out the man in his peripheral vision. He's wearing a Genii uniform. Rodney hears a click and thinks Oh God someone is actually going to shoot me. His elbow comes up without thinking about it, before he knows it's going to, before he even remembers he's had self-defence lessons, never mind what he learned from them. It connects with the man's throat and he falls back, choking while Rodney scrambles away. He stumbles into John and John catches him with one hand, the other going instinctively to his thigh. His thigh where his holster used to be and where it isn’t anymore. Rodney realises with a sickening sort of dread that he’s the only one here with combat experience, the only one with a weapon. From the corner of his eye, Rodney sees their attacker straighten up, sees him lift his gun hand. Rodney grabs his own pistol and turns, flicking the safety off and pulling the trigger before he can think. Blood blooms across the man's shirt and he falls down, dead or dying it's the same, and then there's silence all around them once more. John's staring, staring like he's never seen a man killed before and Rodney's suddenly sick of it. But then John says, small voiced and shaking. "I-I should have done that. I should have known how to do that." Yes, you should have, Rodney wants to say. I just killed someone. You never used to let me do that. but he doesn't, partly because it's unfair but mainly because he's numb suddenly and can't make his mouth form words. "I'm sorry," John says. He closes his hand around Rodney's wrist, carefully prising the pistol from Rodney's fingers. Rodney hadn't even realised he was still holding it. Rodney shakes his head and heads for the ‘jumper. "I thought the southern areas were uninhabited?" Elizabeth says later. "So did we," Ronon mumbles. He's been giving Rodney glares since they got back that say You nearly got him killed. "He was Genii," Rodney says loudly over the interruption, "Probably one of Kolya's rebels." "We should warn the Gafreans that they have Genii on their planet," Teyla suggests, "And perhaps ask Major Lorne to take a puddlejumper across to gauge their numbers." "Who's Kolya?" John asks. This is the first meeting he's voluntarily come to since he got back. There are several answers Rodney could give to that, each one slightly more horrific than the last. The answer he gives is automatic and the worst by far; he curses himself the moment it's out of his mouth. "He's the bastard who fed you to a Wraith last year," he snaps. Rodney watches John go abruptly pale and realises that it's possible he's not thinking completely clearly. Those of them who came from Earth have a different way of dealing with the Wraith, than the Pegasus natives. The Wraith are cartoon baddies, science fiction monsters, anyone who's seen a horror movie can think about them with some level of superior detachment until one's right on top of them. For Ronon and Teyla and the other Pegasus natives they're a reality, something that's killed their friends and family and will probably kill them, and that's how John sees them now. "You were fine," Elizabeth says, shooting Rodney a glare. She reaches across the table to touch John's arm. "You are fine." John flinches and pushes his chair half way across the floor trying to get out from under her touch. "Excuse me," he says and leaves. Rodney presses his fingernails into his palms and stares at his PDA. He knows everyone in the room is glaring at him; he doesn't need to see it. Later that evening, when Rodney's feeling less shocky and more guilty, after Lorne has come to his rooms and attempted to give him the So You Had to Shoot Someone pep talk that the Colonel used to be really bad at, he sets off to find John. He checks John's room first and isn't surprised not to find him there then he goes to find Ronon. Ronon and Teyla are in the gym; she's meditating, he's taking a nap, but John isn't around. "I believe he went to the infirmary," Teyla says then picks up one of her sticks and throws it at Ronon. John is, indeed, in the infirmary. He's sitting on the one of the beds, rocking his feet and talking to Carson quietly. "Hi," he says when Rodney comes in. He smiles but his eyes dart over Rodney quickly, then away. "What are you doing?" Rodney asks. "I-" "Oh no." Rodney shakes his head. "You are not getting your memory back because of what happened today." He doesn't fully understand why John won't take the antidote, but he knows the reason is very real to John. "Nothing that happened out there was your fault." "Rodney," Carson starts to say, but a look from John silences him. He looks between them, obviously worried, then backs out of the room. John glares at Rodney. "I've read the reports, Rodney. Are you telling me that he, that I, that Colonel Sheppard" - John has serious identity issues at the moment - "Would have screwed up like that and left you to kill someone?" Rodney winces. He's fine with shooting some Genii bastard who wanted to kill him. Except for when he's not. "It wasn't your fault," he says again. But it comes out thready, unsteady and he clamps his mouth shut rather than embarrass himself further. John's expression softens, eyebrows pulling together in concern. "Hey, Rodney," he says softly. "No," Rodney snaps. "You know what? I don't think he would have minded." Rodney doesn't know when he started using "he" for the Colonel but he thinks John probably appreciates it. "I think he would have been proud. He taught me how to shoot the fucking thing after all." It's a lie, yes the Colonel taught him how to shoot, but he hadn’t wanted to, hadn’t wanted any of the scientists to ever have to know what it feels like to shoot someone. But John doesn't know that, and Rodney's place as world's biggest asshole is cemented when John goes pale. "I-" Rodney says, but he can’t find sufficient words to say next. John looks down at his hands, turning them over to study the backs before slowly looking up at Rodney. Rodney wonders for one, giddy minute if he was looking for blood stains. "Fuck off, McKay." John says, voice flat, and for once, Rodney does. He's been back in his room for ten minutes when the door chimes and John walks in. "Colonel?" Rodney asks. John shakes his head, glances away then back again. "Sorry Rodney, still me." "Nice to see someone listens to me," he says instead of any of the things he means. John stands awkwardly in the centre of Rodney's bedroom, shifting from foot to foot. "Sorry," he says at last. He's fallen into parade rest, but Rodney doesn't point that out. "About back there." He waves a hand over his shoulder. Rodney twists his hands until he worries they're going to fall off, then sits on them. "That should probably be my line," he admits, just as awkward. John glances up, that under the lashes look he's perfected since he went away. "Were we this bad at this before?" he asks with a slight smile. "This?" John shrugs with half his body. "Communicating." Rodney can't help laughing, though he cuts it off when John frowns. "God, yes," he says. "Worse." He screws up his courage and offers John a smile, he doesn't think about how relieved he is when John returns it. "So, uh." John moves across the room and, when Rodney doesn't object, appropriates half of the bed, sitting cross-legged the way Teyla does. "I didn't go to the infirmary to get changed back." When Rodney just looks at him, he looks down at the bedspread, picking at it between his fingers. "Well, I maybe considered it. But just kind of in passing. But I, uh, I don't think I'm ready yet." He pauses then adds with painfully false nonchalance, "I asked Dr Beckett about the thing you mentioned. With the Wraith?" "Oh." The knot of shame that's been simmering inside Rodney since the briefing room collapses down hard and heavy in his gut. "I'm sorry about that," he says, "And if you remembered me, you'd know that's not something I often, or in fact ever, say." John nods quickly once. "Beckett told me how you went to rescue." A pause. "Me." Rodney pulls himself up straight on his side of the bed and lifts his chin. "That's what we do. We take it in turns to save each other's life." John looks away. "So I really did fuck up today then, huh?" "No," Rodney snaps. "You're not Colonel Sheppard, we shouldn't expect you to be." "Do you resent me?" John asks, staring fixedly at where he's picking a tiny hole in the blanket. "For not being him?" "Me, or?" Rodney waves his hand awkwardly. "Everybody." "Well, Atlantis doesn't. She hasn't noticed a change." "Rodney." "No, okay. No one resents you. No one even blames you. If I could forget all the crap we've gone through in this galaxy I would as well." John smiles at him slightly. "No you wouldn't." "Well." Rodney can't really argue with that. Knowledge is everything, he wouldn't forget any of it. Except maybe the look on Gaul's face just before he died. Or the sound of his friends' screams. "John, most of the people here are morons; they like having him around because then they can fuck up and know there'll be someone to pick up the pieces. They miss having a hero but they don't miss him, because they don't know him." "What about you?" John asks, looking sideways at Rodney. "Did you know him?" Rodney thinks about chess and movie nights and stuttered nightmares on overnight missions. "Yes," he says. "I knew him." John nods, as if Rodney's just confirmed something he already knew. He reaches into one of the huge pockets of what Zelenka's taken to calling his Tatooine shirt and pulls something out; it's the flat Ancient device he was carrying around with him the day Rodney found him. "You asked about this," John says, and Rodney might not excel at social nuance, but he recognises a peace offering when it's waved in his face. "It's a map of the stars," John says, voice hushed. He stretches out on his back and lays the object on his stomach and touches it again. There's a crackle of blue light and then the air above them is filled with constellations, planets and space debris. It's like standing unsupported in the middle of space with nothing to obstruct the view. "Oh," Rodney says, completely unable to do more that stare. The lure of astrophysics has always been math to him, not the stars, but this, this is beautiful. John tips his head, smiles at him. "Neat, huh?" Distracted by John's smile, it takes Rodney a beat to answer. "Yes, very, uh, neat." John touches it again. The picture revolves, zooming in on an area at the edge of the Pegasus galaxy. "That's where you found me." John touches the box again and again, the picture changing each time. Finally he lands on one where Atlantis is visible, off to the left. "Wait," Rodney says. "Stop." They lie on the bed, side by side, looking at the stars. "I-" John says then stops. He clears his throat and starts again "I found it on one of the stalls a few months ago. I used to turn it on and look at the planets; I wanted to go to them, I didn't know I already had." Rodney doesn't know what to say. He turns his head and watches John's profile. His face is lit by the soft blue lights from the Ancient device. He looks ethereal and pale, transparent and beautiful in a way Rodney's never before been allowed to see. John is oblivious to Rodney's watching him, staring at the galaxy with a hungry look on his face. "Have we been there?" he asks, pointing to the closest object to Atlantica, the L-point satellite where they lost Abrahms and Gaul. The mission was a disaster, the epitome of how to fuck up in the Pegasus Galaxy without even trying, but it was also the first time he realised that saving Sheppard's life meant as much to him as saving his own, the first time he saved the day without science. John must read something on his face because he shifts closer. "Tell me?" So Rodney tells him. And then he tells other stories, ones that end without death or destruction or life sucking Wraith. His hands catch the lowest stars when he uses them to illustrate a point and Rodney thinks he might be hypnotising himself, when he glances at John out of the corner of his eye, John's expression is glazed and captivated and Rodney's certain he's hypnotised him. "Wow," John says when Rodney's talked himself hoarse. "We've been busy." He's propped on his elbows, looking down at Rodney, right in his space. There's something intent in his expression that Rodney can't meet so he starts to tell him about going to Sateda, wanting to make sure John knows he has a team; that they're more than the abstract idea he's been shown since he got back, that they're people he cares about. But John stops him with lips on his own. It's just a gentle kiss, hardly anything and Rodney's lips part automatically, knowing this is wrong but still wanting it. But then John's tongue licks along his bottom teeth and Rodney knows it's gone too far. "Stop," he says and gets off the bed. He gets two steps before John's up and off the bed. "Come on, Rodney." It's so close to the way John used to whine his name that Rodney's chest hurts. "I've talked to people and over half of them reckon we were together before." John's smiling at him, he looks teasing and eager and Rodney is sick of being noble, but he has to be because the idea of John getting his memory back and hating him is ten times worse than never getting to touch John. "I'm sorry," he says and wants to close his eyes when John's expression starts to fall. "No." But John shakes his head, he's still coming forwards. "You're lying," he whispers. "Aren't you? We did this." He catches Rodney by the shoulder and his forehead rests on Rodney's, sharing breath. "No." It's hard to say, but it's true. Rodney stops him with a hand in the centre of his chest. "We never did." "Why?" It's not plaintive, not even perturbed, just soft, curious. Rodney sighs. He's a terrible liar and he doesn't even want to lie to John. "I've no idea." He feels John smile, more than he sees it, hears the soft chuff of a relieved laugh that goes with it. Then John's kissing him again. This is still a bad idea, Rodney thinks, but he spent six months thinking he'd never see John again and another month having to watch the this new John learn his way around Atlantis again with lost eyes and a fake smile, cutting himself off from the people who should matter. He slides his hand from John's chest to his back and pulls them tight together. John's back is smooth under his shirt, it's hot in here and his skin's a little sweaty, a little sticky. Rodney can't get enough. He digs his fingers into the nape of John's neck, flexing muscles that normally only get used lifting boxes in the labs to pull John against him, to not let him go. John tastes of heat and mint and coffee. He kisses Rodney back just as furiously as Rodney kisses him, meeting him taste for taste. It takes a moment before he realises that they've stopped kissing, that he's just gasping raggedly into John's open mouth, that John's gone still in his arms, and that he's probably crushing him. "Sorry," he says. "God. Sorry." He staggers back, but his hand doesn't leave John's arm, he can't force himself to get far enough away. John follows him, pressing up against his side and grinning at him. "You kind of missed me, huh?" he asks, moving his mouth up to drag his tongue over Rodney's stubble. Rodney gasps and then John is pressing closer; his hands stroking the material of Rodney's shirt. He leans down to bite Rodney's jaw. "I've got the feeling I've maybe always wanted to do this," he murmurs. "Really?" Rodney begins then rolls his eyes. "No, of course not really, you have amnesia. That was almost a good line, Colonel, well done." "Don't," John whispers, "I'm not the Colonel." Something painful thuds in Rodney's belly. "No." He pulls away. "You're not. I can't." John closes his eyes, just for a second. When he opens them again, his expression is guarded. "You're in love with him?" he asks. "No," Rodney snaps before he can think it through, "God no, of course not, I'm." John rests his head on Rodney's shoulder, squeezes his arm. "Rodney it's... it's fine. If he's anything like me," he lifts his head and Rodney can see the ironic twist of his lips, "He'll be pleased." Rodney doesn't think so, but he doesn't say anything. His hand is still low on John's back, almost cupping his ass, and his moves it slowly, cautiously, exploring the dip and swell under his t-shirt and pants. "Rodney?" John asks, "I thought," "Yeah," Rodney breathes. He shouldn't be doing this, he really shouldn't be doing this, John will get his memory back and then punch Rodney's lights out, he'll kill Rodney a hundred times and no one will ever prove a thing. "I'll stop very soon. Very, very soon. Just give me one more minute." John laughs softly, puts his head back down on Rodney's shoulder while Rodney slowly, reluctantly forces himself to let go. It turns out that the planet they found John on is flagged in the Ancient database as a possible source of naquadah. With John now (more or less willingly) living with them, it seems the perfect time to explore some diplomatic relations. Elizabeth arranges for her, John, Teyla and Ronon to go through with her, talk to the people in charge and see if they will trade. Rodney's unsurprised not to be invited on this mission. He's also relieved; he doesn't know how many natives of the planet he can watch grope John without doing something inappropriate like encouraging Ronon to eat them. Unfortunately, Elizabeth comes down with flu (space flu Rodney calls it, but only once because Elizabeth with a fever is scary) and Rodney is made to take her place. The local people greet John with open arms and grabby hands, and then sit them down and pass around plates of what could, on a good day, pass as food. Rodney takes the seat next to John and looks quizzically at his food. "How is it?" he asks. "Good," John says around his fork, "Really good." Rodney looks at the expression on John's face, decides he's not just being polite and takes his own mouthful. And for a second it is good, really good. Then, under the rich, heavy taste of meat, he makes out something else, something as terrifyingly familiar as ambulance sirens and drawn-out, aching death. He drops his fork and leans over to spit and spit just as Teyla frantically swallows her own first bite and says "Rodney!" Rodney can hear his own breathing getting rough, can feel the tightness in his chest, the bright burning pricks of hives breaking out across his skin. He's on the floor without knowing how he gets there, Teyla's shouting at someone, maybe her radio, and Ronon's kneeling beside him, hands on him, holding him still, talking to him with words Rodney can't hear over the frantic beating of his own heart. The thump and the sting of the epinephrine shot pierces Rodney's panic and he drags in a relieved gasp even though breathing hurts like hell and he still can't do it easily. Ronon swings him up into his arms and they set off at a run for the 'jumper. Rodney hears Ronon yell at someone and manages to turn his head enough to see Teyla, face set and pale, dragging John up the ramp into the puddlejumper. John looks confused and terrified; he's the last thing Rodney sees before the motion and the shot combine and he has to roll his head away and try not to puke on Ronon. "It wasn't your fault," Rodney says later that evening, safe and warm and breathing in Carson's infirmary. There are hives all down his arms and, from the feel of it, across his face, he's been sick more times than he wants to think about and adrenaline is making his skin try to jump off his bones. John's sitting on the side of his bed, arms wrapped around himself, making an occasional and always aborted movement toward touching Rodney's hands, before sitting back rapidly. "Seems like you've got to say that a lot lately." "This was my fault," Rodney croaks; his throat hurts, and this really does never get old. "Well, no, it's my parents' fault for breeding and mixing their DNA. But it wasn't yours." "You, uh," John looks away. "When you asked if the food was okay, you forgot didn't you? You thought you were asking him?" "Yes," Rodney admits, because he's tired and he isn't great at prevaricating anyway. "But again that's my fault not yours." John swallows hard; Rodney watches the movement of his throat. "If you'd have died, then it would have been my fault for not taking Carson's antidote." Rodney opens his mouth to protest, but stops when John stands up. "I have to, Rodney. I couldn't. If you'd. I can't let you." He trails off and just stares at Rodney, eyes lost and hopeless. Rodney sets his jaw and nods. "Okay," he says. He's surprised by a pain in his chest and for a second he's scared he's having a secondary reaction, then he realises that as much as he misses the Colonel, he might not be ready to give John up just yet. Carson listens to John then squeezes his arm, he nods but then Rodney hears him say "Sleep on it" and "tomorrow". John nods curtly and goes to leave the infirmary, without turning back to say goodbye to Rodney. At the door, he stops. He's by Rodney's side in five quick steps and bends down low, cupping Rodney's cheek with one hand to hold Rodney still and pressing his mouth, hot and wet and soft, against Rodney's. When he pulls back his smile is pleased and regretful all at once. "Just in case the other me doesn't feel the same," he says, before really leaving this time. Rodney doesn't have any more reactions, and by the next afternoon, he's back in the lab. He hasn't seen John since last night, and he doesn't see him for the rest of the day. He doubts that John will change his mind, in any guise John Sheppard is a stubborn son of a bitch, and he's anxious about what might happen now, where it will leave him. And John. "Hey," says a voice from the doorway. Rodney looks up. It's him. He's leaning against the doorframe like it's taking the place of his spine. It makes Rodney's breath catch to see him here. "Colonel?" Rodney says, pushing back from his lab table, and it's an actual question. "Rodney," he replies, which doesn't really answer Rodney's question one way or the other. "Have you taken the, uh-?" He doesn't answer, just walks across the lab, coming to stop beside Rodney. Automatically, Rodney stands up. "Rodney?" he says again, and then he presses his mouth to Rodney's. His lips are soft, undemanding, slightly damp and if a kiss can be serious, this one is. Rodney can't help sighing against his lips, lifting his hands to hold on. They pull apart, a smile on both their faces, and for the first time, Rodney gets a look at his eyes. Without his memories, John's eyes had been clear and bright, almost child-like in their lack of pain. These eyes, the ones looking back at Rodney right now are Colonel Sheppard's eyes, older, wiser, and burning with affection. "Hi," he says, stroking his fingers through Rodney's hair. "Remember me?" Rodney's relief is instant and exhausting; he leans their foreheads together and lets himself rest against John, against Sheppard, against the best friend he's missed. "Hey," he says and holds on tighter. /End Title from Train - Drops of Jupiter Tags: fic, mcshep, sga	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1773
__label__cc	0.743535	0.256465	Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 92F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Search / 315 results found Showing: 1-10 of 315 8 things to know about your 401(k) when changing jobs. Dreamstime/TNS 8 things to know about your 401(k) when changing jobs. (Dreamstime/TNS) Anderson: Me and soccer – we’re like this One clear bit of evidence that I’m finally retired is that on Wednesday morning this week, I sat and watched the New York ticker tape parade f… Anderson: Go West, young pyromaniac -- to Evanston Every July 4 of my life I have tried to get as close to the fireworks as possible. It started with watching my dad and uncles setting off thei… Funds withheld from Blackjewel paychecks not put in retirement accounts Andrew Graham WyoFile.com Bankrupt coal mine operator Blackjewel LLC has withheld $1.2 million from employees’ paychecks without depositing the funds in the workers’ re… Anderson: At least the magpies missed us If you want to feel valued, go away for a week and stop feeding the birds in your front yard. Phil Rosenthal: Bob Ley was ESPN's conscience. So what's next after 40 years? By Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune Bob Ley joined ESPN just three days after its 1979 launch and, for much of that time, he has been its conscience. That is coming to an end, and the void Ley will leave behind - not just in what he did, but what he represented - is considerable. Anderson: Somewhere near Medicine Bow My spry old car, which has only 190,000 miles on it, never breaks down. Unless I’m 45 miles from civilization, that is. Last week I was racing… Smart Change: Personal Finance Spending And Saving Advice For College Grads MoneyTips Even though retiring is the furthest thing from the minds of most twenty-somethings, you need to invest sooner, rather than later for one reason – you have an advantage over everyone else: time. Time to let your money grow exponentially. There is a reason Albert Einstein is credited with calling compound interest "the 8th wonder of the world." It can work either for you or against you. Those who understand it, earn it. Those who don't, pay it. Let me elaborate. To understand truly how time affects money, let's look at Einstein's Rule of 72. This rule shows how long it will take to double your money, based on an anticipated interest rate. It's really easy to figure out and super-important to understand. In my opinion, it's one of the most important things to learn and apply throughout your life. For example, if you were to earn a 4% return on your money, it would take 18 years to d... Why Your Children Need Their Own Roth IRA Now Retirement Savings Better Than Ever Baby Boomers Not Ready For Retirement Anderson: He was robbed – and so were we Losing people to death impacts us in some specific ways. It’s a privilege to reflect on lives that were long and satisfying and it’s a heartbr… Anderson: High school: If I knew then… I’ve often envied my Casper friends who still run into classmates from 10th grade homeroom at the grocery store. They can attend reunions just…	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1785
__label__cc	0.73431	0.26569	Deza and Tabeirós-Terra de Montes Atlantic Islands Route of the Camellia Old towns The Route of the Wine Coastal tourism O Grove´s coast Inland north South of the Rías Baixas Useful guide Useful telephones numbers Tourist office network How do you travel? Are you a professional? Access my business You will receive an email containing your password at the address linked to the user name supplied. Return to the login page Pazo Quiñones de León Ruins of San Domingos San Sadurniño Tower O Facho Fraga de Catasós O Picón and O Folón The hot spring of A Gándara Towers of Oeste The Route of the Camellia The museum of the Soutomaior castle Way of Saint James Routes Flavours Landscapes Sport Water Art/monuments Traditions History A paradise for pedestrians Stroll around the city centre, visit this great museum and enjoy a drink or a meal at any of its squares Views with the Cíes Islands in the background Visit the old towns of Vigo and Baiona and immerse yourself in their fascinating history Land of vineyards and lamprey Enjoy the thermal springs of Mondariz and discover the wines from O Condado de Tea How to move around Nature/ The rivers/ The rías Natural Park of Aloia Hill Fraga de Catasós Wetlands and birds The gentle murmur of water The river landscapes of As Rías Baixas offer wonderful routes immersed in nature The importance of the As Rías Baixas riverscape lies not only on its beautiful landscapes. If you follow the paths along its rivers, you will discover places of great biological, historical and ethnological interest. Discovering a leafy forest, following the river routes, relaxing along one of their fluvial paths, or listening to the gentle sound of water, and enjoying the beauty of the cascades are enough reasons to visit places that will always surprise us with some hidden treasure. In the southern part of the province of Pontevedra is the most important river in Galicia, which passes through the towns of Crecente, Arbo, As Neves, Salvaterra de Miño, Salceda de Caselas, Tui, Tomiño, O Rosal and A Guarda, to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. This river is also the natural border with Portugal. Its estuary enjoys a great biodiversity and is a perfect place for birdwatching. Verdugo and Oitavén These rivers have their source in the hills of O Cando and O Suído. In its origin, Verdugo is a fast-flowing river with turbid waters, but it flows slowly as it meets the Oitavén River until it flows into the coastal inlet Ría de Vigo. Lérez Listed as a Site of Community Importance, the Lérez River has its source at 900 m of altitude, in the O Candán Hill (Forcarei). As it flows into the sea, it crosses riverside and deciduous forests of native oaks, chestnut trees, birches and pines. There are also very good riverside specimens of plants and animals and its river course has a high potential for fish production. Its origin is in the parish of Aciveiro (Forcarei) and is 63 km long, it flows from the inland part of the province into the Ría de Arousa, passing through the towns of Forcarei, Cerdedo-Cotobade, A Estrada, Cuntis, Moraña, Caldas de Reis, Portas, Barro, Vilanova de Arousa, Meis, Ribadumia and Cambados. In the estuary, you can see, depending on the season, a large number of migratory birds. It is one of the longest and fast-flowing rivers in Galicia. Its main tributary is the Deza River, which gives its name to a region of great biological interest with important deposits of tungsten, tin and olivine. ≡ Sitemap Useful telephone numbers Copyright © 2019. Deputación de Pontevedra. All rights reserved Disclaimer Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Discover in our newsletter all that the Rías Baixas has to offer	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1789
__label__cc	0.694309	0.305691	Panic on a Plate by Rob Lyons: A review In the last eighty years, the proportion of household income spent on food has dropped from a third to less than a tenth. Fruit and vegetables from around the world are on the shelves all year round. Women are no longer chained to a life of domestic drudgery. Malnutrition and rickets are a distant memory. For the first time in history, we who are lucky enough to live in the West do not have to worry about food. But worry we do – about genetic modification, fast food, BSE, childhood obesity, adult obesity, salt, margarine, cholesterol, fat, pesticides, red meat, food miles, carbon footprints and school dinners. At the very moment when we should be most relaxed about the food supply, we are bombarded with fears. Fast food is “addictive”, so we are told, and the food industry is trying to kill us for profit. Unless we take drastic action, most Britons will be obese by 2030. As Rob Lyons patiently explains in this splendid plea for sanity, these beliefs owe more to ignorance and prejudice than fact. Take the humble hamburger, which obesity crusaders have chosen as their very own Moby Dick. On the face of it, it is bewildering why “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”—to quote the old Big Mac slogan—should be the embodiment of evil. A burger is only bread, meat and salad. Each Big Mac contains 500 calories – a fifth of a man’s daily ‘limit’ - and you wouldn’t want to copy Morgan Spurlock’s silly experiment of eating nothing else, but it is no more fattening than the supposedly more wholesome alternatives. Ketchup is rich in vitamin C and so are fries - surprisingly, a portion of fries contains between a quarter and a third of an adult’s daily recommended vitamin C intake. There are better candidates for demonization in every middle class kitchen. “Cheese is roughly one third fat. Parmesan is also pretty salty. Olive oil is pure fat. Butter must be, by law, 80 per cent fat," writes Lyons. "Honey and raisins – usually regarded as ‘good’ – are practically pure sugar. Orange juice is 87 per cent water, almost all the rest is sugar.” Although equally calorific, pasta is 'good', chips are 'bad'. Fizzy drinks are out, but fruit juice – though more sugary – is in. Whether measured by salt, sugar, fat or calorie content, there is little to distinguish ‘junk food’ from haute cuisine. Our perception of good and bad food has less to do with nutrition than it does with class. The dominant view of diet in modern Britain, Lyons argues, “has more to do with a combination of middle-class angst and plain old-fashioned snobbery than anything else.” If you are what you eat then junk food is for junk people. Oh, how we sneered at those ghastly common folk in Rotherham when they shoved fish and chips at their offspring through the school railings. Except that these ‘junk food mums’ - these ‘sinner ladies’ - were actually delivering meals, including sandwiches and jacket potatoes, which any adult would remember from their own school-days, and were only doing so because the school had operated a lunchtime lockdown to force the hapless children to eat Jamie Oliver’s low-fat fodder. The Rotherham 'sinner ladies' Jamie Oliver is the proverbial bad smell in Panic on a Plate, popping up with depressing regularity as the voice of the diet police. After making the transition from Sainsbury’s shill (catchphrase: “none of that low fat malarkey”) to canteen crusader, the TV chef turned a reasonable campaign for better school dinners into a witch-hunt against the “tossers” and “arseholes” who dared to give their offspring a packed lunch. Few images sum up the absurdity of the obesity panic than the stocky mockney berating stick-thin kids for eating chips. If you watched it with the sound turned off, Jamie's School Dinners was an hour long illustration of how few school children are overweight. Turn the sound up, however, and Oliver was saving these young 'uns from certain death. Sausage, beans and chips might not be the most adventurous dish, but it is a perfectly nutritious lunch for active teenagers. With their boundless energy and growing bones, children burn off more calories than stout celebrity chefs. They also have naturally conservative palates, hence the nosedive in school dinners being served after the government capitulated to Oliver’s demands and substituted the much-despised Turkey Twizzlers for broccoli. There is little that can be usefully said about food beyond the common sense observation that calories consumed should be roughly commensurate with energy expended. For the food faddists, it is not a question of excess versus exercise, but of wholesome food versus killer junk. Despairing of the "numpties" of Rotherham, Oliver could only sigh in exasperation: "If these mums want to effectively shorten the lives of their kids and others' kids, then that's down to them." Like many a culinary campaigner, Oliver is fond of repeating the grotesque lie that today’s children will die before their parents. Even when put in its less misleading form of ‘this generation will die at a younger age than their parents’, this reference to the ‘obesity timebomb’ remains unlikely and is belied by ever-increasing life expectancy estimates. Obesity is not going to bankrupt the NHS. Centenarians might. The inevitability of parents burying their children in extra-large coffins is one of several oft-repeated ‘facts’ parroted by dietary dogmatists which do not stack up. Campaigners rarely acknowledge that obesity rates levelled off on both sides of the Atlantic ten years ago, and the claim that fast food is ‘addictive’ requires a definition of addiction that is so broad it would include any activity people find enjoyable. The claim that it is cheaper to buy 'junk food' than cook a meal at home is demonstrably untrue and the sainted Mediterranean diet has proved to be less healthful than was believed thirty years ago, while fears of salt, GM crops, BSE and manmade fertilisers have been shown to be greatly exaggerated when not utterly groundless. The middle classes have been susceptible to food faddism since the Victorian era, when the ‘back to the land’ movement ignited the first stirrings of popular vegetarianism and organic farming. As the urban population began to outnumber that of the countryside, a romantic, idealised view of nature emerged which can be seen to this day in such eccentric organisations as the Soil Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The underlying temper of our times,” writes Lyons, “is that anything processed or industrialised can be seen as adulterated and harmful, while anything that appears to be natural or close to nature can be regarded as pure and uncorrupted.” Jamie Oliver and his chins The fetish for organic vegetables epitomizes this foodie flim flam. Study after study has found no health benefits from eating organic produce and even organic devotees are unable to distinguish one from the other in blind trials. Far from being led by the evidence, the organic movement is deeply suspicious of science. Fearful of the slightest trace of ‘chemicals’ and suspicious of industry, the organic/anti-GM crowd is backward looking and elitist (hello, Prince Charles). Over-priced and over-rated, organic food is little more than a tax on the credulous. Just as Oliver yearned to return to the Golden Age of school dinners (no soggy semolina or concrete chips in his recollection), nostalgia for a bygone age of wholesome grub figures heavily in the modern war on fast and/or convenient food. “Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food,” says the writer Michael Pollan. Mmm, all those handpicked vegetables and buxom maidens toiling over churns of butter. Jumpers for goalposts. Marvellous. Or perhaps not. Your grandmother would probably not recognize spaghetti, hummus or kiwi fruits as food, but she would certainly be familiar with bread and dripping, gruel, fried everything and the early symptoms of scurvy. The range and quality of British food has improved immeasurably since the turn of the last century and supermarkets have broadened our horizons considerably. An illustration of this came when Delia Smith updated her 1970s cook books in 1995 and found that: “Almost everyone now has access to good olive oil, fresh herbs, imported cheese. I found myself over and over again deleting the words ‘or if you can’t get it…’” More choice, lower prices, less toil. What's not to like? What the food faddists don't like is the modern world. After decades of lingering on the fringes of public life, lentil-munching hypochondriacs have now found an audience at a time when the micromanagement of private behavior is the raison d'etre of British politics. The public health establishment is gearing up for a legislative crusade of tax rises and advertising bans on food which is overtly based on the anti-smoking campaign. Big Food is already being wheeled out as the new Big Tobacco, and politicians who lack bigger ideas are happy to lead the assault against what they are told is a new ‘epidemic’. The food on our table will be targeted by law-makers and single-issue campaigners for many years to come. The myths and half-truths discussed in Panic on a Plate will be echoed often and loudly. Prepare yourself by reading this excellent book. Buy Panic on a Plate from Amazon (UK) or Amazon (USA) Labels: diet police, other people's books "...the anti-organic movement is deeply suspicious of science." Surely you meant to say anti-GM? Snowdon said... Damn. Yes. The pro-organic and anti-GM. Changed it now. Ta. Dick Puddlecote said... Yep, this has been on my Amazon watch list for a couple of months, now it's available I'm looking forward to it. Glad the issue of class comes up, those food fetishists I am acquainted with often let their lofty masks slip when talking of 'fat northerners' in a derogatory tone. As if 1960s Coronation Street is still how anyone north of Bedfordshire lives. And Oliver didn't choose Peckham for his most recent sermon, did he? David C said... This is a brilliant "rant" against the foodie idiots. You should start doing youtube versions for the hard of reading. dearieme said... Quite right too. But "substituted the much-despised Turkey Twizzlers for broccoli" is confusing. The Battle of Ideas Another barking mad idea from a doctor A fat man explains the slippery slope Minimum pricing - still illegal Review of The Art of Suppression Alcohol Concern's sleight of hand Cigarette butts - some loony proposals Who do you believe? Snus and e-cigarettes work Teetotallers die younger, don't let 'em fool you The situation in Europe Stanton Glantz: Clueless clown While I was out Out and about in October	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1794
__label__wiki	0.985574	0.985574	'Young Sheldon' is not a mini-'Big Bang Theory,' CBS promises Iain Armitage is 'Young Sheldon' in new CBS show - YouTube/Playbill Video The 'Big Bang Theory' spinoff will debut in the fall and will go back-to-back on Thursday nights. by RL Cruise May 21, 2017 at 9:12 PM Sun 21 May 2017 09:12:01 PM EDT Viewers looking forward to watching "Young Sheldon" when it debuts on CBS this fall shouldn't expect a mini-"Big Bang Theory." The network promises that the two shows will be very different. For one thing, "Young Sheldon" is more of a single-camera, laugh track-free show, whereas "Big Bang Theory" is a multi-camera series. CBS Senior Vice President Kelly Kahl also said that the show's tone could be, in fact, more likened to "The Wonder Years" or "Doogie Howser." Picking Iain Armitage "Young Sheldon" follows the 9-year-old version of "Big Bang Theory's" lead character, Sheldon Cooper. He's starting out high school as a genius student in Texas in the year 1989. Playing the lead in "Young Sheldon" is child star Iain Armitage, who is only 8-years-old in real life. Viewers may recognize him on the critically-acclaimed "Big Little Lies" show on HBO where he played Shailene's Woodley's son, Ziggy. The boy's character was wrongly accused of bullying a classmate in the drama series. Executive producer Jim Parsons, who plays the adult Sheldon in the original show, said Armitage really stood out during his audition. The actor revealed they saw plenty of tapes of young actors but Armitage "popped immediately," as per Entertainment Tonight. Jim Parsons has since been coaching Armitage on how the younger version of his character should behave, especially after playing him for 10 years. Parsons said the budding young star is listening well and is a better actor than he was at this age. More 'Young Sheldon' details Aside from Armitage, the show also stars Zoe Perry as mom Mary, Lance Barber as dad George, Montana Jordan as brother George Jr., and Raegan Revord as his twin sister Missy. Perry is actually the real-life daughter of Laurie Metcalf, who plays Sheldon's mom in the original series. Working alongside Jim Parsons as the show's executive producer is Todd Spiewak, his real-life husband. "Big Bang Theory" bigwigs Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro co-created the show and have also enlisted Jon Favreau as executive producer. Incidentally, Favreau directed the pilot episode for "Young Sheldon." CBS plans to debut the show on Monday, Sept. Waitrose worker gets signed by music exec during shift 25. Then, it will fall into the Thursday time schedule by November. Meanwhile, "Big Bang Theory" will return for Season 11 in the fall. The previous season ended with a cliffhanger where Sheldon proposed marriage to his long-time girlfriend Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). RL Cruise RL Cruise has a degree in Journalism and has been in the news business since 2005, covering entertainment and lifestyle beats. She's also a freelance online writer with extensive experience in niches like relationships, parenting and health. Follow Lilian Rachel on Twitter Read more on the same topic from RL Cruise: Angelina Jolie vs. Jennifer Aniston: Feud revived over a new man? 'Dora the Explorer' live-action eyed from 'Transformers' producer Michael Bay Ellen DeGeneres & Portia De Rossi to remarry in Australia for 10th anniversary? Blasting News recommends 'TODAY:' Jenna Bush Hager takes daughter to work, talks mispronunciation with Willie Video 'America's Got Talent:' 12-year-old Luke Islam gets the Golden Buzzer from Julianne Hough Video 'General Hospital' spoilers: Lulu has a major meltdown Video 'The Young and the Restless:' Spoilers say Kyle may cheat on Lola Video 'Counting On': James and Jason celebrate graduation day after school and ALERT Bill Cosby celebrates 82nd birthday in prison, sends message to fans: 'become men of valor'	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1802
__label__wiki	0.527556	0.527556	About Mike Sivier Know Your MP! Vox Political Cookie Policy Vox Political ~ politics for the people Benefit cuts ‘drove mentally ill man to suicide’, sister claims Posted by Mike Sivier in Uncategorized [Image: www.disabledgo.com] Yet another man’s death has been attributed to the work capability assessment (WCA). Paul Donnachie was said have have had severe mental health problems. This could very well be the reason he missed four WCAs. It seems the DWP does not have any mechanism in place to ensure people with mental illnesses are aware they need to attend the fake ‘medical’ assessments – or, if there is such a mechanism, it appears not to have been followed in Mr Donnachie’s case. People with mental health issues who have been through the DWP’s WCA wringer are often likely to have “brown envelope phobia” – an irrational fear of government letters that means they often fail to open them and read the contents. Mr Donnachie may not have known that he was missing face-to-face interviews that were vital for the future of his benefit payments. It is a damning indictment against Glasgow City Council and his landlord (if different) that, having cut his housing and council tax benefits, nobody checked on Mr Donnachie to find out how he was proposing to live. Only last week, Iain Duncan Smith wrote to Commons work and pensions committee chairman Frank Field to say the DWP takes its duty of care seriously. This suggests that the DWP is guilty of neglecting that duty, laying it open to a charge of corporate manslaughter. If Mr Donnachie’s sister is serious in her intention to demand an inquiry into the death, then it seems likely that this is the charge that Iain Duncan Smith will face. A mentally ill man who committed suicide after his benefits were stopped was “murdered” by the Government, his sister has said. Paul Donnachie’s disability benefit was ended in June 2015 after he missed four work capability assessments by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP then informed Glasgow City Council that Mr Donnachie was capable of working, and that his housing and council tax benefits should also be stopped. The welfare cuts were backdated, so by the time the 50-year-old was informed, he was already in arrears with rent and council tax. His body was found in his Glasgow flat in January by bailiffs arriving to evict him, but he is thought to have killed himself two months earlier. He had severe mental health problems. Source: Benefit cuts ‘drove mentally ill man to suicide’, sister claims \| UK \| News \| The Independent Join the Vox Political Facebook page. If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved! Vox Political needs your help! If you want to support this site (but don’t want to give your money to advertisers) you can make a one-off donation here: Buy Vox Political books so we can continue fighting for the facts. Health Warning: Government! is now available in either print or eBook format here: The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times, is still available in either print or eBook format here: 5 thoughts on “Benefit cuts ‘drove mentally ill man to suicide’, sister claims” anon said: “Brown envelope phobia” has every indication of being a symptom of Complex PTSD – a psychological injury which can also be suffered by people without any pre-existing mental illness. A major symptom of PTSD is trigger-avoidance. Such envelopes would be a clear trigger reminding anyone traumatised by the DWP of their stranglehold over their lives. Given the DWP’s “correlation” with premature deaths, dreading their communications is not entirely irrational. All things considered the fear probably has far more to do with the appalling ordeals, interrogations and threats of benefit removals these envelopes come to announce. I suspect Mr Donnachie had a very good idea of what the letters contained WITHOUT having to open them, and felt very certain that due to his illness he would never find the resilience to face another WCA. Had Mr Donnachie been ‘braver’ and successfully complied, how long would it have been before the DWP dragged him back in to undergo a further round of needless psychological torture at public expense? When would it ever have stopped, other than with his death? The DWP’s own figures revealed a massive increase of diagnosed mental illness among benefits claimants in recent years, and while many may have been labelled with depression or anxiety, DWP generated Complex PTSD (where depression and anxiety can be common SYMPTOMS, but not the full diagnosis) seems a more likely explanation for most such cases. It may be dangerous to dismiss “brown envelope phobia” as a mere quirk of “mental illness” when the root cause has to be the immense fear and trauma that the DWP is seeding into vulnerable people’s lives. Until the murderous WCA and this government’s other tormenting of the sick and disabled are stopped, the only possible outcome will be more such tragic deaths. Mike Sivier said: While I accept that there is an argument to support your claim that “brown envelope phobia” isn’t entirely irrational, the fact is that people suffering from it become afraid of letters in brown envelopes without having any idea what the contents might say. They decide for themselves that the letters must signal something bad and do not open the envelopes for fear of seeing that signal. Trigger-avoidance, as you say. It’s still irrational because there’s no indication, on the face of it, that the letters are as bad as they think, and not opening them is more likely to hasten the dire consequence they fear than delay it. Damien Willey said: My wife has received the dreaded WCA appointment this week……turned up in a white envelope…. lambtonwyrm said: We dread the official brown letters arriving. You never know what it might be. amnesiaclinic said: Written to my MP calling for a halt to the WCA and sanctions while a thorough independent review carried out. I hope the sister will contact you and Maggie about her call for an inquiry and suing the DWP as she will need all the help and expertise she can get. Many condolences to her and the family. Join the Vox Political Facebook page! Does accusation=guilt as Patchwork Foundation vetoes Chris Williamson’s nomination as MP of the Year? The Establishment media is gagging support for Jeremy Corbyn and his friends. Here’s an example Refusal to condemn Trump’s racist tweets highlights where the problem lies in BRITISH politics Polls flip-flop over which party takes the lead. Who do you believe? Don’t be misled by biased news media – Jeremy Corbyn has huge public support All original material created for this site is © Mike Sivier. Posts may be shared, provided full credit is given to Mike Sivier and Vox Political, along with a link back to this site. Using any of my writing for a commercial purpose is not allowed without my express permission. Excerpts and links, including paraphrasing, may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mike Sivier and Vox Political with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Unless otherwise credited, all content is the site author's. The right of Mike Sivier to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. This includes scrolling or continued navigation. more information	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1805
__label__wiki	0.69247	0.69247	Brandinfo With world class entertainment and accommodations, Vietnam enters a new era for travel and leisure Update: May, 16/2019 - 09:26 Philippine Airlines is 2019's Most Improved Airline in the World - Skytrax Vietnamese designers tap the global fashion industry 'gold mine' BM Windows: pioneer in green buildings Expert speaks about delivering wellness Hong Kong giant invests nearly VND250 billion to buy Cosmo City and Docklands Saigon apartments Sunworld Ba Na Hills Carnaval Each of the five Sun World complexes in Vietnam offers a unique charm that has made the country’s leading destinations even more appealing. The origin of Disneyland On July 17, 1955, Disneyland first opened its doors in Anaheim, California, ushering in a new era of entertainment that would go onto capture the world’s imagination. Now there are a total of 11 Disney operated parks around the globe with five Disneyland locations and six other theme parks. By the end of 2018, Disneyland had welcomed more than 2 billion visitors globally—the equivalent to nearly one-third of the world’s population—since that opening day. For both adults and children, Disneyland is considered a must-see experience—one that they would gladly return to again and again. The theme parks are filled with thrilling rides and magical experiences that whisk all who enter into a fun-filled world. Most visitors agree that one day at Disneyland is never enough to see everything. Such the lure of the Disneyland brand, it’s no wonder that many people will happily fly overseas to experience the world’s most famous theme parks. In Asia every year, millions of people flock to Tokyo or Hong Kong primarily to visit Disneyland. After visiting both, many lovers of the brand will then dream of seeing Disneyland in Paris, California or Orlando. The birth of Sun World Over the years, many people in Vietnam have also flown to see Disneyland. But I have always longed to see the country have it’s own world class entertainments and theme parks—not just to cater for domestic tourists, so they don’t have to fly overseas, but also to entice more international visitors to experience fun and adventure in Vietnam. It wasn’t until I visited Sun World Ba Na Hills (Da Nang) that I realised we had something comparable. Located high up on a mountain overlooking Da Nang and the coastline in Central Vietnam, Sun World Ba Na Hills is a realm of fantasy that feels like something out of a fairytale with French castles and flower gardens all around. Covering 90 hectares, it’s not as vast as Disneyland but its setting is unique—and the cable car ride from Da Nang is an unforgettable experience. Through the year, various cultural festivals from around the world are celebrated, such as Christmas, Oktoberfest, Halloween, to keep everyone entertained. Kids will find no shortage of excitement and creative play at Fantasy Park, the largest indoor park in Southeast Asia. Other attractions at Sun World Ba Na Hills, include a funicular railway—the first of its kind constructed in Vietnam—and now, Golden Bridge, which became one of the world’s most famous pedestrian bridges overnight after opening last year, thanks to its unique setting and masterful design: a pair of giant hands cup the bridge, which straddles valleys, connecting the precipitous peaks. Already a huge ‘Instagram’ hit, Golden Bridge is a truly spectacular sight that has lured visitors from all across Southeast Asia and beyond to Da Nang. The good news is that Ba Na Hills isn’t the only Sun World in Vietnam. For adrenaline-seekers, Sun World Danang Wonders is the country’s premier destination. There they can discover Golden Sky Tower—the highest free fall tower in Vietnam at a height of 47 meters (equivalent to the height of a 13-storey building), and many more exhilarating rides, such as Queen Cobra—the largest ‘hang glider’ ride in Vietnam, which runs five 360-degree loops at a height of 34 meters—at this fun-filled entertainment complex in the heart of downtown Danang. Tourists visiting the world-renowned Ha Long Bay can now also visit Sun World Halong Park, another world class amusement park. One of the highlights there is to ride on the Queen's cable car and soak up the panoramic views in this heavenly part of the world. Visitors also love to relax at the appropriately named Zen garden, teenagers and adrenaline-seekers will adore Dragon Theme Park with an abundance of thrilling rides. They will also love Typhoon Water Park, which has been inspired by the leading water parks in the world, such as Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach in the US and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi. Bird view of Sunworld Hon Thom Narure Park Meanwhile, in the far north of the country, there’s Sun World Fansipan Legend in Sa Pa, and in the far south, Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park on the southernmost tip of Phu Quoc island, which have both also been wowing visitors, especially with their respective cable car systems. In Sapa, the cable car takes visitors right up to the peak of Fansipan (the “roof of Indochina”) while in Phu Quoc, the longest over-the-sea cable car ride in the world will transport passengers from the main island to Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park, where they can spend the day playing various water sports. Adding to the appeal of Sun World complexes, the investor Sun Group has also developed a number of world class accommodation options for travellers coming to these destinations. Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills, Sun Premier Village Ha Long Bay, Hotel de la Coupole (Sa Pa) and JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort are all award-winning, high-end accommodations offering superlative services in truly unique settings and easy access to each respective Sun World complex. This reveals the strategic vision of Sun Group who have strived to take tourism in Vietnam to the next level. With world class entertainment and accommodations, these one of a kind destinations have entered a new era of travel and leisure. Now, just as many Vietnamese once longed to see Disneyland, more and more international travellers are flying into Vietnam just to see these spellbinding locations. Ba Na Hon Thom Sunworld Local communities flourish in Vietnam’s leading tourism destinations (May, 30 2019) Phu Quoc island, a rising star for luxury tourism in Asia (May, 22 2019) In Vietnam, highly modern theme parks strive to honour traditional cultural values, too (May, 17 2019) How strategic investment is transforming Vietnam’s tourism landscape (May, 03 2019) Sun Group opens new cruise port (April, 29 2019) How Hotel de la Couple made Sapa a must-see destination for luxury travelers (April, 16 2019)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1809
__label__wiki	0.55272	0.55272	It’s the Monday after Austin Book Fest and I’m still riding the high of seeing so many amazing authors and friends this weekend! It was a great signing full of rock star authors. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers and authors who worked so hard to make this an unforgettable weekend! Now, back to reading and keeping you up to date on what’s coming soon! Atmospheric, gripping, and suspenseful—coming tomorrow on paperback > USA Today Excerpt: The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon Cover Reveal: Swear on this Life by Renee Carlino Just Announced: Beautiful by Christina Lauren Hot Pre-orders: Swear on this Life by Renee Carlino \| Beautiful by Christina Lauren \| Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo \| Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor \| Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson \| Replica by Lauren Oliver \| Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge \| Throne of Glass coloring book An explosive, passionate romance > At The Edge: Alpha Crew Part 1 by Laura Griffin (Available Now) Dive into Part One of this heart-pounding romantic suspense story, which continues in Edge of Surrender: Alpha Crew Part Two! When Emma Wright’s government plane goes down over the Philippine jungle, she’s forced to survive alone until an ultra-elite SEAL team goes in after her. As the leader of Alpha Crew, Ryan Owen is no stranger to challenges, but he’s never tackled anything quite like this sexy, smart, and resourceful woman. The mission is to get Emma home safely, but danger is everywhere, and Ryan’s unexpected desire for Emma could be a deadly distraction. Back home in California, Ryan’s mission is over—but Emma’s has just begun. She knows her plane crash was no accident, and she’s determined to uncover the truth about what happened—even if her quest for answers puts her at risk. Torn between duty and desire, Ryan searches for a way win Emma’s heart while protecting her from an invisible enemy who wants her dead. The thrilling conclusion to this Alpha Crew romance is just weeks away! Last Heartbreak by H.M. Ward (Available Now) When a hot guy with blazing blue eyes and a sexy smirk saves my ass and covers up my sins, I know I’m screwed. He’s poor, and is probably morally deprived like every other ass I’ve attracted recently. I admit it. I’m a moron magnet. If the guy’s a dick, then he sweeps me off my feet and promptly stabs me in the back. Billionaires are all the same. I’ve fallen for loser after loser, which earned me the classy reputation of being easy. I’m easy on the eyes, easy to bed. But no one knows the truth, no one knows the events that forced me into the ledge of that elite NYC hotel–no one except that strapped, hot waiter. Now I have to figure out if he’s an ally or an enemy. I need a friend, a real one, and not some jerk who’s after my money or my name. But If I make the wrong choice, it’ll destroy me. The ledge high above the city was only the beginning. No one can help me now. I’m on my own. The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon (Mar 08) – Paperback Release The latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McMahon (The Winter People) is an atmospheric, gripping, and suspenseful tale that probes the bond between sisters and the peril of keeping secrets. The Tower Motel was once a thriving attraction of rural Vermont. Today it lies in disrepair, alive only in the memories of the three women—Amy, Piper, and Piper’s kid sister, Margot—who played there as children. They loved exploring the abandoned rooms … until the day their innocent games uncovered something dark and twisted that ruined their friendship forever. Now, Amy stands accused of committing a horrific crime, and the only hint to her motives is a hasty message that forces Piper and Margot to revisit the motel’s past, and the fate of two sisters who lived there in its heyday. Sylvie Slater had dreams of running off to Hollywood and becoming Alfred Hitchcock’s leading lady, while her little sister, Rose, was content with their simple life. Each believed the other to be something truly monstrous, but only one knows the secret that will haunt the generations to come. Standalone thriller. Lady Midnight (#1, Dark Artifices) by Cassandra Clare (Mar 08) The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel. It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses. Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions… Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it? Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series. A Tyranny of Petticoats by Jessica Spotswood and more (Mar 08) Holden Scott is the prince of professional football. At least he was before he lost it all . . . or more to the point, before he threw it all away. Now he’s out From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines. Crisscross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They’re making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell. With stories by: J. Anderson Coats Y. S. Lee Katherine Longshore Caroline Richmond Robin Talley Leslye Walton Elizabeth Wein Slave to the Rhythm by Jane Harvey-Berrick (Mar 08) DANCE. Guns. MUSIC. Bullets. RHYTHM. Pain. Music in my head, dance in my body, the rhythm of my heart. How far can you fall in just one month? How quickly can the human spirit be broken? Where does evil hide in plain sight? Ash wants to dance. Needs it. To leave behind a life of expectation and duty, to set his soul free. But life is never that simple. Every step is a journey on a new road. For every action, there is a reaction. Every choice has a consequence. And when you meet the wrong person, all bets are off. Laney tolerates her limitations, pushing quietly at boundaries. But when Ash crashes into her world through rage and violence, it sets off a chain reaction that neither of them expected. Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (Mar 08) Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He’s living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves—Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There’s just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice. Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It’s not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn’t help that his new job isn’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves. Or can they? When Wes’s nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly? Porn Star by Laurelin Paige and Sierra Simone (Mar 08) You know me. Come on, you know you do. Maybe you pretend you don’t. Maybe you clear your browser history religiously. Maybe you pretend to be aghast whenever someone even mentions the word porn in your presence. But the truth is that you do know me. Everybody knows Logan O’Toole, world famous porn star. Except then Devi Dare pops into my world, and pretty soon I’m doing things that aren’t like me–like texting her with flirty banter and creating an entire web porn series just so I can get to star in her bed. Again. And again. With Devi, my entire universe shifts, and the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that Logan O’Toole isn’t the guy I thought he was. So maybe I’m not the guy you thought I was either. The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Briggs Waller (Mar 08) The adventures of a British girl in China, hunting for the orchid that will save her family. Staid, responsible Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters growing up in a small English market town in 1861. The girls barely know their father, a plant hunter usually off adventuring through China, more myth than man. Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan reneges on his contract to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid. He will be thrown into debtors’ prison while his daughters are sent to the orphanage and the workhouse. Elodie can’t stand by and see her family destroyed, so she persuades her father to return to China once more to try to hunt down the flower—only this time, despite everything she knows about her place in society, Elodie goes with him. She has never before left her village, but what starts as fear turns to wonder as she adapts to seafaring life aboard the tea clipper The Osprey, and later to the new sights, dangers, and romance of China. She comes to find that both the world and her place in it are so much bigger than she’d ever dreamed. But now, even if she can find the orchid, how can she ever go back to being the staid, responsible Elodie that everybody needs? The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters (Mar 08) A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten. 1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather. The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night. Map of Fates by Maggie Hall (Mar 08) “A Da Vinci Code–style thriller for teens? Yes please.”—TeenVogue.com Two weeks. That’s how long it took for Avery West’s ordinary life to change forever. In two weeks, she discovered she was heiress to a powerful secret society known as the Circle, learned her mother was taken hostage by the Circle’s enemies, and fell for a boy she’s not allowed to love, just as she found out another was her unwelcome destiny. Now Avery crosses oceans in private jets to hunt for clues that will uncover the truth about the Circle, setting her mom and herself free before it’s too late. By her side are both the boys: Jack—steady, loyal, and determined to help her even at the expense of his own duty—and Stellan, whose connection to Avery grows stronger by the day, making her question what she believes at every turn. But at the end of a desperate hunt from the islands of Greece to the red carpet at Cannes comes a discovery that not only changes everything, but could bring the whole world to its knees. And now Avery is forced to face the truth: In the world of the Circle, no one is what they seem. The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins (Mar 08) Recommended Fantasy Wendy Higgins, the author of the New York Times bestselling Sweet Evil series, reimagines a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale with The Great Hunt, a dramatic, romance-filled fantasy with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom. When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous. Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the secrets he’s buried begin to surface against his wishes. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (Mar 08) Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female. Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead. Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew. Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power. The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Mar 08) Brooklyn, 1947: In the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born, minutes apart. The mothers are sisters by marriage: dutiful, quiet Rose, who wants nothing more than to please her difficult husband; and warm, generous Helen, the exhausted mother of four rambunctious boys who seem to need her less and less each day. Raising their families side by side, supporting one another, Rose and Helen share an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic winter night. When the storm passes, life seems to return to normal; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear and the once deep friendship between the two women begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost, but not quite, wins. Moving and evocative, Lynda Cohen Loigman’s debut novelThe Two-Family House is a heart-wrenching, gripping multigenerational story, woven around the deepest of secrets. Redemptive (Combative Trilogy) by Jay McLean (Mar 08) It’s said that your life flashes before your eyes when you die. It must only happen to those whose lives were worthy. Clearly, mine was not. The only thing that happened to me was a repeat of what I thought was my death. The blast of the gun as it went off. The loss of my breath as two hundred pounds of dead weight dropped on top of me. And then darkness. This replayed over and over. When the guy squatted down next to me and asked if I was hurt, the only thing I could see, feel, hear, were those few seconds. Even now, as I sat in the back of a blacked out van—it was the only thing that ran through my mind. Gunshot, breath, darkness. Reading Order: Combative 99¢ \| Redemptive The Drew + Fable 4-Book Bundle by Monica Murphy (Mar 08) Discover the series that became a bestselling phenomenon for Monica Murphy, who has won raves from Katy Evans, Jay Crownover, and K. A. Tucker. Drew and Fable are from different worlds—until a provocative stunt pulls them together and changes everything. Their story unfolds over two novels before shifting focus to their friends and family in books three and four. Full of searing chemistry, exquisite angst, and mind-blowing twists, this addictive ebook bundle begs to be read straight through. ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND THREE BROKEN PROMISES FOUR YEARS LATER Temporary. That’s the word I’d use to describe my life right now. I’m temporarily working double shifts—at least until I can break free. I’m temporarily raising my little brother—since apparently our actual mother doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I always end up as nothing but the temporary girlfriend—the flavor of the week for every guy who’s heard the rumor that I give it up so easily. At least Drew Callahan, college football legend and local golden boy, is upfront about it. He needs someone to play the part of his girlfriend for one week. In exchange for cash. As if that’s not weird enough, ever since he brought me into his world, nothing really makes sense. Everyone hates me. Everyone wants something from him. And yet the only thing Drew seems to want is . . . me. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Drew is sweet, sexy, and hiding way more secrets than I am. All I know is, I want to be there for him—permanently. Jackson’s Trust by Violet Duke (Mar 08) New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke kicks off her fun and sexy new Fourth Down series with a heartwarming friends-to-lovers romance between a no-strings-attached sports analyst and the hottest damn tomboy he’s ever met. It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is . . . complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer . . . until now. Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own. Rough Rhythm: A Made In Jersey novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Tessa Bailey (Mar 08) God help the woman I take home tonight. Band manager James Brandon never expected to find the elusive satisfaction he’d been chasing, let alone stumble upon it in some sleezy Hollywood meat market. Yet the girl’s quiet pride spoke to him from across the bar, louder than a shout. Troubled, hungry and homeless, she’d placed her trust in him. But after losing the grip on his dark desires that one fateful night, James has spent the last four years atoning for letting her down. This time I’ll finally crack him. Rock band drummer Lita Regina has had enough of James’s guilt. She wants the explosive man she met that night in Hollywood. The man who held nothing back and took no prisoners—save Lita. And she’ll stop at nothing to revive him. Even if it means throwing herself into peril at every turn, just to get a reaction from her stoic manager. But when Lita takes her quest one step too far, James disappears from her life, thinking his absence will keep her safe. Now it’s up to Lita to bring James back…and ignite an inferno of passion in the process. Available Now > (Click images to purchase – you will not be charged until book is released) http://amzn.to/2fBoKQE http://amzn.to/2BFvDXI http://amzn.to/2CLOuUx https://amzn.to/2HPPlXd https://amzn.to/2KWPkmh http://amzn.to/1OM30uN http://amzn.to/1S04MHj https://amzn.to/2vNzCjr http://amzn.to/1SxbNOY http://amzn.to/1MBXuov http://amzn.to/1OqqiUZ https://amzn.to/2JDB5m7 http://amzn.to/2wu27Uf http://amzn.to/2vkkz23 http://amzn.to/21hex7f http://amzn.to/2hpdBTA http://amzn.to/2yKfCgh http://amzn.to/2hxAW5D 99¢ ★Top Fave★ mysocalledbookreviews said: I can’t wait to read Wink, Poppy, Midnight! It’s been one of my most anticipated books for 2016 & I do hope you’re enjoying it 🙂 Sherry Fundin said: Wow. So many books, but the one that grabbed me the most was The Night Sister. Everything spoke to me. 🙂	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1810
__label__cc	0.596581	0.403419	Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. (lists of "A" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words) English can be very confusing; for example, a house burns up as it burns down, a form is being filled in as it is being filled out, and an alarm goes off by going on. How about when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible? As you examine the groups of words in this unit, you will find many examples of confusions; sometimes, just one or two letters in a word can change its meaning completely. There are also times when two different words get confused because their meanings apply to things that are very similar. Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of various words that may be confusing so you can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome by writing to: E-mail Contact (just click it for an e-mail form) or by typing, words@wordinfo.info, as the address in your e-mail heading. If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications. addenda, addendum, agenda addenda (uh DEN duh) (noun, plural) Things to be added, as in a supplement or an appendix: The author included three addenda of new materials in his book. addendum (uh DEN dum) (noun), singular Something that has been added in a written document: The report has an addendum clarifying certain procedural actions. agenda (uh JEN duh) (noun) A list of things to be done at a meeting; schedule, program: What is on your agenda today? Agenda was originally the plural of Latin "agendum" (thing to be done) and is still considered by some to be a plural form. In modern English; however, agenda is usually considered as the singular form with agendas the plural: What is on the agenda for the meeting? The secretary kept track of the two executives’ agendas. After his secretary printed the new agenda, Gordan realized he also needed the revised addenda which should be printed in an addendum. adder, adder adder (AD uhr) (noun) Someone or something that adds; especially, a computational device that performs arithmetic additions: The accountant used her adder to determine her total income for the year. Any of several nonvenomous snakes; such as, the milk snake of North America, popularly believed to be harmful: While going for a walk, Melvin suddenly saw what he believed was an adder crawling through the grass. An experienced adder is the person who should count the number of adder in the local park. addible, edible addible (AD uh b'l) (adjective) That which can be increased in size, quantity, quality, or scope: Earl found that his yard still had addible areas for more new flowers. The new part-time job made it possible for Edna to have addible cash for her expenses. edible (ED uh buhl) (adjective) Anything that can be safely eaten: Erin was looking for edible fruit on the trees in her back yard. Josephine was compiling a list of edible vegetation areas in her garden; however, when the calculations were completed, she realized there were still some addible spaces to also cultivate flowers. addition, edition addition (ad DISH uhn) (noun) 1. A mathematical summation: In school, addition is usually taught before subtraction. 2. Inclusion or being part of a group: The addition of a baby to the household changed their lives. 3. Increase, enlargement, extra: The addition in cost over last year’s tuition is $500. 4. Annex, extension, adjunct: The addition to the town library will double its size. edition (i DISH uhn) (noun) 1. One of a number of printings of books and newspapers: The book was so popular that the publisher had to print a fifth edition. 2. The size, style, or form in which a book is published: The publisher also printed a smaller "pocket edition". The index was a new addition to the latest edition of the textbook. adduce, deduce adduce (uh DOOS, uh DYOOS) (verb) Offer as a reason in support of an argument; cite as pertinent, conclusive, or persuasive: At least the speaker did adduce three reasons for his actions. deduce (di DOOS, di DYOOS) (verb) 1. Reach a conclusion by reasoning: Based on the forensic evidence, the police officer was able to deduce that the criminal was a man. 2. Trace the course, descent, or origin of: Based on Rhonda's conversation, Floyd could deduce that she had come from a large family. Because the officer was able to adduce an explanation for the accident, the judge was able to deduce who was responsible. adherence, adherents adherence (ad HIR uhns) (noun) 1. A steady attachment, as of a person to a rule: The hockey coach demanded adherence to the rules of the game. 2. Adhesiveness, stickiness: Warren was putting more glue on the wallpaper to increase its adherence. adherents (ad HIR uhnts) (noun) Supporters, allies, followers; sticking or holding together: Reverend Wesley is a leader with many loyal adherents. The new sports team adherents exhibited a steadfast adherence to the guidelines for behavior in the stadium. adjoin, adjourn adjoin (uh JOIN) (verb) To be next to; to be in contact with: Yes, as strange as it may be, the hospital did adjoin the cemetery. adjourn (uh JURN) (verb) 1. To put off or to suspend until a future time: The meeting will adjourn until next week. 2. Move, depart for: Having finished dinner, the guests decided to adjourn to the living room for coffee. As chairman, Curtis decided to adjourn the meeting so the group could go for their lunch in the restaurant which adjoined their meeting place. adolescence, adolescents adolescence (ad'l ES uhns) (noun) Growth from childhood to adulthood: The period of adolescence is an important introduction to adulthood. adolescents (ad'l ES uhns) (noun) People growing up from childhood to adulthood; especially, those from about 12 to about 20 years of age; teenagers: Over 70 percent of today's adolescents are expected to finish high school. Some adolescents complete their adolescence when they are old enough to vote. adverse, averse adverse (ad VURS, AD vurs") (adjective) Opposed to, hostile to; unfavorable, contrary: Adverse winds prevented the plane from arriving on time. Do not be discouraged by adverse criticism. averse (uh VURS) (adjective) Disliking; unwilling; having a feeling of great distaste or an inclination against something or someone: Regina's father is always averse to spending money unless it is really necessary. Fred does not approve of liquor in any form and he is even averse to drinking wine. The adverse publicity didn't hurt Zachary's acting career; however, the hostility of the crowd did make him averse to performing at the next theatrical performance. advice, advise advice (ad VIGHS) (noun) 1. A recommended opinion; counsel: Since this was a legal matter, the company was urged to get a lawyer’s advice. 2. Formal or official information about something; intelligence, news, report: Advice from abroad indicates that war is about to begin. advise (ad VIGHZ) (verb) 1. To offer an opinion or a course of action; to counsel; to recommend: Jane's parents wanted to advise her to reconsider her decision to sell her car. Lorraine will advise her friend to get a second medical opinion for the treatment of her ailment. 2. To inform, tell, notify, make known: The weather report did advise the community that the roads were too icy for the trip. "Jackie, Derrick wants to advise you to take Glenn's advice and to continually increase your vocabulary skills as often as possible." aerie; airy; eerie, eery aerie (ER ee, IR ee) (noun) The nest of an eagle, or other bird of prey, which is constructed in a high place: The ornithologist was able to see the eagle's aerie on the side of the mountain. airy (ER ee) (adjective) 1. Well ventilated: The castle halls were large and airy. 2. Jaunty, sprightly, lively, frolicsome: The little goats hopped around in an airy way. "The band played an airy tune." 3. Imaginary, fanciful, dreamy, ethereal, unrealistic: The daydreamer's head was full of airy thoughts. eerie, eery (IR ee) (adjective) So strange as to inspire a feeling of fear; uneasy because of superstitious fear; ominous, ghostly, spooky: Seeing the old graveyard at night usually gave any visitors there an eerie (or eery) feeling. Seeing the aerie of the eagle in the airy forest gave Glenda an eerie feeling. affect, affect, effect, effect affect (uh FEKT) (verb) 1. To influence, to act on, to modify, to pertain to: The rain will affect Nellie's plans for a picnic with her family and friends. The soft, gentle breezes affect her disposition. 2. To pretend, to feign: Although Joy is from New York; as an actress, she had to affect a British accent. affect (uh FEKT) (noun) A feeling, an emotion: The affect of the patient in the clinic appeared to be very flat and unemotional. effect (i FEKT) (noun) 1. A result, a change; usually; a consequence: The farmers in this area felt the effect of the drought for several years. The soft gentle breezes have an effect on Marvin's disposition. 2. Influence, power, force: The plea for clemency had no effect on the judge. effect (i FEKT) (verb) 1. Actuality, fact, reality: Heidi's insult really did effect her friendship with Claudia in a negative way. 2. To produce, to accomplish, to bring about: Does the new hairdo effect Lydia's appearance? The affect of the curve ball did not effect the batter's hitting a home run. affinity, infinity affinity (uh FIN uh tee) (noun) 1. A natural liking or fondness for something or someone; a rapport: Many classical musicians have an affinity for jazz. 2. Family resemblance, similarity, likeness: There is a close affinity between lemons and limes. infinity (in FIN uh tee) (noun) 1. Unlimited space, time, distance; extending beyond any measure or comprehension; without beginning or end: Beyond the Earth, astronomers have indicated there is only infinity. 2. In photography, a distance setting, as on a camera, beyond which the entire field is clearer and sharper: Tanya, the landscape photographer, set the lens on her camera to infinity so objects at a distance would be in focus. Carla seemed to have an affinity for photography; with careful precision, she set the aperture of the camera to infinity when taking long-distance shots. affluence, affluents, effluence, effluents, influence affluence (AF loo wuhns; af LOO wuhns) (noun) An abundance of riches, wealth, or opulence: The ideal economy has enough affluence to benefit everyone. affluents (AF loo wuhns; af LOO wuhns) (noun) Applies to people who have large incomes, usually incomes spent freely: The residents of the gated community, including Pete and Helen Box, were obviously affluents who were members of the international jet set. effluence (EF loo uhns) (noun) 1. The act or process of flowing out: The effluence of enthusiasm of the Labor Day crowd could not be repressed. 2. Something that flows out or forth; the emitting or sending out: The odor of the gas leak became an effluence that made several people ill. effluents (EF loo uhns) (noun) Sewage liquids, or industrial chemicals, that are released as waste: The fish processing factory has been accused of discharging effluents into the river. influence (IN floo wuhns) (noun) 1. The power of a person or a thing to affect others, seen only in its effect: Special-interest groups have too much influence on the government. 2. The ability to produce effects indirectly by means of power based on wealth, high position, etc.: The office gossip was that Ophelia, who was his secretary, had a strong urge to marry Jim Pendleton, the CEO, not for love, but because of his affluence (wealth) and influence in politics The influence of the affluents didn't matter when the city was trying to solve the problem of the effluence of the effluents into the sewer system. aggravate, annoy, exasperate, irritate aggravate (AG gruh vayt") (verb) 1. To make worse, make more severe; to intensify: The school nurse urged Jenny not to scratch the insect bite because scratching would just aggravate the itch. 2. To exasperate, anger, vex: The bossy attitude of Earle's supervisor, Helen Jones, tends to aggravate him a great deal. annoy (uh NOI) (verb) 1. To cause uneasiness to; especially, by repeated acts; to make somewhat angry: Tammy asked Carson to please let her know if playing her radio would annoy him during work. 2. To trouble, to upset, to disturb: Howard wanted to know why Jennifer had to annoy him during his afternoon nap. exasperate (ig ZAS puh rayte") (verb) 1. To provoke, peeve, infuriate; "slang": to bug, to turn off: Constant interruptions will only exasperate the speaker. 2. To make someone very angry or frustrated, often by repeatedly doing something agitating: Bradley's and Mary Ann's mother complained that every time they were bickering, it would exasperate her. irritate (IR i tayt") (verb) 1. To anger, to make impatient, or to provoke: George’s mother was afraid that his whining might irritate the nurse. 2. To make painful, to make sore: Woolen clothing tends to irritate many people; especially, if they have a rash. The sound of the music from the apartment upstairs is starting to annoy Tara. If the noise from the radio gets much louder, it will aggravate Connie to the point that it will exasperate her and she might have to go upstairs to speak to Edwin and she hopes that when she asks him to lower the sound that it won't irritate and upset him. Confusing Words: Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs; explained and demonstrated. Confusing Words: Units, Groups A to Z. Confusing Words: Vocabulary Quizzes Listed. Showing page 3 out of 10 pages of 136 main-word entries or main-word-entry groups.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1820
__label__cc	0.596545	0.403455	Top ten Albums/EP (just so Peace can be in) of 2012… Published on January 8, 2013 September 23, 2018 by wordsformusic 2012, not a bad year for music really The Cribs bringing out a new album, a slick debut from Jake Bugg and seriously good music from Peace. This is my list of Top 10 albums/ep’s(just so Peace can get in)of 2012, you must remember that it’s my list, it’s not the be all and end all, if an album isn’t in there it’s probably because I’m too ignorant to listen to it or I’ve just been too lazy. Oh yeah, and if there is an album missing out and you feel that I NEED to listen to it, can you please tell me and I will do so, okay… 1. The Cribs – In the Belly of the Brazen Bull The fifth installment to The Cribs albums in their body of work, and I think it’s definitely one of their best ones, not that the others were bad but this one was just that good. With a slight grungy tone to it, it got me hooked by the first note of the first song. Top 3: Back to the bolthole, Uptight and Anna. 2. Peace – Delicious Easily my favorite EP this year, purely because every song is just catchy, different and each of the songs hit a place inside me, bloodshake, I have to dance, Calafornia Daze, just makes me happy (great vocals on that song), Oceans Eye, makes me want to go mental and 1998(Delicious), it’s just a crazed dance fest for me. Definitely one to keep you eyes out for in 2013 with their album nearly ready to come out, and hopefully will get to see them live. Top 3: LISTEN TO ALL FOUR (AND THE REST YOU CAN FIND) 3. Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg This is here because I remember when I first listened to it and I was hooked on it, the vocals, the riffs and the lyrics. Also I liked how it had a good balance to the album with songs like ‘Lightning bolt’ and ‘Slide’, which is a beautiful song. Hopefully he will bring out something else this year to keep me hooked. Top 3: Two Fingers, I’ve seen it all, Someone told me 4. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave A great album with some really interesting pieces of music in there. I got into these quite late, I was being a bit ignorant when it came to listening to these because every sort of jumped of them which made me a bit reluctant. Finally I listened to it, and there was something there that had me keep coming back for more, I just felt like every song still had that bit more to give to me. Top 3: Matilda, Tessellate, Breezeblocks 5. Tribes – Baby Great first album for a really good band, I think when It first came out I listened to it far too much and suit of ruined it for me a bit. But, after leaving it for a couple of months and putting it back on I think I finally really appreciated it for really good guitar music. Seeing them live just made me fall in love with them because of how grounded they seemed when they played. Top 3: We were children, Sappho, Himalaya 6. The Maccabees – Given to the Wild The Maccabees, a band I’ve never really gained a connection with until this year, until they brought out this album, which forced me to listen to their whole back catalog and realise what a good band they are. A band I really need to see live because of everything I’ve heard. Top 3: Forever I’ve known, Pelican, Went away 7.The View – Cheeky for a Reason I had to listen to this because of some certain friends of mine, they wouldn’t let me get away with not listening to it so I did, and I liked it and that’s as exciting as that story gets. Never been a very big View fan, but this album has got some really catchy numbers on it, and I don’t think it’s got the attention it deserves. Top 3: The Clock, How long, AB (we need treatment) 8. Mystery Jets – Radlands I got this album free from Kerrang! when I was working there, and I didn’t really listen to it until a couple of months later where it was cemented in my cars, and it didn’t leave. The lyrics to every song are really well thought out and the songs are well pieced together. Also you’ve got a couple of catchy numbers in there which you can’t help but sing to. Top 3: Radlands, Someone purer, Greatest Hits 9. Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks The Modfather. I’m a bit biased towards Weller because I’m a massive Jam fan, when this came out it was quite sunny and it supplied a good soundtrack for the weather especially ‘By the Waters’. Paul takes a slightly different turn every album and I love when musicians do that and they pull it off, and Paul always manages to pull it off. Top 3: That Dangerous Age, Green, When your gardens overgrown 10. DIIV – Oshin This is the wildcard, the one that’s a bit left field and not expected. I saw these support The Vaccines, and they were better than The Vaccines. After I saw them I went home and the next day I listened to there entire album and it really is a treat. The sound they have is different to anything I’ve ever heard before, which probably makes them so exciting. Top 3: LISTEN TO ALL OF IT Thankyou for reading it’s a pleasure, please email if you feel like there’s an album I should listen to wordsformusic@live.co.uk or just tweet me @wordsformusic1 Features, Top 102012 albums, albums of 2012, best 2012 albums, indie albums 2012, indies music 2012, rock albums 2012, top 10 Previous Previous post: PULP – After You Next Next post: My New Year’s Resolution	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1821
__label__cc	0.704489	0.295511	Angie Tribeca S04E01 Lone-wolf detective Angie Tribeca and a squad of committed LAPD detectives investigate the most serious cases, from the murder of a ventriloquist to a rash of baker suicides. Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime Actor: Andree Vermeulen, Deon Cole, Hayes MacArthur, Jere Burns, Rashida Jones Director: Nancy Carell, Steve Carell Deon Cole Jere Burns The Outpost - Season 2 Legion - Season 3 Marvel's Jessica Jones - Season 3 Krypton - Season 2 3% - Season 3 Queen of the South - Season 4 American Ninja Warrior - Season 11 Archer - Season 10 Blood & Treasure - Season 1 L.A.'s Finest - Season 1 Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 6 Big Hero 6 The Series - Season 2 Deep State - Season 2 The Protector - Season 2 Cobra Kai - Season 2 Diablo Guardián - Season 1 Black Summer - Season 1	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1823
__label__wiki	0.563511	0.563511	Difference between revisions of "British Empire" From PirateCraft SpikyCactus2105 (talk \| contribs) (→‎Current Government) Gildor (talk \| contribs) m (Removed notice saying this page is majorly outdated. The information here is still valid and up to date, except for the history which only goes to 2017 but this is clearly stated there.) (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) ===Important Notice=== Please note that this page is majorly outdated. Thank you ===Startings=== == Current Government == [[File:Summer-Fall 2019 Government.png\|frame\|left\|Current BE Government]] [[File:Summer-Fall 2019 Government.png\|frame\|center\|Current Government]] The British Empire The Union Jack Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Leader: Taulov Founded: January 2015 Structure: Democratic Federation Character: Peaceful Allies: Thirteen Colonies 1 Startings 2 Ideals 4 Current Government 5 Charter 5.1 Charter of the British Empire 5.2 The First Amendment - Lords 5.3 The Second Amendment - The Hierarchy Tree 5.4 The Third Amendment - PvP Revision 6 Laws 6.1 Laws of the British Empire 7 Foreign Relations 8.1 Founding 8.2 First Era of Turmoil 8.3 The Planning of London 8.4 The Elven Ball 8.5 Second Era of Force 8.6 The War against the 0utlaws 8.7 Third Era of Reform 8.8 Fourth Era of Eminence 8.9 BExit 8.10 Revival of Relations 9 Settlements and Forts of the British Empire 10 Previous British Governments 10.1 Charts of Previous Governments 11 Former Settlements and Forts of the British Empire 11.1 List of Former Settlements 12 Old Documents and Images 12.1 Charter of the British Empire (Prior to 16th March 2017) 12.2 Charter of the British Empire (Prior to 4th June 2017) 12.3 Outdated Images Startings The British Empire (BE) is the largest player made empire in PirateCraft. Headed by Prime Minister Taulov, the empire dedicates itself to international stability. To apply for membership, any interested parties should contact the British Empire's Vice-Prime Minister, Lazydog11. The primary interest of the BE has always been the security of its citizens and colonies. Originally founded as a tight-knit defensive alliance of civil players, it swiftly grew into a global community within a matter of weeks. A secondary goal of the BE is expansion. New territories are accepted into the empire with open arms so long as the residents are deemed trustworthy. Existing colonies are encouraged to develop infrastructure and recruit fresh citizens. Construction projects and promotion of commerce have kept the British population wealthy and productive. Over the years the BE has proved itself an effective state and emerged unscathed from server-wide wars which ended up destroying many communities for good. Despite the use of the term "empire", the British state is more accurately described as a direct democratic federation with an imperial theme. Democracy and freedom of speech have been entrenched in British values from the very beginning. Territory and riches are not gained through conquest, but through labour, cooperation and trade. Players who disobey the rules of PirateCraft and lack in common decency are not welcome in the empire. Foreign crews of players are treated in the same manner as they treat the British Empire. Individuals who call themselves pirates may enjoy a neutral relationship with the British Empire - so long as they leave British settlements in peace. Those who evoke the wrath of the empire incur it in full force. The British Empire was formerly a member of the alliance known as the League of Nations. It consisted of six nations dedicated to world peace and stability up until its collapse in the aftermath of the "BExit" vote of late September 2016. Currently the BE is nurturing a new, reformed alliance known as the Commonwealth of Nations. Charter of the British Empire The British Empire serves as a democratic fellowship of sovereign territories ruled over by sovereign rulers. To be part of the British Empire is to be a shining beacon of order amidst the chaotic world of PirateCraft. Article I - Organisation Citizens of the British Empire are entitled to the benefits of being part of a globe-spanning Empire. They may request assistance from their fellows towards founding their own colony or join one of the existing settlements which are open to new residents. The Empire extends its arm of protection to all those who are in the Empire. Every citizen may cast one vote in parliament regardless of strength and creed. Only one government position can be held by one individual player at a time. The Prime Minister is the citizen who heads the Empire and whose duty is to speak for the alliance, ratify treaties and sign declarations of war. The Prime Minister's vote shall be the deciding vote should a vote end up tied. He or she has the right to implement emergency decisions during the time a vote is taking place. These decisions may be overwritten by the result of the vote. The Prime Minister is elected newly every six months by the citizens through a majority vote. The Vice Prime Minister is the citizen who was paired with the Prime Minister during the elections. He or she shall speak for the Empire in absence of the Prime Minister and help mediate conflicts in his spare time. If the Prime Minister is absent for longer than a week, the Vice Prime Minister may automatically take over full Prime Ministerial duties until the Prime Minister returns. The Vice Prime Minister is superior to the Ministers. The Foreign Secretary is the citizen who heads the Commonwealth of Nations. He or she is responsible for preserving diplomatic ties with the Commonwealth nations and keeping the organisation in working order. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Home Secretary is responsible for leading the projects of the British Empire. He or she must actively work pursue their completion and mobilise players and resources. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Minister for Defence & Justice is responsible for the security of the colonies, organising war efforts and dealing out sentences in accordance to the law of the realm. He or she also organises efforts to bring criminals to justice. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Admiral is responsible for running the British navy. He works alongside the Minister for Defence & Justice, who is his or her superior, and the General, who is his or her peer. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Minister for Recruitment is responsible for hiring and training new recruits and ensuring their loyalty. He or she manages the recruitment camps, heads development projects and assists in assigning residents to towns. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Election Commissioner is responsible for ensuring the lawful conduct of free and fair elections as well as referendums. Additionally, the Election Commissioner must keep track of the progress reports and deadlines of the other government functions. He or she is selected either by majority vote or by general consensus and is sworn to confidentiality. Citizens form the backbone of the Empire. They have the authority, by majority vote, to pass laws or motions, approve wars, to appoint members of government, to approve or expel citizens and, by a two-thirds majority vote, to amend the Charter. New government positions may be added to the Charter by choice of the Prime Minister without the need of an amendment. They may only be removed or altered by a two-thirds majority vote as laid down in Article VI or by general consensus. Article II - Membership Applicants may join the British Empire at any time so long as they do note pose a severe security risk. In order to become an official citizen their membership must either be approved by a majority vote, by general consensus or by the Prime Minister. To become a Governor, a citizen must found their own settlement and be appointed by the Prime Minister. A player who desires to leave the Empire may do so freely and without fear of reprisal provided that he or she posts a resignation on the forum or contacts the Prime Minister in-game, discharges his or her debts and cedes any government position he or she might hold. A citizen may run for a government post if they fulfill the following requirements: RESIDENCE – Uninterrupted residence in the empire, which amounts to not leaving the crew or joining a different one. Government sponsored activities outside of the British Empire offer an exception to this rule. The counter is reset every time a member leaves without qualifying for one of the exceptions described above. CLEARANCE – No association with crews that have been hostile toward the British Empire in recent history for given time period. Prime Minister – 6 months of RESIDENCE & 6 months of CLEARANCE Vice Prime Minister – 4 months of RESIDENCE & 6 months of CLEARANCE Minister, Secretary of State or Chancellor – 1 month of RESIDENCE & 2 months of CLEARANCE Any other government position – 1 month CLEARANCE Any citizens may propose a vote to expel a member or remove an incumbent government official. This must be posted in the appropriate PirateCraft forum group section by the Election Commissioner. Discussions shall last for at least 2 days before the vote is initiated. The vote shall last for 3 days and shall pass by a majority vote. Temporary banishment of the subject player may be immediately initiated by choice of the Prime Minister. If the vote fails, all actions against the subject player shall be reversed and seized property shall be returned forthwith. Alternatively, a player may be expelled from the Empire by general consensus. Article III - Uniforms and Banners Citizens of the Empire are encouraged to wear a redcoat uniform and fly the Union Jack. Individual tastes may be accommodated for. Article IV - Raiding and War Citizens of the Empire may engage any player whose crew has not signed a Non-Aggression Pact (NAP) or other non-aggression treaty with the British Empire. Crews which have signed such treaties with the BE are considered allies and may not be targeted for player versus player combat (PvP) without their consent unless in defence. Likewise, no citizen may engage another member of the Empire without their consent unless in defence. Individual players and groups of players who act physically aggressively, regardless of nationality, may be immediately targeted for retribution. The penalty for breaking this article may be, among other things: Carrying out penance; paying reparations; being declared a rogue member; suffering uncompensated retribution; seizure of assets; expulsion from the Empire, by choice of the Prime Minister or Minister for Defence and Justice, a majority vote or general consensus. The decision of the majority vote overwrites the decision of the Prime Minister or Minister of Justice. A declaration of war against requires the approval of a majority vote as well as the approval of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister may promptly declare war in states of emergencies, but a war vote must be initiated forthwith. If the vote does not pass, the war ends with immediate effect. Article V - Justice Disputes among citizens will be aired on the PirateCraft forum under the appropriate group section. The Prime Minister or Minister of Justice shall mediate the dispute in accordance with the laws and traditions of the Empire. Foreign players claiming citizenship of the British Empire without authorisation will be treated as hostile and may, after 24 hours of fair warning, be subject to the articles of war or other action as decided by the Prime Minister, a majority vote or general consensus. The decision of the majority vote overwrites the decision of the Prime Minister. Article VI - Laws & Amendments The Election Commissioner is responsible for running all referendums in a fair, lawful and timely fashion. Any citizen may propose an amendment to the charter which must be posted in the appropriate PirateCraft forum group section by the Election Commissioner. Discussions shall last for at least 2 days before the referendum is initiated. The referendum shall last for 3 days and will pass with a two-thirds majority vote. Any citizen may propose a change to the laws of the realm which must be posted in the appropriate PirateCraft forum group section by the Election Commissioner. Discussions shall last for at least 2 days before the referendum is initiated. The referendum shall last for 3 days and will pass with a majority vote. The result of a referendum on an amendment, law or motion is based on the total number of citizens who cast their vote, not the total number of citizens in the Empire. A new law may neither conflict with any other law nor the with the charter. A new amendment may not conflict with any other amendment and shall render any conflicting laws defunct. Article VII - Elections The Election Commissioner is responsible for running all elections in a fair, lawful and timely fashion. The positions of Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister shall be voted upon newly at least every six months after the last election under the appropriate PirateCraft forum group section. The candidates must always run in pairs. The election runs for 7 days, whereupon the pair with the most votes gains the seats. All government duties and permissions shall be transferred onto the players with the most votes 14 days after the voting session ends at the very latest. The precise date may be individually agreed upon between the respective incumbent government official and the successor. A government position may my ceded at any time. If the Prime Minister cedes his or her position, they immediately spark an election. No player may be elected against their will. The result of an election is based on the total number of citizens who cast their vote, not the total number of citizens in the Empire. In the case of a draw, the election must be rerun if the candidates are not willing to make an arrangement with each other. If the election process if suspected of being corrupt, disproportional or infiltrated by outsiders, the electorate may, by majority vote or general consensus, decide to rerun the election. An election may be boycotted if over 2/3 of the participants hand in an empty ballot, which also results in the election being rerun. No government position may be held by the same player for more than three terms in a row nor may multiple positions be held by a single player unless there are too few citizens in the Empire to fill all the government positions or unless no one but the player who previously held the position wishes to run for it. Prime Minister - CrazyPirate Vice Prime Minister - michty Minster of Defence - Chailey Minister of Recruitment - greengreen90 Minister of Justice - Bislo Election Commissioner - PaulOnFire Admiral - DirectorAnivian Amended: The First Amendment - Lords Article I - Introduction Lords of the British Empire shall be citizens who are life members and advisers of the British government unless stripped of their title. They are permanent members of the British government group and may view participate in the discussions as if they were a appointed member of government. They have no control over any government functions, however. Lords who take on a government roll do not relinquish their title of Lord and may remain in the government chat even after resigning from their post unless their title is revoked as laid out in article III. Article II - Electing Lords There are two ways of being elected as a Lord: 1. The first method is by a simple majority vote performed by the current government, including the current serving Lords, if any. 2. The second method is by a simple majority vote performed by the populace. If the majority vote is successful, the proposal is brought before the current PM and if he or she approves, the individual becomes a Lord. The Election Commissioner may be contacted to perform these votes. If there is general consensus that an individual should become a Lord - that is to say, every party is satisfied that no vote needs to be held - the motion automatically counts as passed. Article III - Dismissing Lords If any two or more Ministers agree to dismiss a Lord in accordance with the PM, the Lord shall be stripped of his or her title. Government positions below Ministers cannot vote to dismiss a Lord. Lords need to state their continued wish to retain their title of Lord after every held election. If a Lord does not, the PM can freely dismiss him or her one week after the election. After that period, Lords are no longer entitled to claiming their title. Lords with an inactivity of over three months can be freely dismissed by the PM. Article IV - Privileges of Lords Lords may participate in government votes. Their votes count as equal to all other votes. The Second Amendment - The Hierarchy Tree This amendment is proposed, due to the growing need for structure within the Empire, both in the army and in the civilian classes. Furthermore a more structured base for expansion and administration of territory becomes ever so needed. Section 1 – Revision of Government ranks The following ranks shall be removed: Chancellor of the Exchequer Minister of Justice The Minister of Defence and Justice will be introduced and will take over the previous tasks of both Ministers of Justice and Defence. Section 2 – Chain of Command/Hierarchy Structure The Master Hierarchy is to become the new standard form from which every position springs from. Any disputes between the chain of command can be cleared with The Master Hierarchy. The Master Hierarchy is split into three smaller trees: the higher class tree, the lower navy tree and the lower civil tree. Citizens can only be promoted an army rank in the higher class tree if they have the highest rank in the lower navy tree. Citizens can only be promoted to one of the adjacent civil ranks in the higher class tree if they hold a civil rank. All Government members including Lords may either grant titles or promote from both the lower navy tree and the lower civil tree. Only the Minister of Defense and Justice and Admiral can promote people from the lower navy tree into the higher class tree. The Minister of Recruitment, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary can promote from the lower civil tree, into the higher class tree. Section 3 – New titles 3.1 Governors Ranks and requirements of settlements: Village Governor (Governor I) Requirements: 1x farm, 3x houses, 1x notice board, 1x inn/shop/brewery/church/port/library/stable Additionally 3x citizens, including the Governor, must actively live in the Settlement, rank Deckhand or above is acceptable. Town Governor (Governor II) Requirements: 3x farms, 5 houses, 1x notice board, 1x square, 1x town hall, 1x fort, 2x inn/shop/brewery/church/port/library/stable Additionally 4x citizens, including the Governor, must actively live in the Town, 1x Sailor or above, 2x Cadet or above, 1x Deckhand or above. City Governor (Governor III) Requirements: 4x farms, 6x houses, 1x notice board, 2x squares, 1x city hall, 1x fort (must be seige-proof approved by a government member), 3x inn/shop/brewery/church/port/library/stable Additionally 5x citizens, including the Governor, must actively live in the city, 2x Sailor or above, 2x Cadet or above, 1x Deckhand or above. Revocation of ranks: The title of Governor and the status of any settlement may be revoked if: Structures required for the settlement are left demolished or non-functional, without intention to better them. The citizen count falls two persons below the requirements. This means once a settlement status is granted, it will not lose the status if one citizen leaves, although the Governor must try to recruit a new citizen to reach desired requirements. 3.2 Mayor of London The Mayor of London is voted upon within the government and the candidate is decided through a normal majority vote. The tasks of the Mayor of London is to ensure the management of the capital runs smoothly. Some tasks include: Renting out shops in the city or hiring managers to do so. Building and repairing buildings or hiring managers to do so. Managing the storage room of London and making sure the government vault is safe. Coordinating with the army for the protection of London. Bringing news to notice boards around town. Alternatively reporting events in the BE forum group. 3.3 Ambassador The ambassadors have close relations with foreign crews. They are involved in building and managing one or several embassies, updating relations with specific crews they have been assigned to and reporting to the Foreign Secretary. Typical tasks are: Managing embassies within foreign crew(s). Interacting with foreign crew leaders and forwarding opinions of BE leaders in their absence. Easing tensions and aggression towards the BE within the foreign crew. Building better relations over time with crews they are assigned to manage. 3.4 Royal Architect This position is for the builders of the server that the BE recognises for their great contributions to the server and the BE. This is a position that is awarded to give credit to the citizen and shows that the individual is appreciated within the BE. It grants more influence over the lower civil ranks. Requirements: 1x greatly respected build on the server 3.5 Royal Merchant This position is for the great merchants of the server, the ones who know how to earn a lot of wealth through trading. It shows the fellow citizens that this individual is someone to take note of and to follow when conducting business. Requirements: Balance over 7500£, 1x shop in London, 1x frigate or higher docked in London 3.6 Lower Civil hierarchy These titles are available for anyone within the empire to apply for. They do not have any requirements. 3.7 Lower Navy hierarchy These titles are granted in line, meaning the lowest rank is required to progress. The Admiral or government members decide the requirements based on the individual's performance. 3.8 Commodore and Navy Captain These titles are the elite soldiers of the empire and are only granted by either the Admiral or the Minister of Defense and Justice. Requirements are decided by individual performance. Section 4 – Management of Territories A territory is the land surrounding any given settlement, meaning a village, town, city or capitol. It is the task of the army along with the government to ensure borders are clear to foreigners and citizens of the BE. Borders are drawn based on terrain and other settlements in the area, meaning these have to be taken into account when creating a new territory. A territory must be created upon creation of a new settlement. If the settlements status changes, the size of the territory must be discussed by the government. It is the task of the Navy to protect and patrol all settlements of the empire. If two territories are in close proximity, it is to be discussed whether to join the territories. If two territories are joined, they will become a state and the army must build one fort within the borders, even if the status of both settlements are villages. Patrols must be focused in states rather than territories, cities and towns rather than villages. If a settlement ceases to exist, the territory will be abandoned. Section 5 – Permissions to the Government Group/Chat & Government Voting Rights Ranks with government voting rights and access to the government group/chat: Vice Prime Minister Minister of Defense and Justice Minister of Recruitment Home Secretary Ranks only with government group access: Governor III The Third Amendment - PvP Revision This amendment serves to amend the following article of the original charter: Article IV – Raiding and War The Charter of the British Empire serves as a basic set of principles that every citizen must adhere to. It was signed by the incumbent government officials at the beginning of May 2015. Laws of the British Empire Laws concerning MEMBERSHIP §1 Must only be associated with BE and no other empires. Special cases allow certain players to hold a dual passport. §2 New recruits must be assigned to a Governor if they so wish. Government officials will help bring newcomers to colonies with room for new citizens. §2.1 Governors must openly welcome citizens assigned to them by any government official. If the Governor is not in a position to take in new citizens, Government officials should provide aid in order to help the Governor become able to accept the citizens assigned to them. Laws concerning PvP §3 Must not engage in PvP with allied players, or those holding a valid non agression pact (NAP). An engagement counts as entering combat mode or damaging a fellow player through any means. §3.1 Must not engage in PvP with a fellow British citizen at any point in time unless there is consent of all parties involved or the engagement is inside an inclosed PvP- or arena-designated area. §3.2 Must not engage in PvP with an ally of the Empire at any point in time unless there is consent of all parties involved or the engagement is inside an inclosed PvP- or arena-designated area. §3.3 Must not engage in PvP with foreign players who are not in conflict with the Empire unless the Minister of War, Vice Prime Minister or Prime Minister has granted this. §4 If an individual is a listed criminal in the “crew message of the day”, displayed when logging in, or displayed at local KOS boards, it is allowed to both steal from and raid the individual. §5 If a player is attacked within a trade town with anti-PvP , the aggressor will be put on the BE’s KOS board if his intentions are proved to be malicious. §6 If being attacked, self-defense is acceptable, but there must be no doubt about the aggressors intention to kill, harass or cause harm. §7 Law enforcers of the British Empire must also follow citizen laws, though they have the right to employ force against citizens if necessary. §7.1 Items taken from killed citizens must be stored in the confiscation chest, found in the police office. Officers must store ALL items taken from criminals and store it in an empty chest and put a sign on it, with a name of the criminal. §8 Every citizen is obligated to place at least one secured chest in a safe, claimed area and fill it with war gear. War gear includes high-level diamond armour, high-level enchanted weapons, potions (strength II, invisibility, poison, etc.), gapples, buckets of milk, ender pearls, arrows and any other items the player regularly uses in PVP situations. Not permitted are non-diamond and low-level enchanted pieces of gear. War gear is only to be used in emergencies. §9 If a citizen is assaulted and requests assistance, the online members of the British Empire must convene together at a safe location and analyse the situation as a group. The highest ranking online citizen chooses whether or not military intervention is a proportional and appropriate measure, if needed through a simple majority vote. If so, the online members are committed to don their war gear and defend their fellow citizen in need. Absence is permitted through public consensus or through permission of the war group leader. Laws concerning GOVERNMENT POSITIONS §10 Every week or two, all government positions must report what they have been up to and what progress has been made in an appropriately named government chat forum topic. They must also state clear aims and take on responsibility to assure their targets are fulfilled. §11 No citizen may take on responsibilities that transcend their crew function. PUNISHMENT system Players accumulate points for committing offenses. These points stay with them forever and are not reset if they leave the British Empire. Gaining points results in consequences. (:1:) First Offence: Fine: 5 diamonds (:2:) Second Offence: Fine: 10 diamonds + Minister of Justice may propose demotion (:3:) Third Offence: Fine: 15 diamonds + Minister of Justice may propose demotion and/or expulsion (:4:) Fourth (+) Offence: Fine: 20 diamonds + crew discussion regarding the individual All fines collected will be transferred into the possession of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and placed in the British Empire vault. A player who is banished from the crew may only reapply for membership after three months. An appeal will be discussed by the government and may be turned down if they so are so inclined. The player then has to wait another three months before they can reapply again. Any banished player who is permitted back into the British Empire starts off with one punishment point. Bislo Governor of Port Hope, British Minister of Justice Revised: The laws of the British Empire are rules which must be complied with by all British citizens. Breaking a law may result in a punishment. The point of laws is not to catch players out - with a little bit of common sense a citizen should never be involved in criminal activities. Players who unintentionally break the law may be dealt with leniently under circumstances. Peacekeepers are expected to act sensibly and fairly when dealing with felonies. Restoration of former alliance [1] Declaration of Alliance BE & Elven Empire 28th April 2016 Active The Holy Ender Treaty [2] Declaration of Alliance BE & Ender 6th May 2016 Active Commonwealth of Nations [3] Membership Agreement BE & other Commonwealth Nations 1st February 2017 Active Treaty of Nova Halifax [4] Declaration of Alliance BE & Lancastrian Empire 28th September 2018 Active League of Nations [5] Membership Agreement BE & other Allied nations 24th June 2015 - 1st October 2016 Defunct Raven Accords [6] Declaration of Alliance BE & Raven Pirates 30th June 2015 Defunct The Sun Never Sets - Again [7] Declaration of Alliance BE & Solis 6th May 2016 Defunct A Treaty for the Elite [8] Declaration of Alliance BE & Elite 12th May 2016 Defunct Standard Non-aggression pact NAP BE & - [PU] Purple Union - [KOF] Kingdom of fire - Avari - [OTC] Orange Trading Co - Arti Current crews and nations affiliated the British Empire: Elven Empire Current crews and nations in conflict with the British Empire: Royal Dragoons riding into battle British redcoats wearing the iconic British uniform A British convention on 27.09.2015 The British Empire's pet punk Lawzoneon's Build of the Month castle, Mariejois Silverstone47 in his element British and Elven shield bearers CaptainCrackerz "taming" two guardians, both of which he named Jeffrey Gildor_stinky testing out his new elytra at Delta Tower Government Officials Promotional Picture The dissolution of the Queendom of Evermoor at the end of 2014 resulted in both a power vaccuum as well as many homeless players. The time was ripe for new great crews to emerge. Of all the upstarts, the British Empire was the most successful. Founded in January 2015 by CrazyPirate, its growth skyrocketed and within a couple of weeks the British Empire already counted 20 citizens. Most of the newly acquired territories were focused around the North Sea, which quickly became the safest area for British citizens to reside. Expansion into other quadrants provided mixed results. Heavy pirate activity in the east led to many new British colonies being raided, which in turn resulted in frequent skirmishes between buccaneers and British redcoats. In particular a British retaliation raid on pirate-controlled Havanna led to much bloodshed, the battle was however ultimately lost and the British forces opted to abandon their struggling eastern colonies and instead claim new territories on the far western side of the world. First Era of Turmoil After a brief period of respite, petty conflicts expanded to previously peaceful colonies. For and foremost pirates Bensterpc and Pipsterpc utilised the opportunity to plague weak members of the Empire. At the same time, elections were taking place in order to determine the first government of the British Empire. The first round of voting was mired by rogue voters who weren't part of the British Empire as well as multiple ballots being cast per elector, so the position of Election Commissioner was bestowed upon PaulOnFire to manage the elections in a fair and transparent manner. The results were close but clear: CrazyPirate and Michty beat Chailey and Bislo1 to the posts of Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister. The first action of the new Prime Minister was to try and appease the boiling tensions between the raiding pirates, the returned former Queen of Evermoor, Reptaria, and the head of the TUPE alliance, Unic0rnjunk101. Peace deals were consistently breached, which led to bold British action against Bensterpc and Pipsterpc: Their southern fortress near to British controlled Port Royal was assaulted and damaged, their fleet set ablaze. Attacks were expanded to Havanna, which was damaged in multiple raids. The newly revived elves of Evermoor who had formerly announced their friendship to the British Empire now declared war, which resulted in the streets of Evermoor being blown up with cannons. Shortly thereafter peace was agreed upon by all sides. The elves of Evermoor rebranded themselves as the Elven Empire of Lothlorien. The British forts surrounding Havanna remained claimed as a monument to the war and attacks on Port Hope by Unic0rnjunk101 ceased. The Planning of London The newfound peace led to an explosion of construction projects across the Empire, the biggest of which was the planning of the capital city of London. The city was to function as a semi-historical replica of 17th century London and would serve as the main centre of commerce, culture and recruitment in the British Empire. Each building would be custom designed by the Empire's architects. An area was selected to house the capital city. Deforestation went quickly and a storehouse was erected to contain the building materials for London. The first wall of Buckingham Palace was built and The course of the River Thames was plotted and partly excavated with TNT. This prosperous time was not to last. Two British government officials defected to the elves, sparking an internal crisis. The government took its time properly assessing the individual applicants for the empty government positions. Conflicts during this time were mostly with the 0utlaws and their subject territory of Verussia. After a series of skirmishes, the British Empire managed to convince the Verussians to split themselves off from the 0utlaws' influence and go their own way. [9] The Elven Ball A brief distraction came in the form of the Elven Ball, a majestic celebration event organised by the elves. The British Empire received an special invitation - five of its members were welcome to attend. The Prime Minister and a few high-profile members were chosen to represent the British Empire. The Elven Ball started out well, there was much dancing and many drinks to go around. Elven security guards were the only players allowed to carry weaponry at the event and were responsible for maintaining order. Accounts vary as to what happened next. What is certain is that TUPE troops appeared out of nowhere and forced their way into the ballroom. The Elven guards were no match for them - chaos ensued. Some say the bartender took cover behind the counter, dodging arrows as they flew. Others say that Queen Reptaria managed to climb onto the chandelier to escape TUPE's blades. Many players met their death that day. Second Era of Force Once the new British government had been appointed, things began to ease a bit. An influx of new recruits brought the British Empire's all-time member count over 100. The British Empire now found itself able to exercise influence on a global scale. The armed forces felt increasingly confident and boisterous in the aftermath of their previous victories and started intervening in foreign affairs more often. Several botched military operations tarnished the British Empire's image, however. One such operation was led on Verussian soil. Due to misinformation and bad assessment of the situation, British troops marched into North Verussia and sieged the storage compound in order to retrieve "stolen goods". The badly armed Verussians became increasingly unruly and every wrong move on their part was punished with an execution. The operation became a big topic of discussion on the forums and led to an agreement between the elves and the British to supply the Verussians with reconstruction materials. It also led to an overhaul of the British military system. This did not stop unknown parties from mass-griefing the North Verussian island with TNT in an attempt to frame the British Empire, however. Such acts of slander, which had been common during the previous large-scale wars against the British Empire began flaring up again and took much effort to lay bare. [10] The War against the 0utlaws In May 2015, the 0utlaws, TUPE and various other crews and individuals declared war on the British Empire. A combination of badly equipped, rowdy new recruits of the British Empire and difficulties collaborating efficiently led to many disastrous skirmishes. The difficulty of running such a big empire was painfully evident. Many hours of brainstorming and careful planning helped improve British performance on the battlefield. Morale was low, yet the British refused to bow and bit by bit the tide began to turn. The elves joined the British forces in their defence against the 0utlaws and together they managed to ransack one of HardTimez' bases. The war dragged on and neither side was willing to capitulate. The 0utlaws' pride would not let them make peace and the elves scornfully turned down an offer to let them retire from the conflict in return for a donation of significant amounts of cash and materials to the 0utlaws. [11] In July 2015 an alliance was forged between the main empires of PirateCraft. The combined Elven, Verussian, Iborian, Ottoman and British forces - the "Allied" - began to score victory after victory against the 0utlaws, allowing daily life to return to normal. On 30th July 2015, video evidence was obtained by Zindarak showing the 0utlaws and their allies harassing, spawn killing and allegedly hacking. HardTimez was permanently banned from the server and his crew members were issued a two-day temporary ban as a warning. Upon returning to the server, they chose to join the crew known as Red Lotus whose captain was the infamous long-time player KingKarim. The fighting continued for another week until KingKarim was, in turn, banned for harassment. The remnants of the crew split up. Some formed a smaller crew known as Black Flag, others allowed themselves to be assimilated into the Starks and the Elven Empire. The main perpetrators were not granted peace until they'd paid war reparations. CrazyPirate resigned as Prime Minister in August 2015, leaving Michty as head of state during the election period. The elections were conducted in the same manner as in March. Two candidate duos emerged: Michty with DirectorAnivian as Vice Prime Minister versus Bislo1 with CaptainCrackerz as Vice Prime Minister. The victors were ultimately Michty and DirectorAnivian with their promise of bolstering the military and economy of the Empire in addition to reforming the British recruitment strategy. The new cabinet was appointed in the following weeks. Third Era of Reform The Allied nations dominated international politics as the primary world organisation during the months following the 0utlaws' collapse. A period of mutual prosperity and world peace set in, allowing the empires of PirateCraft to recuperate. In October 2015, it was discovered that the Allied nation of Verussia had been plotting against its supposed allies. The rogue nation was ousted from the organisation in accordance with a unilateral vote, allowing the elves to declare war. Other allied members and foreign entities gave their support in the Allied invasion of Verussia which left the cities of the Verussian continent plundered and in ruins. While the war was dominated by the elven forces, the Verussians never truly surrendered nor accepted demands regarding the abdication of KingRS. Other crews had been growing in influence in the meantime, especially raider organisations with a strong focus on military might. It soon became apparent that upstarts such as Delta and CoV were capable adversaries and had established themselves as notable world powers. Hand in hand with this change came the stagnation of British military strength. By this time British towns were largely siegeproof, yet most citizens lacked the sheer volume of gear that hardcore PVPers had managed to amass through daily raids. Groups of powerfully equipped raiders were able to beleaguer British ports and disrupt trade. Unsurprisingly, harassment reports coming from British members increased significantly. Large-scale British projects were making progress in the meantime, including the development of a British HQ (later known as Venice), the rejuvenation of British business ventures as well as security development and political undertakings. The First Amendment to the British charter was passed, allowing the appointment of Lords as honorary advisers to the government. This was soon followed by a complete overhaul of the British charter and the establishment of new government positions and duties. The laws of the realm were revised to reflect this reform. To cull the number of new, inexperienced players joining the British Empire, the British Empire Training Crew was founded as a means of improving the quality of new recruits. The construction of a training vault was commenced and Lazydog11, the empire's Minister for Recruitment, became the leader of this new sub-crew. In early January 2016, tensions with Verussia grew again in light of the ever-present ruler, KingRS, making comments the British government found derogatory. The redcoats joined forces with their allies in the Xenon Empire and Thirteen Colonies and besieged many Verussian towns in a series of attacks. The Verussian resistant was fleeting and the damage dealt on Verussian lands great. The newly reformed Elven Empire unexpectedly made an offer to the Verussian citizens to merge into their empire, which caused much friction in the League of Nations, the renamed "Allied". The Verussians agreed to the proposal. This action ultimately put an end to the war, but caused a deep rift between the former close allies. At the end of January 2016, tensions grew between the British Empire and the radical revolutionary Ashikagan crew lead by Ultracreeper. Ultracreeper had been campaigning for a revolt against donators for some weeks. He took up contact with _Lego_, the British Empire's new Chief of Police and revealed to him a plan to topple the British government by rigging the elections. _Lego_ reported this and the story soon made headlines in the Ashikagan embassy [12]. Ultracreeper renamed himself "the Kaiser" and defended his actions by announcing he wanted to establish a Colrainist government with revolutionary ideals. His explanation was widely condemned, especially as the BE was well-known as the only big democracy on the server. The Kaiser interrupted a British war vote by declaring war on the British Empire on 31st January 2016 [13] The conflict was short-lived, as CrazyPirate1 managed to plunder Ulracreeper's valuables, including a beacon, during a scouting raid. Elections were held from 17th until 24th March 2016. For the first time three candidate duos emerged - CaptainCrackerz (PM) and iKeto (VPM) vs. BGraph (PM) and Crazy Pirate (VPM) vs. Bislo (PM) and Lawzoneon (VPM). Despite the usage of media such as posters and YouTube videos by the competition, Bislo and Lawzoneon won the election race with their promise of kickstarting the construction of the capital city of London. Soon after the election the decision was made to merge the British Empire Training Crew (BETC) back into the main crew. The reason was that that too many recruits found friends in the BETC and didn't want to "graduate" into the British Empire for fear of losing contact with their comrades through /crew chat. The British Empire had been suffering a period of stagnation due to this effect and was in desperate need of fresh blood. The leadership recognised that in the long term, the BETC would end up smothering the group it had been designed to protect - thus the BETC had to be disbanded. Its legacy lived on, however, as Lazydog11's town Gloomsbay had been massively expanded due to the influx of new recruits and boasted, among other things, housing for dozens of active players and a large PvP arena. On 16th April 2015 PirateCraft moved over to 1.9. The British Empire was actively involved in the opening event and managed to procure rare items such as elytras and dragon heads. The upgrade also enabled the construction of paths on grass blocks using the right-click function of shovels. With the aim of ultimately creating a global road network, the empire got to work connecting its northernmost and southernmost territories with roads. Within but a few days, it was already possible to travel several thousand blocks along a smooth roadway from Venice all the way up north past the Thirteen Colonies and into Port Gletscher/Vendigroth. Other projects also sprang to life, such as the construction of a fully automated infinite free wheat farm near spawn for deckhands as well as the construction of the first buildings and houses in London besides Buckingham Palace and the Globe Theatre. Fourth Era of Eminence May 2016: In a stunning turn of events the balance of power in PirateCraft was changed forever. The build up began during the previous months. This was the time when CoV was at the height of its power and attracting an ever larger member base. Many of the new recruits, decked out in God, felt bold enough to raid and pillage as they pleased. In contrast to the older, more experienced crusaders the fresh blood acted more reckless and less adept on the battlefield. This change did not go unnoticed. Unrest was growing as the previously sedate crews of PirateCraft began to stir from their palsy. A breeze was picking up which would soon become a storm. The first strike was dealt by the Elves. CoV raids lead by players such as JoeBlub and Bentas were halted in their tracks as the Elves amassed a large enough force to drive them back and even slay them. This was a big surprise to many on the server, as usually CoV members encountered little to no resistance owing to their reputation. Reptaria announced that he would from then on be actively hunting down crusaders himself. Behind the scenes treaties were being signed. Now that CoV could be hurt, it was time to drive the blade in deeper. Solis and EE were the first to bring the battle to the crusaders. The sheer number of God geared players, often over a dozen, in comparison to the two to three CoV members at a time, proved simply overwhelming. In battle after battle, CoV for the first time met with defeat. These were not the only crews to get involved though. The British Empire, recognising the potential of this grand alliance against CoV, joined in the fray on 19th May 2016 and sought to bring in more of the smaller crews to the frontlines. Within days, the gears of war were turning as no less than seven crews were actively taking up arms and pursuing their previous belligerents. In addition, it became apparent that CoV's reputation was disintegrating at a rapid pace. No longer seen as untouchable, players recalled the frequent raids, the driving of long-term players such as Konstruktor away from server as well as their arrogant demeanour of the past and used this this opportunity to shatter the crusader's hegemony for once and for all. Within a week, a large number players of CoV had departed, leaving only the core crusaders behind. Many small groups such as Khaos emerged from the Exodus, but were much weaker than the old CoV. CoV itself didn't disband and remained a competent crew, but the wind had gone from its sails. Victory belonged to the entente who rose up against them. The result of this unexpected upheaval was a change in the balance of power. Solis, EE and BE were suddenly seen as the new powerhouses of the server and many wondered if they would stick to their peaceful ideals or attempt to fill CoV's shoes as warlords. While the latter scenario did not immediately come into effect, it did not put an end to war either. The first challenge faced by the BE was the reemergence of USE, who were in conflict with Thirteen Colonies over a name dispute. Verbal assaults were launched but no blood was shed. Then out of the ruins emerged the resurrection of an old nemesis lead by Mandarin_Panda: Outlaws. While the fledgling crew was in itself no threat, the entente was aware that it would try to use its reputation to its advantage and attract capable PvPers. Sure enough, Outlaws declared its intention to become a powerful PvP crew in its own right. This announcement was met with declarations of war by the LoN. The Heart Pirates ambushed and killed one British citizen which lead to a huge counter offensive at their base. Almost twenty British troops heeded the call to action, set up cannons and pounded their base with cannon fire. British redcoats were once again active, prowling the seas and dispensing "justice". This was met with mixed feelings within the government: Some wanted the BE to remain neutral and retaliatory as hitherto. Others demanded the crew take action, especially against scum of the server such as hackers. In particular the Juice Pirates were proven to contain a number of Italian hackers which British forces used as a casus belli to launch an assault - without a war vote. British PM Bislo demanded that the British should cease their offensive immediately in accordance with the charter or face consequences. In the midst of the turmoil screenshots from the Juice Pirates crew chat were revealed, some of which's contents seemed to infer that acceptance of hackers was commonplace in the crew and that a number of crew members - including the leader - were aware of perpetrators but not reporting them to the mods. This lead to a forum report by British members with tempers soaring and appropriate political fallout. After some weeks the situation deescalated. Apple crew members were no longer involved in reports and the two crews even started to work together. BExit On the 16th August 2016, the Templars, a close ally of the BE, unexpectedly declared war on their fellows. [14] The Templars' official casus belli was to avenge perceived transgressions by BE members and to promote a "fun war" on the server, as the summer had so far provided no new conflicts to partake in. This post ignited a furious wave of British indignation. Government officials and citizens alike proceeded to debunk many of the accusations as fabrications serving to justify the act of backstabbing. BE turned to its allies in LoN for assistance in its defensive war against the Templars. However, like the BE, many members of LoN had close connections and friends within the Templar ranks. Only the EE and 13C answered the BE's call to war. This perceived act of treachery by LoN drove a wedge into the relationship between the BE and neutral LoN crews. This even led to players from within the empire demanding a British departure from LoN so as to seek true allies elsewhere. The war against Templars proved short-lived as combined EE, 13C and BE forces held their ground. Internal conflicts within Templar ultimately led to the crew's dissolution and a continuation of world peace. Political changes were abound. 13C was permitted to depart from the BE and continue its existence as an independent but affiliated crew. Tensions continued to intensify within the grand alliance of LoN. A mere couple of weeks had passed since the war with Templar when anti-LoN sentiment met its climax: The "BExit" referendum. After a lengthy debate, the leave campaign prevailed with over three quarters of voters in favour of secession. Thus in late September 2016 the BE officially left the fourteen month old alliance for good. This caused a snowball effect within LoN: EE and 13C also announced their immediate departure whilst the small crews of LR, XE and IE ended up disbanding. The latter three crews would thereupon merge to form a greater, stronger entity know as the Xanthian Order (TXO). LoN ceased to exist. Revival of Relations At the end of 2016, the British made attempts to rejuvenate the broken relations with former allies. The Commonwealth of Nations (CoN), and old British experimental group, was repurposed as an international alliance group with clearer guidelines on voting and defence. The old LoN crews rejoined, including the newly reformed, peaceful Templars. After a first round of elections, PaulOnFire won the majority vote for Secretary-General against Maximus_Terragon, Chailey and NickyB_123. He appointed NickyB_123 as his vice and set out to achieve his election pledges of expanding CoN and founding a new central base of operations for CoN, the Freeport. Progress was made relatively swiftly, yet maintaining stability in CoN was a constant challenge. Templars disbanded in early 2017 following a recruitment crisis. The Xanathian Order later announced its intention of leaving CoN in light of facing many domestic challenges. The Elven leader, Reptaria, left the server for a brief period of time following a huge raid on the majestic new fortress of Gondolin. Candidate applications from the Ebonheart Empire, the Dark Empire and Rome were turned down due to size and activity concerns. The Witherbeard Clan was granted membership on 27th February 2017. By April 2017, CoN had however slipped into inactivity. On 17th May 2017, Gildor_stinky and Taulov were elected as Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister of the British Empire, gaining more votes than opponents Turkeyman11a and Deathtoll_. Construction projects around the Empire had been making great progress, especially in London, yet over time the British Empire had lost many talented PvPers due to a lack of military conflicts. A vote was launched on 1st June 2017 to determine the future of BE's PvP laws. The results will be in on 4th June 2017. Settlements and Forts of the British Empire Atlas of the British Empire - 07.4.2019 Province of Canada: Whiskey Peak Fort Fang Chittenden State: Vendigroth Northern Territories: Gloomsbay Territories on the old continent: Smok-A-Tropolis South Seas: Port Royal (Reformed) Dockerly Hold Southern Territories: Previous British Governments Charts of Previous Governments The BE government, spring 2015 The BE government, summer 2015 The BE government, autumn 2015 The BE government, winter 2015 The BE government, early summer 2016 The BE government, late summer 2016 The BE government, early autumn 2016 The BE government, late autumn 2016 Former Settlements and Forts of the British Empire List of Former Settlements Bridgetown (seceded) Canada (inactive) Chorley (inactive) Corfadia (disbanded) Delta Tower (inactive) Fort Crater (inactive) Fort Havanna (inactive) Fort Hetzer (destroyed) Fort Noble (Governor banned) Fort Wolf (inactive) Goldton (inactive) Hamsfield Court (inactive) Ionith (inactive) Isle of Zeal (inactive) Jamaica (seceded) Karjat (inactive) Mariejois (inactive) New Clankton (inactive) Newfoundland (inactive) New Zealand (inactive) Port Alexandria (inactive) Port Blue (inactive) Port Gletscher (seceded) Port Hope (inactive) Port Laconia (Governor banned) Port Oribi (Governor banned) Port Panem (inactive) Port Royal (inactive) Port Vernesse (inactive) Seastone (inactive) Singapore (seceded) Terra Celestia (inactive) Venice (inactive) Virgin Islands (seceded) Westeros (inactive) Winterfell (inactive) Old Documents and Images Charter of the British Empire (Prior to 16th March 2017) The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for leading the British Empire’s commercial affairs. He or she must maintain a secure vault and manage the crew’s balance while encouraging and securing the commercial development and interests of the empire. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Minister for Defence is responsible for the security of the colonies and for organising war efforts. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Admiral is responsible for running the British navy. He works alongside the Minister for Defence, who is his or her superior, and the General, who is his or her peer. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The General is responsible for running the British armed forces. He works alongside the Minister of Defence, who is his or her superior, and the Admiral, who is his or her peer. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Minister for Justice is responsible for dealing out sentences in accordance to the law of the realm. He or she also organises efforts to bring criminals to justice. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Chief of Police is responsible for organising the British Empire's police force. He is the chosen by the Minister of Justice and is also his subordinate. Police Officers are responsible for keeping order in the Empire. They may use force against proven criminals and confiscate their items if necessary. As enforcers of the law, they must strictly adhere to police guidelines. The Media Commissioner is responsible for producing and promoting British media. The post is appointed by the Prime Minister. Applicants are members of the British Empire who do not yet enjoy the same bandwidth of rights as full citizens do. They may not vote on political matters but are entitled to protection and may request assistance. Candidate members start out as applicants. To become a citizen their membership must either be approved by a majority vote, general consensus or by the Prime Minister. To become a Governor, a citizen must found their own settlement and be appointed by the Prime Minister. Members of the Empire may not engage another player, group of players or nation without the consent of a majority vote unless in defence of themselves or another citizen. Individual players and groups of players who act physically aggressively, regardless of nationality, may be immediately targeted for retribution. No citizen may engage another member of the Empire without their consent unless in self-defence. The penalty for breaking this article may be, among other things: Carrying out penance; paying reparations; being declared a rogue member; suffering uncompensated retribution; seizure of assets; expulsion from the Empire, by choice of the Prime Minister or Minister of Justice, a majority vote or general consensus. The decision of the majority vote overwrites the decision of the Prime Minister or Minister of Justice. A declaration of war requires the approval of a majority vote as well as the approval of the Prime Minister. Charter of the British Empire (Prior to 4th June 2017) Outdated Images Map of the first colonies of the British Empire Map of the provinces of the British Empire at the end of April 2015 (click to view in higher resolution) Atlas of the British Empire - 11.08.2015 Outdated Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Retrieved from "https://wiki.piratemc.com/index.php?title=British_Empire&oldid=7615"	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1831
__label__cc	0.660844	0.339156	Wind and Solar Store Wind and Solar Energy Info Wind and Solar Energy Tips Wind and Solar Energy News You are here: Home / Wind and Solar Energy / The Benefits of Wind Energy The Benefits of Wind Energy By windandsolar Leave a Comment Wind turbines – white structures with three or more blades which are used to generate electricity from the wind – are one of the most efficient methods of generating renewable energy. This is simple fact, and the continued development and licencing of turbines is further testament to this. The reason for this general opinion is that, when one views the statistics, wind turbines are powerfully useful. For example, with older energy generation techniques such as using fossil fuels, to generate electricity one must use some of the earth’s natural resources. In the case of fossil fuels, these one day will run out. Wind turbines have no effect on the earth’s composition and do not need to dig into anything to be able to generate. They take nothing from the earth as an organism, and this makes them a mighty weapon in the battle against climate change. Wind turbines do not produce any emissions, be it carbon dioxide – the cause of climate change – or other such chemicals which may be harmful. Though the construction of a wind farm or turbine requires electricity and source material, it is estimated it takes a mere nine months for a single wind turbine to ‘pay back’ what is has taken out. What is more, after that initial nine months pay back time, wind turbines do not require anything but the wind to operate. The biggest benefit of wind turbines, however, is that they take a natural source and make it useful. The wind blows everywhere in the world, and all wind turbines do is take the previously unused kinetic energy of natural weather phenomenon and create usable electricity. Put simply, the benefits of wind turbines and wind power are overwhelmingly convincing. Filed Under: Wind and Solar Energy ReNew Power: The Indian unicorn built on green energy – CNN Fusion Energy Startups See Renewables Leaving a Gap in Power Market – Bloomberg Black Hills Unit Receives Nod for Renewable Energy Tariffs – Yahoo Finance	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1836
__label__cc	0.563418	0.436582	Filed under Art Art is the Heart Valeria Hanson, staff writer\|December 13, 2017 Most people see art as a painting or a drawing, but it is so much more than that. You see art all the time and don’t even notice it. Every subject, including math, English language arts, science, and social studies are connected to art. Like GBMS art teacher Ms. Rachel Hughes says, “Art is the heart.” Leonardo Davinci’s polyhedron (Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=355440) In art, math is used to proportion the shapes and forms in a space to balance them. That way the head in a portrait won’t look bigger than the body, and make the person in the painting look deformed. You must remember that math was being developed as closely as art was, so at times it may seem there is more math in art, and vice versa. Math was used by many great artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who used math to develop their artistic vision. Art and ELA are very similar. They are both used to help describe what something or someone looks like. But sometimes words alone cannot help us visualize what the author wants us to. When this happens, an artistic picture or painting of what the author is trying to describe is placed in the text as a text feature. When you read a book, it often has a drawn or painted design on the cover. The art on the cover is used to explain the story visually, just as it can be found in a form of art. The Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington (National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired as a gift to the nation through the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation) Almost every aspect of social studies has to do with art. Art memorializes events and people in history. We may not have known what one of the most famous persons in American history looked like, if it wasn’t for art. One such person was George Washington, and The Lansdowne Portrait by Gilbert Stuart tells us what he looked like, his personality, and the times being faced. But how can a painting tell about someone’s character and era? By symbolism, the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In The Lansdowne Portrait, you can see part of a rainbow in the top right corner. The rainbow is a symbol of new prosperity, this showed us that George Washington was from the times when America became prosperous after gaining independence from Britain. This portrait shows us that Washington is about justice and was a leader because of the sword he holds (a symbol for justice and leadership). Another aspect of art in history can be found on some cave walls; the artists of these miraculous paintings were cave men. Their paintings showed archaeologists how cave men hunted and some left traces of special ceremonies. Art in science? Yes, that exists. Do you think scientists from the times without cameras just knew the exact anatomy of an animal just by looking at it? No, they had to draw a quick sketch of the animal to further examine it from their lab. When looking at their drawings they could see any features they had not noticed when observing an animal directly. But those scientists couldn’t make those drawings without art. In art, the objects being resembled must be balanced in the space it is in. A scientist had to do this so the creature they were sketching didn’t come off the page and half the animal would be missing (they would have forgotten an important feature). Color is another important part of both art and science. Colors are used in science to communicate a message, works of art use it for largely the same reason. When working with dangerous chemicals scientists will use bright colors with a sign to warn someone to stay away from them. Bright colors are regularly perceived by the brain as hazardous. In paintings, colors are used to help add feelings to the piece. When someone sees hot colors (red, yellow, and magenta) in a work of art, they might feel anger or happiness. What does the color green make you think or feel? Ms. Hughes explains that this color makes her think of life because green is the color of her birth stone. Lily Van Sleen, 8th grade, says that it is calming. Brianna Barbee, 8th, says that it makes her think of the forest. Camryn Kennovin, also 8th, says that it makes her feel happy. Lyssa Leslie, 8th, answered that it makes her think of the warm feeling of home. Color might just be a science all on its own. Other stories filed under Art GBMS students explore the Fine Arts GBMS Students take home the prizes at recent art festivals! Katrina Le paints up a storm in art class! Awesome artist Alex goes to state May Artist of the Month: Olivia Ammon County Middle School Art Show Victor Wright paints up a storm! February Artist of The Month: Juliana McCarthy Sarah MARKS her place in GBMS	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1852
__label__wiki	0.635923	0.635923	contact usmain page The GPS Coordinates .net our database includes all countries, cities and more... The latitude and longitude gps coordinates of Sonipat (India) ↓reviews about this city↓ Sonipat is a city in India. The stright distance between Sonipat and New Delhi is 27 miles (44 kilometers). Current local time in Sonipat: July 16, 2019, 11:06 pm; Percent change from previous month (Jun 2019) by the visitors: -29% Distance between Sonipat (India) and an optional place as the crow flies: LAT: LONG: Use decimal format! e.g.: 47.4925, 19.0513 The geographical location (geolocation) of Sonipat is on the north and east hemisphere. The nearest cities to Sonipat (in our database): Kirari Suleman Nagar, Karawal Nagar, Rohtak, New Delhi, Delhi, Panipat, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Meerut Were you in Sonipat (India)? Please leave a comment and rating: your email address (non-public) Select your country: Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Finland France Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Ireland Republic of Macedonia Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The Gambia Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Select your gender: male female Select your year of birth: 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 your review (100-1000 characters) Environment (e.g.: buildings, parks) awful awesome Public transport or road traffic People (e.g.: kindness, helpfulness) The most popular cities on this day (16 July 2019): San Antonio, Marikina, Okahandja, Memphis, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mzuzu, David, Dera Ismail Khan, Tepic, Nekemte	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1856
__label__cc	0.658454	0.341546	Home/Family Support Services/How Do I Use Your Services? How Do I Use Your Services?Pippa Watsonpeck2019-02-13T12:37:04+01:00 The Joshua Tree is here whenever you need us. Whether that is at diagnosis, during treatment or post-treatment, one year, five years or 10 years down the line. We do not have a limit on when families can access our services. We like to think that once families become a member of The Joshua Tree family, they always know they can get in touch. Families do not need to be having a difficult time, have a specific problem or be at crisis point to access our services. Sometimes it’s nice just to be involved with others who 'get it' and understand. We feel that peer support is so important to help families navigate their own journey with childhood cancer. The quickest method of contacting us is by completing the form below. We will get back to you normally within 24 hours. What is your enquiry about? GeneralVolunteeringFundraisingFamily SupportOther North WalesCheshireMerseysideOther Please Specify Your Location* “After treatment I felt like we were ok, that we could just forget about what had happened and move on with our life. It hit me like a ton of bricks one day, what we’d actually been through. It’s been so helpful to chat to others that understand that after treatment doesn’t mean it all just goes away. We don’t sit around feeling sorry for ourselves but we can now accept that it was really hard at times.”	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1859
__label__cc	0.533376	0.466624	lDlheBpSJ Review Human Autopsy – Ruincarnation themetalrebel.com June 16, 2016 FEATURESREVIEWS315 views If you don’t know much about the metalscenes in Asia, you´d never believe Human Autopsy is from Bali. One of Southeast Asia´s most famous tourism destination, known for it´s beaches, temples and scenic environments. The beauty of Bali is such a big contrast to this skull crushing and unearthly brutal beast of an album. Ruincarnation might very well be one of the Top 5 best albums coming from Indonesia in 2016. When you visit Bali as a Western tourist, it´s as if the locals never seem to stop smiling and its very easy to fall in love with this little island. Bla bla bla and all the other typical standard tourism commercial stuff you get at the traveling agency. Yes, this island IS one of my favorite destinations in Asia and I absolutely love it (just staying the hell away from Kuta) and I think the local people and culture is amazing. But, this island is also home to one of the most vital and brutal underground metal scenes in Indonesia and Asia, and that should be put in every information sheet, brochure and tourism info about Bali. Maybe the brutality that many bands from Bali has inside of them is in the Bali DNA? The local ancient music of Gamelan is the Meshuggah of traditional music, it´s pure hammers and percussion djent mayhem. On Bali New Year´s Eve, called Nyepi, they shut down the entire island and every neighborhood makes their own terrifying demonic statue, parading down the streets making as much noise as possible, in an attempt to exorcist the shit out of all evil demons living on Bali. After that everyone must shut the hell up for 24 hours so every remaining demon thinks everyone has left so they might just as well do the same. The local beliefs are full of angry demons, evil spirits, bad witches, ritual dances where people fall in trance and connects with the spiritual world. It´s amazing and violent at the same time. Just like the metal music that this island produces. So, it´s not a surprise that Balinese metal is evil and brutal as shit. Human Autopsy is a Balinese deathcore band that pulled of the trick of blowing my mind from the first few seconds. Their debut album is an assault on the metal world – ”Ruincarnation” – a death core masterpiece. I´m not sure if the vocalist is perhaps possessed by a leftover demon. Judging by his growls it´s a pretty fair chance. Human Autopsy´s Facebook page informs me that they wish to conduct an autopsy of the listeners ears and mind, by hammering in the message that one should not destroy everything, or make an already bad thing even worse. The songs deal with social injustices and conflicts, the bad effects of globalization and modernization and also a dash of broken hearts – a subject as old as the ancient mountains on Bali. Human Autopsy wants to educate their audience by screaming their message from the top of their lungs. After about 5 seconds into the first track Meringis Bengis it´s pretty clear that this band doesn’t fuck around. The combined hell of every pissed off demon and child eating witch breaks loose into a 7-stringed super intense mayhem, and never quite ends until the last tone on the 11th track of Ruincarnation. What hits me first, except for the flawless production, is the voice of Trie, the band´s vocalist. He´s probably one of the Top 3 most brutal and interesting growling vocalists in Indonesia today, his voice is amazingly multi-layered and dynamic. This statement that I´m about to make can probably be sensitive and bold to the Indonesian metal scenes, but Trie has the same kind of frustrated, sad and furious edge to his voice as Ivan Scumbag, late vocalist of Indonesian Burgerkill – but with a completely different deathcore attack – it´s like being hunted down the alleys of Bali at night by a shouting demon on steroids. Meringis Bengis sets the mood for the rest of the album, Human Autopsy attacks from all flanks without any consideration of taking prisoners – its kill or be killed deathcore at it´s finest. Reincarnation doesn´t reinvent the deathcore wheel, nor is it a new, refreshing take on the genre – it´s very clear that Whitechapel, Suicide Silence, Meshuggah, and Job For a Cowboy among others are the biggest influences, and I´d say mostly Whitechapel. But that´s not a problem at all, because Human Autopsy are doing it so f*king good that I don’t care if it´s like the Whitechapel of Bali or whatever – it´s more of a proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from – if you´re great you´re great. They mix their influences into something that actually doesn´t sound like ONE of their idol bands, it sounds like they threw the best parts into a mixer and poured the slush down into the glass that is Human Autopsy. But actually more insane, and I can’t emphasize enough how much the vocalist does for the band´s own personal touch. It´s sick. If Human Autopsy and many more bands from Southeast Asia and Asia weren’t so geographically disadvantaged they could easily tour head to head with any of the Western bands in their respective genre. I´m writing this review on a train from Stockholm to Malmö in Sweden, sitting all cramped up and hungover in a small coupe with what appears to be non-metal people. I don’t even realize that I’m getting stared at by one of the passengers when I´m sitting with my laptop in my lap, headbanging slowly back and forth to the mentally deranged epic groove of “Fragmentari Para Ular“. I have a goofy ear-to-ear smile and I just cant help it – this is so amazingly therapeutic heavy and tight that I just wanna circlepit on the train. The 3rd track “Undirected” is actually a little doodle of Balinese Gamelan, adding a very nice Balinese flavor to the deathcore onslaught. In fact this local instrumental part makes me wonder why Human Autopsy doesn’t incorporate the traditional Gamelan more into the songs somehow, adding the djenty progressive craziness of this local percussive metallic instruments. For sure it would make the band very exotic in the Western metalhead´s ears. As far as I know, only one band from Bali has implemented Gamelan structures into their metal music, the locally legendary Eternal Madness. And even though they never got picked up by any Western label as a direct result from their ”Gamelan metal”, it sure as hell made their music incredibly complex and unique. Anyway, I´m not saying that all Bali bands should play Gamelan in their metal, just saying it could be cool to give their music a local touch. I talked to a friend in the Bali metalscenes, Didot from Born By Mistake about this subject back in 2008, and he told us that they simply get bored of their traditional music since they hear it everywhere on Bali every goddamn day. So they simply wanna play metal with their bands, and don’t mix the two. That´s fair enough. “Conspiracy Machine” picks up the pace again and grabs you by the neck, throwing you right back into the mix of bitchslapping blast beats, super tight starts and stops, classic deathcore riffs and twists. It really feels like the vocalist is standing 5 cm from your face, screaming like a crazy person so you cant keep your eyes open. It´s like listening to tape recordings from real life exorcisms. The re-appearing Meshuggah-ish soloing ads a nice eery ambient and makes the slower, ultra heavy closing part a given concert moshpit favorite. “Evil Wears Many Faces” and “Wrath” are both equally great as the previous tracks, both complete with everything you would love from Job For A Cowboy on steroids, the violence from Suicide Silence´s first 2 albums and Decapitated´s blazingly fast and sharp riffing. The vocalist screams, growls, spits and pukes his way through the walls of multi-layered riffing, ambient melodies and pissed-off drumming. The whole band is like a freight-train storming down without any way of slowing down. On “Wrath” the vocalist Coxsicborn of Bali partners in crime Born By Mistake joins in and takes everything to the next level – now you have to maniacs growling the shit out of their lungs. Once again the groove just makes me wanna clench my fist and lose it. I feel abused and severely beaten up. Thanks. The band´s only single from “Ruincarnation” so far is “Dioxide Of Modernization“, a track that makes me feel like I´m standing in a MMA-ring and am about to fight the fight of my life. It´s slowly building up the adrenaline and an “imgonnatearyouapart”-feeling, jumping on my feet like a boxer. The faster part about halfway into the song is probably the craziest on the album, don’t know the blast-beat technique but let´s just call it mental. The slow Meshuggah-ish solo is my cue that I should probably leave the ring, I got knocked the hell down, with yet undiscovered birds circling my head. But then the climaxing breakdown part gets me back on my feet and I go full force forward for my revenge. The twisting and turning “Agresi Mutant” brings forward the double-bass pedals, this monster quickly shifts between super fast and painfully slow drumming, closing the song with rhythmics that no-one can stand still to. “Konvoi Para Gagak” starts off with a fast-paced, kind of punky “join-the-skinhead-party-ring”-stomp beat, the heavy main riff is apparent in various nuances throughout the song´s dynamic twists and turns. I´m very impressed that Human Autopsy 9 songs into this deathcore onslaught manages to hit me with a song that sounds nothing like the first 8 – but still sounds exactly like Human Autopsy. Speaking of riffs, “Golden Era of Hades” opening riff is brutally massive and flows like Black Dahlia Murder, this songs is actually more reminiscent of that kind of black/death/grind than deathcore. The title track “Ruincarnation” is a showreel of the band, everything that they threw at me in the previous tracks is pressed into a clenched fist going for my face. Deathcore, death metal, black/death/grind – it´s all in the mix. The closing song on this masterpiece debut album “Repertoire” is a wonderful instrumental track, a well-deserved break from the severe beating that I´ve put my self through the past 45 minutes. Nicely arranged harmonies, no distortion or violence – just …. breathing. Get Ruincarnation before it´s sold out – this monster debut album is an Indonesian deathcore classic already! Contact the label Trill/Cult Records here! Human Autopsy Facebook Human Autopsy - Ruincarnation The short story Totally ear-raping, air-tight & crushing deathcore delivered as a fist in your face by Indonesian debutants Human Autopsy. Creativity & Originality80 Got skills90 Recording quality100 Demonic madness100 Reader Rating11 Votes70 Top 3 best Indo growling vocalist Absolutely crushing deathcore Never flatlines Cant think of any deathcoreindonesiareviews Samack Samakk February 6, 2017 Sumatran Funeral Thirst Tours Thailand themetalrebel.com September 6, 2016 REVIEW Malapetaka-Lawless Perdition themetalrebel.com May 16, 2016 Spaced out video by Inheritors Suicide Silence Thai opening acts interview themetalrebel.com August 24, 2016	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1862
__label__cc	0.535246	0.464754	Julie Penner on the MindMill Podcast Julie Penner \| People over Product, Process, and Profit Julie Penner on the MindMill Podcast Julie Penner is the former director of the famed Techstars business accelerator program. She has worked with hundreds of diverse companies; challenging, empowering, and propelling them into new arenas of success. Julie now works as COO of Halp. This episode is with Julie Penner (@soulofstartups), former director of the famed Techstars business accelerator program in Boulder Colorado. She has worked with hundreds of diverse companies; challenging, empowering, exposing, and propelling them into new arenas of success. Despite the endless metrics and data-points of analysis, Julie maintains that its always human development that governs the success of a company. The Techstars accelerator has expanded to… Evan Hung on The MindMill Podcast Evan Hung \| Sustainability Through Capitalism. Optimizing How We Use Energy Sources. Evan Hung is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Nikola Power - a software company building solutions to bridge the gap between grid power, batteries, and renewable energy sources. Brian Tirey \| A Life Meditated & Preparing for Fatherhood January 14, 2019/ Martial Arts, Yoga, & Yellowstone \| The Badassery of Greg Woodruff March 29, 2018/ 001 – Breathing On Board with Lindsay Gonzalez April 22, 2017/ Home-Owning And Cohabitation \| Jake Holschuh and Seth on Buying Your First Home and Sharing it with Others. December 6, 2018/	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1863
__label__cc	0.640798	0.359202	Mercury – Toxicity, Exposure, Body Burden, Detoxification & Elimination The Revisionist > Bio-Hacking > Mercury – Toxicity, Exposure, Body Burden, Detoxification & Elimination 1 Is it true that drinking Mercury isn’t dangerous? 2 Toxicity of Mercury, from Highest to Lowest 3 What are the Consequences of Long Term Low Dose exposure to Mercury? 4 How do Heavy Metals, like Mercury, Burden the Body? 5 How does the body remove mercury? 6 What Foods Assist in the Elimination of Mercury from the Body? Is it true that drinking Mercury isn’t dangerous? Not dangerous? Hardly. Mercury vapor is exceedingly toxic to the brain, kidney, heart and liver. And your microbiome would be seriously damaged, too. If you were a fetus, infant, child or teen, your brain development would be derailed, with permanent results. Even if only a tiny fraction of the mercury (a thousandth of a percent) is absorbed, it is seriously debilitating. If some of the mercury were to get trapped in a pocket (diverticulus), you’d have severe health problems lasting for years, or for the rest of your life. Your microbiome would react to the mercury and convert it into methyl mercury, which is efficiently absorbed by the body. Gram for gram, drinking mercury is nowhere near as dangerous as drinking mercury salts and organic mercury derivatives. But it is far from benign. It’s not something to do on a dare. Mercury has had medical uses dating back centuries, and maybe millennia. But they are out of fashion now.[1] Toxicity of Mercury, from Highest to Lowest Dimethylmercury > Methylmercurcy > Elemental Mercury Touching a few drops of Dimethylmercury is enough to kill an adult human being [Karen Wetterhahn] Elemental mercury is usually found in thermometers. A general rules is that the earlier in development a human beings is exposed to mercury, the more toxic that mercury is for him/her. For example, embryos are 5 to 10 times more sensitive to the toxicity of mercury than adults.[2] What are the Consequences of Long Term Low Dose exposure to Mercury? Anything from “almost nothing” to Alzheimer’s disease. All humans carry a mercury burden. I’d be willing to bet good money that no human anywhere on the planet has mercury below the detectable limits of todays analytical techniques. So in a real sense, EVERYBODY has “long-term, low-dose mercury toxicity.” So… How low is low? Since the sulfhydryl (reduced sulfur-containing) enzymes that are strongly inhibited in Alzheimer’s disease only get inhibited when the mercury-detoxification system gets overwhelmed, there is no way to know what the consequences of any given mercury level would have on a human. Another way to say it is: there are people with high mercury burdens who do not have Alzheimer’s disease and others with low levels of mercury who do. It is the dynamic relationship between: the level of mercury burden and the adaptive capacity of the glutathione antioxidant defense system. You have to know both to predict a result. In one case of teenage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a 17-year-old male had a mercury burden approaching 0.1% of his heart muscle. Until he died suddenly, he appeared to be entirely healthy.[3] How do Heavy Metals, like Mercury, Burden the Body? We currently accept mercury burdens that may be up to a binary order of magnitude higher than those of our ancestors and lead burdens that may be two ten-fold orders of magnitude higher. Heavy metal burdens put a direct strain on the antioxidant defense system (glutathione and ascorbate, as defended by NADH and NADPH) which means that there is: increased demand on glutathione synthesis (not big problem, that’s just a protein-synthesis demand) increased demand for reducing equivalents (a big problem because heavy metals sabotage mitochondrial energy-production systems), and sabotage of the heavy-metal excretion mechanisms involving reduced-sulfur species. I think this is the Achilles heel of modern disease (degenerative, oxidative, autoimmune and neurological). Loss of renal functions is a direct manifestation of the kidney’s special susceptibility to mercury toxicity, exceeded only by the brains worse susceptibility. How does the body remove mercury? Steven Fowkes gave me a very good answer for how the body removes mercury from the body: The primary detoxification mechanism for mercury is combination with reduced sulfur. This takes place in all tissues and especially in the liver, where the glutathione-bound mercury (GS-Hg-SG) is dumped into the bile for excretion into the gut. The body converts ionic mercury, metallic mercury and organic mercury into glutathione-bound mercury, a small amount of which can be excreted through the kidneys into the urine, but most of which is excreted in bile. The kidney is particularly sensitive to mercury, so urinary excretion is necessarily constrained. But bile-excreted mercury is not actually removed. Yet. It must pass down the full length of the intestine and colon before it is removed. And this is significantly problematic because glutathione-bound mercury is particularly toxic to single-cell microbes, and they detoxify it by converting it into methyl mercury, which efficiently absorbs back into the blood stream and even crosses the blood-brain barrier. So the detoxed-form of mercury is recycled into the more toxic form during its transit down the GI tract. This is a loop in which mercury can become trapped in the human body. In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, there is a failure of cellular or tissue-level mercury excretion of glutathione-bound mercury. In one 17-year-old male teenager, glutathione-bound mercury accumulated to almost 0.1% (wet weight!) before he suddenly died on the track field. This mercury accumulation in IDC is (1) limited to the heart and was not found in other muscles or other organs, and (2) shows how effective glutathione is at detoxifying mercury.[4] In response, I gave him my “theory” for improving the elimination of Mercury from the body: So to increase the detox of mercury in the body, you need to shorten the transit time for the food particles in the digestive tract. To do this you can try: Coconut meat. Excellent when paired with exercise. The fiber in the coconut bulks up the stool and prevents the bile from being re-absorbed. Ginger. Or spicy foods… Actually know that I think about it, spicy foods may cause some people to break out in acne because it increases the bile secreted as an irritant. Therefore pumping out more moving more Mercury around. Red tea (with milk, sugar, cardamom). I always find myself running to the bathroom more frequently when I drink this tea. Weird… Tannins, perhaps? What Foods Assist in the Elimination of Mercury from the Body? The Japanese consume foods that protect from mercury poisoning. The compounds in these foods upregulate specific enzymes (e.g., glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductive, etc) in the liver that are used to neutralize Mercury. Our western diets are lacking in such foods and nutrients… this is one reason why symptoms of heavy metal toxicity is higher in the West. In these cases – as many people have eluded to – chelation therapies are used to cleanup the mess. Conventional Therapies Chelation therapy enhances the elimination of metals (both toxic and essential) from the body. Methods include: DMPS, an oral medication for arsenic, cadmium, and mercury toxicity Succimer (DMSA), an oral medication for mild-to-moderate lead, arsenic and mercury toxicity Calcium-disodium EDTA for lead encephalopathy and lead poisoning But heavy metal chelation can be very dangerous if you have a ‘leaky’ blood-brain barrier (an all too common situation amongst the Western population). This is something I see quite often too. I have a client who has undergone chelation therapy for the past several months only to see symptoms worsen. I would never expose a person to chelation if I suspect a ‘leaky’ brain. Despite these chemicals effectiveness, the downfall is that they work in binary format (fully on or fully off). There’s no modulation involved. The liver is all to happy to get rid of its heavy metals and dumps them right back into the blood stream. From there, it can go right to your brain (if leaky). For the above reason, chelation is not my go-to method to detox the body of heavy metals. Instead I like to use strategies that support the body in ridding itself of these nasties. Integrative interventions Below are a few nutritional strategies used to help the body against the ravages of heavy metals: Selenium: Selenium is an inhibitor of mercury accumulation and increases excretion of mercury and arsenic. Selenium also increases toxic metal excretion (Li 2012). Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a free-radical scavenger that can protect against oxidative damage caused by lead (Patrick 2006), mercury (Xu 2007), and cadmium (Ji 2012). Folate: Active folate (not folic acid) is a cofactor in sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. Sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) are precursors to known heavy metal chelators (alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione – see below). In a study of 1,105 pregnant women, 841 of which were followed through late pregnancy or delivery, higher blood folate levels were associated with lower blood mercury levels during mid- and late-pregnancy (Kim 2013) Garlic: Garlic contains many active sulfur compounds derived from cysteine with potential metal-chelating properties. Garlic lowered lead levels in the blood of industrial workers as effectively as the chelator d-penicillamine (Kianoush 2012). Lipoic Acid and Glutathione: Sulfur-containing compounds can complex with heavy metals, and the sulfur antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and glutathione have been demonstrated to chelate a number of metals (mercury for glutathione; cadmium, lead, zinc, cobalt, nickel, iron, and copper for ALA) (Patrick 2002). ALA and glutathione reduced some of the adverse changes in blood parameters, including drops in red blood cell number and size as well as reductions in hemoglobin concentration brought about by intoxication with lead, cadmium, or copper (Nikolic 2013).[5] Is it true that drinking Mercury isn’t dangerous? [Quora] Methylmercury and Dimethylmercury [Source] What are the Effects of Long Term Low Dose Mercury Toxicity? [Quora] How Does the Body Remove Mercury A2A by Steven Fowkes [Quora] What foods assist in the elimination of Mercury from the body? [Quora] 5 thoughts to “Mercury – Toxicity, Exposure, Body Burden, Detoxification & Elimination” Andy Cutler, Ph.D advises using chelators like DMSA/DMPS/Alpha lipoic acid only according to their half-lives, so dosed every 3 hours, to avoid the redistribution of more mercury into the brain. Doses not in accordance with half life will remove some mercury, but will pick a bunch of it up and drop it off into the fattiest tissues like the brain and liver. Do you know the reason why mercury loves fatty tissue? How well does the bile secreted from the gall bladder remove mercury? I think that would be the main way mercury leaves the body. That’s why I think that bitters, like Turmeric, could help a person eliminate mercury from their body- because turmeric increases the secretion of bile. Mercury loves fatty tissues because it’s lipophilic (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2386431). I don’t know about bile removing mercury. I haven’t heard that it does. From what I’ve learned, chelators excrete mercury mostly through the bowels and a little through the urine. Taurine helps make bile too. I took a lot of turmeric in 2013 but only saw improvement in mercury symptoms from using DMSA/ALA by the aforementioned method (Cutler Protocol). I emailed Ray Peat about this but I think he has a reductionist view of chelation. Mercury’s brain half-life is 27.4 years and his solutions of coffee, milk, and OJ are not gonna cut it. I mentioned bile, because the body (should) have its own way of removing mercury from the body, even so slowly. It looks like I’ve asked this question before on Quora, read Steven Fowkes answer on the topic: https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-body-remove-mercury Where did you learn about Cutler’s protocol? Also, how did you figure out that you needed to detoxify yourself of Mercury? Yea, I don’t see how milk or OJ (vitamin C?) could significantly improve the elimination of Mercury from the body. I can imagine where Ray Peat was coming from with coffee, since coffee can speed up the transit of food through the digestive tract, and lessen the amount of mercury that is reabsorbed by the body (from the bile secreted). I appreciate chatting with you. Very good information you’ve brought up! That is great info from Fowkes that’s new to me. I learned about Cutler’s protocol through Google in 2013. I have dealt with symptoms in the chronic fatigue spectrum for 6 years so I’m doing all I can to recover (I’m 20). Ray Peat and Andy Cutler have been the most helpful to me out of everyone. Absolutely man. You have a great site. I’ll continue to check it out. How to Heal Repetitive Strain Injury, RSI Risk… How Free Radicals Destroy the Brain & How…	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1870
__label__wiki	0.932696	0.932696	At Nathan Goodell's farm in northeastern Ohio, March is usually prime season for boiling maple sap into syrup. But with above-average winter temperatures, he's already wrapping up work at the sugar shack. Photo: Julie Grant Above-Average Winter Temperatures are Jumpstarting the Growing Season Julie Grant March 3, 2017 Climate ChangeFood and Agriculture While many of us have been enjoying the mild winter, it has some food producers double checking the calendar. For instance, March is usually prime season for boiling the sap from maple trees down into syrup. But at the farm Nathan Goodell’s family has worked for seven generations in northeastern Ohio, record-high winter temperatures have pushed everything way ahead of schedule. “We finished tapping our trees the very beginning of February and made our first syrup on the seventh of February, which is the earliest we’ve ever boiled syrup,” Goodell says. In fact, they’re already winding down work at the sugar shack. “This year, we’re going to finish about as early as we ever have.” Thirty-four-year-old Nathan Goodell is winding down work at his family’s sugar shack early this year due to an unusually warm February. Photo: Julie Grant Orchards are also off their regular growing season. Plum and apricot trees are about a month ahead of schedule and already close to blooming, according to central Ohio grower Ralph Hugus. He expects to lose those crops if the region gets another hard frost. Rich Marini, a fruit tree specialist at Penn State University, says if temperatures dip below about 28 degrees, fruit trees that have flowered could be in trouble. “If we get a frost when they’re in bloom, it kills the flower,” Marini says. “The flower contains the developing fruit.” LISTEN: Warm Winter Gets the Growing Season Going Early http://www.alleghenyfront.org/mp3s/AF030317_Julie_WinterGrowers.mp3 But Marini says apples and peaches — Pennsylvania’s major fruit crops — haven’t soaked in too much sunshine yet. He says apple trees, for example, have been blooming earlier over the past 25 years, though this year looks to be ahead of schedule even by recent standards. Still, apples might be able to delay budding until spring really arrives. “Don’t give up hope yet,” Marini says. “Right now I’m assuming we’re going to get a crop. We’ll see. You just never know. I like the warm weather. But for the trees, I’d like it to stay in the 40s in March, or even the low-50s to delay blooms if we could.” Back at Nathan Goodell’s farm, maple syrup production looks to be a little short of an average season. His farm is a stop on an annual March “Maple Madness Tour,” but visitors won’t be seeing the sugar shack in full swing this year. Instead Goodell’s visitors will have to be content working their way through a stack of pancakes. Julie Grant Julie Grant got her start in public radio at age 19 while at Miami University in Ohio. After studying land ethics in graduate school at Kent State University, Julie covered environmental issues in the Great Lakes region for Michigan Radio’s Environment Report and North Country Public Radio in New York. She’s won many awards, including an Edward R. Murrow Award in New York, and was named “Best Reporter” in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists. Her stories have aired on NPR’s Morning Edition , The Splendid Table and Studio 360. Julie loves covering agricultural issues for the Allegheny Front—exploring what we eat, who produces it and how it’s related to the natural environment. Marie Cusick July 12, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1872
__label__cc	0.748141	0.251859	BREXIT WEEK AHEAD: ANM QUICK GUIDE Topical News Brexit European Politics Labour Party Breaking News UK Politics Politics Tags: brexit, EU, Meaningful Vote, Article 50, WTO AltNewsMedia March 11, 2019 This week will be pivotal to understanding how Brexit will be implemented by Theresa May and the politicians in Westminster. The largest vote ever in British history has been turned into a confusing mess after two and a half years of back-tracking from the pre referendum commitments and promises. Here is a quick guide on what to expect! First, a reminder of what the people were told pre vote: After the most doom laden project fear predictions, after foreign interference from Obama stating the UK would be ‘back of the queue’ if she left the EU, and after huge overspend on the Remain campaign, (including a £9m Government leaflet to every house), the British people valued sovereignty above any of the risks. They deemed a complete exit was more important than short to medium term financial risks. The focus on transient economics by the losing side misses the point – those risks were predicted to be WORSE, and people voted to leave in spite of them. Prime Minister Theresa May will return to Parliament with whatever amendments to her withdrawal deal she has secured for another “meaningful vote”. Her last meaningful vote suffered the heaviest parliamentary defeat in the history of the British democratic era, and it is hard to see how a new one can pass. The heavily “Remain” weighted parliament are seeing a chance to thwart Brexit, so many of them will not vote for the deal even if it has additional guarantees around the ‘Irish backstop”. Other MPs see anything other than a clean exit as betrayal of the vote, so it is probable that the proposition will be defeated. This will then trigger a second vote… If there is a defeat for Theresa May’s ‘deal’ then a vote asking for consent to leave on WTO terms (ie no deal) will be given to Parliament. Leaving on WTO terms and “no deal” on the 29th March has always been the default legal position, and many Leave voters would say that is simply what they voted for. However despite saying ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’, and giving absolute assurance that the UK will leave on 29th March, May has recently started to change the language. It is now ‘no Brexit’ rather than ‘no deal’ that Parliament risks, and there appears to be a large majority across Parliament to vote down leaving on no deal / WTO terms. If leaving without a deal is voted down, then this will trigger a third vote… Thursday 14th March 2019 If Theresa May loses the first two votes, she will then ask for the option to extend article 50 beyond the 29th March 2019, for further time to agree a withdrawal agreement. It is difficult to see how she could survive this as her credibility would be in tatters. over 100 times stating categorically that Britain will leave on the 29th March (see clip below). If this extension is granted, the Government must seek permission of the EU member states to extend, which isn’t guaranteed but highly likely based on the mood music playing from the EU. It is also possible that the EU will make additional financial demands to extend article 50, even for a very short period. The question (should they extend) is what difference does it make if a deal isn’t in sight? The democratic price the country will pay by not leaving on the 29th March will have serious ramifications for both the Labour and Conservative parties, as they will, after nearly 3 years, failed to implement the democratic will of the country. At this point all bets are off – we may see resignations, or we may see the start of a process to stop Brexit altogether. Tags:: Meaningful Vote LE BRON BEGUM BREXIT – WHAT HAPPENS NOW? BIG MEDIA BLOCKS HER MAJESTY’S TURQUOISE STATEMENT THE DEATH OF UKIP David Vance May 27, 2019 US VIEWS ON BREXIT; GOOD FRIENDS AND A FEW HORRIBLE NEIGHBOURS Tony Morrison May 13, 2019 Get the News that really matters Popular Posts You May Like TOMMY ROBINSON TO LEAD MARCH TO TWITTER’S HEAD OFFICE FAR LEFT “THUG” IS PROMINENT LABOUR PARTY MEMBER CLERIC’S SON WANTS IMAM TAWHIDI “SLAUGHTERED”	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1876
__label__wiki	0.568146	0.568146	1 – Objects produced by a people to be used by and within its own society. 2 – Objects produced by a people to be used not only by its own society, but also by other peoples. 3 – Objects produced according to a people’s traditional methods, but commissioned by other peoples. 4 – Objects produced according to a people’s traditional methods, but intended for the tourist trade. 5 – Copies of important original artefacts, produced according to a people’s traditional methods, intended for the tourist trade. 6 – Copies of important original artefacts, produced according to a people’s traditional methods, with the intention to sell them as authentic objects. Beeldhouwer, Luba, Congo Tribal Art Musea How to look at Tribal Art People and the countries they are living in	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1887
__label__wiki	0.648466	0.648466	Home > About us, Structure & Safeguard > About Us > Governance > Board Our Board is made up of volunteer directors from both the membership and outside the organisation. The Board is responsible under the Articles for the running of the company. The purpose of the Board is to set the strategy of Archery GB and then to monitor & support the Chief Executive and their team of staff and volunteers to ensure that the strategic objectives are met. The Board meets six times a year 2018 dates are given below and is supported by the Company Secretary and the minute Secretary, who are remunerated. It assesses its own performance annually and our governance is also reviewed independently by UK Sport and Sport England. In particular, we are annually inspected to ensure we meet the standard set by government under the Code for Sport Governance. The Board records its decision in the Minutes and regulates its own conduct through a set of Board Regulations. It also set Policy and works with the Chief Executive to ensure that there are procedures in place to implement that policy. Further information is available to download below. 13 January 2018 London 10 March 2018 London 21 April 2018 Birmingham NEC 09 June 2018 Birmingham 21 July 2018 London 22 September 2018 London 24 November 2018 Birmingham C-01-05 Memorandum, Articles & Laws 1 – Strategic Plan Code of Sport Governance	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1891
__label__wiki	0.98534	0.98534	ABC Close menu Search ABC Golden reflection - Alan Carmichael 15 May, 2015 10:21AM AWST Cultures come together in a Kalgoorlie parent group By Nathan Morris A primary school teacher from Kalgoorlie has created a group in an effort to assist parents from different language backgrounds to make new friends and improve their English. Jan Rowling has started a group to help parents from different language backgrounds practice their English and make new friends. (ABC Goldfields:Melissa Drummond) Teacher Jan Rowling is the English as an additional language or dialect coordinator at North Kalgoorlie Primary School. "Basically it's supposed to be a warm, non-threatening place that all kinds of mums can come along to... it's just a place to have conversations with other people," she said. While the group wasn't specifically created for parents from non-English speaking backgrounds, Ms Rowling said that for some of the mums in the group, it's a chance to exercise their English. She said many migrant fathers in families get to go to work, socialise and improve their language skills, but some of the mothers who are at home caring for children, don't always get that same opportunity. Ms Rowling said over the past 10 years, the cultural make up and background of the student population at North Kalgoorlie has changed significantly. She said previously you didn't see many children from migrant families or children from other cultures, but that's changed. "We've got about 30 different languages spoken at home in our student population," said Jan. In her early career, Jan worked in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley where English was spoken as a second language, and it was this experience that sparked her interest and appreciation of language and culture. "My first teaching job was on Mt Barnett station which is 300 kilometres east of Derby in the Kimberley," Jan said. "It was in an Aboriginal community, so all the students in my class were Aboriginal children, and they all either spoke Aboriginal English or Kriol at home, so it was very much an ESL (English as a second language) situation." Being an outsider in a new town Jan said through chatting to parents before or after school, she saw an opportunity for both new and established local parents to meet each other and build a sense of community. "I've been one of them. You might just sort of stand around a bit; the people you usually talk to aren't around and you can sometimes feel quite isolated," she said. "Thinking about how sometimes I might feel, and then you magnify it for some who's just arrived into the country, just arrived into Kalgoorlie, and their kid has just started at a school that's nothing like any school they've ever been to before. "That's one of the things that made me push for having a little afternoon tea once a fortnight." Jan said it's an opportunity to learn about other cultures and gain some insight and understanding about the life outside of Australia. "It's also been a really good opportunity for some of the mums to voice their sadness at missing their family and missing their home in the country that they've come from," she says. Map Kalgoorlie 6430 Subscribe/RSS Subscribe to ABC Goldfields WA photos Subscribe to all ABC Local photos Topics: multiculturalism, population-and-demographics, access-to-education, parent-organisations, languages-education, regional, social-capital, play-and-learning Locations: kalgoorlie-6430 ABC Goldfields WA All ABC Local ABC News reports on the inquest of the Emu gold mine disaster of June 1989 Historic pub burns down Truck driver shows a bird's-eye view of Nullarbor Plain CCTV footage of the hoon incident in central Kalgoorlie Australian scientists pour cyanide-free 'green' gold at its test facility Indigenous leader hopeful for contrition following criticism over cutting of welcome to country Heywire winner Luke Stevens Grass Patch farmer Dan Sanderson and solicitor Melissa Adams talk about the Cascade Scaddan fire review Aboriginal leaders desperate for effective response to suicide tragedies 'We have answers to a lot of the issues we face': Indigenous leaders speak out after Elijah funeral More from ABC Goldfields WA Change to standard view	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1898
__label__cc	0.662617	0.337383	To provide you with the best experience, Asoke Suites uses its own and third-party cookies on its website for technical, analytical and marketing purposes. By continuing to browse our site, you're agreeing to our use of cookies. Please consult our Cookie Notice for more information. Larger air-conditioned room comes with a flat-screen cable/satellite TV, a mini-bar and a safety deposit box. It also has a desk and a full-length mirror. Free toiletries and a hairdryer are included in an private bathroom. Please be informed that the room does not have a window. Bed type(s) 1 king bed	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1904
__label__cc	0.548495	0.451505	Capital AudioFest 2017 I am very excited to be heading down to Rockville, MD for my first time attending the Capital Audiofest. The show promises nearly 60 exhibition rooms filled with things whose sole purpose in life is to make us happy. my collection (complete) of Sound Practices But the thing that has me most excited, and made the decision to attend go from "I'd like to go" to "I have to go" is an event. This event, a panel discussion, takes place on Sunday and it's titled "The Virtues of Vintage". Moderated by Art Dudley and Herb Reichert, panelists include Joe Roberts (of Sound Practices fame), Blackie Pagano (Tube Amplifier Repair Tech extraordinaire), Lenny Florentine (of Just Audio), and Early Bender (of www.HiFiTown.com). my collection (complete) of Art Dudley's Listener I starting reading Listener back when it was being published. My father read Stereophile. I liked Listener's humor, wit, and wisdom and I loved the writing; especially Art and Herb Reichert. These guys made me think about writing about hi-fi because they showed me it could be about something more than boxes. Yea, blame them ;-) I don't remember exactly when I found Sound Practices but it was around this same time, the '90s, and it was also filled, brimming over, with color and character(s). Joe Roberts, Don Garber, JC Morrison, Herb Reichert, Komuro, Vincent Gallo (yea, that Vincent Gallo), Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg, and many more. Hi-Fi, as a hobby, seems to have a terrible memory; always searching for the latest greatest newest thing. As if new things pop up out of nowhere, every new iteration, every MK II, born without a past. Of course none of that is true and I do so enjoy the history of hi-fi and the people in it. So I'm very much looking forward to the Capital Audiofest where I plan to take in all that this wonderful hobby has to offer. I will..... Submitted by JoeWhip on October 31, 2017 - 8:17am be there on Friday. Looking forward to it, Cool Michael I will be there Friday! Submitted by jond on November 2, 2017 - 3:04pm I wish I could go to The Virtues of Vintage but work gets in the way Saturday. See you Friday perhaps and don't miss the Deja Vu Audio room! No affiliation other than a very satisfied customer of theirs. Rats! Submitted by Michael Lavorgna on November 2, 2017 - 3:25pm I'll be there Saturday early afternoon/Sunday. The panel is Sunday morning at 10. Capital Audiofest 2017: Computer Audio Capital Audiofest 2017: The Virtues of Vintage	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1907
__label__cc	0.578558	0.421442	MYAUS College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences Minor in Environmental Policy Minor in Environmental Sciences Dr. Mohamed Abouleish Terminal degree PhD in Environmental Science (Chemistry), Tennessee Technological University, USA Environmental assessment andmanagement,Environmental justice,Water and wastewater monitoring and Analysis (Drinking,Industrial, and pharmaceutical water).Nutrient and organic carbon contamination. Nedal Abu-Farha Senior Laboratory Specialist Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Yarmouk University, Jordan Dr. Imad Abu-Yousef PhD in Organic Chemistry, McGill University, Canada Sulfur Chemistry, Organic Electrochemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Photocatalysis, Medicinal Chemistry and Synthesis of New Organic Polychalcogenides. Dr. Mohammad Al-Sayah PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of Alberta, Canada Our current research projects involve: (i) the design and preparation of fluorescent chemical sensors for ions an molecules, (ii) the preparation and development of new materials for environmental remediation, and (iii) the design and preparation of targeted drug-delivery vehicles for cancer... Dr. Aaron Bartholomew PhD in Marine Science, College of William and Mary, USA Predator / prey / habitat relationships, Dubai corals and coral reef fish, Artificial reefs, Marine protected areas, Desert beetle ecology Dr. Ivonne Bejarano PhD in Biological Oceanography, University of Puerto Rico, USA Dr. Sarah Dalibalta PhD in Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, UK My areas of research lie in investigating changes in the structure and function of ion channels in diseased states by using novel electrophysiological and mutagenesis techniques. Dr. Oussama El-Kadri PhD in Inorganic Chemistry, Wayne State University, USA My areas of research focus on the (1) design, synthesis, and characterization of metalorganic compounds and their use in film growth using ALD and CVD techniques and (2) synthesis of nanoporous polymers for gas storage application and catalysis. Dr. Yehya El-Sayed PhD in Analytical Chemistry, City University of New York, USA Research directed into providing cleaner and safer environment through air and liquid filtration with the main focus on public health: (1) Chemical characterization and health assessment of Arabian incense & ATPs such as shisha and dokha.(2) Development and modifications of activated carbon... Dr. James E. Gannon Professor \| Head of Department PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Houston, USA Applied Industrial and Environmental Microbiology Thouraya Ghalayini Chemistry Laboratory Specialist Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE Dr. Fawwaz Jumean PhD in Physical Chemistry, City University of New York Thermodynamics of proton ionization in mixed solvents, thermochromacy, excess partial molal quantities, dye-micelle interactions, electrooptics and linear electrical birefringence, thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption. Nicy Kallely Laboratory Instructor Master of Science in Chemistry, Mahatma Gandhi University, India Dr. Sofian Kanan PhD in Inorganic and Environmental Chemistry, University of Maine Materials and surface Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Catalysis, Semiconducting Metal Oxide (SMO) sensors, andLuminescence sensors for water analysis Dr. Reem Khalil PhD in Neuroscience, City University of New York, USA My research focuses on the structure and function of neural circuits in the mammalian visual cortex, as well as their development. Specifically, I am interested in elucidating how the pattern of neural connections among different visual areas relates to the physiological maturation of these... Dr. Mustafa Khamis PhD in Physical Chemistry, University of California–Davis, USA Wastewater treatment technologies, noveladsorbents for the removal of inorganic and organic pollutants from the environment; wastewater reuse in agriculture; plant response and physiology as affected by saline nutrients and draught;physico-chemical methods for analysis, chemical kinetics and... Dr. Sandra Knuteson PhD in Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University, USA My research interests are very broad, encompassingenvironmental and sustainability management and monitoring.My current research projects involve monitoring local freshwater and marine ecosystems; environmental management and sustainability in industrial and academic systems. Dr. Amin Majdalawieh PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Canada My research interests are diverse and inter-disciplinary, but I am mostly interested in studying the immunomodulatory and anti-cancer properties of various natural products, spices, herbs and other food additives. I am also interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that link macrophage-... Dr. Lucia Pappalardo PhD in Biophysics, Syracuse University, USA Structural Biology, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Protein and Nucleic Acid Engineering, Metabonomics/Metabolomics, Heavy Metals Removal from Wastewaters. Priya Raghu Senior Laboratory Instructor Master of Science in Chemistry, Mangalore University, India Dr. Fatin Samara PhD in Environmental/Analytical Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA My current research areas include: • Conversion of waste biomass to adsorbent materials for the removal of heavy metals, pesticides and organic pollutants in water.• Analysis and health risk assessments of organic and inorganic pollutants in environmental compartments such as water, food, sediments... Ziad Sara Senior Chemistry Laboratory Specialist Master of Science in Chemistry, Yarmouk University, Jordan Mohammed Nazeeruddin Sayeed Daniel Tobias Master of Science in Zoology, University of the Philippines Financial Grants Funding and Assistantships Residential Halls AUS Catalogs Discover Sharjah AUS Employee Email AUS Student Email © 2017 American University of Sharjah. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1908
__label__cc	0.57683	0.42317	WE’VE FOUND A NEW JUDAH KELLY VIDEO FOR YOU October 5, 2018 by auspOp Last year’s winner of ‘The Voice’, Judah Kelly, today releases his debut album. But he’s also dropped the video for single ‘Found’. After winning last year’s edition of the reality show favourite, Judah disappeared for a while to decide what kind of artist he wanted to be moving forward. The result from that self-imposed hiatus is his 13 track album ‘Real Good Time’. One of the tracks on it, ‘Found’, today scores itself a music video. The track’s really likeable. It’s a radio-friendly blend of pop, country and soul; the video following the relationship of a couple clearly in love. Judah hits the road in support of his new album from tonight. He kicks proceedings off with a gig at Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall in his hometown of Brisbane at 7:30pm. Expect him to play ‘Found’ and a number of other new favourites from his latest long player. Filed Under: Video Featuring: Judah Kelly Previous Post: « YEO! WE’RE HERE FOR THE COMMENTS Next Post: GET LOST IN JAI WAETFORD’S ‘LOST IN YOU’ »	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1909
__label__cc	0.628026	0.371974	BearingPoint-Institute: Challenge the Perception of Chinese Retailers to Inspire Western Retailers’ Focus on Ecosystems 444.08 KB zurück Über uns Unsere Standards of Business Conduct Pressemitteilungen und Medienberichte Globale Reichweite Globales Management Team zurück Unser Team zurück Karriere Ihre Karriere bei BearingPoint Studenten und Hochschulabsolventen Recruiting Veranstaltungen zurück Unsere Expertise zurück Branchen zurück Fachbereiche zurück Innovationen Digitale Plattformen Unser Erfolg zurück Unser Erfolg Be an Innovator Student 2019 zurück Be an Innovator Student 2019 Zeitlicher Ablauf und Prämierung Vorstellung Eures Projekts Be an Innovator 2018 Vorjahresgewinner zurück Thought leadership zurück Hot Topics Industry 4.0 & IoT Ihr Webbrowser muss JavaScript aktiviert haben, damit Sie auf alle Funktionen dieser Webseite zugreifen und ein optimales Erlebnis genießen können. Challenge the Perception of Chinese Retailers to Inspire Western Retailers’ Focus on Ecosystems Leading Chinese retailers are defining a new ‘era of belonging’ by forging stronger ties with consumers through an innovative buying experience. New Chinese retailers have created strong relationships with consumers that are both physical and emotional by leveraging multiple connection points and personalized communication with highly-connected customers. Leading Chinese retailers are close to achieving an elusive goal in retail: “unified commerce”, a seamless blend of digital, products and customer service that is tailored to ever-changing customer needs and aspirations. Leading Chinese retailers are reinventing their business models, developing “retail-as-a-service” offerings to become the privileged partner in an evolving ecosystem. The combination of these efforts is blurring traditional barriers between players in the retail value chain. This new role is creating a sense of belonging for each of the players in the value chain whilst providing new revenue to their organizations. China is a laboratory for retail innovation. In 2019, an estimated 57% of e-commerce sales globally will be transactions made by Chinese consumers. Leading Chinese retailers understand the technological demands of their consumers. Our study shows that 66% of Chinese consumers would like to have fully-automated stores and facial recognition to help them make buying decisions. Leading Chinese online retailers are tapping new revenue streams with innovative go-to-market strategies at record speed. JD.com was already planning the opening of hundreds of unmanned convenience stores in China when Amazon launched its first fully-automated store in January 2018. Now, they count over 20 unmanned stores in China, and started going international with an opening in Jakarta in August 2018. While Amazon has one in China and 4 planned openings in the USA. Leading Chinese retailers are creating a sense of belonging with customers by spreading economic growth to rural areas. Each new online store in an Alibaba “Taobao village” creates an average of 2.8 jobs. So far, 1.3 million jobs have been created. Leading Chinese retailers have developed powerful “ecosystem-plays”, which have strengthened their status as “privileged partners”. These ecosystem-plays are providing access to Chinese consumers, other Chinese retailers, and international brands. This opens up a realm of possibilities by introducing more data, more players, and more innovation into the retail market. For example, JD.com introduced a “retail-as-a-service” offering that hosts Walmart’s e-commerce platform in China, enabling Chinese shoppers to buy products directly from Walmart stores. Have you ever wondered why Chinese tourists, who travel all over Europe with massive amounts of cash, are now becoming easy prey for robbers? This is not just because some Asian credit cards do not work in Europe. Chinese tourists are generally unable to pay electronically as they would do normally in their own market, using WeChat or Alipay on their smartphones. Western retailers should look East. Unless they learn from China’s retail market (the world’s biggest and most innovative), they could face steady decline. Chinese retailers are re-inventing retail by using digital technologies to simplify and personalize the customer experience. Chinese consumers are often perceived as the early adopters in retail. Although there may be some truth in this claim, it represents only part of the story. Chinese retailers, mostly driven by e-commerce giants like Alibaba or JD.com, are re-inventing retail by using digital technologies to simplify and personalize the customer experience. This is exactly what needs to be done so that consumers feel they identify with or belong to a particular brand or retailer. In addition, the new era of retail goes beyond a perfectly fluid omnichannel experience with the retailer. With the goal of becoming essential to each partner in each link of the retail value chain, Chinese retailers are facilitating the entire purchasing experience, even including other merchants. To do this, they are leveraging the value of data: specifically, predictive analytics in addition to digital technologies. First, Chinese retail giants aim to “accompany” their customers in many aspects of their daily life. Examples include using Alipay to pay for ‘anything, anywhere’; and WeChat, which incorporates among others messaging, social media and a mobile payment app. They are also very active in leveraging customers as brand ambassadors: consumers are encouraged to become the privileged partner of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLS) – namely, those who act as influencers with expert product knowledge, providing the retailer with live streaming platforms. In summary, Chinese retailers know their customers intimately. They have gained this knowledge from leveraging information from many sources to exploit customer influence in the market. Second, these giant companies want to become the privileged partners of other current retail players. Alibaba is equipping small grocery stores in rural areas with a suite of mobile tools (Ling Shou Tong) to manage their points of sale. Thanks to these tools, they can supply merchandise from Tmall by benefiting from sales prediction systems followed by delivery within two days, even in remote areas. This is an example of leveraging information and predictive analytics at work, again, to understand the market demand for products. Close to 100,000 grocery stores were already in the Global Shopping Festival in 2017, Alibaba’s yearly three week of promotions and products offerings from around the world (note 1). Becoming the privileged partner for the different players along the value chain, Chinese retailers can be considered much more than simply excellent merchants. They are contributing as community facilitators, creating a sense of belonging towards all players in the retail value chain. Western retailers may not be able to adopt many of Chinese companies’ most innovative retail business models since technology, customer behavior and consumer demands are simply too different. However, there are important opportunities to leverage some Chinese ideas selectively and adapt them to Western markets. One thing is certain: no Western retailer can afford to ignore the success of China’s retail market. They must learn from it and adopt techniques that can work in Western markets. At one time, the USA was the most dominant player in the international retail market. However, in 2016, China overtook the USA to become the most innovative, largest and exciting player in retail market (note 2).China has gone from being a copycat to becoming a leader of innovation, helped by a huge customer base (its population is about 1.4 billion) and the fast adoption of new technologies. The pace of change in China’s retail market is astonishing, presenting both an opportunity and a threat for more sluggish Western retailers. China’s retail market is a tempting target − and not just because of its size. Unlike Western markets where, typically, a handful of retailers dominate consumer goods and services, the Chinese retail market of physical stores is more fragmented with hundreds of department store chains, but none with major market shares. Chinese retailers excel at using data to create an intimate connection with their customers. China’s huge e-commerce companies, such as Alibaba and JD.com, are often cited as exemplary data-driven companies that use customer and market data to personalize relationships with customers and increase efficiency. Yet few people seem to know that these new retail giants are also engaged in societal initiatives, for instance favoring the development of small businesses in rural areas - a new type of corporate social responsibility. They also have a strong emotional connection with customers. Apart from that, Chinese retailers are distinguished by integrating themselves in the existing ecosystem more than imposing their way of working. This represents a true outside-in approach towards doing business. This approach is necessary for creating and reinforcing the sense of belonging that customers demand in today’s retail sector. In 2025, 44% of worldwide luxury sector sales will be transactions made by Chinese shoppers (note 9). China: high connectivity leads to retail success Although China is still classified economically as a developing country (note 3), much has been written about its highly-connected rise. It is important to remember some key facts and figures to provide context. A highly-connected country (note 4): There were 772 million Chinese Internet users in January 2017, with only a 53% Internet penetration rate – so there is still high growth potential in the country (note 5) Of these users, 695 million Chinese accessed the Internet via a smartphone E-commerce: in numbers In 2017, China was by far the biggest e-commerce market in the world: it is 2.7 times bigger than the United States’ e-commerce market ($1,200bn vs. $440bn) (note 6) In 2019, 27% of worldwide e-commerce shoppers will be Chinese. Nearly six in 10 (57%) e-commerce sales will derive from Chinese consumers Nearly one quarter (23.1%) of China’s retail market was e-commerce in 2017, according to eMarketer. That share is forecast to increase to nearly 41% by 2021 (note 7) In China, more than two in three (67.5%) people with smartphones use them to buy things online. And half of all smartphone owners use their phones to pay in stores (note 8) Chinese e-commerce is not just about cheap goods and services. In 2025, 44% of worldwide luxury sector sales will be transactions made by Chinese shoppers, according to one forecast (note 9). Social media is shaping China's retail market 91% of Chinese internet users have an account with one or more of the biggest social media platforms − WeChat, QQ, Weibo and Youku 64% of Chinese millennials buy products on social media The most influential media form in China is the internet, which has introduced video advertising and live-streams online that are very popular and effective in China. KOLS leverage videos, live streaming, and vlogs as marketing channels using tested marketing techniques such as sponsorship and discount codes to promote their own products and to influence the sales of existing brands. (note 10) Alibaba and JD.com have launched their own live-streaming platforms so that brands and retailers can create partnerships with influencers to promote and sell their products to their followers. (note 11) Alibaba has invested in a series of videos advertising their app, “2nd Floor Taobao”, which tells a new story on a weekly basis. All videos are commonly available in the evenings where studies have shown that people are more susceptible to influence. The stories are connected to the products and are highly interactive for the viewer. Are the Chinese early adopters? A previous WSL study for BearingPoint (research conducted in 2017) (note 12) found that Chinese consumers are willing to try innovative services to help them shop and make buying decisions. These include seeing a hologram or 3D version of a product online (77%), shopping in a fully automated store (70%), using facial recognition, fingerprints and/or voice to validate payments (67%). Recommendations for Western retailers Influencers are your first business partners. Leverage them by giving them a platform to speak their mind, by creating partnerships, co-creating new products, and/or simply recruiting them. L’Oréal Colorista has collaborated with the most influential KOLs in their market to co-create a new range of hair-dye colors. Become a media company. Start to produce and broadcast stories and videos: the language of millennials. This may involve setting up new teams with media expertise and being clear on the “personality” of the company. ... and still, be truly mobile first. Retailers already know that the smartphone is the backbone of today’s unified commerce. In Europe however, m-commerce (tablets and smartphones) was forecast to represent only 28% of total e-commerce (in value) for 2017 (note 13). Retailers’ online presence should be quickly re-designed to become “mobile first”, including all possible interactions using smartphone capabilities whilst customers are in-store or on the move: smartphones can be seen as retailers’ first sales associate. Retailers already know that the smartphone is the backbone of today’s unified commerce but don’t act enough on it. Expanding the new retail paradigm by unifying online, mobile and physical commerce to leverage information China’s retail industry has developed in an inverse way to the retail sector in the West. In China, e-commerce and social media developed first whilst modern bricks-and-mortar stores developed second. Consequently, China’s first-generation of retailers have had more access to customer data than their Western counterparts, benefiting from the absence of barriers on personal data protection. They have also shown that they can leverage this customer data effectively to show the way on expanding the new retail paradigm: “unified commerce” (note 14), to include the focus on leveraging information. Learning from WeChat: expand unified commerce through a mix of social and commercial data WeChat is the clearest example of a unified commerce mix. Founded in 2011 and owned by Tencent, WeChat is a versatile social media and mobile app for sending text messages (SMS/ MMS) and for making voice and video calls. It is also used for sharing photos and games. Earlier than its Western counterparts, Tencent understood the benefit of mixing social and commercial data, so that customers can be supported not just on their shopping journeys, but more widely in their daily lives. This is why WeChat, its major application, has been the first app to cover a wide range of services. Chinese retailers have proven that they can leverage their customer data effectively to show the way on expanding the new retail paradigm: “unified commerce”. WeChat has reached the one billion account mark in the world, albeit mostly in China, where more than half of the population uses it: over 300 million people use WeChat’s electronic wallet function online and offline on a regular basis. Leveraging mobile payment capabilities and social data has proved crucial for retail commerce, hence the alliance being built by Tencent and JD.com, the second largest Chinese e-commerce platform in China. Both internet giants are making numerous co-investments in e-commerce (for example, the event-sales fashion site VIPshop, in 2017) and brick-and-mortar retailers (for example, Better Life, a conglomerate owning department stores, hypermarkets and convenience stores, in February 2018) to increase rapidly the number of physical and digital points of sale that use their payment and e-commerce capabilities. Learning from Alibaba: expand unified commerce by integrating online, offline, logistics and data in a single value chain In 2016, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd became the world’s largest retail platform, with its total trading volume online in the fiscal year ending in March 2016 surpassing Walmart’s annual sales. (note 15) Yet Alibaba’s future is not just about e-commerce: it concerns what Jack Ma, its founder and CEO, calls “new retail” − the integration of online, offline, logistics and data in a single value chain. Jack Ma has been able to redefine shopping and leapfrog the USA and Europe in retail innovation, a feat closely tied to the company’s research and development team, which makes up half of Alibaba’s 50.100 workforce. Alibaba is making life easier for customers, by providing services along the whole shopping journey, combined with operational excellence. In China, Alibaba operates its own version of Netflix, its own Spotify, and its own payment solution. After logging in once and verifying ID, a customer can use all of Alibaba’s retail and entertainment services. Customers at KFC, the fast-food restaurant chain, can pay for their meals using facial recognition technology co-developed by Alibaba. As part of a five-year plan to shorten delivery times to 24 hours nationwide, and 72 hours worldwide, Alibaba is investing heavily in logistics capabilities whilst also leveraging big data strongly. For example, anticipating order behaviors enables the company to relocate relevant products from multiple warehouses into one, so cutting down delivery time, packing, and pick-up costs. Using these assets, Alibaba is at the forefront of new retail, the blending online and physical commerce. Other new retail giants such as JD.com are also heavily investing in these fulfillment capabilities, including drone deliveries to cover remote areas to the point that, today, over 90% of eCommerce orders in China benefit from same- and next-day delivery. At Hema, a food supermarket chain owned by Alibaba, customers are offered “Easy select, easy pay, and easy enjoy” functionality in-store. In other words, customers scan product barcodes to discover products’ origins or composition, and item suggestions are sent to their profile accounts. Customers can shop hands-free by scanning items using a mobile application, which can then place orders to be delivered to their home address. Picking rails are hooked onto the ceiling to route online orders to scooters, enabling a 30-minute delivery fulfillment period within a three-kilometer distance. At the checkout, customers give a list of QR codes without having to show all their items, and can pay online using Alipay, Alibaba’s online payment platform. Traditionally, Chinese like to have virtually anything delivered. Hema will be the basis for... coffee deliveries, according to a partnership between Alibaba and Starbucks announced in August 2018. This new type of shopping experience is also available at Home Times, Alibaba’s furniture and home-decor store chain, which opened a physical store last year in Hangzhou. Most products come from Alibaba’s B2C shopping platform, Tmall, (note 16) which takes into account the behaviors and preferences of consumers within a radius of eight kilometers from the store to make the assortment. Prices are displayed on electronic labels and synchronized with e-commerce tags. Also, augmented reality is used: screens enable customers to test furniture in a virtual home. Automated stores give retailers better customer data and make shopping quicker and easier The “unmanned store” is another model illustrating the merger between online and offline, and Western retailers are playing catch-up. In January 2018, Amazon Go opened a supermarket in Seattle, America, with no checkout operators or self-service tills. It made headlines worldwide. Amazon’s technology automatically detects when products are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart. When you’re done shopping, you leave the store. The purchases are billed to a customer’s bank card when the person exits the building. All you need is an Amazon account, the free Amazon Go app, and a “recent-generation” iPhone or Android phone. China’s retail industry is again ahead of the West. One month earlier, in December 2017, JD.com announced plans to open hundreds of unmanned convenience stores in China. (note 17) By August 2018, over twenty stores had opened in China, and one in Jakarta (Indonesia). JD.com’s “unmanned” convenience stores use facial recognition technology to register payment and product identity. Cameras attached to store ceilings recognize customers’ movements and generate heat maps of their activity to monitor flow, product selection and preferences, which helps store owners to pick stock more efficiently. Through the use of big data, artificial intelligence, and other innovative technologies, “We know where the customer is and what they like and can ensure that the right products are in place”, according to Bao Yan, Director of Planning, JD Logistics, in a recent media interview (note 18) JD.com claims it can better predict which of the products in its warehouses are suited to its customers according to demographics and tastes. By relocating relevant products from multiple warehouses into one, it reduces picking costs, packing, and delivery times. Plus, customers also receive fewer parcels per single order. (note 19) Unified commerce is now! Leading Chinese retailers are setting it as a new standard today. Continue your omnichannel initiatives but go further and start setting up a truly unified commerce IT architecture as an enabler to new services and concepts. Such architecture should leverage Big Data and Artificial Intelligence and enable interconnection between all systems: real-time flows for key data (customers, inventory, orders, pricing, IoT, behavioral data, external data), on the dimensions of customer experience, shopping, fulfillment and content management. The data should be powered by artificial intelligence for fully contextual and personalized interactions with customers across any touchpoint. Leverage automated stores with better customer data to make shopping more efficient and effective: Although it is difficult to predict the long-term success of such stores, retailers should test this format for selected product categories (especially the ones with recurring purchases), or design new store formats specifically designed to collect more customer data. Transform stores into real fulfillment centers: For better and quicker service to customers, leverage your existing assets. Introduce innovation and automation to speed up order picking and delivery, potentially partnering with third parties (for example, on-the-spot delivery using a bicycle or an electric car). Leading Chinese retailers become community facilitators and privileged partners Market-leading Chinese retailers are extending their traditional role beyond simply being excellent merchants. They have become privileged partners and community facilitators of the various players along the value chain, creating a strong sense of belonging towards each player. Western retailers should look towards the East to make this shift in their own strategy. An effective and aligned online-offline strategy will help not only the retailers but also their suppliers and trading partners reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. New revenue streams: Chinese retailers and service providers develop "retail-as-a-service" offerings Not only are leading Chinese retailers transforming their business operations, they are reinventing their entire business models by introducing new revenue streams. Both Alibaba and JD.com are developing bespoke “retail-as-a-service” strategy models, pioneered by Richard Liu, JD.com’s founder.20 They are diversifying into becoming service providers for other retailers, brands and other types of partners, just as Amazon has become one of the world’s largest suppliers of web services in addition to its e-commerce platform. This online-offline strategy will not only improve their business; it will also help their suppliers and trading partners reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and reach new consumer groups. How? Through the company’s assets, including smart logistics and supply chain management as well as advanced Internet marketing tools, all powered by big data and artificial intelligence. More importantly, it introduces new revenue streams that are not based on inventory, rather on their own in-house IP assets. This translates into even more growth for these already successful organizations. As an example, JD.com partnered in May 2017 with US retail giant Walmart, the largest retailer in the world. JD.com hosts the company’s e-commerce platform in China, enabling shoppers to buy products directly from Walmart stores, benefiting from JD’s same- and next-day delivery network that covers of a population of more than 600 million. Partners may also be brands. Danone Waters China (DWC), a subsidiary of Danone Group, has opted to work with JD.com to distribute its products throughout southwest China. The companies will build a shared warehouse in Chengdu, the capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, which will use JD.com’s logistics to fulfill online and offline DWC orders for the region. Other types of partners include automotive manufacturer, Geely, which uses a JD.com platform to enable users to control various aspects of their car remotely and also open up on-board e-commerce capabilities. They also include alliances, such as the one between Walmart, JD.com, IBM, and Tsinghua University, which are all collaborating in a Blockchain Food Safety Alliance designed to enhance food tracking, traceability, and safety in China, a leapfrog to compensate for the Chinese state insufficiency on food security. One way of adapting a business model could be to follow an ecosystem approach. (note 21) Regarding Alibaba, a strong focus is to partner with bricks-and-mortar retailers to leverage its expertise in the “stores of tomorrow”. In 2017, it announced the launch of franchises across China: 10,000 small convenience stores will become official Tmall franchises by the end of the fiscal year 2018. Alibaba also signed partnerships with French retailer Auchan (November 2017). Other large Chinese retailers have since announced similar plans and partnerships with foreign retailers. Retailers should go beyond the simple act of selling goods and services and develop a ‘connection’ with their customers. A new societal role for Chinese retailers: integration in the ecosystem helps the community Leading Chinese retailers go beyond the simple mercantile relationship. “Our true legacy will not only be how many consumers we reach, but the overall impact we have on society”, according to Richard Liu, JD.com’s Chairman and CEO. (note 22) This mindset has materialized in several places at multiple levels. In Western countries, historically, the opening of hypermarkets and shopping malls killed city centers and accelerated the decline of convenience stores in rural areas. However, in China, leading Chinese retailers such as Alibaba or JD.com have focused on the disadvantaged rural market by becoming the privileged partner of small grocery stores in these remote areas, creating wealth in areas that, until now, did not benefit from the famous Chinese growth curve. This new role of the retailer, assuming a social, even societal, responsibility, creates a strong ‘sense of belonging’ towards customers. Alibaba has developed an initiative called “Taobao villages”, which support communities in rural areas to develop e-commerce activities. This is done with the connection to its e-commerce platform and a set of online services, including e-learning, medical services and a travel agency, supported by e-commerce training. Thus, e-commerce in may help ease poverty in China, or at least bring more jobs to rural China, which comprises 45% of the population. It is estimated that each new online store in a Taobao village creates 2.8 “direct” jobs. In total the online stores have created 1.3 million jobs. (note 23) JD.com is also investing in mainland China. In April 2017, it announced a five-year business plan, to open one million physical convenience stores. These convenience stores are almost exclusively franchise-based and operated by independent investors, to which JD Finance provides loans. Half of these stores will be in China’s countryside, and the applicants are mostly migrant workers who have returned to their villages or small towns. JD.com has also leveraged a drone-delivery program in remote areas to continue to provide products to those who might otherwise not have access. In addition, they have formed a partnership with farm owners to develop sustainable farming leveraging technology and a reliable farm-to-table delivery. Revisit your mission statement and evaluate your true assets. In an environment of increasing complexity and “investment intensity” for retailers (multiple touchpoints, strong pressure on operational excellence, constant need for innovation, new expertise to develop), it is extremely hard for most retailers by themselves to be in the lead and stay there. More than ever, they should define which activities they should conduct with partners and which ones they should keep under direct control. Increase partnerships with technology companies. In today’s data-driven retail sector, working with tech partners can help augment appropriate connection points with customers by enriching retailers’ data with other data sources, and better exploiting them with artificial intelligence. Also, retailers should investigate strategic partnerships with companies from complementary sectors, in order to generate new opportunities by further enriching and cross-analyzing customer data. Develop “soft power”. Customers are looking for more than a simple mercantile relationship. Retailers should go beyond the simple act of selling goods and services by offering their customers the opportunity to make a meaningful purchase that fits their needs and brings back something to society (help to specific communities, environment protection, etc.) Moreover, they should all leverage KOLs to promote their company and products on social networks, through specific or long-term partnerships or cocreation. China’s new retail giants and customers are eager to adopt new and sophisticated shopping and relationship mechanisms. It is a special – and perhaps unique – retail model. They are now going beyond simple merchant-to-consumer relationships to creating emotional connections with their customers by leveraging data and social networks to develop their soft power and by committing to social roles, such as developing commerce in isolated rural areas. More than the consumer relationship, Chinese retail giants are building their own new model of retail. Providers and other retailers are not necessarily direct competitors anymore; they may be privileged partners, using their collective skills in data and artificial intelligence to retrieve consumer data and share them with the different players, so that they can offer the customer a personalized experience. They also take into account that lines are increasingly blurred between retailers, brands and customers, which is why they become more than sellers: they evolve into platforms of expressions for KOLs, the best way to promote products while increasing consumer trust degree. As privileged partners, Chinese retailers become community facilitators by creating a strong sense of belonging with every player in the value chain. This model cannot be replicated as such in Western countries. China benefits from the critical mass of its 1,4 bn inhabitants, a strong government support, and a lack of regulation on personal data. Conditions that Western countries cannot match. However, Western retailers (who are mostly trailing China’s innovative retailers) should be inspired − and no less worried: for example, JD.com are investing EUR 1 billion into their expansion into France, to being to realise their European ambitions.(note 24) Western retailers should up their game and learn from China, adapting their most innovative retail technology and strategies for Western markets. One priority should be to use social media and alliances with non-retailers to create more “customers for life”, leveraging upcoming retail-as-a-service offerings. Western retailers have already discussed many of these pivots to strategy. However, as the pace of change in retail accelerates, continued inaction could cause serious harm to their profits and reputation. Our next report will focus on Japan, to understand how digital technology can help retailers improve the experience shopping in a country with a very mature retail market and a tradition of superior customer experience. Sign up here to receive our reports: institute@bearingpoint.com Notes and bibliography “Les 4 axes de la stratégie physique d’Alibaba”, LSA Commerce & Consommation, Antony, France, online, François Deschamps, 11/12/17 http://bit.ly/LSAAlibaba “China eclipses the US to become the world’s largest retail market”, eMarketer, New York, NY, USA, online, Retail & Ecommerce, 08/18/16 http://bit.ly/eMCNUSA “Top 25 developed and developing countries”, Investopedia, New York, NY, USA, online, Investopedia, 09/28/16 http://bit.ly/Invest25DDC Statistical report on internet development in China (39th edition), China Internet Network Information Center, Beijing, China, PDF, 01/17 http://bit.ly/CNNIC39 “Chinese internet users grow to 772 million”, TechNode, Beijing, China, online, Masha Borak, 01/31/18 http://bit.ly/TN772mCN “3 Chinese internet stocks to buy for explosive growth”, InvestorPlace, Rockville, MD, USA, online, Larry Ramer, 04/20/17 http://bit.ly/InvPl3CN “China’s ecommerce market to pass $1.1tn in 2017”, The Drum, London, UK, online, Danielle Lang, 07/05/17 http://bit.ly/DrumCNeCom “Il y a maintenant autant d’internautes en Chine que d’habitants en Europe” Mashable avec France 24, Paris, France, online, Par Yi Shu Ng, ,01/25/17,http://bit.ly/MashFr24CNEU “Le live streaming réussit une percée fulgurante en Chine”, Les Échos, Paris, France, online, Frederic Schaeffer, 03/13/17 http://bit.ly/LesEliveCN “Retail 4.0: moving from hard power to soft power”, BearingPoint Institute, London, UK, online, Bertrand Clémencin and Elisabeth Denner, 02/07/18 http://bit.ly/BPIRetail4-0 Online retailing in Europe, the US and Canada 2015-2016: a research report for RetailMeNot, Inc., Centre for Retail Research, Nottingham, UK, PDF, CRR, 01/15 http://bit.ly/CRR_RMN “Unified commerce is here: the customer experience of the future”, MarTech Series, Hawthorne, CA, USA, online, Sudipto Ghosh, 05/28/18 http://bit.ly/MTS_UC “Alibaba becomes the world’s largest retailer”, China Daily, Beijing, China, online, Meng Jing, ,04/06/16 http://bit.ly/CDAlibaba “Inside Alibaba’s home store of the future’, Inside Retail, Sydney, NSW, Australia, online, Inside Retail Asia 10/13/17 http://bit.ly/IRAAlibaba “Chinese online retailer JD plans to open hundreds of unmanned shops, ahead of Amazon”, The Telegraph, London, UK, online, Ashley Armstrong, 12/14/17 http://bit.ly/TelJDAMZN The Innovator: World Economic Forum edition, Les Échos, Paris, France, PDF, 01/23/18 http://bit.ly/LesFInnWEF “Re-thinking the European business model portfolio for the digital age”, BearingPoint Institute, London, UK, online, Angus Ward and Eric Falque, 05/02/18 http://bit.ly/BPI_EUbizmod “The Taobao villages as an instrument for poverty reduction and shared prosperity”, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA, online, Bert Hofman, 10/29/16 http://bit.ly/TBWTaobao “D.com va investir 1 milliard d’euros en logistique pour attaquer la France”, LSA Commerce & Consommation, Antony, France, online, Flore Fauconnier, 02/07/18 http://bit.ly/LSAJDEUR1bn Romain François, Julie Short, Hiroshi Nakata (ABeam), Sophie Todeschini, Alvin Wang The authors would also like to thank Tanja Schwarz and Julie Short from the BearingPoint Institute, Angélique Tourneux from BearingPoint, Michael Agar from Agar Design, Christopher Norris from CopyGhosting, and the team at WSL who did the research. The target group for our research was early adopters of technology for shopping. To qualify as an early adopter, a person must have completed four of the following actions within the last 30 days: Ordered something online for home delivery or to someone else at another address Ordered something online to pick up in a store Downloaded a coupon onto mobile Paid for a product or service with an app on a mobile Bought something through a link on a social media page, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat Watched YouTube videos that demonstrate things the person wanted to buy Kept a “wish list” on a retail website of things things the person may want to buy in the future Ordered from a kiosk in a store Other survey details: Fielding period: September 5-19, 2017 Sample Specification: China: 205 South Africa: 212 Nigeria: 207 Shopping criteria: responsible for at least some consumer product shopping for the household Affinity for technology: early adopters of technology for shopping Age: Millennials, 20-36, born between 1981 and 1997 China is a potentially lucrative target for foreign retailers, due to the size of its population, its growing and increasingly affluent middle class, its rapidly changing retail environment, and technological and retailing innovation. There is plenty of room for further growth because China’s retail market is much less crowded than in the West. With around 10% of the store density of the US market, it is a still considered relatively undeveloped. Nigeria shares some characteristics with the Chinese market. For example, it also has a rising middle class. In addition, there is a shortage of physical retail infrastructure – an issue that’s often resolved through the smart use of technology. South Africa is another country with a rising middle class, and an undeveloped physical retail presence. However, as a more established market, it lacks the unbridled potential of China or Nigeria. Japan has been a highly-developed market for much longer than the other three countries, focused on the latest personal technology, and offering a superior customer experience. Partner, Globaler Leiter Consumer Goods & Retail Partnerin Teile das China, from copy cat to unrivalled leader in technology China, desired shopping services WeChat, paving the way for unified commerce Alibaba, more than a seller, a committed retailer Weitere Institute-Beiträge Institute Artikel Create a 'connection' with your customer A deeper shade of green Can banks and telcos overcome their hang-ups? Can cross-channel offer Europe's retailers a more certain future? Can innovation be captured, bottled and measured? In Cloud we trust? Standorte in der Schweiz	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1911
__label__wiki	0.584787	0.584787	Free Best Books Home \| Romance \| Billionaire \| Vampires \| Other Lowlander Silverback(9) By: T. S. Joyce Jake inhaled deeply and then let it out in a long, irritated breath. “You know that big barn off the old highway? The one near the gulch?” “Yeah. What about it?” “A man named Judge holds fight nights there on the weekends. Real backwoods shit, so it ain’t safe for you to go alone. Kong usually fights last. Judge likes to pin him against any Boarlanders looking to make a quick buck. Kong is the fighter who draws the crowd and keeps them there betting. It’ll take me a while to close up, but maybe we’ll make it in time.” Layla couldn’t wait on Jake to close up the bar, though, and risk missing her opportunity to give Kong his money back. She wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight with that charity money taunting her. “Thanks, Jake,” she rushed out as she pulled her tips from the drawer and yanked her apron off. “Where are you going? I said it was too dangerous for you to go alone!” Jake called as she bolted for the door. “I’ll be fine!” She hoped. Cheering echoed from the dilapidated barn through the field to where Layla parked her Civic at the end of a row of cars and trucks. The grass was tall but trampled down by tires as she made her way through one of the tread marks toward the old gray building. If it had been painted, the weather had stripped it away at some point in its history. There was a thin trail of people trickling inside in clusters of twos and threes, so she followed them around the side where two doors had been slid open, revealing a warm glowing light from inside. The building had probably housed eighteen horse stalls before Judge had turned it into a fighting ring. There were still a few stalls on the opposite side that were intact, but the rest had been torn out and tall metal poles held the barn upright now. The crowd was gathered around the middle, but she couldn’t see anything from here. The cheering and jeering was deafening, but she could make out the chanting from a group of spectators on the other side. “Kong, Kong, Kong.” With a gasp, she lurched forward and muscled her way through the mob. The closer to the ring she got, the harder it was to move anywhere. “Hey!” someone behind her yelled. “Bartender!” She jerked around to a familiar face. He was one of those frat boy types. Blond hair, blue eyes, cocky smile. “Snakebite?” she asked, recalling the potent lager and cider drinks he’d ordered while he was watching the Beck Brothers. “Yes! You remember.” She waved politely and turned to try to get closer to the ring. Only a couple of rows of too-tall men were blocking her from what sounded like a good fight if the cheering was anything to go by, but no good. She couldn’t get any closer. “Let me,” Snakebite said too close to her ear as he gripped her waist. She squeaked as he shoved her through a tight hole between two behemoths. He yelled something at the pair of cheering tatted-up bikers as she wiggled past, but she couldn’t make out what he said. As her focus pinpointed on Kong, the noise around her died away. Shirt off, he was bleeding freely from a gash under his eye down his bare chest. A tattoo ran from his shoulder to his elbow, but she couldn’t tell what it was from here. All black ink and tribal looking, it was just a blur of sexpot as he ducked a hit and swung hard enough to splinter his opponent’s ribs. Kong’s eyes glowed a brilliant green, and if she’d had any question before now about him being a shifter, the unsettling color that had replaced his soft brown eyes would’ve put those doubts to rest. His torso was thickly laden with muscle, his abs flexing with every graceful punch he threw and every breath he took. His waist tapered severely from the width of his shoulders, and she was stunned by how powerful he looked like this, slick with sweat, bloody, smiling, and egging on the titan he was boxing. Harrison! She nearly swallowed her tongue as she realized Kong was fighting the alpha of the Boarlanders. Holy shit! “Damn, Bartender, you’re looking hot tonight,” Snakebite yelled over the sound of the crowd. Fantastic. She plucked his hand off her waist and tried to sidle away from him, but there was nowhere to go. It was too tight here, and she was getting pressed against the wooden railing as the men behind her surged forward and raised their fists in the air, chanting Kong’s name. He ducked and connected, volleyed and took a hit to the jaw that would’ve knocked her out cold. It hurt just watching. And now she was worried he would get hurt, or worse. Didn’t people die from boxing? No, settle down. Jake said he does this regularly. He would be fine, and oh! Kong swung around and nearly ran into the wooden railing that was driving into her hip bones as the crowd pushed harder against her. A sickening noise sounded as Harrison went to town on Kong’s stomach, blasting his fists against his abs. <--Pre15678 9 10111213...49 Next--> HomeRomanceRead RomanceHarlequin SeriesRead Best BooksFreeBooksOlSupportMail To:[email protected]	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1917
__label__wiki	0.789593	0.789593	Stef W. Kight Mar 6, 2018 McDonald's bringing fresh beef to its restaurants Photo: Matt Cardy / Getty McDonald's announced today that they've introduced fresh beef to about 3,500 of their restaurants and plans to reach 13,000 U.S. locations by early May, CNBC reports. Why it matters: McDonald's has been trying to keep it's prices low, while also improving the quality of their food — adding fruit options and removing soda from its "Happy Meals." But this move has taken four years and has McDonald's suppliers spending around $60 million to update their supply chains for the fresh beef Quarter Pounders.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1918
__label__wiki	0.742105	0.742105	BWPPA 2018 Stop 3 Barnsley (England) - September 15 - 16, 2018 Dinsmore is the British 10-ball Champion Tony Southern Dave Beaumont and Fred Dinsmore Once again Escape Pool Bar in Barnsley played host to the Tiger Cues Warrington British Wheelchair 10-ball Championship. Now in it’s eighth year, for the first time in BWPPA history this event was the penultimate of the season. At this stage of the season, it is always interesting as players begin to jostle for position in the end of season rankings. In the early stages there were no real surprises. As the tournament progressed however there was some outstanding performances. “Hot Wheels” Frankie Gillen played some terrific pool to win two hill-hill matches back to back. The first a 6-5 win over Gary Swift and, in what could be considered as the shock of the tournament a 6-5 win over Tony Southern. Elsewhere, BWPPA no.1 Daniel Lee began strongly with a 7-4 win over Danny Luton, and another 7-4 win over the English 8-ball World Champion Dave Beaumont. Roy Kimberley felt the full force of the talent on this tour. “The Sandman’s” first match was a 7-4 victory over Tony Southern, waiting for him next was World 9-ball Champion Fred Dinsmore, fresh from his 7-3 win over Swift. Kimberley took the match 7-3, to progress to the semi-finals. Into the second day, Beaumont progressed into the semi-finals with a 6-0 win over Gillen. On the opposite side of the draw Dinsmore beat Danny Luton 6-4, to advance to the semi-finals to face Lee. Kimberley came up Beaumont in the semi-finals. This time it was to be the English 8-ball World Champion Beaumont who came through a 7-4 winner, to advance to his second Main Event final of the season. In the other semi-final, it was the World 9-ball Champion Dinsmore who took the hill-hill battle with Daniel Lee 7-6. After a weekend of excellent pool, the final came down to a battle of the World Champions and a repeat of the last event in Barnsley. Ireland’s Fred Dinsmore, who won the World 9-ball title last November in Finland, and Dave Beaumont, the 2018 English 8-ball World Champion. A title he won, just 3 months ago in Blackpool. The match went all the way to a deciding 13th rack. In the end it was Dinsmore who cleared up to take the title. Going into the Predator Cues British 9-ball Championship at Aylesbury, in November there are at least four players who could end the season as the UK no.1 wheelchair player, and claim the beautiful Ikon cue from our great sponsors Predator cues. A video of the main event final is available to watch here. Pictures of the event can be found here in the BWPPA gallery. The latest BWPPA ranking list can be found here. In the final of the Challenge Cup, sponsored by the World Pool Series, Tony Southern beat Danny Luton 5-3. With just one event left, there are at least three players who could end the season as the Challenge Cup no.1. Our last event of the year is the Predator Cues British Wheelchair 9-ball Championship on 3-4th November at the Wheelchair Cuesports Academy, Stoke Mandeville Stadium Aylesbury. BWPPA would like to thank all of our sponsors: Gentlemen’s Night Out World Pool Series, Simonis, Aramith, Kamui, Predator Cues, Cuescore, Escape Pool Bar in Barnsley, Tiger Cues of Warrington, A.B. Wallace Trophies and Fred Dinsmore Billiards We would also like to thank long time BWPPA supporter Big Dave Knight from www.pro9.co.uk for his great support including providing our event posters. We also are always looking to expand the sponsorship side of the tour, so if you or your company would like to become one of our sponsors, please visit our contact us page. You too can be a part of the world’s largest wheelchair pool tour; please keep checking on www.bwppa.com and www.pro9.co.uk for further information. In addition to our national tour stops there is also the possibility of representing Great Britain in international tournaments such as the EPBF European Championship and WPA World 9-ball Championship for wheelchair players.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1919
__label__wiki	0.708912	0.708912	Markovic: W. Balkans to Continue on EU and NATO Path on April 25, 2018 in Montenegro “The Western Balkans must remain focused on the integration processes in the European Union and NATO as the best way to strengthen democracy and development, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said, adding that Montenegro’s membership in the Alliance would have a positive impact on the stability and security of the region. At the Summit of South East Europe Cooperation (SEECP), held in Brdo near Kranj, Markovic said that Montenegro is strongly committed to preserving good neighbourly relations and improving cooperation in the Western Balkans through intensive activities in bilateral frameworks as well as active participation in numerous regional organizations and initiatives. “We expect that the upcoming summits in Sofia as well as in London will be the opportunities to continue productive discussions about important issues for the region, focusing on the European perspective of the Western Balkans,” Markovic said. Before the beginning of the summit, Markovic was welcomed by his Slovenian counterpart, Miro Cerar.” (RTCG) US Amb. Congratulates Zvizdic on EC Questionnaire, Discuss BiH's NATO and EU Path "Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Denis Zvizdić, today spoke with the US Ambassador to BiH Maureen Cormack and informed about the current economic and political situation in BiH. Ambassador Cormack congratulated the… Zaev Expects China and Russia to Back NATO and EU Membership "China and Russia will back Macedonia for NATO membership - these are the expectations of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, despite strained relations of the countries after the expulsion of the Russian diplomat. Macedonia has no other… Ljubljana Hosts NATO Seminar on Western Balkans "A three-day seminar on the Western Balkans of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly opened in Ljubljana on Tuesday with addresses by parliamentary Speaker Milan Brglez and Defence Minister Andreja Katic, with the latter promising Slovenia's further support… W. Balkans Awaits EU Enlargement Plan "The EU will launch its enlargement plan today (Tuesday) meant to kickstart long-stalled membership negotiations with the five former Yugoslavian republics plus Albania. The aspirational strategy seeks to integrate Serbia and Montenegro into the EU… Kosovo Deputy PM Presses EU Ambassadors for Clear Path to EU "Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj held today numerous meetings with ambassadors of the EU countries with whom he discussed about the Euro-integration path of Kosovo, in particular with regard to the New Union Enlargement… PM Markovic Links Economic Growth to NATO Membership "'In 2017 Montenegro achieved one of its most important foreign policy priorities - and that is membership in NATO,' said (Dusko)Markovic, adding that NATO membership for a short time gave unprecedented new opportunities for the…	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1924
__label__cc	0.582527	0.417473	Bananama Republic (https://www.bananamarepublic.com/2014/03/25/panama-guides-don-winner-now-pumps-illegal-campaign-donations/) Panama Guide’s Don Winner now pumps illegal campaign donations By Okke Ornstein \| March 25, 2014 More on Politics Subscribe to Politics Scam pimp Don Winner, here in some wacky video performance. Scam pimp Don Winner has a new gig: getting expats to donate to the Cambio Democratico election campaign. Here's what he wrote on his scam pimping website "Panama Guide" in an "editor's comment" below an article he stole from La Prensa, about the battle between I. Roberto Eisenmann and Ricardo Martinelli (Winner is in the business these days of stealing content from real journalists and then putting it behind a pay wall, which we have circumvented already long ago of course): I took the time to translate this article because it clearly illustrates one thing - that there is no judicial security in Panama. Having the law or the evidence on your side really does not matter one bit. President Ricardo Martinelli is locked in a battle to the death with I. Roberto Eisenmann Jr., who is the owner of both Coronado and La Prensa [Eisenmann is not the owner of la Prensa, but the founder. The owners are various shareholders. But Don Winner and facts, well, 'nuff said - BanRep]. Eisenmann is 100% Panameñista [Again, Don Winner and facts.... Eisenmann actively supported the campaign of Martin Torrijos, who is PRD - BanRep], and he backs the Panameñista presidential candidate Juan Carlos Varela. When Martinelli and the CD broke off their political alliance on 30 August 2011 (because of Juan Carlos Varela's involvement in the Finmeccanica case [This is unproven Martinelli spin, here parroted by Winner - BanRep]) Eisenmann and La Prensa went on the warpath against the CD and Martinelli [Again, facts.... La Prensa was highly critical of the Martinelli administration already before the alliance broke - BanRep]. They published a series of articles and reports about government contracts to build highways and roads, issued by the Martinelli administration to the company Transcaribe Trading SA (TCT). David and Daniel Ochy, who own TCT, went ballistic over these articles, and they sent their trucks and heavy equipment to block the entrances to the offices of La Prensa in the middle of the night, effectively preventing the newspapers from being delivered. And then of course, La Prensa filed their complaints. So you can clearly see how this is anything but a "normal" legal case that's making it's way through the judiciary system in Panama. The two judges who were pressuring Ballesteros to decide to close the case - the President of the Supreme Court and the judge of the Second Tribunal (who are both above the position held by Ballesteros) were trying to pressure him into deciding to uphold the lower court's decision to close the case (forever). In these kinds of cases, there is no allowance for a second appeal, if two decisions in a row go against you. However if Ballesteros decided against the lower court, to keep the case open, then it goes back down for a hearing. In short, La Prensa and Eisenmann would win, the CD and Martinelli would lose - and they did not want that. When he refused to decide in the manner they wanted, they demanded his resignation. Don't trust the Panamanian judicial system for a second, for anything [Except of course as a tool to harass journalists who expose the scams you're pimping, right, Don? - BanRep]. No matter what happens to you - and especially because you are a foreigner - the Panamanian on the other side of the table probably has more money, and better political connections than you. You will lose your case, regardless of the evidence, testimony of witnesses, or whatever the law might say. Even if they have to remove a judge to get what they want - they will control and manipulate the system to get what they want. Period. There is no judicial security in Panama. None. Zero. It simply does not exist. Ricardo Martinelli and the CD own it - lock, stock, and barrel. And if (when) Jose Domingo Arias wins the election in May this situation will only become worse. Their control over the judiciary will deepen, as they continue to appoint more judges and to remove those who are not players on their political team. The only way you have a chance of winning is if your case is too small to matter, and if the Panamanian you are up against is broke, dumb, stupid, and ugly - and a member of either the PRD or the Panameñista political party. If that's the case, then it's a lock... But seriously folks, if you are an English speaking businessman in Panama, now would be a good time to donate heavily to the campaign of Jose Domingo Arias and proclaim your everlasting love for the CD. I think they are poised to retain control of the country, and to keep it for a very long time. Make friends now, if you have not already. Only those gringos who are flat broke (and I mean, penniless) can afford to buck the system. Look what happens to Panamanians who are on the wrong side of the game. Do you think you would stand a chance? Get it, dear reader? Panama is totally corrupt so you best join the corruptos and give them money. Also sprach der Wanker. That's how this piece of North-American trash, this useless little punk who was flushed down the toilet in the US and resurfaced in Panama, rolls. For those dumb enough to even consider following any of Wanker's advice: The foreign businessman who donates to the Martinelli reelection campaign would be committing a crime. Foreigners can not donate to Panamanian political campaigns. It's against the law. So follow the scam pimp's advice, and if Navarro wins, you might find yourself in all kinds of deep shit. Maybe now you understand why the US embassy strongly discourages people from having any kind of dealings with Don Winner? The Caterpillar Effect, or how (not) to lose elections From Ricardo Martinelli to Taboga's Patsy Owens de Pons; bad losers turn from butterflies causing storms into inconsequential caterpillars causing nothing. Memo from the Commodities Desk: Petaquilla, Richard Fifer, Taboga and Navarro Petaquilla liquidity trouble; Taboga land and islands not sold after all, and will J.C. Navarro wipe Noriega's poop off his nose? With J.J. Rendon, Juan Carlos Navarro has his own gladiators J.J. Rendon, a sleazy Venezuelan political consultant of the extreme right who specializes in rumor and smear, has made his entry in the Panama 2014 election campaign, apparently working for PRD candidate Juan Carlos Navarro. One thought on “Panama Guide’s Don Winner now pumps illegal campaign donations” Juan Faro on March 26, 2014 at 8:54 am said: look like those infamous PN sunglasses he was so proud of having!	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1925
__label__wiki	0.959126	0.959126	John Buzzard CO-OP Financial Services Perry Carpenter Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Governance , Incident & Breach Response Regin Espionage Malware: A Closer Look APT Analysis Reveals Simple Components Mathew J. Schwartz (euroinfosec) • January 23, 2015 Security researchers at anti-virus vendor Kaspersky Lab have released more information about two of the modules associated with the Regin malware, which many believe to be a surveillance tool designed to conduct espionage (see Regin Espionage Malware: 8 Key Issues). The identity of Regin's creators or users has yet to be proven. But whoever built the malware appears to have inadvertently left some clues. "With high-profile threats like Regin, mistakes are incredibly rare. However, when it comes to humans writing code, some mistakes are inevitable," Kaspersky Lab information security researchers Costin Raiu and Igor Soumenkov say in a blog post. "Among the most interesting things we observed in the Regin malware operation were the forgotten codenames for some of its modules." But details on Regin attacks remain scarce. In a November 2014 report, Symantec said it had seen fewer than 100 related attacks to date, largely focused on Russia and Saudi Arabia. Kaspersky Lab, meanwhile, counted 27 victims - including some unnamed, large entities or networks - across 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany, India, Pakistan, Russia and Syria. Whoever built Regin also appears to have been engaged in related efforts for some time. While security researchers had previously traced back samples of the malware recovered in the wild to 2008, at least one of the related malware modules - which also works in stand-alone mode - appears to have been first compiled in 2003, according to Kaspersky Potential Clues The codenames recovered by Kaspersky - which include "Hopscotch," "Legspin" and "Willischeck" - may offer clues about Regin's builders. Virus Bulletin editor and security researcher Martijn Grooten has noted via Twitter: "'Leg spin' is a cricket term. In case you want to speculate whether NSA or GCHQ is behind #Regin." Some U.K. commentators have also noted that Willis may well refer to a famous British cricket player - turned commentator - named Bob Willis. Many security experts have suggested that the United States and the United Kingdom - which are part of the Five Eyes surveillance intelligence alliance - may have collaborated to build Regin. Multiple news reports have also tied the malware to the hack of Belgian telecommunications firm Belgacom, as well as the European Parliament, and some reports suggest those attacks were the work of the U.S. National Security Agency and the UK's GCHQ intelligence agency (see Espionage Malware Alert Sounded). Regin's History Information about Regin first became public when Symantec released its November 2014 report, which offered the first-ever detailed technical analysis of the malware. "Regin bears the hallmarks of a state-sponsored operation and is likely used as an espionage and surveillance tool by intelligence agencies," Symantec said. Fellow anti-virus vendors F-Secure and Kaspersky Lab, which had also been investigating the APT tool, in turn quickly issued their own reports. Having three reports into an advanced espionage tool appear in such little time, for an APT campaign that appeared to have been operating for at least eight years, led some security experts to question the anti-virus vendors' timing (see AV Firms Defend Regin Alert Timing). But all three firms have defended the timing of the release of their reports, saying that it took substantial effort to identify and then analyze the APT. Researchers added that they didn't even begin paying close attention to Regin - which was designed to escape detection - until they recovered a more advanced version in 2013. Module Analysis Security researchers named Regin for its ability to load attack modules in the registry of an infected PC. Various modules - most of which do not work as stand-alone tools - can be used to provide attackers with full, remote access to a system, as well as steal passwords and sniff network traffic, including for GSM network base stations, among other features. Symantec says that modular design recalls the Flame and Weevil targeted cyberespionage tools, while the "multi-stage loading architecture" resembles the Duqu and Stuxnet malware, which are designed to analyze or attack industrial control systems. When analyzing the Hopscotch and Legspin modules, however, Kaspersky Lab found that both are somewhat basic tools, although this might also relate to their age. "Despite the overall sophistication - and sometimes even over-engineering - of the Regin platform, these tools are simple, straightforward and provide interactive console interfaces for Regin operators," they say. "What makes them interesting is the fact [that] they were developed many years ago and could even have been created before the Regin platform itself." The Hopscotch module recovered by Kaspersky Lab, for example, was compiled in 2006 and designed to work on its own. The module gives attackers the ability to move laterally - from system to system - inside a network that they have already penetrated. "It does not contain any exploits but instead relies on previously acquired credentials to authenticate itself at the remote machine, using standard APIs," Kaspersky Lab says. The module also offers two-way encrypted communications between an infected system and command-and-control servers. The Legspin module, meanwhile, "was also developed as a stand-alone command line utility for computer administration," the researchers note. "When run remotely, it becomes a powerful backdoor" that allows an attacker to directly access the operating system and its features via the command line. The version of the Legspin module recovered by Kaspersky appears to have been compiled in 2003, and uses some Windows functions that were introduced with Windows 2000, which were dropped in Windows Vista, which was offered at the end of 2006. Obama's Visit: Cybersecurity on Agenda? Assessing Singapore's Cyber Manifesto Malware: The Evolution of Exploits and Defenses https://www.bankinfosecurity.asia/regin-espionage-malware-closer-look-a-7828	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1926
__label__cc	0.653608	0.346392	Smokelore: A Short History of Barbecue in America by Jim AuchmuteyJim Auchmutey Barbecue: It’s America in a mouthful. The story of barbecue touches almost every aspect of our history. It involves indigenous culture, the colonial era, slavery, the Civil War, the settling of the West, the coming of immigrants, the Great Migration, the rise of the automobile, the expansion of suburbia, the rejiggering of gender roles. It encompasses every region and demographic group. It is entwined with our politics and tangled up with our race relations. Jim Auchmutey follows the delicious and contentious history of barbecue in America from the ox roast that celebrated the groundbreaking for the U.S. Capitol building to the first barbecue launched into space almost two hundred years later. The narrative covers the golden age of political barbecues, the evolution of the barbecue restaurant, the development of backyard cooking, and the recent rediscovery of traditional barbecue craft. Along the way, Auchmutey considers the mystique of barbecue sauces, the spectacle of barbecue contests, the global influences on American barbecue, the roles of race and gender in barbecue culture, and the many ways barbecue has been portrayed in our art and literature. It’s a spicy story that involves noted Americans from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. JIM AUCHMUTEY spent twenty-nine years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a reporter and editor, twice winning the Cox Newspaper chain’s Writer of the Year award. His food writing has been honored by the James Beard Foundation, the Association of Food Journalists, and the Sigma Delta Chi journalism society. He is coauthor of The Ultimate Barbecue Sauce Cookbook and author of The Class of ’65: A Student, a Divided Town, and the Long Road to Forgiveness. He lives in Georgia and descends from a long line of pitmasters. I’ve read just about every barbecue book there is. I have thought that I’ve readjust about every part and parcel of barbecue history, myth, and arcana, but Jim Auchmutey’s Smokelore shares tales and tidbits that I’ve never come across. Auchmutey writes with wit, taste, and a knack for good storytelling. author of The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook the Whole Hog - Rien Fertel With years of learning (worn lightly), heaps of quirky facts, sprightly and engaging prose, and page after page of delightful illustrations, Smokelore is a major contribution to barbecultural studies. My only reservation is the author’s annoying failure to capitalize Southern and Southerner. author of Barbecue: A Savor the South Cookbook - John Shelton Reed With Smokelore, Jim Auchmutey marvelously guides us through the fascinating, wonderous world of American barbecueits colorful past, its vibrant presence, and glimpses of its global future. Auchmutey is a skillful storyteller who does much to sort out fact from fiction about what we now know about barbecue. Smokelore is essential reading for anyone seeking a comprehensive, well-illustrated, and enjoyable look at barbecue culture in the United States. James Beard Award-winning author and certified barbecue judge - Adrian Miller The research is most evident where the book covers the many styles of barbecue in the country. Rather than glossing over the question of African-American contributions to barbecue, the book takes a chapter to study the sometimes racist history of barbecue and the influence of the enslaved pitmasters on the way we eat today. barbecue editor of Texas Monthly - Daniel Vaughn From eighteenth-century political events to the lines at twenty-first-century Korean barbecue food trucks, Smokelore offers a brief but comprehensive and eminently readable look at one of America’s enduring culinary obsessions. The lavishly illustrated tome spreads a Rabelaisian feast of information for the novice and expert alike that you’ll want to dip into again and again. author of High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America - Jessica B. Harris Barbecue has a backstory that's as big as America. Smokelore tells that tale entertainingly. This book really captures the fun and colorful history of our true national food. cofounder of the Kansas City Barbeque Society - Carolyn Wells Smokelore is a feast for the eyes, extensively illustrated with color photographs, menus, and advertisements that capture the vibrant history of American barbecue. Southern Living - Robert Moss Auchmutey brings a scholar’s nose for research to Smokelore, but his conversational tone and playful tangents make it an entertaining and enlightening read. Where else would you find a lengthy barbecue playlist that includes Elvin Bishop’s 'Barbecue Boogie,' Bo Carter’s 'Pig Meat Is What I Crave' and Outkast’s 'Skew It on the Bar-B'? Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Suzanne Van Atten Beautifully illustrated with a riot of barbecue memorabilia and including a few solid recipes, Smokelore is a must-have for anybody who cares about the ’cue. In other words, pretty much all y’all. The Bitter Southerner - Chuck Reece Smokelore isn’t a cookbook, a barbecue travelogue or an academic tome, although it has elements of all those. At 280 pages, it’s a lavishly illustrated popular history with 50,000 words of text, 26 recipes and 208 pieces of artwork mostly vintage photos and amusingly retro magazine ads. It’s fun. It’s also serious history. That’s Jim Auchmutey’s secret sauce powerful, good-hearted truth-telling whether he’s writing about the smoke of war or the smokelore of a nation. Georgia State University News - Charles McNair Jim Auchmutey’s new book, Smokelore, is a wonderful history of the South’s (and maybe our nation’s) favorite food: barbecue. And his research proved, with blinding clarity, that the connection between barbecue and politics has been part of the American story since the beginning. Auchmutey examines barbecue through the lenses of politics, race, gender, regional variety and other filters, and takes the reader on a rambling journey through a mouthwatering series of historic barbecue emporiums around the country where delectable meat dishes are prepared over open coals, often in picturesque settings by colorful pit masters with generations of barbecue secrets lodged in their heads. The Washington Post - Don Schanche Jr. book by jack kelly america history book book by isaac lane book by carole scott book by catherine m lewis america book A Short History of Fireworks in America A Short History of Fireworks in America is a 6,500-word essay that tells the intriguing ... A Short History of Fireworks in America is a 6,500-word essay that tells the intriguing story of how fireworks developed over the centuries to become an essential part of the Fourth of July. The piece takes you behind the scenes ... A Short History On Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the ultimate presidents of the United States of ... Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the ultimate presidents of the United States of America. He became the sixteenth (16th) president in and is recognized as a savior of the nation in his leadership throughout the Civil war. Many ... A Short History WW 2 World War II was one of the most imperative times in the 1900's. It has ... World War II was one of the most imperative times in the 1900's. It has lead to some of the major improvements we now see in the area of technology. It also laid the foundation that led to post-war social ... America's Second War of Independence: A Short History During the War of 1812, or the second war of independence, the United States, which ... During the War of 1812, or the second war of independence, the United States, which consisted of eighteen loosely joined states, took on Great Britain, the greatest naval power in the world, in a conflict that would have a lasting ... Beyond Freedom: Disrupting the History of Emancipation This collection of eleven original essays interrogates the concept of freedom and recenters our understanding ... This collection of eleven original essays interrogates the concept of freedom and recenters our understanding of the process of emancipation. Who defined freedom, and what did freedom mean to nineteenth-century African Americans, both during and after slavery? Did freedom just ... Clopton's Short History of the Confederate States of Other counterfactual histories are based on a concept from chaos theory called the butterfly effect. ... Other counterfactual histories are based on a concept from chaos theory called the butterfly effect. According to chaos theory, a very small difference in one initial condition of a dynamical system, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, may cause ... History - America's Greatest Hits (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). A collection of their greatest hits, including: A Horse with No Name ... (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). A collection of their greatest hits, including: A Horse with No Name * Sandman * Muskrat Love * Sister Golden Hair * and 12 more. Jim Crow America: A Documentary History The term “Jim Crow” has had multiple meanings and a dark and complex past. It ... The term “Jim Crow” has had multiple meanings and a dark and complex past. It was first used in the early nineteenth century. After the Civil War it referred to the legal, customary, and often extralegal system that segregated and ...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1927
__label__wiki	0.526117	0.526117	http://www.barrons.com/articles/ubs-wealth-management-powers-gains-1509115825 UBS Wealth Management Powers Gains Oct. 27, 2017 10:50 am ET UBS Group’s wealth-management and investment units powered the company to sharp third-quarter gains, reports The Wall Street Journal. UBS said net profit grew 14% compared with a year earlier, to 946 million Swiss francs ($952.7 million). In the third quarter, the bank’s global wealth-management unit recorded a 4% year-over-year rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to 1.04 billion francs, with 2.4 billion francs in net new money during the quarter. Investment banking posted a 3% rise in pretax profit. Like its Swiss banking rival Credit Suisse, UBS has sharpened its focus on managing money for wealthy clients and streamlined its investment banking unit. Earlier this year, the lender said it expects the wealth-management industry to grow twice as fast as global gross domestic product in the next five to 10 years. Friday’s results signal that the strategy is bearing fruit as the ranks of the super-rich expand, particularly in Asia. UBS said that region helped propel its third-quarter profit. Today in Advisor Center Will Brokerages Demand Protection From Lawsuits? Retirement Savings Booming—For the Wealthy Tax Legislation May Target 401(k)s After All	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1929
__label__cc	0.659939	0.340061	We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the BBC website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Cleaning up bankers' mess Robert Peston \| 00:01 UK time, Friday, 1 May 2009 Bankers have made "an astonishing mess of the financial system". So say the MPs on the Treasury Select Committee - and you'd walk quite a distance, across continents, before you would find many who'd disagree with that verdict. But the committee's latest report in its investigation of the financial crisis spreads the blame more widely, saying that governments, regulators and central bankers all share responsibility for "sustaining the illusion that banking growth and profitability would continue for the future". What an expensive illusion that turned out to be. So what, for the MPs, is the way to prevent a repetition of this debacle and to make the best of our recovery from it? Well, that's work in progress. But the committee does have a few recommendations. For me, the most interesting relates to mutual building societies. The committee believes the building societies have operated a "safer business model" than most commercial banks (with the recent woes of the Dunfermline Building Society as the conspicuous exception). But if building societies, or mutuals, are not just an example of solid Victorian values but are also our financial future, it's a concern for MPs that establishing new building societies appears to be much harder than it was when the Ecology Building Society was started in 1981. In that context, they also say it's unfair and troublesome that building societies are forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of the costs of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme - which is the fund that compensates depositors for some of their losses when banks go belly up. The MPs call on the FSA to review the societies' heavy contribution to the compensation scheme "with urgency". Among their other recommendations are that the government take steps to improve competition within the banking industry, because they feel that the benefits of competition were sacrificed in initiatives to prevent banks from collapsing (this is a big hello to ministers' decision to allow a mega retail bank to be created when Lloyds rescued HBOS by buying it). Also, the committee is not persuaded that the rescued banks have yet done enough to reverse the squeeze on lending to small businesses, in spite of their promises to do so. And the MPs fear that when banks do lend to vulnerable smaller businesses, they're charging too much in the form of fees (as opposed to interest). The committee is particularly concerned that UK Financial Investments, the body charged with managing taxpayers' stakes in Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, isn't sufficiently arm's length from the Treasury, or insufficiently precise about its ambitions. UKFI should, say the MPs, be put on a proper statutory basis. However, if I was surprised by one element of the report it was that MPs felt that retail customers like you and me stand a proper chance of evaluating when banks are taking silly and undue risks, even though recent events have proved that the most financially sophisticated central bankers, regulators and investors in the world were for years ignorant of the banks' complex and crazy investing and lending activities. No matter that the FSA wasn't bright enough to see that RBS and HBOS were galloping towards the cliff edge, the MPs believe that the government should abandon its 100% protection of retail deposits - which is the current de facto reality - and make it clear that the formal £50,000 limit on deposit protection is not just a theoretical limit. Why? Well the fear that depositors' money was at risk would "reintroduce the depositor's obligation to consider matters other than the bald interest rate in choosing where to locate their investments and thus ensure that the banks had a disincentive to be reckless". Most, I think, would say it's a lovely idea that consumers could have enough relevant information to judge when and whether Mega Bank Inc is investing sensibly or gambling recklessly - but is it remotely realistic in an era of financial globalisation, even if the regulators start to do their jobs properly? Which brings us neatly to the contentious point of the moment, which is whether the big "universal" banks - such as Royal Bank and Barclays - should be cleaved or broken in two. This would mean that the likes of RBS would be split into a putatively safe and simple retail bank and into a supposedly riskier investment bank playing in the global casino. The argument is that such a division of banking activities would make it easier for regulators to protect the deposits which matter - that's our deposits by the way, those of retail savers. I've bored on about this a good deal in recent notes, and will bore on a bit more over the next fortnight, when the chancellor confirms in a White Paper that he's not minded to dismantle the big banks in this way. The MPs however are showing due deference to the governor of the Bank of England, whose instinct - they say - is that "a separation of retail from investment banking functions is 'very attractive'". They won't dismiss his view "lightly". But nor do they sign up for it. Which is probably not unreasonable, because there would be serious economic implications from breaking up the banks. So however numbed you are by debate on the arcana of banking regulation, a bit more deliberation probably wouldn't hurt. Comments Post your comment Comment number 1. At 08:19 1st May 2009, invisiblehandadvisor wrote: Finally, the beginning of a real acknowledgement of the massive wealth destruction that was allowed to spread unchecked through the banking system for far too long. The global shadow banking system, tax havens, offfshore accounts, a reckless bonus system, idle regulators, morally corrupt accountants and rating agencies, politicians with both eyes shut: such a five star recipe for disaster can not be allowed to continue. Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) At 08:25 1st May 2009, Simon Ward wrote: It is all very well a Committee of MPs pointing the finger at the bank, but the government was hardly blameless themselves. The government fail to raise interest rates sufficiently when the debt bubble was forming from 2002 onwards. They also used the CPI rather then RPI inflation measure that did not include house prices. So the government too failed to see the link between the housing and debt bubble. The trap the banks fell into was that no one wants to shout about the risks when it seems like everything is going so well ... and the government fell into exactly the same trap! At 08:26 1st May 2009, moneymouth77 wrote: I'd think the splitting of big banks would be a great step! It would allow them to seperate their more contentious activities from regular, day-to-day banking, which over half of us are interested in. As we are now in a state of deflation, there may be some rash decisions made, but a little more time to make sure that such a split is the right way to go would be more than viable. At 08:26 1st May 2009, DebtJuggler wrote: Ho hum...another banking story! Bob, you're becoming a bit of a one trick pony! At 08:33 1st May 2009, Alan F wrote: The 50,000 safe limit on depositors (or even a lower limit) has the desirable effect of spreading the deposits around. It actually makes it easier for smaller building societies to survive or, as your earlier post points out, be founded. And if we are seriously considering the possibility of founding new building societies and institutions isn't one way to allow the larger credit unions to grow by offering mortgages? At 08:43 1st May 2009, mullecon wrote: We keep being told that no one saw or could have forseen the banking crisis. Nonsense. i read a newsletter that has been predicting it, almost exactly as it has happened, since about 2005/6. And one in America which was doing the same thing. Goldilocks was more attractive politically and thats what was sold to us.That's what people chose to hear. Break up our banks and there won't be a British bank left - they'll all be small enough for dicey big foreign banks to take over. At 08:44 1st May 2009, stevewo wrote: This report is spot-on. But the UK public NEEDS PROTECTION from the antics of these huge banks. Joe Bloggs the plumber and his kids CANNOT be the guarantor of about a third of the worlds' financial deals. My view is that they need to be split up, regardless of the consequences. All parts that fail (except UK retail and savings) should be bankrupted. Other countries may have to do the same, and everyone should make it very clear that the next time such a failure happens, what happened to Lehmans will happen to all. Also, where are the prosecutions? If the bankers' negligence had happened in medicine, or the energy industry, many would now be either struck-off, or bankrupted, or in jail. I notice this morning that they are still paying themselves huge bonuses....even though ALL of them would have gone broke without taxpayer help (runs-on-banks would have been universal). This is really unacceptable. They are making the government, and the rest of us, look like complete fools. Their parasitic image still seems to be justified. If you don't like it.....start withdrawing your savings...and let them know why. At 08:51 1st May 2009, wombateye wrote: So the lack of regulation, the sligh of touch of the FSA, and the drive to keep the banks registered in the UK at all costs had nothing to do with it! So G.Brown was right all along the problem did actualy have nothing to do with him! At 08:52 1st May 2009, squiddlydodabs wrote: Casting blame after the event is easy and not of much value. Not that I condone the reckless plung into logical absurdity by the banks, regulators and particularly Mr Brown into believing that new wealth could be continuously generated by designing increasingly complicated spreadsheets but any fianacial institution not following the herd to some degree or other would have been out of business in short order. I am all in favour of breaking up the banks and properly isolating risk to where it belongs - with customers who will pay the risk premium. Retail banking and the average customers thereof should not be penalised when the higher risks are blended with the lower and result in higher charges for low risk borrowers. Comment number 10. At 08:54 1st May 2009, GRIMUPNORTH77 wrote: As I posted at 4.40pm yesterday when this blog first appeared befroe disappearing again I've read through this twice but I can't find any mention of Chrysler anywhere - it seems to be all about banking. I'm presuming to clean up bankers mess you need some Kleenex? Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) Just today USB, the Swiss bank, refused to share account details of suspected US tax fraudsters with a US court. USB claims that without proof they cannot share these account details, because they would break Swiss law if they did so. Well, the proof sits in their vaults and computer systems and of course they know it for sure. Such intransigence needs to be stopped and needs to incure severe financial penalties, globally enforced. The time is now to stop such clearly visible madness, which is an integral part of the story of the credit crunch and subprime bubble. The proceeds of the financial casino that was allowed to run wild over the past decade had to go somewhere. All too often these profits went where they were supposed to be safe, unregulated and untaxed: they ended up in tax havens and offshore banking. For example, many hedge funds are based in or operate through tax havens and lightly regulated overseas territories. Change is needed. You can read more at: https://globalinsights.wordpress.com/ At 08:56 1st May 2009, eatingantonyo wrote: Tell the banks to open their books in a clear manner including off balance sheet. Or would that cause a panic? Instead let shareholders manipulate the market price and suck in private investors to yet again have their fingers burnt. The banks will be regulated to such a degree they will look like utilities. The major shareholders will be taxpayers and anyone who has held a bank share for more than 2 years will shortly realise they have been diluted to such a level they are meaningless. Banks are needed to lend. If they are not doing that, why support them? Did I read the Fed have delayed the stress test results. Banks are not just too big to fail. They are too big and can dictate to governemnts!! At 08:57 1st May 2009, Luke wrote: As I work in a Building Society myself, this is hopeful news for people like me. It is good to know that MPs wish to reward prudence and care for the better managed Building Society sector. Also, that allowing new ones to be created will create a more evolved competition and be able to address the ever changing needs of the customer. Of course, other Building Societies may still merge in the future, but this kind of fluidity is to be expected. Perhaps new Building Societies could start in places in the UK, where many financial sector jobs have been lost recently - experience on tap. Slightly off topic, its nice that the goverments mortgage protection service launched last year has now saved ONE! yes ONE! household from losing their house. now all we need is the small business service launched at the same time to save a business then the goverment can claim they are both complete sucess stories. Look out for the press release in the next few days telling us how well the system is working and a picture of the happy house hold saved at the budgeted cost of 250million! At 08:58 1st May 2009, leanomist wrote: Tax payers are having to underpin traditional personal savings/accounts. Tax payers should never be asked to underpin high risk lending/gambling, driven by self interest/greed. We do not underpin people's flutters in the casino or on the horses (and these kind of activities should arguably be taxed more). Hence the separation of Traditional Retail Banking from Risky Investment Banking is needed to reverse the decisions made allowing them to integrate. This is a NO BRAINER in my humble opinion and I believe most people see it this way. It will eventually have to happen, and I believe many are starting to realize this (including some MP's and the Bank of England Governor) - so why is it still being avoided/dismissed ... NO BRAINS, or just more SELF INTEREST and GREED? At 09:01 1st May 2009, IfAtFirst wrote: Is that USB 2.0? At 09:01 1st May 2009, Werrellofdesign wrote: Listening to the very pompous Lady from the British Bankers Association earlier on Today I was incensed by her suggestion that Bankers are in the main doing the right thing. Right thing for whom? HSBC and Barclays may not be in the mess that the rest are, but it has not stopped them jumping on the usual bankers bandwagon and charging rip-off rates of interest. Last year my business overdraft was costing me 7% at a time when the base rate was 5% a factor of 1.4 times base. Now HSBC are attempting to put that rate up to 10.4% when base rate is 0.5% a factor of close to 21 times base. How gross is that? There can be no jusitification for such vile behaviour and yet they are all doing it. The same is of course true with credit cards where interst rates stay absurdly high, so when its raining for everyone else these buggers are laughing their socks off. What has the government done about any of this? I believe she also made reference to the fact that banks are lending more than they did this time last year. When one takes account of the increased charges and interest rates I have no doubt that most of the alleged increase in lending will be taken up by the increased value of the wedge that has actaully remianed the same from last year! Bankers, statisticians, politicians, there is one word that describes the lot and I will leave you to work that word. Andrew Werrell At 09:07 1st May 2009, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote: any actions taken by GB will be those that will not allow the finger suppission to be pointed him. Therefore we will get the wrong outcomes. GB will look only after number one, the ulimate expression on greed. that is only suppose to be practiced by bankers. So the Mr Average is a better judge of the Banks trading position than 0) GB 1) HMG 2) BOE 3) FSA 4) auditors 5) The shard holders 6) the board at the bank 7) The managers 8) The traders 9) The staff 10) Anybody Else except them There having a laugh At 09:08 1st May 2009, watriler wrote: Banks are constantly devising ways of cheating savers of a decent return on their investments and you cannot expect the saving public to find the time to monitor the activities of the banks and act accordingly. Regulation is always second best to supervision. We need a sizeable proportion of the banks in some form of public ownership with both employee and consumer representation at policy level. The needs to be proper codes of conduct sustain by statute covering both private and public financial institutions. At 08:44am on 01 May 2009, stevewo wrote: makes sense. I'm going to put my cash in a building society. At 09:12 1st May 2009, alvis1250 wrote: This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain. At 09:14 1st May 2009, alexbabic wrote: I'm furious that more hasn't been dealt out to those in the banking community who were responsible in all of this. It is my impression that they have melted into the system to probably re-appear somwhere else in the near future. And now we say we can't afford to let a few hundred Gurkhas reside in this country. I'm lost for words. At 09:15 1st May 2009, Doctor Bob wrote: I am sick and tired of hearing what an awful mess the bankers made of global finance. Let's get back to what the regulators were supposed to be doing: the Treasury, the FSA and in America, SEC, and a few other nice, comfy bureaucracies, not to mention governments ours included, who were praising the bankers for their creativity and drive, taking huge tax swipes and glorifying in the huge wealth the bankers were "creating". What sort of regulator regulates financial instruments they know nothing about AND ALLOWS THE ISSUER TO DECIDE THE RISK? Because that's what they were doing. SO LET'S STOP BLAMING THE BANKERS. LET'S TURN IT BACK ON BROWN'S RIDICULOUS SEPARATION OF FINANCIAL RESPONISBILITIES, GREED AND IGNORANCE ON THE PART OF REGULATORS. It was never like this when the Bank of England had overall control, and before Thatcher etc slowly but surely eroded regulation (set up in the 1930s and on to, would you believe, prevent another 1929 crash happening again). Give it back to the Bank of England. At 09:15 1st May 2009, twistywillow wrote: 'Bankers have made "an astonishing mess of the financial system".' That's being rather kind I think. Breaking up the big banks should be a priority rather than just talk. The chancellor and the Treasury Select Committee have obviously forgotten the old adage, which goes along nicely with the Victorian Banking Ethic, of 'Too Many Eggs in one Basket' or in this case not enough Baskets. When the Child Trust Funds first came into being, we did a lot of research into which would be best. Almost all of the providers led back to one sole investor. We eventually found one, a small building society that did not kow tow to this big investment company. I dont think anyone realised until this debacle that big banks are the same, and that all their eggs are in one basket. A return to so called 'Victorian values' banking is good, but lets not forget the Victorians were far from perfect and actually a new responsible banking system needs to be found, a hybrid between the old and the new, but lets not forget, that the same people work in the industry and its all very well to say the system needs changing, but you have to change the people and their attitudes as well. At 09:18 1st May 2009, Optimist wrote: #6. mullecon wrote: "We keep being told that no one saw or could have forseen the banking crisis. Nonsense. i read a newsletter that has been predicting it, almost exactly as it has happened, since about 2005/6..." Thousands of predictions - economic and otherwise - are made every day of the year, in books, newspapers, academic papers and internet blogs. Many of them are contradictory and the vast majority will be wrong. But with hindsight it is always possible to find something, somewhere, that predicts almost any event. How many newsletters were there in 2005/2006 that predicted something quite different? At 09:21 1st May 2009, sandtreader wrote: I don't really care if those that live by the sword die by the sword, it's taking the rest of us down with them that is the problem. We need the equivalent of a new Glass-Steagall act (the repeal of which was surely the prime cause of all this mess) so that if investment banks ever do such stupid things again (which they surely will, for greed destroys intelligence) they can be "allowed to fail" without destroying the savings of ordinary folk who were looking for safety. In software we have process isolation; in networking, firewalls; in shipbuilding, bulkheads. Perhaps it's time to listen to the engineers who actually know how to build large, complex dynamic systems with failsafes instead of leaving it to a collection of PPE types (or worse, pure mathematicians) with God complexes? ;-) Many banks are designed to confuse people and profit from this process ... for instance one innovative bank leader wanted to apply lean practice to find new ways of adding value and simplifying things for customers ... but the executive board rejected the idea for precisely the reasons above! At 09:25 1st May 2009, Guy Croft wrote: BBC Breaking News!! CLEANING UP THE BANKERS MESS!! From this website!! "Smash and Burn in the Insolvency Courts and still time for lunch and a 3pm finish!! Read how the judge rattles through it! Read how the judge won't stand for any messing! Read how the victims sweat! See the poor judge lose his voice (but not his fee!!!) See how lucrative it is for the law profession! Straight out of Dickens says one commentator! Hammer them in the courts say Howard! "By the end of his day in court, no wonder the barrister representing Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has nearly lost his voice. The court has heard 240 cases - an average of one every 90 seconds - and Mr Daniel Margolin has had a part to play in most. And looking at the evidence around, the companies court at London's Royal Court of Justice are unlikely to get any quieter. Even the member of staff on reception admits: "The case list is getting longer and longer. It's not going to improve any time soon." The latest analysis from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) says the downturn is showing "no signs of abating" with 5,483 firms becoming insolvent in the first quarter of 2009, up 57% on the same time last year. "We can see that UK businesses are still suffering from the effects of the global recession as more and more of them enter into insolvency with no apparent signs of a slowdown in the near future," says Mike Jervis, partner in PwC's business recovery services practice. Jam packed The problems facing UK businesses is set out in a very human form in Court 55 on The Strand in London. As it opens at 10.30, 22 barristers are crammed into the benches with files and boxes full of legal papers tied with white ribbon littering the tables. Soon after the crowds rise for Mr Registrar Jaques, who's hearing the cases, the atmosphere in court 55 resembles an auction house more than a legal platform. Within seconds the first case against Crystal Vision LCD TV Ltd is dismissed as their papers are not in order. The following company Freemarket is dealt with in under a minute. The third company wins a 14 day adjournment and, another firm is compulsorily wound up and yet another wins a vital 28 days to pay its creditors. And the list goes on. Herded through Case numbers and names are rattled off, while barristers will argue a company - or creditor's - case, with the judge delivering his decision, all at breakneck speed. The most frequent ruling is delivered with the words: "All the papers are in order, usual compulsory order, main proceedings." With that one sentence the firm is wound up. By 11.10am, 58 cases have been heard, and herded, through the system, and yet the tide of managers, directors and barristers keeps coming. Some bosses show the stress of the day, hesitating and stuttering their way through their all-too-brief time in the spotlight. One director, sweating profusely, begs for the court to offer some extra time to draw up a banking order to pay of his debts, claiming that the Easter holidays delayed him getting his hands on the cash in time. The plea falls on deaf ears and the firm is wound up - the words "compulsory order granted" ringing around the room as the chairman of Camp Lane Development Company exits the court with his colleagues. Another manager asks the registrar whether he can have extra time to discuss his case. "No you may not," is the abrupt retort. Unfortunately, this company will be just one more added to the pile of statistics at the Insolvency Service. 'No messing' By the end of the morning session, at 1.15pm the court has swiftly sealed the fate of 236 companies - a fact not missed by the solicitors on the sidelines. As they exit the court to grab a bite, one remarks that the Registrar was taking "no messing today. 'Can we have 10 more days'. 'No, next'.'" A further four companies are granted a little more time to be dealt with in greater detail after the lunch break, while two from the earlier hearings are revisited. Greater detail, it emerges, means at least three or four minutes a case as the recorder asks the remaining four barristers how long each case will take. Here Mr Margolin usually raises concerns or haggles over the costs involved in the cases or length of time their payment will take. One case, KBSA Inc Ltd gets a little extra attention as Registrar Jacques advises two foreign creditors on how the English legal system works, but by 3pm the court has risen and the barristers are packing up for the office. By the next winding up session on the following Wednesday business is unlikely to be any quieter, but Mr Margolin may have had time to recover his voice." This disgusts me, it really does. At 09:26 1st May 2009, David1984 wrote: "reintroduce the depositor's obligation to consider matters other than the bald interest rate in choosing where to locate their investments and thus ensure that the banks had a disincentive to be reckless" But how exactly can a depositor judge the credit worthiness of his or her bank? No one should forget it was not so long ago that the likes of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG were all AAA rated (check out the 2004 annual reports). If the credit rating agencies got it so grossly wrong, how can the man on the street hope to make such a judgement? Or are we just suppose to all run along to our banks and withdraw all our savings when we get a bit nervous? At 09:27 1st May 2009, Slug wrote: If Gordon Brown wasn't a politician, I bet he'd be a banker The whole scenario was a classic blend of multiplied errors and assumptions, with large helpings of greed and naivety and a sprinking of hapless politicians. Mix all these ingredients together in a leaky pressure cooker, put in the oven on the highest heat possible and put your feet up to read favourable news reports. Wait till cooker explodes and house burns down. Act surprised and blame everyone else copyright Gordon (Ramsay) Brown, 2007-2009 At 09:27 1st May 2009, Andrew Preston wrote: These banks are bust. Its fairly simple really, there has to be major change. Whether that is dismemberment or whatever. What troubles me rather is so little is being said about the political fallout. The culprits for all this are Conservative governments just as much as the current Labour one. The Conservatives seemed to have decided that they have won the next election. Yet, as the 'creditcrunch' unfolded they had nothing to contribute, and now they still don't. Most of what Robert Peston talks about is the conversations of affluent people who want to fix a failed model. There is zero being said about local economies, the role of , for example, credit unions,microfinance. I work hard to earn tiny amounts. I don't mean relatively, I mean tiny, just trying to get by. Every time I see these bankers, right now, trotting off with their huge bonuses, I feel that a massive con has been perpetrated on everyone. And that, in truth, the Conservatives, their, banker friends, and their devotion to the interests of business and the 'marketplace' are a large part of it. At 09:27 1st May 2009, SiriusWonderblast wrote: Aaah-ha. Lloyds HBOS merger a completely bad idea then, yes. Uncompetitive, inappropriate (as I bet Lloyds customers and shareholders would agree), plain worng. But, it saved Gordy's skin at the time, which I guess is all that mattered. Now what kind of mess will come out of sundering them, and where will the liabilities reside? We, as taxpayers and customers, have been royally stuffed for Brown's career. Meanwhile, lending still isn't happening. At least not like it used to. When that's a matter of whether or not be buy some crappy Chinese tat, maybe it's a good thing. When it means our businesses can't obtain working capital or r & d investment that allow them to compete, then it's bad for the country as a whole. There's one big point. we can't afford not to view banking operations in in terms of national interest. I'm pretty sure other countries do, which to some extent will be driving the howls from our European, er, friends. But, if we are talking of a return a Victorian model, then we should see that in context of our banks being tools to support and nuture our industries, rather than just feed off them. However, yesterday Robert you made a point about a shortfall of something like £100bn in repatriation of funds afflicting UK banks in the contraction of lending. This must directly deplete capital. We have not had it explained to us how such a massive amount is affecting the basic solvency of the banks. Or has someone found a away of portraying this as an asset? At 09:29 1st May 2009, hughesz wrote: I believe all agree that retail banking needs ring fencing from other riskier banking activities.If the tax payer is to provide insurance up to £50,000 then the tax payer should take a reasonable premium ,this premium should be flexible,so that low risk organisations (Building Societies)pay less .Dodgy banks should be refused cover. At 09:32 1st May 2009, ruralwoman wrote: Re the comment: The committee believes the building societies have operated a "safer business model" Only Believes! Of course operate a safer business model. Unlike buliding societies... Banks take Risks!!! By backing innovative entrepreneurs and businesses who are the real wealth creators and employers of this country. At 09:42 1st May 2009, newforestrog wrote: I think we are all agreed that more regulation of the banks is required. The question is how? One of the big problems is that our present accounting system was designed eons ago even before computers were invented. What is required is a double accounting system, one double book keeping standard system for regular trade and another NEW system to account for hedging, credit default swaps, all derivates etc. The new system should set out to clearly highlight to the main board of the bank the bank's exposure on a daily basis. There should be a limit on the allowable risk in % terms of the banks capitalisation. The main board members should be criminally responsible if the risk is allowed to exceed the allowable limits. Proper "Off Balance Sheet" accounts (or let's call them records) should be filed every month in parallel to the standard accounts. Another question is why is the gearing of the banks so high? In less troubled countries banks have a much lower gearing. Does this not tell us something? Instead of 6% gearing, why not make it 50%? At 09:43 1st May 2009, Duncan wrote: How about variable depositor protection? The FSA and/or newly regulated rating agencies give each bank a risk rating. Deposits at lower risk banks are protected to a higher threshold. Banks made to have a legal obligation to publish their protection threshold. That would make it nicely visibly to Mr Depositor. At 09:45 1st May 2009, akamrburns wrote: Banks got too big for their boots...and too big for our health! It must never happen again....but where is all the new regulation - where is the reform of the banking system? Why is it that I get the feeling that the banking fraternity is doing all that it can to frustrate reform becaue it believes that Larry Lightweight and the 'Banker Boys' will win the election next year and give them an easy ride? At 09:53 1st May 2009, stmewan wrote: Are there legal minds that can provide a legally required employment contract that places Banks' directors' personal assets (i.e. including the home that they and their family own and occupy)at risk of forfeit, if they make 'an astonishing mess of running their bank'? If so it should be a cheap way of dissuading future bankers from becoming addicted gamblers whilst leaving them free of the dead hand of government control. in response to #16 IfAtFirst: Thanks for the correction. I typed too fast in my previous comment #11 . Of course I meant UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland), not USB. It's good to see that someone reads these comments carefully. #34 - 'Banks take risks'. Banks have taken massive risks that they did not understand with various complicated financial vehicles which have caused the current crisis and also in funding mortgages at 125% and with no supporting earnings/evidence of earnings. The taking of these risks has caused the current crisis. I can not agree that banks take big risks backing entrepreneurs and businesses - sure sometimes these companies fail but the banks very rarely lose out as they are either first in line for recovery of the assets or have personal guarantees over the directors assets. Banks today lend to businesses on two criteria - firstly sufficient security (even prior to the crunch for a normal business this was 70% of asset values), and secondly the ability to service the debt. Otherwise they don't fund the risk. At 09:57 1st May 2009, oldbadger52 wrote: SO - our overpaid priviledged MPs stating the obvious....how wonderful they are!! At 09:58 1st May 2009, ProgressiveSR4 wrote: Interesting conflation of mutualism with "Victorian values", Robert ; the two have rather less historically in common. At 09:58 1st May 2009, delminister wrote: is this not just a story of the pot calling the kettle black. i agree that those running the banks appear to have been greedy self obsessed lunatics but it was the governments lack of control and poor judgment that started all these problems. then it was this government failing to do the right thing and resolving this countries problems before blowing hard around the world about how great they are. banks have always needed a strong government dishing out secure regulations. At 10:00 1st May 2009, jamiesblog wrote: MPs are also trying to pass the buck for failing in their own responsibilties.While many groups were partially responsible the Federal Reserve and BOE were the main culprits for not fully appreciating the role of asset price inflation in creating unsustainable credit creation. It was compounded by many Governments but mainly the Bush and Blair/Brown administration voracious appetite for unsustainable spendinge. 30. At 09:27am on 01 May 2009, eddixon wrote: I bet you a billion pounds that when he stops being a politician (some time soon I hope!) that he will become a banker. just like his predecessor did... https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7180306.stm At 10:14 1st May 2009, NoddingHomer wrote: # 17. Werrellofdesign It's not just the interest charges on borrowings, it's also the interest they pay on savings which stink. Not to mention the way they treat their "valued customers". A (nominally) UK bank which recently passed a stress test has twice in two years now sidelined me into a low-paying, no-longer available account. The way this now defunct account operates is, surprisingly, pretty much identical the new higher-paying account. But they presumably believe that I couldn't possibly be interested in earning higher interest - since they haven't drawn my attention to the new account in the way they used to do with "cheap loans" and still do with travel insurance. And, don't be fooled, at least some building societies behave in exactly the same way. All of which makes the Investec High 5 account a rather attractive "invest and don't get dumped" option. Apart from the issue of the minimum deposit, though, these days higher than average interest rates seem to be a marker of a bank heading for trouble. There again, maybe not. But Robert is right in his analysis of my ability to assess Investec's worldwide operations. How on earth can our representatives assume any different - not distracted by the price of bath plugs by any chance? At 10:16 1st May 2009, brighterfuture wrote: So we are back to the blame game and picking over the entrails of what has gone before. Whatever impact the recession is having on you, wherever you are and however out of control you may feel, you still have a choice about how you respond to your circumstances. What is going to help you move on the quickest - finding someone to blame or taking action to improve my situation? The Survivors Guide To The Credit Crunch helps readers to take positive action, boost their personal resilience and get a brighter outlook. See the articles at https://www.thesurvivorsguide.co.uk/latestblog.html At 10:21 1st May 2009, Nick Drew wrote: "whether the big "universal" banks - such as Royal Bank and Barclays - should be cleaved or broken in two" Or indeed whether they are viable at all. There's renewed concern over capital adequacy in the US, and it remains a strong possibility that the pressing issue is another round of re-capitalising, with all the upheaval that entails. At 10:25 1st May 2009, Wee-Scamp wrote: People really do have to realise that what the Treasury committee has also put their finger on without realising it is that this "mess" is also one of the main reasons why there has been a fall in manufacturing, in the number of start-ups, the drop in UK ownership of strategically important companies. The damage done across the economy has been huge not just in the short term but the medium and long term as well. At 10:28 1st May 2009, CHRISB wrote: I suppose I will be classed as a true innocent by asking the simple question "where has all the money gone - who has got it?" Surely it can not have just evaporated into thin air or gone down a black hole, and ceased to exist. Can anyone explain why it is not all still floating around in the world economy? Is it just a total loss of confidence in the value of all those tangible things which underpin the value of money? At 10:28 1st May 2009, shireblogger wrote: All credit to John McFall in opening this up. I am a little confused on the terms of reference and the committee's future intentions. At para 84 they say " However this was a failure not only within individual banks but also the supervisory system designed to protect the public from systemic risk." At para 17 the say " Governments politicians regulators and central banks in the UK and around the world share a responsibility for sustaining the illusion that banking growth and profitability would continue for the forseeable future." This report goes very lightly on these polically charged aspects of the role of the Tripartite Committee in the UK even though it asks itself why we have got to where we are. There is apparently an intention to look at international "architecture" in a future report. I hope this doesnt provide a means for the role of the UK government, its regulators and central bankers in the lead up to this crisis to be 'lost' in a wider remit. Afterall, an election is coming up. This is why we need a public inquiry. The other important point this report seeks to address is whether lending supply ( as opposed to demand)is throttling recovery. In other words, there remains a huge impairment to recovery which requires the highest priority. The credit market still aint fixed!! At 10:32 1st May 2009, newthink wrote: #22 Alexbabic The reason that there is no acountability is because the banks and the Government are so tightly linked that if the Government tried to place any proportionate blame onto the bankers the resulting fallout would be huge. What company would dream of pumping in so much money into a failing enterprise yet not DEMAND that they take control of running it. It looks like the Government has pumped the money in, left the banks to sort themselves out and handle a degree of critism in return for not rocking the boat. As for the FSA, they are staffed by ex-bankers or aspiring bankers and would have been so heavily critisised by their peers or even sanctioned for questioning the position of any financial institution that I understand why they did not raise any concerns. The regulators need to be independent of the financial institutions and the Government. Does anyone truely believe this to be the case? At 10:34 1st May 2009, Andrew Hall wrote: The idea that ordinary retail depositors are in a position to judge the relative risk posed by different banks is ludicrous. What planet have they been on for the past 2 years? At 10:34 1st May 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: Treasury Select Committee's report is a COVER-UP of the most nauseating kind. The mechanisms of the state drove the banking crisis. The state encourage the crisis to happen. The education of economists and so called 'quants' directly drove the crisis onwards and upwards. (Mechanisms of the State = Bank of England, its governors, the whole MPC, the FSA and most fundamentally the Treasury and its present and former permanent secretary. Oh and the poor simple ignorant politicians, and us who voted for them! Nobody wanted to know for the last decade that the boom was noting but an illusion - they were told by many people and these people were excluded and crushed by the state and media system. The Treasury Select Committee's report is just a continuation of these half-truths!.) Lest I am criticised for being entirely negative I must add that the way forward is to return to sound and valuable money once again. Zero interest rates = money that is worth nothing. So interest rates must go up to reasonable levels (the 4 to 6 percent range) NOW and until they do there can be no soundly based recovery. The transition between the present stupidity will, and indeed must, be nasty - and deconstruct the mega banks! At 10:36 1st May 2009, naffertonian wrote: if banks are lending at over 10% why can I only get around 2.5% interest? seems to me the banks are getting worse At 10:39 1st May 2009, east-beast wrote: So, Building Societies have come out of this financial goo whiter than white? Last September a well known society offered to lend my wife and I nearly five (yes 5!) times our joint income on a mortgage - needless to say we declined their kind offer. I also know of a more recent case where the same society have offered a self certifying mortgage with no checks whatsoever. So maybe not so much a case of better managed and a case of better luck than the banks! Also, "the committee is not persuaded that the rescued banks have yet done enough to reverse the squeeze on lending to small businesses, in spite of their promise to do so" Our 'small business' has been trying to secure funding for a massive export program from some of the rescued banks under the various initiatives brought in by Flash but to no avail. Result? We could all be out of work in the next two months. The word on the banking street is that the rescued banks are using the initiatives to re-finance their business loans books in order to lose only 25% of the loan and not 100%. Very honest of them! At 10:41 1st May 2009, U13794890 wrote: We can always rely on the British Bankers Association (BBA) to be economic with the truth even in good times! How much of their new lending is actually re-newing old agreements with very new and extemely high are-arrangement fees! They can hark on all they like the fact is they have screwed up and are in absolute denial which has, as yet not, been definitively mentioned. All these 'stewards enquiries' are allowing banks to continue to rip off every customer and an emergency bill shoudl bee presented to parliament allowing it overriding to ensure banks are no longer allowed to opeorate in this vein with eth penan;ly that failure to gte their house in order will result in their license to operate being removed. By the way why does it still take 5 working days for a cheque to clear and 3 working days for a BACS payment to clear. Do their spokespeople have no feelings of guilt when they deliver all this drivel time and again. If a bank wants to speculate then use its own capital not depositers how difficult is that to understand and put into operation. Lets wake up please and see soem action before teh good work of the Treasury Select Committee is lost through the concerted vacillation and delay tactics of the banks. Lets just get on thing straigh British Clearing Banks are only interested in their own bottom line and depositers are aggravating nuisances. All the rheroic suggesting otherwise is absoluite baloney and pure tripe. At 10:41 1st May 2009, allmyfault wrote: It is clear that the market now thinks RBS in particular are well-protected, generously funded, and making filthy profits again. Their share price has now bounced 400% since the start of the year. Without the bail-out they were a basket-case, and they should still be lanquishing at about 20p a share. The government should be leaning heavily on all these banks re. loan-rates and treatment of customers. The days of fat-cat bankers are still with us; don't be surprised if they come looking for big bonuses at the end of 2009 as a reward for a 'fabulous' bounce-back .......... We are just being ripped off again, this time with overt collusion by the Government's lackeys in UKFI, Treasury, etc. etc. We all know who is going to be paying the bill for all this incompetent greed....our children and grandchildren. Without taxpayer support they would ALL have gone under. And yet they are STILL paying themselves huge bonuses. How many millions do they want? How much money do they need? They are now taking the food out of the mouths of our kids and grand-kids. Come on, hopeless government.....do something. "Wealth creators"....I don't buy that. What about the guys on the rigs, risking their lives to bring us millions of tons of oil and gas every year. Or the guys who grow and supply our food. Or the guys who build and maintain our power stations and grid. Surgeons, who save our lives. Or these 9 to 5 characters in Canary Wharf? Who are the real "wealth creators". They are "taking" our money, and our kids money. City bank staff.....parasites. At 10:58 1st May 2009, _gemba wrote: 26. At 09:21am on 01 May 2009, sandtreader wrote: .......We need the equivalent of a new Glass-Steagall act (the repeal of which was surely the prime cause of all this mess) so that if investment banks ever do such stupid things again (which they surely will, for greed destroys intelligence) they can be "allowed to fail" without destroying the savings of ordinary folk who were looking for safety. Absolutely agree about need for regulation and properly thought through preventative measures to de-risk banking activities. It's like the Tesco advert -- "Real Baskets at the Banking Regulators" -- resulting in basket case banks... At 11:15 1st May 2009, Chris I wrote: We need more from you on this, Robert. We are beginning to get to the central questions of who should own our money system, and how easy are we going to continue to make it for one small section of society (the bankers, the hedgies, the fund managers, and essentially those who play with other people's money) to rip off the vast majority of the people in the UK. You express some scepticism about ordinary people being able to make a judgement about where they put their money, and quite rightly so. However given this is indeed one of the guiding principles of the free market, we should try to pursue it as far as is possible. We can make progress in this direction....towards enabling ordinary people to know more about how safe their money/investments/savings are etc in two ways: - indeed by enacting laws to split ordinary banking from so called investment banking as Meryvn and Vince sensibly suggest (.... please tell me.... is there really any reason at all for keeping them together other than that this will enable the investment banks to use ordinary people's capital for betting purposes without the need to pay the people the proper risk adjusted return - so they can keep this 'rent' for themselves????) - we need to follow the main principle that leads to efficiency in absolutely any product/market - the principle of transparency - and demand from financial companies, on a breathtaking scale that is presently beyond the imagination of most people in the City, absolutely huge levels of disclosure. Brown and Darling are, much the same as most people in the City (...ah, there's a coincidence...), just running scared, because they know they want to keep as big a financial industry in London as they possibly can, but they have no clue how to do it. They have always and still do equate a successful financial services industry with 'no questions asked', huge opacity, dodgy dealings, subterfuge, inside information etc.... and basically an overwhelming lack of transparency. We must change all this, and we must build from the bottom up an open system. Meaning we need: - a simplification of company/regulatory structures to give ordinary people a better chance of identifying what out there is debt and what is equity (stopping using the term banks for 'investment banks' would be a good start... they are nothing of the sort when their gearing is 40/50 times.....). - forcing absolutely every company/person etc who wishes to operate on a limited liability basis and deal in monetary instruments of any sort, to open their books, so we can all see what's what (meaning of course that those who don't want to disclose are free to operate on an unlimited liability basis.....). What have the vast majority of the people in the UK to lose in forcing the money lenders to disclose all this information? At 11:15 1st May 2009, LordGreenShoots wrote: Don't worry everyone! The markets are surging ahead in response to Alastair's budget. Recovery is on the way. What price a mini house price boom just in time for the next election? Don't split the banks. If that happens the investment banks won't be able to get their hands on ordinary depositors money to keep gambling with and generating bonuses - then where would we be! At 11:15 1st May 2009, Justin150 wrote: I have doubts that a UK version of Glass Steagel would work. In US Investment banks are turning themselves into general banks to get access to a deposit base because the wholsesale money market will not provide the necessary cash. I remain unconvinced that more regulation is needed - effective regulation is certainly needed. Both in UK and USA a bubble was allowed to go unchecked and banks bet huge proportions of their balance sheet on relatively few risks (basically US mortgage market). The regulators seemed to have failed to understand that and stop it. What is needed is a real understanding of why did the regulators not spot the problem and if they did, why were they unable to stop it. Part of the problem is almost certainly the global nature of the big banks which makes it difficult for UK regulators to understand what is happening in a banks US office. 11: On UBS. I am sure the USA courts will require evidence the Swiss law prevents Swiss banks from revealing the information. Assuming Swiss law does (pretty likely) then no point blaming UBS, it is the Swiss govt who need to change the law. For USA court to ignore Swiss law and apply US law would be plain wrong - both under international law and probably contrary to the right in American constitution not to incriminate yourself. It would be the equivalent of a US court convicted an American of speeding because the drove a car at 70 mph down the motorway - when the motorway was the M1 in the UK and American was on holiday and driving entirely in accordance with UK law. At 11:21 1st May 2009, MadTom wrote: @stevewo The wealth creators are the ones with the money according to current cpitalist rules. Thats why farmers who produce wealth are so rich and not going out of business faster than pubs. If you invent something wealth creating then you will have to go to the current wealth owners to allow it to make wealth - for them. I've worked in IT and chip design for many years - a transistor now costs a billionth of what it did 30 years ago - you get to benefit by having som many more rubbish tv channels to watch. Wealth creates wealth - works for the mafia. Oh, and just one more thing.... For those on this blog who are absolutely fed up with people blaming the bankers when it should be the regulators that are held to account, and additionally maybe those people blaming the regulators when it is the bankers that should be held to account..... I'm fed up with this argument too! Has it not occurred to you that..... they are one and the same! The bankers have, to their own huge enrichment, indeed captured the regulating system..... At 11:23 1st May 2009, Spiny Norman wrote: #20. eatingantonyo “makes sense. I'm going to put my cash in a building society.” I already have. #16. IfAtFirst “Is that USB 2.0?” Don’t be silly – it stands for Unrepentant Swindlers’ Bunker. I was trying to point out building societies do not fund business risk. Bank fell into a black hole buying and selling doggy sub prime mortgage packages from each other, not lending to business which think is still profitable. Expansion ideas dreamt up not by traditional good old fashioned bankers with business acumen, but by greedy people with degrees and titles. And who is to blame for banks changing from respected profitable lending institutions into a financial car crash ... Gordon Brown and the FSA for being blind, deaf, daft and utterly ineffectual. At 11:26 1st May 2009, CycleMike wrote: #7: "This report is spot-on. Joe Bloggs the plumber and his kids CANNOT be the guarantor of about a third of the worlds' financial deals." Expecting any restraints or ultimate culpability to be accepted by the banks is like expecting God to promote Atheism. Against God, who can argue? Well yes and look what happened that time. ;-). At 11:29 1st May 2009, callmesimpleton wrote: Personally I don't see the point of separating the retail from the investment banking as seen what happened recently in America, the first sign of trouble with an Investment Bank (Merill Lynch) a Retail Bank (BoA) came in and took them over under the advice of the Fed. I believe the problem may be to do with a single multiplier that the regulators, the credit agencies and the banks use to evaluate the health of the bank. What we need is to introduce a number of multipliers so that we don't use the same multiplier for investment and retail banking eg if we have a multiplier of 9 times for retail banking and 3 times for investment banking. Then there will be less incentive for the banks to take the extra risk with our money unless the return in investment banking is more than 3 times the return in retail banking and more to the point the bonuses will not be so easy to come by. I am sure any qualified artuarist will be able to work out the appropriate multiplers for different type of investments/instruments. I wonder how long will it take for the Mandarines to come to the same conclusion. At 11:31 1st May 2009, bbabrian wrote: British Bankers' Association here. Just to clarify: the increase in bank lending we announced today (a five per cent rise in the past year) is new lending to businesses and it doesn't include any fees or charges: it is money for the businesses that goes straight to the businesses. Go to the website www.bba.org.uk - all the stats are there. #66. Noideaatall “The bankers have, to their own huge enrichment, indeed captured the regulating system” Well said, but quis custodet ipsos custodes? At 11:33 1st May 2009, Roly wrote: By keeping interest rates consistently, under pretext of low (narrowly measured) inflation, Governments have squeezed savings away from deposit based lending to higher risk securities based lending during the boom and Government leveraged lending now. The signal to businesses, markets and individuals is clear: money has no worth to the Government, so spend it as soon as you get it and don't worry about the future, the Government will bail you out. No wonder the stock market, given current economic fundamentals, is already looking frothy. Since Bretton-Woods and the split from Gold pegging, it is morally incumbent on Governments to maintain intrinsic value in the fiat currency, especially the Dollar. If they do not do that then we will continually see asset bubbles develop and burst as money, cheap as water, washes around looking for a safe harbour. Brown followed Greenspan into this mess as surely as Blair followed Bush into Iraq. Good, safe banks and building societies now are struggling to make their business models work as cash deposits flee 0% interest rate accounts. At 11:38 1st May 2009, donkeyarms wrote: "A return to so called 'Victorian values' banking is good..." This reminds me of another catchy soundbite about 'old fashioned values' which is always wheeled out when governments have difficult decisions which they don't really want to face... I think the last instance of this kind of rhetoric was the terrible behaviour of ASBO kids/hoodies/knife crimes et al. Most of these kids have no religion and no moral structure to work from To reintroduce this is an impossible for a government to even begin... Same goes for banking. As a few of the bloggers on here have pointed out, the government is playing for time, hoping something will turn up but knowing, in all likelihood, that more and more devastating news will pile up. All they can do is tinker and bluster and hark back to 'good old fashioned/Victorian Values' The monumental task of tearing down capitalism, starting from scratch and building something new is very difficult to imagine. But thats what we must do... use our imaginations, our conscience and our voices to think of a new global structure to replace it. Perhaps we need a Messiah of some sort... I always thought Lennon might have found a way if he hadn't been eliminated... Anyway - GB and his cronies won't do it, nor will The Con-Servatives Let's give it until 22/12/12 and see who (or what) turns up! Just to correct the bizarre typography on this site: #20. eatingantonyo "makes sense. I'm going to put my cash in a building society." #16. IfAtFirst "Is that USB 2.0?" Don't be silly - it stands for Unrepentant Swindlers' Bunker. When a gambling addict runs out of luck he will pester ANYONE for more cash. He will tell ANY STORY to get his hands on the means to continue gambling. He will promise anybody anything! This is the situation with the banks at the moment. Their gambling (investment) arms are in denial. For them, bonuses MUST be generated somehow. Glass-Steagal would prevent them getting hold of one of the few sources of cash now available to squander: ordinary deposit accounts. The bailing-out of the western banks with no regulatory reform is very dangerous for everyone. If there is no reform, then they will carry-on as before only much worse, because now they know for certain that they are 'too big to fail' and that their losses will ALWAYS be made-good by taxpayers. Only more Lehmann style collapses can prevent them from killing again. Remember 'the dog always returns to its own vomit' unless physically prevented from doing so. At 11:45 1st May 2009, excellentcatblogger wrote: Enough about the banks. As long as they are not allowed to do something excessively stupid like take investment advice from Goldman sachs or anyother intrepid investment bank the sector is stable. These post-mortems are mere headline grabbing tactics to soothe politico egos whilst pointing a finger of blame elsewhere. Not me Guv, honest! The real story is this: https://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article6204108.ece Bust Businesses up 56 pct amid record bankruptcies from the Times. Inaction to slow down this bankruptcy rate, will in the long term actually affect the health of banks all over again! Politicians and business leaders (and the Fourth estate come to that) have taken their eye off the ball. At a time like this the trading 30 day credit rule should be enforced more than ever. Your blogs have correctly identified a culture of greed in the City, but in the commercial sector greed also exists where big companies treat small creditors in a cavalier fashion. If small firms are going to the wall due to this kind of vandalism, inaction from the Business Secretary is disgraceful. Late last year the government 9to their credit) instructed local authorities to pay suppliers in a timely fashion. However, they ought to have gone further, to ensure that suppliers sub-contractors were also paid promptly. Has the government stopped this scheme now? There is no need for legislation, government can "lean on" individual companies all in the letter of the law, an official visit by an HMRC officer or industry regulator can have the effect of making grown men cry.. But please can we have some relevant blogs!!! At 11:47 1st May 2009, willhay99 wrote: So the auditors get off Scot free? KPMG who audited the HBOS books must be breathing a sigh of relief today! At 11:48 1st May 2009, poet666 wrote: Robert, please will you stop this language of "Mess" and "Errors". There were none. We were fleeced in a methodical and calculated way. Its that kind of language which will allow them to do it all over again, either in a few months time as some predict with a larger Derivatives collapse, or in 10-15 years. Hedge-Fund managers taking home $4 Billion in bonuses is no mistake. And you are doing us no favours calling it such. We need people to realise that globalisation for the majority of people means permanently lower living standards and wages. For all of us. And we need journalists that both understand that and are brave enough to say it. At 11:56 1st May 2009, ThorntonHeathen wrote: 6. At 08:43am on 01 May 2009, mullecon wrote: "Break up our banks and there won't be a British bank left - they'll all be small enough for dicey big foreign banks to take over." You forgot one - a mutual bank like the Coop can't be taken over. And if HMG (i.e. we the taxpayers) are still majority owners of a bank I fail to see how that could be taken over either. As for the rest, good riddance to bad rubbish. Oh and lets reduce the Deposit Guarantee Scheme to a level appropriate to the third world country we will soon become, how about GBP 10,000 ? Still feel there is a serious worldwide lack of grasping the nettle in this situation. Over the last ten years we have earned/borrowed/spent the next ten years money. So we have to survive for ten years without any money. (Overly simplistic but you know what I mean). However most commentators continue to discuss freeing up credit as if the credit that was there for the last ten years was real when, in actual fact, it has been accepted that it was created by all sorts of artificial financial instruments and poor lending strategies and decisions. So either we 'grasp the nettle' and someone says that we have to go through some serious pain to readjust (and this is worldwide not just in UK) OR someone has to say that the practices that have gone on in the last ten years were shocking but in actual fact we're going to let them continue otherwise the world is going to go through some serious pain and we'd rather delay this as long as possible. The curent position of the governements stopping the banks bad lending but replacing it with government money is unsustainable IMO because the problem of the last ten years credit being wrong and an adjustment being necessary is not going to go away. At 12:05 1st May 2009, talkinghorse wrote: ~72 no-one or possibly its all done by cleverly placing mirrorsand a bit of smoke) At 12:11 1st May 2009, EdgarHoover wrote: When you say "and you'd walk quite a distance, across continents, before you would find many who'd disagree with that verdict", is that because you know where Fred is hiding? At 12:12 1st May 2009, Thom wrote: I think a few people need to check their premises on this website before casting any stone against bankers, especially Peston. Lets deal with the most important one - that the banking/credit crisis occurred in a free market environment; this is what wikipedia has to say on the subject: "A free market is a market that is free of government intervention and regulation, besides the minimal function of maintaining the legal system and protecting property rights, and is also free of private force and fraud. In a free market, property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged solely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers." At no point then can this system be considered a "free market" - at best it can be considered "corporatist capitalism" or "corporatism", which is why ours and many western governments were so willing to pour billions into them despite this already being borrowed from our children and grandchildren. Second, lets deal with the calls for more regulation, particularly in giving the FSA more powers; why on earth do you think that a group that has had billions in public money so far and yet was unable to prevent such a collapse or see the debt bubble build up? Why did Gordon Brown as Chancellor give the Bank of England, a private enterprise, powers to set interest rates at their lowest in decades which led to the inflation of the debt bubble to record levels? Why do people think that the failure here is not due more to fractional reserve banking (a system which allows you to claim you have 10 times the amount of money you actually have by virtue of the fact that you are a bank?)?, or to the monopolised concept of currency?, or a move away from the gold standard which has seen inflation in our currency leading to its overall value (not to mention Brown's sale of half our gold reserves for worthless Euro paper prior to the price of Gold going up astronomically - the Brown bottom?) The truth is that the only failure here is in the corruption of our markets caused by third parties (the state) which has enabled it, by no other virtue than being voted by others, to loot the wealth of a compliant traders; we could have gone down the root that would remedy the entire system by letting these banks go downhill, their resources being absorbed by better banks and best practice achieved; instead Brown and his cronies, grown fat on the good years with over 25% of the UK workforce now in the public sector and a further 10%+ in the financial sector now reliant on these businesses not going under for fear of massive shortfalls in tax receipts we find them sacrificing the productive class of today and our future, yet again, to the mouchers. Peston, you should (re)read Atlas Shrugged; the parallels are quite shocking - precisely which one is fiction? At 12:17 1st May 2009, starry-tigger wrote: * 28 Guycroft The best portrait of these times I've read. Disgusting times we are witnessing indeed! Was it really inevitable that so much hard work by ordinary people had to end up in this astronomically "expensive illusion"? I am not in the least deceived by a single person who says that it was unavoidable. If we were talking about food being contaminated with poison, we would be prosecuting those responsible. Wasn't it Leonardo da Vinci's maths teacher, Luca Pacioli, the father of accounting, who said, "a person should not go to sleep at night until the debits equalled the credits"? It takes some pretty sharp practices to create such an illusion of wealth as we have seen in the last decade. Surely it doesn't happen without the dedication of an army of zombies and their masters! At 12:22 1st May 2009, steadda wrote: So, another great 80's policy from the Tories (i.e. demutualisation and deregulation) bites the dust. Has Cameron come out yet and said he ditches the earlier policy and intends to do the right thing now? That's what he normally does to try and convince today's voters that Tories are the real face of social justice. I'm not saying Gordon Brown has the answers, but let's not forget that the previous Tory Government laid a lot of the foundations for today's problems, and Tony Blair was complicit in taking them forward. We've been told for years that fat cats were a necessary part of capitalism. Every time the unions and the left brought the subject up we were told that the highest wages had to be paid for the highest talent. What tripe! The public are bailing out banks with our taxes, and then the banks give us the double-wammy with sky-high interest on their loans and penal fees/charges for going into the red. Win-win for the culprits, lose-lose for the rest of us. At 12:23 1st May 2009, warwick wrote: At 12:25 1st May 2009, philipmaton wrote: Wasn't Northern Rock a Building Society that overstretched itself, trying to compete against the banks? Building Societies are good in their business models, but they will always fall short of the banks in terms of the figures they offer. At 12:28 1st May 2009, daftoldbeggar wrote: Why not use this new-found financial muscle (i've never owned any banks before!)to make life a mite easier for the state(us).By allowing folk to pay income tax in advance,at a reasonable interest rate,instead of depositing cash in retail banks,we can avoid the average punter needing a degree in economics to evaluate the security of his bank. Our hard pressed leader might be a bit grateful not to have to borrow from the pension funds(us again).And the banks might have to actually earn their pittance by offering a better deal,to compete. At 12:32 1st May 2009, redrobb wrote: Well that's that then a stern rap across the knuckles (aka 100 pages) for being such bad people and bringing about the worse collapse that rampant capitalisim has ever experienced. This government needs a better bounce than this forest wasting exercise, lets have some show trials with real prison sentences at the worst places HM govt can offer. Have you seen how those at the very top are still awarding themselves huge salaries, bonus and pension rights! UK population have MUG written right across our foreheads! Perhaps we should really turn the clock back 1500 years, and get some honesty and truth! At 12:37 1st May 2009, cmanwaring wrote: Should the banks be split into the deposit taking /lending utility types and the investment banking types? The answer is yes; let the city gamble money away if they wish to, but not the depositor money from the ordinary chap on the street- let them get it from rich investors like the hedge funds do. We do of course need to work out rules for safely liquidating lehman style banks which fail, shouldn't be too difficult with all the talent we apparently have in the banking world. The high street depositor banks should concentrate on what they used to do, pay interest to depositors, lend at interest to reputable borrowers and make a reasonable profit in return .Any investment portfolio should be in safe instruments such as gilts, gold, Swiss francs etc and not CDOs, CDSs and any other of the dodgy derivatives which have been made up by the cowboy capitalists. The Lloyd's takeover of HBOS was a joke and should have been vetoed;HBOS should have been liquidated in an orderly fashion. We now have a zombie bank, the toxic balance sheet of which the taxpayer is retrospectively underwriting - what insurer would agree in their right mind to provide policy coverage after the house has already burned down ? The answer is none at all. Also did no-one think twice about the competition consequences come the upturn? Another fine example of the legacy of Brown's Britain and the heads I win, tails I win outcome of this crisis for the bankers. Finally, cant see that RP has advocated this before, but what does he think about a return to old fashioned partnership banks? They would act as a credible break on the boy racer types of the financial world. There would be less dodgy mortgage lending, no walk away golden bonus to the trader who piled into too many risky derivatives and no cop out excuses for the managements who failed to understand what their staff where up to. At 12:41 1st May 2009, giantirishrover wrote: The problem today 12 months after the real mess became apparaent is that the the banks are now making a bigger mess by their attidude, they current incumbernts of these banks have only one thought in their mind is to at the expense of the british public the taxpayer repair their balance sheets get massive bonuses which they will in 3 years get their knighthoods and retire with a big pension, but the thing is why shouldnt they, they are getting away with it, time for the british public to revolt agaginst their actions take the rbs in a dire mess they have lent the liverpool owners £350m this could be repaid tomorrow if the rbs the owners, take then a small retailer who needs £250k to keep going employing 5 of a staff what do the bank do? they stop their credit, now these two cases are only an example of how badly the banks are being run its all for self motivation, but as i said good luck to the guys who are running the banks they are getting away with this behaviour goodwin is making a laughing stock out of the british public he keeps his £700k a year and his knighthood, why would the current people do anything different? At 12:45 1st May 2009, ninad182 wrote: Interesting Point of view of view towards the bankers Robert, but who is to really to blame for all of this in the near future is it the bankers for their risky management practices or the FSA for not regulating them effectively and monitoring them. so another question that's arises is that with being government money will this have an impact on the credit value, will the regulators stop the bad lending practices in the future. Having focused mainly on what went wrong in my previous comments (you can still find them by clicking on my user-id above) let me make some constructive suggestions: 1. If the US and the EU exercises serious pressure on tax havens and offshore banking, some if not all of the concerned governments, as well as the overseas territories of EU countries (for example the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory), will have to enforce stricter regulation and then will have to raise taxes to ensure their own survival. This does require 'only' a determined and collaborative action by the US and the EU. An estimated 11.5 trillion US dollars are stashed away in tax havens and in offshore accounts. 2. Such regulatory pressure by the US and the EU will in itself lead to many individuals and financial sector companies re-patriating their wealth from these tax havens and offhsore accounts. This would lead to some trillions of dollars seeking for legitimate investment opportunities in their home countries. 3. One could even imagine an amnesty period, for the purpose of re-patriating or legalising of hidden wealth from tax havens and offshore accounts, under the condition that such hidden wealth is made visible to the tax authority where tax avoiders and tax fraudsters are resident. Let's imagine a 40 per cent tax on these hidden fortunes to 'legalise' them again. If only about half of the estimated 11.5 trillion US dollars are made 'legal' by the relevant tax authorities again (let's say some 6 trillion US dollars), that would lead to a welcome additional 2.4 trillion US dollars income for governments of developed economies. This is not an impossible scenario, it just requires a political determination by maybe 10 Heads of Government (from the US and the EU). The general population of their countries would certainly applaud such action and the politicians would get re-elected. It's a win-win scenario, even for most of the fat-cats who will not end up on benefits or in jail and therefore avoids costing the tax payer even more money. At 12:48 1st May 2009, itsbetterupnorth wrote: Yes the bankers have made a mess but this has brought about a once in a lifetime opportunity to make money on the stock market Barclay's shares are up 500% from the low point in February all other bank shares have been drastically over sold. The lessons are you must look after yourself and not rely on so called experts and especially the over excitable media. #29 - the credit ratings agencies cannot be trusted! They are a part of this mess and are trying, now, to make themselves look the hero by making everyone else look bad. They've even now downgraded Building Societies (which, by the way, are returning to traditional models of funding mortgage lending via saver's deposits - which make credit ratings agencies obsolete in this respect). All they seem to do is make the customer worried. This raises fundamental questions about the relationship between the commercial banks and the Bank of England. Before 1997 Britain had a system in which the Bank of England had an understood responsibility to act as lender of last resort to the banks and to help them if they had difficulty funding their assets. That system was a success, which was copied around the world. Unfortunately, it was undermined by Gordon Browns so-called reforms at the start of his Chancellorship, leading to the worst financial crisis in this country since the South Sea Bubble. The Bank of England should be privately owned - as it was for more than two and a half centuries prior to 1946. Its capital should be provided by the commercial banks and it should have regulatory power over these banks in addition to providing a lender of last resort facility. These supervisory and lender-of-last-resort functions are inseparable. If we do not seize this opportunity to establish a sound and viable structure for British banking, we face the very real risk that we will lose a major proportion of our financial services industry to markets regulated by the European Central Bank or the Federal Reserve. T. Congdon At 12:59 1st May 2009, Total_Injustice wrote: Pot Calling - Kettle Here. Who are the Government to point fingers? It was worse than a complete lack of leadership, their policies actively encouraged it. Post #2 says it all for me. At 13:29 1st May 2009, nottoonear wrote: Is it not possible for banks to have an insurance policy against going bust; rather than tax-payer Joe Bloggs bailing them out. Every employee would have to pay the same percentage of the premium as their salary percentage of total payroll. This way each employee would pay according to the responsibility they have (and amount of pay they receive)and might stop the ludicrous amounts that some walk away with having brought the company to its knees. Bonuses subject to the same rules. Too simplistic? Comment number 100. At 13:32 1st May 2009, Ernie wrote: Spot on, this was eminently predicatble. Anyone under the age of 30 that looked at the property market could tell how ludicrous that was getting and many people just sat aside to watch as it came to an inevitable crash. Add to that the proliferation of self-certified (or sub-prime in the US) mortgages by the billion and you have a recipe for disaster. This whole situation was both predictable and predicted by a lot of people. It seems that only those that were actually participating in the reaping of unsustainable rewards couldn't see it coming. Complain about this comment (Comment number 100) This entry is now closed for comments Jump to more content from this blog I'm Robert Peston, the BBC's business editor. This blog is my take on the business stories and issues that matter. For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage. @peston You can now follow me on Twitter How scary would be a cartoon version of me explaining how banks work? Click here to find out (and also to see other short films I've made on the nature of money and why some people are paid so much more than you). Elsewhere at the BBC The Entrepreneur's Wound: The traumatic childhoods of successful business people John Gieve Jim Chanos John Varley Adair Turner The New Capitalism Download a PDF [37Kb] with my thoughts on how the global crisis occurred and what the re-made economy will look like. Or watch in video TV/Radio reports Aircraft carriers cost rises by at least £1bn Broadcast: 28 April 2011 Still 'a lot of very public grief' over BP Risky UK banks 'should be allowed to fail', says ICB Banks 'should ring fence retail arms' Bank review 'to call for internal firewalls' Broadcast: 9 April 2011 Latest from BBC News blogs Nick Robinson: "Britain is standing by to give more money to the IMF so that it can, in turn, lend more money..." Douglas Fraser: "With a mighty thud, the Ledger has been slammed shut. Thanks for reading it. But it's not finished - far..." Brian Taylor: "Thank you for reading my blog. It has now moved to a new home, with a fresh format. Visit my..." Betsan Powys: "It was an inspired conversation. What shall we call a blog written by someone called Betsan? How about ... Betsan's..." Richard Black: "Thanks for having read my blog over the last few years. As of today, it is moving to a new..." Jonathan Amos: "Things are changing. The BBC's Spaceman has been assigned a new ship for his thoughts. So, as of today, this..." Our blog about issues in News Our blog about issues in Sport Our blog about photos and News Our freedom-of-information blog BBC Internet Blog Radio 4 Blog and 5 Live Blog Magazine Monitor and See Also Subscribe to Peston's Picks You can stay up to date with Peston's Picks via these feeds. Peston's Picks Feed(RSS) Peston's Picks Feed(ATOM) If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. More from this blog... Topical posts on this blog Being Discussed Now Will Thiam survive at Pru?(50) BP's financial pain is America's pain(407) Government cuts private pensions(137) Peston Picks is moving(46) HSBC banks on UK(61) What price a Greek haircut?(91) The big PPI lesson for banks(85) RBS opposes internal firewalls(97) Lloyds to settle PPI claims(136) Lloyds: back in the red?(27) Past twelve months These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. budget2007 davos08 Latest contributors Full A-Z of BBC sites BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1931
__label__wiki	0.915086	0.915086	Devon selected Exit playerClose player Close player BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 18 June 18 Jun 201918 Jun 2019 Listen live to BBC Radio Cornwall and BBC Radio Devon I'll sign in later And we'll keep you signed in. Why sign in to the BBC? Got a TV Licence? You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law. I have a TV Licence. Watch now. I don’t have a TV Licence. Updates from Tuesday 18 June 2019 Elderly man's body found after Redruth house fire Council encourages residents to complete 10 green pledges Zoo staff battle around the clock to save sick orangutan Kitten rescued from middle of carriageway Cornish parish councils in top five for council tax hikes All times stated are UK Send an email to plymouthnewsonline@bbc.co.uk Twitter: Tweet us Posted at 13:30 28 Jun13:30 28 Jun National League news - June 2019 Follow the latest news stories from the National League, including transfers and selected contract announcements. Article share tools ShareView more share options Posted at 0:11 19 Jun0:11 19 Jun Why are Nike trainers washing up on beaches? Hamish Mackay From Bermuda and the Azores to Ireland and France, large numbers of shoes are washing ashore. Man denies attempt to kill elderly lover Benjamin Field admits targeting Ann Moore-Martin, 83, but denies attempting to murder her. Chaos for passengers on strike day one Commuters and Royal Ascot racegoers are hit as South Western Railway staff start a five-day walkout. Campaign to save public toilets at popular Devon beach Ed Oldfield Local Democracy Reporting Service Nearly 1,300 people have backed a campaign to keep toilets open at a popular Devon beach. A new pay-to-use block is being installed at Goodrington in Paignton, between two stretches of beach which run north and south. However, a petition to Torbay Council is calling for the current public toilets at the far end of the south beach to stay open. It is understood after the new five-cubicle building becomes fully operational, the existing toilet block on the south beach will be included in the redevelopment of a cafe. LDRSCopyright: LDRS The petition said public toilets facilities were "not sufficient and capacity must be increased" because "the very young or very old may have difficulty getting to a distant toilet in time". It claimed there is not enough capacity at the new central block to cover the south beach as well, with up to 6,000 visitors a day in the peak holiday season. The petition is to be presented to a meeting of the full council on 19 June. A council spokesperson said an update would be provided at the meeting. The new block is part of a £1m investment by the council in toilets across Torbay following a decision in 2017 to hand over management of the service to private contractor Healthmatic. Concerns over Exeter Prison drug use and violence BBC Radio Devon There are concerns over the levels of drug-use, violence and the number of deaths at Exeter Prison. The latest report by the Independent Monitoring Board said an increase in violent incidents and assaults had been driven by illicit drugs entering the prison. Incidents of self-harm, while remaining high, showed a reduction, but there were still four deaths in custody in 2018, it added. The board said the prison had reviewed its procedures and made appropriate changes. Overall, the board said it had been a very challenging year for HMP Exeter, but it had been impressed by the professional way in which staff responded to recent damning inspections. BBCCopyright: BBC Swim clubs may be forced to close due to pool fee increase Richard Whitehouse Cornish swimming clubs say they could be forced to close after revealing they are facing an almost 80% increase in pool hire costs. A number of swimming clubs across the county have been contacting Cornwall councilllors for help after finding that the cost of hiring lanes in council-owned pools is set to rocket over the next two years. GLL, the charity which runs Cornwall’s leisure centres under a contract with Cornwall Council, said it was increasing charges to keep them in line with “market prices”. GLL is planning the first price hike in September when a lane will cost £13.50 an hour with plans to go to £16.50 in 2020 and £18.50 in 2021. Swimming clubs say the plans to increase lane hire costs could put them out of business. Concerns about the price hike were raised at an all-member briefing at Cornwall Council on Friday when councillors were able to quiz GLL bosses, who said prices were going up and would be “more than the market position” when they increase in September. GoogleCopyright: Google Tim Webb, head of facilities in Cornwall for GLL, said: “We are currently subsidising the contract quite heavily as an organisation” He added: “It is not in our interests to put swimming clubs out of business. We have tried to support them but we need to get it closer to the going rate to what clubs pay across the country.” However, councillors highlighted that for some areas in Cornwall the GLL pool is the only option they have. Amanda Pennington, who is involved in North Cornwall Dragons who use the Dragon Centre in Bodmin (pictured) and has a daughter who swims competitively, said: "They (GLL) are from London and don’t understand if they put the prices up so much clubs will not be able to afford it. "There is nowhere else we can go, we are constrained by our geography in Cornwall. It is not London or Hampshire where you can just go to a different leisure centre." Weather: Showers and rain pushing in before drier spells BBC Weather Further spells of showery rain will push in through the course of Tuesday night, some spells could be on the heavy side. A few mist patches may develop too. Minimum temperature: 9 to 12C (48 to 54F). A rather dull start to Wednesday with areas of rain and mostly cloudy skies. However, an improving picture into the afternoon as it turns drier and brighter. Maximum temperature: 15 to 18C (59 to 64F). Police teed off with flung golf balls Andrew Segal BBC South West Police are warning against throwing golf balls after reports that such missiles had been flung in a road on the outskirts of Truro. Officers said they had had several reports "over the past few months" of the projectiles being thrown at people and homes Pendrea Wood in Highertown, with the balls appearing "to be coming from the direction of Malabar House or its surrounding areas". Police said: "As it can be appreciated, golf balls are very hard and heavy and if someone was struck by one, then this could result in life changing or even life threatening injuries." They have appealed for witnesses. Sailor mum's surprise parade visit Video caption: Junior sailor's friends rally round for mum visitJunior sailor's friends rally round for mum visit Mental health detainee driven from North Devon to Torquay The location of safe places for people suffering a mental health crisis in Devon has been questioned after police had to drive a detainee from North Devon to Torquay. The officers used up most of a shift on the 150-mile round trip to find an assessment place for the person who had been held under the Mental Health Act. The incident was raised by Torridge Independent councillor Philip Hackett at a meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel. He said the problem had arisen after the closure of a designated place of safety in North Devon. Two places at Exeter were unavailable when the person needed help out-of-hours so the officers had to drive on to Torquay. Cllr Hackett said: “Surely there needs to be a place of safety to stop two or three officers being taken off shift.” Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez told the meeting the situation would be reviewed and "there does just need to be another look at that". A place of safety which can take two people was opened by the Devon Partnership Trust at The Cedars psychiatric hospital in Exeter in April last year following consultation with the police. The suite operates round-the-clock as part of a response by the NHS and emergency services to reduce the number of people with mental health needs being held in police cells. Now in most cases people are taken to a place of safety instead of a policy custody centre. The trust has also opened a series of crisis cafes across Devon, including one in Barnstaple, to support people while reducing demand on the emergency services. Fishmonger chimney fire in Kingsbridge BBC News Online Trevor BrantonCopyright: Trevor Branton A fire at a fishmongers closed Fore Street in Kingsbridge. Emergency services closed the road outside the Catch of the Day shop while the chimney was flushed with water. Nobody is understood to have been injured. Love Island: Praise over 'possessive behaviour' criticism A women's support charity has issued a statement in response to Joe Garratt’s behaviour on Love Island in relation to his partner, Lucie Donlan from Cornwall. Garratt’s treatment of Donlan came under fire in Sunday night’s episode of the ITV2 reality TV show, in which he criticised her friendship with boxer Tommy Fury, calling it “strange” and "disrespectful", adding: “I think it’s time for you to get close with the girls”. Following the episode, 302 viewers complained to broadcasting watchdogs Ofcom about the treatment of Donlan so far on the series. Now domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has criticised Garratt’s “controlling" and "possessive" behaviour, saying it is "never acceptable". Heathrow plans include joining Great Western rail links Heathrow Airport has published details of its plans to construct a third runway by 2026 and complete its expansion by 2050. The proposals, which include diverting rivers and rerouting the M25 through a tunnel under the runway, will be open to public consultation until mid-September. It also wants to join existing rail links to the Great Western network. The controversial scheme to expand Heathrow won government backing last year. The expansion has faced fierce opposition, but the airport said it had engaged with local communities and other stakeholders. The proposals are now open to public consultation until 13 September. Grimshaw ArchitectsCopyright: Grimshaw Architects An architects' visualisation of Heathrow's planned expansion shows the third runway, new terminals and car parksImage caption: An architects' visualisation of Heathrow's planned expansion shows the third runway, new terminals and car parks Newquay pubs and campsites not running under-18s events Parents of teenagers celebrating the end of their exams are being advised that pubs and campsites are not running any under-18s nights in the Newquay area in July. Newquay Safe - a partnership of police, council and other agencies - said the town was now attracting fewer school leavers to party after their GCSEs and A-levels. It said: "Fewer young people are having nights out in the town which now has a quieter evening and night-time economy." It will be the first year that organised under-18s events have not been held. Newquay Safe said it was reminding parents and carers of children who were planning to visit the town to know where children were staying and give contact details to accommodation providers in case of emergencies. The partnership also said that underage drinking "will not be tolerated". Totnes sees additional £45 on council tax precept A Devon council is bringing in one of the biggest increases in council tax in England, according to BBC research. Totnes Town Council is charging an additional £45 on average compared with last year - an increase of 36%. The move puts it in the top 25 biggest rises in England. Town mayor Jacquie Hodgson said bills were going up to help cover the cost of maintaining historic buildings and its civic square. Love Island: Why so many Ofcom complaints? BBC Entertainment and Arts Ofcom has received 794 complaints about Love Island since Friday, largely based on two issues. Maura Higgins' advances towards Tommy Fury during Friday night's episode have received 486 complaints. There were also 302 complaints about the treatment of Cornish contestant Lucie Donlan by some of her fellow contestants, including partner Joe Garratt. Some viewers on social media accused Joe of being controlling, after he asked her to spend more time being friendly with the female contestants. ITVCopyright: ITV Lucie has been seen crying at various points during the series so far, after struggling over her friendships with some of the female islanders following a couple of spats with Amy Hart. Several contestants have commented on how Lucie had been spending more time socially with the male contestants than the females. An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "We will assess these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate." Paignton ZooCopyright: Paignton Zoo Animal experts at Paignton Zoo in Devon have been battling around the clock to save a sick primate, staff say. Keepers, vets and vet nurses responded swiftly when 22-year-old female orangutan Gambira, who was born at the zoo, was taken ill suddenly. They found she had an infection of an air sac - a large pouch in the throat, thought to be used for vocalisation and connected to the respiratory system. The condition is known as air saccultis, and can be fatal. During emergency surgery and treatment, which often saw staff staying up with her through the night, they had to cut drainage holes in her air sacs and are thought to have removed "1.5 to 2 litres of pus in total". Staff said she had been "improving slowly but steadily" since the treatment and also underwent a second short procedure to flush the air sacs a week later which found much less fluid. They added that they were "keeping a very close eye on her" and monitoring to ensure a chest infection clears. Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: "We almost lost her, she was very close to death. What shines through at these difficult times is the dedication and care of the keepers and the vet team." Envelope update Severe disruption: M5 Devon northbound BBC News Travel M5 Devon northbound severe disruption, from J31 for A30 to J30 for A376 Sidmouth Road Exeter. M5 Devon - One lane closed on M5 northbound from J31, A30 (Okehampton turn off) to J30, A376 (Exeter), because of a lorry having a tyre changed. Traffic is coping well. To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time HMP Exeter had 'some unacceptable living conditions' A prison in Devon criticised by inspectors for failing to address concerns over drug use is treating its inmates fairly overall, but saw a period when "some living conditions were unacceptable", a report says. In its annual report for 2018, the prison's Independent Monitoring Board said prisoners were "generally" treated humanely but "deficiencies in maintenance, continued from the previous year and during the first half of 2018, created a situation where during the year some living conditions were unacceptable". It added: "Because this situation had continued for some time, it appeared to create a tolerance and some acceptance of poor conditions from prisoners and staff alike." However, the report said living conditions "improved towards the end of the reporting period" and it also found "no evidence of institutional discrimination or inequality". Quote Message: Overall, prisoners at HMP Exeter receive fair treatment, are treated humanely and are prepared for their release, but there are improvements that can be made in each of these three areas". Overall, prisoners at HMP Exeter receive fair treatment, are treated humanely and are prepared for their release, but there are improvements that can be made in each of these three areas". Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1932
__label__wiki	0.879711	0.879711	No mainstream party can wash its hands of flag dispute Mark Devenport Political editor, Northern Ireland @markdevenport on Twitter Image caption Alliance accuses unionist councillors of blatant attempts to ramp up tensions over the flag issue Over the summer the UK government, in the shape of the former Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, was accused by unionists of acting like Pontius Pilate, washing his hands of decisions on parades. Now, as the winter bites, those same unionists are themselves facing charges of trying to "wipe their hands of any involvement". This time the accusers are the beleaguered Alliance party, whose offices and councillors have come under attack over their decision to vote in favour of flying a Union flag on designated days only over Belfast City Hall. The two main unionist parties have condemned the carnage in Carrickfergus and the attack on the family home of two Alliance councillors in North Down as "legally and morally wrong". But Alliance politicians continue to question these statements, pointing to the decision by both DUP and UUP councillors to distribute 40,000 Alliance-style yellow leaflets as a blatant attempt to ramp up tensions over the Union flag issue. The unionists respond by arguing that Alliance and the two main nationalist parties are themselves to blame. The unionists argue that the flag has flown for decades above Belfast City Hall and the other parties should have left it alone. According to the East Antrim DUP MP Sammy Wilson, Alliance was dangerously naïve in not realising that its vote would "open a Pandora's box". Both Alliance and Sinn Fein claimed the flag dispute was stoked up as part of a campaign to oust the Alliance MP Naomi Long from her East Belfast seat. Unionists denied this, insisting their defence of the Union flag was a matter of principle. Whatever the truth, there's no doubt that with the involvement of loyalist elements, and others using social media, the protests have taken on a life of their own, spreading well beyond central Belfast. Now unionists at Stormont are calling for the Union flag to be flown 365 days a year over Parliament Buildings - a proposal that seems destined to divide the cross-party commission that manages the Assembly building. The image of an MLA's constituency offices and politicians' homes coming under attack would be shocking at any time. It's even more embarrassing on the eve of a visit by the outgoing US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Like her husband Bill, Mrs Clinton has frequently pointed to Northern Ireland as an example to other trouble spots around the world, evidence there can be a peaceful negotiated way forward. But the violence this week shows how easy it is to stoke latent tensions, and this time the Stormont politicians can't entirely blame a small unrepresentative minority. In contrast to the activities of dissident republicans, this is a dispute in which, one way or another, the main Stormont parties are deeply embroiled.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1933
__label__wiki	0.926832	0.926832	US policy on Syria 'depends on success in Libya' By Kim Ghattas BBC News, Washington Image caption The Obama administration has increased pressure on Syria's President Bashar al-Assad incrementally President Barack Obama called on Libya's Muammar Gaddafi to leave power at the end of February. Almost three months, two UN resolutions and a Nato operation later, Col Gaddafi is still in power. When Washington looks at Syria today, it fears a repeat; long drawn-out international pressure with no clear outcome. There is no suggestion whatsoever that anyone would consider military intervention in Syria but the US and Europe, their hands full in Libya, are wary even of a purely diplomatic quagmire. The call for Col Gaddafi to leave came within roughly 10 days of the big protests starting and reports of hundreds of people having been killed. In comparison, the demonstrations in Syria have been going for more than two months, more than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed, and the Assad government has deployed tanks which are besieging, and shelling, towns. Initially, the hesitation to put intense pressure on Syria was driven mostly by the hope that Mr Assad could still prove himself a reformer. Hope for peace The Syrian president had carefully cultivated that image. He introduced limited economic reforms during several years and promised more changes. He sounded reasonable to all his foreign visitors, many of whom also held on to the hope that Mr Assad could eventually be peeled away from his Iranian allies and convinced to sign a peace deal with Israel. Image caption Protesters against President Assad have paid a high price for their defiance So the Obama administration increased pressure on Syria incrementally. First, it issued statements, condemning the violence and calling for reforms. It slowly showed more support for the protesters, while still calling for reforms. At the end of April, the US and the EU imposed sanctions on members of the Syrian leadership, including the president's brother, Maher and his cousin, Rami Makhlouf. Unlike with Muammar Gaddafi - who is disliked by most other Arab leaders - there have been no calls from Arab countries for increased international pressure on Syria. Its borders with Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and Turkey make Syria a much more challenging case for the US, but also for regional players. 'Devil we know' The lack of Arab enthusiasm for pressure on Mr Assad allowed the US and the EU to move more slowly. While Syria and Israel are still technically at war, there is a certain modus vivendi between the two countries that has kept the border between them quiet for decades. Israel's attitude has been one of "better the devil we know", though there are some signs that Israel is beginning to think about the possible advantages of a post-Assad Syria. Image caption President Assad's actions reveal his true intentions, says US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton In Washington as well as European capitals, the consensus seems to be that Mr Assad's days are numbered even though there is no decision to call on him to go. While the West decided it could never work with Col Gaddafi again, there would still be a willingness to work with Mr Assad if he suddenly made concrete, genuine efforts towards dialogue and democracy. The US and its Western allies also do not want to call for the departure of another leader and find him still sitting in his presidential palace weeks later, said a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. "If we want to address Syria, we have to deal with Libya first," said the diplomat. Ammar Abdulhamid, a long time Syrian dissident who has been living in exile in the US since 2005, suggests the administration is slowing down the process that would lead to calls for Mr Assad to leave - trying to buy time "while they try to finish things in Libya". Only last week did US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton make the direct link between Mr Assad and the violence, saying he talked about reform, but his actions showed his true intentions. Washington subsequently imposed sanctions on Mr Assad himself. 'One last chance' On Thursday, Mr Obama went further in his Middle East speech at the state department, calling on Mr Assad to lead the transition to democracy - or leave. But he stopped short of calling on him to step down, or of saying the Syrian president had lost legitimacy. Image caption Protesters are pictured fleeing gunfire on the main street of Homs, Syria's third city Again he left the window open but raised the bar higher for what Mr Assad had to do to survive in the eyes of the international community. On Tuesday, Mrs Clinton made another reference to that window. "Assad has said a lot of things that you didn't hear from other leaders in the region about the kind of changes he would like to see. That may all be out the window, or he may have one last chance," she said. Mr Abdulhamid acknowledged that another reason why the US has refrained from calling on Mr Assad to go is its uncertainty about a post-Assad future. "They don't believe he's a reformer, but they can't see an alternative," he said. A large number of opposition groups are now reportedly planning to meet in Turkey at the end of the month, to attempt to elect a transitional council, connect with protesters inside the country, and present the international community with a clear alternative to Assad. If they succeed, it would move the debate about Syria into a new phase. Special report: Arab unrest Mid-East protests: Country by country	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1934
__label__cc	0.72975	0.27025	Posts tagged marketing David’s reverse referral fee experiment The other day David Weinberger approached me with an idea: what if he bought album downloads from me in bulk so that he could give them away? It was interesting but I was sceptical â€“ I'm already giving away the music for free, why would anyone care? So we agreed on a bulk price, I rigged up a special download link he could distribute and he twittered and blogged it: I'm trying an experiment with a business model I like to call a reverse referral fee. Here's how it worksâ€¦ You click on a link that lets you download a copy of Brad Sucks' latest album, Out of It. The album of wonderful music is yours for free in every sense. (Share it! Please!) But, I'm going to pay Brad for each copy downloaded, at a bulk rate he and I have agreed on. To my surprise it got a fair amount of attention (aka free word-of-mouth advertising). Many people thanked him for buying them the album, I got a lot of mentions on Twitter that I wouldn't have ordinarily. The 50 copies were all downloaded within about an hour, but it's pretty clear more than 50 people got introduced to my music. Plus David paid me so I made out like gangbusters. What is there to learn from this? I'm not sure. It's clear that the reaction was much larger than if David had said â€œgo download Brad's free album, it's free and anyone can go get it wheneverâ€. Saying that money was changing hands on behalf of their download definitely got people's attention and created a small viral chain reaction. David thinks this could be a viable option for super-patrons and that I should offer it as an option. What do you think? GeneralBrad Turcotte July 10, 2009 business, idea, marketing, money	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1943
__label__wiki	0.95539	0.95539	Alleged Texas Cop-Killer in Custody Following Standoff Photo: Richardson Police Department Bob Price A Richardson, Texas, police officer has been shot and killed while responding to a call at a North Texas apartment complex. An ambulance transported the wounded officer to a local hospital where he later died from his injury. The gunman is in police custody after a standoff of more than four hours. The police officer responded to a call for service at an apartment complex in Richardson, Texas — a Dallas area suburban community. Details are unclear at this time, but it appears an unknown gunman shot the officer and one other person, KTXS reported. The ABC affiliate reported the officer received a wound to his neck. The condition of the officer and the other wounded person is not known at this time. The incident began shortly after 7 p.m. (CST). UPDATE: 11:50 p.m.: Fox4 in Dallas now reports the alleged Richardson cop-killer is now in custody following a series of loud bangs. Blake Hanson reports hearing the suspect yelling unintelligible remarks. No description of the suspect is available at this time. I can hear the suspect, now in custody, yelling. Unintelligible. — Blake Hanson (@BlakeFox4News) February 8, 2018 Fox 4’s Allison Harris reports that a woman inside the apartment complex where the alleged cop-killer barricaded himself said he yelled repeatedly, “I’m sorry.” The woman I’ve been talking to who is in the apartment complex says the shooter has been screaming, “I’m sorry” over & over for minutes. Shooter is now in police custody. — Allison Harris (@AllisonFox4News) February 8, 2018 You can hear the shooter wailing & screaming, saying, “I’m sorry,” upon being apprehended by Richardson Police. Video from Brooke Traber inside the apartment complex. pic.twitter.com/49QQNnlAvb UPDATE 11:30 p.m.: As the standoff with the alleged cop-killer in Richardson continues, Fox 4’s Blake Hanson reports yet another round of lout bangs. A third round of loud bangs just started at the scene where a suspect in the death of a Richardson officer remains holed up. UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: CBSDFW reports the officer killed tonight in Richardson is a 27-year-old male. No other information about the officer is being released at this time. From Fox 4 News anchor Steve Eagar: Here’s some insight on the murdered Richardson Police officer from a friend who says she traveled with his wife and wrote: “All she talked about was her husband and how he was her best friend. It was her first trip to take without him. My stomach hurts for them.” — Steve Eagar (@steveeagar) February 8, 2018 UPDATE 11:01 p.m.: Richardson police confirm the death of their officer and ask for prayers. We are confirming that we have lost one of our own. Our officer is deceased. We are not identifying him at this time. We ask for your prayers during this tragedy. Thank you. — Richardson Police (@RichardsonTX_PD) February 8, 2018 Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded to the death of the Richardson police officer: The hearts and soul of Texas mourn with you. Your loss is a loss to all law enforcement and everyone in our great state. Texas will honor the lost officer with the dignity he deserves. May God rest his soul. And may his legacy live on in others’ service. #txlege #BackTheBlue https://t.co/oEetBYgN6x — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 8, 2018 UPDATE 11:00 p.m.: Fox4 Blake Hanson reports explosions coming from the scene of the barricaded accused cop-killer. We’re hearing numerous explosions from the scene. @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/SqBfYgOKhH UPDATE 10:55 p.m.: Tweets from the scene indicate that Richardson police have deployed gas into the apartment where the alleged cop-killer is barricaded. Richardson Police just deployed gas at the apartment complex. UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: Fox 4 News reports the Richardson police officer has died from his wounds. BREAKING: Richardson PD confirms the officer who was shot has died. https://t.co/ITXONeMDml pic.twitter.com/10KOsRLK4X — FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) February 8, 2018 The officer becomes the eleventh officer to die in the line of duty this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. The officer is the seventh to die from gunfire this year. UPDATE 10:40 p.m.: It appears the shooter remains barricaded at this time. Fox4 reporter Blake Hanson reports from the scene that police are still carrying rifles and taking defensive positions late Wednesday evening. Just saw an officer run across a parking lot with a long gun, crouching. I’m on a different side than @AllisonFox4News pic.twitter.com/ImkoIDHzyD ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS: Richardson police confirmed that an officer and one civilian had been shot with a Twitter post. We are working an active shooter scene at apartments, North Star and Renner. Officer shot responding to disturbance. One civilian also shot. EB Renner closed. Avoid area. pic.twitter.com/cu7o2H3QZ4 Police briefed reporters at approximately 9:30 p.m.: Fox 4 News in Dallas also reported the officer’s neck wound. Heavy police presence at Breckinridge Pointe apartments in Richardson near Northstar & Renner. Source says an officer has been shot in the neck. Do not know if the shooter is still active. pic.twitter.com/eLgHZlTuWO WFAA reporter Jason Whitely tweeted from the scene that the suspect may be surrounded and that police exchanged gunfire with the alleged shooter. MORE: @RichardsonTX_PD just closed Renner Rd. DPS helicopter overhead. PD has Bldg 14 at Breckenridge Point Apts surrounded. Barricaded suspect inside exchanged rounds w/ PD. That has stopped. No condition on officer shot. pic.twitter.com/wtMjMOyCnR — Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) February 8, 2018 Just spoke with a woman inside the apartment complex who shares what she’s hearing & seeing from police: pic.twitter.com/1OHHptURm4 Police spokesman Kevin Perlich told reporters, “We believe we have him pinned down to a particular location,” Perlich said. “However, he is still randomly firing throughout the evening,” the Dallas Morning News reported. These are the images that are difficult to see. Unfortunately, we see them too often. My heart is heavy for Richardson Police tonight. pic.twitter.com/GiNYErcw9S EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, Gab, and Facebook. Border / Cartel ChroniclesCrime#BlueLivesMatterODMPOfficer Down Memorial Page	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1945
__label__cc	0.707178	0.292822	Home / Latest / Blog Working against the grain Sometimes struggles make you stronger. Whether that’s coming out of an early life in care, a spell in prison, or the adversity of extreme poverty. There can be a time when you’re ready to change, and a time when someone is there to help you forward. Perhaps it’s also true of a charity CEO facing sudden collapse of funding and having to part with two thirds of their staff. I’m not making a moral equivalent here, just reflecting that tough times can bring out your leadership, your resourcefulness and resilience: personally about your own life, organisationally in your work. A visit to Adviza showed all that. An organisation born out of the Connections service with substantial government funding, suddenly faced with massive cuts, and recovering through contracts, programmes, volunteers, pro bono, corporate help and more – including a new social enterprise. Adviza’s new creation, Against the Grain, provides furniture upcycling jobs for young people. A project leader with fabulous energy and deep background in the trade, and a small group of young people, now confident and creative, producing furniture which manages to be both classy and edgy. Their pride in their work shone out and was fully deserved. Adviza have also participated in a Social Impact Bond. Like a number of other charities and social enterprises who have gone through this, they found it challenging but achieved exceptional social outcomes making them much stronger for future work. The SIB framework locked in the focus on the result, and let the charity operate flexibly. It also forced them to massively upgrade their ability to manage data and use it immediately to improve the service, week by week. 1770 young people across 40 schools have a better life as a result. Sadly – and this happens too often – the commissioners did not repeat the project despite the results. Adviza didn’t take no for an answer, and whipped up alternative funds to continue the work. There’s been much criticism about SIBs – too complex, finance driven, too expensive, sometimes inappropriate outcome measures. But I’ve heard charity after social enterprise say no, they work, for the delivery agent and the beneficiaries. The problem is they are too small, too short, and not repeated or scaled up. At Big Society Capital, we believe the early successes justify bigger SIBs with a proper control group – probably the only way we’ll convince Treasury and get full scale, repeated contracts. But the real story here is about Katharine Horler, the CEO at Adviza. Diversifying funding, creating new trading income streams, generating enterprises, and at the same time keeping to the integrity of what works for young people, not racing to the bottom on quality and price. That takes courage and leadership. It’s CEOs like her who make our social sector great. Cliff Prior	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1948
__label__cc	0.612486	0.387514	CAR-T for solid tumors drives industry to innovate By Maggie Lynch contact (Image: Getty/ SCIEPRO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) Related tags: CAR-T, Manufacturing, solid tumor, Oncology, Kymriah, Yescarta, Clinical development, China, Cell line, Cell line development ICT is developing upon CAR-T cell technology to enable T-cells to persist against cancer’s attempt to program death into a patient’s defensive T-cells, which could potentially treat solid tumors. The company’s technology works to improve upon traditional checkpoint inhibition therapies by combining chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy with PD-1 pathway inhibition. Through Innovative Cellular Therapeutics (ICT)’s investigational therapies patient’s T-cells have PD-1 surface proteins that compete with PD-L1 ligand proteins on the tumor. The T-cells can remain active in this therapy and continue to work on the cancer cells with antigens present within the traditional CAR-T therapy. The therapy in development by ICT, ICTCAR014, is for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lei Xiao, founder and CEO of ICT, told us, “While CAR-T therapy has revolutionized treatments for cancer, there are still high unmet needs in the field of oncology that need to be addressed with urgency.” Building on CAR-T technology for solid tumors Outside of its use in treating lymphomas, the platform technology used in ICTCAR014 is currently in a clinical development program working to treat a range of solid tumors. Working to develop therapies to treat solid tumors is helping drive the industry towards CAR-T development, according to Xiao. In July 2018, Kite (now part of Gilead) and Gadeta collaborated to research and develop T cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. The partnership works to use alpha beta T cells that are engineered with gamma delta T cells receptors, which are believed to be able to recognize targets in solid cancer cells. However, Xiao said that since there are currently “no effective treatments for overcoming the challenging tumor microenvironment that is especially hostile to current therapies,” the industry has seen a significant challenge addressing the area. Therefore, focus on building on to CAR-T technology can move forward the industry to develop therapies for solid tumors. He noted that there are currently only two existing CAR-T therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of lymphoma: Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) and Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), which see remission rates of “around 50%” after treatment. Automated CAR-T manufacturing Xiao also explained that the current FDA approved CAR-T cell manufacturing process is labor intensive. Manufacturing CAR-T treatments require using a patient’s own blood, making the process complex. The treatments are produced through the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including T-cells, from the patient’s own white blood cells which are then stimulated to proliferate and transduced with a retroviral vector to introduce the CAR sequence. This process can potentially be inefficient in getting the treatment to the patient. Due to this, ICT adopted an automated process for cell manufacturing in which it manufactures its CAR-T cells in a closed system to prevent contamination throughout the process. “This automated feature will also allow ICT to scale processing and therefore more quickly accommodate increasing clinical demand,” said Xiao. The company is currently outsourcing its manufacturing needs to support its clinical activities but is planning on initiating an independent commercial manufacturing capacity following licensing. Related topics: Cell & Gene Therapies, Pipelines, Bio-Outsourcing, Cell lines, Bio Developments Poseida raises $142m in Series C financing to advance CAR-T products Transgene and BioInvent extend OV development for solid tumor collaboration Kite collaborates to increase efficiency of CAR-T manufacture Allogene builds allogeneic CAR-T site, looking ahead to ‘commercial product’ rAAV Production in BioBLU® Single-Use Vessels Eppendorf for Bioprocess – Solutions that grow with you \| 25-Jun-2019 \| Application Note Rising interest in gene therapy-based applications leads to increasing demands in scalable production systems for viral vectors. Find out how Cevec Pharmaceuticals... Learn more about KLEPTOSE® BioPharma for your protein stability challenges Roquette Pharma Solutions \| 14-Jun-2019 \| Case Study Therapeutic proteins are inherently unstable and sensitive to temperature change, shearing, shaking, solvents, ionic strength, purity, protein concentration,... Small-Scale Cell Culture Perfusion Process Eppendorf for Bioprocess – Solutions that grow with you \| 29-Mar-2019 \| Application Note Perfusion cell culture processes promise advantages for industrial bioprocessing, like saving space, increasing volumetric productivity, achieving more... Cultivation of 3D Cell Aggregates in Perfusion Eppendorf for Bioprocess – Solutions that grow with you \| 17-Sep-2018 \| Application Note 3D cell aggregates are of great interest for applications like disease modeling and manufacturing of stem cell-based products. Read more about the cultivation... Baxter BioPharma Solutions \| Bio-Rad Laboratories \| Marken: Global Life Science Supply Chain Solutions \| Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany \| Samsung BioLogics By Samsung BioLogics Samsung BioLogics: The story of the world’s largest biologics manufacturing facility By World CourierCell and gene therapies: Commercialization considerations By World CourierGlobal logistics strategies for cell and gene therapies More promotional features	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1949
__label__cc	0.595686	0.404314	Finance World Economy Business & Tech Environment Politics & Law Society & Culture CX Live is Caixin Global's real-time news portal, featuring 24-hour breaking news, short-form analysis, and roundups from business and social media in China. China’s GDP Growth Dips to 6.2% in Second Quarter Wanda’s Sports Unit Set Price Range for New York IPO Huawei Plans Extensive U.S. Layoffs: WSJ ZTE Seeks to Cash Out of Shenzhen Property Project Pork Company That Once Offered to Pay Debt With Ham Gets Stock-Market Warning By Zhao Runhua / Apr 25, 2019 12:14 PM / Business & Tech Photo: IC African swine fever has devastated many pig farms and caused chaos in the industry. But the shortage of the meat has also meant a rise in the price of the pork and an accompanying rise in the stock prices of some pork companies. But this market optimism hasn’t been enough the save debt-ridden Chuying Agro-Pastoral Group, once China’s leading agricultural and pork-product manufacturer. Stock of the Shenzhen-listed firm will start to wear an “ST” (“Special Treatment”) hat this Friday, according to an official statement. The “ST” label denotes that it is at risk of being delisted due to poor fiscal performance. The company’s revenue for 2018 plunged 37.6% year-on-year to 3.56 billion yuan ($528.86 million), its latest fiscal report shows. Notably, the company tumbled into the red, posting a 3.86 billion loss for the year versus a 45.19 million profit in 2017. Chuying attributed the poor performance to rising costs and problems in the industry caused by African swine fever. Earlier this year, Chuying admitted it had starved pigs to death after a lack of capital caused an “insufficient supply” of feed. In November 2018, facing severe debt and liquidity problems, the company even proposed giving their debtors their pound of flesh — literally — by offering to pay the interest in ham. Related: Consumer Inflation Hits Five-Month High on Rising Pork, Vegetable Prices	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1960
__label__cc	0.74672	0.25328	Join thousands of travelers and Plan your trip with ease. By clicking you accept Blink terms & condition and privacy policy. Lake of Como You can search for names, tag like Coliseum or Restaurants Discover Hong Kong with our free appGET Discover the most instagrammable places of with our free app 🎡 Beautiful sights 🍔 Local Food ✅ Selfie spots Best things to see Chicken Testicles Guide Fishballs Guide Top selfie spots in Hong Kong Hong Kong Religious Sites Plan your best adventure quick and easy Pick attractions, food & activities Everything in sync with the App Plan with the app District Hong Kong, China The busiest district in the world Mongkok Mong Kok (also spelled Mongkok, often abbreviated as MK) is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District, on the western part of Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The Prince Edward area occupies the northern part of Mong Kok. Mong Kok is one of the major shopping areas in Hong Kong. The area is characterized by a mixture of old and new multi-story buildings, with shops and restaurants at street level, and commercial or residential units above. Major industries in Mong Kok are retail, restaurants (including fast food) and entertainment. It has been described and portrayed in films as an area in which triads run bars, nightclubs, and massage parlors. With its extremely high population density of 130,000/km2 or 340,000 per square mile, Mong Kok was described as the busiest district in the world by the Guinness World Records. Save to My trip Mark as done Mong Kok, Hong Kong Suggested by Benedetta Fiore This article uses material from this Wikipedia article which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Campfire 🔥	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1964
__label__cc	0.589186	0.410814	Blog Preston Major changes for Liverpool Road in Penwortham planned once new bypass is complete How you can sleepout at Deepdale with Preston North End to help The Foxton Centre Ten of the highest rated cafes in Preston UKIP Lancashire Vice Chairman calls for re-think of e-cigarette use in hospitals Posted on - 29th August, 2015 - 8:00am \| Author - Anastasia Bates \| Posted in - People, Politics, Preston News Vaping is currently banned in Royal Preston Hospital UKIP’s Vice Chairman for Lancashire has called on hospital bosses to rethink their attitude towards e-cigarettes, describing it as “bullying of citizens”. The smoking of e-cigarettes, or vaping, is currently banned in Preston and Chorley hospitals and James Barker has called on the chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in a letter. The letter read, “Many or most users of e-cigarettes are being treated unfairly and unwisely. This bullying of citizens, by banning them from car parks and pathways as well as hospital buildings, has to stop. If the NHS carries on like this they will force people, many desperate to stop smoking, back onto cigarettes.” Stuart Heys, chairman of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust responded, “Our current policy states that we do not recommend the use of electronic cigarettes. As health professionals we can only recommend the use of evidenced-based strategies to support people to be smoke free. Currently the e-cigarette is not regulated as a tobacco product or as a medicine in the UK.” This comes after Public Health England announced that smoking e-cigarettes is 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco. Preston in pictures View more Advertisement Subscribe to the newsletter Sign up below to receive Blog Preston's weekly newsletter. It wings its way into inboxes every Sunday rounding up our best content from the last week and a look ahead to what's happening. Advertisement News by location Find news by location, select an area of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on. Ashton-on-Ribble Fishwick Flag Market Grimsargh Inskip Moor Park Preston City Centre Ribbleton Walton-le-Dale Advertisement Categories Find news by category, select an category of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on. Brockholes Callon Preston Docks Preston History Preston Railway Station What's On in Preston Winckley Square BlogPreston was founded by Ed Walker Preston based 3ManFactory designed & developed the website Preston based Clook Internet host the website , About , Advertise , Community Guidelines , Privacy & Cookie Policy Blog Preston is a Community Interest Company. Company number 08814641.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1966
__label__cc	0.527439	0.472561	Valve Labs Includes New Recommendation System [Jul 11, 2019, 7:26 pm ET] – 4 Comments Valve offers a look at what they're cooking up by opening up the doors to the Steam Labs. This unveils "experiments," works in progress which will not necessarily succeed in the long run. The first three of these are: Micro Trailers, the Interactive Recommender, and Automatic Show. Micro Trailers "are six-second looping videos designed to quickly inform viewers about titles on Steam with a presentation that's easy to skim." The Automatic Show is a bot-generated entertainment program. Finally the Interactive Recommender is a new recommendation engine. This last one seems to hold the most promise, as they offer a separate news post with extensive details on its operation. Here's an explanation on how they hope this might improve upon previous ways of generating game recommendations: Recommendations on Steam Rather than introducing a big change to the way customized recommendations are determined on Steam, we’re introducing this new recommender as an experiment customers can seek out and try. This will help us get better usage data while avoiding any sudden shifts that we know can be frustrating for customers and developers who are accustomed to Steam. Should the interactive recommender or related experiments prove useful, we’ll share an update before rolling out any big changes to the way Steam recommends titles to people. The data driving Popular, New, and Trending is different from that of the Discovery Queue, this new recommender, and so on. We view this new interactive recommender as one discovery element among many, and look forward to introducing more ways to connect customers with interesting content and developers. Recommendations and new games New games in a system such as this one have a chicken-and-egg effect known as the "cold start" problem. The model can't recommend games that don't have players yet, because it has no data about them. It can react quite quickly, and when re-trained it picks up on new releases with just a few days of data. That said, it can't fill the role played by the Discovery Queue in surfacing brand new content, and so we view this tool to be additive to existing mechanisms rather than a replacement for them. Why it works for short games The recommender knows that there are great short-form games you can finish in an hour, and those you'll play for thousands. Your playtime data is normalized to reflect the distribution of playtime in each game, ensuring that all games are on an equal footing. No need for developer optimization Sometimes, computer-driven discovery makes creators focus on optimizing for "The Algorithm" rather than customers. You might ask, how is this any different? We designed the recommender to be driven by what players do, not by extrinsic elements like tags or reviews. The best way for a developer to optimize for this model is to make a game that people enjoy playing. While it's important to supply users with useful information about your game on its store page, you shouldn't agonize about whether tags or other metadata will affect how a recommendations model sees your game.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1967
__label__wiki	0.858847	0.858847	Ben Zobrist blooped a ball over shortstop Jhonny Peralta. But Wacha retired the next hitter on a lazy fly ball to left field and the inning should have been over with St. Louis' 3-0 preserved. Instead, the inning continued with two outs and an over-extended Wacha gave up a pair of hits and a walk that, along with a Peter Bourjos error, allowed four runs to score and the Birds were suddenly behind 4-3. The error was Bourjos' third in limited playing time so far this season. Wacha was lifted after the fifth inning and what seemed like such a promising start turned into a clunker in which he gave up four runs in five frames. The Cardinals offense was unable to answer the Rays big inning and Tampa added some insurance later to secure a 6-3 win, the clubs second in its last 10 games. I'm not a big fan of shifts in the first place. But its just dumb to use them when you have a two or three-run lead because it gives the other team a free shot to get what it needs the most -- runners on base. In this case it was an accident. But a well-placed bunt or opposite field chop could be all it takes to put the pitcher in a mess not of his own doing. Wacha has pitched too well this season to be 4-5. The Cardinals management needs to stop making things tougher for him than they need to be. Some Cardinals fans wonder why the team won’t chase big-time free agents The Chicago Cubs were never lovable losers, but their fans are absolutely insufferable By Scott Wuerz For the News-Democrat After winning the 2016 World Series, fans of the Chicago Cubs MLB baseball team became even more obnoxious despite years of rooting for the lovable losers while making fun of the Best Fans in Baseball in STL. MORE CHEAP SEATS Here’s why the St. Louis Cardinals only having one All-Star could be a good thing Another mediocre performance helps St. Louis Cardinals wrap up first half in fitting way St. Louis Cardinals fans need to quit with the excuses and demand more from this team St. Louis Cardinals should take a lesson on how to play the game from the 1982 champs The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t going to turn things around without Munoz and Edman No St. Louis Cardinals in the All-Star game proves just how bad this team is	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1969
__label__cc	0.731336	0.268664	OAA Voting open for 2018 OAA People’s Choice Award The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is inviting members of the public to vote for their favourite project from the Design Excellence Award winners shown… Winners announced for 2018 OAA Awards The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 OAA Awards. This year’s winners showcase diversity in design where… Bold by Design: Registration open for OAA conference The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has opened registration for this year's conference: Bold by Design. Taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention… Finalists announced for 2018 OAA Design Excellence Awards The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is pleased to announce the finalists for the OAA Design Excellence Awards. This year’s 20 short-listed projects… OAA President John Stephenson returning for second term The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) is pleased to announce the election of John Stephenson, OAA, MRAIC, to serve as OAA President for a second… New December 15 deadline for 2018 OAA Awards submissions The OAA Awards program is changing and will now operate on a two-year cycle, with Design Excellence and career achievement awards celebrated in even-numbered… Editorial: The Price of Architecture Unpaid overtime is tacitly supported by employment legislation across Canada, but architects are seeking to end the unfair practice.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1971
__label__wiki	0.766324	0.766324	Iowa Wing Cadet Recognized with Spaatz Award Honoring Cadet Stearns (From left) Assembled for a photo after presentation of Cadet Col. Josiah Stearns’ Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award are (from left) Brig. Gen. Shawn Ford of the Iowa Air National Guard, the newly promoted cadet colonel, and Cols. Regena Aye, North Central Region commander, and Joseph Hackett, Iowa Wing commander. Cadet Col. Josiah D. Stearns of the Iowa Wing’s Des Moines Composite Squadron has been recognized with the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award – Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, achieved by only five of every 1,000 cadets. Stearns, who joined CAP in May 2014, is the 2,177th cadet to receive the award since its creation in 1964. He is applying to the U.S. Air Force Academy and plans on pursuing a career as a cyber operations officer in the Air Force. He was presented his Spaatz award on Aug. 4 at the Dodge House at Camp Dodge in Johnston. To qualify for the Spaatz, a cadet must complete a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing moral reasoning and comprehensive written exams on leadership and on aerospace education. On the way to completing all 16 CAP cadet achievements, Stearns attended the organization’s North Central Region Cadet Leadership School in August 2016, Cyber Defense Training Academy-Maryland Campus in July 2017 and Air Force Pararescue Survival Orientation Course last month. Photos by Allison Dicks Stearns shares his spotlight moment with his family – (from left) his father, Gregg Stearns; his brother, Benjamin Stearns; and his mother, Mindi Stearns.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1976
__label__cc	0.739274	0.260726	Cardiff Music Women: Call For Exhibit Items, Stories & Opportunities Cardiff Music Women is a 4-day community-led event on Womanby Street in August 2018, and we are currently calling for contributions, stories and memories. We are also seeking staff and volunteers to take part in the event. The event will celebrate contributions of women to our local popular/alternative music scene from the late 50s to today. It will include exhibits, live music, talks, art, workshops, career profiles, awareness raising and the creation of a digital archive. It aims to celebrate and learn about our musical past, and to empower more women/girls/non-binary people into our local music industry in future. From household names like Shirley Bassey and Charlotte Church, to the untold stories of record shop owners, labels, songwriters, DJs, sound engineers, musicians, festival organisers – local women of 70s-80s punk, Butetown Carnival, 90s dance scene, folk, hip-hop and more. CALL FOR EXHIBITS & STORIES We are seeking contributions to the exhibit - this could be artefacts / memorabilia, story-telling/memory-sharing, music, artwork, zines, photographs, videos - open to ideas! Please get in touch: liz@themooncardiff.com and tell us what you'd like to contribute. We'll also be holding drop-off events in Roath and Grangetown where you can either bring an item to leave with us for the exhibit (returned to you after) or allow us to scan the items, or you can be filmed/recorded/interviewed if you'd like to share some memories (or this can be arranged separately) - dates will be announced shortly. STAFF & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES We are currently have the following paid roles as part of the project: - Exhibit & Art Co-ordinator (approx. 75 hours over 5 weeks) - Event Stewards (available 20th-23rd August, 5 hours per day afternoon to evening) - Website Designer - Graphic Designer Please either send a CV or tell us about yourself and what you've been up to: liz@themooncardiff.com We also have volunteer opportunities including researching, gathering, recording, preparing events & exhibits, approaching potential contributors and groups, storing contributions, assisting with community events and workshops. If you'd like to help out in any way please email liz@themooncardiff.com (we can cover some expenses if you're from a low income background and there's a barrier preventing you from taking part like travel/childcare costs etc) Liz Hunt July 11, 2018 Assistant Manager Position at Le Public Space Sound Artist Commission Opportunity	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1977
__label__wiki	0.951908	0.951908	Diplomat Cable Leaks Khan’s London Salvini vs Open Borders NGOs British Teen Doesn’t Regret Becoming ISIS Bride But Wants to Come Home to Have Baby Laura Lean - WPA Pool/Getty Images Oliver JJ Lane One of the three schoolgirls who flew from London in 2015 to join the Islamic State in Syria and become a so-called jihadi bride has re-emerged in a refugee camp, and wants to return to the United Kingdom to give birth. Shamima Begum, now 19 years old and nine months pregnant with her third child by her Dutch jihadist husband who is now being held by Syrian Free Democratic Forces, was found and interviewed by Britain’s The Times newspaper just two weeks after she left the final territory ISIS holds due to the fighting there. Despite the fact her two other children had already died in the Islamic State, the teenage extremist said “no I don’t regret” joining the Caliphate, and even appeared to express her regret the Islamic State was collapsing. Alternative headline: ‘Investigation confirms ISIS extremists among refugees seeking to enter Britain’ https://t.co/idhkEF7FSt — Jack Montgomery ن (@JackBMontgomery) February 13, 2019 Asked by journalist Anthony Loyd whether recent events marked the end of the Caliphate, Begum replied: “Yeah I really do, I don’t have high hopes. It is getting smaller and smaller, and there is so much oppression and corruption going I don’t think they really deserve victory.” While casually describing seeing a decapitated head in a dustbin — “it didn’t faze me at all” — and even expressing regret at having left the Caliphate at the moment of its final battle, calling that decision a moment of weakness that her fellow female jihadists would be “ashamed of”, Begum insisted she wanted to return to the United Kingdom. Begum, who left Bethnal Green, London, in 2015, told the newspaper: “I know what everyone at home thinks of me as I have read all that was written about me online… But I just want to come home to have my child. I’ll do anything required just to be able to come home and live quietly with my child.” Dozens of ISIS Jihad Brides Returning to Britain ‘Imminently’ https://t.co/KmbitCKlii — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 29, 2018 Britain’s mainstream media appeared to lend their apparent tacit support to the extremist as the news of her emergence and desire to travel to the United Kingdom broke Wednesday evening, with The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, and others paradoxically describing her flight from the United Kingdom to a warzone to set up a new life as “fleeing Britain”. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the act of fleeing as running away from danger or evil, or hurrying towards a place of safety. The Times led with the pleading headline on both physical and digital formats ‘Bring Me Home’ Thursday morning and published the comments of Begum’s lawyer Tasnime Akunjee, who said the authorities should treat his clients as “victims”, rather than jihadists. The Associated Press reports the comments of UK Security Minister Ben Wallace who said Begum’s lack of remorse over her path in life was “worrying” and that the British public would be concerned about someone returning to a country that “they apparently hate” and stressed that “actions have consequences.” And how precisely do you 'integrate' an ISIS fighter into European society? https://t.co/Fg6jft5xTD — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 14, 2017 Breitbart London has reported at length on the difficulties arising for European governments over returning jihadists, with hundreds having moved back to countries across the continent. Often battle-hardened and de-sensitised to violence after years in the Caliphate, it has been a challenge for security services to identify and prosecute returning extremists hiding amongst migrants and so-called asylum seekers passing through Europe’s southern borders. The British government admitted in 2018 that a “significant proportion” of the 400 or more Islamic State jihadists who had then returned to the UK had been deemed “no longer of national security concern”, and were living at large in the country. Collecting evidence on humanitarian crimes committed while in the Islamic State can be near impossible in many cases, making convicting returned extremists difficult. The number of security-threat individuals the government officially admitted they knew existed was revised significantly upward over the course of 2017 after a series of terror attacks on British soil led to questions being asked over the work of the security services monitoring individuals. Europol: 'Indisputable' That Terrorists Entered Europe Posing as Refugees https://t.co/6EBlAh86ye pic.twitter.com/dxGLkaNSrk — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 3, 2016 Oliver JJ Lane is the editor of Breitbart London — Follow him on Twitter and Facebook AfricaLondon / EuropeNational SecurityDaeshIslamic StatejihadJihadi BridesLondonradical islamSyriaterrorismUnited Kingdom Bill Clinton Distances Himself From Jeffrey Epstein	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1982
__label__wiki	0.711666	0.711666	Chime Acquires Method Communications to broaden US footprint and create a £20m ($26m) Global Technology practice LONDON (December 20 2018) — Chime, the global sport, entertainment and communications group, today announced it has acquired Method Communications, a technology PR and marketing agency based in San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Through the acquisition, Method will become part of the Chime Specialist Group, a family of best-in-class agencies that are challenging traditional agency models. It will grow the group’s technology practice billings to more than £20 million (USD$26 million) and cement its’ presence in the U.S. technology market. By aligning Method with Harvard, an award-winning European technology agency, and inEvidence, the customer advocacy specialists, Chime is building upon its strategy of creating a differentiated global marketing services network for the technology sector. “David and his team have built an outstanding business by shaking-up traditional agency thinking,” said Jo Parker, CEO, Chime Specialist Group. “This has made them one of the fastest growing and most recognised technology agencies in the U.S., with an enviable client roster. The synergy with Chime’s challenger approach is obvious, and we are excited to bring together our global ambitions to drive impact and value in the technology sector and beyond.” Method, which was founded by David Parkinson and Jacob Moon in 2010, has grown rapidly and established itself as the agency behind some of the most exciting technology companies in the U.S., including Check Point Software, Domo, Freshworks, New Relic, Pluralsight, Qualtrics, Traeger Grills, Vivint Solar and Vivint Smart Home. “Like Method, Chime has built its success on challenging outdated thinking. Since day one, we have had a goal of creating the best technology agency in the country, with the best team and clients in the industry,” said David Parkinson, CEO of Method. “From our very first conversations with Jo and her team, it was apparent that we shared a unique focus on culture, values and vision. We are thrilled to be part of Chime and anticipate a phenomenal partnership as we move forward.” Louie St Claire, CEO of Harvard added: “Technology is now at the heart of every major global narrative. Delivering best practice PR and marketing to brands leading those narratives requires a global footprint. With Harvard in Europe, Method in the US and the global coverage from inEvidence we have a proposition to deliver across the globe and build something truly differentiated for brands with a technology story to tell, wherever they may be!” Method, Harvard and inEvidence will report into Chime Specialist Group CEO Jo Parker, who also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of parent group Chime. Louie St Claire, CEO of Harvard, will step up to chair the newly-formed tech group to co-ordinate global collaboration across the network and build out its global technology proposition. About the Chime Specialist Group The Chime Specialist Group has best in class agencies across technology, financial services and sustainability. Operating across the world with offices in London, New York, Santiago to Singapore with over 250 people. About Method Method is the communications catalyst for breakthrough brands and category leaders. Founded in 2010, Method helps its clients share their ambitious visions with the world. As The Holmes Report’s 2016 Technology Agency of the Year, we produce award-winning results from Salt Lake City and San Francisco. To explore how Method Communications creates engaging storytelling and compelling narratives for highly successful brands, visit methodcommunications.com or connect through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Harvard is an award-winning PR & Marketing consultancy that works with brands who use technology to effect change. From global giants to the coolest start-ups, every one of our clients puts technology at the heart of what they do to leave a lasting impact. We exist to help them tell their stories in the most imaginative ways possible, and take them to the right people, in the right places, time after time. About inEvidence inEvidence is the specialist customer advocacy and reference agency within the Chime Specialist Group, part of Chime Communications Limited. inEvidence helps its clients build their brand and grow their business through customer stories, closing more business, more quickly. Neil Bayley, Chime +44 (0) 07788352046 Georgina Greenspan, Harvard + 44 (0) 07788 352 056 georgina.greenspan@harvard.co.uk Jacob Moon, Method Communications 801.461.9797 jacob@methodcommunications.com Chime Launches New Inter-Agency LGBTQ Network Applications for VCCP’s ‘The Table’ are no... Chime’s Insight and Engagement Division Joins VCCP and... VCCP Launch Cadbury – There’s a glass & a half ...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1988
__label__wiki	0.688919	0.688919	Campaign puts spotlight on fostering Fostering Awareness stall 16 -10-18 (Photo John Bugeja) By Gabriella Peralta Share The fourth annual fostering campaign was launched earlier this week in a bid to drum up local interest. The campaign that was launched by the Minister for Health, Neil Costa, coincides with the UK National Adoption Week. There are currently seven foster families in Gibraltar and through this campaign the Care Agency aims to find suitable alternative homes for children in care. Mr Costa commended the work of the Care Agency and foster carers for nurturing children who find themselves in care. “Within this fostering unit the children will be with a family who will love them, care for them, nurture and guide them,” Mr Costa said. “No one is an island. We all need other people. None of us would be here today if it was not for the support, care and love we have received.” Head of Children Services Nicole Viagas stressed the importance of children having the best start in life and that children should be cared in a safe, family environment where they have positive childhood experiences. “Children need the best possible start in life, and if this cannot be offered by the parents or family members, then alternative placements are crucial,” Ms Viagas said. “I want to thank our wonderful foster carers and social work team for making this a reality for our children. Our carers understand that children need a safe base from where they can feel special belonging to a family and positive childhood experiences translates into well-adjusted and successful adults.” To highlight the positive aspects of fostering a person who was in foster care attended the launch and shared how their foster parents had changed their life. The person, who wished to remain anonymous, detailed how they never understood why their classmates would be happy to return home after school. After finding a foster home and having a happy, balanced personal life they found themselves becoming one of those children who was happy to go back home after school. From the opposite side of the spectrum, a foster parent shared their journey to fostering and how it had changed their family’s life for the better. The family now plan to adopting their foster child. In order to foster a child a person must be over 21 years old, reside locally and they must undertake a five-day training course. The person can be single, married, and of any sexual orientation. As part of the fostering campaign a workshop will be held at 6pm today at John Mackintosh Hall. A van manned by the Care Agency will be available throughout Thursday at various sites in Gibraltar including at Casemates Square at 10am. On Friday there will be a drop-in service at the Family and Community Centre in Mid Harbours Estate. Iran condemns British 'piracy' as Israeli organisation launches legal bid to seize Grace 1 ESG joins Campo protest on environmental issues	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line1994
__label__wiki	0.845461	0.845461	Cellist Benedict Kloeckner curates the Internationales Musikfestival Koblenz and launches latest album Benedict Kloeckner enjoys an exciting summer at the helm of the 6th Internationales Musikfestival Koblenz in Germany as its Artistic Director. The Festival, which runs from 12 July - 21 September, will feature a star-studded line-up of guest artists including pianists Benjamin Grosvenor and José Gallardo, violinist Yury Revich, prima ballerina Liudmilla Konovalova, and actor Julian Weigend, alongside Benedict in a variety of showcase chamber concerts at spectacular venues. Under Benedict’s curation, the Festival will present the theme of “home”, following Benedict’s philosophy that music, far beyond its beauty and joy, can offer people a sense of home across borders. For a full festival programme and to get your tickets, you can follow the link here! Benedict will be doubly busy this summer following the release of his latest album with pianist Danae Dörken last Friday. Zwischen Nostalgie und Revolution (recorded on the Genuin label) will receive its official launch on 15 July (19:00) in concert at Berlin’s A-Trane. Tickets to this concert are available here! You can listen to the album here, and is available for purchase here! Justin Taylor performs twice at Festival Internacional de Música Pau Casals with Orquestra da Camera, and his ensemble Le Consort NEWSIntern CLB 10 July 2019 Paul Carey Jones performed in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in Manchester last Friday, a “thrilling triumph” concert of Chetham’s School of Music’s 50th year's celebration	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2003
__label__cc	0.576713	0.423287	Home Informatics Bioinformatics New Computational Tool Improves Metastatic Cancer Tracking New Computational Tool Improves Metastatic Cancer Tracking Source: noparrit/Getty Imagees Tracing and predicting the course that metastatic cancers take through the body may shed light on cellular changes that lead to metastasis. Metastatic disease causes about 90% of cancer deaths from solid tumors—masses of cells that grow in organs such as the breast, prostate, or colon. Understanding the drivers of metastasis could lead to new treatments aimed at blocking the process of cancer spreading through the body. Now, Princeton University investigators have developed a new computational method that increases the ability to track the spread of cancer cells. Findings from the new study were published recently in Nature Genetics, in an article entitled “Inferring Parsimonious Migration Histories for Metastatic Cancers.” “Are there specific changes, or mutations, within these cells that allow them to migrate?” asked senior study investigator Ben Raphael, Ph.D., a professor of computer science at Princeton. “This has been one of the big mysteries.” In the current study, Raphael and his colleagues presented an algorithm that can track cancer metastasis by integrating DNA sequence data with information on where cells are located in the body. They call it MACHINA, which stands for metastatic and clonal history integrative analysis. “Our algorithm enables researchers to infer the past process of metastasis from DNA sequence data obtained at present,” Raphael noted. “The datasets we get these days are very complex, but complex data sets don't always require complex explanations.” The new technique yields a clearer picture of cancer migration histories than previous studies that relied on methods based on DNA sequences alone. Some of these studies inferred complex migration patterns that didn't reflect current knowledge of cancer biology. The Princeton team found that by simultaneously tracing cells' mutations and movements, MACHINA found that metastatic disease in some patients could result from fewer cellular migrations than previously thought. For example, in one breast cancer patient, a previously published analysis proposed that metastatic disease resulted from 14 separate migration events, while MACHINA suggested that a single secondary tumor in the lung seeded the remaining metastases through just five cell migrations. In addition to a breast cancer dataset, Dr. Raphael and his team applied their algorithm to analyze metastasis patterns from patients with melanoma, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Several additional features helped improve MACHINA's accuracy. The algorithm includes a model for the comigration of genetically different cells, based on experimental evidence that tumor cells can travel in clusters to new sites in the body. Moreover, it also accounts for the uncertainty in DNA data that comes from sequencing mixtures of genetically distinct tumor cells and healthy cells. This approach overcomes a number of challenges to draw meaningful conclusions from the “difficult-to-analyze, noisy” data that result from tumor DNA sequencing said Andrea Sottoriva, Ph.D., a fellow in evolution and cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, London. “I predict this new method will be of widespread use to the genomic community and will shed new light on the deadliest phase of cancer evolution.” MACHINA's development paves the way for a broader examination of metastasis patterns in large cohorts of cancer patients, which could reveal key mutations that cause different types of cancer to spread. Additionally, Raphael plans to make the method more powerful by incorporating data from tumor DNA and tumor cells that circulate in the bloodstream, as well as epigenetic changes—reversible chemical modifications of DNA. “A better algorithm is like a better microscope,” Raphael concluded. “When you look at nature with a magnifying glass, you may miss important details. If you look with a microscope, you can see much more.” Bioinformatics IDs 10 New Possible Breast Cancer Combination Therapies Seqster, Scripps Research Translational Institute to Study Data Impact on Healthcare... DNA and RNA Sequencing Technique Offers Hope to Drug-Resistant Multiple Myeloma...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2005
__label__cc	0.539766	0.460234	Medable unveils telemedicine solution only for clinical trials Shalini Nair 4 weeks ago The solution is designed to address critical trial barriers of low patient retention and lack of access. Credit: Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash US-based Medable has unveiled a telemedicine solution, called as Trial-Fit Telemedicine, only for clinical trials. The solution has been developed and designed to address critical trial barriers of low patient retention and lack of access. The Trial-Fit Telemedicine allows sites all over the world to carry out secure, HIPAA-compliant video consultations with clinical study participants in an integrated eCOA solution. Medable co-founder and CEO Dr. Michelle Longmire said: “Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster. Medable is building a globally connected research ecosystem in which every person in the world has the opportunity to benefit from cutting edge research. Telemedicine is an essential enabling technology in our mission to serve patients all over the world.” The solution is claimed to be an integrated, multi-language and globally supported site and patient telemedicine experience that allow clinicians to remotely care for, monitor and manage study participants in any location. Dr. Longmire continued: “Increasing access to trials is a top priority for Medable. 50% of trials do not achieve planned enrollment strategies… we are working to fix that.” The firm’s eClinical platform allows data-driven digital trials by making use of big data and analytics to identify patients and link them with trials powered by Medable eCOA solutions. Medable’s telemedicine solution enables life science, biotech and medical device companies to expand a study’s geographic reach for patient enrollment. Dr. Longmire added: “Digital technologies have the ability to revolutionize trials. Telemedicine can improve access, enrollment, and retention and is central to our strategy to reduce trial time, improve trial diversity, and enable an era of personalized medicine, which will require much broader study access and participation. Telemedicine is an important part of our strategy to make trials more representative and to radically reduce the time and cost, with the goal of getting effective therapies to patients faster.” Medable will launch this new telemedicine at this year’s Drug Information Association (DIA) global annual meeting to be held in San Diego from 23-27 June.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2008
__label__cc	0.572825	0.427175	Used Audi A6 in Pasadena, California Learn more about the Audi A6: Audi A6 Reviews, Pricing, Specs and more » Find used cars in Pasadena at CarsDirect.com. Known as being the cultural hub of the San Gabriel Valley, this 6th largest city in Los Angeles County is home to just about 150,000 citizens and contains thousands of used vehicles for those of us looking to find a better vehicle in our neighborhood. Whether you are looking for a used commuter vehicle to handle those early morning and late afternoon rush hours of Interstate 210 or the Ventura Freeways that run through the city, you will find the deal you are looking for on many makes and models available within the 23 mile city limits. Common maintenance issues to check for on used vehicles you are considering for purchase in this area are brakes, tires and alignment, as long term commuting on the Southern California highways can be tough on the life of a vehicle. However, with a mild climate that experiences mild wet winters and warm summers, the majority of cars in this area will not have suffered the severe weather conditions found in other localities of California. Pasadena, as host to the well known annual Rose Bowl football game and the Tournament of Roses Parade, offers you plenty to experience with your new used-car. Skip town and hit I-710 over to Long Beach and enjoy the coast, or head over to Hollywood and check out those famous stars on the sidewalk. Visit CarsDirect.com to locate all those great deals on used cars in Pasadena and feel confident that you will find that perfect car at the price you want today. 120 matches within 50 miles of 91184 (change) No Min1999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020 A3 e-tron (2) All-Wheel Drive (78) 6 Cylinder (27) Not Certified (116) CARFAX 1 Owner Photo Available 1 - 30 of 120 vehicles 2.0T Premium Plus Norm Reeves Honda Irvine Irvine, CA (43mi) 949-427-8185 55 Premium 4dr All-wheel Drive quattro Sedan Audi Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA (14mi) 424-281-5600 3.0T Premium Plus quattro Audi Calabasas Calabasas, CA (29mi) 747-204-0505 Universal City NissanSee Inventory Camino Real Chevrolet Monterey Park, CA (6mi) 626-800-6795 Commerce Mitsubishi COMMERCE, CA (11mi) 323-248-8055 Downey Hyundai DOWNEY, CA (14mi) 562-250-5907 STG Auto Group GARDEN GROVE, CA (29mi) 657-210-0589 Carvana Los Angeles, CA (10mi) 909-491-2676 Carvana Mission Hills, CA (19mi) 800-333-4554 Audi Downtown LA LOS ANGELES, CA (11mi) 323-238-5808 3.0T Prestige quattro J STAR CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM ANAHEIM, CA (29mi) 657-201-5438 3.0T Competition Prestige House of Imports, Inc. Buena Park, CA (21mi) 714-266-2115 Puente Hills Mitsubishi CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA (19mi) 833-375-4875 Audi West Covina WEST COVINA, CA (16mi) 626-412-0281 2.0T Premium 4dr Front-wheel Drive Sedan Audi Pacific TORRANCE, CA (24mi) 424-271-3834 Circle Audi LONG BEACH, CA (24mi) 562-317-8710 2.0T Premium 4dr All-wheel Drive quattro Sedan Premier Chevrolet BUENA PARK, CA (21mi) 714-576-6973 Santa Monica Audi Santa Monica, CA (21mi) 424-581-0016 Used Audi A6 Cars for Sale by Year in Pasadena, CA Used 2019 Audi A6 in Pasadena, CA (10 listings) Used 2018 Audi A6 in Pasadena, CA (5 listings) Similar Used Sedans for Sale in Pasadena, CA Used Lincoln Continental in Pasadena, CA (38 listings) Used Kia K900 in Pasadena, CA (6 listings) Used Acura RLX in Pasadena, CA (6 listings) Used Lexus GS in Pasadena, CA (62 listings) Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Pasadena, CA (180 listings) Used Volvo S90 in Pasadena, CA (14 listings) Used Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class in Pasadena, CA (150 listings) Used Jaguar XF in Pasadena, CA (31 listings) Used INFINITI Q70 in Pasadena, CA (15 listings) Used Audi A7 in Pasadena, CA (40 listings) Used Audi A6 Cars for Sale near Pasadena, CA Used Audi A6 in Buena Park, CA (137 listings) Used Audi A6 in Long Beach, CA (134 listings) Used Audi A6 in Downey, CA (128 listings) Used Audi A6 in Norwalk, CA (127 listings) Used Audi A6 in Beverly Hills, CA (122 listings) Used Audi A6 in Los Angeles, CA (119 listings) Used Audi A6 in Torrance, CA (118 listings) Used Audi A6 in Santa Monica, CA (117 listings) Used Audi A6 in Garden Grove, CA (109 listings) Used Audi A6 in Sherman Oaks, CA (107 listings) Used Audi A6 in Calabasas, CA (102 listings) Used Audi A6 in Santa Ana, CA (93 listings) Used Audi A6 in Valencia, CA (89 listings) Used Audi A6 in Ontario, CA (65 listings) Used Audi A6 in Palmdale, CA (27 listings)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2014
__label__cc	0.698092	0.301908	Home » What's New » CATIE News » Danish study underscores link between heart attacks and smoking CATIE News See all CATIE News Danish study underscores link between heart attacks and smoking Data from several observational studies have suggested that the increased risk for heart attacks among HIV-positive people may arise from the use of specific anti-HIV drugs or whole classes of such drugs. However, observational studies, no matter how large, can never provide definitive answers to research questions. In 2006, the results of a robustly designed clinical trial called SMART found that continuous potent combination anti-HIV therapy (commonly called ART or HAART) resulted in a reduced risk of death and a reduced risk for heart attacks compared to interrupting ART. Commenting on these and other studies, Line Rasmussen, MD, PhD (Odense University Hospital, Denmark), stated that “the mechanisms that drive the association between HIV and the risk of [heart attack] seem to rely on complex associations of known and unknown factors.” At least that seemed to be the case until now. The massive impact of smoking In general, smoking tobacco is one of the greatest risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks among HIV-negative people. As surveys have found that HIV-positive people tend to have higher rates of smoking (usually two to three times greater than among HIV-negative people), it is highly likely that smoking is a major contributor to poor health, including heart attacks, and reduced quality of life among HIV-positive people. In 2013 a Danish study with HIV-positive people found that smoking was linked to at least a four-fold increased risk of death and a more than five-fold increased risk of dying from causes unrelated to HIV. The same study found that among ART users smoking has a more significant impact on decreasing life expectancy than HIV. Smoking and heart attacks Spurred by these findings, Danish researchers have performed additional analyses of their data to understand the cardiovascular impact of smoking in HIV-positive people. They found that among HIV-positive people who never smoked there was no increased risk for heart attack compared to HIV-negative people who never smoked. However, among HIV-positive people who currently smoke, the risk of a heart attack was about three-fold greater than among HIV-negative smokers. The Danish researchers estimated that if the HIV-positive people in their study were to quit smoking, then at least 40% of heart attacks could be prevented. Resources for quitting smoking appear at the end of this CATIE News bulletin. The Danish researchers created a study called the Danish HIV Cohort, which has enrolled several thousand HIV-positive people and monitored their health for many years. The study team compared data collected from 3,251 HIV-positive participants and 13,004 HIV-negative people. Data from each HIV-positive person was compared with data from four HIV-negative people of similar age and gender. It is important to note that none of the participants injected street drugs (we will discuss this point later). Denmark has many high-quality databases that the study team accessed to confirm reports of heart attacks, hospitalizations and deaths that occurred. The researchers focused on the time period between 1st January 1999 and 1st April 2013. Researchers classified participants as smokers if they disclosed that they smoked tobacco at least once weekly. Researchers subdivided participants into different smoking categories, as follows: never smoked – 34% previously smoked – 19% current smokers – 47% HIV-negative The average profile of the HIV-positive participants when they entered the study was as follows: age – 45 years 79% men, 21% women Over the course of the study, heart attacks occurred and were distributed by HIV status as follows: HIV-positive people – 3% had a heart attack HIV-negative people – 1% had a heart attack Based on the above results alone, it would seem that HIV infection greatly increases the risk of a heart attack. However, the Danish researchers then took into account tobacco smoking—something that other data sets and observational studies have not always done. The distribution of heart attack risk among HIV-positive people (compared to HIV-negative people) is as follows: never smoked – no increased risk previously smoked – approximately a two-fold increased risk of a heart attack current smokers – approximately a three-fold increased risk of a heart attack The role of smoking and quitting Overall, researchers found that in HIV-positive people who were classed as “ever smokers” by the Danish team (this category includes both current and previous smokers), smoking played a role in 72% of heart attacks. In contrast, among HIV-negative people, smoking played a role in 24% of heart attacks. Researchers estimated that if HIV-positive current smokers in the study could quit smoking, more than 40% of heart attacks in this population “could potentially be prevented.” People who use street drugs The Danish researchers stated: “As almost all HIV-infected individuals with a history of [injecting street drugs] were smokers and differ considerably according to risk-taking behaviour and prevalence of co-morbidities, these individuals were excluded [from the present analysis] to avoid confounding.” This statement underscores the poor health prospects of people who inject street drugs. Furthermore, the statement points to the need for health and social service agencies to engage with people who use street drugs (injected or taken in other ways) so that their addiction treatment and mental and emotional health needs can be assessed and addressed. In this way, people who use street drugs can get help to stabilize their health, eventually recover from addiction (including nicotine addiction) and ultimately reap the full survival benefits of ART. Credit due The Danish researchers should be congratulated for uncovering a clear link between smoking and heart attacks among HIV-positive people. Their findings can be used to strengthen smoking cessation programs and related research. HIV-positive people were twice as likely as HIV-negative people to smoke. This finding is interesting and requires further research so that scientists and doctors can gain insight into the reasons for the greater prevalence of smoking. Hopefully such insight can assist smoking prevention and cessation programs for HIV-positive people. HIV-positive people who did not smoke had no increased risk of a heart attack compared to HIV-negative non-smokers. HIV-positive people who smoked had a three-fold increased risk of a heart attack compared to HIV-negative people who smoked. The research team estimated that smoking played a role in nearly 75% of heart attacks that occurred among HIV-positive people. The researchers also estimated that if all HIV-positive participants in the study who currently smoked were to quit, at least 40% of heart attacks could be prevented. Studies need to take smoking into account when conducting analyses of cardiovascular risk in people with HIV. How to Say “I Quit” and Mean It – The Positive Side Understanding Tobacco Addiction – CATIE News Smoking cessation: Innovative group therapy-centred support found to double quit rate – CATIE News Varenicline – An Ontario study assesses safety in HIV-positive people – CATIE News Quit smoking – Health Canada Smoking and tobacco – Canadian Cancer Society Smoking & tobacco – Canadian Lung Association Tobacco and your health – Santé et services sociaux Québec Up in Smoke - The ifs, ands or buts of butting out –The Positive Side HIV and cardiovascular disease – CATIE fact sheet To prevent heart attacks, researchers encourage quitting tobacco – CATIE News —Sean R. Hosein Gill MJ, Costagliola D. Myocardial infarction in HIV-infected persons: Time to focus on the silent elephant in the room? Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015; in press. Rasmussen LD, Helleberg M, May M, et al. Myocardial infarction among Danish HIV-infected individuals: Population attributable fractions associated with smoking. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015; in press. Lohse N, Hansen AB, Pedersen G, et al. Survival of persons with and without HIV infection in Denmark, 1995-2005. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2007 Jan 16;146(2):87-95. Samji H, Cescon A, Hogg RS, et al. Closing the gap: increases in life expectancy among treated HIV-positive individuals in the United States and Canada. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 18;8(12):e81355. May MT, Gompels M, Delpech V, et al. Impact on life expectancy of HIV-1 positive individuals of CD4+ cell count and viral load response to antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2014 May 15;28(8):1193-202. Lohse N, Gerstoft J, Kronborg G, et al. Comorbidity acquired before HIV diagnosis and mortality in persons infected and uninfected with HIV: a Danish population-based cohort study. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2011 Aug 1;57(4):334-9.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2015
__label__cc	0.694137	0.305863	You are here: Home / Film Reviews / Two For Joy Two For Joy 4 stars☆☆☆☆☆ 22nd February 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment For the widowed Aisha (Samantha Morton) grief itself has become the driving force, rather than the reaction; with her family caught in an enervating circle of misery where the sheer exhaustion of getting through the day prevents them from escaping. It needs a huge catalyst to kick them off the repetitive cycle onto a different path so they can finally move forward. This is the first film from photographer Tom Beard, and though it is at times unutterably sad, it’s beautifully made with superb performances that get to the heart of each character’s pain, and the strategies they use to hide from it. Aisha’s days are spent in bed, with maybe an hour on the sofa in the evening. Son Troy (Badger Skelton) is excluded from school. He looks about 8 but spends his days out alone, on his bike and fishing. He’s angry and lost but always throws the fish back in when he’s caught them. Violet (Emilia Jones) is already mothering her mother, except at the very start of the film where on the last day of school before their exams she and her friends indulge in that time-honoured tradition of writing all over each other’s school shirts. It’s a last touch of childhood for her, and the end of her safety net. She’s not just looking after her mum though, and has taken on too much, trying to manage the little things that don’t really matter. When Troy comes in soaking wet from a thunderstorm she berates him for treading water through the house when that’s the least of their worries. Aisha’s long curly hair is a wall to hide behind and her fluffy dressing gown a physical comfort as she huddles on the sofa, clutching it round her. At night she sobs – not acceptable crying but those guttural sounds like a wounded animal. The doctor gives her pills to postpone when anyone will actually have to tackle her grief; Vi rages at not being told. Morton is extraordinary, Aisha’s mental pain emerging in physical ways, but it seeps around them all rather than draining away. It’s Vi who needles her mum into taking them down to their dad’s caravan for the weekend, which has been lying empty since his death. Her mum has to get dressed though packing is almost beyond her as she stares blank-faced at her empty suitcase. Down at the coast it’s windswept and cold, the embodiment of a hoped-for “change of scene” being a good thing even when it’s rainy and the waves are lashing the pebbly beach, if it can nudge Aisha out of her sadness or simply give them a breathing space away from the same four walls. The place is almost deserted, the games room bleak with its pool table and stack of tatty games in a corner. The only people around are manager Lias (Daniel Mays), his sister Lillah (Billie Piper) and Lillah’s daughter Miranda (Bella Ramsey), who is about 12. Lillah has trouble with Miranda’s dad, having shrieky phone calls as she wanders the caravan park, drinking red wine and smoking, and then arguing with her brother about his own absent kid. (At least she and Aisha are with their children.) Piper is superb as the highly strung Lillah, keeping busy with her tangled relationships as an avoidance tactic. She’s the kind of mother who wants to do better but has already left it too late, so makes up for it by giving advice to other people in the sort of performance parenting where your own offspring don’t even need to be there. “You can’t keep ’em on a leash. Kids need to make mistakes, that’s what makes them stronger” says Lillah, who doesn’t know where her daughter is. Miranda is utterly lost but every cry for help is drenched in such lip-curling contempt and unfocussed rage that the adults who should help her don’t and can’t. Despite Aisha’s night-time sobbing it’s Miranda who is the wounded animal. She and Troy strike up a friendship, two lost souls. It’s a incredible performance from Bella Ramsey, a character transformed into an embodiment of pain – in a film crammed with excellent performances, she blazes. Violet at least gets to be a teenager again, she thinks, as safety in numbers mean she can stop being mum to everyone plus her mum. There’s a scene where she, Troy and Miranda are dropped off by Lias at a funfair in the local town. Violet is on one of those rides that holds you against the inside of a spinning circle. She starts off looking scared but enjoying it, at last a thrill but with a literal safety barrier, just how teenagers should experience the world. Soon though she’s becoming increasingly scared and out of control but can’t get off until it finishes. And anyway, everyone has become so reliant on Violet that it becomes impossible for her to relinquish responsibility even if she wants to (Emilia Jones is very good; Vi is out of her depth as a mother figure, as are all the actual mums in the film). When disaster strikes it’s horrifying but not really unexpected. Two For Joy is noisy: the loud sea and the thunderstorm and the shouting. Sometimes it sounds natural and at other times like a drumbeat in their heads. Grief is noisy, that’s one of the reasons it can be so hard to escape it. The two homes – Aisha’s estate and Lias’s coastal caravan park – are equally bleak. They aren’t shot with the washed-out beauty you sometimes get in this country. There’s none of the bracing cold and wind that makes a freezing day at the seaside actually a good thing. The lights are always chillingly bright, with little warmth; whether Aisha’s home, clean but sparse, or the brash colours of the town’s arcades swapping to the weird lights of a drug trip as stolen prescription meds take effect, and Miranda’s flashing-lights necklace. This is an often melancholic film, though a hugely affecting and very realistic one – whose characters, when they find they can move themselves forwards, do so tiny steps. Two For Joy is available from 25 February 2019 on VOD from Amazon UK Watch the trailer for Two For Joy: Tom Beard Billie Piper \| Daniel Mays \| Samantha Morton Drama \| Indie Filed Under: Film Reviews, Support Indie Film Tagged With: beach, bereavement, carers, children, death, families, holiday	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2017
__label__wiki	0.855588	0.855588	Arrow EP Reveals the Two Lines The Show Will Never Cross by Vincent Yeung Over the course of five seasons, "Arrow" has seen major characters travel across the globe and weave in and out of the narrative. However, executive producer Marc Guggenheim revealed to Entertainment Weekly that there are some places Team Arrow will never go. "There's two lines in the sand that I’ve drawn for "Arrow" for myself," he explained. "I can't speak for Greg [Berlanti] or for Wendy [Mericle], but for as long as I'm involved with the show, the two things I never want to do is kill off Thea [Willa Holland] and put Felicity in a mask and a costume. Those, to me, are two lines that I just think are a bridge too far. Thea, because we've taken so many family members away from Oliver, and Felicity because when you put a character like that in a costume, I think it diminishes who that character is and it makes the idea of superheroics seem silly." RELATED: Arrow: Felicity Will Soon Meet The Mysterious Leader of Helix "Doomworld," this week's "Legends of Tomorrow," saw an alternate reality version of Felicity Smoak donning a superhero mask of her own. Nevertheless, Guggenheim reiterated multiple times that he has no intention to ever put Felicity in mask and costume on "Arrow." "Arrow" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. The show stars Stephen Amell as the Green Arrow, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Paul Blackthorne as Quentin Lance, and Echo Kellum as Curtis Holt. Tags: arrow Melissa Benoist Says Supergirl Gets A Major Costume Overhaul in Season 5 The Witcher: Netflix Debuts First Photo of Roach Game of Thrones Prequel Set Photos Reveal New House Sigil	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2018
__label__cc	0.54042	0.45958	3D Game Art Marvel Powers United VR (Unreal 4) Obduction (Unreal 4) Paradise (Unity 3.5) Shattered Might (Unity 5) Game Jams Sandbox Alchemy Game Design Study Resource Dragon Dance, 2013 This past weekend, I participated in Molyjam, an annual event where game creators of all kinds are challenged to build game prototypes over a period of 48 hours. These games are to be inspired by the tweets of Molydeux, a twitter personality designed as a spoof of Peter Molyneux. (Thanks again to Anna Kipnis and the folks who made this incredible event possible.) Dragon Dance is a rhythm game (prototype) developed with Unity3D for Oculus Rift. In this game, you take on the role of a daring knight who must control and tame a fierce dragon with the rhythmic swish of your sword and shield. Our team included: Gregory Romine (Astrophysicist at NASA) - Programmer Andrew Gaubatz (Software Engineer at Kabam) - Programmer Angelo Hizon (Art Director at VastApps Inc) - 3D artist and animator Anthony Aiello (UI Designer at Revel Systems - tristamus.com/) - 3D artist extraordinaire Celeste Gamble (UI Artist at TopHatter) - Creature artist and animator Robin Yukiko (Music Professional) - Musician The idea for this ambitious project was put forth by Angelo, a fellow game jammer with whom I have worked in the past. Originally, the hope was to create a 3D game that used both the Oculus Rift and motion capture technology via web cam. Although most of the team had never worked with the Oculus Rift device before, implementing it proved to be rather straight-forward. However, we did not, in the end, have time to fully implement the motion gameplay, so a controller was used instead. (A special thanks to programmer Kyle Lowry for his attempts.) Also due to the tight time constraints of the Game Jam, the majority of our art efforts were focused on the creation of the 3D hero character and dragon, which needed to be modeled, textured, rigged and animated. Therefore most of the environment assets are not original to our game, but serve as placeholders only, to give an idea of a potential space. And of course, a rhythm game would not be a rhythm game without awesome music, for which we can thank Robin Yukiko. All and all, it was a exhilarating and challenging learning experience! This game is even more cool when you’re wearing the Oculus Rift device, of course.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2019
__label__wiki	0.680456	0.680456	Quest Software Targets MSPs with Expanded Partner Program MSPs get tiered discounts and rebate options for some services from Quest's data protection unit. Quest Software, which provides global systems management, data protection and security software, has unveiled new programs, incentives and opportunities for MSPs within its Partner Circle program. With the Partner Circle program, MSPs can help customers optimize, manage and protect all machines across mixed hypervisor, hybrid or virtual environments. In addition, they can enable customers to back up, replicate and recover to and from private and public clouds. Full systems, applications and data also can be recovered with no impact on end users, and MSPs can use predictive cost analysis to migrate customers to the cloud with confidence and accuracy, according to Quest. John O’Boyle, Quest’s director of marketing and channels, says with data growing exponentially and expected to do so for many years to come, managing this data is becoming increasingly difficult for organizations to do on their own. Quest’s John O’Boyle “As such, we are seeing more and more organizations reaching out to third-party service providers to help manage their data for them,” he said. “We are also seeing that across consumer and business markets, more and more people are moving toward subscription-based, services-based business models.” Quest has been working with MSPs for years and has a “strong track record of helping MSPs grow their businesses and increase their service offerings that are technically and commercially viable,” O’Boyle said. “We continually listen to our partners and MSPs, and have heard that they want more from vendors when it comes to delivering the technology solutions to better support the needs of their customers,” he said. “MSPs, particularly, are seeking more tailored programs built specifically for them, such as a dedicated MSP program, license model, sales team, product features and more. In light of this, we made the decision to expand upon the existing Quest Partner Circle Program and launch a new MSP component that enables MSPs to benefit from all of the advantages currently offered by being part of [the program], but also the additional benefits that come from being part of our MSP program.” With the program expansion, MSPs now benefit from tiered discounts and rebate options – as eligible – for several products and solutions from Quest’s data protection business unit. Additionally, MSPs will receive support from Quest executive management, have access to self-paced and instructor-led training, and have enhanced visibility in Quest partner locator. “Existing partners are able to enter the services market more easily with less upfront investment,” O’Boyle said. “This is made possible by our subscription-based, pay-as you-grow license model. Traditional resellers can very easily add a new services offer to their portfolio with less investment and risk.” In addition, new MSPs can ramp up their revenue and profit faster than expected, he said. “This is made possible because we have a dedicated team of commercial and technical reps who spend 100 percent of their time supporting our new MSPs in helping them ramp up faster,” O’Boyle said. “Whether that be helping them with product training, quoting, billing, marketing [and son on], we have a dedicated team of people that are MSP specialists committed to helping our MSPs be successful.” Existing MSPs can expand their current services and add new revenue streams to their business through … Tags: MSPs Channel Programs Cloud Data Centers Sales & Marketing Strategy Virtualization Sales & Marketing Virtualization Why Cloud Service Providers Are Fundamentally Changing and IT Vendors Need to Do The Same Vendors are part of a broader system that requires compatibility, transportability, integration and technology choice. Onepath Named 2019 MSP 501 Kaseya Partner of the Year Congrats to OnePath for the Kaseya/MSP 501 distinction. Pax8 Snags Intelisys' Andrew Pryfogle Pax8 has hired Andrew Pryfogle to help spur MSP-agent channel convergence. Channel Futures Launches 501er Community, Names Community Builders MSP 501 Profile: Fidelis Says It's All About Process Bitdefender Revamps MSP Program for 'Fast-Changing Threat Landscape' Alert Logic: Channel Holds Key to Cloud Security	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2023
__label__wiki	0.976425	0.976425	Bangladesh sink Afghanistan after Shakib brilliance Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 62 runs in a Cricket World Cup match to register their third win in the tournament on Monday. Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - Bangladesh v Afghanistan - The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Britain - June 24, 2019 Bangladesh's Liton Das celebrates with team mates after taking the catch to dismiss Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley 7 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 24 Jun 2019 09:41PM (Updated: 25 Jun 2019 02:45AM ) SOUTHAMPTON, England: Bangladesh talisman Shakib Al Hasan reclaimed his position as the World Cup's leading scorer after producing a stellar all-round display to secure his team's 62-run victory against Afghanistan on Monday. Put in to bat, Bangladesh posted a strong 262 for seven on a slow track after Shakib, who made 51, forged half-century partnerships with Tamim Iqbal (36) and Mushfiqur Rahim (83). The left-arm spinner went on to return the tournament's best bowling figures of 5-29 as Afghanistan, all out for 200 in 47 overs, succumbed to their seventh defeat in a row in the tournament. Bangladesh are now fifth in the table with seven points from seven matches, one behind hosts and pre-tournament favourites England who have played one game fewer. "Shakib's been fantastic. He's scoring runs and whenever we need (it) he is getting us wickets," Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said after their third win in the tournament. "We will try our level best (in the next matches against Pakistan and India), that's all I can say to the fans." NEW BALL Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib won the toss and elected to field two days after his team's narrow defeat by India, which was also at the Hampshire Bowl. As has been their practice, off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman began with the new ball and tasted success in his third over when Liton Das drove him to short cover. Mohammad Nabi breached Tamim's defence and Afghanistan nearly had two-in-two after Shakib was adjudged lbw to Rashid Khan in the first ball of the next over. The batsman immediately asked for a review and got the decision overturned after the ball-tracker confirmed the ball would have sailed over the stumps. Shakib added 61 runs with Mushfiqur but Mujeeb dismissed him and Soumya Sarkar in a two-wicket burst to peg back Bangladesh. Shakib's fifth 50-plus score in six innings contained just one four, illustrating the slowness of the track where boundaries were a rarity. He now has 476 runs in the tournament, leapfrogging Australian opener David Warner (447), after yet another stellar performance. Mushfiqur brought up his fifty with the only six of the Bangladesh innings and also hit four boundaries. STRONG START After sending down 10 overs of medium pace, Naib returned half an hour later to give Afghanistan a strong, if not flying, start. He and Rahmat Shah helped Afghanistan inch towards the 50-mark when Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza introduced Shakib and the left-arm spinner struck with his fifth delivery. Shah attempted a timid pull shot which found Tamim at mid-on and departed for 24. Shakib derailed Afghanistan's chase in the 29th over when he dismissed Naib for 47 and, two balls later, sent back the scoreless Nabi. The match was effectively over when former captain Asghar Afghan fell to Shakib in the 33rd over. Samiullah Shinwari made a defiant 49 not out down the order but was left stranded. "Today we missed something in the fielding, and gave 30-40 runs extra," said a rueful Naib. "The wicket was slow, it helped the spinners. But it wasn't that helpful in the second innings." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in Southampton; editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ken Ferris)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2024
__label__wiki	0.849712	0.849712	Britain's Hammond 'prepared to resign' over May's spending plans: Report Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond visits Sensor City in Liverpool, Britain, Feb 1, 2019. (Photo: Reuters) 18 Jun 2019 12:14PM (Updated: 18 Jun 2019 12:27PM ) LONDON: British finance minister Philip Hammond is "prepared to resign" over Prime Minister Theresa May's legacy spending plans, ITV said on Tuesday (Jun 18), citing the Press Association. Senior government sources told the Press Association that tension between officials at the Treasury and the prime minister's office had reached boiling point over May's spending intentions, according to ITV. READ: 10 candidates nominated to succeed British PM May May’s intention to spend up to £9 billion (US$11.3 billion) each year on education over three years, including plans to build new schools and pay teachers higher wages have sparked tension, it said, citing a well-placed source. May's chancellor, Hammond opposes those plans and is prepared to resign, in what would be an extraordinary move just weeks before the PM leaves office, it added. The British government is understood to be asking Hammond to free up money from the £26.6 billion "war chest" he set aside in case of a no-deal Brexit to fund the plans, according to the report. READ: Brexit hardliner Johnson tops first-round vote for British PM READ: UK PM front-runner Johnson pledges to 'end the digital divide' by 2025 Theresa May resigned as the Conservative party's leader on Jun 7 but said she would stay on as prime minister until the leadership contest was concluded. Boris Johnson, a former London mayor and foreign minister, is way out in front in the race to become party leader and despite so far deciding to steer clear of debates with his rivals, his popularity has yet to be dented. Source: Reuters/ic	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2025
__label__cc	0.552054	0.447946	Home > Apps > Betvictor App Betvictor App Review & Download Guide Review of Betvictor App Bonus: Bet £5 get £30 Speed: Super Fast Stability: Highly Reliable Bet £5 get £30! New Customers only. Deposit & place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only (1 at odds 2.00 or greater), expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 40x to withdraw winnings. Credit or Debit card only. Geo Restrictions. T&Cs Apply. Betvictor are one of the best known online bookmakers, and in this review we’ll be looking at if their mobile app lived up to their overall reputation. We’ll look at every aspect of their app, from how to download it to how the £30 bonus you can claim works, and will ultimately explain why we’ve awarded the Betvictor app a five star rating. If you do open a new Betvictor account and download their app, you can benefit from a bonus worth £30 when you bet just £5 as a new customer. It’s a belter of a bonus and one of the best around (T&C's apply, 18+, New customers only.). What Users Think?! What We Think?! How To Download Betvictor On Your Phone To use the Betvictor app you need to open an account – get a Betvictor account & bet £5 to get a £30 bonus! (T&C's apply, 18+, New customers only.) If using any iOS device (iPhone or iPad) just open the app store, search ‘Betvictor app’ and download it to your phone. If using an Android device hit up the Google Play store, search app and download. Once downloaded log into the app using the new account you created. Make a deposit, done in the ‘my account’ section, and you’re ready to start betting! Note: all other device types can use the optimised Betvictor mobile site to place bets, as only iOS and android versions of the app are available. New Customer Bonus: Bet £5 Get £30 What New Customers Get Customers signing up for a brand new Betvictor account, are eligible for the bookmaker’s new customer bonus. That bonus is worth a total of £30, split across sportsbook 2x £10 free bets and £10 in casino bonus funds. With a value of 600% on the trigger bet it’s a sweet deal. Claim your bet £5 get £30 bonus here! T&C's apply, 18+, New customers only. How To Release Bonus In order to release and be able to use their £30 worth of bonus funds, a brand new Betvictor customer must create their account, make a deposit, opt in to the new customer promotion when prompted and then place a qualifying sportsbook bet. Such a bet must be worth at least £5, be placed at odds of evens (2.0) or greater and be placed within seven days of the customer having opened their new account. If and when any winnings result from the use of the 2x £10 free bets, those winnings will not include the return of the free bet stake itself. The winnings which are returned, however, are able to be withdrawn immediately if so desired. The £10 casino bonus funds, on the other hand, are subject to wagering requirements before any withdrawals are possible. A customer must have wagered an amount equal to at least 40 times the initial bonus amount (£400). The percentage contribution toward the requirements for each type of game does differ however. Slots, scratch cards and numbers games contribute 100%; roulette, table games and video poker contribute 20%; blackjack and craps contribute 10% and Casino War contributes 5%. Full T&C’s apply, see Betvictor website for details. Key Features of the Betvictor Mobile App Just like the other major online bookmakers, Betvictor have clearly devoted a lot of time and attention to their mobile app. The result is a sleek, easy on the eye example which allows punters to quickly and easily place all kinds of wagers with the minimum of fuss. Those bets can be accessed in a number of user-friendly ways, with major sports having a direct link from the home page, ‘trending bets’ always featured on that same page and a full A-Z list of available sports accessible via just one tap. In short, the Betvictor app has a number of outstanding features that punters are sure to love: Popular and ‘trending bets’ can be added to a betslip with one tap from the app’s main page, whilst particular sports and events can be easily located via the app’s attractive and intuitive interface. An excellent in-play betting service forms a major part of the Betvictor mobile app and offers a wide array of different live betting markets. Live horse races from the UK and Ireland, as well as races from South Africa, can be streamed live through the Betvictor mobile app as long as the punter in question has placed a bet worth at least £1 on the race they wish to watch. Ongoing and event-specific promotions and offers are regularly run by Betvictor and can be quickly and easily claimed through their mobile app. Betvictor’s innovative ‘Betfinder’ tool provides an easy and fun way to find the perfect horse for you to back, by allowing you to select a range of different criteria. Get the app & bet £5 get £30 bonus! Licence & Company Info Betvictor Ltd is an independent bookmaker which has roots dating back to the opening of the Walthamstow Stadium greyhound track in 1931 by William Chandler. From those origins, a bookmaking company was eventually founded in 1946 and was named after its initial chairman, Victor Chandler, who was one of William’s five sons. A number of name changes occurred through the years, before Betvictor was adopted in 2012. In 1998, the company which had always remained based in the UK, was moved offshore and established new headquarters in Gibraltar. It is for that reason that the company is today licensed both by the UK Gambling Commission (number 000-039576-R-319370-007) and by the Government of Gibraltar. It is the former licence which allows Betvictor to serve UK based customers, whilst the latter caters for international punters. On both the App Store and the Play Store, the Betvictor app has a rating of between four and five stars (AppStore 4.5 & PlayStore 4.3), with the majority of reviews having provided a five star rating. The most common reason given by users for those lofty ratings is the user-friendliness of Betvictor on moible and how simple it makes it to find and to place bets. In each case, the app’s overall rating is general pulled down by a handful of one star ratings. More often than not, those ratings are given by users who have a problem with the terms and conditions or requirements attached to Betvictor’s new customer bonus and who, therefore, seem not to have read them before signing up. Does our Beictor app review align with what users think? Betvictor are a bookmaker that we use regularly and often recommend to other punters. Their mobile app offering, too, is excellent and that is why we have awarded it our highest possible five star rating. It is clear to see that Betvictor have taken loads of time and effort over their apps’ user interfaces, and the result is a mobile offering which is unquestionably one of the easiest to use and quickest to learn. The Betvictor app, too, offers an outstanding breadth of sport, event and market options which essentially mirrors those available via the bookmaker’s desktop site. Those options also extend to in-play betting, which is very well catered for through a dedicated in-play section included within the app. On top of all of that, too, the Betvictor mobile app introduces a couple of innovative extra features like the company’s ‘Betfinder’ tool for locating horse racing wagers. One slight weakness of the Betvictor mobile offering, as compared to the apps of some of their major competitors, comes in the area of live streaming. It is only horses races that can be streamed through the Betvictor mobile app, after all, and only as and when a punter has placed a bet on the given race. This is also true of Betvictor’s desktop site, however, so is not really a criticism that can be levelled specifically at the bookmaker’s mobile apps. Get app & Bet £5 get £30! Is the Betvictor Android App Different to their iOS App? Aside from the fact that the two different versions of the Betvictor mobile app are obviously able to be used by different mobile devices, there isn’t really a functional difference between them. Each have the same main features and offer the same excellent mobile betting service to their users. Where the apps can differ, however, is in some minor elements of their design as they have been designed to best suit the different devices on which they can be displayed. Is There a Blackberry App? As things stand, there is not a Blackberry specific version of the Betvictor app for users of Blackberry operated mobile devices to download. Fortunately, however, the Betvictor mobile site can be quickly and easily accessed by visiting betvictor.com via such a device’s web browser and that site is designed to be virtually identical to the bookmaker’s downloadable apps. Is There a Windows Mobile App? In the same way as there isn’t a specific downloadable app for Blackberry users, there is also not a dedicated Windows Mobile app. As we mentioned above, however, Betvictor’s mobile site is designed to be just as user-friendly and comprehensive as their downloadable apps, and can be accessed simply by heading to betvictor.com in your device’s web browser. How Can I Fund My Account? As things stand, Betvictor currently only allow deposits via debit or credit card through their mobile apps, with a wider range of deposit options available through their desktop site. To deposit by card, all you need to do is to head to the ‘My Account’ area of the app, then select ‘Add new card’ and enter your card details. Once you’ve done that, you can select the ‘Deposit’ option from the ‘My Account’ page and make a deposit simply by inputting how much you wish to deposit and the CV2 number from your chosen card. Can I Self-Exclude on the App? Major, respected bookmakers such as Betvictor take responsible gambling very seriously, and as such it is indeed possible to self-exclude through the Betvictor mobile app. In order to do so, you need simply access the Betvictor help centre and search of ‘self-exclusion’. That will take you to a page featuring a link to a self-exclusion form, which you can then fill out in order to complete the self-exclusion process. Alternatively, you can also send an email to exclusion@betvictor.com or speak to the company’s customer service staff via their live chat facility. What Languages are Available? The Betvictor mobile app is only available to download in English. There is an option within the app’s main menu, however, which allows you to change the language of the app to German. This can be done by opening the main menu, tapping ‘Settings’, and then choosing ‘Deutsch’ from the languages drop down menu. What Security Measures Are In Place? Betvictor, just like all major online bookmakers, understand the importance of cyber security to all customers. For that reason, their mobile apps are password protected and all financial details and transactions carried out through the apps are protected by industry standard encryption. Identity verification and other similar processes may also be carried out from time to time, in order to further ensure the validity of transactions and thus the safety and security of punters and their funds. Betvictor review – full review of the Betvictor bookmakers Betvictor bonus – details of the new customer offer 4.5 Star Stan James Best By Phone	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2027
__label__wiki	0.902367	0.902367	Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies Chris Knight: The film is preaching to the choir; no one who disagrees with its central tenet will be watching Chris Knight More from Chris Knight Ashley Bratcher (far right) in Unplanned. Pure Flix The newest morality tale from American production company Pure Flix (God’s Not Dead, The Case for Christ, A Question of Faith, etc.) tells the story of Abby Johnson (Ashley Bratcher), a clinic director for Planned Parenthood who resigned in 2009 and subsequently became a staunch anti-abortion activist. Well, that did happen. But the script by co-director Cary Solomon, based on Johnson’s memoirs, turns what could have been a fascinating philosophical turnaround into a simplistic piece of U.S. religious/political agitprop. Abby is portrayed as relentlessly sunny and a devout Christian, while Cheryl (Robia Scott), her boss at the clinic, is a snarling villain who wants to abort every pregnancy she sees. When Abby asks why the clinic is pushing to double the number of abortions it provides – which also happens to be a falsehood about the way the non-profit, reproductive health care provider operates – Cheryl explains that it’s like the fries and soft drinks that fast-food restaurants use to turn a profit. “Abortion is our fries and sodas,” she hisses. “Abortion is what pays for our salaries.” In any case, Abby’s change of heart – her road to Damascus moment, if you will – doesn’t ring true from a narrative point of view. Despite working at the clinic for years, and even observing the removed “products of conception” with detached, scientific fascination, she freaks out while watching an ultrasound during an abortion. If that’s how it went down – and the court case that followed, dealt with quickly and tidily in the film, suggests otherwise – then make me believe it. Is going to the theatre now reserved for big-budget blockbusters alone? How two female writers were pushed out of Idris Elba’s debut play Tree Unplanned doesn’t. But none of this matters, because the film is preaching to the choir; no one who disagrees with its central tenet will be watching. And even if presented to a mixed audience, Unplanned is neither smart enough to rally anyone to its cause, nor dumb enough to alienate those who believe its message. As propaganda, therefore, it’s basically useless. And as cinema, it’s poorly made. But you have a freedom of choice as to whether or not to see it.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2030
__label__wiki	0.928684	0.928684	Man, 21, is charged after 'punching a nine-foot hammerhead shark to death on a beach' - despite his claims he was trying to perform 'lifesaving CPR' on the fish A man has been charged for punching a shark to death in Panama, Florida Granger Ray Wooten, 21, of Lafayette, Georgia, was charged over incident Wooten and a friend were spotted near the pier at St Andrews State Park The 21-year-old initially denied punching the animal when confronted He then admitted to doing so, but said he was performing 'shark CPR' By Dailymail.com Reporter Published: 19:03 EDT, 23 November 2016 \| Updated: 19:16 EDT, 23 November 2016 A man charged for illegally catching a shark and punching it to death before posing for pictures with the lifeless animal has claimed he was trying to 'resuscitate it and get the air out of its lungs'. Granger Ray Wooten, 21, of Lafayette, Georgia, was spotted by officers near a pier in St Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida, on October 24. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers were in the area after receiving a tip-off that two men had caught a nine-foot hammerhead shark while fishing and dragged it to the shore. When the officers arrived, they saw Wooten with one arm around the shark's head and he was punching it with the other, the Panama City News Herald reports. A man has been charged for illegally catching a hammerhead shark and punching it to death before posing for pictures with the lifeless animal (stock image) 'The white male had his left arm around the shark’s head and was punching it repeatedly in the stomach,' witness Robert Petty wrote in a sworn statement given to the FWC. Petty's statement also claimed that Wooten and another man dragged the dying fish farther onto shore in order to allow a young child to sit on top of it for a photo. Cannibal frat boy who killed a couple then ate the man's... Chattanooga school bus driver did not have drugs or alcohol... White man accused of shooting dead a black 15-year-old after... The stunning image that sent the internet into a spin: Can... Wooten admitted to catching the shark when officers questioned him, but he originally denied having punched the animal. However, when he was quizzed further on the incident after the officers saw the shark's lifeless body floating under the pier, the 21-year-old said he was trying to save the animal by hitting it. Granger Ray Wooten, 21, of Lafayette, Georgia, was spotted by officers near a pier in St Andrews State Park (pictured) in Panama City, Florida, on October 24 'Mr. Wooten then changed his story and attempted to explain to me that he was punching the shark around the stomach area to get the air out of its lungs,' an FWC officer wrote in a statement, according to the News Herald. 'Then he said, "It’s kinda like doing CPR on a shark." I explained to Mr. Wooten that if he wanted to revive the shark all he had to do was run water through the shark’s gills.' The 21-year-old has been charged with taking a prohibited species, and is due to be arrainge on December 7. The friend he was allegedly with has not been charged. DailyMail.com contacted Wooten for comment, but he denied. FWC: Man cited after punching hammerhead - News - Panama City News Herald - Panama City, FL Man charged for 'punching a shark to death' on a beach in Florida	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0011.json.gz/line2039

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.