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In April 2016, computer technicians at the Democratic National Committee discovered that someone had accessed the organization's computer servers and conducted a theft that is best described as Watergate 2.0. In the weeks that followed, the nation's top computer security experts discovered that the cyber thieves had helped themselves to everything: sensitive documents, emails, donor information, even voice mails.
Soon after, the remainder of the Democratic Party machine, the congressional campaign, the Clinton campaign, and their friends and allies in the media were also hacked. Credit card numbers, phone numbers, and contacts were stolen. In short order, the FBI found that more than 25 state election offices had their voter registration systems probed or attacked by the same hackers.
Western intelligence agencies tracked the hack to Russian spy agencies and dubbed them the Cyber Bears. The media was soon flooded with the stolen information channeled through Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. It was a massive attack on America but the Russian hacks appeared to have a singular goal - elect Donald J. Trump as president of the United States.
New York Times best-selling author and career intelligence officer Malcolm Nance's fast paced real-life spy thriller takes you from Vladimir Putin's rise through the KGB from junior officer to spymaster-in-chief and spells out the story of how he performed the ultimate political manipulation - convincing Donald Trump to abandon 70 years of American foreign policy including the destruction of NATO, cheering the end of the European Union, allowing Russian domination of Eastern Europe, and destroying the existing global order with America at its lead.
The Plot to Hack America is the thrilling true story of how Putin's spy agency, run by the Russian billionaire class, used the promise of power and influence to cultivate Trump as well as his closest aides, the Kremlin Crew, to become unwitting assets of the Russian government. The goal? To put an end to 240 years of free and fair American democratic elections. |
by Sarah Defors
I was originally a GSC member from the Los Angeles area for nearly 3 years and then…I moved to Nashville and I WORK at GSC. I’ve recently passed 3 months of living and working in Nashville full time. There are so many wonderful things I’ve learned, especially working behind the scenes at GSC. Sheree has asked me to share my observations from the perspective of being a member of GSC from LA to being right in the middle of the magic of Music City, the business and industry events and showcases. Now that I am working behind the scenes with Sheree, this article could go on and on. But, here are a few highlights I think everyone can benefit from professionally, creatively, and personally. I trust it will be of service to you:
1. Please, please, please ALWAYS come prepared.
Even if you’re great at winging it, do the extra little work to plan for whatever is coming! One unexpected thing can throw you off, as I just had reaffirmed in a publisher meeting; but, being prepared can put you right back on track. Nobody ever said “Wow, I wish I was less prepared.”
2. Know how to read the room.
This comes in so many different forms. If it doesn’t come naturally, Google is your friend. Read up on body language and cues. Writers, peers, audiences, and ESPECIALLY industry professionals will give you cues when they’re done with a conversation/meeting, when a certain vibe song doesn’t fit the energy of the room, when they are giving you an opportunity to play a song or talk about yourself, and when it may not be the time to talk business, etc. I’ve seen nerves (especially not being prepared) make someone totally not pick up on a cue, have a meeting go way too long, and not even let the publisher talk. Don’t have that be your first impression.
3. Lift up others.
Sometimes the best first impression you can make is to sit back, listen to your peers or industry pro’s, engage and listen, and compliment people where it is deserved. Make sure the compliment is TRUE; we can tell if you’re just flattering for flattery’s sake. Make sure to take your time to shine when it comes up, but don’t take someone else’s moment by talking over them or interjecting.
4. For the love of Johnny Cash, Brand Yourself.
POP pitches have been incredibly educational for me in many ways, but I couldn’t have imagined how much work they are to prepare for. Please send your music on time and try not to change the songs last minute. If you do, we have to change the PowerPoint, song sheet, and playlist. Please attach your bio, photo, lyrics (IN WORD DOC FORMAT) and mp3’s in one email. If you don’t, we either have to search through thousands of files to hopefully find an old lyric, bio, or recording, or you just won’t have a bio or lyric for the publisher, which looks bad. If everyone else’s lyrics are beautifully branded with their name, email, phone number, photo, co-writers, etc., and yours are haphazardly thrown together or missing a component, IT LOOKS BAD AND UNPROFESSIONAL. Publishers have disappointedly commented on this behind the scenes. They actually KNOW our GSC members from all of the other events they do and they have come to expect this step of excellence. Not only have they called on us to OPEN doors for meetings, signings, single song agreements….they have also called us to CLOSE open doors they gave a member because the person dropped off the materials they requested without contact information! It looks unprofessional – you’re not ready for the next step.
5. If you don’t read anything else here, READ THIS.
Take the time to look inward and know your flaws, insecurities, and strengths. We all have them. These things can permeate every part of your artistic, personal, and professional life because, let’s face it, in the music industry your truth and personal life are your product, your business, and your identity. If your internal foundation isn’t solid, it breeds insecurities and cycles that can cause you to not be present in your meetings, writes, etc. Believe me, publishers, A&R, and Pro-writers CAN TELL SOMETHING IS OFF. Know yourself first. Sheree is always focused on helping YOU be the best YOU can be FIRST and then…your music as you are the source of the music. YOU are who a publisher or label signs.
Respectfully,
Sarah DeFors |
Jesus made no answer when he was falsely accused before Pilate. (Matthew 27:11-14; 1 Peter 2:21-23) Likewise, Jesus did not respond to accusations of being a drunkard and a glutton. Instead, he let his actions speak for themselves, in harmony with the principle: “Wisdom is vindicated by its results.” (Matthew 11:19, footnote) When the circumstances called for it, though, he boldly responded to those who slandered him.—Matthew 15:1-3; Mark 3:22-30.
Jesus taught his followers not to be discouraged by false accusations. He said: “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake.” (Matthew 5:11, 12) Yet, Jesus also said that when such accusations opened the way for his followers to give a witness, he would fulfill his promise: “I will give you words and wisdom that all your opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute.”—Luke 21:12-15. |
It’s been a long while since we announced our Alpha 2 release back in June of 2013, but today after months of very hard work the webOS Ports team are very proud and happy to provide our latest release to the community now named “LuneOS”.
The first eye catching change is the new name we’ll be using for our project going forward. The distribution will be called “LuneOS” instead of “WebOS Ports Open webOS” because it wasn’t very catchy and we felt it important to specify we are separate from Open webOS which is it’s own project from HP and now LG. Lune is the French translation of moon and refers to the user interface we all love so much in legacy webOS, LunaSysMgr, which is named after the Latin/Spanish translation of moon.
The release model for LuneOS is a rolling one where each of the releases will get its own name from a list of coffee beverages. This first release is “Affogato”.
All work for each release is visible to the public and users can also update to unreleased stages to support the developers with testing and bug fixing. Our overall aim is to deliver high quality software which is stable and satisfies the needs of our users. We plan to have a new release at the beginning of each month.
General focus
As a mobile operating system, we’re tailored for smartphones and tablets. Our main focus is not to add new devices as they appear on the market but instead to provide a stable, easy to use and easy to port software base. Porting OS pieces itself was never the real problem of our approach since we solved the most important bits by using libhybris. The actual problem we’re facing is to get applications software implemented and to add all the back-end functionalities to the system we love and need.
The main focus of LuneOS is to provide an operating system which is driven by the community and continues what we love(d) about webOS. We’re not trying to reach feature comparison with Android or iOS but rather building a system to satisfy basic needs in the mobile environment. Building a good quality mobile operating system from scratch is a hard job and is built in just the spare free time everyone involved in the project has. To get the best ratio between what we want and what we can do, we’re analyzing architectural decisions from both existing solutions we can base our work on and whether we have to write things from scratch.
Supported devices
We’re currently supporting the Nexus 4 and HP TouchPad. The Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 (2012 Wifi) are still supported with this Affogato release, but will not be actively maintained anymore by the project team for future releases. We would like someone to step up as maintainer for these devices. We also have started to write a porting guide to make it easier for community members to port LuneOS to other devices.
What works
Wifi! We also have a working settings app which includes things like wifi, screen, developer mode, and about. Apps that work include a basic browser, Preware, mail (enyo1 but it’s working albeit a tad buggy because of screen size related things), accounts (with some minor issues), memos is fully working, a stubbed contacts app, initial calendar app with no real backend functionality yet, synergy connectors for a lot of endpoints (Google, Yahoo, i*, owncloud, and more) and initial work for a phone app. Also, contacts sync is working along with better suspend/resume handling, and a bunch of other smaller things.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
System/architecture improvements
After the Alpha 2 release we made the drastic decision to rewrite LunaSysMgr from scratch and name it Luna Next. This decision was made because LunaSysMgr distributed with Open webOS caused too many headaches, mainly due to the legacy device support and the overhead of code that was in there to support various things. Keeping LunaSysMgr would not allow proper hardware acceleration without a lot of work and would have made porting to other devices harder in the future.
Therefore, the team decided to start rebuilding the user interface from scratch using the latest technologies available (QT 5.2 / QML, WebKit 2, etc). This of course meant a lot of work, but also a lot of benefits because it provides design flexibility going forward. Where possible, existing code from LunaSysMgr was re-used.
As you can imagine, the rewriting has been a lot of work and there are many different scenarios to cover, so there might still be some bugs present. After this release we will focus on adding additional features to Luna Next.
Starting with this release, LuneOS has a built-in update mechanism which makes it easy for users to update to the latest build. The implemented mechanism is similar to the one which was used in webOS before but has a different backend implementation. Right now there is no automatic notification when a new update is available. The user has to check on his own in the Settings app if a new update is available to install it.
Ecosystem
We’re still using Preware to provide application feeds which enables the community to distribute their applications. Currently we only support one feed which is built from purely open source applications. Submitting a new application is as simple as creating a pull-request against the relevant repository which sets up the feed. On the application side we have a reworked Preware application which is now based on Enyo 2. It is faster compared to the original Preware based on the Mojo framework due to the fact it can simultaneously download multiple feeds. However, it’s back-end is still based on the same code as in the legacy webOS system.
Improvements since Alpha 2
Overall there are a lot improvements since the last release. Below is a list which doesn’t aim to be complete but gives a good overview what the team worked on and is still working on:
Core OS system improvements
Built upon libhybris to enable easy portability on available Android based devices where the followings things are currently re-used from Android: Telephony system (rild) Graphics drivers
We’re planning to utilize more things from Android soon like: Hardware accelerated video/audio playback Sensor integration Functioning camera
There is currently no plan to support running Android applications within LuneOS like ACL or AndroidChroot do.
Using systemd as system init manager instead of Upstart, giving shorter boot times and easier control of tasks during boot.
Emulator based on VirtualBox is available for testing and development
Completely built by the community (OpenEmbedded build system)
Application improvements
Preware 2 is now working and enables users to install additional applications.
Various bugs have been addressed in the Memo , Calculator and Email apps.
Memo Calculator Email A new PDF app has been created based on Mozilla’s PDF.js implementation.
PDF app A basic file manager application is available.
file manager Open webOS core applications are still present but a little buggy at times; this needs to be fixed or replaced by new versions of the apps.
A system update mechanism is available to easily update to a new build once available.
Current work in progress for future releases
Native QML based phone application for speed & reliability
Media Indexer Support with legacy webOS compatible API
Support for audio and video playback
Tweaks support
Further Status Bar indicator support and updates
Further improvements to the keyboard layouts
Adding user interface features to Luna Next which were also available in webOS 3.x and LunaCE such as “Card Stacking”, “Mini Cards”, “Card Zoom Gestures”, “Stack Spread Gestures”, “Infinite Card Cycling”, “Tap-to-Maximize Edge Cards” etc.
Help needed
As LuneOS is a large project with just a small group of people working on it, we could use help with various things. Especially on the application development front. We have a lot of parts on the service side in place but the app UIs need a lot of work from creative people. If you like webOS, know how to develop on the web and enjoy working with an enthusiastic team on a new community built mobile operating system, don’t hesitate to contact us through the available communication channels (see http://webos-ports.org/wiki/Communications). Besides doing real development we also need people spreading the word about LuneOS, working on the website or documentation for others about how to participate in the project.
Here is a rough and unsorted list of things we need help with:
Fix bugs in existing applications (Settings, …)
Create replacements for old Enyo 1 based applications: Contacts (first draft exists) Calendar (first draft exists) Messaging (with Synergy integration)
Create documentation and workflow for app developers to develop and submit new applications
Improve the project website with a better look & feel
Testing and bug reporting
If you’d like to get involved, contact us!
Get started with LuneOS
Ready to start using LuneOS? Great! Here’s what you need to know: there is still a lot of work in progress and the current state should be considered as being alpha even though it’s working quite nicely for the parts that are implemented already. Therefore, use is at your own risk. Currently BlueTooth, the accelerometer, camera and ALS are not implemented yet. Audio & wifi should work, though might be buggy. If you have a TouchPad you can start here. You will want to use the “Release” version. Nightly is used for things that are being worked on and bug fixes for the next release. If you need help installing it, go here. If you’d like to try the emulator go here. And for the Nexus 4 go here. All the supported devices can be found here.
Found some bugs?
Once you’re happily testing, it can of course happen that you will run into some bugs. Feel free to report them at http://issues.webos-ports.org/projects/ports/issues so the developers can look into it. Of course you’re free to help in solving existing bugs as well!
Have questions about the project?
No problem! Send us an email to webosports@gmail.com or tweet to us @webosports. If you’re excited about the project, use the hashtag #LuneOSishere and spread the word! |
Westy 12 appears to be coming back to the U.S.
All signs point a new U.S. release of Westvleteren XII, the legendary Belgium Trappist beer.
Westvleteren XII is a 10.2 percent ABV quadruple produced by Brouwerij Westvleteren in the Trappist Abbey of St. Sixtus located in Vleteren, Belgium. While the ale has been sold at the abbey since 1940—and can be found in shops in Belgium—its one and only commercial release in the U.S. was back in 2012, when 90,000 bottles were shipped to the U.S. to help pay for renovations to the abbey.
It has been described by many as the best beer in the world.
Now, there’s evidence that it is returning.
Vinbrucke LLC, a Napa, Calif.-based distributor, recently received approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for 330ml bottles of Westvleteren XII.
The previous release was not simply bottles, rather gift packs containing six 330ml bottles of the beer and two tasting glasses. It was limited to just 15,000 gift packs with distribution handled by Massachusetts-based Shelton Brothers.
Emails sent to both the brewery and the distributor for additional information were not immediately returned. |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) General Electric is close to striking a deal on the sale of its long-vacant Fort Wayne campus, a company spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
Matt Conkrite told NewsChannel 15 that GE is "getting close" to completing negotiations with a buyer for its 31-acre campus on the southwest corner of downtown Fort Wayne. Who that potential buyer is, what they've offered for the run-down property or what they have planned for its future, Conkrite did not say. He did say GE considered several proposals.
GE announced in May that it would offer for sale and potential reuse and redevelopment the sprawling dozen-building campus off Broadway where it produced a wide range of products including electric motors and superchargers since 1911. Since the company announced in January 2014 plans shut down operations in Fort Wayne, the site became dilapidated and largely an eye sore.
Over the last year, a task force made up of concerned citizens and community leaders met to brainstorm ways to recover the campus, to reuse the buildings instead of tearing them down.
It appears that vision could soon become a reality.
Conkrite could not provide a timeline for that reality to come about. He warned that the nature of negotiations is that a snag could come about anytime, which would prolong the process.
Conkrite reiterated the company is "continuing to make progress" in the deal.
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry's office released the following statement:
"We're appreciative of GE's commitment to moving forward to explore future development opportunities. We're optimistic a viable plan will be developed for the site that will complement the momentum and investments we're currently experiencing in Fort Wayne."
Fort Wayne Councilman Geoff Paddock (D-5) led a GE Campus Coalition where community members gathered to voice their opinions on what they'd like to see go on at the site. They decided they want to rehabilitate the buildings for mix-use spaces. They'd like to see commercial, retail and housing go up.
"The message I heard loud and clear is let's not abandon this, let's not let it go by way of the wrecking ball," Paddock said. "The architecture is too iconic, the history is too important." |
French election: Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen through to runoff after first round of voting
Updated
Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to face each other in a May 7 runoff for the French presidency after coming first and second in the first round of voting overnight.
Key points: Macron won 23.75 per cent of vote with Le Pen slightly behind at 21.53 per cent
Other top candidates Francois Fillon and Jean-Luc Melenchon were eliminated
Le Pen lauds 'historic result' as Macron vows to fight nationalism
In a race that was too close to call up to the last minute, Mr Macron, a pro-European Union ex-banker and economy minister who founded his own party only a year ago, won the first round with 23.75 per cent of the vote.
Ms Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigration and anti-EU National Front, came in second with 21.53 per cent.
"In one year, we have changed the face of French politics," Mr Macron said in a victory speech after the vote.
Conservative candidate Francois Fillon and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon both came up with roughly 20 per cent, meaning they were eliminated from the presidential race.
The result means that France will see a face-off between politicians with radically contrasting economic visions for a country whose economy lags behind that of its neighbours and where a quarter of young people are unemployed.
Protesters angry that Ms Le Pen was advancing to the second round scuffled with police in Paris.
Crowds of young people, some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups, gathered on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris as results were still coming in.
Riot police surrounded the area and tear gas was fired to disperse the increasingly rowdy crowd.
Le Pen praises 'historic result'; Macron to fight nationalism
Sorry, this video has expired Video: Marine Le Pen says she will defend France against globalisation (ABC News)
Following early vote counts, Ms Le Pen celebrated the "historic result" with her supporters while vowing to defend France against "rampant globalisation".
"This result is historic. It puts on me a huge responsibility to defend the French nation, its unity, its security, its culture, its prosperity and its independence," Ms Le Pen told supporters.
"The main thing at stake in this election is the rampant globalisation that is endangering our civilisation," she added, urging French voters to shake off the shackles of an "arrogant elite".
She later went on to launch the opening salvos of the final round, calling Mr Macron "weak" on terrorism.
"I'm on the ground to meet the French people to draw their attention to important subjects, including Islamist terrorism to which the least we can say Mr Macron is weak on," Le Pen told reporters.
Mr Macron also addressed his supporters after the results, calling on all "patriots" to rally behind him against the "nationalist threat".
"I want to be the president of patriots against the threat of nationalists," Mr Macron told a cheering crowd.
Mr Macron, whose "En Marche!" party is only one year old and has never taken part in any parliamentary election, also said he would work on building a parliament majority to be able to govern after legislative elections in June.
He went on to say he would bring in new faces and talent to transform a stale political system if elected.
Fillon gives support to Macron after conceding defeat
French politicians on the left and right were quick to urge voters to block Ms Le Pen's path to power in the May 7 runoff, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.
"Extremism can only bring unhappiness and division to France," defeated conservative candidate and former prime minister Mr Fillon said.
"As such, there is no other choice than to vote against the extreme right. I will vote for Emannuel Macron."
Mr Fillon had consistently been polling third in surveys leading up to the election.
French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called on voters to support Mr Macron, while German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he was confident Mr Macron would "put right-wing radicalism in its place".
Though Mr Macron, 39, is a comparative political novice who has never held elected office, opinion polls in the run-up to the ballot have consistently seen him winning the final clash against the 48-year-old Ms Le Pen.
That in turn reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the EU and the election of Donald Trump as US President.
Mr Macron favours gradual deregulation measures that will be welcomed by global financial markets, while Ms Le Pen wants to ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU.
Whatever the outcome on May 7, it will mean a redrawing of France's political landscape, which has been dominated for 60 years by mainstream groupings from the centre-left and centre-right, both of whose candidates faded.
The final outcome on May 7 will influence France's standing in Europe and the world as a nuclear-armed, veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council and founding member of the organisation that transformed itself into the European Union.
Reuters/AP
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, world-politics, france
First posted |
PlayStation VR Bundle includes:
PS VR console version 2
PlayStation 4 V2 Camera
VR Worlds full game download
Experience new worlds
Don’t just play. Live the game -From the moment you slip on PlayStation VR, the new Virtual Reality system for PlayStation 4, you’ll experience games in an entirely new way. You’ll be at the centre of the action, living every detail of extraordinary new worlds – and you’ll feel like you’re actually inside the game.
Never standing still
PlayStation innovation – PlayStation has always delivered experiences beyond our imagination, from 3D gaming to augmented reality. That heritage takes a leap forward with PS VR. Now, you can step beyond the screen and climb into the game.
Play it, live it
Feel like you’re really there – You’ve played games that have made you lose track of time. But what about games that make you forget where you are? That’s what PS VR will do, immersing you in the game with an unparalleled sense of presence.
Got a PS4?
You’re ready for PS VR – Just plug in and play. PS VR is powered by PlayStation 4, so you can simply connect the two and step into new experiences in seconds. All you need to start this journey is the PlayStation VR headset, your PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Camera. Then you're ready to go.
Best-in-class virtual reality
Pushing the boundaries of play – PS VR will let you play in ways and places you never thought possible thanks to an advanced, custom OLED screen that displays images at a super-smooth 120Hz, 360-degree vision and true 3D audio that lets you pinpoint sounds all around you. So you can lose yourself in games custom-built for PS VR, including RIGS Mechanized Combat League and VR Worlds.
Advanced Display – The feeling of ‘being there’ starts with what you see. Combining landscape-scanning and an expansive 5.7” OLED 1080p display at 120 frames per second, you can experience detailed 3D environments of the highest quality to immerse yourself in the game.
360 Degrees of Audio – As you walk this unbeaten path, you’ll see and hear every world around you. A 360-degree sphere audio experience lets you completely immerse ourselves in your journey and put you right at its centre.
Precise Tracking and Control – The LEDs around the PlayStation VR, on the DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, or the PlayStation Move are tracked by the PlayStation Camera to pinpoint your precise location. This means your PS4 will always know where you are, even if you’ve forgotten.
Built for everybody
Designed to feel like it’s not there – The headset has been designed to be as light and as comfortable as possible. It’s effortless to slip on and off, while its minimal weight is supported by an adjustable headband that’ll fit everyone.
Play together
Immerse yourself, involve others – Let others enjoy a game with or against you with PlayStation VR Social Screen. Project what you see in your headset onto a TV screen so others can jump into the action. You can let others join in even as you lose yourself in your own world.
Technical specifications:
Display method: OLED
Panel size: 5.7 inches
Panel resolution: 1920 x RGB x 1080 (960 x RGB x 1080 per eye)
Refresh rate: 120Hz, 90Hz
Field of view: Approximately 100 degrees
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope
Connection interface: HDMI, USB
What you’ll find in the PlayStationVR Box: |
In West Palm Beach, Donald Trump gave a momentous speech warning about the dangers of globalism and Hillary Clinton’s dedication to it. This was one of the most powerful speeches he’s given to date because for the first time since Eisenhower’s “Industrial Military Complex” exit speech in 1961, a powerful public figure overtly warned Americans about existing forces within our own government that threaten our liberty.
“There is nothing the political establishment will not do, no lie that they won’t tell, to hold their prestige and power at your expense. And that’s what’s been happening. The Washington establishment and the financial and media corporations that fund it exist for only one reason: to protect and enrich itself.”
In countries where globalism dominates we see a pattern of corruption, loss of sovereignty, mass importation of migrants from the Third World, a dedication to Socialist ideologies where all rights are subject to majority rule, private property is an illusion, and the divide between the ruling class and their pawns widens daily.
Americans need to wake up now, before it’s too late because the very existence of our Republic is at stake. We are selling our children and grandchildren into slavery to the international elite. In light of the Edward Snowden revelations and Wikileaks emails from key players in the Obama Administration, the DNC and the media, this is no longer a conspiracy theory. It is fact. America is no longer free and we have brought it upon ourselves. As Wendell Phillips said to the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in 1852:
“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few. The manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten. The living sap of today outgrows the dead rind of yesterday. The hand entrusted with power becomes, either from human depravity or esprit de corps, the necessary enemy of the people. Only by continued oversight can the democrat in office be prevented from hardening into a despot; only by unintermitted agitation can a people be sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity.”
The only question that remains is, “What is the greatest, most immediate threat of a Globalist Hillary Clinton Presidency?”
Is it that her consistent incompetence in foreign policy will make America and the rest of the world much more dangerous?
Is it that our economy is much worse than is being reported and will likely become even more so under her policies?
Is it the fact that the United States’ debt is in excess of $20,000,000,000 with an average individual share of $61,000.00 and she plans to spend much, much more?
Is it that we can expect thousands more regulations to further stifle our economy?
Is it that she will appoint many Federal and S.C.O.T.U.S. Judges with radical left-wing ideologies?
Is it that she will continue weaponizing Federal Departments to harass or destroy Americans opposed to her agenda?
Is it that she will continue to erase our borders to allow millions of illegal aliens to influence our elections and guarantee that only Democrats can win important elections?
Is it that she will import tens of thousands of Muslim refugees, among whom; some percentage will try to kill us?
Is it that she will do everything in her power to disarm the American Citizenry once and for all while she and her family remains safe under the protection of armed security paid for by us?
Is it that Congress is virtually powerless; that their summons, requests for documents and laws are ignored by the Executive?
Or is it that millions of American voters are oblivious to what their ignorance is doing to the rest of us? |
Background:
So often the event of a mysterious object falling to earth has too few witnesses or leaves no evidence, but this is not the case with the "Kecksburg UFO Incident" — unless you ask the US Army. On December 9, 1965, a fiery object streaked across the afternoon skies over at least six US states and Ontario, Canada and was seen by thousands, with many claiming it even seemed to be under "intelligent control." The object crash-landed in the woods near Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, where first-responders and local eye-witnesses said it looked like a giant acorn with some reporting strange lettering around a band near the bottom that resembled Egyptian hieroglyphs. If it was only a meteor as was first reported, then the Army and unknown government agents sure took an immediate interest in a commonplace astronomical event, cordoning off the crash site and hauling away the object and other possible items on flatbed trucks under tight security. So what was it?
Tonight's Quote:
“As a specialized aspect of its overall material exploitation program, Headquarters USAF has established Project Moon Dust to locate, recover and deliver descended foreign space vehicles.”
— The Betz Memo, November 3, 1961
Links:
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The Dark Myths Collective
http://darkmyths.org
Credits:
Episode 61 - "The Kecksburg Incident" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Edited by Sarah Vorhees, Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle and the astonishing League of Astonishing Researchers, a.k.a. The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2017 Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. All Rights Reserved. |
A historic Catholic church in southwest Detroit has become the latest focal point in neighborhood battles between the company that owns the Ambassador Bridge, and the community that sits in the bridge’s shadow.
The Detroit International Bridge Company wants to take over portions of more city streets as part of its expanding footprint.
Their petition, now before the Detroit City Council, is asking the city to “vacate” several public streets and alleyways for industrial, commercial or transportation use. That includes a stretch of St. Anne Street that fronts the historic church of the same name.
Residents of the Hubbard Richard neighborhood say they weren’t notified about that, and were surprised to learn about the request just last week. Many oppose the plan.
Lifelong resident Jessica Trevino says companies owned by the Moroun family, who also own the Ambassador Bridge, already own much of the property surrounding the church and throughout the neighborhood.
Trevino says it appears the Bridge Company wants to connect their truck plaza with another nearby property they own. But she and other residents fear this is just the start of another push to expand the bridge’s footprint.
“They’ll ask for this street first, and then they’ll keep pecking away until they get everything that they want, and we just suffer, again,” Trevino said.
Residents fear the street closures could further damage their neighborhood, which is already burdened by heavy truck traffic and other impacts of the busy international border crossing. They also worry about street closures limiting access for emergency vehicles, and local businesses being cut off from main traffic routes.
But the plan already has some important support. Detroit city departments have already indicated approval. And to the surprise of many St. Anne’s parishioners, so has the Detroit Archdiocese.
“There’s been a mutually beneficial relationship for many years between the Archdiocese and the Moroun organization,” Michael McInerney, director of properties for the Archdiocese, told the Detroit City Council last week.
McInerney said the Archdiocese believes the Bridge Company’s plans address public safety concerns, and could actually benefit St. Anne’s. “We’re comfortable that there’s no danger to church properties,” he said.
Longtime neighborhood resident Deb Sumner calls that “disappointing.” She says the church is a cornerstone of the community, and should support its efforts to limit the bridge’s consistently expanding footprint.
“We want to help save the neighborhood and the people, because we’re the parishioners of this church,” Sumner said. “So what in the world would you do if you lose all your people and housing? Who’s going to come to the church?”
Sumner says the community will keep pushing City Council to reject the plan. Some residents also gathered outside St. Anne's for a small silent protest Friday evening, as the world-renowned Sistine Chapel Choir performed for a crowd inside.
A City Council committee tabled the Bridge Company’s petition after hearing testimony last week. They’re expected to take it up again next month. |
THE STORY: (40 minutes) Zeus, King of the Gods, hosts a wedding. An uninvited guest crashes, bringing an unwelcome gift. In mere moments, all Hades breaks loose. And the wheels of Western culture’s most awesome epic – the Trojan War – are set in motion.
THE COMMENTARY: DID THE TROJAN WAR REALLY “HAPPEN”? (9 minutes; begins at 40:00) In this episode of post-story commentary I spend some time talking about how the Trojan War epic, though over three thousand years old, remains deeply embedded in contemporary culture. I note how we are all familiar with the names (Achilles, Helen of Troy, Hector), the images (The Trojan Horse), and the concepts (“the face that launched a thousand ships”; “beware of Greeks bearing gifts”; “his Achilles’ Heel”) that originate in this epic. Then I review the “history” of the story: from a war that may or may not have happened circa 1250 BCE, through five hundred years of post-war “oral tradition”, up to Homer’s written account – The Iliad – in 700 BCE, and on to the contributions of further storytellers, including the Roman poet Virgil in 19 BCE. I confess to how wonderfully liberating it is for a storyteller like me to be free to sort through the myriad sources, stories and texts (many of which contradict each other), and then “glue them together” into one big, cohesive, entertaining plot. I conclude the post-story commentary by definitively answering the burning question of whether the Trojan War ever really happened.
Hope you have fun.
Jeff
RELATED IMAGES |
This morning, in partnership with our sister group, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, we published the 2017 "Ratepayers' Report" - our local government interactive league tables. The tool allows ratepayers to see how their local council performs on metrics including average rates, staff numbers, liabilities per resident, and even CEO salary.
Ratepayers' Report is the result of months of work by our local government researcher, Garrick Wright-McNaughton. We did it so that New Zealanders can easily compare their local council's performance and financial position against similar councils
Every dollar spent by a Council was earned by a hard working ratepayer. This tool allows ratepayers to see how that money is being spent.
For most of New Zealand's territorial authorities, debts continue to increase, even on a per person basis. This is a worrying trend we highlighted back in 2014 when we last published the league tables.
From an Auckland persepctive, the data shows why Auckland ratepayers, in particular, have cause for real concern. Council debt is now $22,189 per ratepayer, more than three times the national average of $6,989. Even with low interest rates, $839 of everyone’s rates is now required just to service the Council’s borrowing.
Ratepayers’ Report also reveals that Auckland Council has the second highest ratio of staff per residential ratepayer – one staff member for every 69 residential properties.
This strongly suggests that Auckland Council is overstaffed. Whilst a high staff to ratepayer ratio can offer more face-to-face interaction, it requires significantly more funding. In comparison, Marlborough District Council employs a one to 97 staff to ratepayer ratio – representing a $200 difference in staff costs per residential ratepayer compared to Auckland.
Not only does Auckland Council have a lot of staff, it also pays them generously. Nearly fifteen percent are paid more than $100,000 per year compared to only nine percent in the general workforce.
Ratepayers' Report is available online and free of charge so all ratepayers can judge for themselves the performance of their local town hall.
Ratepayers' Report facilitates straightforward comparison of average residential rates using a formula first used by Napier City Council which allows for an 'apples to apples' comparison of average residential rates and charges. Only one Council, Kaipara District Council, was unable (or unwilling) to provide the Taxpayers' Union with the necessary information.
Data for the report was compiled by the Taxpayers' Union, and was supplied to all councils for them to review prior to publication.
The previous Ratepayers’ Report was published in 2014. All territorial authorities (excluding Chatham Islands Council) are included.
Ratepayers’ Report is free and available to the public at www.ratepayersreport.nz
Note: All references to rates in the above comments, refer to residential rates.
Notable findings: |
Join your classmates at the Class of 2017 Senior Formal. Your ticket includes transportation to the Hilton Garden Inn, hors d'oeuvres, and a sit down dinner (vegetarian and vegan options available). After the dinner, join your friends on the dance floor, with music selected by a DJ to keep the event going. All ages are welcome with a max of one (1) guest per senior. A cash bar will be available for those 21 or older. Check-in is at 6:40 p.m. at the Welcome Lobby of the RPI Student Union.
Ticketing
Tickets for the event are $25 for Class of 2017 members, and $50 for guests. Tickets must be purchased online, simply click the registration button. The entire class is invited to attend; you must be 21 to drink. While the entire class is invited, space is limited. Reservations are taken first come-first served. You must bring your Student ID's as they will be checked against the registration list, and a State ID is required if you wish to drink. |
On Thursday, the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee released the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” Among many provisions that would affect higher education, the current draft of the bill would make tuition waivers for graduate students subject to income tax, increasing the tax liability of hundreds of thousands of graduate students.
Specifically, the bill amends Section 414(t)(2) of the tax code by striking section 117(d), which directs that “gross income shall not include any qualified tuition reduction.” In 117(d)(5), the current tax code specifically defines tuition waivers for graduate students engaged in teaching and research as “qualified tuition reductions,” and therefore not taxable.
This additional tax burden would cut into the modest stipends with which many graduate students already struggle to make ends meet.
The Ways and Means Committee is marking up the bill this week, with both Democratic and Republican committee members offering amendments. A few amendments have already been made. With Congress aiming to pass this bill by Thanksgiving, it is urgent to speak out now against this provision.
Click here to send urge Congress to oppose this provision. |
The Chinese government seems determined to phase out coal from their economy. According to an official press release, China will allocate 30 billion yuan ($4.56 billion) in funds over the next three years to the closure of small, inefficient mines.
China is by far the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal in the world. In 2014 the carbon emissions from China made up about 28.8% of the world total, 10.4 billion tons. CO2 emissions. Basically, their economic growth in the past two decades was powered by coal and that has consequences. Air pollution has gotten so bad that a study by the World Bank found that air pollution kills 750,000 people every year in China. Smog is a common occurrence in many large cities, and the past years have witnessed many social uprisings and even riots because of air pollution. But China is taking steps in the right direction.
The country has announced a plan to invest 2.3 trillion yuan ($376 billion) to reduce their carbon footprint, especially targeting the coal industry. Both coal production and consumption peaked in 2013, constantly dropping year after year. Coal production in China was down 3.7% in the first 11 months of 2015 compared to the same period last year and the trend isn’t slowing down. Total raw coal output fell 3.5% in 2015 according to official data.
Now, the official news agency Xinhua announced China will aim to close 4,300 mines and cut annual production capacity by 700 million tonnes over the next three years. They also banned new mine approvals for the next three years, though this will hardly make a dent in the grand scheme of things.
China still has around 11,000 mines in operation, much larger than the ones they want to close now. The total estimated capacity is 5.7 billion tonnes, so there’s still a long way to go.
China’s coal industry is so developed that it can actually undermine global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and prevent global warming. In 2014 the carbon emissions from China made up about 28.8% of the world total, so any significant move to phase out coal is good news not for China, but for the world.
Enjoyed this article? Join 40,000+ subscribers to the ZME Science newsletter. Subscribe now! |
Tests of an early Android 2.2 build show vast performance gains, indicating that even older Android handsets could gain new life by running applications several times faster than today — and that Google has software it can use to combat a hardware bump in Apple’s (s aapl) hotly anticipated next-generation iPhone. Google is also poised to reduce fragmentation with this release — codenamed “Froyo” and expected at next week’s Google I/O developer conference — which would help both consumers and developers have a more common Android experience across the many handsets built using the platform.
AndroidPolice has been running Android 2.2 on a Nexus One for nearly a week, but yesterday benchmarked performance of the build using Linpack for Android. The results show a nearly 450 percent performance boost, as Froyo appears to use a fast compiler for the Dalvik VM used by Android. Unlike many other smartphones, applications for Android are written in Java and run in a virtual machine atop the Linux kernel — with a quick JIT, or Just In Time compiler, application code can be executed faster. The lengthy video below provides an overview of the Dalvik VM from 2008.
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Given that Google is hosting a specific session for JIT compiling within the Dalvik VM at next week’s Google I/O event, it’s a pretty safe bet that Froyo will bring the speed boost that AndroidPolice has clocked. Which means Google phones running on Android 2.2 will execute application code far faster by using software, not hardware. That’s a unique situation because while other mobile platforms might see marginal performance gains through an operating system upgrade, it’s not likely those efforts would yield a gain as large as 450 percent.
While Google doesn’t control which Android handsets will see Android 2.2 — that’s left to the carriers, with the lone exception being Google’s own Nexus One — the speed bump isn’t all I’m expecting next week. I suspect that Google will continue pulling its applications out of the core Android platform and make many of them available to device versions through the Android Market. While that won’t completely remove the fragmentation issue caused by Android 1.5, 1.6 and 2.1, it will reduce the effects — handsets with Android 1.5 or 1.6 would still have the older user interface, but would see more feature parity with Android 2.1 devices. The ideal situation would be for all capable handsets to run Android 2.2, but given the carrier control, that’s highly unlikely — a shame really, because many older handset, such as the original G1, run just fine with the Android 2.1 ROMs found on enthusiast sites and forums.
Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):
Google’s Mobile Strategy: Understanding the Nexus One |
FamilyPet
It’s time to get out of the house and into the sunshine for a fun photo shoot with your pup! Join the Doggyloot team and Wright-Way Rescue on July 19th from 11am-2pm for our Picture PAWfect event at Wiggly Field Dog Park located at 2645 N. Sheffield in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Choose from a wide range of props that both you and your dog will love. For every photo session taken during the event, Doggyloot will donate $5 to one of our all-time favorite rescues in the Chicagoland area. Last October, after 10 years of finding homes for over 15,000 pets, Wright-Way found itself homeless when a
” target=”_blank”>school bus crashed into their facility in Niles, Illinois. Thankfully no one was hurt. Since the accident occurred, the team and their volunteers have been diligently working on rebuilding and moving into a new home in Morton Grove. The money that’s raised from the Picture PAWfect event will go toward helping our friends at Wright-Way rebuild their facility and keep doing what they love the most – saving dogs and helping them find loving homes.
Plus, every attendee will be entered in a drawing to win free bully sticks for a year and a free subscription to The Bark magazine!
We hope to see you at the event. |
Not digital, but real-world social networking. If your goal is to grow your personal brand into a public persona, the subtle, mysterious stranger approach is most often not going to cut it. There are only so many people that can pull off the J. D. Salinger route of becoming famous for not being seen. The easier (though more painful) route is to hire a publicist—more explicitly, hire yourself—and will yourself to want to impress the red-carpeted world of celebrities, CEOs, and Twitter famous.
I can’t hold your hand at the events, but here are ten tips for surviving them:
The following 10 tips are an excerpt from Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out. Order your copy today!
Analog Social Networking 101
1 . Value Quality over Quantity
Your publicist will give you a social calendar that’s jammed with events, insisting that you “need to be” at all of them. This is false. Separate the “need to attends” from the “nice to attends,” and this will serve you better in the long run. Chasing the second tier of events will exhaust you and overexpose you, and you’ll burn out faster than yesterday’s news.
2 . Don’t Overtly Parrot
Most of the management books tell you to parrot the person you’re trying to impress, suggesting that you nod when she nods, touch your left nostril when she touches her left nostril, and then if she says, “I love Lady Gaga!” you say, “Oh my God, I love Lady Gaga too!!!!” The world does not need more parroting, and it’s okay to not love Lady Gaga.
3 . Use Mints
If, at any point in the day, your mouth has been open and if you’ve consumed food, chances are that your breath stinks. Do yourself a favor and freshen up your face.
4 . Don’t Name-Drop
It’s transparent and obnoxious. When I met George Lucas, even though at heart I was a starstruck fan boy, I would never say, “I saw Harrison Ford last week!” or “I just played golf with Steven Spielberg!” Lame. If you do want to slip in a name, it’s better to use a name that’s more mundane, more grounded, like the celebrity’s lawyer or dentist that you might happen to know.
5 . Never Ask for a Card
You can (and should) give out your business card, but never ask for one in return. If people want to give you a card, they’ll give you their god-damn card.
6 . Respect the Handler
The notable might have a handler (assistant, publicist, manager, associate) standing with him or her at the party. When you meet the notable, also introduce yourself to the sidekick, and when you give the notable a card, give the sidekick a card too. Treat handlers with respect. Not only is this the right thing to do, but this could be the hand of the king—and they’ll later whisper into the king’s ear.
7 . Drink Water
This is work, it’s not a party.
8 . Don’t Try to Speak to Everyone
When Barry Sanders scored a touchdown, he would casually toss the football back to the ref, shrugging, and living by the credo “Act like you’ve been there before.” Just chill out. Don’t try to meet every celebrity and shake every hand. If you are conducting and managing your personal brand well, part of your brand will be to spend more time in this mildly toxic environment. You’ll be at these events again in the future, so let things happen more organically.
9 . It’s Not About Being a “Closer”
Lower your expectations about imagining that you may magically seal any deals. These events aren’t the right forum for giving someone the hard sell, for overt pitching, or to become someone’s best friend.
10 . Know That They’re Working Too
Even famous people don’t like getting dressed up and making a fuss about how they look. Even if they have a giant dick or won the Most Beautiful Woman in the World award, the chances are that they still had anxiety about getting dressed up and going to this event. It’s work for them too. Take comfort in this. |
photo credit: here
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by mike in boston / @mikeinboston / email
Good morning sports media watchers. Busy time in the sports world with everyone hard at work covering the playoffs and getting ready for the summer sports. Accordingly there is a surfeit of newsworthy items to cover and I am invariably going to leave plenty of things out. Please add whatever you saw or heard in the comments below.
Suggested Soundtrack: Nirvana – You Know You're Right
Programming note: I'm on assignment for the next few weeks so Jonah will be holding down the fort for a while. Follow me on Twitter for occasional sports media observations. Retweets are sometimes sincere.
Sports Radio Polls
The fine folks over at Platinum Seat Ghosts ran a series of twitter polls evaluating the current sports radio line-ups. Numeris doesn't publicly reveal the composition of their PPM pool nor its size but I have been told by people in the industry that the number of PPMs worn by males 25-54 in Toronto in 2015 was 287. That number covers all genres of radio: talk, traffic, music, etc. The actual number of PPMs worn by sports radio listeners is unknown, but a reasonable guess would be that at least 50% of people listen exclusively to music. Among those that listen to talk radio, many probably listen to 1010/640/CBC rather than sports. So you're probably down to 30-60 PPMs devoted to sports radio. A laughably small sample size.
By comparison 250 actual sports fans participated in the PSG poll. Obviously the data is going to be skewed in two ways: 1) it's a Twitter poll and that means the older demo likely is underrepresented, 2) it's a hockey blog so shows that are strong on other sports may do less well. With that out of the way, let's have a look at the results.
Which one do you prefer? — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) April 25, 2016
Which one do you prefer? — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) April 25, 2016
Which one do you prefer? — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) April 25, 2016
Which one do you prefer? — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) April 25, 2016
Which one do you prefer? — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) April 25, 2016
The obvious thing that jumps out is how different these results are from the Numeris ratings, where TSN1050 is getting trounced along most dimensions. Recent numbers show the Fan590 with 2 to 3 times the overall market share of TSN1050, and huge leads in each time slot. Here are a few take-aways from the above:
Dean Blundell is very unpopular. I have no idea how much of his score is based on the quality of the show versus his reputation as the guy who doesn't see anything homophobic about rape jokes involving gay men, or whose last show was sanctioned several times for being misogynistic. Regardless, as a morning show they have a large budget and should be able to get big guests as a way to compensate for Blundell's baggage.
Landsberg and Naylor have to feel good about beating Dean 8-2. I suspect things will be a little different when Numeris releases the spring book. But this is a good start for a show that has only been on the air for a little over 2 months.
The split between the two mid-morning show seems about right to me. Blair/Ennis/Madani/Brunt is good radio most days. Cauz + Wheeler is a good alternative option if Blair doesn't float your boat. A little something for everyone there.
Walker v Richards: I'm surprised this one isn't closer to 50-50 given Mike's more established brand as a solo host. Walker's show is much more well-rounded though, and given that hockey is on the back burner in this market until October, the results seem plausible.
The afternoon drive time results are surprising but clearly a reflection of Bob's stature among younger hockey fans. I suspect if a Jays blog ran the same poll, PTS would have fared much better. Still, TSN has to feel good that its signature afternoon show is popular.
Polls are fun. Let's try one:
Jonah and I are planning to do a spring "report card" post around the time the new ratings book comes out. In preparation, we are both trying to listen to a lot of radio.
Help us do our homework: What are some things we should listen for? What drives you crazy on either station? How do you interpret the above results?
Colabello Wrap Up
The big story of last weekend was Jays' first baseman Chris Colabello testing positive for a banned substance and being suspended for 80 games. Many people wrote about it in the papers. Here is Steve Buffery with a good analysis of why his denials ring hollow, and a good follow up article after Colabello spoke publicly (more on that in a second).
The Jays are owned by Rogers. Sportsnet is owned by Rogers. Sportsnet employs lots of reporters, journalists, and broadcasters to cover the Jays. The obvious question was: how they would treat the issue. Would they attack the story with the same tenacity as they would if they weren't owned by a common employer?
The results were a little mixed but basically positive. There was clearly no "soft journalism" mandate. Many at Sportsnet were highly critical of the player, as well as his public statements. This piece by Arden Zwelling, for example, is excellent. The one suspect decision was the following:
Join @SNETCampbell tonight on 6:30 ET SN ONE for an exclusive sit-down interview with Chris Colabello to discuss the 80-game MLB suspension. — Gregg Zaun (@GreggZaun) April 26, 2016
First, can we put the bar a little higher on using the word "exclusive"? Giving yourself a reacharound for having a fellow employee appear on your station is not a journalistic accomplishment. It trivializes the hard work that leads to real exclusive stories. Good for the people at Sportsnet who refrained from tweeting about their big "exclusive". I noticed.
Ok, with that out of the way I want to discuss the merits of using the perpetually youthful Jamie Campbell. Jamie did a great job and asked all the tough questions. That's not my issue. Rather, the question is why give this assignment to Jamie rather than someone else? As mentioned above, Zwelling has done exemplary work as a journalist over the last few years. So has Shi Davidi. Oh, and by the way, you also have Stephen Brunt on the roster.
They went with someone who is part of the Jays broadcast team instead of someone with a little more independence from the team. By using Campbell the network opens itself up to the criticism that the team is calling the shots. Why open that door if you have other options? As I have mentioned before, Brunt seems to be tragically mis-used at Sportsnet. This would have been perfect for him. He's a long time critic of baseball's arbitrary (his words, not mine) stance on PEDs. He's also the most journalistically credible person at the network. Would Colabello have appeared with Brunt? Maybe Colabello would only do it with Jamie. Who knows. But the audience was not as well served by Sportsnet as it could have been in this instance.
The best thing to come out of this was Campbell's appearance with Brunt and Jeff Blair on the Jeff Blair Show (April 27, Hour 2), now featuring Jeff Blair and his sensitive new voice. It was a great discussion by all three. Jamie reported several anecdotes about seeing Colabello inspect ingredient labels while in the food court, and turning down smoothies even though they looked delicious. The other two rightly jumped all over this talking point. Cheaters all look clean until they get caught, and then the plethora of drug tests they passed with flying colours don't mean anything. All you are left with at that stage are technicalities and half-truths about never "knowingly" taking anything banned.
It is possible that Colabello took a tainted approved supplement or that someone slipped something into his protein shake. It's just not very likely. I'm not sure I care very much. This is baseball. Cheating is part of the game's legacy. Marcus Stroman was suspended for a PED violation. Does anyone refuse to root for him on account of that? Colabello will likely re-emerge and take some more swings for the Jays this season. If the team does well and he contributes, no one will hold this against him. If he flunks out of the league it will be because he can't hit anymore, and then people will chalk up his brief success to the PEDs.
Over to you: how did Sportsnet handle the Colabello story?
Quick Hits
While people are excited about the new dirt infield at the Dome, the grass discussions have died down significantly. Here's a CBC report with the lead researcher. Doesn't sound promising, and Shapiro has never said anything unequivocally positive about the idea. This was more of a Beeston labour of love.
Curt Schilling isn't taking his termination lying down. He is doing some interviews where he discusses "the 'nosedive' the United States is in as a result of the Obama Administration, and the hypocrisy of people like rock star Bruce Springsteen."
Curtis Rush retired/was offered a buyout from the Star this week as the paper goes in another direction. He's very proud of his versatility as a journalist. In case you have forgotten his body of work, his sports highlights include this.
Another National Post casualty succumbs to Vice. Congrats to Kaitlyn McGrath on her first story with that outlet.
In a Seen & Heard first, here is a link to a Government of Ontario press release. Apparently 50% of companies are breaking the law when it comes to unpaid internships. I am working on a story on unpaid internships in sports media. If you have insights, drop me a line.
The #MoreThanMean video is almost too hard to watch. I cannot imagine what it is like to be on the receiving end of that kind of harassment. If you or someone you know has ever threatened someone with rape on Twitter, please seek out help. You probably don't think of yourself as a monster, but you are. This is not normal behaviour. It's not too late to change.
Speaking of the video, it would have been nice to hear from Hazel Mae on this issue. With no offence intended to Jackie Redmond, who discussed the video with Dean Blundell, Hazel is a veteran of the industry, goes back to the days before Twitter, and has a wide range of experience in multiple cities. (Sorry if I missed someone interviewing her). Lastly, in light of this video, I am slightly more sympathetic to Matt Cauz's radical proposal that people on twitter should be microchipped so they can be zapped remotely when they tweet stupid things.
Steve Simmons appeared on Toronto Mike's podcast this week. I only found time to listen to a snippet but it sounds like a pretty candid interview. They refer to Brunt's Shapiro documentary (read my thoughts here) as an "infomercial" and "embarrassing", and speculate that this was something he "swallowed for the team".
Low Hanging Fruit
On a week when Dean Blundell tried to convince us he cares about misogyny, he also tweeted some more lighthearted fun about sports deaths.
https://twitter.com/ItsDeanBlundell/status/725468205431545857
Not surprised to see Damien Cox and Steve Simmons defend Larry Brooks after NYR Dan Boyle cussed him out. I think there is definitely value in asking tough questions but as we learned from the Feschuk fiasco, scrums are probably the lowest form of journalistic interaction. No one does their best work there.
I admire columnists with strong opinions who show up, all the time. When it comes to hockey, @NYP_Brooksie has always been among the best. — steve simmons (@simmonssteve) April 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/DamoSpin/status/725317967743844352
Awkward moments on television: Eric Smith twice referring to "Martine" during a hit from Indiana while throwing back to Evanka Osmak in the studio
Awkward moments on radio: Michael Grange speaking from Indiana with a bad cell connection. Grange has a pretty gravelly voice to begin with. When you combine that with a bad phone line, he sounded like he was calling from the bottom of a quarry this week.
What makes less sense?: 1) having Tim & Sid host random quick hits from somewhere inside the ACC during the game or 2) having the Overdrive bang bus crew broadcasting from Jurassic Park.
The confusing world we live in: is Bell sad that Sportsnet gets Game 7 for the Raps or happy that MLSE gets another home playoff date?
Phrases that need to be expunged if you have a radio show: "I threw this out in Twitter." We don't care. Just make your point.
Age and gravity destroy us all in the end. Mercifully none of us have to go through that process in stunning HD where every crease and crevasse is on full display for the audience at home.
Sportsnet's iOs app is only available on the Canadian iTunes store. This is annoying for those of us with US accounts who cannot download from the Canadian store. TSN GO is available on both.
Sportsnet should have tapped Gregg Zaun to interview Chris Colabello. Zaun could have dispensed some fatherly advice about how to move forward after you get mixed up in a steroids scandal.
Let's do this:
https://twitter.com/MartyYork/status/725677570956500993
—–
thanks for reading and commenting,
until next time …
mike (not really in boston) |
Pretty Printing Perl 6
As I was working on Learning Perl 6, I wanted a way to pretty print a hash to show the reader what happened. I didn’t want to output from the builtin routines and a module I found was a good start but needed more work. So I created the PrettyDump module.
Before I get to my module, Perl 6 already has some nice ways to summarize objects. My first task was to dump a match object to see what it matched. Here’s a bit of code that matches a string against a regex and saves the result in $match . That’s a Match object:
my $rx = rx/ <[ a .. z ]> <[ 1 .. 9 ]> /; my $string = ':::abc123::'; my $match = $string ~~ $rx; put $match;
When I output that with put, I get the part of the string that matched:
c1
I could change the code slightly to use say. That’s like put but calls the .gist method on the object first to provide a human-compatible version of the object. Each object can decide on it’s own what that means.
say $match; # put $match.gist
In this case, the output is almost the same. There are some fancy quotes around it:
｢c1｣
Instead of .gist , which say gives me for free, I could call the perl method explicitly.
put $match.perl;
This produces a string that represents what Perl 6 thinks the data structure is:
Match.new(list => (), made => Any, pos => 7, hash => Map.new(()), orig => ":::abc123::", from => 5)
I could also use dd, a Rakudo-specific dumping feature:
dd $match;
The output is similar to the string for .perl , but also slightly different:
Match $match = Match.new(list => (), made => Any, pos => 7, hash => Map.new(()), orig => ":::abc123::", from => 5)
I didn’t particularly like any of formats because they are squished together and rather ugly to my eyes (but being pleasing to me personally shows up in exactly zero designs). I looked for a module, and even though the Perl 6 module ecosystem is fairly young, I found Pretty::Printer from Jeff Goff:
use Pretty::Printer; # From Jeff Goff my $rx = rx/ <[ a .. z ]> <[ 1 .. 9 ]> /; my $string = ':::abc123::'; my $match = $string ~~ $rx; Pretty::Printer.new.pp: $match;
When I tried this, I didn’t get anything (or, more exactly, I got literally “anything”):
Any
Pretty::Printer was nice for the few data types that it handled, but not a Match object. It had some builtin handlers that it selected with a given-when :
method _pp($ds,$depth) { my Str $str; given $ds.WHAT { when Hash { $str ~= self.Hash($ds,$depth) } when Array { $str ~= self.Array($ds,$depth) } when Pair { $str ~= self.Pair($ds,$depth) } when Str { $str ~= $ds.perl } when Numeric { $str ~= ~$ds } when Nil { $str ~= q{Nil} } when Any { $str ~= q{Any} } } return self.indent-string($str,$depth); }
I started to work on Pretty::Printer to add a Match handler, and then a few others, but I quickly realized I was getting far away from Jeff’s original code. Not only that, but I didn’t want to add more and more branches to the given-when :
method _pp($ds,$depth) { my Str $str; given $ds.WHAT { # Check more derived types first. when Match { $str ~= self.Match($ds,$depth) } when Hash { $str ~= self.Hash($ds,$depth) } when Array { $str ~= self.Array($ds,$depth) } when Map { $str ~= self.Map($ds,$depth) } when List { $str ~= self.List($ds,$depth) } when Pair { $str ~= self.Pair($ds,$depth) } when Str { $str ~= $ds.perl } when Numeric { $str ~= ~$ds } when Nil { $str ~= q{Nil} } when Any { $str ~= q{Any} } } return self.indent-string($str,$depth); }
I changed my module name to PrettyDump and ended up with this:
use PrettyDump; my $rx = rx/ <[ a .. z ]> <[ 1 .. 9 ]> /; my $string = ':::abc123::'; my $match = $string ~~ $rx; put PrettyDump.new.dump: $match;
I was much more pleased with the output which allowed me easily pick out the part of the object I wanted to inspect:
Match.new( :from(5), :hash(Map.new()), :list($()), :made(Mu), :orig(":::abc123::"), :pos(7), :to(7) )
That solves that problem. But what about all the other types? One of my first improvements was a way to dump a class that my module did not know about. I knew about the TO_JSON method that the Perl 5 JSON module. With that, a class could decide its own JSON representation. I could do that with PrettyDump . If a class or object has a PrettyDump method, my module will use that preferentially:
class SomeClass { … method PrettyDump ( $pretty, $ds, $depth ) { … } } my $pretty = PrettyDump.new; my $some-object = SomeClass.new; put $pretty.dump: $some-object;
The class doesn’t need to define that method. I could decorate an object with a PrettyDump method through a role. The but operator can do that for me by creating a new object in a new class that includes that role mixed into the original class:
use PrettyDump; my $pretty = PrettyDump.new; my Int $a = 137; put $pretty.dump: $a; my $b = $a but role { method PrettyDump ( $pretty, $depth = 0 ) { "({self.^name}) {self}"; } }; put $pretty.dump: $b;
My code looks different from Jeff’s, but it’s not that different. Instead of a given-when , I have an if structure. I collapsed Jeff’s branches into self.can: $ds.^name to look for a matching method to the object type (and introduced a bug while doing it. See it?). The first branch looks for the PrettyDump method. The second does some special handling for numeric things. If none of those work, I die , which is another stupid thing I did at first.
method dump ( $ds, $depth = 0 ) { put "In dump. Got ", $ds.^name; my Str $str; if $ds.can: 'PrettyDump' { $str ~= $ds.PrettyDump: self; } elsif $ds ~~ Numeric { $str ~= self.Numeric: $ds, $depth; } elsif self.can: $ds.^name { my $what = $ds.^name; $str ~= self."$what"( $ds, $depth ); } else { die "Could not handle " ~ $ds.perl; } return self.indent-string: $str, $depth; }
So, I kept going. I wanted a way to add (and remove) handlers to a PrettyDump object. I could add those as roles, but I thought about doing this repeatedly and often and didn’t like the idea of the frankenclass that would create. I added a way to do it on my own (although I might change my mind later):
my $pretty = PrettyDump.new; class SomeClass { … } my $handler = sub ( $pretty, $ds, Int $depth = 0 ) { ... } $pretty.add-handler: 'SomeClass', $handler; put $pretty.dump: $SomeClass-object;
My code added a couple more branches (and some code comments to elucidate the process). First, I’d look for a handler. If I’d defined one of those, I’d use it. Otherwise, I went through the same process. I did add some more checks at the end. If nothing else worked, I try a .Str method. Instead of die -ing at the end, I add an “unhandled thingy” string for that object. That way I know that I didn’t handle something and the rest of the program keeps going. That turned out to be more important than I thought. I use this to peek at a program as it executes. It’s not part of the program flow and shouldn’t interrupt it because my dumping code is incomplete:
method dump ( $ds, Int $depth = 0 --> Str ) { my Str $str = do { # If the PrettyDump object has a user-defined handler # for this type, prefer that one if self.handles: $ds.^name { self!handle: $ds, $depth; } # The object might have its own method to dump # its structure elsif $ds.can: 'PrettyDump' { $ds.PrettyDump: self; } # If it's any sort of Numeric, we'll handle it # and dispatch further elsif $ds ~~ Numeric { self!Numeric: $ds, $depth; } # If we have a method name that matches the class, we'll # use that. elsif self.can: $ds.^name { my $what = $ds.^name; self."$what"( $ds, $depth ); } # If the class inherits from something that we know # about, use the most specific one that we know about elsif $ds.^parents.grep( { self.can: $_.^name } ).elems > 0 { my Str $str = ''; for $ds.^parents -> $type { my $what = $type.^name; next unless self.can( $what ); $str ~= self."$what"( $ds, $depth, "{$ds.^name}.new(", ')' ); last; } $str; } # If we're this far and the object has a .Str method, # we'll use that: elsif $ds.can: 'Str' { "({$ds.^name}): " ~ $ds.Str; } # Finally, we'll put a placeholder method there else { "(Unhandled {$ds.^name})" } }; return self!indent-string: $str, $depth; }
As I got further into this code, I looked at Perl 5’s Data::Dumper, but discovered that this isn’t the same sort of thing. That module outputs Perl code that I could eval to get back the same data structure. I didn’t want that can of worms in my module.
Beyond what I’ve shown here, I’ve been fiddling with formatting and other minor things as I run into problems. If there’s something that you’d like to do with the code, you can contribute through the PrettyDump GitHub repo, or even fork my code as the basis for your own experiments.
(Part of this work was supported by a travel grant from The Perl Foundation. I presented talks about my work at Amsterdam.pm, French Perl Workshop 2017, and London.pm.) |
Wilbur Glenn Voliva
Wilbur Glenn Voliva (March 10, 1870 – October 11, 1942[1]) was an evangelist and a prominent proponent of Flat Earth theories.
Early life and education [ edit ]
Voliva was born on a farm in Indiana on Mar. 10, 1870. In 1889, he entered Union Christian College, Merom Indiana; he graduated five years later and became a minister. In 1898 he was drawn to the teachings of John Alexander Dowie and eventually joined his congregation, becoming an elder of the Christian Catholic Church of Zion, Illinois. In 1901 he emigrated to Australia to become overseer-in-charge of the Australian branch.
Leadership of church [ edit ]
In September 1905, Dowie suffered a stroke and recuperated in Jamaica, claiming $2,000 a month expenses from the investments, and asked Voliva to return to oversee the city in his absence.[2] Voliva arrived in February 1906, whereupon the congregation revolted against Dowie's leadership, accusing him of corruption and polygamy, and elected Voliva as head of the church, which he then renamed to the "Christian Catholic Apostolic Church." By careful management he rescued Zion from bankruptcy, gaining the support of the church members. He kept tight control on his some 6,000 followers, which made up the community, even up to the point of dictating their choice of marriage partners. The city of Zion was effectively controlled by the church; all of its real estate, while sold at market rates, was conveyed under a 1,100 year lease, subject to many restrictions and to termination at the whim of the General Overseer. Religions other than the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church were effectively banned – visiting preachers from rival sects were harassed and hounded out of town by the city police force.
Voliva diversified Zion Industries, an industrial concern owned by the church that manufactured Scottish lace, to include a bakery which produced the popular Zion brand fig bar cookies and White Dove chocolates. Zion was a one-company town and its workers were paid substandard wages.
Voliva introduced many new rules for members and notices were placed around the town with stern warnings that the independents (who didn't belong to the church) resented and often burned. But the city was established as a safe space for those within its boundaries.[3]
Flat earth and other views [ edit ]
From 1914, Voliva gained nationwide notoriety by his vigorous advocacy of the flat earth doctrine. He offered a widely publicized $5000 challenge for anyone to disprove the flat earth theory.[4] The church schools in Zion taught the flat earth doctrine. In 1923 Voliva became the first evangelical preacher in the world to own his own radio station, WCBD, which could be heard as far away as Central America.[5] His radio station broadcast his diatribes against round earth astronomy, and the evils of evolution. He was quoted about the sun as follows:
The idea of a sun millions of miles in diameter and 91,000,000 miles away is silly. The sun is only 32 miles across and not more than 3,000 miles from the earth. It stands to reason it must be so. God made the sun to light the earth, and therefore must have placed it close to the task it was designed to do. What would you think of a man who built a house in Zion and put the lamp to light it in Kenosha, Wisconsin?[4]
He became increasingly focused on destroying the 'trinity of evils': modern astronomy, evolution and higher criticism, insisting on a strict interpretation of 24-hour days for creation and travelling to Dayton, Tennessee, to appear as a witness at the Scopes trial (he wasn't called).[6] Voliva also predicted the end of the world would come in 1923, 1927, 1930, 1934[7] and 1935.[4]
Decline and death [ edit ]
Like his predecessor, Voliva increasingly developed an overtly lavish lifestyle, amassing a $5m personal fortune by 1927, which began to alienate his followers, especially after the hardships brought on by the Great Depression, which forced Zion Industries into bankruptcy. In 1935 Voliva tried to revive the flagging fortunes of the church by instituting the annual Zion Passion Play, along the lines of the famous one in Oberammergau. However, in 1937, a disgruntled employee set ablaze the church's huge Shiloh Tabernacle, where the play took place. Shortly thereafter, Voliva was forced into personal bankruptcy and he was reduced to being the honorary president of Zion Industries. The governance of the city reverted to the independents and the new authorities selected a globe for the compulsory car sticker that Voliva was forced to put on his car.[8] He spent most of his time in Florida where he hoped to establish another fundamentalist colony, but in 1942 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Voliva made a tearful public confession to his followers that he had misappropriated church funds for his personal use and committed other misdeeds. He died shortly thereafter on October 11, 1942 (though he had previously stated that he would live to 120 due to his diet of Brazil nuts and buttermilk[1][4]), and the church all but dissolved. A small remnant was reorganized under the leadership of Michael Mintern. It was later renamed to "Christ Community Church." |
A name suffix,[dubious – discuss] in the Western English-language naming tradition, follows a person's full name and provides additional information about the person. Post-nominal letters indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honor (e.g. "PhD", "CCNA", "OBE"). Other examples include generational designations like "Sr." and "Jr." (or often "Snr" and "Jnr" in British English) and "III", and legal ones such as "Estate" and (French) Feme Covert.
Post-nominal letters [ edit ]
Academic [ edit ]
Academic suffixes indicate the degree earned at a college or university. These include the bachelor's degree (A.B, B.A., B.A., Hons, B.S., B.E., B.F.A., B.Tech., L.L.B, B.Sc., etc.), the master's degree (M.A., M.S., M.F.A., LL.M, M.L.A., M.B.A., M.Sc., M.Eng etc.), the professional doctorate (J.D., M.D., D.O., Pharm.D., D.Min., etc.), and the academic doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Phil., D.B.A., LL.D, Eng.D., etc.).
In the case of doctorates, normally either the prefix (e.g. "Dr." or "Atty.") or the suffix (e.g. "J.D.", "M.D.", "D.O.", "D.C.", or "Ph.D.") is used, but both can be used at the same time due to preferences of different countries. In the United States, the suffix is the preferred format (thus allowing differentiation between types of doctorate) in written documentation.
Honorary [ edit ]
Such titles may be given by:
a monarch (for example, K.B.E., a suffix granted to Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire);
a university (as in a LL.D. (Doctor of Laws) given in recognition of a person's life achievements rather than their academic standing);
a church or seminary, who may offer an honorary Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) to outstanding ministers or teachers.
Esquire [ edit ]
The style Esq. or Esquire was once used to distinguish a man who was an apprentice to a knight and is used for a man of socially high ranking. In the United States, Esq. is used as a professional styling for a barber. In the United Kingdom, it is used by untitled males in social and business contexts, or occasionally by an untitled male heir to a hereditary peer.[1]
Professional [ edit ]
Professional titles include Esq., often used for an attorney (but not necessarily) in the United States who has passed a state bar examination, and CSA (casting) and ASCAP, which indicate membership in professional societies. The suffix CA is used for individuals who have completed the requirements to become a Chartered Accountant. The suffix CPA is also used for individuals who have completed the requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant. Similarly, Chartered Financial Analysts use the suffix CFA. Sommeliers (restaurant wine professionals) who have passed the Master Sommelier exam use the MS suffix. Engineers that are certified as a Professional Engineer in his or her state will use the suffix P.E., Certified Professional Geologists use P.G., Certified Professional Logisticians use CPL, and Chartered Engineers use CEng. Likewise, Registered Architects sometimes use the suffix R.A., or more often a suffix such as AIA or RIBA that refers to their professional society. Examination Office personnel within the United Kingdom who are registered with the Examination Officers' Association use MEOA.
Project managers that have obtained certification as Project Management Professionals from the Project Management Institute may use the suffix PMP after their name. Similarly, individuals who hold certifications in the field of information security – e.g. CISA, CISSP, and/or CISM – may use them as suffixes.
The suffix PT is used by Physical Therapists to denote their state certification, but not to be confused with DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) which is a qualifying degree. UK physiotherapists prefer to use MCSP or SRP to denote membership to professional bodies. RN is used by qualified nurses as a suffix.
Officers and enlisted in the United States Military will add an abbreviation of the service frequently to disambiguate seniority, and reserve status. For example, Captain Smith, USN (O-6), outranks Captain Jones, USMC (O-3).
Religious orders [ edit ]
Members of religious institutes commonly use their institute's initials as a suffix. For example, a Franciscan friar uses the post-nominal initials "O.F.M.", derived from the Order's name in Latin, "Ordo Fratrum Minorum" (Order of Friars Minor). Equally, a Viatorian priest uses the suffix "C.S.V." from the name of his religious institute, "Clerici Santi Viatori", the (Clerics of Saint Viator). These initials are not considered by members of religious institutes as an equivalent to academic or honorary post-nominial initials, but rather as a sign of membership in a particular religious lineage, similar to the use of "Senior" or "Junior".
Ordering [ edit ]
In some English-speaking countries, the arrangement of post-nominal letters is governed by rules of precedence, and this list is sometimes called the "Order of Wear" (for the wearing of medals).
Legal status [ edit ]
Special legal entities are created with the addition of status terms: Estate, Deceased, Orphan, Widow, Feme Covert (French), etc.[2][unreliable source]
Generational titles [ edit ]
For a more global view of generational naming, see Patronymic
Generational suffixes are used to distinguish persons who share the same name within a family. A generational suffix can be used informally (for disambiguation purposes, or as nicknames) and is often incorporated in legal documents.
In the United States the most common name suffixes are senior and junior, which are written with a capital first letter ("Sr." and "Jr.") with or without an interceding comma. In Britain these are more rare, but when they are used the abbreviations are "Snr" and "Jnr", respectively. The term Jr. and II can both be correctly used if a child's first, middle, and last names are identical to his or her parent's names. When the suffixes are spelled out in full, they are always written with the first letter in lower case. Social name suffixes are far more frequently applied to men than to women (due to the common practice of women taking their husbands' surnames). In French, the designations for a father and son with the same name are père ("father") and fils ("son"). In Portuguese, common designations are Júnior (junior), Filho (son), Neto (grandson), and Sobrinho (nephew). In many other nations, it is considered highly unusual or even inauspicious to give a son the same first name(s) as his father, removing the need for such suffixes. Sons with a different middle name or initial may also be informally known as Jr. (e.g. William Vann Rogers Jr., son of William Penn Adair Rogers), in which case the Jr. is not part of the legal name.[3]
Jr. or II can be used when being named after the father, however they are both pronounced differently Jr. is pronounced as "Junior" and II is pronounced as "The second". Roman numeral suffixes can be used to name after other family members like an uncle, cousin, or ancestor (including grandfather). The suffix "III" is used after either Jr or II and like subsequent numeric suffixes, does not need to be restricted to one family line. For example, if Randall and Patrick Dudley are brothers and if Randall has a son before Patrick, he will call his son Patrick II. If Patrick now has a son, his son is Patrick Jr. or Patrick II if Randall doesn't have a son named Patrick II. As time passes, the III suffix goes to the son of either Patrick Jr or Patrick II. Whoever is first to have a son named Patrick. This is one way it is possible and correct for a Junior to father a IV. Another example involves President Ulysses S. Grant and his sons Frederick, Ulysses Jr, and Jesse. When Frederick's son Ulysses was born in 1881, Ulysses Jr did not yet have a son named after himself. Therefore, Frederick's son was Ulysses III. Ulysses Jr's son, born afterwards in 1893, was Ulysses IV. Jesse's son Chapman was the father of Ulysses V, as neither Ulysses III nor Ulysses IV had sons named for themselves.
There is no hard-and-fast rule over what happens to suffixes when the most senior of the name dies. Etiquette expert and humorist Judith Martin, for example, believes they should all move up,[4] but most agree that this is up to the individual families.[5]
Although there are instances of daughters being named after their mothers and also using the suffix "Jr." (such as Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Jr., Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr., and Carolina Herrera Jr.), or after their grandmothers or aunts with the suffix "II", this is not common. Usually, the namesake is given a different middle name and so would not need a suffix for differentiation. Furthermore, once the woman marries, she would most commonly take the surname of her husband and thus do away with the generational suffix. The title "Jr." is sometimes used in legal documents, particularly those pertaining to wills and estates, to distinguish among female family members of the same name.
A wife who uses the title Mrs. would also use her husband's full name, including the suffix. In less formal situations, the suffix may be omitted. Mrs. Lon Chaney Jr. on a wedding invitation, but Mrs. L. Chaney or simply Shannon Chaney for a friendly note. Widows are entitled to retain their late husband's full names and suffixes, but divorcees may not continue to style themselves with a former husband's full name and suffix, even if they retain the surname.[3]
Juniors sometimes go by their first initials and "J" for Jr., regardless of middle initial. Examples include American football players Terrell Ray Ward, Jr. (who goes by T.J. Ward) and Erick R. Manuel, Jr., who is better known as E.J. Manuel.
Common nicknames for a junior or II include "Chip" (as in "chip off the old block"); e.g., President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr.'s second son James Earl Carter III goes by "Chip".[6] Another is "Bud" (predominantly in the American South). Common nicknames for a III are "Trip(p)", "Trace", and "Trey" which denote that the name carrier is the third person to carry the name. Notable examples include Green Day drummer Frank Edwin "Tré Cool" Wright III, South Park co-creator Randolph Severn "Trey" Parker III, and Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III, elder son of actor Willard Carroll "Will" Smith Jr..
Another convention is for the elder member of a family to go by their first name, and the younger one to go by their middle name. Examples include George Virl Osmond, who went by George while his eponymous son goes by the name Virl. Another example, although father and son had different middle names, is the case of Cuban evangelist Rafael Cruz, whose son, also with the given name Rafael, is a U.S. Senator who is known by a variant of his middle name, Edward "Ted" Cruz.
See also [ edit ] |
The thing that I love about kids is that they either speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about you until you want to eat yourself away in the corner of your room watching old re-runs of Passions- or they come up with insane lies for no reason. It turns out I’m a lucky one, and got a lie in the form of a “My Hero” assignment. A lie that I may attach to all of my resumes and cover letters from this day forward.
As my brain remembers, my aunt and I were sitting outside with my cousin when she was about 1 years old. I was sitting beside the pool with her while my aunt folded the towels nearby. My cousin was dipping toys into a puddle of water beside the pool. I turned my head around to say something to my aunt, and my cousin crawled the 3 steps it took to get to the big pool and tried dipping her toy into the water. Except she fell. Down down the rabbit hole (into the shallow end). As she was sinking to the bottom, I jumped in in my sweatpants and t-shirt and pulled her out. I breathed. She threw up. All was right in the world.
According to my cousin, who is now in grade 5, the story goes like this….
Well, of course I would risk my life and be the family hero, jumping into the pool during a huge family party in my beautiful (and no doubt expensive) dress. I especially love the drama of her almost hitting her head as she floated into deep abyss. I even more especially love how I am thin and bleach blond and wonderful in that drawing.
Over the years I have gotten a few drawings and letters thanking me for being a hero. I think I may use this child as my genie, and request 3 wishes for saving her. I also think this story may be a great source of anxiety for her, which could be a problem. In conclusion though…kids are liars. Sometimes it sucks, but sometimes you can just pretend you should win a nobel peace prize.
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Former Burleson County District Attorney Charles Sebesta Jr. will remain disbarred for his conduct in winning the wrongful capital murder conviction of Anthony Graves.
The Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals Monday upheld Sebesta's disbarment for "professional misconduct" in the case.
Graves was sentenced to death for the 1992 killings of a Somerville family. His co-defendant, Robert Carter, originally testified that Graves was involved, but later said only he was responsible for killing the family. The State Bar of Texas disbarred the former district attorney for several mistakes in the case, including not correcting Carter's testimony.
Carter was executed in 2000. A federal appeals court overturned Graves' conviction and ordered a new trial in 2006, and Graves was released in 2010 after 18 years behind bars — 16 of which were on death row.
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
After the bar's decision, Sebesta appealed to the board, arguing that changes in disciplinary procedures warranted overturning his disbarment. |
Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.
March 7, 2017, 5:56 PM GMT / Updated March 7, 2017, 8:09 PM GMT By Avalon Zoppo
The House Oversight Committee will not investigate President Donald Trump's unproven claims of wide-spread voter fraud during the 2016 election, Chairman Jason Chaffetz said Tuesday.
Speaking on CNN, the Utah representative said he does not see any evidence to back up Trump's tweets.
"We can't just investigate everything that's ever thrown out there by the Democrats, by the Republicans. We have to pick and choose," he said.
Trump has repeatedly, and without evidence, pushed claims that millions of ballots were cast illegally in the 2016 election and called for a probe into the issue. Days after his inauguration, Trump tweeted: "I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and even, those registered to vote who are dead."
Rep. Jason Chaffetz Cliff Owen / AP
Although the committee will not look into Trump's voter fraud allegations, Chaffetz said congressional leaders will investigate the president's Saturday morning claim that former President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the campaign, adding that "the president is directly asking and calling for" a probe.
Chaffetz said he has spoken with House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who on Sunday released a statement saying his panel would make inquiries into whether Obama illegally eavesdropped on the Trump campaign as part of an ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the election.
Doubts were raised over the committee's credibility after reports surfaced that Nunes, a Republican lawmaker, had made calls to reporters in order to challenge stories about Russia at the request of the White House.
Related: White House, GOP Intel Committee Heads Push Back on Russia Reports
Despite lack of proof to support Trump's claims of being wiretapped, Chaffetz said, "I think it's a legitimate question, the president is emphatic about it. We're going to look into it and try to figure it out."
Asked whether he believes Obama illegally surveilled Trump Tower, Chaffetz said he would not presuppose the outcome.
"When you look around the corner, sometimes you find something you don't expect to find," he said.
During a daily press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did not provide evidence to support Trump's wiretapping claims but said having the House and Senate Intelligence Committees investigate the issue would "add credibility" to the outcome.
Chaffetz also addressed growing concerns over healthcare costs during the interview Tuesday, saying low-income Americans must make tough choices and sacrifice luxuries in order to pay for coverage.
"Maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe they should go and invest in their own healthcare," he said.
Related: Obamacare Lite? New GOP Health Care Bill Has Host of Critics
Nancy Pelosi, among other lawmakers, took to Twitter to criticize Chaffetz’ comments, calling them "offensive" and lacking compassion. On Fox News later in the day, Chaffetz admitted he didn’t make his point “as smoothly as I possibly could.”
Congressional Republicans unveiled the new healthcare plan Monday night, called The American Healthcare Act. The bill, which was presented without a cost estimate, would scrap the unpopular individual mandate, introduce limited tax credits and halt the Affordable Care Act's Medicare expansion.
The bill has received criticism from some Republicans, who complain it is a rehashed version of Obamacare. Sen. Rand Paul on Monday called the plan “Obamacare Lite."
Chaffetz said that the new plan could leave Americans with more access and less coverage. “We just saw the bill as of yesterday, we’re just starting to consume it, so we’ll have to look at how that analysis moves forward,” he said. |
A Chinese restaurant owner who fraudulently claimed more than £100,000 in VAT repayments has been jailed – after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) noticed his forged invoices contained spelling mistakes.
David Ying Chung Lai, 50, of Doncaster Road, Jesmond, submitted documents to HMRC that appeared to show he had spent over £700,000 on renovations to Newcastle city centre restaurants Mangos and Aura.
But during a routine visit to Lai’s premises, in March 2012, a HMRC compliance officer spotted a series of spelling errors on invoices that not only looked unprofessional, but were ‘remarkably’ similar to each other, despite purporting to be from different companies.
Diane Donnelly, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Lai bungled his way through this fraud until HMRC inevitably caught up with him.
“Today’s sentence sends out a clear message to those who might be involved in this type of fraud: if you steal public money from honest, hard-working law-abiding people, we will prosecute you, and you will pay the consequences.
“I urge anyone with information about individuals or businesses involved in tax fraud to contact the HMRC Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.”
One invoice, for electrical rewiring and the fitting of a new kitchen floor totalling £45,000, appeared to be from a legitimate company based at Mariner’s Wharf in Newcastle. Lai, however, had incorrectly copied the address as ‘Marines’ Wharf. On the forged letterhead, he had typed ‘Limtied’ instead of ‘Limited’.
Further checks revealed another supposed supplier, CM Joiners and Shopfitters, did not exist, and that Lai had assigned the fictional company an address that belonged to a supermarket in Edinburgh.
Lai pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of VAT, totalling £107,775, and to the possession of fraudulent documents at Newcastle Crown Court on 27 February 2015. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison by his Honour Judge Camp at Newcastle Crown Court today, September 1 2015.
Notes to editors
David Ying Chung Lai, Doncaster Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. DOB: 21/05/1965 Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk HMRC’s Flickr channel www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Press enquiries only please contact:
Joshua Shrimpton Dean
Tel: 03000 554556 / 07469 023445
Email: joshua.shrimpton-dean@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Or
Nikki Sanders
Tel: 03000 524936 / 07867 970437
Email: nikki.sanders@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Out of hours
Tel: 07860 359544
Website www.hmrc.gov.uk |
After much anticipation and anxious clamoring, I return this week with my regular season mainstay. That’s right, Double D’s Double Take on just how well, or poorly, the Chiefs are performing in key areas, courtesy of Football Outsider’s DVOA analysis.
For those of you unfamiliar with the DVOA ranking methodology, I’ll simply provide, after the jump, the same rundown that I gave last year. If you are interested in a more detailed (and perhaps more useful) explanation, go here.
DVOA stands for “Defense-adjusted Value Over Average.” Huh? Well, what that basically means is that a team’s offense (as well as its sub-units and key positions) is compared to an imaginary, statistically average offense through play-by-play analysis, situationally, continuously and cumulatively during the season. I’ll bet that explanation didn’t help much either did it?
Well, if you actually followed all that, then you should have picked up on the term “situationally” because that’s really what this all about and yes it does take into consideration the quality of your opponent for each given situation.
For example, suppose it is 3rd and 10, Dwayne Bowe catches a 9 yard pass, runs 60 yards after the catch until being forced out at the 1 yard line. Suppose on the next play that Thomas Jones carries the ball in for the score. Which of those two situations (or, if you like, those two players in their respective situations) was statistically more significant?
By an overwhelming margin, the answer is Dwayne Bowe’s catch and run. Thomas Jones scoring a TD from the 1 yard line has a very high probability of success; Dwayne Bowe’s 70 yard catch and run is anything but a statistical certainty. Bear in mind, I’m vastly oversimplifying the methodology employed here, but nevertheless hope it gives you a sense of, and respect for, how all this works. The DVOA methodology is not some supposed expert’s opinion of how good/bad a team is, it’s a thorough statistical analysis of how good/bad a team is.
One last thing, the mythical “average” team scores 0% at everything. The more positive the DVOA number on offense, the better the offense. Conversely, the more negative the DVOA number on defense, the better the defense. Why the difference? Put crudely, DVOA analysis is an indication of offensive scoring efficiency and thus more scoring is good if you’re an offense while less scoring, or, better yet, taking away points (negative scoring) is good if you’re a defense. Got it? Too bad if you don’t, because I’m not planning on repeating any of this from here on out. Now onto the Chiefs Week 4 rankings.
Not a whole lot to be cheery about here. The bright side, if there is any, is that we moved up 5 slots on Total Defense and 11 slots on Special Teams, where last week we were ranked 27th and 29th respectively. Personally, I’ll take any sign of progress I can get at this point. In case you were wondering, both McCluster and Battle have yet to get enough carries to be ranked as RBs, statistically speaking. In the case of Battle, with any luck, we will hopefully see that change in the near future.
To better understand what DYAR represents, you can go here for the 411. Bottom line, not much going on here to get particularly excited about either.
Additional noteworthy points of interest . . . the Chiefs OL is currently the most efficient in the NFL when we attack the left B gap or run outside the LT. Major props to Branden Albert for that. Conversely, our OL ranks 31st whenever we try to run between the guards. Looking at you, Casey Wiegmann.
That about wraps it up for today. Clearly, there’s plenty of room left for improvement on nearly every front. From here on out, win or lose, I’ll use this weekly feature to make some sort of assessment on whether or not the Chiefs are becoming a better team as the season unfolds.
That’s my Double Take. What’s your take, Addicts? |
My journey began yesterday as I was away from my apartment to spend Christmas with my family and to my surprise I received a text from my flat mate asking for the underground parking key with a little sub text - "Oh btw, something came for you but I missed it. Royal Fail left a note to collect at the delivery depot."
This was not the news I was wanting to hear, expecting nothing else I was sure it was my SS gift so I had to return to pick it up.
Queue yesterday evening. Upon completing my train journey back from Edinburgh I asked for a run to the nearest main station to get on back to Glasgow where I'd spend the night and complete the final trek to the delivery depot the next morning :D
Whelp, I was dead chuffed. As a programmer I'm often partial to living off coffee for weeks as a deadline approaches and I couldn't be happier with this, it tastes absolutely gorgeous too - might as well make the transition to a decent ground instead of instant now ;3
Cheers, IMeasure! |
These Zelda arcade cabinets feel like authentic 80s period pieces.
From the vivid neon glow of screens illuminating a dark room, to the intriguing chiptune sounds that beckon you to spend your last quarter as you walk by, arcades induce a unique sense of environmental nostalgia that console gaming can’t quite capture. When thinking back to the golden age of video games in the 1980s, most will remember lining up at the local arcade to tackle games like Space Invaders or Pac-Man. By the end of the 80s, however, console gaming had begun to take over as many gamers brought home the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) as their first console. Zelda became a household name for gamers who left behind the arcades for the ceasless entertainment that consoles had to offer.
As console gaming gained popularity, certain arcade games made their way over to home consoles as well, but the process rarely went in the other direction. One ambitious Bay Area arcade has chosen to bring an NES favorite out of its console comfort zone and into the arcade realm, giving gamers a nostalgic 80s arcade experience that never actually existed in its time.
Merging Two 80s Gaming Memories Into One
Photo credit: High Scores Arcade
High Scores Arcade, a classic arcade museum located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, has given the NES console classic The Legend of Zelda the arcade treatment by bringing it to life in its own custom arcade cabinet. High Scores has two of these exclusive Zelda cabinets, one for each of their two East Bay locations.
The Zelda cabinets were custom built from the ground up for the High Scores team. The initial art design was adapted by artist Sam Bahman, while the construction work was done by an arcade-focused carpenter named Scott Evans. They were designed to look like authentic arcade machines from the 1980s, taking structural and art direction from classic Nintendo cabinets like Donkey Kong. The entire project took about 14 weeks from start to finish after the team nailed down the concept.
Each Zelda cabinet sparkles with brilliant gold paint, which was inspired by the golden style of the original 1986 Legend of Zelda game cartridge. The Zelda machines are adorned with classic drawings of Link, Zelda, and Ganon around a screen that emulates the old-school effects of a CRT.
Photo credit: High Scores Arcade
The Legend of Zelda isn’t the only game you can play on these machines, either. The two-player cabinets feature a number of other games for players to toggle through, including Contra and Double Dragon. “In our Zelda machines, you’re going to find all the unique NES experiences you loved, emulated perfectly, with the highest quality controls and a presentation offered nowhere else,” explains High Scores co-owner Shawn Livernoche. “You’re going to rediscover all the games you loved, and be able to explore rarer titles you may have never seen.”
Despite the plethora of games offered in each cabinet, Shawn, who co-owns High Scores with his wife Megan Livernoche, may be a bit biased when it comes to Zelda games. “Our daughter's name is Journey and our new (7-month-old) son is named Link. Since there is already an arcade game dedicated to Journey, we thought there should be one for Link,” said Megan.
Photo credit: High Scores Arcade
I had the opportunity to experience one of these Zelda cabinets in person during a recent visit to High Scores. I can attest to the fact that they are well-made, sturdy machines that seem like they will withstand the test of time. The experience was a bit surreal though, as the blending of two distinct 80s memories created a strange form of anachronistic nostalgia. The Zelda cabinets are authentic enough that you’ll have to remind yourself that Zelda didn’t actually exist in arcades thirty years ago. That little nostalgic mind-flip is worth the visit, though.
High Scores Arcade has these Zelda machines at each of their two East Bay Area locations (one in Hayward and the other in Alameda), where they have plenty of other classic arcade machines for you to enjoy as well. Visit the High Scores Arcade website for details.
Larryn Bell Writer Larryn is a full-time editor who has written guides and editorial features for various gaming websites. She is obsessed with Witcher 3 and is known to put hot sauce on everything.
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Google is reportedly testing out some new UI changes for its popular email service, Gmail on the desktop browser that would redesign your inbox in totally different Interface. So, the traditional Gmail we all know may soon get a new makeover and we hope users will definitely love it.
Google has invited a selected team of users to test a completely new user friendly interface for the webmail client which appears as a part of the trial, according to the leaked screenshots obtained by Geek 's website.
According to the report, we can only presume that the new feature will enable a user to have a fancy access to Google's Gmail with a brand-new fly-in menu system that flies in and out of the browser window replaces Google's otherwise static sidebar on the left bolted into Gmail last year that organizes your inbox, chats, and labels.
In the beginning of the April, the Geek also provided the screenshots revealing a series of new feature for the mobile Gmail client. So, it can be assumed that the goal behind the changes is to make Gmail work friendlier with the Google's mobile version of Gmail and with an expanded array of desktop sizes and resolutions without losing any functionality in the process.
Google has habit to test new features for its various products but on the same time, it typically changes Gmail slowly. So, just on the basis of leaked screenshots, it cannot be guaranteed that Google will soon or will ever propose these changes to its Gmail service. But, still it gives an idea of what Google is thinking next about Gmail.
NEW FEATURES
The traditional Gmail offers you the Star system as away to highlight the important emails, which have been replaced with a new Pinnig system. This pinnig approach will offers you options for your pinned emails to always display at the top of your inbox, or revert back if you want to see everything in the order it arrived. A switch to flick between the full inbox view and only pinned messages is at the top.
The left sidebar tabbed system currently offered in Gmail, has now been changed to a "grouped in the inbox" system that automatically sorts your email by topic such as Travel, Purchases, Finance, Social, Updates, Forums, and Promos, in order to keep your inbox manageable and organized. Till now, it’s not at all clear if you can edit or modify these categories.
A big Plus "+" icon is added in the Gmail's lower-right corner that offers a new pop-up menu for composing new messages and adding new reminders into Gmail. Also Google Hangouts is integrated into the new Gmail interface, now you just need to click on the chat-bubble-like icon at the bottom right corner of the display in order to pop out a sidebar that allows you to chit-chat with your friends and make video calls.
"There's no expected release date for any of these features, or even a guarantee that Google will implement them in the way we see them in these images, but after spending a few minutes in this interface it is clear that Google is eager to shake things up in Gmail. With any luck most of these features will make the cut and we'll see an all new Gmail any day now," writes Geek's Russell Holly.
Stay Tuned! |
Earlier this month, the administration of Donald Trump postponed the enactment of the International Entrepreneur Rule, a program that would grant foreign businesspeople the temporary ability to found companies in the United States. The ultimate goal, the administration announced, is to rescind the rule.
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The move rankled the tech industry, which owes much of its plenitude to the work of enterprising immigrants. “Steve Jobs might never have been born,” many doting technocrats have ruminated, if his father hadn’t been able to come to the United States from Syria. AOL co-founder Steve Case lambasted the decision as a “big mistake,” and venture capitalist Bobby Franklin told the Los Angeles Times the development stems from “a fundamental misunderstanding of the critical role immigrant entrepreneurs play in growing the next generation of American companies.”
This sentiment is hardly new. Silicon Valley has a history of lobbying for immigration rights, which has culminated in a number of technocratic Obama-era bills, including the Immigration Innovation Act and the Startup Act.
Since Trump’s xenophobic ascent, however, the industry’s efforts to preserve its workforce have grown more visible, galvanized by the shock of such unprecedented threats to its talent as the travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries. Tech titans condemn Trump while lauding immigrant technologists, parading their own potential to maintain the country’s diversity, boost its productivity and ensure opportunities for industrious immigrants in what have proven to be trying times.
Yet, when sifted through the Silicon Valley filter, immigration reform takes a disingenuous turn.
Among the tech industry’s chief targets is the H-1B visa, which allows U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in “specialty occupations,” such as engineering, medicine or accounting. Tech lobbyists have long implored authorities to ease H-1B restrictions, claiming concern over a dearth of domestic engineers.
It’s a hollow narrative. Valley elites aren’t so concerned with the aforementioned shortages, which are apocryphal, and — if anything — the result of the industry’s racism and sexism. They are more concerned with the opportunity to harvest the talents of young, STEM-educated people in Asian countries willing to work for significantly less than their U.S. counterparts. A study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine noted that H-1B workers received “lower wages, less [sic] senior job titles, smaller signing bonuses, and smaller pay and compensation increases than would be typical for the work they actually did.” Additionally, the Economics Policy Institute reported earlier this year that the average Silicon Valley software developer earns $147,000 per year, while an H-1B software developer earning the entry-level wage is paid $102,000.
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The conditions of H-1B visas often tether immigrant workers to their employers, furnishing technology companies with labor that’s not only cheap, but also immobile. Employers own and control H-1B visas, with many sponsoring their workers for U.S. permanent residency. The H-1B program, then, effectively sentences these workers to indentured servitude. Those who lose their jobs are instantly susceptible to deportation. As computer science professor Norm Matloff has argued, “though [foreign workers] have the right to move to another employer, they do not dare do so, as it would mean starting the lengthy green card process all over again.”
The consequences of Silicon Valley’s efforts extend far beyond working conditions, betraying a discriminatory, nakedly capitalist value system for immigrants. As techno-capitalists sing the praises of the “best and brightest” STEM-educated talent, they ultimately seek to protect only those immigrants who are trained to augment their own profits. In other words, they seek to support those with the wherewithal to not only earn a college degree, but also to parlay it into a revenue-generating, white-collar job.
In the eyes of the tech magnate, seeking refuge from war, poverty, or other imperialist abuses inflicted in one’s mother country is all well and good, but it alone won’t justify efforts to make a new home in the United States. To be deemed worthy, immigrants must show an ability and commitment to buttress a billion-dollar technology business — and to accept slashed wages in the process.
This conditional acceptance is linked to a principle that has long undergirded the tech industry: American exceptionalism. Couched within Silicon Valley’s reformist clarion calls is an exhortation to compete with other countries: Canada, Germany, South Africa, and China, all of which have sought to lure engineers from abroad in recent years. FWD.us, an immigration-reform group founded by such Valley fixtures as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gate, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, seeks to “keep the U.S. competitive in a global economy.” Tech and business pundit Vivek Wadhwa warns, “The country’s competitiveness is at stake now more than ever . . . we need economic growth and job creation and we need to welcome those who would bring about both.”
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These calls-to-action again affix immigrants’ value to their ability to stimulate “economic growth” for a country and industry all too eager to exploit them.
Silicon Valley is right to oppose Trump, but its efforts are mere subterfuge. As the Democratic Party toys with a new slogan leading with the phrase “better skills,” the true fight for immigrants’ rights must reject the obsession with evaluating people on schooling and market contribution. Above all, we must recognize the rights of every person — regardless of place of origin or resumé — to live comfortably and safely and be accepted and valued—without fear of reproach for not knowing how to code. |
When the economy declines, existing racial disparities typically expand, suggesting that economic scarcity may promote racial discrimination. To understand this pattern, we examined the effect of perceived scarcity on resource allocations to Black and White American recipients, and tested whether this effect depends on a decision maker's motivation to respond without prejudice. We proposed that scarcity would lead to increased discrimination among those with relatively low internal motivation but not those high in internal motivation. Indeed, we found that when resources were framed as scarce (vs. abundant or a control condition), low-motivation participants allocated less to Black than White recipients, whereas high-motivation participants allocated more to Black than White recipients (Studies 1 and 2). This pattern was strongest when decisions could be made deliberatively (Study 3), and anti-Black allocation bias emerged even in a non-zero-sum context (Studies 4 and 5), suggesting a strategic bias directed against Black recipients rather than in favor of White recipients. These findings indicate that the psychological perception of scarcity can produce racial bias in the distribution of economic resources, depending on the motivations of the decision maker-an effect that may contribute to the increase in racial disparities observed during economic stress. (PsycINFO Database Record.
(c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved). |
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Everyone considers Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a woman’s right to an abortion, to be the most important ruling ever on the issue by the Supreme Court. But this year, a lesser-known progeny of Roe occupies center stage in potentially the most momentous abortion case confronting the justices in a generation. After Roe established abortion rights, Planned Parenthood v. Casey reined them in, creating a new legal standard that gave states greater leeway to regulate the procedure. Many conservative legislatures took advantage to enact a series of increasingly tough laws that reproductive rights advocates argue have made it more difficult—and sometimes impossible—for women to obtain abortions.
When the court holds oral arguments this week, the signs that protesters wave and the chants they chant will likely focus on Roe, but the outcome of the case will hinge on how justices interpret Casey.
One of those states was Texas, which in 2013 enacted HB 2, an omnibus bill whose multiple provisions include restrictions, known as TRAP laws, targeting abortion providers. Now the Supreme Court is being asked to decide the constitutionality of two of these laws—one requiring clinics to meet the same building codes as other types of outpatient surgical centers, the other requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles—that have already shut down more than half of the state’s 42 clinics and could close 8 more. When the court holds oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt this week, the signs that protesters wave and the chants they chant will likely focus on Roe, but the outcome of the case will hinge on how justices interpret Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Abortion rights advocates contend the Texas rules are “sham” laws that pretend to protect women’s health while erecting so many hurdles—what Planned Parenthood v. Casey calls an “undue burden”—that abortion becomes “an abstract right that doesn’t have any meaning,” in the words of Stephanie Toti, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney representing the clinics. Abortion foes insist that TRAP laws have a genuine medical purpose. They want the court to abandon the “undue burden” standard and allow lawmakers to pass abortion regulations as long as they have a “rational basis,” without having to prove that the laws actually benefit women. If the court goes along, it could have a sweeping impact on access to abortion throughout the United States, but especially in conservative states in the South and Midwest, triggering a new wave of TRAP laws and other types of restrictions as well.
Planned Parenthood v. Casey was decided in 1992, a time of many political parallels to today. Here is the background to the most important abortion decision you may never have heard about.
The rise of incrementalism
In the period immediately following Roe, abortion opponents mobilized and pushed for a federal constitutional amendment declaring that a fetus was a “person” entitled to “equal protection” under the 14th Amendment. But those efforts stalled. Abortion opponents began arguing for a new, pragmatic strategy known as “incrementalism.” Instead of attempting to overturn Roe outright, “you would argue that certain abortion restrictions and regulations were compatible with Roe,” said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at Florida State University and author of After Roe: the Lost History of the Abortion Debate. The idea was “to chip away at abortion rights until Roe was so incoherent and so full of holes that courts would finally get rid of it.”
The idea was “to chip away at abortion rights until Roe was so incoherent and so full of holes that courts would finally get rid of it.”
The approach required “an accurate understanding of political power, an assessment of what is politically achievable, [and] recognition of the imperfect world in which we live,” Clarke Forsythe, senior counsel for Americans United for Life, a key architect of anti-abortion legislative and legal strategies, wrote in a law review article around that time. That translated into retail politics on the state level, the election of anti-abortion candidates, the passage of model legislation, and the defense of those new laws in court. The approach was extremely effective: By the late 1980s, states had enacted dozens of restrictions. Moreover, the political makeup of the Supreme Court had turned more conservative, and the court’s jurisprudence on abortion had become splintered and, to some, confused. What was clear to Forsythe was that the justices seemed ready to show “greater deference to state abortion laws—quite a contrast from the Roe decision.”
the pennsylvania law
The battles over the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act were a prime example of incrementalism in action. A similar law was passed in 1982 and largely struck down by the US Supreme Court four years later. But instead of giving up on the law, legislators amended it; the version signed by Gov. Robert Casey Sr. in 1989 included a 24-hour waiting period, informed consent rules for women seeking abortions, parental consent rules for minors, and a requirement that married women notify their husbands before terminating a pregnancy. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers challenged these rules, too. But this time, the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld all the provisions except spousal notification. Planned Parenthood appealed the case to the high court.
another nasty fight for the supreme court
Consider the events of 1991-1992. A presidential election loomed; the first war in Iraq was over; racial unrest after the acquittal of four white police officers in the videotaped beating of Rodney King left Los Angeles in flames. Massive job layoffs led to widespread economic resentment, and a blunt-talking billionaire emerged out of nowhere to become a populist hero and presidential spoiler. (This one’s name was Ross Perot.) On the abortion front, groups such as Operation Rescue were using aggressive, sometimes violent tactics to block access to abortion clinics. Then, in June 1991, an ailing Justice Thurgood Marshall resigned, touching off an epically ugly Supreme Court fight (although the one to replace Justice Antonin Scalia could make it seem like a model of decorum).
Clarence Thomas’s confirmation in October 1991 meant Republican appointees now clearly held the fate of abortion rights in their hands. “Our concern was that when the [Pennsylvania] case went before the Supreme Court, the majority would use this opportunity to go much further [than the 3rd Circuit appeals court] and say that any law that was rational, including the complete banning of abortion, would be constitutional,” said Kathryn Kolbert, the lead ACLU attorney challenging the Pennsylvania law, who is now director of the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College. That was what many abortion opponents were urging: Indeed, they had been lobbying for the “rational basis” standard since Roe.
Figuring that they were going to lose anyway, Kolbert and her allies embarked on what author and lawyer Jeffrey Toobin has called “one of the most audacious litigation strategies in Supreme Court history.” Instead of dragging the case out, they opted to “lose fast”: to push the case onto an exceptionally fast track in the hope it would be decided in the middle of the 1992 elections. And instead of making it a fight about Pennsylvania’s incremental law, they cast it as the ultimate showdown over Roe. This would let them take political advantage of the backlash that would ensue if abortion rights were gutted. According to Toobin, the conservative chief justice, William Rehnquist, resented this “transparent” ploy, but the court’s two liberal justices, Roe‘s author Harry Blackmun and John Paul Stevens, supported it and Rehnquist’s hand was forced. The case was argued on the last possible day of the 1991-92 term.
justice kennedy’s compromise
A central question facing the justices was whether the state could comply with Roe v. Wade while requiring women to go through additional hoops before getting an abortion. Oral arguments left both sides convinced abortion rights were in peril; when Blackmun’s papers became public years later, they showed that Rehnquist had drafted an opinion overruling Roe. But then the trio of Republican-appointed moderates— Anthony Kennedy, Sandra Day O’Connor, and David Souter—had second thoughts. Instead of joining Rehnquist, they made a secret deal to thwart him.
The trio of Republican-appointed moderates —Anthony Kennedy, Sandra Day O’Connor, and David Souter—had second thoughts. Instead of joining Rehnquist, they made a secret deal to thwart him
The Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, announced in June 1992, was stunning. By a 5-4 vote, the court reaffirmed Roe‘s “essential holding” that the right to abortion was protected by the Constitution. Not only that, the opinion embraced women’s equality as central to the abortion right in a way that Roe had not. With abortion, “the liberty of the woman is at stake in a sense unique to the human condition and so unique to the law,” the decision read. “Her suffering is too intimate and personal for the State to insist…upon its own vision of the woman’s role, however dominant that vision has been in the course of our history and of our culture.”
The structure of the ruling was also highly unusual: It was a “plurality” opinion by the three moderates— Kennedy, O’Connor, and Souter—with the court’s two liberals agreeing with some parts and disagreeing with others. Kolbert notes that the plurality’s emphasis on “stare decisis,” the principle that courts must follow precedent, was a sign that the justices had understood “the challenge to the institutional integrity of the court was real.” Justice Kennedy in particular “did not want the court to be perceived as changing course” on abortion, Kolbert said, simply because the majority’s ideological balance had shifted.
But abortion foes like Paul Linton, later special counsel to the Thomas More Society, noted that a “moral ambiguity” about abortion pervaded the joint opinion, as well as “the nagging sense” that the three justices thought Roe had been wrongly decided but upheld it anyway: “That…does not promote respect for the judiciary, especially in a case where the stakes were so high.” Abortion opponents felt especially betrayed by Kennedy, a dismay that has only grown deeper over the years, as he has authored landmark opinions on gay rights and marriage equality. That’s one reason conservative expectations for the Texas abortion case are much more cautious today than they were for Casey. Kennedy “doesn’t have any clearly defined principles that allow you to predict what he’s going to do in any case, in any area,” said Lynn Wardle, a law professor at Brigham Young University who has written often about same-sex marriage and abortion. “The best test for being able to predict what he will do is to lick your finger and hold it out to the wind.”
a clouded victory for abortion rights
Even as Planned Parenthood v. Casey upheld the right to abortion, the plurality opinion took Roe v. Wade apart, starting with its foundation, the trimester framework. Under Roe, states were almost completely banned from regulating abortion during the first trimester. They had more flexibility to pass laws protecting a woman’s health in the second trimester, and they could prohibit most abortions in the third. In contrast, Casey declared, “[T]he State has legitimate interests from the outset of pregnancy in protecting the health of the woman and the life of the fetus that may become a child.” Instead of the trimester approach, Casey established viability—the point at which the fetus can survive outside the womb—as the new reference point for determining whether an abortion law was valid or not. (When Roe was decided, fetuses weren’t considered viable until 28 weeks, or the third trimester; by 1992, medical advances had pushed the line to around 24 weeks.) Before viability, Casey said, states could only try to persuade a woman not to have an abortion; laws that made it difficult or impossible for her to act on her decision did not pass muster. After viability, though, states could restrict abortions pretty much however they liked.
“[T]he State has legitimate interests from the outset of pregnancy in protecting the health of the woman and the life of the fetus that may become a child.”
More significantly, Casey also rejected Roe‘s “strict scrutiny” test for evaluating abortion restrictions—a test that had stymied most state efforts to regulate the procedure—replacing it with the looser “undue burden” standard, which Justice O’Connor had proposed in dissents to earlier abortion rulings. An undue burden was defined as any law that had “the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion.” Importantly for the pending Texas abortion case, this reasoning applied to medical rules as well as other restrictions: Although “the State may enact regulations to further the health or safety of a woman seeking an abortion,” the court held, “unnecessary health regulations that have the purpose or effect of presenting a substantial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion impose an undue burden.” Still, the court reiterated, just because a law had “the incidental effect of making it more difficult or more expensive to procure an abortion” wasn’t enough to invalidate it.
Under the new standard, the Pennsylvania rules aimed at giving women more information and time to reflect on their decisions were valid. Only the spousal notification provision was deemed to be an undue burden and thus unconstitutional: “A state may not give to a man the kind of dominion over his wife that parents exercise over their children.”
scalia’s dissent:”hopelessly unworkable”
Casey prompted one of Antonin Scalia’s most famous and blistering dissents: The plurality’s reasoning, he fumed, was “really more than one should have to bear.” Much as he disliked Roe, at least the trimester framework laid down clear guidelines, he wrote. In contrast, Casey‘s “undue burden” standard was “created largely out of whole cloth,” “inherently manipulable,” and “hopelessly unworkable,” giving individual judges much more power to inject their own private beliefs into the abortion debate. “Its authors believe they are bringing to an end a troublesome era in the history of our Nation and of our Court,” Scalia scoffed. He predicted the abortion wars would continue, stoked by “this jurisprudence of confusion”—a view that would help frame the conversation about Casey for the next two decades. More recently, abortion rights advocates have fought back, arguing that Casey‘s reputation as “squishy law” is undeserved and part of a long effort to delegitimitize the undue burden standard, much as critics have sought to undermine Roe. “Excuse me for simplifying, but there’s a there there,” said Reva Siegel, a Yale Law professor who has written extensively on abortion and gender equity. One reason Casey may be so misunderstood: “Each side got something other than what it was seeking,” Siegel said. “But [the decision] actually speaks to an America divided by conflict over abortion. It’s summoning each side to engage respectfully with the other.”
reshaping the debate: “partial birth”
The 18 months or so immediately following Casey “were probably a low point in the history of the pro-life movement,” said Michael New, a conservative pundit and visiting assistant professor at Ave Maria University who has written often about abortion. At first most new restrictions introduced in the states were modeled closely on the Pennsylvania law. Then abortion opponents hit upon the mid-1990s version of last year’s Planned Parenthood videos: the rare but gruesome technique for third-trimester abortions that they dubbed “partial-birth abortion.” A flurry of bans on the procedure re-energized the incrementalists, providing new opportunities “to slowly convince [average] Americans that they’re just as uncomfortable about abortion as pro-life folks are,” Jack Balkin, a professor of constitutional law at Yale University, told PBS’s Frontline in 2005. That meant more chances to challenge not just Roe, but also Casey. Said Forsythe, of Americans United for Life: “The procedure served to humanize the unborn and produced a sea change in American public opinion on the issue.”
Abortion opponents hit upon the mid-1990s version of last year’s Planned Parenthood videos: the rare but gruesome technique for third-trimester abortions that they dubbed “partial-birth abortion.”
Ultimately, it was the sea change on the Supreme Court during the administration of George W. Bush that mattered most. In 2007, the court upheld the federal ban on partial-birth abortion; Kennedy wrote the majority opinion using language suggesting he might be open to tighter abortion restrictions despite the undue burden standard, especially in areas of “medical uncertainty.” Abortion, he said, was “a decision…fraught with emotional consequence,” one in which women would “struggle with grief more anguished and sorrow more profound” if they really understood what a procedure like partial-birth abortion involved.
how big a burden?
It took the huge tea party wave of 2010 for abortion opponents to gain the political clout to push through laws like Texas’ HB 2. Since 2011, states in the South and Midwest have passed more than 300 abortion restrictions—TRAP laws, admitting privilege requirements, rules for how medication abortions may be performed, bans on abortion after 20 weeks (and sometimes earlier), longer waiting periods, and greater impediments to teenagers seeking abortions without parental approval. The central question raised by these laws goes directly to the 24-year-old ruling in Casey: How undue must a restriction become before it renders the right to abortion meaningless?
Even before Scalia’s death, the outcome of the Texas case was anyone’s guess; his demise makes it even more uncertain. The biggest question has always been whether Kennedy, the last remaining co-author of Planned Parenthood v. Casey on the Supreme Court, will see that decision as an important part of his legacy that he wants to defend, or whether he will be inclined to give states more leeway to restrict the abortion right.
As Casey itself shows, all kinds of court alliances and plurality rulings are possible. What is clear: The Texas case, whatever its outcome, probably won’t settle the abortion issue any more than Casey did.
Nina Martin covers sex and gender issues for ProPublica. See her updated reading list for the Texas abortion case at the Supreme Court. |
Security researchers have discovered a botnet that is stealing millions of dollars per month from advertisers. The botnet does so by simulating click-throughs on display ads hosted on at least 202 websites. Revealed and dubbed "Chameleon" by the Web analytics firm spider.io because of its ability to fool advertisers' behavior-tracking algorithms, the botnet is the first found to use display advertisements to generate fraudulent income for its masters.
In a blog post today, spider.io reported that the company had been tracking Chameleon since December of 2012. Simulating multiple concurrent browser sessions with websites, each bot is able to interact with Flash and JavaScript based ads. So far, more than 120,000 Windows PCs have been identified—95 percent of them with IP addresses associated with US residential Internet services. The company has issued a blacklist of the 5,000 worst-offending IP addresses for advertisers to use to protect themselves from fraud.
While in many respects the botnet simulates human activity on webpages to fool countermeasures to clickfraud, it generates random mouse clicks and mouse pointer traces across pages. This makes it relatively easy for bot-infected systems to be identified over time. The bot is also unstable because of the heavy load it puts on the infected machine, and its frequent crashes can also be used as a signature to identify infected systems.
Spider.io estimates that the botnet is responsible for at least nine billion of the ad impressions served by the 202 websites it visits—out of a total of 14 billion—and at least seven million unique ad-exchange cookies per month. At a 69-cent CPM cost for advertisements served up to the botnet, it means the botnet causes $6.2 million per month in advertising losses. |
KDE e.V. has been successfully supporting the KDE community for over 17 years. For many of them we had the tremendous help of a business manager, several interns, an event manager and countless volunteers to be able to do this. In the coming years we want to be able to support the KDE community even better. In order to do this we need strong support from an Executive Director. The Board of Directors has decided to hire someone for this position in the coming months. We are looking for a passionate individual who understands our community and can drive our business interaction. Do you want to be a part of bringing great software to millions of users? Do you want to really make a difference for a Free Software non-profit? Then this is the job for you! If you would like to know more about the position please read the job ad. |
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I guess it’s officially time to start thinking of The Good Wife as The Alicia Florrick Show. Of course, the show has always belonged to Alicia Florrick. Its biggest emotional beats have all been deeply rooted in the character’s psyche and perspective. But for a while there, especially in season five (the show’s best season), despite the continued focus on Alicia and her narrative, The Good Wife really was an ensemble show with volatile relationship dynamics constantly changing the terms of the story. But now, Alicia is on her own professionally and personally, because her relationship with Peter is still just a political one at the moment. Even though there are a few other storylines at play, this isn’t anything close to an ensemble show right now, because Alicia doesn’t have an ensemble. She doesn’t even have a partner. All she has is Grace running around pretending to be her assistant. “For the first time in my life, I don’t have to answer to anyone. It’s just me,” she tells Louis Canning, who is still trying to make the same pitch he offers up in the season six finale.
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Season seven’s premiere is titled “Bond,” and the literal interpretation attributes that name to the time Alicia spends in bond court. But new character bonds form and break in this premiere as well. Once again, The Good Wife has shattered the foundation it spent so much time building, pushing Alicia onto her little solitary island, putting a wedge between Eli and Peter, and leaving Cary to flail among the aging partners of…what’s the law firm called these days? Lockhart, Agos, and Lee? I think that’s right, but it’s hard to keep track. The Good Wife’s ability to totally destroy everything and then rebuild has been one of its strengths. “Hitting The Fan” remains one of the best episodes of the series, and it was all about destroying the show’s narrative foundation. In “Bond,” the pieces are already starting to move into their new positions for season seven. Both Matthew Goode and Archie Panjabi left the show after last season, so a reshuffling is certainly in order.
If The Good Wife is going to start to build new relationships for Alicia, that’s fine. In fact, it seems quite reasonable and realistic for Alicia to surround herself with new people, form new alliances, and make new enemies when she’s in this totally new era of her life. But if the show is going to keep Cary Agos and Diane Lockhart around, there needs to be a reason to do so. And as much as I love Matt Czuchry and Christine Baranski’s performances on this show, I just don’t see one at this point. Cary spends this episode wistfully looking at the other associates and wishing he were one of them again instead of being stuck in a room with the drooling, snoring partners of Lockhart, Agos and Lee. Cary’s life lacks excitement right now, and so does his storyline, which seems to be wandering aimlessly for the time being. Diane barely says anything in the episode except to tip off Alicia about Canning sending the client and to establish herself as part of the out-of-touch status quo when Cary points out that the firm is turning into a joke. Diane and Alicia exchange a fiery glance in the courtroom that reminds us that Baranski and Julianna Margulies don’t even have to open their mouths in order to get a point across, but that’s about as fun as it gets for Diane in “Bond.”
Right now, the show is just in a strange place where the stakes only ever seem to matter when Alicia Florrick is on screen. All else is inconsequential. Even Eli’s shift in this episode happens too quickly to leave an impression. Eli going from Peter’s friend to foe in the blink of an eye is great, but Eli’s descent and then immediate rise just isn’t effective. When Alicia goes to visit Eli Alan Cumming’s performance here is great, and it’s jarring to see the character so down and disheveled. But then just a few scenes later, he’s already making his slick comeback.
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The new players introduced in “Bond” are certainly one of the episode’s highlights. Character actress Margo Martindale is always a welcome presence on any drama, and her Ruth Eastman already goes toe-to-toe with Alicia. Ruth charms, but there are also plenty of signs that she can attack when necessary. But the new character I’m even more excited about is Cush Jumbo’s Luca Quinn, who Alicia meets in her bond court adventures. According to Luca, bar attorneys stick together in bond court, and the two start to help each other out in a partnership that has a lot of potential for friendship. Alicia doesn’t have many allies right now other than Assistant Grace. Eli promises to help her out, but that’s still more of a political allegiance than anything else. Louis Canning also wants Alicia on his side, but as Alicia reminds us multiple times over the course of the episode, he’s the devil. The dynamic between Luca and Alicia more closely resembles that of Finn and Alicia or Cary and Alicia in season five or early-seasons Alicia and Kalinda—before that relationship was thrown in a dumpster. Jumbo brings a fun little spark to Luca, who apparently likes dancing with no one in particular. New relationships—and ones that aren’t super toxic—could be just what Alicia needs in order to move the character forward. Plus, it’s just nice to see Alicia share a drink with a coworker without a green screen getting in the way.
Overall, it’s not a bad thing that The Good Wife is stuck in a transition period. But “Bond” just feels too tedious at times. The seams are showing as the writers stitch the show back together again. The case Alicia works on is intentionally tedious, and I felt the same way about it as the presiding judge (played by Jane Curtin!) does. Another expert? The case gets buried in the science of fluttering, adhesion, and roomba trajectories, and it’s all just sort of exhausting with little payoff. It’s much more fun to see Alicia in the bond court, where Margulies plays the character’s inexperience so perfectly. Alicia scrambles as she tries to figure out this new environment she’s in. Unfortunately, that’s a bit of a metaphor for where the show is right now.
Stray observations
Alicia’s sudden decision to let Peter run doesn’t really track for me. She says she doesn’t want to make decisions for other people, because she’s sick of other people making decisions for her, but wasn’t her initial decision to say no because Peter deciding to run is Peter making a decision for her? Her whole life is affected by the campaign, and I thought she was trying to not answer to anyone. I think I’m just overall not interested at all in Peter running another campaign.
This might be a polarizing opinion, but I think turning Grace into Assistant Grace is the best move the writers have made for this character to date. Grace’s own storylines have never really taken off, and she’s usually more of an annoyance than anything else. But here, she’s really funny and even good at the job. Still, Alicia running her own business without Marissa Gold at her side seems like the wrong choice.
Alicia makes two hilarious phone calls to Assistant Grace. The first: “I need an aerodynamics expert! They’re going after science!” The second: “I need you to find out everything there is to know about roombas.”
Bridget Regan’s talents are underused as Ms. Smulders, but I was excited to see her nonetheless.
Nora continues to be the best. |
The psychedelic drug (or entheogen) lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was first synthesized on November 16, 1938 by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in the Sandoz (now Novartis) laboratories in Basel, Switzerland.[1] It was not until five years later on April 19, 1943, that the psychedelic properties were found.[2]
Discovery [ edit ]
Albert Hofmann, born in Switzerland, joined the pharmaceutical-chemical department of Sandoz Laboratories, located in Basel, as a co-worker with professor Arthur Stoll, founder and director of the pharmaceutical department.[3] He began studying the medicinal plant squill and the fungus ergot as part of a program to purify and synthesize active constituents for use as pharmaceuticals. His main contribution was to elucidate the chemical structure of the common nucleus of Scilla glycosides (an active principle of Mediterranean Squill).[3] While researching lysergic acid derivatives, Hofmann first synthesized LSD on November 16, 1938.[1] The main intention of the synthesis was to obtain a respiratory and circulatory stimulant (an analeptic). It was set aside for five years. On April 16, 1943, when Hofmann decided to take a second look at it. While re-synthesizing LSD, he accidentally absorbed a small amount of the drug through his fingertips and discovered its powerful effects.[4][5] He described what he felt as being:
... affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After about two hours this condition faded away.[6]
Not to be confused with United Nations designated World Bicycle Day
Bicycle Day celebration blotter
On April 19, 1943, Hofmann performed a self-experiment to determine the true effects of LSD, intentionally ingesting 0.25 milligrams (250 micrograms) of the substance, an amount he predicted to be a threshold dose (an actual threshold dose is 20 micrograms).[7] Less than an hour later, Hofmann experienced sudden and intense changes in perception. He asked his laboratory assistant to escort him home. As was customary in Basel, they made the journey by bicycle. On the way, Hofmann's condition rapidly deteriorated as he struggled with feelings of anxiety, alternating in his beliefs that the next-door neighbor was a malevolent witch, that he was going insane, and that the LSD had poisoned him. When the house doctor arrived, however, he could detect no physical abnormalities, save for a pair of incredibly dilated pupils. Hofmann was reassured, and soon his terror began to give way to a sense of good fortune and enjoyment, as he later wrote...
"... Little by little I could begin to enjoy the unprecedented colors and plays of shapes that persisted behind my closed eyes. Kaleidoscopic, fantastic images surged in on me, alternating, variegated, opening and then closing themselves in circles and spirals, exploding in colored fountains, rearranging and hybridizing themselves in constant flux ..."
The events of the first LSD trip, now known as “Bicycle Day”, after the bicycle ride home, proved to Hofmann that he had indeed made a significant discovery: a psychoactive substance with extraordinary potency, capable of causing significant shifts of consciousness in incredibly low doses. Hofmann foresaw the drug as a powerful psychiatric tool; because of its intense and introspective nature, he couldn’t imagine anyone using it recreationally.[8] Bicycle Day is increasingly[citation needed] observed in psychedelic communities as a day to celebrate the discovery of LSD.
The celebration of Bicycle Day originated in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1985,[9] when Thomas B. Roberts, then a Professor at Northern Illinois University, invented the name "Bicycle Day" when he founded the first Bicycle Day celebration at his home. Several years later, he sent an announcement made by one of his students to friends and Internet lists, thus propagating the idea and the celebration. His original intent was to commemorate Hofmann's original, accidental exposure on April 16, but that date fell midweek and was not a good time for the party, so he chose the 19th to honor Hofmann's first intentional exposure.[10]
Psychiatric use [ edit ]
LSD was introduced as a commercial medication under the trade-name Delysid for various psychiatric uses in 1947.[11]
LSD was brought to the attention of the United States in 1949 by Sandoz Laboratories because they believed LSD might have clinical applications.[12]
Throughout the 1950s, mainstream media reported on research into LSD and its growing use in psychiatry, and undergraduate psychology students taking LSD as part of their education described the effects of the drug. Time magazine published six positive reports on LSD between 1954 and 1959.[13]
LSD was originally perceived as a psychotomimetic capable of producing model psychosis.[12][14] By the mid-1950s, LSD research was being conducted in major American medical centers, where researchers used LSD as a means of temporarily replicating the effects of mental illness. One of the leading authorities on LSD during the 1950s in the United States was the psychoanalyst Sidney Cohen. Cohen first took the drug on October 12, 1955 and expected to have an unpleasant trip, but was surprised when he experienced “no confused, disoriented delirium.”[12] He reported that the “problems and strivings, the worries and frustrations of everyday life vanished; in their place was a majestic, sunlit, heavenly inner quietude.”[12] Cohen immediately began his own experiments with LSD with the help of Aldous Huxley whom he had met in 1955. In 1957, with the help of psychologist Betty Eisner, Cohen began experimenting on whether or not LSD might have a helpful effect in facilitating psychotherapy, curing alcoholism, and enhancing creativity.[12] Between 1957 and 1958, they treated 22 patients who suffered from minor personality disorders.[12] LSD was also given to artists in order to track their mental deterioration,[12] but Huxley believed LSD might enhance their creativity. Between 1958 and 1962, psychiatrist Oscar Janiger tested LSD on more than 100 painters, writers, and composers.
In one study in the late 1950s, Dr. Humphry Osmond gave LSD to alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous who had failed to quit drinking.[15] After one year, around 50% of the study group had not had a drink — a success rate that has never been duplicated by any other means.[16]
In the United Kingdom the use of LSD was pioneered by Dr. Ronald A. Sandison in 1952, at Powick Hospital, Worcestershire. A special LSD unit was set up in 1958. After Sandison left the hospital in 1964, medical superintendent Arthur Spencer took over and continued the clinical use of the drug until it was withdrawn in 1965. In all, 683 patients were treated with LSD in 13,785 separate sessions at Powick, but Spencer was the last member of the medical staff to use it.[17]
From the late 1940s through the mid-1970s, extensive research and testing was conducted on LSD. During a 15-year period beginning in 1950, research on LSD and other hallucinogens generated over 1,000 scientific papers, several dozen books, and six international conferences. Overall, LSD was prescribed as treatment to over 40,000 patients. Film star Cary Grant was one of many men during the 1950s and 1960s who were given LSD in concert with psychotherapy. Many psychiatrists began taking the drug recreationally and sharing it with friends. Dr. Leary's experiments (see Timothy Leary below) spread LSD usage to a much wider segment of the general populace.
Sandoz halted LSD production in August 1965 after growing governmental protests at its proliferation among the general populace. The National Institute of Mental Health in the United States distributed LSD on a limited basis for scientific research. Scientific study of LSD largely ceased by about 1980 as research funding declined, and governments became wary of permitting such research, fearing that the results of the research might encourage illicit LSD use. By the end of the 20th century, there were few authorized researchers left, and their efforts were mostly directed towards establishing approved protocols for further work with LSD in easing the suffering of the dying and with drug addicts and alcoholics.
A 2014 study showed evidence that LSD can have therapeutic benefits in treating anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. Rick Doblin, an American drug researcher, described the work as “a proof of concept” that he hoped would “break these substances out of the mold of the counterculture and bring them back to the lab as part of a psychedelic renaissance.”[18]
Eight subjects received a full 200-microgram dose of LSD while four others received one-tenth as much. Participants then took part in two LSD-assisted therapy sessions two to three weeks apart. Subjects who took the full dose experienced reductions in anxiety averaging 20 per cent while those given the low dose reported becoming more anxious. When subjects taking the low dose were switched to the full dose they too showed reduced anxiety, with the positive effects lasting for up to a year. The effects of the drug itself lasted for up to 10 hours with participants talking to Dr Gasser throughout the experience. “These results indicate that when administered safely in a methodologically rigorous medically supervised psychotherapeutic setting, LSD can reduce anxiety,” the study concludes, “suggesting that larger controlled studies are warranted.”[19][20]
Resistance and prohibition [ edit ]
LSD on blotter, up close.
By the mid-60s the backlash against the use of LSD and its perceived corrosive effects on the values of the Western middle class resulted in governmental action to restrict the availability of the drug by making any use of it illegal.[21] LSD was declared a "Schedule I" substance, legally designating that the drug has a "high potential for abuse" and is without any "currently accepted medical use in treatment." LSD was removed from legal circulation. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration claimed:
Although initial observations on the benefits of LSD were highly optimistic, empirical data developed subsequently proved less promising ... Its use in scientific research has been extensive and its use has been widespread. Although the study of LSD and other hallucinogens increased the awareness of how chemicals could affect the mind, its use in psychotherapy largely has been debunked. It produces no aphrodisiac effects, does not increase creativity, has no lasting positive effect in treating alcoholics or criminals, does not produce a 'model psychosis', and does not generate immediate personality change. However, drug studies have confirmed that the powerful hallucinogenic effects of this drug can produce profound adverse reactions, such as acute panic reactions, psychotic crises, and "flashbacks", especially in users ill-equipped to deal with such trauma.[22]
The governors of Nevada and California both signed bills into law on May 30, 1966 to control LSD, making them the first two states to outlaw the manufacture, sale, and possession of the drug. The law went into effect immediately in Nevada,[23] and on October 6, 1966, in California.[citation needed] Other U.S. states and the rest of the world followed with the ban.[clarification needed]
Influential individuals [ edit ]
Aldous Huxley [ edit ]
Renowned British intellectual Aldous Huxley was one of the most important figures in the early history of LSD. He was a figure of high repute in the world of letters and had become internationally famous through his novels Crome Yellow, Antic Hay and his dystopian novel Brave New World. His experiments with psychedelic drugs (initially mescaline) and his descriptions of them in his writings did much to spread awareness of psychedelic drugs to the general public and arguably helped to glamorize their recreational use, although Huxley himself treated them very seriously.
Huxley was introduced to psychedelic drugs in 1953 by a friend, psychiatrist Humphry Osmond. Osmond had become interested in hallucinogens and their relationship to mental illness in the 1940s. During the 1950s, he completed extensive studies of a number of drugs, including mescaline and LSD. As noted above, Osmond had some remarkable success in treating alcoholics with LSD.
In May 1953 Osmond gave Huxley his first dose of mescaline at the Huxley home. In 1954 Huxley recorded his experiences in the landmark book The Doors of Perception; the title was drawn from a quotation by British artist and poet William Blake. Huxley tried LSD for the first time in 1955, obtained from "Captain" Al Hubbard.
Alfred Hubbard [ edit ]
Alfred Matthew Hubbard is reputed to have introduced more than 6,000 people to LSD, including scientists, politicians, intelligence officials, diplomats, and church figures. He became known as the original "Captain Trips", travelling about with a leather case containing pharmaceutically pure LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin. He became a 'freelance' apostle for LSD in the early 1950s after supposedly receiving an angelic vision telling him that something important to the future of mankind would soon be coming.[24] When he read about LSD the next year, he immediately sought and acquired LSD, which he tried for himself in 1951.
Although he had no medical training, Hubbard collaborated on running psychedelic sessions with LSD with Ross McLean at Vancouver's Hollywood Hospital, with psychiatrists Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond; with Myron Stolaroff at the International Federation for Advanced Study in Menlo Park, California; and with Willis Harman at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). At various times over the next 20 years, Hubbard also reportedly worked for the Canadian Special Services, the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. It is also rumored that he was involved with the CIA's MK-ULTRA project. How his government positions actually interacted with his work with LSD is unknown.
Harold A. Abramson [ edit ]
In 1955, Time magazine reported:
"In Manhattan, Psychiatrist Harold A. Abramson of the Cold Spring Harbor Biological Laboratory has developed a technique of serving dinner to a group of subjects, topping off the meal with a liqueur glass containing 40 micrograms of LSD."[25]
This mention in America's most popular newsweekly is noteworthy because Abramson was not a psychiatrist or even a psychologist, but was an allergist who was a key participant in the CIA MK-ULTRA mind-control program.
R. Gordon Wasson [ edit ]
In 1957, R. Gordon Wasson, the vice president of J.P. Morgan, published an article in Life magazine extolling the virtues of magic mushrooms.[26] This prompted Albert Hofmann to isolate psilocybin in 1958 for distribution by Sandoz with its product LSD in the U.S., further raising interest in LSD in the mass media.[27] Following Wasson's report, Timothy Leary visited Mexico to experience the mushrooms.
Dr. Timothy Leary [ edit ]
DEA agents Howard Safir (left) and Don Strange (right) with Leary in custody (1972).
Dr. Timothy Leary, a lecturer in psychology at Harvard University, was the most prominent pro-LSD researcher. Leary claimed that using LSD with the right dosage, set (ones emotional mindset at time of ingestion), and setting, preferably with the guidance of professionals, could alter behavior in dramatic and beneficial ways. Dr. Leary began conducting experiments with psilocybin in 1960 on himself and a number of Harvard graduate students after trying hallucinogenic mushrooms used in Native American religious rituals while visiting Mexico. His group began conducting experiments on state prisoners, where they claimed a 90% success rate preventing repeat offenses.
Later reexamination of Leary's data reveals his results to be skewed, whether intentionally or not; the percent of men in the study who ended up back in prison later in life was approximately 2% lower than the usual rate.[citation needed] Leary was later introduced to LSD, and he then incorporated that drug into his research as his mental catalyst of choice. Leary claimed that his experiments produced no murders, suicides, psychotic breaks, or bad trips. Almost all of Leary's participants reported profound mystical experiences which they felt had a tremendously positive effect on their lives. While it is true that Leary's experiments did not lead to any murders, he willfully chose to ignore the bad trips which occurred, as well as the attempted suicide of a woman the day after she was given mescaline by Leary.[citation needed]
By 1962, the Harvard faculty's disapproval with Leary's experiments reached critical mass. Leary was informed that the CIA was monitoring his research (see Government experiments below). Many of the other faculty members had harbored reservations about Leary's research, and parents began complaining to the university about Leary's distribution of hallucinogenic drugs to their children. Further, many undergraduate students who were not part of Leary's research program heard of the profound experiences other students had undergone and began taking LSD for recreational purposes which was not illegal. Leary described LSD as a potent aphrodisiac in an interview with Playboy magazine. Leary left the University for an extended amount of time during the spring semester, thus failing to fulfill his duties as professor. Leary and another Harvard psychologist, Richard Alpert, were dismissed from the University in 1963.
In 1964, they published The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which argued that the psychedelic experience paralleled the death/rebirth experience described in the Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead).[28] Leary and Alpert, unfazed by their dismissals, relocated first to Mexico, but were expelled from the country by the Mexican government. They then set up at a large private mansion owned by William Hitchcock, named after the small town in New York State where it is located, Millbrook, where they continued their experiments. Their research lost its controlled scientific character as the experiments transformed into LSD parties. Leary later wrote, "We saw ourselves as anthropologists from the twenty-first century inhabiting a time module set somewhere in the Dark Ages of the 1960s. On this space colony, we were attempting to create a new paganism and a new dedication to life as art."
A judge who expressed dislike for Dr. Leary's books sentenced him to 30 years in prison for possession of half a marijuana cigarette in violation of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. However, this decision was reversed in the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case Timothy Leary v. United States (395 U.S. 6) on the grounds that the Act required self-incrimination, thus violating the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Publicity surrounding the case further cemented Leary's growing reputation as a counter cultural guru. Around this time, President Richard Nixon described Leary as "the most dangerous man in America." Repeated FBI raids instigated the end of the Millbrook experiment. Leary refocused his efforts towards countering the tremendous amount of anti-LSD propaganda then being issued by the United States government, popularizing the slogan "Turn on, tune in, drop out." Many experts blame Leary and his activism for the near-total suppression of psychedelic research over the next 35 years.[29][30]
Owsley Stanley [ edit ]
Historically, LSD was distributed not for profit, but because those who made and distributed it truly believed that the psychedelic experience could be beneficial for humanity, as it expanded the mind and could bring understanding and love. A limited number of chemists, probably fewer than a dozen, are believed to have manufactured nearly all of the illicit LSD available in the United States. The best known of these is undoubtedly Augustus Owsley Stanley III, usually known simply as Owsley or Bear. The former chemistry student set up a private LSD lab in the mid-60s in San Francisco and supplied the LSD consumed at the famous Acid Test parties held by Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, as well as the Human Be-In in San Francisco in January 1967[31] and the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967.[32] He also had close social connections the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and The Holding Company, regularly supplying them with LSD and working as their live sound engineer, creating many tapes of these groups in concert. Owsley's LSD activities — immortalized by Steely Dan in their song "Kid Charlemagne" — ended with his arrest at the end of 1967, but some other manufacturers most likely operated continuously for 30 years or more. Announcing Owsley's first bust in 1966, The San Francisco Chronicle's headline "LSD Millionaire Arrested" inspired the rare Grateful Dead song "Alice D. Millionaire."[33]
Owsley associated with other early LSD producers, Tim Scully and Nicholas Sand.
Ken Kesey [ edit ]
Ken Kesey was born in 1935 in La Junta, Colorado to dairy farmers Frederick A. Kesey and Ginevra Smith.[34] In 1946, the family moved to Springfield, Oregon.[35] A champion wrestler in both high school and college, he graduated from Springfield High School in 1953.[35]
Kesey attended the University of Oregon's School of Journalism, where he received a degree in speech and communication in 1957, where he was also a brother of Beta Theta Pi. He was awarded a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship in 1958 to enroll in the creative writing program at Stanford University, which he did the following year.[35] While at Stanford, he studied under Wallace Stegner and began the manuscript that would become One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
At Stanford in 1959, Kesey volunteered to take part in a CIA-financed study named Project MKULTRA at the Menlo Park Veterans Hospital. The project studied the effects on the patients of psychoactive drugs, particularly LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, cocaine, AMT, and DMT.[35] Kesey wrote many detailed accounts of his experiences with these drugs, both during the Project MKULTRA study and in the years of private experimentation that followed. Kesey's role as a medical guinea pig inspired him to write the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1962. The success of the book, as well as the sale of his residence at Stanford, allowed him to move to La Honda, California in the mountains west of Stanford University. He frequently entertained friends and many others with parties he called "Acid Tests" involving music (such as Kesey's favorite band, The Warlocks, later known as the Grateful Dead), black lights, fluorescent paint, strobes and other "psychedelic" effects, and, of course, LSD. These parties were noted in some of Allen Ginsberg's poems and are also described in the books The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs by Hunter S. Thompson, and Freewheelin Frank, Secretary of the Hell's Angels by Frank Reynolds. Ken Kesey was also said to have experimented with LSD with Ringo Starr in 1965 and that he influenced the setup for future performances with The Beatles in the UK.[citation needed]
In the summer of 1964, Kesey's Merry Pranksters customized a bus named "Furthur" and set out on a tour to propagate LSD use.
Sidney Cohen [ edit ]
In 1964, Los Angeles psychiatrist Sidney Cohen published The Beyond Within: the LSD Story.[36] Cohen had conducted research on the drug's effects at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles.[37] One experiment was recorded on film, in which Dr. Cohen interviewed a subject while under the influence of LSD.[38]
In an interview with Cohen for the publication, Time magazine reported:
[LSD's] effects on the mind... are so fantastic that most experimenters insist words are not the right medium for describing them.
And
Dr. Cohen and other reputable researchers have been disturbed by what he calls the "beatnik microculture" and its abuses of LSD and other hallucinogens. The danger, he says, is that public reaction against oddball antics may set back serious research for many years.[39]
William Leonard Pickard [ edit ]
William Leonard Pickard earned a scholarship to Princeton University but dropped out after one term, instead preferring to hang out at Greenwich Village jazz clubs in New York City. In 1971, he got a job as a research manager at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, a job he held until 1974.
In December 1988, a neighbor reported a strange chemical odor coming from an architectural shop at a Mountain View, California industrial park. Federal agents arrived to find 200,000 doses of LSD and William Pickard inside. Pickard was charged with manufacturing LSD and served five years in prison.
By 1994, Pickard had enrolled at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His studies focused on drug abuse in the former Soviet Union, where he theorized that the booming black market and many unemployed chemists could lead to a flood of the drug market.
In 2000, Pickard was arrested for manufacturing LSD and is currently serving two life sentences at United States Penitentiary, Tucson.
Secret government research [ edit ]
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) became interested in LSD when they read reports alleging that American prisoners during the Korean War were being brainwashed with the use of some sort of drug or “lie serum.” LSD was the original centerpiece of the top secret MK-ULTRA project, an ambitious undertaking conducted from the 1950s through the 70s designed to explore the possibilities of pharmaceutical mind control. Hundreds of participants, including CIA agents, government employees, military personnel, prostitutes, members of the general public, and mental patients were given LSD, many without their knowledge or consent. The experiments often involved severe psychological torture. To guard against outward reactions, doctors conducted experiments in clinics and laboratories where subjects were monitored by EEG machines and had their words recorded.[40] Some studies investigated whether drugs, stress or specific environmental conditions could be used to break prisoners or to induce confessions.
The CIA also created The Society for the Investigation of Human Ecology, which was a CIA funding front which provided grants to social scientists and medical researchers investigating questions of interest related to the MK-ULTRA program. Between 1960 and 1963, the CIA gave $856,782 worth of grants to different organizations.[40] The researchers eventually concluded that LSD's effects were too varied and uncontrollable to make it of any practical use as a truth drug, and the project moved on to other substances. It would be decades before the U.S. government admitted the existence of the project and offered apologies to the families of those who were forced to participate in the experiments.[citation needed] During this time period, the use of LSD for psychochemical warfare was under consideration and testing, among other substances. Looking to replicate the effects of nerve gas created by the Germans during World War II without the toxicity, LSD was sought for use under the pretense that it could induce hysteria and psychoses, or at least an inability to fight without wholesale destruction of the enemy and their properties. Thousands of tests on willing research subjects took place at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, with the ultimate conclusion being that LSD was too unpredictable and uncontrollable for any tactical use.[citation needed]
Recreational use [ edit ]
From 1960 to 1980 [ edit ]
Estimated annual numbers of first-time LSD use in the United States among persons aged 12 or older: 1967-2008.
LSD began to be used recreationally in certain (primarily medical) circles. Mainly academics and medical professionals, who became acquainted with LSD in their work, began using it themselves and sharing it with friends and associates. Among the first to do so was British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond.
Psychedelic subculture goes mainstream [ edit ]
LSD historian Jay Stevens, author of the 1998 book Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream, has said that in the early days of its recreational use, LSD users (who were at that time mostly academics and medical professionals) fell into two broadly delineated groups. The first group, which was essentially conservative and exemplified by Aldous Huxley, felt that LSD was too powerful and too dangerous to allow its immediate and widespread introduction, and that its use ought to be restricted to the 'elite' members of society — artists, writers, scientists — who could mediate its gradual distribution throughout society. The second and more radical group, typified by Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary, felt that LSD had the power to revolutionize society and that it should be spread as widely as possible and be available to all.
During the 1960s, this second 'group' of casual LSD users evolved and expanded into a subculture that extolled the mystical and religious symbolism often engendered by the drug's powerful effects, and advocated its use as a method of raising consciousness. The personalities associated with the subculture included spiritual gurus such as Dr. Timothy Leary and psychedelic rock musicians such as the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane and the Beatles, and soon attracted a great deal of publicity, generating further interest in LSD.
The popularization of LSD outside of the medical world was hastened when individuals such as author Ken Kesey participated in drug trials and liked what they saw. Tom Wolfe wrote a widely read account of the early days of LSD's entrance into the non-academic world in his book The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, which documented the cross-country, acid-fueled voyage of Kesey and the Merry Pranksters on the psychedelic bus "Furthur" and the Pranksters' later 'Acid Test' LSD parties.
In 1965, Sandoz laboratories stopped its still legal shipments of LSD to the United States for research and psychiatric use, after a request from the U.S. government concerned about its use.By April 1966, LSD use had become so widespread that Time magazine warned about its dangers.[41]
In December 1966, the exploitation film "Hallucination Generation" was released.[42] This was followed by the films "The Trip" in 1967 and "Psych-Out" in 1968.
Musicians and LSD [ edit ]
On March 27, 1965, Beatles members John Lennon and George Harrison (and their wives) were dosed with LSD without their permission by their dentist, Dr. John Riley. John Lennon mentioned the incident in his famous 1970 Rolling Stone interview, but the name of the dentist was revealed only in 2006.[43] On August 24, 1965, Lennon, Harrison and Ringo Starr took their second trip on LSD. Actor Peter Fonda repeatedly said "I know what it's like to be dead" to John Lennon during an LSD trip. John Lennon wrote "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," a fanciful song which many assumed referred to LSD, although he always denied the connection as coincidence. The songs "She Said She Said" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" from the Beatles' Revolver album explicitly reference LSD trips, and many lines of "Tomorrow Never Knows" were borrowed from Timothy Leary's book The Psychedelic Experience. Around the same time, bands such as Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, and The Grateful Dead helped give birth to a genre known as "psychedelic rock" or acid rock. In 1965, The Pretty Things released an album called Get the Picture? which included a track titled "L.S.D."
LSD became a headline item in early 1967, and the Beatles admitted to having been under the influence of LSD. Earlier in the year, British tabloid News of the World ran a sensational three-week series on 'drug parties' hosted by rock group The Moody Blues and attended by leading stars including Donovan, The Who's Pete Townshend and Cream drummer Ginger Baker. Largely as a result of collusion between News of the World journalists and the London Drug Squad, many pop stars including Donovan and Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were arrested for drug possession, although none of the arrests involved LSD.
The FBI suggested in now declassified documents that the Grateful Dead were responsible for introducing LSD to the U.S.[46] The Grateful Dead were the "house band" at Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters' Acid Tests. These free-form parties introduced many people on the West Coast to LSD for the first time, as documented in Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Phil Lesh's Searching for the Sound. Acid historian Jesse Jarnow describes how Grateful Dead concerts served as the United States' primary distribution network for LSD in the second half of the twentieth century.[47]
In 1992, Mike Dirnt of Green Day wrote the famous "Longview" bass line while under the influence of LSD. In an interview, Green Day lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong recalled that he arrived at their house and saw Mike sitting on the floor with highly dilated pupils, holding his bass guitar. Mike looked up at Billie and exclaimed, "Listen to this!"
LSD in Australia [ edit ]
LSD was evidently in limited recreational use in Australia in the early 1960s, but is believed to have been initially restricted to those with connections to the scientific and the medical communities. LSD overdose was suggested as a possible cause of the January 2, 1962 deaths of CSIRO scientists Dr. Gilbert Bogle and his lover Dr. Margaret Chandler, but is very unlikely as there are no known cases of a LSD fatal overdose and other more likely causes of death have been suggested. Large quantities of LSD began to appear in Australia around 1968, and soon permeated the music scene and youth culture in general, especially in the capital cities. The major source of supply during this period is believed to have been American servicemen visiting Australia (mainly Sydney) from Vietnam on 'rest and recreation' (R&R) leave, although the growing connections between American and Australian organized crime in the late 1960s may also have facilitated its importation.[citation needed] Recreational LSD use among young people was on a par with that in other countries in Australia by the early 1970s and continued until late in the decade. LSD is not believed to have been manufactured locally in a significant quantity (if at all) and most if not all supplies were sourced from overseas.
Production of LSD [ edit ]
During the 1960s and early 1970s, the drug culture adopted LSD as the psychedelic drug of choice, particularly amongst the hippie community. However, LSD dramatically decreased in popularity in the mid-1970s.[citation needed] This decline was due to negative publicity centred on side-effects of LSD use, its criminalization, and the increasing effectiveness of drug law enforcement efforts, rather than new medical information. The last country to produce LSD legally (until 1975) was Czechoslovakia;[citation needed] during the 1960s, high-quality LSD was imported from the communist country to California, a fact appreciated by Leary in The Politics of Ecstasy.
Victor James Kapur had the first known home grown UK 'acid lab'. Up to then, all LSD had been imported from the U.S. or was remnant produce of Sandoz before it stopped producing LSD. In 1967, Kapur was caught distributing 19 grams of crystalline LSD and subsequently the police raided both of his laboratories. One was in the back room of Kapur’s chemist shop and another, larger one, was in a garage he rented from a friend of his brother-in-law.[48]
A second group was busted in 1969. A lab in Kent, and a flat in London were raided simultaneously and quantities of equipment and LSD seized along with the two men who had been making the LSD, Quentin Theobald and Peter Simmons.[48]
The availability of LSD had been drastically reduced by the late 1970s due to a combination of governmental controls and law enforcement. The supply of constituent chemicals including lysergic acid, which was used for production of LSD in the 1960s, and ergotamine tartrate, which was used for production in the 1970s, were placed under tight surveillance and government funding for LSD research was almost completely eliminated. These efforts were augmented by a series of major busts in England and Europe. One of the most famous was "Operation Julie" in Britain in 1978, named after the first name of the female drug squad officer involved; it broke up one of the largest LSD manufacturing and distribution operations in the world at that time, headed by chemist Richard Kemp. The group targeted by the Julie task force were reputed to have had links to the mysterious The Brotherhood of Eternal Love and to Ronald Stark.
Modern times [ edit ]
LSD made a comeback in the 1980s accompanying the advent of recreational MDMA use, first in the punk and gothic subcultures through dance clubs, then in the 1990s through the acid house scene and rave subculture. LSD use and availability declined sharply following a raid of a large scale LSD lab in 2000 (see LSD in the United States). The lab was run by William Leonard Pickard (now serving two life sentences in prison) and Clyde Apperson (now serving 30 years in prison). Gordon Todd Skinner, who owned the property the large scale lab had been operating on, came to the DEA looking to work as an informant. He and his then-girlfriend Krystle Cole were intimately involved in the case, but were not charged in the bust. The lab was allegedly producing a kilogram of LSD every five weeks, and the U.S. government contends that LSD supply dropped by 90% following the bust. In the decade after the bust, LSD availability and use has gradually risen. Since the late 1980s, there has also been a revival of hallucinogen research more broadly, which, in recent years, has included preclinical and clinical studies involving LSD and other compounds such as members of the 2C family compounds and psilocybin.[49][50] In particular, a study released in 2012 highlighted the extraordinary effectiveness of LSD in treating alcoholism.[51]
In November 2015, Rolling Stone magazine reported on an increasing number of young professionals, particularly in the San Francisco area, who were using "microdosing" (around 10 micrograms) of LSD in an effort to "work through technical problems and become more innovative."[52]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ] |
Over a period of nearly 16 years — since mid-1999 — I have been retained repeatedly as a consulting and/or testifying expert in litigation involving information technology (IT). Roughly half of my cases involved troubled or failed IT projects involving two or more parties; roughly half are intellectual property disputes (patent, trade secret, copyright); and the rest are a scattering of other topics (computer document forensics, licensing practices and interpretation, computer security, algorithmic analysis, and so on).
During that time, and particularly in the IT project failure cases, I have searched through literally millions of pages of documents, including probably hundreds of thousands of e-mails. In fact, e-mails are the lifeblood of my investigations and my favorite category of documents. Let me explain why.
You learn what people were really thinking, or at least saying, at that moment in time
Much more than prepared documents, and even more than memos and letters, e-mails contain unvarnished reactions to and commentaries on then-current events, particularly internal e-mails within a given group or organization. One of my all-time favorite e-mails, from an early IT project failure case, was sent by one programmer to the rest of his team, saying in pretty close to these exact words, “I can’t believer we’re charging our customer [a very large dollar amount] for this garbage! We should be embarrassed!” I was happy, because I was representing the customer, not the developers; I have seen similar e-mails in other cases from my client’s side and winced mightily. Most e-mails are more restrained than this, but even they can clearly indicate or at least suggest how people really felt about a given topic.
Generally speaking, I give internal e-mails the greatest weight for honesty; internal memos and reports come next; then e-mails traded with the other side, formal reports and memos next, then letters, then years-later recollections and testimony. It is always fascinating to see someone under oath at a deposition claim that things were a certain way at a given point in time — and then see that person presented with an e-mail from the time in question, written by them, that directly contradicts that assertion.
You can build a timeline
E-mails help establish — not just for a given month or day, but time-stamped right down to the hour, minute and often second — who said what, who knew what, who was told what. I have had cases where my ability to make a certain point — to establish a given fact or a high likelihood thereof in my expert report — boiled down to the interleaving time stamps of two or three e-mails. On a much broader scale, you can trace the history of the project and pinpoint the date when things started to go in a different direction — what I refer to as “the inflection point”. My preference, when I start a new case, is to get a comprehensive set of documents in chronological order and then read through them.
You can uncover misrepresentations
Internal e-mails often act as a reality check against more formal documents or pronouncements. One of my largest cases (over 1 million documents in the electronic database) involved public representations in investor conference calls by the officers of a publicly-traded corporation about how well a major IT re-engineering projects was going — even while internal e-mails and other documents showed not only that the project was going badly, but that said officers knew so. Similarly, I will often find a major disconnect between what is going into formal status reports or inter-party communications and what is actually being said internally on one side or the other.
You can see who was talking to whom and about what
In both project failure and intellectual property cases, it is often important to figure out the lines of communication of key information. So if Alice sends an e-mail about X to Bob and cc’s Carol at a given date in time, then Carol subsequently has a meeting with Dave about X, you know that Carol went into that meeting with Dave knowing what Alice said about X. That may seem obvious, but I have seen cases with major points that have hinged on just such a chain of events, allowing me to draw inferences about the context of Carol and Dave’s meeting that I would not have been able to others.
You can flush out other documents and e-mails
[ADDED] Produced e-mails will often indicate that they have one or more documents attached, but there are times when those documents have not been produced. Similarly, e-mails may make mention of other (unattached) documents or may reference earlier e-mails on the same related topics — and it turns out those have not been produced, either. Subsequent requests can then be made that these additional e-mails and/or documents be produced.
Production format of documents (including e-mails) is critical
When I started doing expert witness work back in 1999, almost all documents I received were produced on hard copy. On a new case, I would received anywhere from a few to a few dozen file boxes of documents, often in Bates-stamped order[1] rather than chronological or topical. This made reading and especially searching through the documents very time consuming.
Today, the vast majority of document production is electronic, typically in PDF format, with the text already having been run through optical character recognition (OCR), so that the documents can be readily indexed and searched. In litigation today, if one side produced — or tried to produce — 50,000 pages of documents in hardcopy format, the other side would complain mightily to the judge or arbitrator, who would almost certainly go back and demand that the producing side scan in and index the documents before producing them in electronic format. I will note that in particularly nasty cases, one side may produce documents in TIFF (photo image) format, and often mediocre-quality images at that, which makes it hard to accurately OCR the documents in question. So having the documents in full-text-searchable format is critical.
Also critical with any production of files that were originally electronic files — including e-mails — is the preservation of associated metadata, that is, data about the document (vs. what’s actually in the document). The first level is getting the correct “Created by” and “Last modified” dates from the hosting operating system. For many applications (e.g., Microsoft Word), there is internal metadata as well; you can recover this with various utilities, and much of it you can see for certain document types via the operating system. For example, right click on a Microsoft Word document, bring up the Properties panel, and then click over to the Details tab, and you can see the metadata that MS Word tracks and keeps with the document file itself.
For e-mails, the ideal production is in the original e-mail electronic format itself (Outlook, etc.) with full headers and metadata. For most of my cases, the header information doesn’t matter that much — I’m usually just interested in authorship, recipients, and the date/time stamp. But in a matter such as this, where there are still serious questions about both the security and routing of said e-mails, full headers should have been produced in the disclosed e-mails. I strongly suspect that the headers are gone in the hardcopy e-mails produced by Clinton to the State Department — and I suspect the original electronic copies of those e-mails are likewise long gone.
Preservation of documents is critical
In litigation, each side is usually ordered to produce all documents responsive to a particular demand. However, in the course of that litigation, the court may order one side or the other to produce additional documents, often in response to what was found in earlier productions. These often turn out to be critical documents, yet the producing side held them back initially as not being responsive. Because of that, the standard in litigation is that each side must preserve all documents in any way related to the matter at hand, or be judged guilty of spoliation (deliberate destruction of evidence). Furthermore, this standard applies once there is even the suspicion or possibility of litigation.
If this were a litigation, the Clinton team would be in major trouble. It appears from their own admission that they and they alone determined what was responsive, and then — reading between the lines just a bit — destroyed the electronic originals of all the clintonemail.com e-mails, both those they deemed related to State Department work and those they deemed private. All metadata is gone, all headers are gone, and there is no way for the Clinton team to go back and do additional searches through the non-produced e-mails to see if any are responsive to additional requests by State or by Congress on certain topics, parties, and/or keywords.
Remember that — while Hillary may paint herself as less than technically savvy — both she and Bill are lawyers. They know how production of documents works, how preservation of evidence works. True, they aren’t in litigation and are subject to court sanctions or findings, but they know exactly what someone on the opposing side might look for, and they took preemptive and irreversible steps to block further investigation.
Again, with nearly 16 years of reading e-mails for litigation analysis purposes, I have to conclude that the Clinton team took deliberate steps to remove information from the e-mails they did produce, to destroy any backing electronic evidence of those e-mails, and to make them as difficult to search and analyze as possible. I’ve certainly seen it in my own professional work, and I know what is typically behind it. ..bruce..
[Here are all posts related to the Clinton e-mail issue.]
[1] Bates-stamping of documents means putting a unique sequential numeric ID on each page produced by a given party in the litigation, so that all parties involved can consistently refer to the exact same document and given page therein.
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Category: 2016 Election, Clinton E-mails, Information Technology, Intelligence, Pitfalls |
One of the squatters outside the Supreme Court on Sunday. Credit:Daniel Pockett The injunction remains until 10.30am Monday, when the matter will return to the Supreme Court Practice Court. When granting the injunction, Justice Clyde Croft said "interim relief" needed to be granted to those in the Bendigo Street homes. "It's alive and well, we will see what happens," he told the court. "The State of Victoria, whether by its servants, agents or otherwise (which includes Victoria Police), is restrained from interfering with or in any way disturbing the possession or access of the occupants of any of the residences."
Bendigo Street squatters in front of the Supreme Court on Sunday afternoon. Credit:Daniel Pockett The order includes Bendigo Street in Collingwood, Manningham Street in Parkville and Alexander Parade in Clifton Hill. Twelve of the residents attended court on Sunday, each giving evidence about what would happen if they were thrown out of their squat homes. Lucie Spectre in front of a house on Bendigo Street. Credit:Justin McManus Rudi, who has a son with autism, told the court he had been on the public housing waiting list for 10 years and had lived in caravan parks, private accommodation and crisis accommodation.
His son has "very high needs" and said if he were to be evicted from Bendigo Street "I would have to go back into crisis accommodation and I would not be able to see my son". Protesters and homeless people in Bendigo Street in April. Another squatter, John Alexander, said being thrown out would severely impact his mental health. "I have a sense of love and community that I've never experienced before, before coming to Bendigo Street it was the worst I have ever felt," he said. One resident, who asked not to be named, said the ruling was good news.
"The court heard from residents and recognised the impact that evictions would have, unlike the state government," they said. Homeless Persons Union of Victoria member Joel Bynon, who has been residing on Bendigo Street as a political protest to Victoria's lack of public housing, said Sunday's outcome provided a "moment of relief". "For a lot of people, the eviction notices triggered trauma of isolation, of ending up back on the streets," he said. "Ideally, the state needs to bear in mind that power actually means responsibility and they're responsible to act in a way that doesn't negatively impact a person's human rights." Mr Bynon said it was important to remember human rights must be protected for people who are homeless, just as they are for those who are not experiencing homelessness.
The group did not have time to find legal representation before appearing on Sunday, but they were assisted by barrister Claire Nicholson. They are hopeful they will be connected with a lawyer through Justice Connect before Monday's hearing. Ms Nicholson told the court the "balance of convenience" was very much in the favour of the squatters and "there may be an existing right for the residents to live there". She said one of the group's submissions was that they were not given enough time to find accommodation. The applicants were in the midst of seeking legal advice when the notices were served, Ms Nicholson said.
Justice Croft noted that the eviction notices were not dated and it was unusual for residents to be given less than 14 days' notice. However, he also noted that the Bendigo Street applicants were not "usual tenants," as they were not paying rent at the properties they were living in. Justice Croft said possession was something common law had recognised for centuries, and those rights should be recognised in this case. "You would hope a matter of relocation would be a process and not simply a matter of throwing people out into the street," he said. The properties were acquired by the state for the East West Link project, which was scrapped when Premier Daniel Andrews won power.
The government plans to use the homes for public housing. Victoria Police warned the squatters last week they could be guilty of trespass if they refused to leave the homes and that police could use "reasonable force" to evict them. Neither Victoria Police or the state government were represented in court. Families, including those with children who have started attending the local school, are worried about the impending eviction. One woman said she had fled her home with three young children to escape a violent partner she feared would kill her. "I've been to every single housing service. All that they can offer us is a room in a motel, which is extremely dangerous for me, because if I'm alone my partner could find me," she said.
Loading "Here at Bendigo Street for the first time in years, I know my kids are safe. "I've been here for two months. If we're evicted by police – we're going to be back at the beginning, where are we going to go?" |
Verizon Wireless is the only major carrier in the United States that has not introduced Wi-Fi calling, but it appears that could change in the near future as the FCC today approved the company's request for an FCC waiver [ PDF ] that will allow it to move ahead with its plans.Like AT&T , Verizon applied for an FCC waiver to delay implementing a teletypewriter (TTY) service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people until December 31, 2017. Verizon plans to use real-time text (RTT) as an alternative and the waiver will allow it to avoid offering a TTY service until its RTT technology is deployed and operational.On its website, Verizon says it plans to support Wi-Fi calling "in the future," but has not specified when Wi-Fi calling could be implemented. When AT&T was approved for Wi-Fi calling, the feature was turned on within days of receiving the go ahead from the FCC.Wi-Fi calling will allow Verizon customers to make phone calls over Wi-Fi in situations where their cellular signal is low, automatically transitioning between Wi-Fi and a cellular connection as needed. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile have all already implemented Wi-Fi calling, but Sprint and T-Mobile have done so without obtaining the necessary waivers from the FCC. |
The Giants will release running back Brandon Jacobs today after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a reduction in his 2012 salary, according to someone informed of the impending transaction. The person requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the move.
Jacobs, 29, was scheduled to earn a total of $4.9 million in base salary and a roster bonus that was due later this month. The Giants met with his representatives during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis late last month and requested he hack that number down to a much more manageable figure. Jacobs resisted and, after one more failed attempt to bridge the gap today, he was informed of his impending release.
Jacobs' salary-cap number for this upcoming season was $7 million (the $4.9 million plus a $100,000 workout bonus and a $2-million prorated portion of the signing bonus). The prorated bonus stays on the cap as "dead money" but the other $5 million comes off. Combined with the $6.75 million the Giants saved in renegotiating Eli Manning's contract, they should now be under the cap in advance of the start of the league year on Tuesday.
The release of Jacobs leaves the Giants with Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, last year's seventh-round pick Da'Rel Scott and Andre Brown as running backs on the roster. Bradshaw is currently working his way back from yet another a stress fracture in his foot and recently needed an injection to help with the healing. Ware has contributed in spurts over the past three seasons and Scott saw limited action in his rookie season. Brown, the team's fourth-round pick three years ago, spent all of last season on the practice squad.
In short, it's likely the Giants will add a back through free agency or draft one early next month.
Jacobs, a fourth-round pick in 2005, leaves the Giants as the fourth-leading rusher in team history with 4,849 yards. His 56 rushing touchdowns are the most for any Giant.
The bullish, brash Jacobs (currently listed as 6-4 and 264 pounds) was an anomaly when the Giants drafted him, so much so that general manager Ernie Accorsi immediately sent word down to the media room minutes after the selection Jacobs was a running back, not a fullback.
If there was any doubt left four months later, Jacobs immediately got rid of it with 73 yards on 12 carries (plus another 56 yards negated by penalties) in the preseason opener of his rookie year against the Browns. Jacobs ran for only 99 yards that season behind Tiki Barber but upped that to 423 yards in 2006 and back to back 1,000-yard seasons in 2007 and '08 after Barber retired.
With his big frame, Jacobs brought a big personality — too big at times. From an on-field scuffle with then-Redskin Albert Haynesworth in 2009 to his accidentally throwing his helmet into the stands in Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 2 the following season, Jacobs often showed his fire on the field. He also got into it with Eagles fans before a game in Philly 16 months ago and even had some words for Giants' fans booing him this past season.
But Jacobs also provided an emotional lift for the team and the image of him firing the ball into the play clock after scoring a touchdown in the Divisional Playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys four years ago is one that defined the passion with which he played.
The images that will define the physicality Jacobs brought to the field will be the sight of his running over the Green Bay Packers' Charles Woodson to set a tone on the first drive of the 2008 NFC Championship game and his bulldozing Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry in the regular-season opener later that year.
Jacobs also converted a fourth-and-1 on the game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLII.
Mike Garafolo: mgarafolo@starledger.com; twitter.com/MikeGarafolo |
The Blade Itself for £1.99
My guess is it’s likely that most regular followers of this blog have already had the profound pleasure, education, and indeed revelation, of reading The Blade Itself. But just in case the gloom of your life remains unilluminated by its scintillating brilliance, I note that amazon uk are for the next month or so running a little promotion where you can get the kindle edition for the paltry sum of £1.99. No, not a printing error, not a mistake, £1.99. That’s less than half price. You’re picking my pocket. You’re stealing the food from the mouths of my children. In order to whet your appetite, I present to you one of the most recent 1 star reviews from the amazon page:
“There is a line between good and evil and this book not only crosses that line, but goes far onto the other side … This books seems to be a symptom of society that previously had morality and traditional values and has gradually moved further and further down the dark path towards greater “freedom” … It saddens me that 86+ people reviewed this book and gave it 5 stars. So why did I buy it? There is a romantic element at the moment with movies, games and books about common people, orphans, peasants, poor people, who despite their circumstances are able to become something, whether through a thieves guild or as an assasin using their talents for the greater good. This book goes in a completely different direction as if we want to become serial killers, I wish I could give it a negative rating!”
Oh, so do I! But sadly, one star is the lowest rating amazon allows, even for books in which assasins (sic) don’t use their talents for the greater good. But only imagine, this reviewer had to pay full price to lament the sad slide of all that is moral and traditional into the toilet! Now you, yes, madam, yes, sir, you, can do the same for a mere £1.99! |
Now what
Shares of Avid Technology (NASDAQ:AVID) have fallen today, down by 16% as of 12 p.m. EDT, after the company postponed its fourth-quarter earnings release and related conference call.
So what
The media technology company had originally planned on releasing fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 results yesterday after the close, with a conference call scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT yesterday, but instead announced the postponement.
Avid said the postponement would allow its independent auditor to compete "routine procedures related to the 2016 financial audit" and that it is "working diligently" to help the auditor complete its audit as expeditiously as possible.
Now what
Generally, quarterly earnings releases are unaudited but full-year results are required to be audited, which is a time-consuming process. Delaying an important release like full-year results spooks investors, who fear the worst in uncertain situations like this. Since the company's explanation for the delay is somewhat vague, it stokes fears that something is wrong with its accounting or internal financial controls, which may or may not be the case. The point is that investors don't know if there's something more sinister going on or if it's truly just a procedural delay. Avid has not specified exactly when it will release results and 2017 guidance beyond "as soon as possible." |
1
That's definitely easier said than done. To start facing your demons, grab a notebook and start analyzing your fear. When did it start? What's the root of it? What times of day is it worse? When does it spring up (when you're alone, when you're sad, etc.)? Seeing your own patterns will force you to realize how much of this is just in your head and is truly groundless.
You have to be willing to stand up to him. If you don't find the courage to let go of your fears, then you may never get over that. Since it's highly doubtful that you'll ever meet him, remind yourself that the real fear is fear itself. You know he's not real, you're just paranoid that he is. Is there something else you're actually afraid of? Do a little self-analysis. You're probably not scared of suits, tall people, or skinny people. What's the bigger issue at hand? |
Update: Virgin Media has now confirmed that Three will be joining its Underground Wi-Fi network, providing customers with free access to the web. Virgin Media will also bring seven more stations online before the end of July, pushing the total connected stops to 144.
Until now Three customers have been looking enviously along the platform as those on EE, Vodafone and O2 enjoy free Wi-Fi on the London Underground, but that's about to change.
TechRadar sat down with Three's Director of Customer Strategy, Danny Dixon, who revealed that the data-friendly network would finally hop aboard the free Wi-Fi express by the end of July.
What does that mean? Well you'll be able to get online at 137 Underground stations (ticket halls, corridors and platforms should all be covered) free of charge.
The service comes courtesy of Virgin Media who originally installed the Wi-Fi network ahead of the London 2012 Olympics (remember them?).
London Underground Wi-Fi timeline |
Tiny human brains have been grown in a dish, an accomplishment which could lead to breakthrough treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.
The brain cells have formed similar circuits to those of a 2-month-old fetus and give scientists an opportunity to examine how the brain and any diseases develop.
Researchers at Stanford University first grew two forebrain circuits, before going on to the next step of growing a mini-organ over nine months.
Scientists will now be able to watch how the brain develops, with the hope that the “entire movie” of a brain’s growth can be monitored in the lab, rather than just snapshots.
The process could be the first step toward being able to grow an entire human body in the lab, with researchers hoping that the “thrilling science” will be able to provide insights into brain conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
As part of the experiment, scientists have already been able to generate abnormal circuits typical of Timothy syndrome, which is linked to autism, before correcting it with drugs.
The research, reported in the journal Nature, also stated that by watching the brains develop in real time, the triggers for epilepsy can be pinpointed.
Lead scientist Dr. Sergiu Pasca, from Stanford University, said, “We’ve never been able to recapitulate these human brain developmental events in a dish before.”
“The process happens in the second half of pregnancy, so viewing it live is challenging.” |
A year ago, when the original iPhone went on sale, customers performed the activation at home. But Apple and its cellphone partners changed the process this time, in part because the carriers are partially subsidizing the cost of the phones, so they are eager to make sure that phone buyers are locked into a contract.
Many of the original iPhones were bought in the United States and then taken overseas for use on foreign carriers. A number of industry executives have said that the change in policy was intended to reduce the number of phones that were bought and then modified for use on unauthorized cellular networks.
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Early indications were that the company was facing strong demand for the new phones. In many cases the customers were existing iPhone users looking to upgrade to the iPhone 3G model.
Apple’s stores opened at 8 a.m. At the store in downtown San Francisco at 11:30 a.m., there was still a line of more than 300 customers stretching down one block and around the corner waiting for iPhones. Some customers said they had hired placeholders to stand overnight in line.
Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T, Apple’s cellular partner in the United States, said the company had experienced extraordinary demand and that most of its stores nationwide were sold out of the iPhone during the day. He said he had heard reports that some customers were already camped out in front of stores waiting for the next shipment of iPhones on Saturday, but he could not identify a particular store.
Mr. Siegel said the rush of customers and upgrades had overwhelmed Apple’s servers, and that he sympathized with the company’s predicament.
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“Apparently the iTunes system has just been overwhelmed by demand and Apple is working very hard to get this fixed,” he said.
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He acknowledged that part of the problem was the new policy of requiring authorization in the stores.
In a related issue, customers had problems with Apple’s switchover from its .Mac Web service to a new service called MobileMe that is intended to seamlessly share information between Macintosh computers and the iPhone.
Apple’s stumble was an unusual one for a company that has taken pains in recent years to become more customer-oriented. The technology blog Gizmodo dubbed it the iPocalypse. When the original iPhone was introduced, AT&T took the blame for most of the early service problems.
Sergio Martinez, an editor at Teak Motion Visuals in San Francisco, said in an e-mail message that he had run into trouble with the software upgrade. “Like everyone else across the world, I have had no luck upgrading,” he wrote. “Bill Gates must be enjoying this one.” |
We’re supposed to trust the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) because much of the research on which it relies was published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
But what happens when the people who are in charge of these journals are the same ones who write IPCC reports?
Today’s exhibit is the Journal of Climate. It’s published by the American Meteorological Society – which certainly sounds reputable. But let’s take a look at its IPCC connections.
It’s chief editor, Anthony J. Broccoli, was a contributing author and expert reviewer for the IPCC’s 2007 report (known as AR4).
Nathan Gillett, one of its editors, served in four separate AR4 capacities – as a lead author, an expert reviewer for both Working Group 1 and Working Group 2, and as an expert reviewer of the Synthesis Report. He is now a lead author for the upcoming IPCC report (AR5).
Marika Holland, another editor at the Journal of Climate, contributed to two chapters of the 2007 climate bible.
Editor Andrew Pitman was an IPCC lead author, a contributing author, and an expert reviewer for the 2007 edition. Moreover, he’s involved in the upcoming report as a review editor.
As editor James Renwick’s bio page makes clear, he was a contributing author to the 2001 IPCC report, a lead author for the 2007 report, and is currently a lead author for AR5.
Editor Brian Soden was a 2007 contributing author and an expert reviewer who is currently serving as an AR5 lead author.
Editor Shang-Ping Xie is currently an AR5 lead author, and editor Michael Alexander was a 2007 IPCC expert reviewer.
Other personnel associated with the Journal of Climate may be found under the headings Editors Emeritus and Associate Editors. Prominent IPCC participants such as Michael E. Mann, Gavin Schmidt, Andrew Weaver, Francis Zwiers, Gabriele Hegerl and Peter Stott appear on these lists.
Is this not too incestuous for words?
Is no one concerned that there is no distance whatsoever – never mind anything approaching a firewall – between the people who decide whether a study deserves to join the haloed ranks of the scientific peer-reviewed literature – and the people who then write IPCC reports declaring what this peer-reviewed literature tells us about climate change?
And let’s not even talk about what percentage of the published papers authored by some of those mentioned above earned their peer-reviewed status via the Journal of Climate. That’s another story for another day.
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Things got heated on Meet the Press this morning when Sen. John McCain grew frustrated with host David Gregory during a discussion about the Benghazi attack. As Gregory pressed him on the assertion of a “cover-up,” McCain had a question or two for the host as well.
“The president said this week on the issue of Benghazi, you guys are running out of things to ask about,” Gregory noted. “So let me ask you, at the end of the day here on Benghazi, if the worst thing is true, what is that truth about how the president handled this crisis?”
“I do know that there are so many answers we don’t know,” McCain replied. “For example, what did the president do the night of the attack?”
The senator went on to cite questions surrounding Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — reiterating that there are simply too many things we don’t know. “We’ve had two movies about getting bin Laden and we don’t even know who the people were who were evacuated from the consulate the next day after the attack,” McCain asserted.
As he went on to cite a cover-up, Gregory asked, “But a massive cover-up of what?” That led to the pair talking over each other until McCain finally asked, “I’m asking you, do you care whether four Americans died? The reasons for that?”
“A cover-up of what?” Gregory repeated. “Of the information concerning the deaths of four brave Americans. The information has not been forthcoming. You can obviously believe that it has. I know that it hasn’t.”
Watch below, via NBC:
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com |
On Monday, high-street clothing store Joy was forced to make an apology after not only stocking a product offensive to people with bipolar disorder, but then also managing to offend people who pointed out its offensiveness. Matryoshka dolls of offence, if you will.
As part of its accessories range, Joy is selling a card bearing the message: “Don’t get mad, take lithium”.
The card Joy is selling with a bipolar-related slogan. Photograph: Twitter
When challenged about marketing a product which trivialises mental illness, Joy responded on Twitter: “If you know anyone with bipolar disorder, then don’t buy it for them. PROBLEM SOLVED.”
Joy’s social media guru idiot was then asked how someone with bipolar might feel if they happened to see the card in a store. Their response: “They’ll like it one minute and hate it the next?”
Mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness called Joy’s comments “deeply offensive”, “aggressive” and “obnoxious”, while former Labour strategist and mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell said the comments proved a “deep ignorance about the reality of mental ill health”.
Language is an interesting thing. Our choices inspire a multitude of reactions. Language around mental health is especially difficult. In this instance, many people vowed never to set foot in a Joy store again, while other people with bipolar disorder took to Twitter to say they couldn’t see what all the fuss was about.
I can’t speak for everyone with bipolar; we are 1-3% of the world’s population after all, but here are a few pointers on what not to say to someone with the illness.
Are you bipolar?
This is a small thing, but there’s a little linguistic point to be made here. Referring to somebody as “bipolar” sort of insinuates that the only thing this person is is an illness. Their entire entity is just a disease. My surname is Parkinson so, can we not add to this, please?
Rather, I think it is more polite to say someone “has bipolar” than “is bipolar”. You wouldn’t say that somebody “was cancer”. You wouldn’t say: “This is Maya. She is diabetes.” But people will talk of someone “being bipolar”.
Bipolar is a part of my life, sure. But so are friends, family, work. So are words and music and photographs and Diet Coke and daily Google Image searches of Jamie Dornan. I’m not just bipolar.
Oh yeah, I’m a bit like that
I’ve had plenty of people say this to me after finding out that I have bipolar disorder. It’s meant kindly, as a means of finding common ground. Except often it comes across like Russia battering a flag into a bit of the Arctic she doesn’t own.
Everyone has ups and downs as a natural course of life; this is why people who are permanently smiley are irritating. Ditto those who seem to look to Grumpy Cat as a role model. The difference with bipolar disorder is the extremities of the moods (and the frequency).
Someone without bipolar might go through a bit of a giddy spell: “go mad” and exit Pret with two bags of popcorn at lunchtime, despite an initial intent to purchase just the one. A person with bipolar, however, during a manic phase, might sweep into Pret and announce forthwith that they are taking over the chain, because boy, they have so many great ideas. Have you heard all these great ideas though? Listen to these ideas.
Similarly, feeling down and miserable sucks, and it is something we all feel at times. Grief is a normal process. Feeling fed up is normal. Clinical depression, however, (whether unipolar or bipolar), is a devil that chews on bones and gorges on souls and should never be underestimated or undermined.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest My response to a lot of bipolar questions. Photograph: Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images
Do you think I might have it?
Look, I was amazing at science in school. And I’m sure I would look good in a white coat – if I was Liz Hurley and thought it acceptable to wear white coats – but I am not a doctor. I don’t know if you have bipolar disorder. I don’t know any more than that printout you’re waving in front of me.
There is no diagnostic test for bipolar disorder, so often diagnoses rely on personal empirical experience and the testimony of close ones. If you are concerned about your own, or somebody else’s mental health, please do go and see your GP. While we still have an NHS.
Is that what Stephen Fry has? Are you like Stephen Fry?
Yes, it’s what Stephen Fry has, according to the brilliant and informative documentary he made for the BBC in 2006, entitled The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive. Yes, I am Stephen Fry. *poses for selfie with fan*.
I’m also available for personal appearances as: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kerry Katona.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Stephen Fry, who has spoken of his bipolar disorder. Photograph: JP Masclet/REX
So are all bipolar people creative or genius?
No, and no again. I would love to say this was the case. Trust me, it’s tempting, when one has a mental illness, to try to redeem some sort of positive element. So, of course, if I truly felt that everybody diagnosed with bipolar was special or a creative stalwart or a goddamn genius I would be shouting it from the rooftops. (Probably, literally, from the rooftops).
But while it is true that there has been research into links between bipolar disorder and creativity, (see Kay Redfield Jamison), and plenty of creative people have had the disorder, this does not mean that people with bipolar are born with an easel in one hand and a Smith Corona in the other. Hell, doctors can’t even decide whether people are born with bipolar at all.
So, as much as I would like to say that bipolar is responsible for huge talent, incredible charisma and Einstein-esque genius; I don’t think it plays a part in any of these things that I definitely do possess.
Did you ever try to kill yourself?
SOMEONE I DIDN’T KNOW ONCE ASKED ME THIS. It was at a really bad gig at a rundown club, and I honestly didn’t think the night was going to sink any further. Then a friend-of-a-friend asked me this. Don’t ask someone this. I mean, obviously do ask if you are friends and you’re having a one-on-one heartfelt conversation four pints in, but, in general, I wouldn’t ask this until you’re 99.9% sure it won’t make you a dick for asking this.
I feel bad for you
Thanks, bro. (I don’t mind people saying this, really. It does kinda suck).
Is it cured? Are you cured?
An Oxford don asked me this once in an interview. I didn’t even know what to say in response to it cos I was flabbergasted how somebody with such a big study and so many books could be so stupid.
It’s fine not to understand an illness. It is fine to ask questions, but one would hope that most people realise that mental illness cannot be “cured”. Just for the record, bipolar disorder cannot be cured. It is a lifelong illness. Some people feel that they are in remission, however. The goal to aim for is to maintain a healthy stability, usually through a combination of medication and lifestyle choices (and counselling too, if this helps). But, yeah, it’s pretty much there for life.
Have you taken your medication?
This is actually very much a question family and friends of people with bipolar should ask. I am awful at keeping track of taking my medication. Today, for instance, I have forgotten to take it. Medication – for me at least – is something incredibly important to my wellbeing.
I owe a lot, therefore, to my dear friends and family who keep on top of it, when I don’t (either through forgetfulness, or because I’m depressed and can’t see the point, or because I’m manic and the drugs I want to be doing definitely aren’t those that come written out on little green scrips).
In psychiatry, the notion of taking drugs or not taking drugs is known as compliance. If you’re someone who takes the medication you’ve been prescribed, you are compliant. If not, you exhibit non-compliance. The reason I have included this question in the list – even though it is a good thing to ask – is because the question in itself sucks just as a sheer reminder that one has to take medication to function like a normal human being at all.
I’d love to be able to say my heart doesn’t break a little every time I’m reminded to take my meds, but it does.
Did you see Silver Linings Playbook?
Why would anyone in God’s name not watch a film in which both Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper star? Unless one has an allergy to good-looking people, everyone should see this film. |
A short drive south of Alice Springs, the second largest population center in Australia’s Northern Territory, there is a high-security compound, code-named “RAINFALL.” The remote base, in the heart of the country’s barren outback, is one of the most important covert surveillance sites in the eastern hemisphere.
Hundreds of Australian and American employees come and go every day from Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap, as the base is formally known. The official “cover story,” as outlined in a secret U.S. intelligence document, is to “support the national security of both the U.S. and Australia. The [facility] contributes to verifying arms control and disarmament agreements and monitoring military developments.” But, at best, that is an economical version of the truth. Pine Gap has a far broader mission — and more powerful capabilities — than the Australian or American governments have ever publicly acknowledged.
An investigation, published Saturday by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in collaboration with The Intercept, punctures the wall of secrecy surrounding Pine Gap, revealing for the first time a wide range of details about its function. The base is an important ground station from which U.S. spy satellites are controlled and communications are monitored across several continents, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept from the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Together with the NSA’s Menwith Hill base in England, Pine Gap has in recent years been used as a command post for two missions. The first, named M7600, involved at least two spy satellites and was said in a secret 2005 document to provide “continuous coverage of the majority of the Eurasian landmass and Africa.” This initiative was later upgraded as part of a second mission, named M8300, which involved “a four satellite constellation” and covered the former Soviet Union, China, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and territories in the Atlantic Ocean.
The satellites are described as being “geosynchronous,” which means they are likely positioned high in orbit at more than 20,000 miles above the earth’s surface. They are equipped with powerful surveillance technology used to monitor wireless communications on the ground, such as those sent and received by cellphones, radios, and satellite uplinks. They gather “strategic and tactical military, scientific, political, and economic communications signals,” according to the documents, and also keep tabs on missile or weapons tests in targeted countries, sweep up intelligence from foreign military data systems, and provide surveillance support to U.S. forces.
An aerial image of the Pine Gap surveillance facility, located near Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. Photo: BING
Outside Pine Gap, there are some 38 radar dishes pointing skyward, many of them concealed underneath golfball-like shells. The facility itself is isolated, located beyond a security checkpoint on a road marked with “prohibited area” signs, about a 10-minute drive from Alice Springs, which has a population of about 25,000 people. There is a large cohort of U.S. spy agency personnel stationed at the site, including employees of the NSA, CIA, and National Reconnaissance Office, the agency that manages the spy satellites. Intelligence employees are joined by compatriots from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Pine Gap “plays a significant role in supporting both intelligence activities and military operations,” according to a top-secret NSA report dated from April 2013. One of its key functions is to gather geolocational intelligence, which can be used to help pinpoint airstrikes. The Australian base has a special section known as the “geopit” for this function; it is equipped with “a number of tools available for performing geolocations, providing a broad range of geolocation capabilities … in conjunction with other overhead, tactical, fixed site systems,” notes an August 2012 NSA “site profile” of the facility.
Richard Tanter, a professor at the University of Melbourne, has studied Pine Gap for years. He has co-authored, with Bill Robinson and the late Desmond Ball, several detailed reports about the base’s activities for California-based security think tank Nautilus Institute. He reviewed the documents obtained by The Intercept and said that they showed there had been a “huge transformation” in Pine Gap’s function in recent history.
The documents “provide authoritative confirmation that Pine Gap is involved, for example, in the geolocation of cellphones used by people throughout the world, from the Pacific to the edge of Africa,” Tanter said. “It shows us that Pine Gap knows the geolocations — it derives the phone numbers, it often derives the content of any communications, it provides the ability for the American military to identify and place in real-time the location of targets of interest.”
The documents “provide authoritative confirmation that Pine Gap is involved in the geolocation of cellphones used by people throughout the world.”
The base, which was built in the late 1960s, was once focused only on monitoring missile tests and other military-related activities in countries such as Russia, China, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, and India. But it is now doing “a great deal more,” said Tanter. It has shifted from “a national level of strategic intelligence, primarily to providing intelligence — actionable, time-sensitive intelligence — for American operations in [the] battlefield.”
In 2013, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Pine Gap played a key role in controversial U.S. drone strikes. Over the past decade, drone attacks have killed a number of top Al Qaeda, Islamic State, and Taliban militants. But the strikes — often taking place outside of declared war zones, in places such as Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan — have also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, and in some cases are considered by human rights advocates to constitute potential war crimes and violations of international law.
The U.S. and its allies regularly use surveillance of communications as a tactic to track down and identify suspected militants. The NSA often locates drone targets by analyzing the activity of a cellphone’s SIM card, rather than the content of the calls — an imprecise method that can lead to the wrong people being killed, as The Intercept has previously revealed. “It’s really like we’re targeting a cellphone,” a former drone operator told us in 2014. “We’re not going after people — we’re going after their phones, in the hopes that the person on the other end of that missile is the bad guy.”
Concerns about such tactics are amplified in the era of President Donald Trump. Since his inauguration earlier this year, Trump has dramatically increased drone strikes and special operations raids, while simultaneously loosening battlefield rules and seeking to scrap constraints intended to prevent civilian deaths in such attacks. According to analysis from the group Airwars, which monitors U.S. airstrikes, civilian casualties in the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State are on track to double under Trump’s administration.
Afghan villagers gather near a house destroyed in an apparent NATO raid in Logar province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 6, 2012. Photo: Ihsanullah Majroh/AP
David Rosenberg, a 23-year veteran of the NSA who worked inside Pine Gap as a team leader for more than a decade, acknowledged that the base was used to “geolocate particular electronic transmissions.” He told The Intercept and ABC that the base helps to “provide limitation of civilian casualties by providing accurate intelligence,” and insisted that “the governments of Australia and the United States would of course want to minimize all civilian casualties.”
But that reassurance is unlikely to satisfy critics.
Emily Howie, director of advocacy and research at Australia’s Human Rights Law Centre, said the Australian government needs to provide “accountability and transparency” on its role in U.S. drone operations. “The legal problem that’s created by drone strikes is that there may very well be violations of the laws of armed conflict … and that Australia may be involved in those potential war crimes through the facility at Pine Gap,” Howie said. “The first thing that we need from the Australian government is for it to come clean about exactly what Australians are doing inside the Pine Gap facility in terms of coordinating with the United States on the targeting using drones.”
For more than 100 years, Australia has been a close U.S. ally; the country has supported the American military in every major war since the early 1900s. This relationship was formalized in 1951, when Australia and the U.S. signed the ANZUS Treaty, a mutual defense agreement. Australia is also a member of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance, alongside the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. The country’s electronic eavesdropping agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, maintains extremely close ties with its American counterparts at the NSA. The agencies have a “mutually beneficial partnership,” according to one top-secret NSA document. While the NSA shares its “technology, cryptanalytic capabilities, and resources for state-of-the-art collection, processing and analytic efforts,” the Australians provide access to Pine Gap; they also hand over “terrorism-related communications collected inside Australia,” plus intelligence on some neighboring countries in their region, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
“The first thing we need from the government is for it to come clean about exactly what Australians are doing inside Pine Gap.”
The relationship’s foundations are strong, but some cracks may be beginning to appear. This was highlighted in late January when, after just two weeks in the Oval Office, Trump had a contentious first conversation with Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Trump berated his Australian counterpart over the terms of a refugee deal and abruptly ended the call, describing it as “ridiculous” and “unpleasant.”
Meanwhile, Trump has adopted a more confrontational tone with China — Australia’s top trading partner — and he has threatened North Korea with “fire and fury” over its repeated missile tests. The situation has created a degree of uncertainty for Australia, and some in the country are pondering whether it is time to re-evaluate its traditional alliances.
“There are changing moods in the United States,” said John McCarthy, one of Australia’s most distinguished and experienced diplomats, who formerly served as the country’s ambassador to the U.S. “So, we then need to think, should we try and develop closer security relationships with other countries in Asia? Should we seek to improve our overall structural relationship with China?
“We’re entering into a very, very fluid situation in Asia,” McCarthy added. “I don’t know what the outcomes are going to be. But … we have to be very, very nimble in terms of trying to create new structures, create new relationships, to be able to look at new circumstances from a very independent security perspective, if we are to do the right thing by the Australian people over the next generation or so.”
Because of Australia’s proximity to the Korean peninsula, the North Korea issue is a particularly sensitive one. The city of Darwin in the Northern Territory is about 3,600 miles from Pyongyang, within range of an intercontinental ballistic missile strike. As such, the implications are severe for Australia: It could be dragged into a devastating conflict if the U.S. were to become embroiled in war with Kim Jong-un’s rogue state. And despite its isolated position in the outback, Pine Gap would likely be at the forefront of the action.
“Pine Gap literally hardwires us into the activities of the American military and in some cases, that means we will cop the consequences, like it or not,” said Tanter, the University of Melbourne professor. “Pine Gap will be contributing hugely in real-time to those operations, as well as in preparation for them. So whether or not the Australian government thinks that an attack on North Korea is either justified, or a wise and sensible move, we will be part of that,” Tanter added. “We’ll be culpable in the terms of the consequences.”
The NSA and the Australian government’s Department of Defence declined to comment.
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This story was prepared in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s investigative radio program “Background Briefing” and ABC News. Peter Cronau contributed reporting.
Documents published with this article: |
By Arthur MacEwan, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts Boston and a co-founder and associate of Dollars & Sense magazine. This is the final part of a three-part series on the era of economic globalization, the distribution of power worldwide, and the current crisis. It was originally published in the January/February issue of Dollars & Sense, commencing the magazine’s year-long “Costs of Empire” project. Parts 1 and 2 are available here and here. Cross posted from Triple Crisis
The rhetoric of free trade, in any case, is simply one of the tools that the U.S. government, its allies, international agencies, and large firms use in shaping the world economy. Economic and political-military power is the foundation for this shaping. Following World War II, when the U.S. accounted for more than a quarter of world output, it had tremendous economic power—as a market, an investment source, and a source of new technology. U.S. firms had little competition in their global operations and were thus able to penetrate markets and control resources over a wide range (outside of the U.S.S.R., the rest of the East Bloc, and China). Along with this economic power, the military power of the United States was immense. In the context of the Cold War and the rise of democratic upsurges and liberation movements in many regions, the role of the U.S. military was welcomed in many countries—especially by elites facing threats (real or imagined) from the Soviet Union, domestic liberation movements, or both.
This combination of economic and military power, far more than the rhetoric of free trade, allowed the U.S. government to move other governments toward accepting openness in international commerce. The Bretton Woods conference was a starting point in this process; U.S. representatives at the conference were largely able to dictate the conference outcomes. In terms of international commerce, things worked quite well for the United Sates for about 25 years. Then, however, various challenges to the U.S. position emerged. In particular, the war in Indochina and its costs, competition from firms based in Japan and Europe, and the rise of OPEC and increase in energy costs began to disrupt the dominant U.S. role by the early 1970s.
Still, while the period after the 1970s saw slower economic growth, both in the United States and in several other high-income countries, the United States continued to hold its dominant positon. In part, this was due to the Cold War—the Soviet threat, or at least the perceived threat, providing the glue that attached other countries to U.S. leadership. Yet, by the 1990s, the U.S.S.R. was no more, and China was becoming a rising world power.
In spite of the changes in the world economy, the United States at first appears to have almost the same share of world output in 2016, 24.7%, as it had in the immediate post-World War II period, and is still considerably ahead of any other country. Yet this figure evaluates output in the rest of the world’s countries at market exchange rates. When the figures are recalculated, using the real purchasing power of different currencies, the U.S. share drops to 15.6%, behind China’s 17.9% of world output. Of course, as China has a much larger population than the United States, even using the purchasing power figures, per person GDP in the U.S. is almost four times greater than in China; it would be almost 7 times greater using the market exchange rates.
The rise of China has not moved the United States off its pedestal as the world’s dominant economic power. Moreover, U.S. military strength remains dominant in world affairs. Yet the challenge is real, even to the point that China has recently created an institution, providing development loans to low-income countries, to be an alternative to the (U.S.-dominated) World Bank. Investment by Chinese firms, too, is spreading worldwide. Then there are the military issues in the South China Sea.
At the same time, the United States is engaged in seemingly intractable military operations in the Middle East, and has continued to maintain its global military presence as widely as during the Cold War. Having long taken on the role of providing the global police force, for the U.S. government to pull back from these operations would be to accept a decline in U.S. global power. But, further, the extensive and far flung military presence of U.S. forces is necessary to preserve the rules of international commerce that have been established over decades. The rules themselves need protection, regardless of the amount of commerce directly affected. The real threat to “U.S. interests” posed by the Islamic State and like forces in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of East Asia is not their appalling and murderous actions. Instead, their threat lies in their disruption and disregard for the rules of international commerce. From Honduras and Venezuela to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, if U.S. policy were guided by an attempt to protect human rights, the role of U.S. military and diplomatic polices would be very different.
Continuing to operate on a global level to halt threats to the “rules of the game”—in a world were economic power is shifting away from the United States—this country is threatening itself with imperial overreach. Attempting to preserve its role in global affairs and to maintain its favored terms of global commerce, the U.S. government may be taking on financial and military burdens that it cannot manage. In the Middle East in particular, the costs of military operations during the 21st century have run into the trillions of dollars. Military bases and actions are so widespread as to limit their effectiveness in any one theater of operations.
The potential danger in this situation is twofold. On the one hand, the costs of these operations and the resulting strain on the U.S. government’s budget can weaken the operation of the domestic economy. On the other hand, in the context of the rising challenges to the U.S. role in global affairs and the rising role of other powers, especially China but also Russia, U.S. forces may enter into especially dangerous attempts to regain U.S. power in world affairs—the treacherous practice of revanchism.
Are There Alternatives?
Although globalization in the broad sense of a geographic expansion of economic, political, social, and cultural contacts may be an inexorable process, the way in which this expansion takes place is a matter of political choices—and political power. Both economic and political/military expansion are contested terrain. Alternatives are possible.
The backlash against globalization that appeared in 2016, especially in the U.S. presidential campaign, has had both progressive and reactionary components. The outcome of the election, having had such a reactionary and xenophobic foundation, is unlikely to turn that backlash into positive reforms, which would attenuate economic inequality and insecurity. Indeed, all indications in the period leading up to Trump’s inauguration (when this article is being written) suggest that, whatever changes take place in the U.S. economic relations with the rest of the world, those changes will not displace large corporations as the principal beneficiaries of the international system.
Nonetheless, the Sanders campaign demonstrated the existence of a strong progressive movement against the current form of globalization. If that movement can be sustained, there are several reforms that it could push that would alter the nature of globalization and lay the foundation for a more democratic and larger changes down the road (Sanders’ “revolution”). Two examples of changes that would directly alter U.S. international agreements in ways that would reduce inequality and insecurity are:
Changing international commercial agreements so they include strong labor rights and environmental protections. Goods produced under conditions where workers’ basic rights, to organize and to work under reasonable health and safety conditions, are denied would not be given unfettered access to global markets. Goods whose production or use is environmentally destructive would likewise face trade restrictions. (One important “restriction” could include a carbon tax that would raise the cost of transporting goods over long distances.) Effective enforcement procedures would be difficult but possible.
Establishing effective employment support for people displaced by changes in international commerce. Such support could include, for instance, employment insurance funds and well funded retraining programs. Also, there would need to be provisions for continuing medical care and pensions. Moreover, there is no good reason for such support programs to be limited to workers displaced by international commerce. People who lose their jobs because of environmental regulations (such as coal miners), technological change (like many workers in manufacturing), or just stupid choices by their employers should have the same support.
Several other particular reforms would also be desirable. Obviously, the elimination of ISDS is important, as is cessation of moves to extend U.S. intellectual property rights. The reforms would also include: global taxation of corporations; taxation of financial transactions; altering the governance the IMF, World Bank, and WTO to reduce their role as instruments of the United States and other high income countries; protections for international migrants and protection of their rights as workers. The list could surely be extended. Changes in international economic relations, however, cannot be separated from political changes. The ability of the United States and its allies to shape economic relations is tied up with military power. Military interventions and the threat of military interventions have long been an essential foundation for U.S. power in the global economy. These interventions and threats are often cloaked in democratic or humanitarian rhetoric. Yet, one need simply look at the Middle East to recognize the importance of the interests of large U.S. firms in bringing about these military actions. (Again, see the box on Smedley Butler.) It will be necessary to build opposition to these military interventions in order to move the world economy in a positive direction— to say nothing of halting the disastrous humanitarian impacts of these interventions.
No one claims that it would be easy to overcome the power of large corporations in shaping the rules of international commerce in agreements or to reduce (let alone block) the aggressive military practices of the U.S. government. The prospect of a Trump presidency certainly makes the prospect of progressive change on international affairs—or on any other affairs—more difficult. There is, however, nothing inevitable about the way these central aspects of globalization have been organized. There are alternatives that would not undermine the U.S. economy (or other economies). Indeed, these alternatives would strengthen the U.S. economy in terms of improving and sustaining the material well-being of most people.
The basic issues here are who—which groups in society—are going to determine basic economic policies and by what values those policies will be formulated. |
Christopher,
Regarding NGA and Northside-Southside, please see the below response:
The City of St. Louis has expressed a desire to explore options for constructing a Northside-Southside MetroLink expansion in the vicinity of the planned NGA facility in North City. The process for pursuing this option is to conduct planning, environmental, and design work to determine the precise design, cost and impacts of this project. The City of St. Louis, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, and Metro are collaborating on this endeavor. Before this project could move forward, the region would have to produce sufficient financial resources to support about half of construction costs, and all of the cost to operate the new service. Federal funding would be required to complete the balance of financial needs, and that is a competitive process. The planning and design work I mentioned previously is a first step in that funding process. |
In addition to NFC and 802.11n connectivity, ASUS and Google have baked in Bluetooth 4.0, thanks to Jelly Bean's new support for the standard (yippee!). There's also SlimPort support for pushing 1080p content to your TV. The front-facing camera remains just 1.2 megapixels, though, hopefully ASUS has moved to a higher-quality sensor. There's now a camera around back as well, a rather pedestrian 5MP shooter, but it should be good enough for scanning QR codes, performing image searches and taking the occasional YouTube clip of your cat/child/hedgehog/drunk celebrity. Despite all this, the latest version of the Nexus is a smidgen lighter at only 11.2 ounces (317.5g). It's significantly thinner too, at 0.3 inch (8.65mm), down from 0.41 inch (10.45mm). Even the bezels have been slimmed down, reaching an impressive 2.75mm on the sides. While the experiment with the Nexus Q might not have ended so happily, the focus on audio quality seems to have informed Google's efforts with the new Nexus 7. The tablet has a pair of stereo speakers, and Frauhofer worked with the companies to kick out top-notch virtual surround sound.
In less surprising news, there's also an unlocked LTE edition en route. What is curious, though, is that there will be only one such model, and the same device will work on AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon's 4G networks. The LTE edition comes with 32GB of storage and costs $349, though a firm release date has yet to be announced. As for the WiFi-only versions, the 16GB Nexus 7 will set you back $230, while the 32GB model weighs in at $270, and both will be available on July 30th from the Play store. They'll also be popping up at plenty of retailers like Staples and Best Buy; even Amazon will be selling it! Finally, as for regional availability, the new Nexus 7 will be launching in the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Spain, with more countries "coming soon." |
It’s been four years since the NFL reached an estimated $1 billion settlement in the landmark concussion lawsuit brought by former players. The vast majority of those players are still waiting for the league to make good on its agreement.
Former players sued the league over the long-term impacts head injuries have had in their lives. These men have developed Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and symptoms consistent with CTE. The league assured the former players that payouts from the settlement would be swift. That has not been the case.
Of the 1,400 players awarded damages from the league as part of the settlement, only 140 have gotten any sort of payout from the NFL, according to Ken Belson of The New York Times.
Settlements move at a snail’s pace, and that’s part of the reason for the delay. The league just began accepting claims against the settlement about eight months ago. But according to the families of former players included in the settlement, the NFL has also created a bunch of bureaucratic hoops to jump through in order to secure payment.
Orrin Brown, who was appointed by the court to administrate the settlement, said that the NFL has moved the goalposts in terms of the paperwork players are required to file to receive their share of the settlement. Players are being asked to submit raw scores from neurocognitive tests, which wasn’t spelled out in the initial agreement. That was four years ago, and some families are scrambling to track them down.
Brown says that the NFL is trying to prevent fraud.
“It does seem people feel they are being nickeled and dimed on paperwork,” Brown said. “But there’s nothing nefarious or conspiratorial in this. The goal is to make sure everyone gets paid for legitimate claims.”
The NFL has officially denied that there have been any changes to the the settlement agreement or the standards for claims to be approved. But former players and their families don’t see it that way.
Andrew Stewart, a retired defensive end who spent one season with the Browns and one with the Bengals and spent a little time with the 49ers, now suffers from Parkinson’s disease. He expected to receive a payout of approximately $2.8 million from this settlement. The league gave him the runaround, and now he’s being offered less than one-third of that amount.
Stewart filed his claim, and the league informed him he would have to have a second doctor confirm the diagnosis. His original claim was filed when he was 48 years old. Once he got the second diagnosis and the league started to process the paperwork, he was 51. Awards are calculated at a lower rate for older players. The time it took to move things along cost Stewart significantly. His estimated settlement is around $750,000.
“Players will be shorted what they earned,” Stewart said. “This is not a settlement. This is about paying sick men as little as possible.”
Anita Brody, the federal judge who oversaw the settlement, will meet with representatives for the NFL and the plaintiffs on Monday to try to find better, more efficient solutions for processing these claims.
Recent research from Boston University’s CTE Center found signs of CTE in 99 percent of the former NFL players’ brains they studied. Even though these brains were donated by families of players who exhibited signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that high percentage leaves no doubt that the repeated head trauma players experience can have lasting, debilitating effects.
This settlement was supposed to be one step toward the league making things better for players who are suffering because of their time on the field. That can’t happen if the NFL won’t pay out claims fairly and in a timely manner. |
The easiest way to shed pounds isn’t to crash food plan or have bursts of work out, but to produce sluggish modifications. The ultimate way to make these variations and keep on with them will be to make a HealthReviewFairy . This could be used to set out your targets, how you will attain them, and alterations as they happen.
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When picking a fat loss application it is significant that you choose to pick out one which is true for yourself. Probably the most significant variable to look at is your wellbeing, so will not be picking out a program which has outrageous claims and will achievable be dangerous. Set achievable aims and make changes that you’ll be likely to stick to for the remainder of your daily life, preserving the burden off once and for all.The obvious way to slim down isn’t to crash eating plan or have bursts of exercising, but for making gradual adjustments. The easiest way to make these improvements and keep on with them should be to generate a weight reduction system. This can be accustomed to set out your targets, the way you are going to attain them, and changes since they arise.
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By making use of a weightloss software you are able to employ these alterations and stay with them. It might also perform very best should you write your plan down, keeping a be aware of your respective targets, adjustments in excess weight and achievements to assist you retain heading in the right direction. Although you may not see any fast improvements, stay with it. Don’t permit any fat obtain put you off, and alternatively glance at your software and see if nearly anything really should modify, for instance raising your activity amounts. And whenever you get to your ambitions rejoice by dealing with on your own to some thing which include an evening out or possibly a new outfit to help make your fat reduction even sweeter.
One more facet of your weight-loss plan could be a food stuff diary. By producing down many of the foodstuff and drink you take in in the week you will discover it easier to see where you are likely erroneous. You could assessment the diary at the end of every week to get a clearer photo of just the amount calories you really are consuming. If the diet plan appears to be like balanced and but you still usually are not getting rid of any pounds, you could potentially must look at your part dimensions to generate guaranteed you will be basically not taking in far too substantially. |
He believes the president is empowered to spy, torture, and kill, but that he can only temporarily appoint with permission. What if he's right?
What if the Bush Administration lawyers were right? What if the president really does possess the authority under the Constitution to torture detainees, crush the testicles of children, spy on Americans without a warrant, indefinitely imprison anyone without charges, and assassinate citizens? It's useful to proceed, for the duration of this article, as if John Yoo and David Addington, two of the most extreme advocates of executive power in American history, are in fact correct in all their legal theories, for there is no better context for their most recent bit of analysis.
The subject is President Obama and an action he took: last week he appointed four people, three to the National Labor Relations Board and the other to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. When Congress isn't in session, the president is permitted by the Constitution to make temporary recess appointments to fill vacancies that normally require Senate approval.
For some time, however, that provision hasn't worked as the Framers intended. During the Bush Administration, Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats would hold pro-forma sessions to prevent certain recess appointments from being made. Under the Obama Administration, Republicans started violating the spirit of the Constitution in the same way. Finally, President Obama decided that he'd just go ahead and make recess appointments anyway, an apparent violation of the law's letter. Personally, I'd urge Republicans and Democrats to observe the spirit and letter of the law. If anyone in this pissing contest comes out looking good I can't see it. |
Work Your Face Muscles at Skin Gym Face Fitness View Full Caption
SOUTH STREET SEAPORT — You won't need a scalpel for this face-lift.
Skin Gym Face Fitness, a new Downtown pop-up boutique, is offering a face workout that is meant to keep skin looking young, firm and healthy without using products or surgery.
The gym takes clients through a routine of facial movements — like reps of puckering lips or lifting eyebrows — and also offers facial massages.
“We’ve got 57 muscles in our face,” said Kate Gyllenhaal, 53, one of the company’s three founders and a longtime personal trainer. “Working them out, training them, is just as important as the rest of the body. We like to say, ‘Why stop at the neck?’”
A video posted by @tiptop811 on Jan 14, 2015 at 10:01am PST
Face massage and “workouts” are something French and Asian woman have long used in their battle against aging, said co-owner Rachel Lang, 44. But it hasn’t really caught on in the States — at least not yet.
“The massage and movement increases circulation to the skin and helps plump and rejuvenate skin,” said Lang, an esthetician. “It’s strengthening and protecting your skin and giving you a better complexion.”
Skin Gym, which is based at 190 Front St., launched in December and will stay open at least through February.
The cozy storefront has three lounge chairs for the facial massage, plus a “Facefit Wall” where clients sit, staring at themselves in a mirror, while Gyllenhaal leads them through a 15-minute face workout.
“Kissing not only feels good, it’s actually good for your facial muscles,” she said, while puckering up then smooching two wooden tongue depressors, staring at her face in the mirror along the wall.
“This works the muscles around your mouth.”
Gyllenhaal also uses stretchy orange bands, tied or held around her face, to create added resistance, while doing moves like opening and closing her mouth, or raising and holding her eyebrows.
A video posted by @tiptop811 on Jan 14, 2015 at 10:02am PST
“I know this looks ridiculous,” said Gyllenhaal, also a longtime Downtown resident and mom. “But it works and it’s fun — it’s OK to laugh your way through this.”
The 15-minute routine costs $15 and it's something that customers can learn, then go home and practice on their own, Gyllenhaal said.
The more relaxing part of the Skin Gym is the facial massage, which includes hot stones and cool jade rollers smoothed over the face.
A video posted by @tiptop811 on Jan 14, 2015 at 10:04am PST
A 30-minute massage costs $50, while the 15-minute version is $30.
The massage can be performed with makeup on, and a complimentary touch-up of the cosmetics is offered with the massage.
Lang said she developed her facial massage techniques over the past several years after having numerous clients whose skin was too sensitive for regular facials.
“Touch and massage, without using products, is really wonderful for the face,” said Lang, a longtime Downtown resident. “You see the benefits right away, with glowy skin, but over time there’s also long-term benefits, like the decrease of fine lines.”
Lang and Gyllenhaal, along with a third partner, Heidi Frederick, a massage therapist, started their business of facial massage and exercise a year ago with private events and home appointments.
The women, who refer to themselves as “mompreneurs," met by visiting the same Downtown playgrounds and block parties.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Umit Celebi, 54, a Financial District resident, was relaxing into the 30-minute facial massage on his third visit to the pop-up.
“You know, I’d never really had anyone massage my face and it just feels unbelievable,” he said. “My skin feels like a baby’s butt — it’s so rejuvenating and it puts me in a better mood."
Skin Gym Face Fitness, at 190 Front Street., is open Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Extended hours are available upon request. |
A diver films a reef affected by bleaching off Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef. (XL Catlin Seaview Survey via AFP/Getty Images)
The world is getting warmer every year, thanks to climate change — but where exactly most of that heat is going may be a surprise.
As a stunning early spring blooms across the United States, just weeks after scientists declared 2016 the hottest year on record, it’s easy to forget that all the extra warmth in the air accounts for only a fraction of the heat produced by greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, more than 90 percent of it gets stored in the ocean. And now, scientists think they’ve calculated just how much the ocean has warmed in the past few decades.
[U.S. scientists declare 2016 the hottest year on record. That makes three in a row.]
A new study, out Friday in the journal Science Advances, suggests that since 1960, a staggering 337 zetajoules of energy — that’s 337 followed by 21 zeros — has been added to the ocean in the form of heat. And most of it has occurred since 1980.
“The ocean is the memory of all of the past climate change,” said study co-author Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
The new value is a number that significantly exceeds previous estimates, Trenberth noted. Compared with ocean warming estimates produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the new values are about 13 percent greater. This is the result of a new methodology for estimating ocean warming, involving a series of steps “that really make this paper different than previous ones,” Trenberth told The Washington Post.
In previous decades, there have been a lot of challenges associated with monitoring temperature changes in the ocean. Before the year 2000 or so, most monitoring instruments had to be deployed from ships. This mean that scientists only had the most reliable data for parts of the world that lie along major shipping routes.
In the past 15 years, though, scientists have developed the “Argo” network, a system of free-drifting devices that are designed to periodically adjust their buoyancy, so they can sink several thousand meters into the sea, collect measurements, and then rise back up to the surface. There are now about 3,500 of these devices deployed throughout the world’s oceans, leading to a much better dispersal of observations.
The new study, which was led by Lijing Cheng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and included other scientists from that institution, from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, employs a new methodology for using both the recent Argo measurements and past observations from ships to produce a continuous series of estimates from 1960 to 2015.
The scientists incorporated an updated database of pre-Argo measurements that have been corrected for certain biases, as well as information from climate models, and extended existing observations of ocean conditions taken at specific locations to larger areas of the sea. They then conducted a comparison of recent Argo data with measurements created using their new methodology and found that the method produces true-to-life results.
The results suggest that the ocean has been sucking up more heat than previous research has indicated. In fact, according to Trenberth, the new estimates help explain observations of global sea-level rise that scientists have had difficulty accounting for until now.
A certain percentage of sea-level rise can be attributed to the expansion of ocean water, caused by rising water temperatures, while the rest comes from melting glaciers. Scientists have good estimates of how much melting ice is going into the ocean, but they’ve come up a bit short in the past in trying to reconcile the rest of the planet’s observed sea-level rise with their estimates of how much the ocean has warmed in recent decades.
“This actually fills in the gap,” Trenberth said.
The study also suggests that the extra heat is not being stored evenly throughout the oceans. The Atlantic and Southern oceans, in particular, are the biggest new heat reservoirs, the results indicate, storing about 59 percent of the heat despite accounting for less than half of all the ocean area in the world.
The researchers think the reason has to do with a major ocean current system known as “overturning circulation.” This system is kind of like a giant ocean conveyor belt that runs warm water from the equator toward the poles, where it cools, sinks to the bottom of the oceans and flows back in the other direction. The system helps transport both heat around the world, and the overturning process is pronounced in both the Atlantic and Southern ocean waters.
While the paper’s staggering new results reaffirm the importance of the ocean as a climate change buffer — without it, much of that heat would remain in the atmosphere or the earth’s land masses — it’s certainly not without consequences. Rising ocean temperatures are believed to be a major cause of the mass coral bleaching that’s occurred all over the world over the past several years, in conjunction with an unusually strong El Niño beginning in 2015.
It’s still unclear how other organisms might be affected, but many marine animals thrive best within specific temperature ranges. Many marine biologists believe that continued warming, along with other climate-related changes such as ocean acidification, may force certain species to migrate to cooler or deeper areas in the future.
Trenberth added that increasing heat moving into the surface of the ocean could also lead to “dead spots” in the ocean — places where layers of warm water get stuck on top of layers of cooler water. When this stratification happens, it can become more difficult for the waters to mix and churn as they normally would, a process that helps stir up nutrients and oxygen that are vital to marine organisms.
All this is to say that climate change affects far more than just our air temperature — and the new study documents its clear progression in places thousands of meters below the surface of the sea. The results also come at a sensitive point for ocean and climate research, just a week after The Washington Post revealed a proposal from the Trump administration that calls for significant budget cuts for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including a 26 percent cut for its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. It’s the primary research arm of NOAA, Trenberth pointed out, and such drastic cuts to the program could mean even basic observations programs like Argo may no longer continue.
“As a result, the information will not even be there,” Trenberth said. “That would be tragic.”
Chris Mooney contributed to this report. |
GLEN ALLEN, VA - AUGUST 17: Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) walks on stage during a campaign stop at Deep Run High School on August 17, 2012 in Glen Allen, Virginia. Later today Rep. Ryan will be campaigning in northern Virginia. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan took a swipe at President Barack Obama on Thursday for failing to rescue a General Motors factory in his Wisconsin congressional district, calling it "one more broken promise" on the Democratic administration's record.
"I remember President Obama visiting it when he was first running, saying he'll keep that plant open," Ryan said during a campaign stop. "One of the reasons that plant got shut down was $4 gasoline. You see, this costs jobs. The president's terrible energy policies are costing us jobs."
The attack has already received a fair amount of ridicule because the Janesville, Wis., plant actually closed during the last year of George W. Bush's presidency. What hasn't really been emphasized is whether Ryan clearly knew this and made the charge nonetheless.
According to a rudimentary LexisNexis search, Ryan made multiple public pleas to GM, including op-eds in his home state newspaper, to keep the plant open. He and fellow Wisconsin lawmakers went to the automobile company's headquarters to present plans to extend the plant's life. When the Bush administration itself called the decision to close the plant evidence that the auto industry was trimming fat and improving its bottom line, Ryan called the news "gut-wrenching."
And as it became clear in early-fall 2008 that GM wouldn't relent, Ryan publicly touted the federal tax money he secured to help displaced workers -- a use of funds that would seem at odds with his limited-government, fiscal conservative image.
The timeline is worth recounting now that it has popped up in Ryan's stump speech.
In April 29, 2008, it was announced that 750 workers at the GM plant in Janesville would lose their jobs. Ryan, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, said he would "work closely with those in Janesville facing uncertainty in the months ahead and do all that I can to ensure that they get the assistance they need."
On May 1, 2008, then-Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), along with Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Ryan, sent a letter to Rick Wagoner, then GM CEO, urging the company to join government, community organizations and employers to help the affected workers.
"We ask that you give every consideration to maintaining GM's presence in Janesville, as well as taking future steps to ensure the continued success of the Janesville plant, including considering the assignment of new production models at the plant," the lawmakers wrote.
On May 4, 2008, Ryan wrote an op-ed in the Journal Sentinel calling for a comprehensive energy plan in light of the news that the GM plant was firing 750 people.
"As a fifth-generation native of Janesville, I grew up learning the old saying, "As GM goes, so goes Janesville,'" Ryan wrote.
It was announced in early June that GM would indeed close the Janesville plant and three others. Ryan said it was "gut wrenching."
Later, he joined Feingold and Kohl in writing another letter to Wagoner. "On May 1 of this year, we wrote to you asking that GM take future steps to ensure the continued success of the Janesville plant, including considering the assignment of new production models at the plant. We renew that request now," the letter read.
On June 4, the Bush administration framed GM's decision as evidence the troubled automaker was getting its finances in order.
The Bush White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said it was "a sign that Detroit continues to adapt and evolve and address the change in consumer tastes and attitudes. ... They're adapting well and they'll make these changes and hopefully be able to pull themselves up out of what has been a rough several years."
Then-Sen. Obama, who had visited the Janesville plant in February, issued a statement.
"My heart goes out to the workers and families affected by the closing of these GM plants," he said. "Today's news is a painful reminder not only of the challenges America faces in our global economy, but of George Bush's failed economic policies." He finished by pledging to help domestic automakers "with the funding they need to retool their factories and make fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel cars. And we'll invest in efforts to make sure that the cars of the future are made where they always have been -- in the United States."
Ryan was quoted in a Detroit News article that day. "Growing up and living in Janesville, this is something we've always feared," the congressman said, calling the closure "a big psychological and economic blow to our community and our state; but Janesville will survive this, because we simply have to survive this."
By September of 2008, Ryan, who supported the auto bailout so long as the funds didn't come from the financial sector bailout, was still working aggressively to get GM to change its mind. He, along with Feingold and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), met with company officials in Detroit and "made clear what a tremendous asset the people of Janesville's GM plant are to GM, and how important GM jobs are to the Janesville community." On Sept. 13, the Herald Times Reporter said Ryan and then-Gov. Jim Doyle (D) had presented an "aggressive incentive plan" to GM leaders.
But by then, GM's shutdown plans were set. On Oct. 11, 2008, the Journal Sentinel reported that GM would announce it would close the Janesville plant around Christmas, "at least a year earlier than the company had initially projected."
Less than a month earlier, Ryan was making preparations to help the displaced workers and using federal funds to pick up the tab. On Sept. 18, his office put out a statement that it had joined forces with the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Agency to secure a $450,000 grant to support economic initiatives for the Janesville area.
"This has been a gut-wrenching summer for southern Wisconsin," Ryan said, "and today's announcement provides our community with much-needed support. I remain firmly optimistic that Janesville's best days are ahead." |
Stanley Kubrick started his career as a photographer for Look magazine in New York in the 1940s. His most famous photo captured the look of utter devastation on the face of a newsvendor the day of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death. He left Look in 1950 to embark on his film career making family financed, low-budget, B-Movies such as Fear and Desire and Killer’s Kiss.
In 1955 he formed Harris-Kubrick productions with young, savvy, producer James B. Harris, their first feature was the heist picture The Killing which later would provide one of the key influences for Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. 1957’s Paths of Glory starring Kirk Douglas was a biting indictment of the French Officer Class who continually sent their troops out on suicide missions during World War I. The meticulous tracking shots in the trench battle sequences hint at what was to become Kubrick’s trademark visual virtuosity and painstaking attention to detail.
When Kirk Douglas fell out with veteran director Anthony Mann on the set of Spartacus, he turned to Kubrick to take over, directing screen legends such as Laurence Oliver and Charles Laughton along with handling the logistics of the massive crowd scenes featuring 1000s of extras, he was only in his 30s which, unlike today, was considered exceedingly young to be in charge of a Hollywood Blockbuster production; this was a true baptism of fire which, combined with the box office success, would earn him final cut on all of his future films.
In 1962 Kubrick moved to England to work on Lolita his adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s novel about a college professor who gets romantically involved with the overtly flirtatious teenaged girl of the title. James Mason’s portrayal of Humbert Humbert is magnetic and he nails the jealous insecurities that eat away at him as he obsessively struggles to keep the interest of his young nymphet lover. Peter Sellers delivers a star turn as Clare Quilty the supposed film producer who seduces Lolita away from Humbert with the promise of a career in Hollywood.
Kubrick was so impressed with Sellers that he offered not 1 but 4 roles in his next movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a farcical satire on the cold war and the threat of accidental first strike nuclear attack. Sellers plays Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a typically Goonish stiff upper lip RAF Officer who is seconded to the US Air Force Base where General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) gives the order to launch a pre-emptive attack on the Soviet Union.
Sellers also plays US President Merkin Muffley a wonderfully understated performance of stifled hysteria and social embarrassment best expressed in the groveling Red Phone apology to the Russian Premier, “I am as sorry as you are, Dimitri. Don’t say that you are more sorry than I am, because I am capable of being just as sorry as you are.”
Kubrick also wanted Sellers to play the Gung-ho Texan Major “King” Kong part, which ultimately went to Slim Pickins. Sellers felt he was already stretched with 3 roles and was eventually excused by Kubrick when he sprained his ankle during a take in the enclosed cockpit scene. He more than makes up for this with his madcap, psychotic turn as the titular character; the weapons expert and inventor of the ‘Doomsday Device’ (which will automatically destroy all life on Earth in the event of a nuclear strike) who’s confined to a wheelchair and has a seemingly possessed gloved hand that is determined to perform a Nazi salute!
2001: A Space Odyssey is considered by many to be Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece; it’s an epic science fiction event movie which has influenced every Sci-Fi feature that followed it. Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s short story The Sentinel the movie is preoccupied with an enigmatic obelisk that first appears on Earth at the ‘Dawn of Man’, then turns up in the future buried in a crater discovered by a team of astronauts on the ‘Jupiter Mission’ and reappears in the final reel of the film that takes place ‘Beyond the Infinite’. I shall save a deeper appreciation and in-depth review for a future post as it has been remastered for a hidef Blu-ray release.
A Clockwork Orange is Kubrick’s most controversial and misunderstood movie, there is a popular misconception that the film was censored and withdrawn by the UK government at the time due to a spate of copy-cat violent attacks. However, the truth is that Stanley Kubrick asked Warner Bros. to recall the film and prevented it from being screened in Britain for 27 years because of death threats that he and his family had received at the time of its initial release. It wasn’t until Kubrick died in 1999 that it was re-released both in the cinema and on home video formats.
Malcolm McDowell gives an inspired, career defining, performance as Alex; he is equally charming and menacing allowing the film’s key theme of dehumanisation to resonate. What is still shocking about A Clockwork Orange is that it reminds us that despite 2,000 years of so-called ‘civilisation’ human beings are inherently violent creatures. The procedure Alex undergoes at the hand of the State to subdue his violent tendencies also removes his humanity and this still touches a raw nerve with modern audiences.
It was at this point that the time between Kubrick’s new films started to widen, 4 years between A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon and another 5 years between Lyndon and The Shining. The press started to report Kubrick as being a half-crazed recluse who demanded countless retakes and micro-managed in infinitesimal detail even the most mundane aspects of his day to day life.
The truth is that he was an extremely private family man who had no interest in the trappings of fame. He also felt that so much time and money was spent getting a film into production why then would you rush the process of making the movie, to him that seemed totally illogical. Whilst his films seemed to take years to complete he always delivered them on budget and this earned him unquestioned support from Warner Bros. who promised him a life-time contract and final cut of all of his work; totally out of character for a major Hollywood studio.
1980’s The Shining is probably my personal favourite of Kubrick’s movies, adapted from Stephen King’s horror story of the same name; it explores the themes of isolation, madness and extra sensory perception but plays down the more conventional supernatural elements of the original book. Instead the focus is on Jack Nicholson’s deteriorating state of mind as he struggles with his failings as both an author and a father, whilst acting as caretaker for a remote, snow-bound hotel for the winter season.
His son, Danny, has a gift he shares with the hotel’s cook (Scatman Crothers) they both are able to see traces of the past and hints of the future, it’s known as shining and also includes the power of telepathy. The film is genuinely scary but also incredibly funny and, ultimately, extremley surreal as it would seem that so much of it takes place in Jack’s mind . . . or does it? The outstanding steadicam tracking shot, that follows Danny’s point of view as he explores the hotel on his tricycle, was revolutionary and has since been much imitated.
It was 7 years before Kubrick would release his only other film of the 1980s, Full Metal Jacket; his take on the Vietnam war, although he claims it’s not an anti-war story, he felt he’d already done that with Paths of Glory, this was rather a portrait of what is was like to take part in a war and the camaraderie between the grunts. It’s notable for the breakout performances of Matthew Modine (Joker) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Leonard ‘Gomer’ Pyle) and the unforgettable Lee Emery as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
It would be over 10 years before Kubrick’s last film, Eyes Wide Shut, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman would materialise, he died only 4 days after screening the final cut to his family. It is a fitting ‘Swan Song’ exploring the jealousy that comes between a couple and the emotional power that women ultimately seem to have over the men that seek to dominate them. Visually it’s a firecracker of a movie and features some of Kubrick’s most striking sexual and dreamlike imagery.
Despite only making 11 feature films in 40 years the quality easily outweighs the quantity and they remain amongst the most respected and influential movies ever made. I have deliberately included more stills in this article than I usually would because, above all, Kubrick was a visual filmmaker and whilst his stories are immaculately plotted and brimming with witty dialogue it’s the image that mattered most to him.
I would like to end with my favourite Kubrick quote, “How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: ‘The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.’ This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don’t want this to happen to 2001.”
Amazon.co.uk Widgets |
The president-elect just tweeted something petulant, wildly incorrect, and dangerous. In other words, it’s a day ending in “y.”
At 3:30 p.m. on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when most people were enjoying the final hours of peace before returning to work from the holiday, Donald Trump raged like a toddler being dragged around the supermarket about his popular vote loss.
“In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,” the next leader of the free world tweeted to over 16 million people.
Trump is currently losing the popular vote by over 2 million to Hillary Clinton, the person who is not about to be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. This lead will likely grow as more ballots are tallied in California, a predominately blue state.
There is absolutely zero evidence that “millions of people voted illegally,” and to suggest so undermines the entire electoral process; the very process that actually made Trump the next president. The claim, which has been widely spread and thoroughly debunked, was pushed by Trump acolyte Alex Jones, who traffics in conspiratorial lies including a theory that the Sandy Hook massacre was a staged event.
The tweet was one of many sent in the aftermath of a decision by the Clinton campaign to take part in a recount of vote totals in a few key states, including Wisconsin, after Green Party candidate Jill Stein raised money for the effort. Marc Elias, the Clinton campaign’s counsel, made it clear that they found no evidence of tampering with voting machines in the states in question but wanted to “ensure that it is fair to all sides.”
This is not going to affect Donald Trump. There isn’t going to be some massive, unearthed discovery of secret votes that usurps his fairly won election and throws it into the hands of his opponent. It is merely a cautionary procedure in an election that was decided by small margins in a handful of Rust Belt states.
Yet the man who is set to become the most powerful person in the world is treating it as if his life is on the line. It is outrage for the sake of outrage; selfish attention-grabbing to ensure that, no matter what, he has something to sit and gripe about. It is stoking resentment for resentment’s sake and sowing doubt as a means for him to be the final arbiter of what is fair, right, and true.
“Hillary Clinton conceded the election when she called me just prior to the victory speech and after the results were in. Nothing will change,” Trump admitted in the middle of his hours-long Twitter tantrum.
If nothing will change, why waste time screaming into the abyss like this?
The funny thing about his wild, and frankly pathetic, flailing is that if there were millions of people who voted illegally, that in and of itself would justify a recount; the very thing that he is spending his time railing against. And one of the only documented cases of voter fraud in 2016 was when a woman in Iowa, who happened to be a Trump supporter, was charged with voting twice.
This is a man who expects to earn respect in the office of the presidency, who instead of receiving daily intelligence briefings is meeting with foreign developers who have a stake in his company and waging a war against a Broadway musical instead of condemning near-daily acts of hatred committed in his name.
There was no such thing as a sore winner until Trump won the election. |
Image copyright PA Image caption Sajid Javid said people were right to want more control over Britain's borders
Migrants to the UK must learn English and "respect our way of life", Sajid Javid - the UK's first Asian secretary of state - has said in an interview.
The Culture Secretary told the Sunday Telegraph that voters had legitimate fears over "excessive" immigration.
Mr Javid, elected Conservative MP for Bromsgrove in 2010, criticised migrants who had lived in Britain for many years but still could not speak the language.
He also said there was no place for Sharia law in the English legal system.
'Laws and culture'
Mr Javid, the son of Pakistani immigrants, said: "People want Britain to have more control over its borders, and I think they are right.
"People also say, when immigrants do come to Britain, that they should come to work, and make a contribution and that they should also respect our way of life, and I agree with all of that. It means things like trying to learn English."
He added: "I know people myself, I have met people who have been in Britain for over 50 years and they still can't speak English.
"I think it's perfectly reasonable for British people to say 'look, if you're going to settle in Britain and make it your home you should learn the language of the country and you should respect its laws and its culture'."
Mr Javid spoke amid reports that Sharia courts have been established in cities such as London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester.
He said: "Where people want to have their own private arrangements between them, that is a matter for them. But there is no place for Sharia law in British law."
Mr Javid also expressed concern about allegations of a plot by Muslim radicals to "Islamise" state schools in Birmingham.
He went on to say that the "vast majority" of immigrants wanted to integrate with the rest of society in the UK.
'Not new'
Mr Javid is the first Asian male in the cabinet, after Baroness Warsi became the first Muslim female in her role as co-chairman of the Conservative Party.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said Mr Javid's comments did not represent anything new.
Mr Vaz told BBC Radio 5 live: "It was a Labour government that introduced an English language test for those who wanted to get indefinite leave to enter the country.
"This is not new; it's just interesting because it's been said by the first Asian cabinet minister. Politicians have been saying this of all parties.
"Of course we want people to learn English, of course we want people who come into this country to respect our values. We're not suggesting otherwise."
Mr Javid's interview came a day after the Daily Mail reported that immigrants who could not speak English had been able to buy documents saying they had passed a language test. |
It is late afternoon at Adelaide Oval. The dry heat - penal in early February - creates a shimmering, glassy light across the field once graced by Bradman, the Chappells, David Hookes and Darren Lehmann. The vast stands, newly built to house 52,000 AFL fans in the winter months and the throng of Big Bash devotees who have seen Strikers captain Travis Head win a thriller on New Year's Eve with an innings of preposterous power and brilliance, tower over an old ground, much loved and now much changed.
On the field, cricketers sprint and stop and turn and throw and sprint again. The coaches bark their instructions, applauding and occasionally admonishing, while seagulls circle like vultures waiting for a carcass from which to feed. But none appears, not close. The commitment of the modern professional athlete is clear and present. Australia played three T20 internationals against New Zealand, followed by a one-day series, all in preparation for the 50-over World Cup in England that began last week. By Australia, we do not mean Steven Smith and David Warner; we mean Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry.
Lanning, who is both technically sound and physically strong, can really play. Perry is the world's most celebrated allrounder, who bowls at a lively pace and bats with an instinctive timing that complements her appreciation of the angles that so often make the difference between finishing an innings effectively or otherwise.
Australia are the holders of the World Cup and favourites to retain it, even in England. But back in February, New Zealand beat them in the shortest form of the game in Geelong and again in Adelaide to take the three-match series. Suzie Bates is a smart leader and the White Ferns did what New Zealand cricketers do best, upset the odds.
Australia had their vengeance in a thrilling one-day series for the coveted Rose Bowl in New Zealand a week or so later, but it was tight, and illustrated the closing gap in international women's cricket.
Lea Tahuhu reacts after taking a wicket Getty Images
Thirty-five years ago, in a garden in West Sussex, three families gathered in the sunshine after lunch to play cricket. Our host, Elizabeth Lagden, batted first and I was detailed to bowl. Off a couple of patronising paces, I rolled out an offbreak, which she smashed through cover. Blimey. I moved back a yard or two and delivered something too short at medium pace, which she upper-cut into a hedge. I was with Hampshire at the time, batting at three and bowling outswingers: Elizabeth, or "Ibby" as we knew her, was Mum's best friend and about as fabulous a godmother as could be imagined. But that had nothing on her batting. Okay, so it was a tennis ball that she whacked halfway to Pulborough and back, but the point was made. The game is every bit as playable by women as men.
Thus, it is a surprise that we have taken so long to get to where we are today. Every match of this World Cup will be broadcast live, 14 on television and the rest on radio. There is US$2 million worth of prize money and the winners take home $660,000 of it. In 2013, the total pot was $200,000. It is a seismic shift.
In just four memorable years, the women's game has moved in from the cold. The ICC's long-term ambition is to pay them as much as the men, but pay should remain commensurate to commercial appeal. In fairness, television does not best exhibit the modern female player's gifts, but the cricket they play has become more attractive of late. For certain, it is faster and stronger than ever before. The desire to win and the intensity with which the women go about their business is something to behold. It is a game soaring to new levels.
Let's examine some case studies in England. Recently the ECB doubled its investment in Chance to Shine, helping to introduce the sport to hundreds of thousands more primary school girls, and this summer it has started a new participation programme in which All Stars Cricket puts bat and ball in the hands of kids as young as five in a fun and welcoming environment. Of course, that is only a start, but since its launch in 2005, the Chance to Shine initiative has achieved great things in making cricket for girls acceptable, accessible and tempting. An astonishing 46% of the 3.5 million children who have played cricket in schools under the Chance to Shine banner are girls. The game has been normalised and now inspires young women, who have unprecedented opportunities to climb the ladder. Both club and county cricket are stronger than ever before; the pathway to the top is well managed; and the Kia Super League, alongside central contracts for England players, means that cricket is a viable career choice for the next generation of female players.
A group of girls watch Heather Knight bat at a Chance to Shine event Getty Images
The various governing bodies give the women's game close to as much attention as that given to the men. They realise the impact this can have on a family's appreciation of cricket, and in particular, how much a female cricketer can benefit from these equal opportunities.
At professional level, the pay is pretty good and the increasing level of exposure even better. The administrators are inclusive in a way that the women who played in the first World Cup in 1973 - two years before the first men's event, incidentally - would never have believed possible.
There is a picture of Rachael Heyhoe-Flint leading out England that summer: the players are in white skirts, socks and shirts - tennis gear of the time too. England beat Australia in the final at Edgbaston and have gone on to win the trophy three times - which include both the tournaments held at home - to Australia's seven. There was talent about in 1973 but nothing like today.
The thing that struck me most with Ibby Lagden all those years ago was the ease with which she played her strokes. When I first covered a women's international match for television, I picked up on that memory and was able to see the game through the prism of touch, timing and subtlety rather than be too judgemental about the speed and power that just isn't there. The argument that cricket is less of a spectacle without speed and power is relevant to the breadth of its aesthetic appeal but not to participation. In fact, cricket suits women well because the game's long-established inherent skills are not power-dependent. Batters drive, cut and glance the ball neatly, while bowlers swing, seam and spin it.
Young girls are amazed by how quickly they catch on. Nervous of not understanding the "rules" and fearful that their peers will scorn them, many were previously put off. That is changing so fast that cricket will soon be able to take over from rounders as the No. 1 summer sport.
Rosie and Lily Grant are two of the brightest prospects in the Durham Academy. They discovered the game through Chance to Shine and their local club, Shotley Bridge, and now rejoice in playing alongside the boys at every level and competing for places in the Durham age-group teams. Mimi Ormondroyd first played at St Peter's school in Hampshire aged ten, quickly joined Cove Cricket Club, where she attracted attention for the county's age-group selectors, and was whacking a hard ball around soon after her 11th birthday. The coaches use her "incredible enthusiasm" as an example to others, an example that is working wonders. All around the land, girls are engaged by cricket.
Rosie, Lily, Mimi and thousands upon thousands of others will be watching the World Cup with a tremendous sense of excitement. The England team works closely with Chance to Shine and does a marvellous job giving assemblies in schools and coaching and playing with the next generation. They have become heroes to these kids and will be acutely aware of letting them down.
A young girl bowls Getty Images
Losing to India on Saturday was a bad blow. England have been through a period of change that began with the enforced retirement of Charlotte Edwards and has seen new structures, competitions and leaders. Of these, the appointment of Mark Robinson as coach has ruffled most feathers, for it was he who removed Edwards from the captaincy and began the new era. Heather Knight took over as captain and the young team, driven by Robinson's belief in the need for greater fitness and athleticism, appears to have responded well. England won their four warm-up matches comfortably, on the surface oozing confidence and direction, but they haven't won anything for a while, which preys on their minds. Coming second is no longer an option.
India, meanwhile, need watching. The captain, Mithali Raj, made a record seventh consecutive one-day half-century, against England, after the openers had put on a relatively untroubled 144. Harmanpreet Kaur, one of the growing band of women able to hit 70 metres and more, suggested threatening form during a cameo that carried India to an impressive 281 in their 50 overs. After a disastrous 2013 World Cup, the Indians have hit form at exactly the right time and, should they be faced with moments of crisis, have experience to fall back on.
West Indies memorably beat Australia in the final of last year's World T20 and are feared for their unpredictability. Deandra Dottin is a brilliant allrounder with a 38-ball T20 international hundred to her name and the coolest head under pressure with the ball. They are an awkward side to play against.
New Zealand have the quickest bowler in Lea Tahuhu, a fine all-round cricketer in Amy Satterthwaite, and a mighty ball-striker in Sophie Devine. Tahuhu is quite something, bustling in as she did in Australia earlier this year to help derail the world's No. 1-ranked team for 66 in Adelaide and 61 in Geelong. The White Ferns should never be discarded, as much for resolve as anything.
As ever in a major completion, Australia will take some beating. Alongside Lanning and Perry are a group of cricketers with pedigree and quality - Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney among them. But are they unsettled by the contract dispute that rages on at home? Will they be luckier with the weather than their male counterparts in the Champions Trophy? Is the batting more vulnerable than the team sheet suggests? Who will bowl under pressure at the death? These questions and more need answering because everything must come together at once if a World Cup is to be won. Their cruising start against West Indies needs perspective; Lanning is long enough in the tooth, and certainly tough enough, to know the reality of the task ahead of her.
To the people of England, however, on home turf, all that matters is that the India defeat is a minor diversion. The eight-team round robin, en route to establishing four semi-finalists, is the best global tournament format out there. It sorts wheat from chaff and gives time to regroup, should nerves grip early performances and misdirect them. The format happily suits England, whose growing band of supporters hopes that the names of Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Danni Hazell*, Nat Sciver, and who knows, maybe Sarah Taylor too, are etched into history come Sunday, July 23, when the final is played at Lord's. Taylor had a rough year, dealing with illness and a loss of "self". It would bring great joy if she were alongside Knight when the cup is lifted. For that to happen, they must all clear their heads and react to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If nothing else, there are children to engage and inspire.
By the look of the total made against Pakistan, Knight's team have put out a marker and not a moment too late. You can stutter in these events but you cannot stagnate. After a nervy start, the shackles were thrown off: 377 is the second highest total ever in a World Cup match and both the captain and Nat Sciver made blistering hundreds. Game on. |
Armed gunmen from the Failaq a-Rahman rebel faction reportedly stormed a police station on Sunday in the opposition-held Damascus suburbs, a police spokesman tells Syria Direct.
The rebel fighters drove out the policemen, seized all of their equipment and occupied the building in the latest in a nearly two-month wave of Failaq attacks on East Ghouta police stations and officers.
“It’s chaos here, and things will continue like this so long as Failaq a-Rahman prohibits the police and the judiciary from doing their jobs,” Mohammad, a spokesman with the East Ghouta Free Police, tells Syria Direct’s Waleed Khaled a-Noufal.
The recent targeting of police officers and their facilities comes amidst an internecine, inter-rebel civil war in the cluster of towns and villages east of Damascus known as East Ghouta. The rebel power struggle dates back to late April and is paralyzing the opposition pocket, home to 400,000 people.
On one side of the rebel war is Jaish al-Islam, East Ghouta’s largest opposition faction, which controls the northern and eastern portions of the suburbs. On the other side is Failaq a-Rahman and the Islamist coalition Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham, which control the remaining territory, also referred to as East Ghouta’s “Central Section.”
An East Ghouta Free Police officer in April. Photo courtesy of the Damascus Police Force.
The infighting has brought a near-total shutdown of all movement—commercial, humanitarian and medical—across East Ghouta with health care workers and aid deliveries alike caught in the crossfire.
The East Ghouta Free Police, a force intended to be independent of rebel groups, is the most recent casualty of the conflict. After its headquarters in the Central Section came under attack “on more than five occasions,” the group announced it would begin suspending its operations in the Failaq a-Rahman-controlled territory last month.
Failaq a-Rahman sidestepped the accusations of attacking police officers when asked by Syria Direct.
“I have no details on this matter,” said Wael Alwan, a Failaq spokesman. “I don’t have the time to look into internal matters.”
Q: Describe what happened at your police station in the Central Section of East Ghouta on Sunday.
Failaq a-Rahman seized the police force’s transportation office in the Central Section of East Ghouta. The officers in the police station were let go, but all of the equipment—and the building—is still under Failaq a-Rahman’s control.
Failaq has repeatedly attacked our police stations, which is yet another example of their trying to forcibly bring the police under their control.
Q: Elaborate further when you say that Failaq has “repeatedly attacked our police stations in East Ghouta.”
On more than five occasions, Failaq a-Rahman has attacked our police stations and detained our officers by force.
One of our men was attacked last Friday while heading home when someone from Failaq attacked him. The assailant cut his name onto the officer’s back with a sharp object. The police officer is just a poor man from Saqba who works as a security guard for the Civil Defense Station, but now he’s receiving medical treatment. He doesn’t have anything to do with the rebel groups.
In another incident, Failaq encircled the Central Section’s main police headquarters. They arrested and beat the deputy chief of police and brought him to their Hamouriyah Police Station. After holding the deputy chief for several hours, Failaq sent him a message. They said: “You’ve got two choices. Either you follow Failaq a-Rahman or you follow the military judiciary,” which also belongs to Failaq.
Q: As a result of these incidents, are you even able to operate in the Central Section of East Ghouta any more?
The police force lost control and is no longer operating in the Central Section, as we’re not able to perform our job effectively.
All influence and authority is entirely lost to Failaq a-Rahman in the Central Section. It’s chaos, and things will continue like this so long as Failaq prohibits the police and the judiciary from doing their jobs.
Failaq a-Rahman has also formed what they call the “military police,” which they established as an alternative to the Free Police. We, however, are continuously working with organizations across East Ghouta to pressure Failaq to keep the Free Police as a neutral, civil society entity as opposed to a military-affiliated organization.
Q: What does it mean to effectively shut down the police force in half of East Ghouta?
It means a deterioration of security in the Central Section. With nobody to hold Failaq accountable, they will turn into shabiha. There will be nothing to deter them from committing crimes such as their recent attacks on the police and the Civil Defense, their opening fire on medical staff and their robbing of aid organizations.
As a result, there are a number of institutions that refuse to work in Failaq a-Rahman-controlled territory because they are afraid. East Ghouta is not a safe environment to work in.
Q: Do you face these same issues with Jaish al-Islam?
We really don’t have any issues with Jaish al-Islam. There is a mutual understanding about the crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the police and the ones that Jaish al-Islam handles. The police oversee all crimes with the exception of matters dealing with the regime and Daesh. The police force does not touch these crimes, and they are transferred to Jaish al-Islam’s internal security branch.
Q: Was the Free Police able to do its job effectively before the infighting?
Before the infighting, the police force handled security across all of East Ghouta. Every faction recognized the police and the judiciary with the exception of Jabhat a-Nusra which formed its own Sharia court, as well as a few incidents with some members of Failaq a-Rahman. |
The Nintendo GameCube has turned 15 today, having made its debut in Europe on 3rd May 2002. A hugely underrated console in its era, the years since release have seen the arguably commercially underperforming console looked upon with a welcoming light. Out of the many classic titles on the console, here’s Switch Streamers’ picks for the top 15 we would welcome ported to the Nintendo Switch.
15.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has proved to be hugely popular on the Nintendo Switch (as well as the Wii U), but there’s much more that can be done besides. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was the first videogame title from the legendary franchise on the GameCube, and upon reveal was heavily criticised for its cel-shaded graphical style. This didn’t prevent it from going on to become one of the most widely acclaimed instalments however, later receiving a high-definition (HD) update on Wii U.
14.
Viewtiful Joe
A forgotten treasure? Capcom’s Viewtiful Joe was one of the ‘Capcom 5’ touted from the publisher as exclusives for the GameCube. Resident Evil 4, perhaps inevitably, received a PlayStation2 port less than a year after it’s GameCube debut (and later launched on nearly every console under the sun), P.N.03 received mixed reviews, Killer 7 launched simultaneously on PlayStation2 and Dead Phoenix was cancelled. And so, Viewtiful Joe stands true as the GameCube ‘exclusive’ that got the most exclusivity for it’s buck. Shame the series has since flat lined.
13.
Kirby Air Ride
Given that Nintendo had already released both Mario Kart: Double Dash!! And F-Zero GX on the GameCube to significant critical acclaim, Kirby Air Ride was considered a throwaway racing videogame. That’s a real shame, as despite its relative ease Kirby Air Ride offers some interesting mechanics. The simple controls are a defining feature: unlike most racing videogames no input is necessary for the player to move accelerate. The analogue stick is used to steer and the A button performs all other actions in the videogame including braking, charging up a boost, sucking in nearby enemies and thereafter using the powers absorbed from them.
12.
Luigi’s Mansion
A launch title for the GameCube, Luigi’s Mansion received some negative press at release simply for not being a Super Mario title. However, developing a cult following amongst the core Nintendo demographic lead to the release of a sequel on Nintendo 3DS 11 years later. A port of either of these titles would be welcomed on Nintendo Switch, in truth.
11.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
So Mario Kart 8: Deluxe has just been released, and is storming the worldwide sales charts. However, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! remains an interesting entry in the series: a throwback to an era when Nintendo still believed that innovation in software would guarantee a good reception, and that an experiment was better than stagnation. That’s not to say Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is bad by any means – it’s arguably the best in the series – but a revisit to that dual-racer, two-player mechanic would certainly be interesting.
10.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Another The Legend of Zelda title that made its debut on GameCube (albeit simultaneously with the Nintendo Wii version of the videogame, similarly to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess finally delivered that more realistic, darker theme that fans had been clamouring for more of since The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on the Nintendo 64. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild arguably walks the line between this and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, but more The Legend of Zelda is always welcome.
9.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Arguably one of the best Star Wars videogames ever made, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader was the critically acclaimed follow-up to the Nintendo 64 exclusive Star Wars Rogue Squadron. A space combat videogame, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader was followed by a third title in the series which took a massive misstep in adding on-foot sections.
8.
Animal Crossing
It’s perhaps inevitable that we’ll see Animal Crossing arriving on the Nintendo Switch at some point, given that it’s currently one of Nintendo’s biggest-selling franchises, however the GameCube version was were it all started for many. An update of the Japan-only Nintendo 64 videogame, Animal Crossing was essentially released as a trial effort in North America back in 2002. It then took a further two years to see release in Europe, and even then in very limited numbers. How times have changed.
7.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
One of the most popular cult titles on the GameCube, rumours have been circulation about a follow-up to the ill-fated Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem for some time. However, many would be more than happy to simply welcome a remaster of the original title, Switch Streamers included!
6.
Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet
Essentially a ‘Zelda-lite’ title in the Star Fox franchise – with a little bit of Arwing action thrown in for good measure – Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet is like marmite amongst Nintendo’s core audience; either loved or hated. Much of that emotion may come from the fact that the title was originally headed to the Nintendo 64 without Nintendo’s space combat franchise attached, and that since finding a good Star Fox title has been a hard job indeed.
Check out the top 5 on the next page! |
Missile attacks in Pakistan by remotely piloted aircraft operated by the Central Intelligence Agency have generally been aimed at foreign Qaeda fighters and Taliban guerrillas from Afghanistan, who take shelter in Pakistan between raids into their country to fight American and NATO soldiers.
A C.I.A. spokesman, Mark Mansfield, declined to comment on the reports of missile strikes on Saturday, as is the agency’s standing policy. A spokesman for Pakistan’s military was unavailable for comment.
Arab and Uzbek fighters were among those killed Saturday, according to the intelligence official and residents of the area.
The attack followed a visit to Pakistan last week by Richard C. Holbrooke, the special representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, that was part of a review of American policy in the region ordered by President Obama.
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During his visit, Mr. Holbrooke heard a litany of complaints about drone strikes, some of which have inadvertently killed civilians, making it harder for the country’s shaky government to win support for its own military operations against the Taliban.
It was unclear if any civilians where killed in Saturday’s strikes, which residents say also hit a madrasa.
The drone attack also comes after a statement on Thursday by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, that the aircraft take off from a base in Pakistan.
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“As I understand it, these are flown out of a Pakistani base,” Ms. Feinstein said during a hearing.
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The drone attacks, especially in the last six months, have increased anti-American sentiment in Pakistan to very high levels, and Ms. Feinstein’s statement is likely to further inflame the protests over them. Her statement was prominently covered by the Pakistani press on Saturday.
Although many Pakistanis have accused their government of giving quiet approval for the United States to strike in the tribal areas, they also assumed that the strikes came from Afghanistan.
In 2008, the American drones carried out more than 30 missile attacks against Qaeda and Taliban targets in the tribal areas, according to a report by the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington. Two missile attacks just days after Mr. Obama was inaugurated indicated that his administration, at least for now, planned to continue the policy of the Bush administration.
The compounds that were hit Saturday were in the village of Shwangai, near the town of Makeen. The village is about 60 miles from the Afghan border.
A resident of the area said that bodies were still being recovered from the debris hours after the attack.
The attack was the fourth in the area controlled by Mr. Mehsud, but none of the others were believed to have had him as a target. Most of these attacks have occurred since September, when President Asif Ali Zardari took power. |
By: Maria Allard | Advertiser Times | Published December 29, 2015
File photo
While we do not recommend approaching criminals in the manner that she did, we are grateful for her assistance and bravery in this incident. Jim Burke, Harper Woods Public Safety director
Harper Woods Department of Public Safety officers were dispatched at 11 a.m. Dec. 28 to the Kroger grocery store at Eight Mile and Harper for an attempted purse snatching.
Officers en route to the scene were informed that a white man in his late 20s with a scruffy beard and driving an older model, dark green Pontiac Bonneville had pulled up behind a woman as she was getting into her car, according to a police report that Harper Woods Public Safety Director Jim Burke released via www.nixle.com.
In the report, Burke said the man ran from his vehicle, opened the woman’s car door and grabbed her purse from her shoulder. The man then ran back to his vehicle with the victim’s purse, police said.
According to Burke, a woman who was parked next to the victim saw what had occurred and immediately left her vehicle and ran to the suspect’s car.
Burke said she briefly fought with the suspect and grabbed the victim’s purse from him. Several other people in the area began running to help, and the suspect left the parking lot at a high rate of speed.
Witnesses were able to observe a partial license plate number on the suspect’s vehicle, which the report listed as “2016/MI/CC.”
In the report, Burke called the woman who retrieved the victim’s purse a “Good Samaritan” and said she had left before officers arrived.
“She did not identify herself before leaving,” Burke said. “While we do not recommend approaching criminals in the manner that she did, we are grateful for her assistance and bravery in this incident.”
Police believe that this is the second purse-snatching incident involving the suspect.
“There were no reported injuries during the commission of this crime. We believe the same suspect is responsible for another purse snatching at Kroger several weeks ago,” Burke said in the report.
Anyone with information on the suspect or who has further information is asked to contact the Harper Woods Department of Public Safety at (313) 343-2530. |
Alcohol after strength training boosts testosterone level
Sometimes, as a scientist, you make a discovery that you wish you hadn't made. If you publish your findings, you know that some people will interpret them wrongly and act irresponsibly. This is what happened to sports scientists at the University of North Texas. They discovered that taking a hefty dose of alcohol after a strength training session leads to a significant rise in testosterone levels. The favourite hard drug in many regular sports is ethanol – the chemical name for the alcohol in beer, wine and spirits. But it's strange that ethanol should be so popular among sportspeople. The endocrinal effects of alcohol are exactly the opposite of what athletes strive for. First of all, chronic alcohol intake damages the Leydig cells in the testes, which are the cells that produce testosterone. That's why ethanol lowers testosterone production. [Endocrinology. 1980 Jun;106(6):1880-5.] Studies have shown that alcohol consumption results in an acute drop in men's testosterone levels. [J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1977 Sep;202(3):676-82.] Secondly long-term use of alcohol stimulates enzymes in the liver which convert testosterone into estradiol and also inhibits the manufacture of androgen receptors. [Toxicology. 1990 Jun;62(3):285-95.] In the study we mention here the author refers to alcohol use as "a chemical form of castration". Thirdly, research on alcoholics has shown that alcohol boosts the concentration of the transport protein SHBG in the blood. SHBG binds testosterone in such a way that it is no longer active. [Eur J Clin Invest. 1981 Dec;11(6):473-9.] The effects of post-training alcohol intake have been well documented. They are negative. If you drink alcohol after doing strength training, your muscles recover less quickly. Might this be because alcohol sabotages the effect of testosterone? We don't know. Not much research has been done on the relationship between strength training, testosterone and alcohol. So the researchers at the University of North Texas decided it was time to do something about this. They got eight men aged between 21 and 34, all of whom were experienced in strength training, to do 6 sets of squats with a weight at which they could just manage 10 reps. Ten minutes after completing their last set the men were given on one occasion a placebo and on the other occasion 1.09 g alcohol per kg bodyweight. To give you an idea: thats about 10 g alcohol per drink. Just before [Pre], just after [IP] and up to 300 minutes after finishing the workout the researchers measured the testosterone level of their subjects – and saw that they rose more after they had given the subjects alcohol.
There was no change in concentration of estradiol, cortisol or SHBG in response to alcohol intake. This was not such a surprise to the researchers. Animal studies, in which male rats are given alcohol, show that the number of androgen receptors in the type-2 muscle fibres goes down. Strength training cannot delay the breakdown of androgen receptors that occurs as a result of drinking alcohol. [Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Nov;37(11):1842-8.] Alcohol destroys receptors that testosterone can attach itself to. This is why the concentration of testosterone in the blood rises, the researchers think. "Thus, the primary finding of this study, that total and bioavailable testosterone concentrations were elevated acutely after postresistance exercise ethanol ingestion, should be interpreted with care", they write. "If testosterone release is increased, this could be beneficial; however, if muscle uptake is reduced, this could be detrimental to the desired adaptations". "Therefore, the findings of in the present study should not be seen by coaches and athletes as evidence that ethanol ingestion after resistance exercise is beneficial to their conditioning program." Source:
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Sep;45(9):1825-32. More:
Drinking alcohol after training inhibits muscle growth 18.03.2009 |
TV Reviews All of our TV reviews in one convenient place.
Strike Back Strike Back Strike Back A- Strike Back Strike Back A- A- Strike Back Season 4 Based on The novel. Strike Back. by Chris Ryan Starring Philip Winchester, Sullivan Stapleton, Robson Green, Michelle Lukes, Milauna Jemai Jackson, Michelle Yeoh Premieres Friday, July 31 at 10 p.m. Eastern on Cinemax Format Hour-long action drama. Four episodes watched for review
At several points during the first few episodes of the final season of Cinemax’s Strike Back, the various criminal elements arrayed against British intelligence agency Section 20 scramble to pull together more resources, terrified of what harm the operatives heading their way might do. Those fears are justified, as over the course of the last few seasons Section 20 has proven itself the most resilient and efficient outfit on the planet. These are people who walk into the most dangerous environments in the world and come out in one piece, soldiers better trained than any terrorist or gangster they get in a gunfight with, capable of commandeering any vehicle and taking off in pursuit of their target—usually as everything behind them bursts into flames.
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That efficiency and effectiveness is one that translates to Strike Back as a whole. Thanks to a combination of smart casting, international shooting, and a considerable effects budget, Strike Back has served as one of television’s most reliably entertaining shows for the past few years. It doesn’t have the narrative ambitions of its Cinemax siblings Banshee and The Knick, but it has that valuable gift of knowing exactly what it’s good at and continuing to deliver that on a weekly basis: the thrills of an action movie blockbuster on the small screen. Heading into its final season, the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality is on full display: Once again, Section 20’s top operatives Michael Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and Damien Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) are thrown right back into a global conspiracy, and the only choice is to shoot, punch, and explode their way out of it.
Season four follows the tried and true approach to a Strike Back season, introducing a major arc at the beginning and exploring it via a series of two-parter episodes. (The first four episodes all take place in and around Bangkok, lending it more of a unified feel than prior years.) Called in to rescue a kidnapped ambassador’s daughter, Scott and Stonebridge find themselves tangling with Thai street gangs, yakuza, and representatives of a shadowy North Korean organization called Office 39. While the latter’s mission creates the spine of the season, Strike Back retains its refreshingly simple approach to matters of conspiracy by keeping the action and the characters’ minds on the mission in front of them. Those missions are standard Strike Back fare, with a mix of search and rescue, intelligence gathering, and racing against the clock to prevent some catastrophic series of events.
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Calling them “standard” isn’t the same as boring, however. Within the first five minutes of the season premiere Scott and Stonebridge are leading a commando raid on a gang hideout, and the action goes in short order to Stonebridge sparring with a cleaver-wielding thug and Scott commandeering a jet ski for a chase through Bangkok rivers. Strike Back is a show that knows exactly the right pace of acceleration, and also how to construct its action set pieces in service of the narrative rather than the other way around, an important distinction when doing a show like this. It roars from night club close combat to alley shootouts to climbing up an abandoned high-rise, but you can always trace how they got from one point to the next and why they’ve found themselves in this latest confrontation.
And those action set pieces, helmed by Michael Bassett and Julian Holmes respectively, remain unimpeachable. When Strike Back gets into a groove, it’s as satisfying to witness as a perfectly timed Call Of Duty run, transitioning between gunplay and explosions and vehicle runs effortlessly. The shooting continues to take advantage of gorgeous locations, with the action taking place across a backdrop of jungles and oceans and removing any sense of artificiality to the events. And while Banshee has since surpassed Strike Back in terms of close combat ambitions, when Scott or Stonebridge get up close and personal it doesn’t shy away from depicting the wear and tear on each of the combatants. (Speaking of up close and personal, it’s a remarkably chaste by Cinemax standards season, with only one mildly explicit sex scene in the first four episodes.)
While the technical execution is what brings audiences into Strike Back, the show keeps them there by virtue of its characters, as it’s deceptively smart at introducing personalities you get invested in on both sides of the conflict. This season is no exception, with new members including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s Michelle Yeoh as an ambassador’s wife who quickly turns out to be more interesting than her position suggests, Max Beesley as an expatriate British gangster with familial concerns, and Dustin Clare and Leo Gregory as a pair of mercenaries who serve as a dark mirror inversion of what Scott and Stonebridge could have become. Out of the returning players, Robson Green is wonderfully steely as ever as commanding officer Philip Locke—even more so as he’s given a personal stake in the mission early on—and Michelle Lukes and Milauna Jemai Jackson cut through the testosterone as their Sergeants Richmond and Martinez are in the thick of as many firefights as their male counterparts.
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But above all of that, the rapport between Stonebridge and Scott remains the bedrock of the show, and that dynamic remains unshakeable going into their final mission. Winchester and Stapleton continue to be effortlessly charming together, men who’ve been through so many impossible situations that it’s second nature for them to crack wise in the middle of a scenario where survival is questionable. (That chemistry is so solid, in fact, that one hopes someone at NBC is smart enough to engineer as many crossovers between Blindspot and The Player as possible.) They also maintain the show’s established interest in exploring how these men function outside of combat, as Stonebridge weighs the question of taking Locke’s role one day and Scott juggles his relationships with Richmond and his newly discovered teenage son Finn. The latter is the weakest link in these early episodes, largely because time spent with him means Scott spends less time in the field busting balls.
Interestingly, the one question they don’t address in these early episodes is the one you’d expect in a final season: how long their luck can run out. Given that Strike Back has never shown any reticence about killing off main characters, and both Scott and Stonebridge have asked the question of their own mortality more than once, it stands to reason that this season might take on a more foreboding air. Yet none of that’s present here, and it turns out to be the smartest choice the writers could make. Strike Back is capable of being heavy when circumstances dictate, but it’s also a show that’s optimistic about its heroes’ ability to come through when it counts. If future episodes steer them into a Butch and Sundance-type last stand, the odds they’ll walk away from it remain higher than most.
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At the start of the second episode, Scott offers his assessment of a situation. “You know what, Mikey? I predict this is gonna end in some big gunfight, a lot of bloodshed. You and me stuck in the middle. As always.” Stonebridge’s response—“Well, what are we waiting for?”—is one that’s entirely in keeping for both men, the ethos of the show, and the attitude of everyone who watches it. It’s a shame that Strike Back is leaving us with when it still feels capable of shouldering a few more world-ending crises, but it’s going into its ending with gas in the tank and its clips fully loaded. |
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This story first appeared on the Atlantic Cities website and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
A vast plain of poisonous green slime stretching to the horizon, bobbing gently on the waves – that was the view of Lake Erie from Cleveland just a couple years ago. It could become a permanent feature if humans don’t scramble to do something about it.
Take a closer look at the boxed-in area in the above image (larger version), captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite in October 2011:
That’s toxic cyanobacteria swirling in the lake waters north of Cleveland. At the time, this slippery stuff covered nearly one-fifth of Erie’s surface, becoming the biggest bloom in the lake’s recorded history. It looked and smelled awful, turned fishing into a hook-detangling nightmare and killed untold numbers of marine creatures by hypoxia.
The monstrous algae invasion represented a biological throwback to the 1960s, when tons of phosphorus in the Great Lakes seeping from agriculture, sewage systems and industry summoned up bloated algal titans of an immensity never before seen. These blooms disappeared for the most part after the ’70s thanks to the U.S. and Canada enacting the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. But it appears we’re mired once again in the days of floating slime, with algae levels creeping up since the ’90s.
Who’s to blame here? The likeliest culprit is the agricultural industry with a helping hand from global warming, according to researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science. The scientists conducted a detailed postmortem on the 2011 muck-up using satellite imagery and computer models. As in past years, the process began with farmers spreading phosphorus-based fertilizer in the fall to prepare for spring planting. Because of ideal growing conditions, they were especially fertilizer-happy in the autumn of 2010.
Much of this fertilizer was then washed into the lake by rain, where it acted as a “nutrient load” (aka dinner) for a legion of tiny microorganisms. The river washing was especially intense in May 2011, because a number of massive storms swept great amounts of sediment into Erie. The algae was not only well-fed but encouraged to grow by warmer temperatures and a weak water circulation that kept the stuff near the sunny surface. The result was a bumper year for algae farmers, which might actually become a thing in the future if the algae-based biofuel industry ever gets off the ground.
You can see the growth happening in this series of NASA shots starting in June 2011 (top left), where the swollen rivers are dumping solids into Erie’s western basin. The algae quickly covers much of the lake, resulting by October (bottom right) in contaminated water that resembles that ancient Ghostbusters‘ Ecto Cooler drink:
With climate change leading to hotter seasons and more savage storms, Great Lakes residents might be seeing a lot more of these abnormally bloated algae blooms. According to a Carnegie write-up of the study:
To determine the likelihood of future mega-blooms, the scientists analyzed climate model simulations under both past and future climate conditions. They found that severe storms become more likely in the future, with a 50% increase in the frequency of precipitation events of.80 inch (20 mm) or more of rain. Stronger storms, with greater than 1.2 inch (30 mm) of rain, could be twice as frequent. The authors believe that future calm conditions with weak lake circulation after bloom onset is also likely to continue since current trends show decreasing wind speeds across the U.S. This would result in longer lasting blooms and decreased mixing in the water column.
The researchers say the potentially looming Algaeworld might be avoided if those in the agricultural industry use “better management practices.” Having the U.S. agree to a solid climate treaty probably wouldn’t hurt, either. |
I’ve been told that Utah is notoriously hard to poll, which is often true of low population states with relatively small turnout. (The 2012 GOP primary had 237K participants, 93% of whom went for Romney, and 2008 had just short of 300K with Mitt taking a similar share.) A sudden, unexpected shift in turnout of just 20 or 30 thousand can throw your projections out the window in a case like that. But if the last numbers we received are any indication, Ted Cruz should have a very good night, with nearly half of the voters leaning his way.
But if there’s anything that can introduce a twist in the formula quickly, it’s changing the entire format. For reasons known only to their party leaders, the Utah GOP has decided to go with a caucus this year. But unlike most other places using this curious format, the Beehive State has added a twist. (Washington Times, emphasis added)
At least 30,000 Republicans are expected to participate in an online presidential caucus vote in Utah Tuesday. The Utah Republican Party announced the numbers Saturday morning. The party says they expect a total of 200,000 Republicans to vote next week, either online or in-person at neighborhood caucus meetings. In addition to the 30,000 Republicans registered for the new online system, the GOP says they’re working to verify voter registration information with 10,000 more who are seeking to vote online.
So Utah moved from a straightforward primary to a caucus, but then they decided to add online voting into the mix. Nobody else has done this in a primary until now, but the technology certainly exists to do it. But the real question seems to be… why? Bryan J. Smith, executive director of the Utah Republican Party, explains that the online voting is simple and will help families, the military and younger voters. (The Desert News)
The Utah Republican Party said its new method of voting will mainly help families, workers, missionaries and military workers throughout the world, who can’t be in town for voting. It also may help Utah mothers, who find themselves swamped with child care and work. “She can hop online. She can go on Instagram, so she can also vote,” Smith told me. “And that’s the goal. There’s a lot of youth here that may be somewhere else on missions. They’re still able to participate online.” In previous elections, Utah used a primary ballot election. But the state made a change to a caucus election to increase voter turnout. Smith said Utah will experience higher numbers, too, and online voting will only help the percentages.
Aside from the obvious concerns about cybersecurity and hackers, I’m actually in favor of online voting as an option. But Smith’s answers make me wonder who is minding the store out there. (This applies to all the caucus states, by the way. Not just Utah.) Who in their right minds thinks that a caucus is ever going to increase turnout? It’s a system which, by definition, limits the hours when people can vote and exposes their choices to people who may have influence over them. Perhaps voting over the internet will make up for that.
Adding the online voting option is nice, but isn’t the casting of votes online pretty much the same as a high tech version of a primary? This dilutes the entire concept of the caucus to begin with. I’m sure it will work out, but it’s darned peculiar to say the least. Each and every argument you hear in favor of caucuses over a normal primary election systems run pretty much contrary to online voting.
One of the things I’ll be watching tomorrow night is the turnout. If the party elders are correct in their projections, there may only be 200K votes cast in the GOP caucus. That would be down a full 33% from the last time there was no incumbent running for the White House. On top of that, as much as 15% of the votes may be cast online which will make it even more interesting. And we’ll need something to amuse ourselves anyway if the polls are correct. Shortly after the voting ends we could easily see Utah called for Cruz and Arizona awarded to Trump with little to no drama and what will essentially work out to a split in the delegate race. How boring would that be? |
In Tuesday's post I started discussing this essay (PDF format), by mathematician Doron Zeilberger. I wholeheartedly seconded the sentiments from the first part of the essay, in which he lamented the generally poor state of mathematical communication.
But I'm a little skeptical of this part:
The purpose of mathematical research should be the increase of mathematical knowledge, broadly defined. We should not be tied up with the antiquated notions of alleged “rigor”. A new philosophy of and attitude toward mathematics is developing, called “experimental math” (though it is derided by most of my colleagues; I often hear the phrase, “It’s only experimental math”). Experimental math should trickle down to all levels of education, from professional math meetings, via grad school, all the way to kindergarten. Should that happen, Wigner’s “unreasonable effectiveness of math in science” would be all the more effective! Let’s start right now! A modest beginning would be to have every math major undergrad take a course in experimental mathematics.
As I will discuss further in a future post, I share Zeilberger's distaste for excessive rigor in mathematics education. But I don't think an emphasis on rigor is antiquated. Someone has to worry about the logical details. Otherwise it's too easy to delude ourselves that we have found the truth when really we have not.
As for experimental mathematics, I'm not sure what such an undergraduate course would look like. I'd like to see Zeilberger's proposed syllabus. The experiments have to be about something, after all, and you need some understanding of the underlying abstractions before you know what experiments to carry out.
To a certain extent, experimental mathematics is already part of virtually every course in mathematics. It is the rare math professor who does not emphasize the importance of working out concrete examples in solving problems, and that is really all experimental mathematics is. In the past twenty years or so, the availability of extraordinary computing power has made it possible to carry out experiments of a thoroughness and complexity that was previously unthinkable. That is why it has almost become a discipline unto itself. But it does not render obsolete our usual standards of logical rigor, and it does not introduce any new notion of mathematical truth. It is a useful tool for mathematicians to use in their research, but it does not change the discipline in any fundamental way.
Here's Zeilberger's closing paragraph:
Please don't misunderstand me. Personally, I love (quite a few) rigorous proofs, and it’s okay for anyone who loves them to look for them in his or her spare time. However, for the research and teaching that we get paid for, we should adopt a much more open-minded attitude
to mathematical truth similar to the standards of the “hard” physical sciences. We need to abandon our fanatical insistence on “rigorous” proofs.
If we are talking about education, then I agree with that closing sentence. But for researchers I do not see how it is workable. If we eliminate an insistence on rigorous proofs, then with what do we replace it? Does everyone get to decide for himself when the experimental data is sufficient to establish truth? Research would be a lot easier if that were the case!
Or maybe Zeilberger's idea is that a particular mathematical model can be tested against experiments conducted in the real world. For example, Isaac Newton was able to obtain demonstrably correct results, even though his work on calculus was riddled with logical infelicities. Euclidean geometry is undeniably useful, even though Euclid's Elements fall short of modern standards of rigor. Perhaps practical usefulness should replace logical rigor as our communal standard.
But where does that leave pure mathematics? We pure types put so much emphasis on logical rigor because the objects we study are entirely abstract. They have no real-world existence. So how can we say anything about them beyond what logic can tell us?
In short, if Zeilberger had presented his argument with greater rigor, I would be better able to decide what I think of it! |
The Colorado Public Defender’s office has spent a combined $6.3 million on death penalty cases during the past 13 years.
In response to a request from The Denver Post, the office on Tuesday released its aggregate cost of handling death penalty cases between July 12, 2002 and Oct. 31, 2015. During that time period, public defenders handled a total of 10 cases in which prosecutors filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
Most recently, public defenders represented Aurora theater shooter James Holmes and Dexter Lewis, who stabbed five people to death in a Denver bar. Prosecutors sought the death penalty in both cases.
Both men were sentenced to life in prison after lengthy trials this summer.
Under Colorado law, the public defender’s office says it is prohibited from revealing or discussing details about individual cases. As a result, the office did not release the names of the defendants in the 10 cases or a breakdown of costs for each case.
The $6.3 million total includes expenses the office incurred in handling the cases and the “best estimate of the portion of” salaries that can be attributed to death penalty cases. The office said it did not hire additional staff specifically for death penalty cases.
During the 13-year period, the office spent $1,989,453 on expenses incurred on death penalty cases. For that same period, the office paid $4,343,484 in salaries related to handling death penalty cases.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s office has not yet reached a final tally for the cost of prosecuting the Aurora theater trial and is not expected to until after the new year. In numbers available thus far, the office has reported spending $1.065 million on victim-related costs that are covered by a federal grant, and $525,000 on trial-related costs picked up by the state.
The office also paid more than $2.1 million in salaries to attorneys and support staff assigned to the case, though several of those employees also had other responsibilities while the case was ongoing.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or @jsteffendp |
DENVER, Aug. 26 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton's most loyal delegates came to the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night looking for direction. They listened, rapt, to a 20-minute speech that many proclaimed the best she had ever delivered, hoping her words could somehow unwind a year of tension in the Democratic Party. But when Clinton stepped off the stage and the standing ovation faded into silence, many of her supporters were left with a sobering realization: Even a tremendous speech couldn't erase their frustrations.
Despite Clinton's plea for Democrats to unite, her delegates remained divided as to how they should proceed.
There was Jerry Straughan, a professor from California, who listened from his seat in the rafters and shook his head at what he considered the speech's predictability. "It's a tactic," he said. "Who knows what she really thinks? With all the missteps that have taken place, this is the only thing she could do. So, yes, I'm still bitter."
There was JoAnn Enos, from Minnesota, who digested Clinton's resounding endorsement of Barack Obama and decided that she, too, will move on and get behind him. "I'll vote for [Obama] in the roll call," she said, "because that's what Hillary wants."
There was Shirley Love, from West Virginia, who smiled at Clinton's composure, waved a button bearing her name and felt a renewed pang of regret that she had lost the nomination. "She deserves it," Love said. "That's the thing that sticks with you. Even if she can move on easily, that's not as easy for everybody else."
Most delegates agreed that Clinton's impassioned speech marked a step toward reconciliation. The crowd in the Pepsi Center stood to applaud almost every time she mentioned Obama by name.
John Burkett, a Pennsylvania delegate and staunch Clinton supporter, attached an Obama button to his shirt. A New Mexico delegate said the "H" on his shirt will be replaced with an "O" come Thursday.
"She hit it right out of the ballpark," said Terie Norelli, New Hampshire's House speaker. "I've never been prouder of a Democrat than I was tonight." Norelli said the speech made her want to work hard for Obama. "She said it better than I ever could have: Everything I worked for and that she worked for would be at risk if we do anything less."
But Clinton's performance fell far short of the panacea the Democratic Party had desperately hoped for, delegates said. Some worried that, after Clinton's public withdrawal, more voters might defect for Republican John McCain or simply stay home.
"I'm not going to vote for Obama. I'm not going to vote for McCain, either," said Blanche Darley, 65, a Texas delegate for Clinton. Darley wore a button saying "Obamination Scares the Hell Out of Me."
"We love her, but it's our vote if we don't trust him or don't like him," said Darley, who was a superdelegate for Bill Clinton in the 1990s.
Weeping, Dawn Yingling, a 44-year-old single mother from Indianapolis, said that the speech was "fabulous" but that she still isn't going to work for the Obama campaign. "She was fabulous, nothing less than I expected. It's hard to sit here and think about she would have accomplished. We're not stupid -- we're not going to vote for John McCain," she said. But she'll limit her campaigning to a House candidate. "It will take a Congress as well as a president. That's what I can do and be true to who I am." |
Actually, the video below doesn’t do as good a job of telling this story as CNN’s written story does. On Monday, Barack Obama insisted that people could call the toll-free ObamaCare (1-800-F1UC-KYO) to buy insurance if the website wasn’t working for consumers. Danielle Dellorto tried testing that out and found a much different reality from the call center:
They told me we needed to first get set up with an application. That part was very simple too — I was asked basic questions like my name, address and Social Security number. Five minutes later, they said I was I all set. So did that mean I was enrolled? No. I have to call back– in one to three weeks — for that. Turns out, the call center can’t actually process applications over the phone. They can just take your information and submit it for you. Once I get a paper statement in the mail saying I’m eligible to enroll, I can then call the center back and enroll over the phone, the representative said.
In fact, people can’t even get information on which health plans they have as choices. The call center won’t discuss terms and prices until after the paper statement arrives:
From a consumer standpoint, the most frustrating aspect was that I couldn’t get any specifics about the various insurance options during this call either. I was told they can’t divulge the information about the four levels of coverage choices until I get that piece of paper in the mail — a long, drawn-out process for something that it appears could be done immediately with technology.
Dellorto noted that the call wait times for the center seem pretty reasonable, at least when she called, but the effective wait time is three weeks. Prior to ObamaCare, people could look up various insurance plans from carriers in their area on the insurer websites and simply call the insurer to buy a plan. Now, though, in order to qualify for the federal subsidies that go along with the mandate, consumers get forced into the utterly incompetent government program and can’t find out anything.
Oh, and that approach relies on the same computer system as the web portal, so …
With the supposedly state-of-the-art $600 million HealthCare.gov portal malfunctioning, President Barack Obama is urging Americans to go ahead and try to get health coverage by mailing in a paper application, calling the helpline or seeking help from one of the trained “assisters.” But the truth is those applications — on paper or by phone — have to get entered into the same lousy website that is causing the problems in the first place. And the people processing the paper and calls don’t have any cyber secret passage to duck around that. They too have to deal with all the frustrations of HealthCare.gov — full-time. … POLITICO reporters who got recorded announcements earlier in the week — sometimes directing them to try HealthCare.gov — can now get through to the call center. Once they connect, staffers like “Justin” try to get people’s information into the online system. But “Justin” doesn’t have a fast track. Asked if the website works better for him than the general public, he responded: “No.” “The site does not work for us either,” he said.
Small wonder that industry experts contacted by CNN advised that the best approach to this debacle would be to “blow it up, start over“:
Experts say the major problems with the Obamacare website can’t reasonably be solved before the end of 2013, and the best fix would be to start over from scratch. After assessing the website, Dave Kennedy, the CEO of information-security company Trusted Sec, estimates that about 20% of Healthcare.gov needs to be rewritten. With a whopping 500 million lines of code, according to a recent New York Times report, Kennedy believes fixing the site would probably take six months to a year. But would-be Obamacare enrollees only have until Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage starting at the beginning of 2014. Nish Bhalla, CEO of information-security firm Security Compass, said it “does not sound realistic at all” that Healthcare.gov will be fully operational before that point. “We don’t even know where all of the problems lie, so how can we solve them?” Bhalla said. “It’s like a drive-by shooting: You’re going fast and you might hit it, you might miss it. But you can’t fix what you can’t identify.” Several computer engineers said it would likely be easier to rebuild Healthcare.gov than to fix the issues in the current system.
I say meet them halfway. Blow it up, and then replace it with real market-based reforms that gets government out of the way. |
“. . . it cannot be emphasized enough that if the population control measures are not initiated immediately and effectively, all the technology man can bring to bear will not fend off the misery to come.’Therefore, confronted as we are with limited resources of time and money, we must consider carefully what fraction of our effort should be applied to the cure of the disease itself instead of to the temporary relief of the symptoms. We should ask, for example, how many vasectomies could be performed by a program funded with the 1.8 billion dollars required to build a single nuclear agro-industrial complex, and what the relative impact on the problem would be in both the short and long terms.”
Population and Panaceas A Technological Perspective Paul R. Ehrlich, John P. Holdren – BioScience, Vol. 19, No. 12 (Dec., 1969), pp. 1065-1071
h/t to Michael Potts via Marc Morano
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Dieting and exercise have been a major trend for the last three decades although past years have focused on healthy snacks for weight loss through dietary supplements and flat. Fewer people are eliminating whole categories from their diet strategy plan programs and focusing on taking the right foods for weight-loss. Maintaining diet strategy programs treats can be one of the most rewarding ways to get thinner while still being able to enjoy quite a variety of foods.
I found this video The 10 Best Fat Loss Snacks on youtube.com – (top 10 healthy snacks for weight loss)
Fruits Are Nutrient-packed Healthy Snacks For Weight Loss
Canned fresh vegetables and fruits are considered unhealthy foods and may contain too many preservatives, syrups, extra crabs, and other ingredients that create great nutrient content that can offset the key benefits of the fruit itself. Fruits and vegetables also have the advantage to be packed and taken as quick treats.
For instance, orange are healthier treats for dropping fat and can be cut days in advance and stored in a plastic loose in the fridge. Apples and some other soft fresh vegetables and fruits may also be packed although they should be sliced as close to time of taking as possible because of their tendency to color.
Fruits are a welcome increase to both hot and cold cereals as well and can make morning hours food more filling. A quarter cup of strawberries or blueberries makes a welcome increase to basically any morning hour’s food or even a bowl of oats and is definitely healthier treats for reducing bodyweight.
Oh Nuts! Other Healthy Snacks For Weight Loss
Good treats for healthy snacks for weight loss consist of a variety of foods that contain protein of which nut items are a viable source. There are many nut items that are available in the local supermarket such as nuts, pecans, cashews, Macadamia nut items, sunflower seeds, and many more. Nut items are perfect treats for weight-loss that are very realistic. Even peanut butter is relatively healthier although too much peanut butter can cause to undesirable calories that take away from its benefits.
One thing, to remember about buying nut items, is the salt content. Excess salt can cause to a variety of wellness issues and enhance the bodyweight in some cases. Nut items, that are dry cooking with no salt, are the best healthier treats for reducing bodyweight although now many companies have low salt or “lightly salted” available as well. Nut items can be easily calculated for the appropriate serving and can be packed up to carry in the pocket books and lunch boxes for that quick treats that pack a punch.
For More the Healthy Snacking To Healthy Snacks For Weight Loss, Include Vegetables
This rings true for basically every lifestyle, and fresh vegetables are very healthier treats for healthy snacks for weight loss. Some fresh vegetables, like green spinach and oats, even enhance weight-loss while being absorbed. Vegetables, such as green spinach, green beans, oats, and even sliced peppers are very realistic healthier treats for reducing bodyweight although sometimes people may make some mistakes when taking them. Many people eat therapies on their fresh vegetables.
Many of these therapies, particularly store-bought creamy therapies have huge amounts of fat, calories, great fructose corn syrup and other chemicals that are undesirable for a diet strategy. Vegetables are best absorbed without creamy therapies and most can be pre-cut and packed for easy treats on the go. |
Berserk for PS4/PS3/PS Vita/PC Gets New Screenshots on Famitsu; Show Casca, Judeau and More
Giuseppe Nelva July 6, 2016 11:35:56 AM EST
Today’s issue of Weekly Famitsu had a spread on the upcoming Berserk Musou by Koei Tecmo, that for now is tentatively named simply “Berserk” for the western market.
This time around we get another look at Guts and Griffith’s moves and we get the first glimpse on Casca and Judeau, who will also be playable.
You can check all the screenshots out below, keeping in mind that they’re from magazine scans, so the quality isn’t as good as that of direct feed screenshots.
The game will release in Japan on September 21st for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita and worldwide at a later date, losing the PS3 version and getting one on Steam. |
About This Game
Virtual Sport. Real Competition.
is a vSport - a unique physical sport only possible in virtual reality, in which players compete in fast-paced, full-body VR gameplay and connect in an online community.• Compete online in one-on-one multiplayer matches against friends or via matchmaking• Practice your skills by testing yourself in single-player challenges and trials• Customize your avatar with a wide variety of visually striking and attention-grabbing options• Watch matches in-person and queue for the next match in VR through Courtside, a freeform social area for spectating in VR• Choose between rookie-level and pro-level difficulty game modes• Try out different arenas: start on the practice court, then switch over to the stadium court• Track your performance with gameplay data, including stats on wins, accuracy, and more |
The organizers of the march to the Bella Center, a group called Climate Justice Action, said they were pushing for radical measures to curb global warming in the final days of the conference. Yet the protests also seemed to reflect an enduring frustration with the capitalist world order.
One of the most prominent slogans on placards was “System Change, Not Climate Change.” Members of groups like La Via Campesina, an international movement of farmers from the developing world, were among those at the head of the march.
The protesters said they were determined to enter the building and hold a “people’s assembly.”
As the helmeted police closed in, nearly pushing some protesters off the road and into a watery marsh, the protesters chanted “Anti, anti, capitalista!” before drawing back a few hundred yards to proceed with the assembly.
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Some protesters tried to cross a stretch of water around the conference center on inflatable rafts tied together to form a makeshift pontoon bridge, but they were also stopped.
The rally brought together climate activists; representatives of countries suffering from drought, floods or other phenomena linked to global warming; and indigenous peoples. Speakers denounced markets, consumerism and animal cruelty, and asserted that wealthy northern countries owed a debt to the poor south.
Although there was a revolutionary fervor in the air, many of the protesters had specific objections to the way the United Nations organized the conference and controlled access. Some complained that the authorities had moved to limit participation by campaign groups.
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“They can’t make decisions without us,” insisted Gopal Dayaneni, 40, one speaker at the open-air assembly. Mr. Dayaneni, a member of an environmental justice group in Oakland, Calif., called Movement Generation, said that the meeting was “corrupted by back-room deals.”
The ranks of demonstrators spanned generations as well as continents.
After the group she had been part of scattered to a nearby apartment complex, Vicky Moller, 63, of Wales, leaned against a support column for the Metro railway that runs above the road leading to and from the Bella Center.
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With one bare hand, she clutched the corner of a “Save Our Climate” quilt she had made, and held her coat closed against the cold wind with the other. When a fellow protester walked by and offered her a pair of gloves, she gladly accepted.
Ms. Moller, who said she wrote the environmental pages for her local newspaper, traveled to Copenhagen as part of a British group called the Camp for Climate Action. “I feel that grass-roots organizations are more effective than governments,” she said.
She said she had no confidence that negotiators in the Bella Center had the planet’s best interests in mind, although she allowed that if they did commit themselves to emissions cuts, it would be a good start.
But she lamented the underlying premise of the negotiations. “The wrong thing is on the table,” she said. “They’re talking about emissions, instead of not pulling fossil fuels out of the ground.” |
Theresa May is now more in touch with Scotland than First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, according to Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.
Writing in a Sunday newspaper, after her party won a record 276 councillors north of the border, more than double the number they secured five years ago, Ms Davidson suggested Scots are "fighting back against the SNP's independence obsession".
She wrote: "The Prime Minister has made it clear that preserving our precious union is of vital importance to her government.
"In standing up to the SNP's drive for separation, she is now more in touch with Scotland than Nicola Sturgeon.
"The local government vote makes it clear.
"We value a union we helped build along with our family and friends in the rest of the UK. We aren't going to roll over and let the SNP tear it up.
"We will lead the fightback against the SNP right across Scotland and we're going to fight on behalf of everyone.
"Theresa May and I are determined to stand up for all those people who have had enough of the chaos and uncertainty of the past few years.
"We are determined to speak up for people in Scotland who are beginning to find their voice."
Ms Davidson also went on to criticise Labour, who slumped to become the third largest party in Scotland's councils, adding: "As for Labour, they were left to count the cost of decades of complacency, arrogance and a failure to respond to the concerns of ordinary families.
"It was a remarkable result and the lesson I take from it is clear.
"It's that in Scotland, and elsewhere in the UK right now, people of all walks of life, urban and rural, middle class or blue collar, are simply looking for some certainty."
If voting patterns are similar at the General Election on June 8, a surge in Conservative support could see Ms Davidson's party oust some SNP MPs from Westminster.
Earlier on Saturday Ms Sturgeon described suggestions as "ludicrous" any claims the surge in Tory support in Scotland could derail her bid to hold a second independence referendum.
She admitted the Conservatives in Scotland had "a good day by their standards" but highlighted the SNP had "won this election comfortably" with her party ending up with "more votes, more seats, more councils where we are the largest party, not just compared to every other party but compared to five years ago".
She added: "Let's take the Tory argument at face value.
"They chose to fight the election on the issue of an independence referendum, they talked about nothing else, they didn't have any policies for local government.
"So they put that issue centre stage and they lost the election.
"They came second in the election and the SNP came first.
"If you're going to put a single issue at the centre of your own campaign, then you lose the election, then you're left with a bit of egg on your face and I think the Tories have egg on their face on that question."
The SNP remains the largest party in local government with 431 councillors voted in, up slightly from its total of 425 in 2012. |
Updated at 2:30 p.m. with comments from Sen. John Cornyn.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that he still supports federal judge nominee Jeff Mateer, a top lawyer for the state of Texas, despite revelations that Mateer has described transgender children as part of "Satan's plan" and warned that same-sex marriage would lead to polygamy and bestiality.
Sen. John Cornyn said he was surprised to learn of those remarks, but hasn't decided whether to withdraw his support.
The senators jointly recommended Mateer to President Donald Trump for a lifetime spot on the federal bench.
The vice chairman of the panel of lawyers that screens nominees for the senators said last week that Mateer didn't disclose those statements. Cornyn confirmed that.
"It's fair to say I was surprised about that," Cornyn told Texas reporters on a weekly call, adding that he plans to reserve judgment on Mateer pending a review with his staff.
Cruz said the statements don't change his support for Mateer, a longtime conservative legal advocate who serves as the deputy to state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"His record as a lawyer and public servant demonstrates a fidelity to law and a commitment to protecting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," Cruz said in a brief interview at the Senate.
Trump nominated Mateer on Sept. 7.
Both Texas senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Both, according to a committee aide, returned a "blue slip" — the traditional method by which a home state senator gives permission for a nomination to proceed — before Mateer's controversial comments surfaced last week. |
The rancour between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush exploded on the debate stage on Saturday, as the two traded insults over the legacy of George W Bush’s fateful decision to invade Iraq.
Supreme court justice Antonin Scalia dies: political and legal worlds react Read more
Trump and Bush’s fiery exchanges – which dominated a debate that began with tributes to the supreme court justice Antonin Scalia, who died earlier in the day – were as personal and vicious as any moment so far in the 2016 presidential election. The Republican frontrunner ferociously challenged the Bush family legacy and GOP orthodoxy on foreign policy.
At the end of one clash, Ohio governor John Kasich was left slack-jawed.
“This is just crazy,” he said.
In the spin room afterwards, J Hogan Gidley, a former Huckabee and Santorum adviser, said he had never seen anything like it: “You get a zinger now and again but nothing like this. You never see a candidate call another a flat-out liar.”
On a night of Republican bloodletting that also saw Ted Cruz condemned as just that – a liar – the back and forth between Trump and Bush focused on national security and, in particular, the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It came two days before George W Bush is set to campaign at his brother’s side in South Carolina, where Republicans vote on Saturday.
Trump openly accused the Bush administration of knowingly lying about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in order to justify an invasion of Iraq in 2003, a step beyond anything that most Democrats, let alone any Republican, have said.
“Obviously the war in Iraq was a big, fat mistake, all right?” Trump said at the debate in Greenville, South Carolina. “George Bush made a mistake, we can make mistakes. But that one was a beauty.”
He added, forcefully: “They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction – there were none. And they knew there were none. There were no weapons of mass destruction.”
Bush fired back, showing his most fight in any debate yet.
“I am sick and tired of him going after my family,” he said. “While Donald Trump was building a reality TV show, my brother was building a security apparatus to keep us safe and I’m proud of what he did.”
The two men even squabbled about Bush’s mother. The former Florida governor said proudly, “My mother was the strongest person I know.”
Trump’s response: “Maybe she should be running.”
All the while, Trump was lustily booed by the audience.
Trump has long bragged about being against the Iraq war. No clear statement from 2003 has ever been published.
Eventually, Marco Rubio jumped into the scrum in defense of George W Bush but Trump fired back: “I lost hundreds of friends. The World Trade Center came down during the reign of George Bush.”
Rubio’s response was to cast blame for 9/11 on Bill Clinton’s failure to kill Osama bin Laden during his administration.
The pair clashed again over immigration. Trump said Bush’s policy was the least effective of any candidate on stage.
“He is so weak on illegal immigration, it’s laughable,” he said.
Bush responded that Trump has shown weakness during the campaign when he disparaged women, Latinos, people with disabilities, and the senator and Vietnam veteran John McCain.
But Trump wasn’t finished. In a bizarre riposte, he said: “Two days ago he said he would take his pants off and moon everybody.” Bush pulled a puzzled face at that one, a reference to a comment the former Florida governor made to the Boston Globe’s Matt Viser.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jeb Bush and Donald Trump trade blows. Footage: CBS News
The phony in American politics: how voters turn into suckers Read more
Afterwards, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, suggested jokingly that Bush had been more spirited than usual because “he had a Monster [Energy Drink] on the way in”.
He then simply said Bush “has to do something because he’s becoming very desperate”.
The Trump operative spoke with visible scorn. “You know why he’s doing poorly,” he asked. “Because his message is terrible, people don’t want another Bush in this country. That’s the bottom line. They don’t want another politician.”
In contrast, he said, “we talked about the things the American people talked around their dinner table. I think it’s very clear Mr Trump’s positions don’t change based on polling numbers and he talks about it just like you would with your family.”
Former Minnesota senator Norm Coleman, a Bush supporter, said Trump was “out of control”. He told the Guardian Trump “crosses the line a lot but at a certain point of [the] line, the idea that Bush is responsible for 9/11, that’s conspiracy stuff, that’s fringe stuff”.
The debate took place only a few hours after the death of Scalia. The six candidates on stage held a moment of silence before the debate began and then stood almost unanimously against the Senate confirming any Obama nominee to replace him in the next 11 months. As Trump put it, Senate Republicans should “delay, delay, delay”.
Rubio, the Florida senator, said it was not unprecedented for no appointment to be made in an election year.
“It has been over 80 years since a lame duck president has appointed a supreme court justice,” he said, noting that, assuming a Republican victory, “someone on this stage will get to choose the balance of the supreme court”.
Cruz echoed his arguments, describing Scalia as “a legal giant” and claiming “we are one justice away” from defeats for conservative positions on abortion, gun rights and religious liberty.
“The Senate needs to stand strong,” he said, “and say, ‘We’re not going to give up the US supreme court for a generation by allowing Barack Obama to make one more liberal appointee.’”
The only candidate to potentially embrace a nomination was Kasich, who suggested “if you were to nominate somebody, let’s have [Obama] pick somebody that’s going to have unanimous approval, and such widespread approval across the country that this could happen without a lot of recrimination”.
However, by the end of his answer, the Ohio governor conceded: “We ought to let the next president of the United States decide who is going to run that supreme court.”
As in many previous Republican debates, there was a heated exchange on immigration reform. Cruz argued that Rubio had been too soft and criticised him for supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Rubio, eager to recover from a disastrously robotic performance at the last debate, contended that Cruz had once supported legalisation and accused him of repeatedly lying.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Republican candidates discuss Antonin Scalia, who died on Saturday. Footage: CBS News.
Ten things we learned from the Republican debate in South Carolina Read more
Cruz claimed that Rubio had said in a Spanish-language TV interview that he would not revoke Obama’s executive actions. Rubio responded: “I don’t know how he knows what I said on Univision because he doesn’t speak Spanish.”
Cruz trotted out his rudimentary Spanish language skills as disproof.
Cruz and Trump also tangled over the frontrunner’s conservative credentials. The Texas senator reiterated an attack that he has frequently used on the stump, saying that the New York real estate mogul has spent most of his life as a liberal Democrat who supports socialised medicine and partial birth abortion.
Trump responded by telling Cruz: “You are the single biggest liar. You are probably worse than Jeb Bush.”
Cruz fired back, noting that Trump said an interview that he was supportive of Planned Parenthood. Trump responded by insisting “not when it comes to abortion, not when it comes to abortion”.
The febrile mood continued, at times closer to gladiatorial combat in the colosseum than a policy debate over the future of the nation.
At one point, Kasich warned: “I think we’re fixin’ to lose the election to Hillary Clinton if we don’t stop this.” |
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I’m seeing a lot of allies doing the “my prayers are with you” thing in light of the tragedy that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 49 queer folks, primarily Latinx, were shot dead and 53 more were injured that night – and all you have to offer to our community is a Facebook status with your prayers?
Substitutions include uploading a photo to depict Pride or sharing your happiness at the WTC being lit up in rainbows. Allies sure do love them some rainbow.
At first, I was angry and offended. I wondered, is this all you’ll contribute before returning to your funny cat memes and gifs?
Because while you can tweet out a prayer and resume your normal life, your conscience clean, the queer community is left picking up the pieces and struggling to make sense of this tragedy – violence that our community knows all too well, especially queer and trans people of color.
But then I thought that maybe you didn’t know what else to do. Maybe you’re so panicked at the thought of making a horrible situation worse, you’re frozen in trying to do something meaningful.
And I get that. I do.
So, with the greatest of sincerity, here are some ideas of what to do for those of you allies who want to help us out in this more-than-usual terrible time:
1. Give Blood.
Gay and bisexual men still aren’t allowed to give blood unless they haven’t had sex with another man for at least one year. As such, many desperate blood donors are being turned away during a desperate situation to save lives in desperate conditions.
We need you.
2. Don’t Vote Republican.
At least not this year, if you feel so strongly about it. Just keep in mind that you’re not allowed to be sad about the Pulse massacre when you’ve been actively promoting people who have been behind loose gun laws, trans panic defenses about bathrooms, and at least 200 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills this year alone.
If you still feel your presumed tax break is more important that saving lives, then you need to admit that to yourself and do some serious reflection on the impact of your actions.
3. Check In On Us.
I’ve had only one friend outside of the queer community contact me to see if I was okay over these first 24 hours. One.
I find this unacceptable. I understand it’s because you don’t want to make that terrifying, personal connection, but it’s nonetheless unacceptable to block it.
I need all of you allies – now, right now – to look your surviving LGBTQIA+ friends in the face (or, you know, their Facebook profile picture) and think, “That could’ve been you. It could very well still end up being you in the future.”
I especially need allies to understand the weight that queer and trans people of color are carrying, as they are disproportionately impacted by this violence.
Make the personal, terrifying connections about how fucking real this is. Because we’re already in that state of mind over here and I can’t even begin to explain how scary that is. We walk around with this terror just under our skin every day, but right now it’s bursting through for everyone to see.
We need you to know that, we need you to feel that.
Also, just check in on us because we may need a shoulder to cry on that isn’t currently hobbling through the battlefield along with us. We sometimes feel it’s unfair to try to unload on fellow LGBTQIA+ people that are suffering just as hard as we are, so we try to put up a brave front for one another.
4. Make Us Something To Eat.
Make no mistake: This type of situation stimulates grief and mourning, and grief and mourning are horrible things to go through.
One of the first things to go is one’s self-care, especially when it comes to eating. Make sure we’re eating. Don’t lecture us about the type or quantity of food. Just make sure we’re eating.
Imagine as if our beloved family member just died, ruthlessly murdered by a stranger in a senseless act. Only that stranger has said they’ll be back, and that they’ll pick off every last member of the family just because.
Oh, and when I say “stranger”? I mean hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of strangers.
And when I say “one family member,” I mean fourty-nine, primarily Latinx queer people, shot down in Orlando. I mean 23, primarily trans women of color, murdered last year in the US.
It’s every hate crime, every homicide, every attack, and every bit of harassment that makes us fear the violence that could be coming next – it’s these moments, every damn day, that assures us that our community is not safe.
It’s not that one stranger could be around the next corner to hurt one of us; it’s that hundreds if not thousands of strangers are. And they’re waiting, looking for their moment to make us a statistic or a breaking news story.
And over and over again, they’re succeeding – they’re attacking and murdering countless queer people, especially those of color, at an alarming rate. Our siblings, our community, our chosen family.
Are you surprised that we are forgetting to eat? Don’t just offer us prayers. Offer us care. 5. Don’t Talk Over Us. This is not your time. This is our time. Yes, you’re sad. Yes, you’re scared. Yes, you’re feeling things. But I’m sorry, this isn’t about you. The queers are talking right now. We’re the ones that just lost our queer siblings. We’re the ones that can’t give blood or visit our dying partners in the hospital because of archaic laws. We’re the ones watching the deceased be prematurely outed because they were at a queer club, as calls are going to families from morgues and hospitals. And yes, we’re the ones that are conveniently being used for political gain right now by our enemies in order to smother a fellow vulnerable community. And amongst all that, we’re expected to sit down, swallow our grief, and listen to how YOU feel watching us suffer? No. You have to wait your turn. Your feelings are valid and we appreciate your sadness and anger, but you need to talk about your feelings with fellow allies for right now. 6. Stay Focused On The Real Issues. Don’t let the media or bigots or ignorant people fool you into this being something other than what it is: a horrible act of murder fueled by a mix of LGBTQIA+ hate and unregulated gun use, both of which run rampant in American culture. Do not get distracted by any other claims. To get distracted is to keep progress from happening, to allow history to repeat itself in the future just like it has every other time in the past. 7. Reflect On Your Religious Affiliations. If you’re offering us prayers, I assume you practice in some faith or another. If this is the case, please strengthen your offer of prayers by checking in with the religious leader of your congregation and ensuring they don’t spout anti-LGBTQIA rhetoric any of the other 364 days of the year. If they do, talk with them earnestly about changing their ways. If you’re unable to sway them, please strongly consider shifting to a friendlier, more accepting congregation, and let your religious head know exactly what you’re doing and why. Because if those pews keep being filled, that religious figure will just keep spouting. Don’t put your ass in that seat. Don’t idly allow this hate to breed with you in the front row. Remember that a shepherd can’t shepherd if there aren’t any sheep. Hateful rhetoric can’t be heard if there’s nobody around to hear it. 8. Remember That It’s Not Just Pulse. Pulse should most definitely be getting the greatest of attention at this moment in time. But that’s not to say that, once the news has died down, you think, “Man, sure glad that’s over.” Because it’s not over. It’s never over. We deal with this kind of fear and hate on a daily basis. It’s just that Pulse was so bad and so atrocious on such a direct scale of attention that it actually made the news. But we’ve been dying long before this and likely will continue to do so – especially my siblings of color, like the Latinx population of which were the showcase at Pulse that night. But the violence has always been around us; it’s just usually shoved into silence by those in power. 40% of homeless kids are LGBTQIA+ because their families either kick them out or abuse the hell out of them. A transgender person – usually a trans woman of color – is murdered every 29 hours. Daily harassments – from off-the-cuff slurs to threatening gestures to physical harm – are so prevalent that they can’t even be properly recorded; they are so far off the charts that the charts can’t keep up. Some dude headed to LA Pride this same weekend with rifles, ammo, and presumed explosives was thankfully caught in advance. The list goes on for so long that I could write a separate article just unpacking the violence surrounding our community. *** While we appreciate your desire to comfort us, tweets about prayers actually don’t do shit. They won’t change a thing. Further, those prayers can be offensive to many of us, as those prayers theoretically are coming from the exact same God that’s been used to condemn us right up to this most recent massacre. This list – and so much more – is what we need in the here and now. Ask the queer people in your life what you can do to support them; I can almost guarantee you that they won’t say, “A Facebook status.” 37.7K Shares Share Milo Todd is a freelance writer and journalist. He holds a double BA in Philosophy and Gender Theory with focuses in feminist phenomenology, queer phenomenology, and post-positivist realism. Milo otherwise writes LGBTQ-esque fiction and likes to pretend it’ll make him rich and famous. He is a judge in the YA branch of the 2014 Bisexual Book Awards. Found this article helpful?
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Dan Stevens could be leaving "Downton Abbey." According to the Daily Mail, Stevens might not return for "Downton Abbey" Season 4. Stevens is currently appearing on Broadway in "The Heiress" and said he might stick around the Big Apple.
"New York for me is going to be one big adventure," Stevens said. "I will be taking the whole family out and we will be there for six months. I don’t know if I will be returning to 'Downton.'"
However, "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes told TVLine in July that Stevens is just doing a limited run and that he's still in the show.
When reached for comment, Masterpiece said Season 4 has yet to be commissioned, so they cannot comment on casting news.
Rumors of cast departures surrounding Season 4 of "Downton Abbey" have been swirling for months. In March, TVLine reported Stevens didn't sign for Season 4 and 5 along with Siobhan Finneran (O’Brien) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil). Maggie Smith also didn't sign on past Season 3, but that doesn't necessarily mean curtains are coming for the Dowager Countess.
"I hope she stays with the show until Downton falls down," Fellowes said.
"We have to balance between continuing to make it for audiences around the world that adore it and making sure that we don't take it too far … which is not now and not next year, but likely five years or six years, not 10 years," Neame said.
"Downton Abbey" Season 3 premieres in the US in early 2013. |
ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals have gone from being in control of the World Series two days ago to being on the brink of elimination after taking a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 5 Monday night.
Their bats have gone cold, they can’t create scoring opportunities and the few chances they’ve gotten the past two games, they’ve squandered.
Their fate now rests in the hands of Michael Wacha, a rookie pitcher who’s hasn’t played like one at any point this postseason. At 22 years old, Wacha already has the experience of both pitching in an elimination game (which he did in Game 4 of the NLDS with the Cardinals down 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates) and winning in Fenway Park (which he did in Game 2), but the Cardinals realize it will take more than another dominant start from Wacha.
(Jim David / Globe Staff)
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“The fact that we’re facing an elimination game on the road is not going to get to him,” said Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter. “Hopefully, we can come out and get the offense going for him, give him a little cushion and he can really settle in because if we can score a few runs, we feel good about our chances to win the game. We’re going to have to do our part as an offense, but we’ve got a lot of confidence.”
Wacha went six innings in Game 2, giving up two runs on just three hits with four walks and six strikeouts, attacking the Red Sox with his fastball and chasing it with his change up and he doesn’t plan on changing his approach.
“Nothing really changes,” Wacha said. “I’ve just got to go out there and make pitches and throw some effective strikes.”
The biggest issues, as its been for the Cardinals all series, is what Wacha will do with David Ortiz, who is now hitting .733 after going 3 for 4 with an RBI double in Game 5.
Ortiz went 2 for 3 with a two run homer off Wacha in Game 2.
“He’s a tough hitter,” Wacha said. “I can’t really tell you how I’m going to pitch to him.”
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Still, even with their backs to the wall, the Cardinals have reason to like their chances. They’ve been down 3-2 in the World Series six time in team history and forced a Game 7 five times. They went on to win the World Series all five times, including in 2011 when they came back to beat the Texas Rangers.
“I think it starts with a mentality that it’s a great challenge,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to go in and prove the kind of team we are as far as how tough we are mentally, and I think that’s where it begins. After that it comes down to execution. We’ve got to have Michael come out and throw a big game.
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“Once again, we were in that spot backed up where we had to have a win. It’s not something we haven’t seen before, and the guys know what we have to do; we have to play the game. They have to lock arms, trust each other and play the game the right way. Most of it is going to be the mentality of not buying into any kind of stats, any kind of predictions, any kind of odds. And go out and play the game.”
• Matt Carpenter did his best to bite his tongue after home plate umpire Bill Miller rung him up looking at a 3-and-2 cutter inside from Jon Lester.
It was a tough spot for a punchout with the a runner on second and the Cardinals looking to tie the game.
The tracking tool PITCHf/x showed it being well inside, and even though he thought it was off the plate, Carpenter didn’t argue.
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“I’m not going to throw anybody under the bus,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t swing at it because I thought it was a ball. He called it a strike, so it is what it is.”
The cutter was Lester’s go-to pitch most of the night. He threw 38 of them, 24 for strikes.
“He just has the ability to throw that cutter that looks like it’s going to hit you and then it comes around, never goes over the plate but the guy catches it for a strike,” Carpenter said. “That’s just not an easy pitch to throw.
“It’s a pretty unhittable pitch. All you can do is foul it off, if you can even swing at it. He has a unique ability to throw that consistently and he does the same thing to righties and it just comes around the plate and it’s never in a spot where you can do much to it and he had it working. When he has that going, it’s a real tough fight.”
Carpenter agreed with the notion that the strike zone has been pitcher friendly — for both sides — throughout the series.
“I wouldn’t say the zone has been bad, but I would definitely say that more often than not it’s gone the pitcher’s way — from both sides. On defense we’ve gotten some calls that could be borderline but it’s gone the pitcher’s way. But pitching’s dominated this postseason. That’s the way it goes.”
• The idea of Craig playing in Game 5 was something he had already discussed with Matheny.
“It was something that we had talked about a couple days ago,” Craig said. “If I was feeling good enough, maybe I’d start on Monday against Lester. Yesterday, obviously I wasn’t feeling good, but I woke up this morning feeling better than I expected so I thought that I should see it through and I felt good enough to contribute and I told Mike and that’s why I was in there.
The ball didn’t hesitate to find him. David Ortiz sent a liner slicing low and hard down the first-base line and all Craig could do was lay out for it in vain.
“I don’t think I would’ve got it even if I was feeling 100 percent,” Craig said. “He smoked it and it was hooking down the line.”
He came in 4 for 9 in the series, but went 0 for 3, grounding into a double play in the second inning. Matheny said he will likely DH Craig in Boston.
“I’m obviously ready for whatever Mike asks me,” Craig said.
• Yadier Molina went 0 for 3 with a strikeout, ending his seven-game hit streak in World Series play.
Mobile users unable to see the video, click here. |
This time I will focus on another requested tutorial about RTS camera movement and unit movement. In this tutorial I will create:
RTS camera supporting: zooming, scrolling and moving,
Selecting units,
Moving units,
Remember – you can always request tutorial!
This Tutorial has been created using Unreal Engine 4.10
Make sure you are working on the same version of the engine.
Theory
I only shipped one kind-of-RTS game (Artist Colony iOS) so I don’t have to much experience with RTS games.
The main challenge here is to prepare proper communication with spectator (camera), HUD and Controller. It’s complicated and easier to accomplish using C++ but I will use Blueprints as requested.
Creating Interfaces
Let’s start by creating interfaces that will help us with communication.
Create new Blueprint Interface named IMovement. Open it and add new function:
MoveToMouseLoc
With one Vector input named Location.
It will be used to tell units where to go.
Create another Blueprint Interface named InputInterface. It will be responsible for communicating other classes (eg. HUD) about the input. Open it and add new functions:
OnInputTap
It will be called each time we start to click.
OnInputHold
Will be called when we are moving our mouse after while holding RMB. (RMB = Right Mouse Button)
OnInputHoldReleased
With one float input named HoldTime.
Will be called after releasing RMB.
Create another Blueprint Interface named SelectionInterface. It will be responsible for communicating select/deselect of units. Open it and add new functions:
OnSelectionGained
Will be called when we should select an unit.
OnSelectionLost
Called when unit should be deselected.
Creating Enums
Next step is to create some helping Enums.
Create new Enum named ECameraScroll with these:
None
Right
Left
Top
Bottom
It will be used to choose in which direction we are scrolling camera.
Create another Enum named EInputType with these:
None
Tap
Hold
Scroll
This will store state of input. For example when player is scrolling it will be set to Scroll.
Project Settings
Now we need to configure our project.
Project Settings -> Collision.
Add new Trace Channel named CamScroll. It should be set to Ignore as default.
When dealing with RTS camera movement we need to do some line traces from mouse to the ground. Creating new Trace Channel for this will be helpful as we will only use this channel to check the ground.
Now in your level place BlockingVolume which should imitate ground. Make sure you changed Collision preset to Custom and Block CamScroll. This way our line traces will work with this BlockingVolume. By default this volume is really small and should be scaled up on X and Y.
USEFUL TIP: When scaling Volumes it’s always better to use Brush Shape (box extend) instead of normal scale. I have found that scaling sometimes create weird behaviors with overlaps / hit events.
When ready add NavMeshBoundsVolume:
And make sure it is covering your level. You can show navigation when pressing “P” when in Editor or “Show Navigation” command when in game. You should have green ground like this:
When ready go to Project Settings -> Input and add these Action Mappings:
And that’s all that need to be prepared.
Spectator Pawn – Camera Zoom
For my opinion the best Pawn for dealing RTS camera movement is SpectatorPawn as it can be Possessed and don’t have any mesh.
Create new Blueprint extending from Spectator Pawn named RTSSpectatorPawn. Open it and add two new components: SpringArm and Camera.
SpringArm properties:
Rotation: 0, -50, 0,
Do Collision Test: False,
Now open event graph and add these variables:
Var Name Var Type Description MinCamZoom float Default: 300 MaxCamZoom float Default: 2000 CurrentCamZoom float Default: 300 DesiredCamZoom float Default: 300 CamZoomSpeed float Default: 15 DeltaTime float
Create new custom event named SetDefaultSettings:
In BeginPlay call SetDefaultCamSettings:
Now Right Click and find ZoomOut and ZoomIn input events – they should be visible after adding them in Project Settings. (Project Settings -> Input) If you can’t find them please go back to Project Settings step in this tutorial.
So basically we are decreasing and increasing DesiredCamZoom float value. Easy as that. Now we need to drive this value somehow.
Create new custom event named UpdateCamZoom:
This way we have simple zooming functionality. Now we need to call this event in Tick:
And that’s all here.
Player Controller – Camera/Unit Movement
Next step is to move the camera. There will be one Player Controller responsible for movement. Create new Blueprint extending from Player Controller named RTSPlayerController.
Open it and add these variables:
Var Name Var Type Description StartSwipeCoords Vector Storing OnTap mouse coordinates. EndSwipeCoords Vector Storing OnHoldingEnded mouse coordinates. CurrentInputState EInputType Holding current state of input. Make sure it’s NONE as Default. isScrollingCamera bool Is currently scrolling camera? DeltaTime float InputHoldingTime float Accumulated time while holding mouse. isHoldingInput bool Is currently holding mouse? SelectedPawns Actor Array Reference This will store all selected Actors reference. MoveClickTime float Accumulated time for moving units. WantToMove bool Want to move units? MoveToLocation Vector Location to move the units
Lot of variables. It’s easier to create in C++.
Now in your Event Graph create new Functions.
OnSwipeStarted
This will store hit location with CamScroll channel.
OnSwipeEnded
OnSwipeUpdate
One Output: Vector named Delta.
Two local variables:
LocalNewSwipeCoords – Vector,
LocalDelta – Vector,
This function is adding and returning offset from starting vs current mouse position. Thanks to this we will be able to move our spectator pawn.
IsScrolling
With one Output: ECameraScroll.
This function is responsible for letting know if we want to scroll the camera.
Doing such “IFS” in Blueprint isn’t the best way. In C++ you would have simple if statement with else if. That’s why it’s easier to do such stuff in C++.
This is basically checking if our mouse is near top/bottom/right/left corner and if yes – return ECameraScroll enum.
SetSelectedPawns
With one input named SelectedPawns: Actor Reference Array.
GetScrollDirection
With one Output named Direction: Vector.
With IsScrolling function you can add movement input with some direction but I want to add some smoothing. This function is able to return direction based on mouse position rather than top/bottom/left/right side of screen. Thanks to this scrolling will be smoother.
Now let’s make some use of these functions. Create new custom event named UpdateCamera:
This will actually scroll and move our camera. You can call this in Tick to check it out. Be sure your RTSSpectatorPawn is possessed by this controller.
Add another event – PanCamera Input:
This is responsible for swipe camera movement.
And another input – SelectInput:
This is responsible for selecting units input.
Now create custom event named UpdateSelection:
It’s letting know HUD that we are holding mouse button.
And add last custom event named UpdateClickToMove
It’s just updating accumulated time in MoveClickTime so we won’t move the units when trying to move camera.
Now everything need to be called in Tick:
And now last thing. MovePawns input:
This is creating 2×2 grid (just for testing) and calling MoveToMouseLoc interface on SelectedPawn. Which will be null for now but this will change in a sec.
That’s all in PlayerController. Make sure your Game Mode default pawn is RTSSpectatorPawn and default controller is RTSPlayerController!
HUD
Create new Blueprint extending from HUD named RTSHud. Make sure it is set in your GameMode as default HUD.
Open it and make sure it implements InputInterface! When ready add those variables:
Var Name Var Type Description OnTapMousePosition Vector2D Hold mouse position on click. HoldingMousePosition Vector2D Holding current mouse position. isDrawingSelection bool Is currently drawing selection box? FoundActors float Stores all actors in selection. SelectedActors float Stores actors that implements IMovable interface.
Now let’s add InputInterface events. Event On Input Tap:
Event On Input Hold:
Event On Input Hold Released:
Those should be self explanatory.
Create new custom event named DrawMouseSelection:
This is for debug – drawing selection box so you can check if it’s working correctly.
Now add Receive Draw HUD event:
Look at Get Actors in Selection Rectangle function. It will return all actors in box selection that I’m doing. After that I’m just checking if the actors implements Selection Interface and call Selection Gained on Them.
After releasing mouse SelectedActors will be passed to PlayerController.
That’s all in HUD!
Test Unit
Now let’s make a test. Create new blueprint extending from Character named Pawn. Open it and make sure its implementing Selection Interface and IMovement interface as well!
When ready add new static mesh component named SelectionMesh. Make sure visibility is set to False. It’s just debug mesh that will be visible when this Pawn will be selected.
Now in Event Graph add On Selection Gained and On Selection Lost events:
This should be place when you want to change material / add mesh when unit is selected – or maybe show some UMG widget. It depends on you and your game.
Last part is unit movement. Just add Move To Mouse Loc interface event:
And that’s all! If you like you can select CharacterMovement component and enable RVOAvoidance.
Final Result
You can download whole project (4.10) here.
Creating ShooterTutorial takes a lot of my free time.
If you want you can help me out! I will use your donation to buy better assets packs and you will be added to Credits /Backers page as well. Implementing game is taking time but writing about it is taking much more effort! |
Too Many Technologies; Not Enough Brains November 10, 2008
Hardly a day goes by when I read of a new programming language, a new framework, a new way to solve an old problem. Yet the pace of invention and evolution is a two-edged sword; innovation is great but it's impossible to keep up with it.
Two quotes from one of my favorite movies Amadeus
My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
[Mozart trying on wigs] They're all so beautiful. Why don't I have three heads?
The explosion of new technology in programming has been accelerating in the past decade or so, driven primarily by the open source movement and the web. The ease at which things can be developed, posted, discussed and spread in an environment of free ideas and easy communication is really astonishing. My earliest days developing Trapeze needing only the loose-leaf Inside Macintosh, K&R C and a 68000 assembly manual seem barely removed from days of the knights of King Arthur.
What makes the current warp speed difficult is that just knowing what is happening is becoming difficult if not impossible, much less actually evaluating and learning the new technologies and picking those that make sense to you. I've always spent time every morning following the software technology "market". In the old days I read catalogs and magazines and talked with vendors and it wasn't too hard. Today I could spend every hour of every day and still miss a lot.
Anyone who works in a corporate environment knows how tough it is to get the powers that be to switch to or add a new technology. Even being a member of the architecture team at one place it took a week of painful meetings to convince the team that using Ajax (for an app I was developing by myself for inside the company) wasn't the coming of the Anti-Christ. In my last job one champion of Ruby tried to convince the company that it made sense but finally gave up and left, and the project continued in Java (and to this day is still wandering in incomplete-ville). The problem is finding a balance between using something new and refusing to change for any reason; either extreme can be bad.
Even if a company or group is willing to explore and embrace alternate technologies, the issue remains of how can you find, evaluate and master something new before it becomes obsolete or is abandoned in favor of an even newer technology. At that last job it took several months of work to evaluate a new UI framework between 2 choices (basically Seam vs. Wicket). Recently I read of 20 template systems for PHP. When I introduced Ajax at one company in the first year of Ajax I found nearly 200 frameworks already in progress; I can't image how many there are now. How do you evaluate 200 different frameworks?
The real answer is that you can't; unless we suddenly evolve 8 arms and 3 brains it's impossible today to do even a barely adequate job of winnowing the changes in technology to those that make sense. It's no wonder that many programmers and their employers don't even try and just stick the the same stuff they've been doing. Even if their "approved" choices are terrible, unproductive, unreliable and even expensive there is comfort in the familiar, and fear of unruly change. Yet the pace of evolution ultimately is to make things better, depending on how you define "better". The problem is in the evaluation. It takes time, talent and tenacity to derive what is really "better" and what is just different.
I love the story (although I don't know the exact details) of yellowpages.com. The original development was done in whatever passed for a standard process at AT&T (or whatever they were called at the time) and it sucked. Then a small group of folks built a replacement in Ruby-On-Rails in a few months and it rocked. Of course there are many other stories where new technologies sunk companies as well (one I worked for briefly tried to replace a PHP storefront with a Java application and to this day after four years still has nothing to show for it). New is not necessarily better; better is better. It's telling the difference that is the hard thing. |
Illegal immigrant children are surging into the United States of American at a rate not experienced since the peak of the controversial influx last summer. The Obama administration maintained that once a taxpayer-funded media campaign explaining to potential border crossers that just making it to America does not mean you can stay, or qualify the individual for the DREAM Act were conducted, the massive illegal immigration would end. Border Control statistics appear to show the White House releases have not garnered such results.
In March, approximately 3,000 unaccompanied illegal immigrant children reportedly walked across the Mexican border into America. Since the long, cold winter of 2014-2015 has ended, U.S. Border Patrol officials are reportedly concerned that tens of thousands of unaccompanied children will once again be arriving. Border Patrol agents have reportedly found it extremely difficult to determine if young men coming across the border are truly minors, or in their early 20s and possibly drug gang members.
During the first six months of the current fiscal year, U.S. Border Patrol agents have captured 15,647 unaccompanied illegal immigrant children coming across the Mexican border. During this same time frame in 2014, agents reportedly caught 28,579 unaccompanied children coming into the United States. All of the children must be given food, shelter, medical care, and educational services.
During the current fiscal year, Border Patrol agents have also captured 13,911 “family units” illegally entering the United States. The vast majority of the illegal immigrants who were caught crossing the border were released from detention and did not show up for their deportation hearing. “These statistics show that the surge of illegal arrivals from Central America was never really over,” Jessica Vaughan, Center for Immigration Studies policy studies director, said.
A recent Rasmussen poll found that 62 percent of responders believe the United States government is “not aggressive enough” in deporting those illegal immigrants coming into the United States. Only 15 percent of poll participants feel that the Obama administration’s current policy was “about right” when it comes to dealing with illegal immigration. A total of just 16 percent of Rasmussen poll respondents said the current immigration reform policy was “too aggressive.”
In the same illegal immigration poll, a total of 83 percent of participants immigrants should be mandated to prove that they are “legally allowed” to be in the United Stats before receiving taxpayer-funded aid on the local, state, or federal level. When Rasmussen pollsters asked if a baby of an illegal immigrant born in the United States should automatically become a U.S. citizen, 54 percent said no. Current laws permit such citizenship status are the practice has been dubbed “anchor babies” by many. A total of 51 percent of the immigration poll respondents said that illegal immigrants who have American-born children should not be exempt from deportation.
What do you think about the latest surge of illegal immigrant children and “family units” entering America and the results of the Rasmussen poll? |
In our modern context, the very term ‘decimation’ pertains to the utter destruction of a habitat, populace or even an eco-system. But as it turns out, a few Roman generals purposefully enacted the method of decimation as disciplinary punishment for their legions!
To put things into perspective, the word decimation comes from Latin decimatus, and itself relates to ‘decem‘ or tenth. So, when the punishment was enforced, it was most probably known as decimatio and the vicious process entailed choosing every tenth man from a cohort (approximately 480 men) to be put to death. And, the utterly ruthless part was – this unlucky man had be to stoned or clubbed to death by their remaining comrades-in-arms, in a brutal practice known as the fustuarium.
The remorseless punishment was usually reserved for the troops who have displayed insubordination, cowardice, will to conspire, murderous intent on fellow soldiers, participation in espionage activities, desertion or in few cases when they had faked illness so as not to participate in upcoming battles. And in a true Roman fashion, the ‘democratic’ part of the severe process encompassed the selection of the soldier in a random manner (by lottery) – regardless of his rank, reputation or even his involvement in the actual transgression or revolt. The remaining soldiers were then sometimes forced to make their quarters outside the main army camp and given diets of barley which was obviously harder to digest than the usual rations of wheat.
The first documented case of decimation was noted by Livy – the ‘loved’ tyrant consul Appius Claudius Sabinus Inregillensis invoked the punishment for his troops on charge of cowardice in 5th Century BC, when a battle was lost against their Italian rivals, the Volsci. It was 400 years later when Crassus famously ordered the decimation of his troops when they failed to face up to the task of defeating Spartacus and his rebellious army.
But the most bloodthirsty episode of the punishment probably occurred when Emperor Maximian dictated the decimation of the famed ‘Theban Legion’, the Christian troops who were stationed in the fortress town of Agaunum, in 3rd Century AD. The punishment was enforced when the soldiers disobeyed direct orders to persecute their fellow Christians from the area. Incredibly, the remaining troops again defied their original orders even after the brutal sentence was carried out. Finally, the frustrated emperor ordered the punishment as a repetitive course of action until the entire legion of 6,600 soldiers was annihilated down to the last man. The Swiss town of Agaunum is currently known as Saint Maurice, named after Mauritius, the canonized commander of the Martyrs of Agaunum *.
Interestingly enough, decimation as a form of capital punishment was very uncommon (and even controversial) during the era of the late-Roman Republic and the subsequent Roman Empire. The great Julius Caesar is said to revoke his initial enforcement of the punishment on his 9th Legion, when they took the field against Pompey in the ensuing civil war. But the form of military retribution had carried on in some form or the other even after the passing of the Roman epoch.
A famous documented example of the truculent practice occurred in 1642, when 90 members of a 900-strong cavalry were chosen and executed on orders of Austria’s Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, when they lost a battle against the rampaging Swedish Army in the Thirty Years War. The ambit of democracy was also maintained in this instance, with the unfortunate members being chosen by a roll of dice!
Quite startlingly, there are also vaguely chronicled examples of the savage punishment even in the 20th century. Such inhumane episodes occurred during isolated incidences of the First World War (involving the Italian Army), Finnish Civil War in 1918 and the Second World War (involving the Soviet Army – according to author Antony Beevor, in his acclaimed book Stalingrad).
*Note – The episode of the Theban Legion is believed to be fictional or at least an embellished literary account by many academic historians, including Denis Van Berchem, of the University of Geneva; and David Woods, Professor of Classics at the University College Cork.
Image Credits – Wikimedia Commons / WikiArt
Via – MilitaryHistoryNow / TheRthDimension |
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe and declares, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” Churchill’s speech is considered one of the opening volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War.
Churchill, who had been defeated for re-election as prime minister in 1945, was invited to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he gave this speech. President Harry S. Truman joined Churchill on the platform and listened intently to his speech. Churchill began by praising the United States, which he declared stood “at the pinnacle of world power.” It soon became clear that a primary purpose of his talk was to argue for an even closer “special relationship” between the United States and Great Britain—the great powers of the “English-speaking world”—in organizing and policing the postwar world. In particular, he warned against the expansionistic policies of the Soviet Union. In addition to the “iron curtain” that had descended across Eastern Europe, Churchill spoke of “communist fifth columns” that were operating throughout western and southern Europe. Drawing parallels with the disastrous appeasement of Hitler prior to World War II, Churchill advised that in dealing with the Soviets there was “nothing which they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for military weakness.”
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Truman and many other U.S. officials warmly received the speech. Already they had decided that the Soviet Union was bent on expansion and only a tough stance would deter the Russians. Churchill’s “iron curtain” phrase immediately entered the official vocabulary of the Cold War. U.S. officials were less enthusiastic about Churchill’s call for a “special relationship” between the United States and Great Britain. While they viewed the English as valuable allies in the Cold War, they were also well aware that Britain’s power was on the wane and had no intention of being used as pawns to help support the crumbling British empire. In the Soviet Union, Russian leader Joseph Stalin denounced the speech as “war mongering,” and referred to Churchill’s comments about the “English-speaking world” as imperialist “racism.” The British, Americans, and Russians-allies against Hitler less than a year before the speech—were drawing the battle lines of the Cold War. |
"Occupy" protesters interrupt Santorum
TACOMA, Wash. - Rick Santorum said on Monday that the Occupy movement represents "true intolerance" after he was faced with a handful of angry protestors who shouted through his entire event, ultimately resulting in the arrest of three of them.
"I think it's really important for you to understand what this radical element represents. Because what they represent is true intolerance," the former Pennsylvania senator said after two protestors were handcuffed and dragged away.
He cited a recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that California's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional to further paint the group as intolerant. "What they said was that anybody who disagreed with them were irrational and the only reason they could possibly agree is they were a hater or a bigot," he said. "Now I gotta tell you, I don't agree with these people but I respect their opportunity to be able to have a different point of view and I don't think they're a hater or a bigot because they disagree with me."
A third protestor was later arrested after she threw glitter on Santorum as he was shaking hands with the crowd. Tacoma Police Sgt. Paul Jagodinski estimated that three people were arrested altogether, though the department did not immediately return calls for comment.
But the presence of the protestors didn't ruffle the candidate as he tried to speak over the shouting below him and then calmly observed the arrests. Later in his speech, as the shouts continued, he even tried to appeal to the protestors.
"I understand their frustration," he said. "For three years they haven't been able to find work, they have a president who doesn't care about them."
He blasted President Obama for dividing the country and called his fiscal 2013 budget proposal, released Monday, "another tax-the-rich scheme."
The audience of a few hundred people at an outdoor amphitheater, was supportive of Santorum and tried to shout down the protestors. He appealed to them to be the "momentum changer" during the Washington caucuses on March 3, just before the all-important Super Tuesday states.
"Your caucus, your voice will speak very loudly about where the race is heading into these big Super Tuesday primaries. Your caucus across this state can have a huge impact on who the Republican nominee will be so I ask each and every one of you to do your duty, to live up to your honor, to come forward and to go to those caucuses on Saturday morning," he implored the crowd. |
Hello, Dungeoneers!
Today we'd like to share news from the production front with you. Over the last couple of months, the mass production of Masmorra proceeded at full speed and now we're entering the last stretch! The mass production itself took slightly longer than estimated, now scheduled to wrap around November 10th. In the meantime, we finished preparing all packing slips, and the packaging of all KS pledges is scheduled to take place in November, with the boxes shipping out of China to all International Hubs towards the end of November.
The dungeons lineup, waiting for brave adventurers!
We've also received a few pictures from the manufacturing front, which you can check out below:
Put together, these tiles would make a mightily big dungeon to explore!
And let's not forget that the heroes of Masmorra will come ready to join Arcadia Quest!
A pack of Greybarks enjoying their last moments of daylight!
So keep your swords sharpened, dungeoneers! We're very close to the end now, and you will need all your wits and weapons to face the Masmorra itself, Malaphyas and his minions!
And while you wait for the game to arrive, why not brush up on the rules with the excellent 'How To Play' video that Rodney Smith from Watch it Played recently posted?
Let's keep delving deeper! |
Former Miss Arkansas and Bill Clinton’s alleged former mistress Sally Miller claims, “Hillary is a lesbian.”
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Miller, a former singer and radio host known as Sally Perdue, said that, “Bill didn’t mind telling me that Hillary doesn’t like sex.” (RELATED: CNN Anchor Shocked To Learn There Are 14 Women Who Claim Bill Clinton Sexually Assaulted Them [VIDEO])
While Miller and Bill had an affair in 1983, she claims that she now sleeps with loaded semi-automatic.
Miller, who is about to release a tell-all memoir, entitled “The Beauty Queen: Let No Deed Go Unpublished” of her and Bill Clinton’s relationship said, “I take [Bill Clinton] at his word and he told me [Hillary] liked females more than men. She was the child of a more progressive community.”
According to Miller, Hillary “was exposed to all the liberals, she was a flower child” who “does drugs too.”
Miller noted that while she and Bill were “intimately involved” the future president “would say things like ‘gosh you need to come over and teach Hillary a few things.'” However, Miller claimed that Bill said Hillary “wouldn’t take to that idea much.”
Regarding her relationship with Bill, she said he “put on my frilly nightie, and danced around playing his sax.” Adding, “Bill is not the most handsome man. But he makes you feel like your breasts are the right size, your legs are the perfect length, you have an incredible body and on top of all that you’re beautiful. There are not many men that can make a woman feel that way.”
According to Miller, Bill Clinton asked for affirmative consent during their lovemaking that “wasn’t that memorable.” Clinton “reminded me of a what a little boy would say to his momma. ‘Is it OK if I put my hand there? Can I touch you here?'”
Commenting on the 2016 election, Miller, who is now 77-years old said she fears for her life, because she says she has been stalked and spied upon, said, “With the election coming up [Hillary] can’t afford any sort of loose end.”
The former secretary of state is “the closest thing you can imagine to Al Capone,” Miller alleged. “I don’t think she is going to rest until she puts me to rest.”
According to Miller, “There is a vengeful, spiteful ugliness that some women have for other women. And there is a certain type of women who just has it in her genes to be nasty,” and “Hillary is just one of those women.”
Miller is not the only woman to make allegations of sexual impropriety against President Clinton. Some of Clinton’s accusers include Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Eileen Wellstone, Carolyn Moffet, Elizabeth Ward Gracen, Becky Brown, Helen Dowdy, and Cristy Zercher. (RELATED: Bill Clinton Avoids Reporter’s Question About Reemergence Of Juanita Broaddrick [VIDEO])
According to the Starr Report, Monica Lewinsky testified that Bill Clinton told her that “he had hundreds of affairs” before he turned 40.
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Disabled Man tries to report Corporate Abuse by Local Authority, his Advocate is falsely arrested and tortured by Police instead!
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On the 29th November I attended Court to face the trumped up charge of ‘impersonating a designated officer of the National Crime Agency’, which carries up to 12 months imprisonment. Only to be informed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped the Case Due to insufficient evidence on 1st November (some 28 days earlier). The CPS failed to notify, my solicitor, the courts or I. This case will now be referred back to Professional Standards and the IPCC concerning Unlawful/unnecessary arrest or detention and the Breach of Code C Pace (Article 3 Breach, Torture).
The matters concerning my client, are back before the LGO, as well as a torte case in January in which my client is suing RBC.
Update: Thursday 14th September 2017 12:20 hrs, it appears that in light of recent events, the Local Government Ombudsmen (LGO) has done a complete U-Turn over the issue of the Threats made against my client by Reading Borough Council, they will now be investigating this and a number of other issues raised during their previous 4 attempts to investigate these matters. Hopefully this time they will not just accept Mr Chris Brooks responses as evidence on behalf of the Council and seek the actual records. (Although the LGO can work on this basis, given that he is directly named in the complaints, it could be considered inappropriate in the terms of justice for the LGO to just take Chris Brooks written opinions as fact, yet again).
Update: Tuesday 12th September 16:54 hrs, Just came off the telephone with Thames Valley Police, Professional standards (Head office) at Kidlington. Despite the Registered Complaint on the 23rd August 2017, via 101 and the subsequent call back from the Chief Inspector at Reading Police Station. Professional Standards have no records of this complaint. Obviously, they are very concerned, as an alleged breach of Article 3 of the ECHR/HRA is one of the most serious complaints they can receive. They have now logged this as an Official Complaint. However, they are also investigating why there is no log of this?
As you may remember from the previous update, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) give reference to the complaint and the initial response from the Chief Inspector.
Here in the 21st Century Britain with the likes of the Care Act 2014, we think of it as almost a given thing that a Disabled person should be granted Access to An Advocate.
Just to make it clear what an Advocates role is;
Your advocate will only do what you want them to do. This includes:
Talking to you to find out what you think and what you want
Explaining things to you so that you can make choices
Being with you when you meet with health and social care staff
Speaking up for you, if you want them to
Getting information you need so that you know all the options open to you
Telling you everything anyone has told them about you
Sticking to your brief, however difficult, until you have achieved what you can
Description with courtesy of GAIN. http://www.gain.org.uk/
However, Reading Borough Council seem to have a different understanding of Independent Advocacy. They seem to think that Advocacy means;
Ignoring you and not caring what you want
Not bother explaining things, so that you have no choices
Not being with you, so we can intimidate you more
Must be silent, even if you really want them to speak for you
Must never seek your information, as we do not want you to have options
Definitely must not let you know what has been said
Have their own agenda, which they abandon halfway through.
I really wish the latter was just sarcasm, however, the experience of the Last 2 years has shown me that it is very much embedded in fact.
Lets start at the beginning of where I became involved, back in Early 2015, I was approached by one of the very respected Seniors (Merry Cross) of the Berkshire Disabled Persons Against Cuts, a local chapter of the National Disable People Against Cuts (DPAC) that many will know from the Protests in the Lobby at Westminster as well as across the Country, fighting for Disabled Persons Rights and trying to challenge the Horrendous cuts that are falling hardest upon Disabled Person shoulders.
Basically Merry Explained to me about a Chap with Cerebral Palsy. who had been having a horrendous time trying to resolve care issues etc with Reading Borough Council. He had not had the best experience with Advocacy that was previously provided by the Local Authority. Ranging from not listening to him, to actually fraudulently claiming money from RBC for Advocacy work they were not even completing.
So I ‘volunteered’ to meet him, to see if there was anything I could do to help get his voice heard and to move things forward.
After our initial meeting, it became very clear that this extremely intelligent chap had been treated atrociously by the local Authority and even the Local Government Ombudsman.
All He had been seeking was another 10 hours care on top of his existing 35 hours a week, so that he could engage socially, go to visit family and attend Chapel to follow his Catholic Faith. As well as get an Occupational Therapist assessment so that the support equipment, that his carer uses everyday could be repaired/replaced.
These genuinely are not unreasonable requests. The Care Act 2014, under ‘Wellbeing’ places certain legal requirements upon a Local Authority
Definition of wellbeing
1.5 ‘Wellbeing’ is a broad concept, and it is described as relating to the following areas in particular:
personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)
physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
protection from abuse and neglect
control by the individual over day-to-day life (including over care and support provided and the way it is provided)
participation in work, education, training or recreation
social and economic wellbeing
domestic, family and personal
suitability of living accommodation
the individual’s contribution to society
The above is from the Governments Guidance on the Care Act 2014 www.gov.uk
May 2015: As the Result of the ending of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) in June of that year, My client had me sit in (along with one of his friends) on a Care Plan Assessment.
From the outset it all seemed to be wrong, there was two Social Workers, no Occupational Therapist. They seemed to be more interested in ticking boxes than actually listening to what my client had to say. There was also the fact that this was a Care Plan Review, not a Full Care Plan Assessment as required by the Introduction of the Care Act 2014 and the ending of the ILF.
The Social Worker continually made excuses claiming not to know anything about the 10 hours extra care, even though it had been presented at 3 previous Care Plan Reviews as well as before the Local Government Ombudsman.
However we did not dwell upon that, the priority was the care needs of my client in the here and now.
The Social Worker avoided, looking at my clients disability support equipment, Citing that was
a matter for the O.T. (Although entirely correct, she did have responsibility to flag the serious issues up).
As you can see in the Gallery above, These are some of the Conditions that the Social Worker refused to note down. Little did we know that the Social Workers failure to note these things was to be just the start of a whole list of troubles for my client and I.
June 2015:
The end of ILF and Migration to Local Authority Funding, from the outset it became very apparent that despite a considerable amount of time to prepare, Reading Borough Council had absolutely no policy in place to handle this.
It took over 20 very lengthy telephone calls with their finance department, before they finally agreed to implement my proposal. This involved, transferring Care for Persons in receipt of ILF to Local Authority funding, on a like for like basis, until such time as to when they could get around to actually assessing them financially.
RBC do not like to admit that it was an unpaid Advocate, that saved their backsides over this one.
Shortly afterwards, my client pointed out that he had not received the Draft of the Care Plan Assessment. These assessments are supposed to be self directed, as such a draft copy is released to the Cared for Person, to challenge or correct mistakes, before the final copy is signed off. After challenging this, my client received a draft and a final copy (which had been signed off by a senior manager). Hand delivered directly to his door.
Although they can sign off on such documents, it is only supposed to be done when a Cared for Person fails to, or is unable to engage in the process. (This was clearly not the case).
Upon closer inspection, my client noticed some major issues.
The Document had been pre-filled with content from an old Care Plan, which was produced before the Introduction of the Care Act 2014
They had not even checked the pre-filled document, it was Dated January 2014 .
. No mention of the required 10 hours extra care.
No mention of the need of an O.T assessment
Basically, it was as if the assessment meeting had never occurred and the Social Workers manager just rubber stamped what ever rubbish the Social Worker presented as a report.
Realising that I was going to be in for the long haul, I suggested to my Client that maybe we should concentrate on his care needs, and hold off on further complaints until he had the full records. So my client completed a Subject Access Request (SAR). Basically an application to obtain his records under the Data Protection Act. Of which it was made very clear in writing, that all of the documents should be served to him.
Whilst this was ongoing, RBC removed the previous Social Worker from my clients case, they did not tell him he no longer had an Appointed Social Worker.
A few weeks passed, no new assessment, no SAR documents. Also I moved house.
Upon enquiring with the Legal Department (Headed up By Chris Brooks) as to the whereabouts of my Clients Documents, they became extremely hostile towards my client and I.
This was followed up by claims that they had issued part of my clients file (by basic signed for post) to my previous address, and that this was my fault.
I pointed out to them that it had been made very clear to the Department, that all my clients
sensitive Data should be served directly to him. As I work on a limited personal budget, thus it would not be practical to store such large files in compliance with Security Protocols under the Data Protection Act.
After a lot of calls, they finally admitted their mistake, however even then they tried to claim that I signed for the Documents at an empty former tenancy which I no longer even had the keys for.
When I verified with the Post Office, the signature on file matched nobody’s ever even associated with the Property.
You can read about this here: GetReading News Article
Despite their apologies, they continued to claim that they had done nothing wrong, so my client filed the Matter with the Information Commissioner(ICO). In May 2016, the ICO ruled that Reading Borough Council (Chris Brooks Legal Team) had breached the Data Protection Act 1998.
Chris Brooks, begrudgingly issued a half hearted apology and refused any compensation for the loss of between 500 to 1000 pages of my clients Sensitive Data.
September to December 2015:
After constant delays, another (this time Senior) Social Worker was appointed for my client, Lucy Samson (The reason for naming her will become apparent).
Upon hearing her name, my client said there was a previous serious issue concerning this Social Worker and he would get back to me about that.
A few days later he showed me an email reply produced by Lucy Samson, several years earlier, when he had been seeking help to Study his BA(Hons).
This is what the email contained:
“Our team works with people with severe learning disabilities, mental handicap as it was formally known. The report you sent makes it clear that you do not have a learning disability, as you have, or are currently studying at degree level.”
There are many forms of learning Disability, an I.Q of 70 or below is a very old definition, but other conditions should not be excluded, As an example, Dyslexia is referred to as Language-Based Learning Disability.
In respect of Lucy Samsons comment, although at first glance may seem reasonable, what she is actually saying is that Persons with Learning Disabilities cannot study at University. She was unlawfully discharging her Departments Duty of Care towards my client.
Being a person who is diagnosed as Severely Dyslexic, who is currently Studying a BSc(Hons) Computer Science at the University of Reading, I found Lucy Samsom’s comment to be deeply offensive, As did my client.
After further negotiation, my client agreed that it was in his best interest to seek an official apology from Lucy Samson, upon receipt of that, he would be willing to go ahead with a full Care Plan/ OT Assessment with her in place as his Social Worker.
Despite numerous communications, both by my client and I to Social Services, on November the 23rd 2015, Lucy and the O.T turned up unannounced on my clients doorstep. Given the previous history with RBC and the failure of Lucy to apologise for her previous discriminatory Email, my client refused to let them in.
He was not willing to have a full blown assessment without a witness.
Shortly afterwards, Lucy Samsom wrote to my client, trying to claim that she knew nothing of the Cancellation of the Meeting/Requirement to apologise for her email. This may be entirely true, but that does not inspire confidence in other staff/managers in that department.
Despite this to date, Lucy has never apologised, her senior manager did (verbally),
however, Chris Brooks has put in writing that that there was no discrimination, only to later deny in writing that this matter was ever even presented before him (Chris Brooks has a really nasty habit of documented involvement, then later forgetting it and denying all involvement, Which obviously makes it nigh on impossible to work with him).
January-Feb 2016:
Numerous phone calls and Emails to Social Services, by this point they had become obsessed with the previous complaints and kept placing that above the day to day care needs of my client.
On two occasions I had to quite abruptly stop duty social workers from ranting and raving about the complaints and insist upon speaking to their manager. On both occasions their manager apologised for their behaviour.
The outcome of those calls, despite the atrocious behaviour of the Duty Social Workers was that Social Services would appoint another Social Worker at the earliest opportunity. (Even though neither my client or I had requested that, my client just wanted an apology from Lucy Samsom and that was suffice).
A few days later, a senior member of staff (who was leaving that very day), wrote to my client accusing him of being a repetitive complainant, this letter also referred my client to Chris Brooks as his now single point of contact. (This was for everything from his day to day care, finance and complaints).
In case you are not aware of Legal Protocol, if you are Legally represented, then under this protocol, the representatives of the likes of Reading Borough Council are required to speak to your solicitor, no you. Chris Brooks had effectively shut my client out from the very support system that is supposed to be in place for him (By Law).
Every time my client tried to call them, to ask when they would appoint a Social Worker/Carry out the Care Plan Assessment, all staff were directed to forward his calls to Chris Brooks.
As is required (normally every 12 months) my client was contacted by the Council in respect of Disability Related Expenses (DRE). The idea of this is a simple financial assessment, which looks at your income and the extra expenses you have because of your disability, then work out how much contribution you must pay towards your care.
Instantly there were problems:
It was pre-populated with old data and they refused to allow it to be altered.
The is a declaration, that a Care Plan Assessment had been carried out.
In the first instance, this prevented my client from supplying up to date income/expenses, in the
latter my client could not make this declaration as he was aware that it was false.
A False declaration on a D.R.E is a criminal offence, yet again Chris Brooks did not care about the Legality, he quite forcefully told my client, “just complete the form and send it in”.
Over the following months, the Social Services just ignored my client, redirecting his calls to Chris Brooks. Whereupon the serious issue over the D.R.E was completely ignored.
Then they came back with a massive 400% increase in contributions. At the most it should have only been about 15% because of the 3 year delay since the last financial assessment. They then just stopped paying into payroll for his Personal Assistant (Carer).
On May 9th and May 16th 2016, Chris Brooks made two unsolicited calls to my private home number (It is ex-directory and had not been supplied to his Department). During both calls he was extremely hostile and abusive. On both occasions I terminated the calls by stating “You have no Legal Right to call me. If you have something to say, direct it to my clients Legal Council”.
Shortly after this, the Local Government Ombudsman once again became involved. At which point Chris Brooks denied:
That the Department had accused my client of being a repetitive complainant (It was just a Warning of the procedure should he continue to complain). (It clearly stated that he was and who the appointed person was).
They did not block payments to payroll, although payroll company had confirmed in writing that they did.
Staff should not be redirecting my clients calls to him, (this would be corrected), It wasn’t instead it continued for months.
On May 23rd 2016 Chris Brooks, contacted my client to trying and obtain my Private Email, Home Address, etc, as the department did not have this information anymore, as confirmed to the ICO. My Client quite rightly refused.
The following day at around 18:00 hours, Mr Brooks approached my elderly neighbour’s door and started asking questions to them about me. My neighbours directed him to the correct bungalow, however, they were so concerned by his rather odd behaviour that they continued to observed him.
Upon attending my door, he presented who he was and that he would like to speak to me, the other resident in this property confirmed to him
He was not supposed to be there.
That I had no intention of speaking to him as my client is represented by a solicitor.
that I was currently contacting the Police.
He laughed (sarcastically), said “Oh really” (Sarcastic tone again) he stepped forward, within six inches from her face in a very intimidating way, and then said, “When are they arriving”? (In an arrogant manner).
At which point, she closed the door and came back into me, as I was still on the telephone with the Police, she was shaken and very angry at the way she had just been spoken to in her own home.
I then approached the door, using my walking stick as an aid to walk, I insisted he had no right to be here, he stepped forward through the doorway towards me in an aggressive manner, then stated “I have every right to be here”.
I then leaned against the inner door frame, grabbed my walking stick six inches below the handle and raised it to shoulder height,
Then stated:
“You have no right to be here,
leave my property or I will use
reasonable force to remove you”.
He laughed then stepped back a little, but still refused to leave. I repeated the warning several more times before moved to the end of the short path. He then tried to claim that the common access path to the bungalows, was a public right of way.
To which I pointed out to him, that:
“the area was clearly marked private property”, and that he
“would have to be beyond that path and the adjoining car park before he was off the private property”.
I had to follow him, directing him time and again that he was not off the property.
Subsequently, he stood next to his blue BMW car, (Photographs were taken) just on the end of the property for over 45 minutes.
The during this time, the Police were still on the phone and were refusing to respond.
The following day two PCSO’s attended my home, just to check we were ok, no officers to take a statement. It took 7 more requests, two further attendances by officers and a Formal complaint to the Police, before even the most basic statement was taken, the other person in the household was never asked for a statement until a few months later (After a formal Police investigation in to the handling of the case). The same occurred in respect of the several neighbours who witnessed Mr Brooks behaviour.
Mr Brooks claimed to the police that.
I had made two unsolicited telephone calls to him
That he was there to serve a document from the local authority to me. (RBC is not my local authority, he had no such documents with him).
In his correspondence on behalf of RBC to the LGO, he later admits that he instigated the unsolicited calls to my ex directory telephone number, he does not state how he obtained it. (The Police still refuse to investigate this, although it is classed as an alleged attempt to Pervert the Course of Justice).
He clearly had obtained my address, which is not on public record, without authority, so why did he not issue the letter via, secured delivery or courier?
The following day, he did issue a letter via my private email address (on my private server in Canada) & signed for post.
This letter contained false accusations against myself (he was misrepresenting the horrendous response from the duty social workers as being of my doing), and threats against my client, I.E trying to imply that my client was not capable of making his own decisions.
To date, Mr Brooks has never been investigated by Safeguarding, in respect of this and other incidents, even though standard local authority protocol requires it, even if he is not prosecuted, to ensure the safety of vulnerable persons he presides over in his role for the Local Authority.
Thames Valley Police did claim that the investigation of their handling of this matter would be investigated by another Police force, however, it was handed back to a local Chief Inspector in Charge of Loddon Valley Police station. Who decided that Chris Brooks was acting on behalf of the local authority when he attended my home, virtually nothing was said about the failure to respond.
The whole reason why it was inappropriate for Thames Valley Police to investigate, is that Chris Brooks has close links with them in his role, as well as being the person who signs off on their income from that local authority. There was a direct conflict of interest.
In the mean time, Mr Brooks got progressively more aggressive in his stance with my client, once again getting staff to redirect all communications to him (in breach of legal protocol), he then had finance ‘withhold’ further payments to my clients payroll account for his carer, Repeatedly leaving my clients carer without income.
Mr Brooks later openly admits in writing to the Local Government Ombudsman, that he used the ‘repetitive complainant procedure’ and ‘withholding payment’ to force my client to return a D.R.E (A Disability related expenditure form, which if filed as requested, would have involved my client in what was a serious criminal offence).
Eventually, they said the head of the financial team would speak to my client on the Telephone, to resolve this D.R.E issue, but I was not allowed to be present (Otherwise they would terminate the call). Unbeknown to them I sat quietly in the background whilst he used a speaker phone.
Instead of moving this forward, the Financial Manager proceeded to brow beat my client, ignored the legal issues over the form right up to the point were my client broke down in tears, at which point I spoke up and said “enough was enough, this is a disgusting way to treat somebody”.
I notified them that the entire call was recorded.
They slammed the phone down!
After I ensured my client was o.k, I did a back end Google search on the RBC website and recovered the Financial Framework document (This is the guideline on what a cared for person can claim for to reduce their contributions, RBC would not supply it).
My client completed the D.R.E (redacting the declaration), yet they still illegally processed it without a declaration and reduced his contributions to a just a fraction more than he was paying before.
After the previous financial issues, payroll was stating that the account was still being shortfalled. Chris Brooks once again replied to the Local Government Ombudsman claiming that this was all my client’s fault.
Well in between making false accusations against me, as well as repeatedly attacking my ‘title’ and ‘credentials’ (nearly 90% of his statement to the LGO on behalf of complaints being investigated, was a personal attack on myself), He was supposed to be presenting RBC’s stand point on the serious complaints.
From then right up to the just before the 4th Final Ruling by the LGO in early 2017, Chris Brooks blamed my client and I for everything.
In the meantime, my client obtained the full payroll records, and ran all the calculations himself, what he found was that in the previous 2 years. Reading Borough Council had shortfalled the account by nearly £5000. (whilst blaming him for their financial fraud). Chris Brooks had been fully aware of this shortfall.
Payroll had offset the shortfall, by delaying the payment of tax, to ensure that my client continued to receive care, but when the payments were deliberately stopped completely
on the previous occasions by Mr Brooks, they had no buffer to ensure that wages were paid.
At this point, I should point out, that even if a cared for person refused to pay their contributions, Councils are legally bound to ensure care is in place. By admitting to using processes in this manner to what can only be described as ‘manipulation’ of my client, Mr Chris Brooks was actually admitting to a Criminal offence. (Both RBC and Thames Valley Police refused once again refuse to do anything about).
On the Fourth try the LGO upheld all my client’s complaints (Awarded £500 compensation). He also recommended in light of his findings, that RBC carries out a review of their communications with my Client and I.
Or in plain English, this means RBC have been caught playing silly games, now its time to stop.
Chris Brooks response:
He instructed the review to declare that my client was a repetitive complainant and retrospectively apply that back to February 2016.
Then declare that my client continues to be a repetitive complainant, as does his Advocate.
Yep, you did read correctly, LGO upholds complaints, their response is to retrospectively call my client and I repetitive complainants.
Just for the record, the role of an advocate includes challenging the Local Authority if required. (Advocates cannot be repetitive complainants). This protection is actually built in to the Care Act 2014.
Chris Brooks response: “That only applies to advocates appointed by the Local Authority”.
Yet again Chris Brooks is displaying total lack of knowledge of the law, It applies to all advocates.Even if I swore at staff (not that I ever would) they are Legally bound to respond to any issues that I raise on behalf of my client.
RBC finally got around to carrying out a ‘Full’ Care Plan Assessment for my client (only two years late). However, on the notification they stated that “if my client insisted on having me present as his advocate that the Care Plan Assessment/My clients existing care would be terminated”.
Any threat to terminate the Care for a Person under the Care Act 2014 is a criminal offence, my client flagged this up to the LGO. The LGO refuses to investigate.
After sheer stubbornness (quite rightly) from my client and their further use of this threat, they eventually backed down and the assessment was carried out.
The two independent Social Workers showed their contempt for what had happened by visibly on camera tearing up the previous care plan report and throwing it over their shoulder.
Then saying “Let’s start over”.
Over the following 2 hours we laughed and joked about the entire situation, they applied for the 10 hours extra care, as well as a review later in the year, for my client to go back to University to study for his Masters.
They also put in a recommendation for a full Occupational Therapist Assessment (They were shocked when shown just two photo’s of the support Equipment).
Because of the threats to my client, both my client and I contacted Safeguarding in Reading, in respect of what amounted to ‘Corporate abuse’ by the Local Authority.
They would not even take the complaint. So subsequently I contacted SafeGuarding in my Area at Wokingham, sadly they did not have the jurisdiction, but directed me to the board of the Triborough Safeguarding.
At which point, at their instruction, it was raised with Reading Safeguarding yet again.
Their response?
They had no response, Chris Brooks override them, took full control of the report, then wrote directly to my client yet again, with what can only described as torrent of abuse aimed at me along with some alarming twists.
SafeGuarding passed a note to Chris Brooks,
Chris Brooks had stopped SafeGuarding from responding to allegations.
Chris Brooks presented that any matter looked at by the LGO will not be looked at by the SafeGuarding.
This is a very disturbing twist to events, as SafeGuarding is not supposed to be answerable to anybody in the Local Authorities, as this would create a conflict of interest.
Nobody in a Local Authority should be able to pick choose what SafeGuarding investigates.
The LGO is not a specialist in care matters/safeguarding, they can only deliberate on matters, such as maladministration and recommend its put right/Compensation.
The reality is that the LGO has very little power over the local authorities, other than naming and shaming them.
In criminal matters such as Corporate Abuse, threats against a cared for person, etc, the LGO is completely powerless.
Yet Chris Brooks, of whom a number of the serious issues directly involve, has placed himself in charge of, and is controlling what they can investigate. It really makes a mockery of the entire Multiagency safeguarding system.
This really was the last straw, I had put up with Mr Brooks waging a personal vendetta against myself for nearly two years.
So I issued a Cease and Desist notice, basically, if he directly/or instructed others to publish the unfounded accusations towards me, he would face legal action for Defamation.
A few days later the Occupational Therapist contacted my client to arrange the requested assessment.
Once again, the threat arose that if I was present as his advocate, the assessment would not take place. However, she directly cited this as ‘Instruction from the Head of Legal Services’ (Mr Chris Brooks).
I contacted her on behalf of my client, mentioning the ‘cease and desist’, throwing out the Olive branch and that this was just an overlap in advice from the Department.
About a week later she wrote back to my client and stated, that the assessment could go ahead and that I could be present if he wanted.
Day of the O.T assessment, the O.T attended with her Senior Manager. However, from the
outset they were in disbelief as to the behaviour of RBC’s legal Services, and we moved on to my clients support needs.
Upon inspecting the condition of my clients support equipment (As shown in the Gallery Above), they openly expressed their disgust as to why this had been delayed so long. Mr Chris Brooks had openly blocked previous O.T assessments, stating, in writing “it would be too expensive for the Local authority to implement”.
In answer to that comment, the O.T and her manager stated clearly, that an O.T assessment can be called at anytime there is a perceived need.
The result is that they are applying for the complete replacement of my clients support equipment, grants to refit the Kitchen/Wetroom and Ramp, to that of compliance and safety.
The upshot of this is that Mr Chris Brooks ‘willfully’ left my client and his carer with faulty and dangerous support equipment, then blocked any safeguarding investigation into his wrong doing.
Now we come to the matter of the threats:
After a conversation with the LGO investigation officer concerning these threats, the LGO directed my client to the Local Police, to raise this as a Criminal Matter. (It would have been more helpful if the LGO had used their remit to place it directly).
Anybody who has ever tried to report a crime via 101, will be aware that it is nigh on impossible. Most often the Civilians that operate those phone lines, wrongfully claim Criminal offences are ‘civil matters’ and refuse to even log an incident. So I fully understood when my client was reluctant to do this.
In an attempt to minimize issues that come from a busy Police Station, we attended the smaller Loddon Valley Police station.
From the outset the SDO (Civilian on the front desk) seemed to take a dislike to the colour of my clients skin, would not listen to him and kept him repeating the same thing over and over. At which point, with my clients authority, I intervened and explained the situation.
The SDO then went back into the office and several minutes later, returned with a senior SDO, who went straight on the attack of me.
I then asked to speak the desk sergeant (although an old term, it is still used by the police force to describe the sergeant in charge of the SDO’s), to which she shouted, “How old are you”? “We don’t have desk Sergeants anymore”.
Whereupon, both SDO’s walked off into the office muttering what appeared to be derogatory comments.
After about 20 minutes a Police Constable appeared and was more concerned with my ‘credentials’ than anything else, claiming I was from the National Crime Agency, I corrected him and showed him my I.D, which he then accepted, then he tried to make out that the threats made towards my client by RBC were not a criminal matter.
I then insisted to speak to a senior officer (and that we could return at another point in time if one was not available then).
The PC left, then returned via a side door about 10 minutes later, by this time my client was getting quite angry and upset about how he was being treated. I have to admit, although I did not express this in front of him, I was furious, as he had done nothing but to try and report a crime.
The Police officer, then repeatedly asked me my Surname, to which I responded “Taggart”.
He then tried to usher us into a side room to speak to him, not a senior officer.
At this point I was becoming concerned for my client and stated that I am terminating this matter here, it will be a part of a formal complaint, Whereupon my client and I left the Building.
About 45 minutes later, we attended the Reading Police Station. We made no mention of the previous behaviour of SDO’s and the PC at Loddon Valley, as the report against RBC was the priority. The SDO, who introduced herself as Lauren, was very professional. She took time to take on board my clients report, then spent about an hour chasing down departments, to figure out how to progress. She then issued a note to my client, explaining what Department had been contacted, to make it easier for other staff when he returned with the Documented Evidence.
On Monday 7th August I attended the Loddon Valley Police station on my own, I requested to speak to a Sergeant. Shortly afterwards the “Desk Sergeant” came down and took my report concerning the previous behaviour of the SDO’s. Whilst I was explaining what had occurred, the Senior SDO came storming out of the office shouting “it was me who he was speaking to”, she proceeded with several profanities before the Sergeant literally had to bundle her back into the office, she could be heard screaming and shouting at the Sergeant for several minutes after that, comments like “he is not the real NCA”.
When the Sergeant returned, I pointed out that ‘there is no real NCA’, and explained how Rt Hon Theresa May had ripped off the logo and surrounding details from the New Cyber Army (N.C.A), to create the National Crime Agency (N.C.A) when she was the Secretary of State.
Obviously I have to deal with these civilians/officers on a regular basis, as an advocate, so I requested that this be dealt with as an informal investigation, in which the member of staff was just reminded that they should not speak to members of the public like that.
I have gone through this with various departments, including Loddon Valley in the past, it tends
to resolve matters more quickly and officers respect that move more.
The sergeant refused, stating this must be a formal complaint, So I asked to speak to the inspector. I made it clear that I was aware that it was around time of shift change and would be happy to speak to them on the phone at another time if it was more convenient.
The Inspector was just leaving but confirmed he would call me back.
The following day, I got a call from the Inspector and he agreed to take the informal approach concerning the SDO’s behaviour towards my client and I and would get back to me within a week or so.
On Tuesday, 22nd August, I attended Reading Police station, to facilitate my client supplying his documents, to the Police to support his report of Corporate Abuse, towards him by RBC.
From the outset, my client (who is etremely observant) pointed out that the SDO’s were acting very odd, almost as if they were nervous about something, Lauren who had been so helpful to my client previously, would not even hold eye contact with him and delegated the matter to another SDO.
This SDO was rather abrupt and would not listen to my client, even when he opened his file, produced the note from Lauren and showed her the letters, from RBC staff and Chris Brooks, threatening to terminate his care.
The SDO went back into the office.
About 30 minutes later she appeared, stating her Inspector had said this was a civil matter and had a list of local Legal Aid Solicitors.
I pointed out my client already has legal counsel, however, this was not a civil matter, it was a criminal matter, which was verified by the LGO and subsequently as the result Lauren’s enquiries last time we attended. I explained I fully understand, this is not the sort of matter you would deal with normally, the LGO really should have directed this to specialist senior officers.
To which she replied, who are you?
My reply, I am General William Taggart of the N.C.A, at which point I clearly showed my I.D which states, ‘New Cyber Army’. “I am (my client names) advocate”.
She then went back into the office again.
Approximately 30 minutes later she appeared, said almost the same as last time, but then added, “but you have quoted chapter 14 of the Care Act”, almost in unison both my client and I said, “we never said that”, “we pointed to 67(5) being misquoted by Mr Brooks”. This was in reference to Mr Brooks, trying to claim that I was being paid by my client. Although not unlawful (despite how Mr Brooks tries to claim it is), it would mean that the local authority would not have discharged duty to supply a free independent advocate.
It was a matter of form anyway, as I am a volunteer, I do not earn a penny for what I do.
I then asked again on behalf of my client to speak to a sergeant,
to which, she then stormed off back into the office again.
By now both my client and I were getting quite hungry, so when the SDO finally came back out again, I said we have to go get some food, could they please arrange an appointment so that we could discuss the matters against the local authority with an officer.
We were about to leave when the Inspector came rushing out with an expression on her face like thunder. She proceeded to harshly speak over the top of my client, would not listen to anything he said. She then stated,
“We are concerned for your Welfare as a ‘Vulnerable Person’,
My client literally shouted at her;
“I am Fully Compos Mentis”, “I am not a vulnerable person”.
I put my hand on my clients shoulder and said to him;
“Calm down (my clients name)”,
“you are being led into a response”,
“You have done nothing wrong”,
“you do not have to say anything”.
“You are only here to report a crime”.
The Inspectors then said:
“we have reason to believe that you are fraudulently claiming to be an advocate”, to obtain money from (my clients name), and that you have falsely claimed to be a General of the National Crime Agency.
At which point, before I even had a chance to stop him, my client shouted,
“He said no such thing”, “he said New Cyber Army”.
“He is a volunteer referred to me by Merry Cross at DPAC, he does not get paid”.
I advised my client that he should leave, as I am concerned for his safety, whereupon we proceeded to leave.
Some of the rest you can observe on this video supplied by my client, (I was concerned about his personal information on it, but he said there is more in the old news paper articles than there is in the video).
In there determination to create a ‘trumped up’ case, shortly after this video, I hand my clients file back to him.
Whereupon one officer grabs his arm to restrain him (he was not being detained or arrested), another dives in full force, elbows him brutally in the chest and levers the folder out of his hands.
The officers shoulder cam and the Stations CCTV show the excessive level of force, used upon a Chap with Cerebral Palsy.
To make matters worse, at this point in time, they had not verified from any other source that he was not a vulnerable person. So in all sense and purposes, they were still of the belief that they were using excessive force on a vulnerable person.
It should be noted that, the file in question, belongs solely to my client. He has since confirmed that it also contains Payroll documents and Court Documents (In respect of the the ongoing County Court Case against Reading Borough Council). The police should not have these in their possession.
In fact they are not allowed to look at or retain court documents, which pertain to a local authority which supplies a large section of their funding.
Yet this did not stop the officer going through said file in the custody suite (On camera), I had to tell him five times that they were private, sensitive data belonging to my client and that he had no warrant, before the custody Sergeant finally stopped him.
As had been presented on Social Media, I was arrested for;
“Impersonating a desingnating officer and fraud”.
That is not a typo, the officer really does say “desingnating” and does not correct his mistake.
From 14:16 hours to 20:48 hours that night, none of the officers could make up their mind as to the reason for my arrest.
Despite being informed, that I am
Diagnosed Severely Dyslexic.
Suffer from Temporary Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar if I don’t eat)
Acid Reflux/Gastritis.
Diagnosed with severe Obstructive sleep apnoea (I stop breathing up to 60 times an hour when sleeping). This results in Hypersomnia during the day.
As well as other physical spine/wrist injury related disabilities.
No appointed person was brought in, although I could barely read what was being presented to me.
I was kept the entire time, with no food or water (Although I had already made clear that I had not eaten that day and my health would deteriorate quickly).
To be precise I was given water. It was warm, from a hot tap, it stank of Copper (no pun intended) and chemical water softener. I could only wet my lips with it, as consuming it would have risked kidney failure.
When I challenged about this, they sent the Medical officer down to measure my blood sugar. With Hypoglycemia you are supposed to consume a sugary drink etc, ‘then’ test your blood sugar levels later.
They offered nothing but a blood sugar test, in unsanitary conditions. so I refused.
I said “I need food”, “not needles”.
About an hour later they sent in a Psychiatrist and a Psychiatric Nurse, because I was acting ‘oddly’. Which is an any advocate knows, all they need to commit you under the Mental Health Act.
Of course I was acting oddly, I had not had any food, I was in absolute agony with my spine and my stomach was on fire.
In case you are not familiar with the effects of Gastritis, imagine being gutted by a blunt serrated edge hunting knife and you will be at about 10% of the pain. It really is agonising.
This combined with Hypersomnia (Day time sleep apnea events), was actually making me quite scared. As I was getting more and more exhausted by the minute, but if accidentally lay down in my sleep, I risked the Acid bile refluxing into my oesophagus whilst in a sleep apnea event.
(Basically suffocating to death).
By about 19:00 hours that evening, I was genuinely fearing that the only way I was going to leave that cell was in a body bag (If this had continued just 3 more hours that was a serious risk of being the outcome).
When the officers finally arrived, I just shouted at them (tearfully), either charge me or let me go, I can’t wait around for a duty solicitor, I am in absolute agony, this is nothing short of torture.
They just laughed!
Then went off to confirm I would not have a duty solicitor.
Thus came the questioning or should I say they thought I would be questioned then.
Apparently the Duty Solicitor was not happy with this and insisted upon speaking to me.
I made it known to her that I had not eaten at all that day, and some of my health problems.
Which wasn’t easy, as by this point I was in a Hypersomnia, Hypoglycemia fog, which makes it extremely hard to think.
Actually it’s such a serious condition, that if you have more than 30 sleep apnea events an hour, You are required to Notify the DVLA often surrendering your license to drive. Until you meet the requirements of treatment.
On the date in question I was untreated.
Just before the Duty Solicitor left (as she had to see another client in the questioning room, next door). She informed the officers of my medical conditions.
When it came to sleep apnea, the officers reply was literally unbelievable.
“Well if he goes to nod off, I will nudge him awake”.
Let me reiterate, at this point I had had no food or water for over 12 hours since I got up that morning (Actually I had nothing since the previous night). I was slipping in and out of Hypersomnia/Sleep Apnea events, which involve stopping breathing and blood oxygen levels dropping to dangerous levels, and this officers response was.
He “Will nudge me awake”.
In case you do not know, suddenly waking up somebody with critically low blood oxygen levels can cause a heart attack and events leading to a Stroke etc.
Basically, for the sake of facilitating my clients reporting Reading Borough, I was arrested on trumped up charges and Tortured, in breach of Article 3 of the ECHR.
“Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibits torture, and “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. There are no exceptions or limitations on this right.“
Despite being severely dyslexic, no appointed person was brought in.
Then charging me on the basis of ‘hearsay’ presented by a inspector on behalf of an SDO.
I have been charged with
“Impersonate a designated National Crime Agency officer (recordable), H10981, CC13006, 194/62/”
The above is not what was stated to me, I only knew this when I got back and had the charge sheet read to me.
This is despite presenting myself both verbally and via photo identification ‘clearly’ as an Officer of the New Cyber Army (NCA) an organisation that has existed since 1989, some 24 years prior to the National Crime Agency (N.C.A) coming in to existence.
As the video shows, even before arrest, I was still presenting as General William Taggart of the N.C.A “New Cyber Army”.
The National Crime Agency does not have Generals!
On another note: Mr Chris Brooks keeps trying to present my client and his family as of limited education. So to resolve this once and for all my client had given me this photo and full permission has been obtained from those pictured.
As you can see, that is quite far from being of limited education, in fact in 1996 my clients mother Dr Albertine Mathurin Jurgensen was awarded an M.B.E by her Majesty for Public Service.
Link to Article
I am aware of the spelling mistakes (Hopefully all corrected now)
So on the 21st September 2017, Reading Magistrates Courts at 09:15 hrs. I am to attend to face the charge of “impersonate a designated National Crime Agency Officer”. Even though I have never done any such thing in my life, in fact we at the New Cyber Army, Consider them to be the lesser organisation, which in many cases limit the very Human Rights that we try to protect.
A link to this Article has been supplied to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Somebody does not want this shared, I have been locked out of my twitter account by twitter, an account which has existed since the early days of that company.
So Please click the button to share!
Update: The response from the Crown Prosecution Service concerning wrongful arrest, torture in breach of Article 3 of the Human Rights Act/ European Convention on Human Rights, trumped up charge.
Dear Mr Taggart
Your e mail of 1 September is acknowledged.
In accordance with page 6 of the CPS Complaints and Feedback Policy, as you are a defendant in an ongoing case, the Complaints policy does not apply, however your e mail has been placed with the case papers so that the information can be seen by the lawyer in the case in due course.
We have also noted that you have already lodged a complaint with the police with regard to your treatment at the police station.
We enclose a copy of the CPS Complaints and Feedback Policy for your information.
Yours sincerely
Thames and Chiltern Complaint Co Ordinator
Basically they directed it to the wrong department, now they are passing the buck. As for the complaints before the Police. The informal complaint over the SDO, ‘no further response’ from the Inspector,
The Formal complaint in respect of wrongful arrest, torture in breach of Article 3 of the Human Rights Act/ European Convention on Human Rights, trumped up charge as well as the use of excessive force upon my client and searching his documents without a warrant. ‘No further response’. From the Chief Inspector.
It seems nobody wants to respond on this case. I wonder why?
I am asking that those of you who can, to Come to Reading Magistrates Courts, Civic Centre, Castle St, Reading RG1 7TQ at 9:15am on Thursday 21st September 2017. To Peacefully show support for a fellow DPAC’er and Solidarity against this Injustice. |
Panasonic have released a BTS video from the first ever EVA1 shoot that took place in Iceland. Shot by director of photography Matteo Mezzadri and his crew, the making of video shows the EVA1 being used in a variety of configurations and conditions.
The EVA1 was used on a tripod, hand held, underwater, on a gimbal, and also on a drone. The production was captured in 4096 x 2160 24p internally using V-Log. It was recorded in the 4:2:2 10 bit 150 Mbps (VBR) codec to the SD cards. The BTS footage was entirely shot on the GH5. The only shots that you see from the EVA1 are labeled “Shot on EVA1” as well as the V-Log and V-Log+ V-709 LUT comparison that appears around the 3 minute mark of the video.
The BTS video colours look really nice from the GH5 and the odd shot shown from the EVA1 point to the camera producing lovely images.
The EVA1 certainly looks like it was versatile enough to be used in a variety of different ways, and this is perhaps one of the cameras biggest strengths. We are definitely seeing a trend in the industry where camera manufacturers are trying to make their products in a more modular form. The majority of users want to be able to customize their camera platforms so they can set them up in a way that best suits their needs and shooting style.
Panasonic had an event on in New York last night and they will have another one in Los Angeles on September 14th where the first screening of 3 short films shot with the new cinema camera will be shown. The 3 short films are “Near to Superstition”- Dir./DP Elle Schneider, “Radio 88”- DP Johnny Derango, and “EVA1”- Dir./ DP Filippo Chiesa.
What did you think of of the BTS video? Do the few shots show from the EVA1 look promising? Let us know in the comments section below.
Stay tuned to Newsshooter and we will post up all the short films once they become available. |
Dive Brief:
Realizing automation’s full potential will require people and technology to work together, according to a new McKinsey Global Institute report.
The report, which was based on scenario modeling, predicts physical tasks "in highly structured and predictable environments, as well as data collection and processing" will be the first to be automated. But those jobs make up a little over half of activities in the economy, accounting for almost $2.7 trillion in wages, so the effects could be dramatic.
The firm also acknowledges almost all occupations — both blue collar and white collar — have potential for some automation, which could result in a savings of about $16 trillion in wages.
Dive Insight:
Its clear automation will affect the enterprise in coming years, but putting numbers to those changes is challenging. Meanwhile, McKinsey estimates automation could raise productivity growth globally by 0.8 to 1.4% annually. But when it comes to replacing workers altogether, McKinsey estimates that could only work in less than 5% of occupations.
Ultimately, however, all types of jobs will see some automation. Earlier this month, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance said it is replacing some human insurance claim workers with an artificial intelligence-based system from IBM.
Ultimately, McKinsey predicts, workers will have to adapt for automation and perhaps learn new, more complex skills that they then perform alongside machines. It will therefore be more a matter of better assisting machines rather than being replaced by them.
In an interview with Bloomberg during the DLD conference in Munich, Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella agreed that AI and automation should help people use their time better.
"The fundamental need of every person is to be able to use their time more effectively, not to say, ''let us replace you'," Nadella said. |
University of Missouri campus (Michael B. Thomas/Getty)
The Book of Hosea cautions us: “They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.” Student protests on the University of Missouri’s campus, and the administration’s reaction, sowed some serious wind. Recent news that freshman enrollment is projected to drop 25 percent, creating a $32 million funding deficit for the campus, is the whirlwind. If the university does not clean up its act, who knows what will blow in next?
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It should be noted that this shortfall is not a result of legislators in Jefferson City cutting funding. This is prospective students freely deciding that they don’t want to spend their college years as Missouri Tigers; they and their families would rather take their money elsewhere. That should terrify administrators in Columbia. Will Mizzou go the way of other brands scorned by the marketplace, like Kodak, Pontiac, or Ask Jeeves?
Mizzou desperately needs to get its house in order. Most important, it needs an administration that realizes that protests on university campuses have been happening for decades. In many cases, there is an element of truth to the protestors’ grievances, but it soon gets wrapped up in the narcissism and self-righteousness of 18- to 22-year-olds. The job of administrators is to separate the wheat from the chaff. They must address the real issues that are affecting students without losing sight of the fact that it is college kids making the demands.
RELATED: Crazy Campus Radicals Are Financially Crippling the University
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Mizzou’s administration completely failed in this regard. The kernel of truth in the protestors’ anger is that far too few black students are meeting with success on Mizzou’s campus. This is undeniably true. African Americans make up around 12 percent of Missouri’s population, but they make up only 7 percent of Mizzou’s. They are disproportionately enrolled in remedial classes, and they drop out at higher rates than other students do. This is cause for concern, and the administration should address it.
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Protesters mixed this legitimate concern, however, with a series of out-there demands. They insisted, for instance, that the president of the University of Missouri system pen a handwritten note admitting his “white privilege,” and they demanded that the school hire legions of staff in a variety of departments to provide services for minority students. Naturally, they offered zero advice on how to pay for all of it. That is the chaff.
#share#If the university does not have leadership that knows the difference between wheat and chaff, or that is incapable of dealing with substantive issues without being derailed by ridiculous ones, a 25 percent drop in enrollment is just the start. And Mizzou shouldn’t expect the state to bail the school out.
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It appears that nearly everyone involved in this debacle has lost sight of the fundamental fact that the University of Missouri receives more than $250 million each year from Missouri taxpayers. Many of these people did not attend, will never attend, and will never have any of their children or grandchildren attend the university. University students, faculty, and administrators are asking the single mom in Cape Girardeau who is struggling to get by working two jobs to pay for their wants and desires. Just because they attend Mizzou or work there does not mean that they have a claim to that woman’s money.
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#related#We support Mizzou (and our other state universities) because they provide a service to our state; they educate our citizens and do research that improves our world. If they’re not doing either of those things, they aren’t entitled to a dime of taxpayer cash.
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Let’s hope that this enrollment nosedive serves as a wakeup call to the Mizzou community. A strong flagship university can be an asset to its state and citizens. Mizzou has a long way to go in proving that it is ready to resume that role. |
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