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Google removed from the Google play store a widget that displayed quotes by Meir Kahane, leader of Israel’s extreme-right political party Kach.
According to a report in +972 Magazine, right-wing activist Baruch Marzel posted on his Facebook page that the application, which can be installed on a smartphone's home screen, displays up to a thousand quotes by Kahane, whose party was banned from the Knesset in 1988 and outlawed in 1994. Among other things, Kahane is known for saying that there is no Palestinian people.
On Sunday, the application had been downloaded between 50 and 100 times from the Play Store. Although Google did not officially confirm it had taken down the application, and added it does not comment on specific applications, the Kahane app was not available for download on Monday.
Screenshot of the 'Kahane app.'
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After he kicks off 2014 with a number of appearances at the San Francisco Sketch Fest in late January (http://sfsketchfest.com), Eugene Mirman, Brooklyn comedy staple and voice of 'Gene' on Bob's Burgers, will take to the road to perform in Carrboro, Asheville, Atlanta, Louisville, Lakewood, Pittsburgh and Ithaca.
Said Eugene, "Without being specific, most of these cities are wonderful and only one or two really need fixing. I am excited for this tour and got an okay deal on a rental car from Avis."
About Eugene MirmanBrooklyn resident, Eugene Mirman escaped the clutches of Russian communism at the age of four when his family immigrated from Moscow to Lexington, MA (where along with Paul Revere and John Adams he kicked off the American revolution). He attended Hampshire College and designed his own major of Comedy - doing a one-hour standup act as his thesis, for which he was made fun of, don't worry.
Currently, he does The Voice of "Gene" on Fox's newest hit animated series, Bob's Burgers. In the streets he's sometimes recognized as Eugene, the landlord, from Flight of the Conchords or from his role as comedian/mobster Yvgeny Mirminsky on Adult Swim's Delocated. On Aqua Teen Hunger Force he's Dr. Eugene Mirman and on Home Movies he was Eugene, the Russian foreign exchange student. Eugene Mirman: An Evening of Comedy in a Fake Underground Laboratory, his 2nd Comedy Central Special, aired on the channel in late 2012 and was released on CD/DVD in February 2013.
Eugene was named Best New York City Comedian by the Village Voice, one of "50 Funniest" by Time Out New York, and one of the 10 best comedians of the last decade by Paste Magazine. He's released three comedy albums (the last two on Sub Pop records) and an incredibly funny parody-ish self-help book, The Will to Whatevs. Named by Roling Stone as "Hot Twitterer," Eugene also keeps his 300k+ followers entertained daily.
Along with Julie Smith and Caroline Creaghead, Eugene produces what began as a joke and has become the hugely popular annual Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, which happens every fall in Brooklyn, and is approaching its 7th year.
Eugene Mirman On Tour:2/5 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle2/6 - Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall2/10 - Atlanta, GA @ Erikson Clock2/11 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall2/13 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's 20 Lanes2/14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater2/15 - Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
For more visit: http://eugenemirman.com/
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We here at Below Your Means are not stock traders, however we believe strongly in investing smartly and being prudent with your hard earned money. Protecting the money you have invested (known as protecting your capital) is key to the long term accumulation of wealth.
While I don’t pretend to be an expert stock technician and chart expert, I can look at a chart and draw a basic trend line. If you believe in technical analysis at all, the following chart should definitely give you some pause:
The chart above shows a basic trend line of the S&P 500 since it hit the infamous low of 666 in March 2009. This trend was “tested” in August of 2010 and today appears to have “broken” (meaning stocks closed below the trend line). In trader terms, this could just be a “head fake” and we could head higher from here. However, that trend line will now be considered “overhead resistance” and it looks like stocks could be getting ready to “correct” (an other trader term for “go down 10% or more”).
If you have read our 7 tips every new investor should know, you know I personally do not generally believe in the classic “buy and hold” approach to investing. Instead, I prefer to hold onto quality assets and protect my gains (sell) should the market look to be rolling over. If you were lucky enough to buy stocks in March 2009, or any time since, you are probably holding some solid gains. Now might be a good time to consider locking in those gains and see what happens.
If this is indeed the start of a correction, an S&P 500 price of 1050 would be a logical place for it to stop. That’s a solid 20% drop from here. |
Search Engine Optimization involves several techniques that lead to a singular goal; helping your website rank high on the SERP (search engine ranking page) of different search engines. The most common practice is to keyword rank checking, which enables SEO experts and website owners to see how well their target keyword ranks in the search results of engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo! and others.
Here is a list of some of the most widely used free Google keyword rank checker that you can use to check your keyword rankings and improve it to get ahead of the competition.
Related Post:
Free Google Position Checker Tools
Whether you are on your way to becoming a professional SEO analyst or working on optimizing your website by yourself, SEMRush will always be a valued addition to your arsenal. In order to get the information of the competitor website and the keywords they are targeting, just enter their URL into the search bar.
You can use this tool for finding the right keywords and checking their position, and if you find it as good as most do, you can purchase an SEMRush subscription as well.
While most SEO keyword tools are available in software packages for installation and use, their discontinued support or offline usage can be a bit tricky. With SEO SERP Workbench, you have a powerful SEO tool available as a Chrome Browser plugin. Downloaded by thousands of users, SSW offers support for several countries and much more.
In the world of SEO, Small SEO Tools has been a portal with several web-based tools that provide Search Engine Optimization techniques for free. The Keyword Position Tool provides the ability to check through multiple search engines, with the ability to check up to 20 keywords at a time.
If you are looking for a Google keyword research Tool that is designed to work with a particular location, the Keyword Rank Checker offered by SERPs.com is just the right fit. This tool supports up to a 100 countries as it is essentially a locality based tracking tool.
If you are handling more than just a handful of websites and need a position checking that can manage hundreds of domains at once, Wincher is just what you need. You get alerts and daily reports of your SEO project depending upon the criteria you have set up.
This free online tool for checking Google keyword position is dedicated to the most popularly used search engine. Google Rank Checker has an easy to use interface, all you need to do is insert the URL along with the keyword you wish to search.
While the mediocre user layout compared to other SEO tools makes Rank Checker from SEOCentro a wild choice, the performance of this tools makes it all worth it. With the support of multiple search engines such as Yahoo!, Bing, Google etc. you get all the details specifically about the keyword you wish to look up.
The Google Position Checker by Moonsy is yet another tool that focuses solely on Google search engine. The clean layout of the tool makes it easy to use, and it does not compromise on the features either. The functionality of the tool not only offers in-depth analysis of your keyword, but those of the competitor as well.
Similar to Small SEO Tools, SEOBook has also become a revered name in the SEO world, as it provides some top notch tools. Among the numerous tools their website provides, the most popular is the Firefox Browser extension known as Rank Checker. With personalized reporting, secure connection and easy interface, you won’t need an SEO company to look after your website.
This website provides a free keyword ranking position tool that is not only easy on the eyes, but efficient in functionality as well. The SEO Tool by KPMRS finds website ranks on Bing, Google, and Alexa, along with features such as checking backlinks, social popularity, and web audit.
The Google Rank Checker Tool by CuteRank has been around for years and is available in the form of downloadable software. With the ability to work with search engines such as Google, Bing, Ask, Yahoo! as well as AOL, you can track the keywords as well as batch check them.
The Google Keyword Rank Checker developed by AlloRank thrives to provide a richer user experience with the representation of real-time data and Analytics. You can look up the position of your targeted keywords with just a few clicks.
12 Free Google Position Checker Tools For Keywords 5 (100%) 2 votes (100%)votes
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Just under two years ago, the Guitar Hero franchise was riding high, having racked up over $2 billion in sales from its various installments. However, the intervening period has seen its fortunes fall, with sales plummeting to the point that the latest installment in the series, Warriors of Rock, sold fewer than 100,000 copies during its debut month last September.
Guitar Hero won't rock in 2011. But will it ever again?
As a result of the franchise's weakening, Activision shut down original publisher RedOctane and hit former developer Neversoft with layoffs. Today, though, comes word that the series may have paid the ultimate price. According to the company's latest financial report, the 2011 installment of the game has been axed, and "the company will disband Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero business unit." The company also confirmed that the DJ Hero series is being discontinued.
The company did not comment on whether there will be another Guitar Hero game sometime down the line. However, in a conference call with analysts after the earnings release's publication, Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said that, with licensing fees and music royalties, the company just couldn't make profitable Guitar Hero or DJ Hero games at current sales levels. He also said that the company would continue to fund downloadable content for the series as a way of keeping the current customer base engaged.
[UPDATE 3] Or did he? Now according to a FAQ on the official DJ Hero website, all Guitar Hero and DJ Hero DLC will cease after February's end. "We will release the previously announced DLC track and mix packs for February, but--unfortunately--we will not be able to release new DLC packs beyond what we already have," read the FAQ.
Another series headed for the chopping block is True Crime, a move that comes before the next game in the series, True Crime: Hong Kong, had even hit the market. The open-world crime game had been set to be released for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 later this year. It had been in development at Canadian studio United Front Games (ModNation Racers).
In the same conference call, Hirshberg said that the decision to cancel True Crime was due to the fact Activision feels only top-tier games can be competitive in today's market--and that True Crime wasn't a top-tier game. "To be blunt, it just wasn't going to be good enough," he said.
[UPDATE] Hirshberg also shed some light on the Tony Hawk series during the call, saying there will be "no new music or skateboarding games in 2011." Last December, Activision said it was sticking by the series even though its last installment, Tony Hawk: Shred, sold under 3,000 units during its first week on sale.
[UPDATE 2] When asked by an analyst what the impact of the Guitar Hero cancellation and other decisions would have on headcount, Hirshberg said that 7 percent of Activision's workforce would be cut as a result. CFO and COO Thomas Tippl expanded on that, putting the layoff figure at around 500 people.
For more on what might be the final Guitar Hero game, check out GameSpot's review of Warriors of Rock. |
Leonardo Bonucci admits Barcelona ‘excite him’ and ‘it’d be a big motivation to meet them again’ in the Champions League.
Having secured their place in Friday’s draw for the last-8, Bonucci was asked about which teams he’d like to face in the quarter-finals.
“I think it’s fair to say this reaching the last eight is the intermediate objective for a team like Juve,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.
“We’ve reached the top eight in Europe, and now it’s up to us to improve again. What excites me most is Barcelona, they pulled off a great comeback and it’d be a big motivation to meet the team which beat us in the final two years ago.
“After the PSG game they’re the team in the best form. If I had to pick a team to avoid I’d say Bayern. They’re a complete team, with Ancelotti they’ve found a new way to play but they’re always winners.
“They’re a difficult team, anything can happen in a one-off game but across two it’s more complicated.”
Bonucci also touched on the arguement with Coach Max Allegri that saw him suspended for one game by the club.
“I think these kind of things can happen during the season.
“It helped the group, it served to cement the understanding between the squad, the Coach and the club even more.
“We must always maintain proper respect and our proper roles. I was wrong and I paid for it, the Coach was wrong and he paid for it. Forget it and move forward.
“It’s part of every relationship, whether that’s friendships, family, or work. I defy anyone to tell me that they haven’t had a fight with a friend, a wife, a colleague, a boss.
“It can happen, the important thing is to understand when you’re wrong.” |
Refocused: Buffalo Bills 13, Indianapolis Colts 7
By PFF Analysis Team • Dec 10, 2017
Sub-freezing temperatures and unrelenting snowfall forced the visiting Indianapolis Colts into a war of attrition with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but the cold couldn’t keep the home team from coming out on top, 13-7 in overtime.
Bills veteran running back LeSean McCoy ran the show on offense with his 137 rushing yards on 31 carries. He also punched in the game-winning touchdown from 21 yards out in the extra period to give his team the 13-7 win. Buffalo withstood the cold, and the injury-bug, after rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman went down. Quarterback-turned-wide-receiver-turned-quarterback Joe Webb performed admirably in relief duty as signal-caller after Peterman exited the game, and the Bills kept their name in the AFC playoff race.
With that, we give you our PFF-exclusive takeaways from the contest for each team.
Top 5 Grades:
RB LeSean McCoy, 88.9 overall grade
LB Preston Brown, 83.4 overall grade
S Jordan Poyer, 82.4 overall grade
LB Matt Milano, 81.2 overall grade
S Micah Hyde, 80.4 overall grade
Performances of Note:
RB LeSean McCoy, 88.9 overall grade
McCoy took over the game towards the end of the second quarter and became a one-man offense for the Bills against the Colts. His offensive line struggled to move defenders around in the snow as he averaged just 0.56 yards before contact. However, McCoy averaged 4.31 yards after contact and broke eight tackles on his 32 carries, including one forced missed tackle on his game-winning touchdown in overtime.
QB Nathan Peterman, 75.7 overall grade
Despite the conditions, Peterman had a solid game before exiting the contest with an apparent injury. While he attempted just nine passes, the Buffalo quarterback was on target with all of his attempts only to see his receivers drop three passes in the snowy weather and the Colts defenders break up a fourth one. Peterman also showed poise and good accuracy on the last drive of the first half, which ended in an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin.
LB Preston Brown, 83.4 overall grade
Over the course of the game, we saw offensive linemen struggle to stay on their feet at the second level, which isn’t overly surprising given the conditions. This left linebackers free to make plays, and that’s exactly what Brown did. He racked up six tackles, all of them resulting in a defensive stop on the play.
S Jordan Poyer, 82.4 overall grade
Poyer is enjoying a career year in Buffalo, and that continued with another solid performance today. Obviously with the snow making life difficult for the opposing offense, not much was asked of him in coverage, but he still made an impact there and against the run, with all three of his tackles resulting in a defensive stop.
Top 5 Grades:
RB Frank Gore, 86.4 overall grade
CB Quincy Wilson, 86.2 overall grade
DI Margus Hunt, 86.0 overall grade
DI Johnathan Hankins, 84.3 overall grade
S T.J. Green, 83.8 overall grade
Performances of Note:
RB Frank Gore, 86.4 overall grade
With both teams having to rely heavily on the running game thanks to the snow, running back Frank Gore turned back the years with a vintage performance. In all, 94 of his rushing yards came after contact, while also forcing four missed tackles. Most of his runs went up the middle, with 22 of his 36 carries going either side of the center, as Gore racked up 91 yards on those carries.
QB Jacoby Brissett, 53.2 overall grade
The weather definitely played a part, but Brissett struggled to get anything going in this game, with just one of his completions coming on a throw travelling 10 yards or futher downfield. He also scrambled twice for 11 yards, but at times this felt like a game where some play action roll outs would have helped the Colts offense find some space to make plays, but nothing ever materialized. Brissett himself wasn’t the reason for the loss, but if he had been able to find a few plays downfield, we might have seen a different result.
CB Quincy Wilson, 86.2 overall grade
Even though six of the Bills’ 15 pass attempts targeted Wilson, the rookie cornerback held his ground and allowed just two receptions for a total of 18 yards. Wilson appeared to match the phisicality of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin as he allowed him just one reception on five targets and also recorded a pass breakup against Benjamin.
DI Margus Hunt, 86.0 overall grade
Hunt quietly had a very impressive outing against Buffalo as he successfully set the edge against runs for the majority of the afternoon. Hunt finished the game tied for the second-most defensive stops on his team with five and picked up two total pressures, which was tied for the most on the Colts defense.
PFF Game Ball: LeSean McCoy, RB
*Grades are subject to change upon review |
After reading the recent article in which Randy Pitchford from Gearbox Software said that he thought Valve was exploiting small developers, I decided to offer some perspective "from the trenches."As a small independent developer that has released multiple games on Steam, we are exactly the type of studio that Randy believes is being exploited by Valve. Additionally, as president of Tripwire Interactive, I've personally been involved in all of our business deals with Valve and have experienced firsthand how they treat independent developers.So, is Valve exploiting independent developers? In short: absolutely not. Without pulling any punches, I can say with certainty that if it weren't for Steam, there would be no Tripwire Interactive right now.In the early days, when we were shopping our first gamearound to traditional brick-and-mortar publishers, we were shocked at how terrible their proposals were. We were getting pitched offers like, "We'll give you a 15 percent royalty rate, take the IP rights to your game, and slap a $1.5 million administrative fee on top of your recoupment costs." And deals like this were being offered for a game we funded ourselves!With deals like those, we were wondering how any third-party developer could be successful in the game industry. Under the terms of that deal, we would have needed to sell hundreds of thousands of units before we would have seen one cent of royalties. Enter Steam.When we got the contract from Valve, we were amazed at how much better the deal was from what we were getting from the standard publishers. Even our lawyer was surprised at how straightforward the contract was. Many game publishing contracts are full of "gotchas," or what we at Tripwire Interactive call "land mines" -� little fine print clauses that, if you overlook them, could blow up in your face later. Valve's contract was the first one we had seen that didn�t have any land mines in it.Randy's statements suggest that small developers are getting ripped off through their royalty rates. Without breaking any non-disclosure agreements, let me just say that our royalty deal was great, and is in line with what I understand that other digital distribution services are offering. We were able to recoup our development costs for our first game within the first week of sales, and sales were straight profit from that point on.Randy also pointed out the conflict of interest present in Valve being both a game developer and a game distributor. I agree -- there could be a potential conflict of interest here. But the reality of dealing with Valve just doesn't bear it out to be a problem. Tripwire Interactive's two titles on Steam,and, are both direct competitors to Valve�s own gamesand, yet all of these titles have been very successful on Steam.We have never had a situation where Valve downplayed our competing titles. On the contrary, they have done a great job of promoting our games on the front page of the Steam store and through the pop-up advertisements on Steam.The reality is almost every publisher/distributor has some conflict of interest. Standard brick-and-mortar-driven publishers have their own first-party titles. If they are publishing a first-party title in the same genre as your third-party title, most will either refuse to work with you, or will give your game a much lower priority for funding, advertising, and marketing. With console digital distribution, Microsoft and Sony have a complete monopoly on their platforms, and both companies make first party games. At least Valve has competition on the PC.Valve has a very unique take on this matter, and one that I think is smart business. Rather than say, "I don't want to sell your game, because it's a competitor to our game," Valve says, "Our game is good, and so is yours, so let's both make some money together." The attitude is if the game is good, they'll sell it.This is different than standard retail publishers and other digital distribution companies. GamersGate, for instance, refuses to sell games that require Steam because of the conflict of interest. And while they claim to be a better model for digital distribution because GamersGate is a separate business from their related retail publishing company Paradox Interactive, ask Paradox's CEO if they would sell a game at retail that requires Steam.The key point here is this: every publisher has a conflict of interest in publishing third-party games. What really matters is how they have handled this conflict of interest. In our experience Valve has handled it very well; other companies, not so well.I believe Valve has kicked off an indie revolution with Steam. Before Steam, there were very few routes to market for independent developers on the PC. Now Steam has opened up a whole new market for independent games. Indie games likeandwere developed by one-man teams and have torn up the sales charts on Steam, making their developers a substantial amount of money. When since the 1980s could one person write a game, release it, and make a pile of money?Indie teams like Tripwire Interactive, ACE Team (), and Media Molecule () got their start in the industry selling games on Steam and have expanded their businesses from there. Steam certainly doesn't guarantee success for indies -- you still need to make a really great game and release the right game at the right time. But the proof is in the Steam stats. A quick look will show that the top-played games are a mix between popular triple-A titles and indie games such asandThree years and two games later, we've built our company in large part on top of selling our games on Steam. We started out with just a couple of people making games in a small room. Now we�ve built our company up to fifteen people, recently nearly doubling our staff and office space, largely thanks to the success our gamehas had on Steam. I guess all this "exploitation" has been hard on Tripwire Interactive.So the next time someone wants to say that small developers are getting exploited by Valve, I suggest they talk to a few first. Ask Garry Newman, creator of, or Dylan Fitterer, creator ofif they feel exploited. Ask the Tripwire Interactive employees if they feel exploited, as they move into their new offices paid for by the money the company has made on Steam. Or me, as I drive away from the company that was built from the royalties we made on Steam, in my sports car paid for by the royalties we make on Steam, to the home that I pay for with the royalties we make on Steam.If that's exploitation, I'll take a little more. |
Piratetorrents.nu, formerly one of Sweden's largest private BitTorrent communities, has shut down fearing the authorities may come after them. The abrupt decision comes a few weeks after police in Sweden and Germany raided the XNT.nu BitTorrent tracker and arrested two of the alleged operators of the site.
Last month the private BitTorrent tracker XNT.nu was raided, a site which had risen from the ashes of other sites shut down by the authorities in 2009. The raid and arrests in this new case have now claimed another casualty in the form of Piratetorrents.nu.
With roughly 17,000 members Piratetorrents.nu was one of the largest private BitTorrent trackers still standing in Sweden, but as of this week the site is no more. While numerous private trackers shut their doors every year, it’s not often that a site’s staff are so open about their decisions as they are this time.
“As you can see, our website and tracker are not working anymore, this is because we don’t dare take any more risks! All of the staff have a private life to think about, and they no longer want to take the risks inherent in running a tracker,” Piratetorrents’ staff announced.
“In other words, we are throwing in the towel and ending this business before something possibly happens to us in staff. There are too many laws and rules against this stuff and it’s not worth the punishment,” the message adds
A source close to the site’s staff informed TorrentFreak that the raid of XNT and the subsequent arrests had a major impact on the decision to close the site.
Over the years Sweden has proven to be one of the most active countries when it comes to taking action against BitTorrent sites, and the site’s operators were no longer willing to put everything on the line.
Adding to the XNT raid there was also a Scene notice posted recently, with information on another site that was allegedly used to automatically upload content to Piratetorrents. To make matters even worse, this notice also linked one of the XNT arrestees to the Piratetorrents tracker.
“Another p2p-tard who was involved in Piratetorrents autobot is pulchi, he was just caught by the Swedish police in a bust, due to his involvement in another tracker called xnt.nu,” the Scene notice reads.
The demise of Piratetorrents is yet another example illustrating that Sweden is not the safe haven for torrent sites some believed it to be. Although the largest torrent site on the Internet is still active there, many smaller sites have either quit or moved abroad. |
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Il ministro del Lavoro torna a strigliare i giovani: «Prendere 110 e lode a 28 anni non serve a un fico, è meglio prendere 97 a 21», ha detto Giuliano Poletti, dialogando con gli studenti durante la convention di apertura a Veronafiere di «Job&Orienta», la 25esima mostra convegno nazionale dell’orientamento, scuola, formazione, lavoro. Poletti attacca, e i giovani, chiamati di nuovo in causa da un ministro del Lavoro, rispondono rabbiosamente su Twitter. L'ultima volta era stata Elsa Fornero a bollarli come «choosy», schizzinosi. Un'accusa che ancora brucia. Stavolta a fargli la ramanzina è stato l'ex presidente della LegaCoop, che è stato immediatamente sommerso da uno tsunami di post polemici, molto polemici. Il ministro svaluta la lode presa a quasi trent'anni? «Lui aveva risolto così il problema: non s'è laureato». Poletti crede che studiare non serva? «Basta sentirlo parlare per capire». E ancora: «Ecco la summa del pensiero di #Renzi e #Poletti: l'elogio dell'ignoranza».
In ritardo Dopo averli spronati ad attivarsi per entrare presto nel mondo del lavoro, accorciando magari i tempi di vacanza scolastica per dedicare parte del tempo ad esperienze formative, Poletti è tornato alla carica: «I nostri giovani - ha detto - arrivano al mercato del lavoro in gravissimo ritardo. Quasi tutti quelli che incontro mi dicono che si trovano a competere con ragazzi di altre nazioni che hanno sei anni meno di loro e fare la gara con chi ha sei anni di tempo in più diventa durissimo».
Il voto C’è che i nostri licei durano cinque anni e nel mondo anglosassone, per dire, un anno di meno. E c’è che i nostri universitari stanno in aula cinque anni (3+2) per ottenere un titolo che ha lo stesso valore della laurea inglese (che si ottiene con tre anni di studio) o di quella americana (quattro anni). Ma c’è anche il fatto che le nostre università consentono di dilatare i tempi, a chi non si fa condizionare dalle rette e dall’inattività prolungata. Mentre in altri Paesi, chi non tiene il passo è costretto a lasciare gli studi. L’età media della laurea in Italia varia da 25,3 anni per i laureati di primo livello a 26,9 per i laureati a ciclo unico e 27,7 per i magistrali biennali. Su cento laureati, solo 45 terminano l’università in corso: 44 nel caso della laurea triennale, 34 per il ciclo unico e 54 per la specialistica. Il voto medio di laurea è 102,2: 99,4 per la triennale, 103,9 per il ciclo unico, 107,5 per la magistrale biennale (leggi i dati dell’ultimo profilo dei laureati italiani pubblicato da Almalaurea). «Se si gira in tondo per prendere mezzo voto in più - ha continuato il ministro - si butta via del tempo che vale molto, molto di più di quel mezzo voto. Noi in Italia abbiamo in testa il voto, ma non serve a niente».
Il tempo, un problema Nei concorsi pubblici, però, il voto di laurea conta, eccome. E molti datori di lavoro, dovendo soppesare in tempi brevi un candidato, basano il loro giudizio anche sull’ateneo di provenienza e le medie scolastiche. Ma il ministro è convinto: «In Italia - ha spiegato Poletti - abbiamo un problema gigantesco: è il tempo. Il voto è importante solo perché fotografa un piccolo pezzo di quello che siamo; bisogna che rovesciamo radicalmente questo criterio, ci vuole un cambio di cultura».
La replica degli universitari e degli studenti medi «Sull’età con cui si entra nel mondo del lavoro - scrivono in un comunicato congiunto Jacopo Dionisio, coordinatore nazionale dell’Unione degli Universitari, e Alberto Irone, portavoce nazionale della Rete degli Studenti Medi -, vorremmo ricordare al Ministro Poletti che il problema non è la laurea: l’età media di laurea così come l’età media degli universitari è perfettamente in linea con la media europea. Il problema è che il nostro sistema produttivo non è in grado di valorizzare e assorbire i laureati (in Italia il tasso di occupazione dei laureati nella fascia 25-34 è del 62%, contro la media OCSE che si attesta all’82%) , e che le regole del mercato del lavoro ci espongono a precarietà, salari bassissimi e lavoro nero. È inaccettabile che lo stesso Ministro che ha promosso il Jobs Act, aumentando la precarietà e riducendo i diritti, si permetta di dire che la colpa è degli studenti che badano troppo al voto, come se fosse un difetto valorizzare il proprio percorso di studio».
Alternanza Alternanza scuola-lavoro, competenze e ruolo del lavoro nella propria vita: tanti i temi che Poletti ha affrontato, rispondendo alle domande degli studenti. «Sono convintissimo che sia molto importante», ha detto sull’alternanza scuola-lavoro. «Abbiamo cercato di introdurla per produrre esperienza, per mettere le competenze formative e didattiche che la nostra scuola produce con competenze specifiche e con modi di essere e saper essere», ha continuato Poletti. «Oggi, un’azienda che si mette in relazione con un giovane, la prima cosa che vuol capire non è cosa sappia ma chi sia e questo non si impara solo dentro un’aula. Per questo l’alternanza è decisiva, consente di fare esperienza, conoscere, mettersi in relazione e valutare meglio le nostre attitudini. Perché il lavoro è una parte essenziale nostra esistenza». |
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Germany’s biggest lender, Deutsche Bank, accidentally sent $6bn to a client after entering the wrong numbers, Bloomberg News reported.
A junior member of the investment bank’s foreign exchange sales team made the error in June, Bloomberg reported, citing a person briefed on the situation.
Deutsche Bank divides investment arm in two as part of overhaul Read more
The $6bn was sent to a US hedge fund client and recovered one day later, and occurred after the employee used a “gross figure rather than a net figure”, according to the report.
The incident follows a series of scandals at the Frankfurt-based bank, which has launched a major business and management shake-up.
Its two co-chief executives, Anshu Jain and Juergen Fitschen, resigned in June over missed profit targets and missteps, and were replaced by new co-CEO John Cryan.
The bank is mired in roughly 6,000 legal cases and received a record $2.5bn fine in May for its role in rigging interest rates. |
AUTHORITIES have been forced to euthanaise a female eastern grey kangaroo which had been shot through the top of the leg with an arrow.
The NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service have dug into their own pockets to offer a $200 reward to anyone with information that leads to a prosecution over the senseless act of animal cruelty.
The kangaroo's injury was first reported on Sunday when it was spotted at the golf course in South Grafton, but police and WIRES but couldn't get close enough to put the animal out of its misery until three days later.
Clarence Valley WIRES chair Patricia Edwards said the kangaroo was a healthy young female in the peak of condition when she was shot, which was probably the only reason she managed to hang on in agony for four days.
National Parks and Wildlife Services Clarence South Area Manager Andrew Lugg said it was unfortunate that the animal had to be put down.
"This animal would have inevitably died a slow and painful death," Mr Lugg said.
"This is the second animal we are aware of in the area where kangaroos have been shot and wounded with arrows since Christmas."
Clarence Valley WIRES, RSPCA, Police and NPWS have also spent time searching for an eastern grey kangaroo with an arrow lodged in its body, last seen on Gunhill Drive, Woombah.
It was reported by a family at Woombah on January 7, who called to say the wounded kangaroo had laid down in their front yard.
While a search by the RSPCA failed to find it, WIRES Macropod coordinator Mairi Macleod said judging by the extent of its injuries it would most likely have already died.
"It's an absolutely horrible way to die," Ms Macleod said.
"I think it's absolutely appalling that people feel they can do this to animals just for enjoyment, if that's what it's for."
Ms Edwards has offered a cash reward for information on the South Grafton incident, and said she felt conditions should be placed on purchasing or owning a bow and arrow - the weapon she suspects was used on the kangaroo - in Australia.
Despite crossbows, sling shots and laser sights being classed as prohibited weapons in Australia, bow and arrows are not controlled as they are classified as general archery equipment.
In November, a third marsupial injury involving an arrow was reported by a Woombah man who said he accidentally shot a kangaroo through the tail.
Once again, authorities failed to locate the animal.
Penalties of up to $3300 or six months jail apply for killing kangaroos, which are a protected species.
If anyone has information concerning this matter they can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or the Grafton NPWS on 6641 1500. |
Asia's rising economic success has helped China's hi-tech corridor to take a clear lead in the latest OECD international education rankings.
The results of the OECD's programme for international student assessment – a triennial exam for 15-year-olds known as Pisa – show that China's Shanghai region easily tops the rest of the world in maths, reading and science.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea made up the rest of the top five for maths, followed by the Chinese island of Macao.
Elsewhere, Pisa results were a further disappointment for the US, which saw its maths rank fall to 36th place overall, worse than its 2009 performance, which President Obama dubbed a "Sputnik moment" for American education. In reading, the US fell seven places, to 24th, and in science the country came in 28th, down five.
Australia saw a precipitous fall in its maths ranking, from 15th in 2009 to 19th in 2012, as it was overtaken by Poland and the new entrant, Vietnam, which appears in the OECD tables for the first time. Australia's reading score was little changed but its performance in science slipped from 10th to 16th, tied with Macao.
Finland was the highest placed European country, with a top-five performance in science, while Ireland was sixth-equal with Taiwan in reading. In maths, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the Netherlands were the only European entrants in the top 10.
The UK's performance was virtually unchanged from its 2009 results, when its international rankings suffered with the addition of higher-placed new entrants such as Shanghai. It ranked 20th overall for science, 26th for maths and 23rd for reading – on a par with France and the US, and close to the OECD average for reading and maths.
Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's deputy director for education and skills and co-ordinator of the Pisa programme, said the success of education systems such as Shanghai's was the result of an emphasis on selecting teachers, as well as prioritising investment in teacher training and development.
Shanghai's lead was so clear that the results were the equivalent of its students having had three additional years of schooling, the OECD estimates.
Outside Asia, Brazil, Germany and Mexico have all shown consistent improvement, with Germany, Mexico and Turkey winning praise for improving the performance of their weakest performing students, many of whom were from disadvantaged backgrounds.
David Spieghalter, the Winton professor of the public understanding of risk at the University of Cambridge, said: "Pisa explores many factors associated with country performance but occasionally seem hasty in assigning reasons for change – we can't decide causality from this study, and we should be very cautious in the lessons to be learned."
Spieghalter added: "If Pisa measures anything, it is the ability to do Pisa tests. Aligning policy along a single performance indicator can be damaging. We need to look at the whole picture."
The OECD administered the standardised tests at the end of last year in 34 countries and a total of 64 regions, to 500,000 15-year-olds.
According to the findings, girls performed worse than boys in maths exams in 37 regions and countries, although in the majority of cases the gap was small. In most countries the gender gap favoured girls in reading, while in science there was little difference.
Schleicher said that the OECD found no evidence from its international analysis that competition between private, state or charter-style schools – free schools, in the UK – had any impact on raising standards.
"You would expect that systems with greater choice would come out better because you expect competition to raise performance of the high performers and lower performers, and put out of the market schools and systems that do not succeed. But in fact, you don't see a correlation," Schleicher said.
"Competition alone is not a predictor for better outcomes. And the UK is a good example: a highly competitive school system but still only an average performer."
Instead, Schleicher said parents had higher priorities in choosing schools than simply academic results, according to the OECD's surveys of parental opinion.
"The most important thing for parents is not the performance of the school but what they call a safe school environment. And that is true for privileged and disadvantaged parents," he said. |
Washington (AFP) - The filming of the reality show "Cops" turned deadly when US police firing on a man suspected of robbing a restaurant hit a TV sound man and killed him, police said.
The suspect, later found to have a pistol that fired pellets, was also killed in the incident in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday night.
The audio technician was named as Bryce Dion, 38, and his death is believed to be the first in the 25-year history of the show, one of the first American reality programs, US media said.
In "Cops", TV crews embed with the police and film them in action.
Omaha police chief Todd Schmaderer said Dion was in the vestibule of a Wendy's fast food restaurant as the suspect, identified as Cortez Washington, came out firing his pellet gun.
"He's on his way out. Officers are returning fire. Bryce is in that vestibule and gets struck by a round," Schmaderer told a news conference.
The police chief said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to suggest that officers might have been showing off for the TV cameras, according to CNN.
The production company that makes "Cops", Langley Productions, said it was "deeply saddened and shocked by this tragedy and our main concern is helping his family in any way we can." |
AKA 'Brother Number One'. Birth name Saloth Sar.
Country: Cambodia.
Kill tally: One to three million (or between a quarter and a third of the country's population).
Background: Cambodia becomes a French protectorate in 1863. Complete independence is finally granted in November 1953, with Prince Norodom Sihanouk establishing a 16-year rule. The region is soon destabilised by the war in Vietnam. In November 1963 Sihanouk terminates an aid program run by the United States and in May 1965, as the war spills into Cambodia, breaks relations completely.
Meanwhile, domestic opposition to Sihanouk begins to mount. A ruthless clampdown on opponents forces many to go underground and take up arms, including the Khmer Rouge, the Cambodian communist insurgency movement led by Saloth Sar, later to be known across the world as Pol Pot.
The threat of the communist insurgents, the effects of the lack of US aid, an increase in incursions by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong and the subsequent counterstrikes by US and South Vietnamese forces lead Sihanouk to reevaluate the country's relations with Washington. But by the time he turns back to the US in June 1969 it is too late. More background.
Mini biography: Born on 19 May 1925 in Prek Sbauv in Kampong Thum province, north of Phnom Penh. His father is a prosperous farmer and his family has connections to the Cambodian royal family.
1931 - At the age of six he moves to Phnom Penh to live with his brother, an official at the royal palace. He learns the rudiments of Buddhism during a brief stay at a pagoda near the royal palace before receiving his formal education at a number of French language schools and at a Catholic college, although he never obtains a high school diploma.
1946 - While serving with the anti-French resistance under Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh, he joins the outlawed Indochinese Communist Party.
1949 - Pol Pot wins a government scholarship to study radio electronics in Paris. He fails to obtain a degree but becomes enthralled by writings on Marxism and revolutionary socialism and forges bonds with other likeminded young Cambodians studying in the metropolis, including Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan, Khieu Ponnary, Khieu Thirith and Song Sen. The members of this so-called 'Paris student group' are destined to become the leaders of the Khmer Rouge.
While in Paris Pol Pot also joins the French Communist Party and helps transform the Association of Khmer Students into a platform for nationalist and leftist ideas, openly challenging the Sihanouk government.
In a pamphlet titles 'Monarchy or Democracy' he writes, "(The monarchy) is a vile pustule living on the blood and sweat of the peasants. Only the National Assembly and democratic rights give the Cambodian people some breathing space. ... The democracy which will replace the monarchy is a matchless institution, pure as a diamond."
1951 - The Indochinese Communist Party, which is dominated by the Vietnamese, is reorganised in September into three separate units representing Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, although the Vietnamese continue to supervise the smaller movements. The Cambodian unit is named the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP).
1953 - After having his scholarship revoked Pol Pot returns to Cambodia and throws himself into work for the KPRP, first in the Kampong Cham province northwest of Phnom Penh and then in the capital itself. He also travels to the east of the country to meet with the Vietnamese communists.
He supports himself by teaching history and geography at a private school, where he is well liked and respected by his pupils.
1956 - Pol Pot marries Khieu Ponnary.
1960 - In late September Pol Pot and the 'Paris student group' take control of the KPRP, renaming it the Workers' Party of Kampuchea (WPK) and turning it away from its Vietnamese patrons. Pol Pot is elected to the number three position on the party's Central Committee, allowing him to build a strong faction.
1963 - In February Pol Pot is chosen as the WPK's general secretary, the highest position in the party, following the mysterious disappearance of the previous incumbent. In July he and most of the WPK Central Committee leave Phnom Penh to organise an insurgency base, 'Office 100', on the border with Vietnam in the country's northeast.
1965 - Pol Pot walks the recently completed 'Ho Chi Minh Trail' to Hanoi, the capital of North Vietnam, for consultations with the North Vietnamese communists, who are critical of his nationalist agenda and tell him to delay an armed struggle in Cambodia until the US is driven from Vietnam.
1966 - He receives a better reception when he makes his first visit to China, where the 'Cultural Revolution' has just been launched. He is influenced by the leading radicals supporting the movement and by Mao Tse-Tung's concept of a continuous revolution. He will return to Cambodia determined to further loosen ties with the Vietnamese communists.
The WPK changes its name again, to the Kampuchean Communist Party (KCP), though the Cambodian communists are now more commonly known as the 'Khmer Rouge'. The party's all-powerful Central Committee, headed by Pol Pot, is referred to as 'Angkar' (organisation).
1967 - Returning from a trip to North Vietnam, Pol Pot takes refuge in the northeast of Cambodia. He lives with a hill tribe and is impressed by their simple, non-material way of life, seeing it as a realisation of communist ideals.
Insurrection breaks out in the west of Cambodia at the start of the year. It is suppressed brutally but not completely and spreads. By the end of 1968 unrest is reported in 11 of the country's 18 provinces and by the end of the decade the Khmer Rouge almost completely control the mountainous regions on the border with Vietnam.
1968 - The Khmer Rouge establish the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea in January. Aided by the US, the army launches a small and ineffectual insurgency campaign.
1969 - In March the US begins secret bombing raids on Vietnamese communist sanctuaries and supply routes inside Cambodia (dubbed the 'Menu Series'). Authorised by the newly installed US President, Richard M. Nixon, and directed by his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, the raids are illegal, as the US has not officially declared war on Cambodia. In 14 months, 110,000 tons of bombs are dropped. When news of the raids is leaked Kissinger orders surveillance and phone tapping of suspects to uncover the source.
US bombing raids into Cambodia will continue until 1973. All told 539,129 tons of ordnance will be dropped on the country, much of it in indiscriminate B-52 carpet-bombing raids. The tonnage is about three and a half times more than that (153,000 tons) dropped on Japan during the Second World War.
Up to 600,000 Cambodians die but the raids are militarily ineffective. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports that the bombing raids are serving to increase the popularity of the Khmer Rouge among the affected Cambodian population.
1970 - Sihanouk travels abroad in January to solicit Chinese and Soviet assistance to stop North Vietnam from encroaching on Cambodian territory during the course of its war with South Vietnam and the US.
On 18 March Sihanouk's right-wing opponents within the government seize the opportunity, banning his return from China and installing Defence Minister Lon Nol as premier of the newly proclaimed Khmer Republic. The coup is supported by the CIA.
The new, US-backed government stirs anti-Vietnamese sentiment and initiates ineffectual military operations against the Viet Cong troops. Simultaneously, the Lon Nol government cancels an agreement allowing North Vietnam to use the port at Sihanoukville.
In April US President Nixon authorises the invasion of Cambodia by a joint US-South Vietnamese force of 30,000 troops. Tasked with destroying Vietnamese communist bases inside Cambodia, the force pushes the Vietnamese further into Cambodia but is otherwise ineffective and is forced to withdraw in June by the US Congress.
In China, Sihanouk forms a government in exile and builds an alliance with the Khmer Rouge. Both are intent on seeing the overthrow of the Lon Nol government.
The Khmer Rouge receive military aid and training from the North Vietnamese and support from China and are quickly transformed into an effective fighting force, expanding from a small guerilla outfit of less than 5,000 to an army of 100,000 in a matter of months.
By June the republic's troops have been swept from the entire northeastern third of the country. Areas in the south and southwestern parts of the country are also overrun. By 1973 the Khmer Rouge are able to launch independent and successful attacks against the Khmer Republic troops, taking control of nearly 60% of Cambodia's territory and 25% of its population.
1973 - In an attempt to prop-up the Lon Nol government, halt the Khmer Rouge assault and destroy North Vietnamese bases in Cambodia, the Nixon administration secretly intensifies the bombing of the country, without government authorisation, and despite having signed a peace agreement with the North Vietnamese on 27 January.
1974 - In March the Khmer Rouge capture the old capital of Odongk, north of Phnom Penh. In a foretaste of what is to come, the city is destroyed, its 20,000 inhabitants are dispersed into the countryside, and teachers and public servants are executed.
1975 - Now in control of most the Cambodian countryside, the Khmer Rouge surround and isolate the capital Phnom Penh, which has swollen with refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge and the US bombers. The noose steadily tightens. On April 17, Phnom Penh falls. Within days the city's entire population of over two million is marched into the countryside at gunpoint.
Pol Pot declares 'Year Zero' and directs a ruthless program to "purify" Cambodian society of capitalism, Western culture, religion and all foreign influences in favour of an isolated and totally self-sufficient Maoist agrarian state. No opposition is tolerated.
Foreigners are expelled, embassies closed, and the currency abolished. Markets, schools, newspapers, religious practices and private property are outlawed.
Members of the Lon Nol government, public servants, police, military officers, teachers, ethnic Vietnamese, Christian clergy, Muslim leaders, members of the Cham Muslim minority, members of the middle-class and the educated are identified and executed.
Towns and cities are emptied and their former inhabitants are deemed "April 17th people" or "new people." The country's entire population is forced to relocate to agricultural collectives, the so-called "killing fields." Inmates exist in primitive conditions. Families are separated. Buddhist monks are defrocked and forced into labour brigades. Former city residents are subjected to unending political indoctrination. Children are encouraged to spy on adults.
An estimated 1.5 million are worked or starved to death, die of disease or exposure, or are summarily executed for infringements of camp discipline. Infringements punishable by death include not working hard enough, complaining about living conditions, collecting or stealing food for personal consumption, wearing jewellery, engaging in sexual relations, grieving over the loss of relatives or friends and expressing religious sentiments.
Khmer Rouge records from the Tuol Sleng interrogation and detention centre in Phnom Penh (also known as S-21) show that 14,499 "antiparty elements", including men women and children, are tortured and executed from 1975 to the first six months of 1978. Only seven of those detained at the centre will leave it alive.
At least 20 other similar centres operate throughout the country.
Terror and paranoia reign, reaching a climax in 1977 and 1978 when Pol Pot launches a bloody purge against the "hidden enemies, burrowing from within" and the Khmer Rouge cadres turn on themselves. At least 200,000 are executed.
1976 - The Khmer Rouge declare the new state of Democratic Kampuchea on 5 January. Sihanouk resigns as head of state on 2 April and is placed under virtual house arrest in Phnom Penh. Pol Pot is made prime minister, although his identity and the identities of other members of the 'Angkar' group are kept secret from non-members. To most inside and out of Cambodia he is a shadowy figure known as 'Brother Number One'. The subordinate leaders of the party are known as 'Brother Number Two', 'Brother Number Three', and so on.
It is not revealed that 'Angkar' is in fact the Kampuchean Communist Party until September 1977.
A four year plan is introduced that seeks to treble the country's agricultural output within a year.
1977 - Although almost the entire population is involved in agricultural production, Cambodia experiences food shortages, resulting in many more deaths. Conflicts along the Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese borders escalate. Relations with Vietnam are broken in December. At the same time, Vietnam begins to turn away from China towards the Soviet Union.
Pol Pot, meanwhile, makes a state visit to China, which promises ongoing support, including military assistance for any conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam.
1978 - Vietnam deploys division-sized units along the Cambodian border and sponsors the establishment of an anti-Pol Pot movement called the Kampuchean (or Khmer) National United Front for National Salvation.
On 25 December the Vietnamese launch a full-scale military invasion of Cambodia, rapidly pushing aside the Khmer Rouge. Phnom Penh is captured on 7 January 1979. Sihanouk flees to China on the last flight out of the capital. Pol Pot and the defeated Khmer Rouge retreat to the country's remote western regions from where they will stage a fitful guerilla war destined to last a further 20 years.
Between one and three million Cambodians, or about one quarter of the country's entire population of about seven million, have died during the three years, eight months and 20 days of Pol Pot's rule. On a per capita basis the Khmer Rouge "revolution" is easily the deadliest in modern Asian history.
1979 - Three days after the fall of Phnom Penh the Vietnamese occupying forces establish the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK), governed by the KPRP and headed by Heng Samrin, a former Khmer Rouge military commander.
Already at war with the Khmer Rouge, the PRK faces further resistance from two new insurgent movements - the noncommunist Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) headed by Son Sen, and the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) headed by Norodom Sihanouk.
China also enters the dispute, launching a limited invasion of Vietnam in February and March in retaliation for Vietnam's incursion into Cambodia. China is, however, primarily concerned by the improving relations between Vietnam and the Soviet Union.
ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) shares China's concerns about the spread of Soviet-backed communism in the region. Its member nations play a key role in ensuring that the United Nations (UN) continues to recognise Pol Pot's Democratic Kampuchea as the legal representative of Cambodia. The UN also withholds development aid from the KPRP government.
In August a Phnom Penh "people's revolutionary tribunal" tries Pol Pot in absentia for genocide and sentences him to death. In December Pol Pot is replaced as prime minister of the Khmer Rouge "government" by Khieu Samphan. Pol Pot remains as leader of the KCP and the Khmer Rouge armed forces.
It is reported that the Khmer Rouge are receiving military backing from China and the US. It is also reported that a former deputy director of the CIA visits Pol Pot's operational base in November 1980. During 1980 the World Food Program supplies the Khmer Rouge with food worth US$12 million.
Meanwhile, Pol Pot's wife, Khieu Ponnary, goes insane. He will divorce her and in 1985 remarry a much younger second wife with who he will have a daughter. Khieu Ponnary dies in 2003.
1982 - On 22 June the Khmer Rouge, KPNLF and FUNCINPEC join in a coalition (the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea) against the Vietnamese. The agreement has been brokered by ASEAN. Sihanouk is chosen as the coalition's president, Khieu Samphan is vice president and Son Sen is prime minister.
The coalition, which proposes a general election under UN supervision once the Vietnamese have withdrawn, is recognised by the UN as the lawful government of Cambodia and funded by China, the US and Thailand.
1985 - Pol Pot officially resigns as commander of the Khmer Rouge military forces, although he retains a supervisory role.
1987 - In December Sihanouk arranges direct talks between himself and Hun Sen, the premier of the PRK. The talk's are largely fruitless but do open the lines of communication between the two sides.
1988 - In May Vietnam announces plans to withdraw 50,000 troops from Cambodia by the end of the year. By December not only have the troops gone but also the Vietnamese military high command.
In July all the parties in the Cambodian conflict attend an informal meeting in Bogor, Indonesia. Vietnam links a total withdrawal of its troops to the elimination of the Khmer Rouge. China calls for a complete withdrawal of all Vietnamese troops but rules out any role for Pol Pot in a post-settlement government. The meeting ends inconclusively, as does a subsequent meeting held in February 1989.
Meanwhile, rapprochement between the Soviet Union and China causes the Soviets to also pressure Vietnam to withdraw.
1989 - In Europe, the French Government convenes the Paris International Conference on Cambodia from 30 July to 30 August. Called to mediate a settlement between the PRK and the coalition, the conference stalls when no agreement can be reached on the future of the Khmer Rouge once all the Vietnamese troops are withdrawn. China, however, promises to cut all aid to the Khmer Rouge when a settlement is finalised.
The troop withdrawal is completed in September. The PRK remains in power, headed by Hun Sen. The country is renamed Cambodia and the constitution amended. Renewed fighting between the PRK troops and the opposition forces, including the Khmer Rouge, breaks out on the country's western frontier with Thailand.
1991 - On 23 October the four factions finally sign a peace treaty establishing a temporary coalition government under the supervision of a UN peacekeeping force. Sihanouk returns to Cambodia and is named president.
1993 - Cambodia's first multiparty elections since 1972 are held in May, although they are boycotted by the Khmer Rouge, which claims that the Vietnamese are still covertly occupying the country. When no single party wins a majority the KPNLF and FUNCINPEC form a coalition with two smaller groups.
However, Hun Sen refuses to give up control of the government, leading to a power-sharing arrangement between the coalition and the PRK.
The UN withdraws after the election and China, the US and Thailand stop their financial aid.
Pol Pot goes into hiding and continues the insurgency against the government. He is reported to be in command of a shrinking and demoralised Khmer Rouge guerrilla force based in the Phnum Dangrek Range near the northern border with Thailand. Funding for the movement is obtained through the sale of gem mining and logging concessions to Thai interests, with the revenue estimated to be worth about US$200 million a year.
1996 - The Khmer Rouge begin to split. In August Ieng Sary, Khmer Rouge foreign minister and 'Brother Number Three', defects to the Cambodian armed forces, bringing about 4,000 guerrillas with him. Ieng Sary subsequently names Pol Pot as the sole instigator of the Khmer Rouge policies of genocide. It is the beginning of the end for the Khmer Rouge, who are now reduced to just a few thousand cadres.
1997 - In June Pol Pot becomes convinced that Son Sen, the Khmer Rouge minister for defence and his friend for 40 years, is collaborating with the Cambodian Government and orders his execution. Sen's wife and children are also killed.
Pol Pot is subsequently arrested by Ta Mok, the Khmer Rouge military commander and 'Brother Number Five'. On 25 July a "peoples' tribunal" sentences Pol Pot to life imprisonment for Sen's murder. He is reported to be ailing and near death.
During the trial Pol Pot agrees to an interview with Nate Thayer, a journalist with the 'Far Eastern Economic Review'.
"First, I want to let you know that I came to join the revolution, not to kill the Cambodian people," Pol Pot tells Thayer.
"Look at me now. Do you think ... am I a violent person? No. So, as far as my conscience and my mission were concerned, there was no problem. This needs to be clarified. ...
"My experience was the same as that of my movement. We were new and inexperienced and events kept occurring one after the other which we had to deal with. In doing that, we made mistakes as I told you. I admit it now and I admitted it in the notes I have written.
"Whoever wishes to blame or attack me is entitled to do so. I regret I didn't have enough experience to totally control the movement. On the other hand, with our constant struggle, this had to be done together with others in the communist world to stop Kampuchea becoming Vietnamese.
"For the love of the nation and the people it was the right thing to do but in the course of our actions we made mistakes."
Meanwhile, Hun Sen and the PRK seize full control of the Cambodian Government in July, using force of arms to oust the coalition in an action that amounts to a military coup.
1998 - Pol Pot dies in the evening of 15 April, reportedly from heart failure, although the cause of his death remains unclear. Hours earlier he had learned from a radio broadcast that Ta Mok was willing to hand him over to the government for trial. His body is cremated on a pyre of old car tyres beside a village latrine. The site is later enclosed by a crude timber shelter roofed with old sheets of corrugated iron.
In May Cambodian armed forces capture the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge in the country.
Postscript
1999 - In February the last remaining members of the Khmer Rouge are incorporated into the Cambodian armed forces. In March Ta Mok, the last Khmer Rouge leader at large, is arrested.
2001 - A report released by the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) in July accuses seven former Khmer Rouge leaders of direct participation in the atrocities of the Pol Pot regime and verifies the existence of "a policy of mass murder devised at the highest levels of power and implemented through a coordinated chain of command."
"No longer will those most responsible for the deaths of nearly one third of the population of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge reign be able to say they did not know," the report says.
The Documentation Centre is a private organisation set up to collect Khmer Rouge records as a historical resource for the public and as potential evidence in any future trials. It originated in the Cambodian Genocide Program at Yale University in 1995 with a grant from the US Department of State.
By September 2002 the centre has collected 5,922 pages of documents directly implicating a dozen former Khmer Rouge figures in the killings and abuses of the regime. The centre has also identified 19,400 mass graves and documented 167 former prisons, some of which were larger than the notorious Tuol Sleng.
The discoveries by the centre cause experts to revise upward the estimated number of victims of the Khmer Rouge from 1.7 million to 2.2-2.5 million.
In August 2001 the Cambodian Government passes legislation to set up a joint tribunal of local and international judges and prosecutors to try former leaders of the Khmer Rouge for genocide.
Negotiations with the UN over the shape and scope of the tribunal have been underway for a number of years, but without any final resolution. While Cambodia wants the tribunal to be governed by domestic law and to contain a majority of Cambodia judges, the UN wants to hold the authority so that it can ensure the conduct of the tribunal meets international standards.
2002 - In February the UN pulls out of the negotiations on the genocide tribunal, saying the arrangements as conceived by the Cambodian authorities "would not guarantee the independence, objectivity and impartiality that a court established with the support of the United Nations must have."
While the Cambodian Government vows to carry on with its own trials, the US State Department and the French Foreign Ministry call for an immediate resumption of talks between the UN and Cambodia.
Only two former Khmer Rouge are being held in detention awaiting trial for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - Ta Mok, the military commander who arrested Pol Pot in 1997, and Kaing Khek Iev (also known as Duch), the governor of the Tuol Sleng detention centre.
Most of the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge remain free, including Nuon Chea (also known as Long Reth), one of the members of the 'Paris student group', 'Brother Number Two', and a hard-line and unrepentant supporter of Pol Pot. The former leaders advocate the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission similar to that set up in South Africa following the end of apartheid, rather than prosecution in a genocide tribunal.
In December the UN General Assembly passes a resolution to rejuvenate negotiations on the genocide tribunal.
2003 - Talks between the UN and Cambodia on the genocide tribunal resume at the start of January. An agreement is reached on 17 March and signed by the UN on 6 June. The tribunal will be composed of both Cambodian and foreign prosecutors and judges, with a majority of Cambodians.
At the end of the year, on 30 December, Khieu Samphan becomes the first of the former Khmer Rouge leaders to acknowledge that their regime committed genocide. "There's no more doubt left," he says.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian Government unveils a multi-million dollar plan to turn Pol Pot's cremation site and its surrounds into an official "historical tourism" zone. Under the plan, dilapidated Khmer Rouge buildings at the site will be renovated and a new access road constructed from Angkor, about 120 km to the south. The project features a purpose-built memorial, museum and theatre complex to record the genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime.
According to a report in the 3 September issue of 'The Sydney Morning Herald', former members of the Khmer Rouge, including Pol Pot's cook and housekeeper, are being recruited to act as tour guides, and new signs have been erected at 26 selected "historical" sites.
2004 - In January Pol Pot's 'Brother Number Two', Nuon Chea, announces that he is willing to face an international genocide tribunal in order to set the record straight.
"I admit that there was a mistake," Nuon Chea says, "But I had my ideology. I wanted to free my country. I wanted people to have wellbeing."
According to Nuon Chea, his key error was to not check up carefully on the work of the regime. "People died, but there were many causes of their deaths," he says, denying that millions perished.
On 4 October the Cambodian National Assembly unanimously ratifies the agreement with the UN to set up a genocide tribunal. The Cambodian Senate also approves the agreement. Although no timetable is set for the commencement of proceedings, the tribunal is expected to run for three years and cost US$57 million.
2005 - In April a deal is approved allowing a Japanese company to commercialise a large Khmer Rouge killing field site at Choeung Ek outside Phnom Penh. In return for an annual fee paid to Cambodian authorities the company will be allowed to charge tourists to enter the site.
Meanwhile, the establishment of a genocide tribunal comes a step closer at the end of April when UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan announces that the UN has received sufficient pledges and contributions "to fund the staffing of the extraordinary chambers and their operations for a sustained period of time."
According to the UN, donor nations have pledged more than US$40 million towards the running of the tribunal. Cambodia is expected to provide a further US$13 million, although the country later says it can only afford US$1.5 million.
On 15 August Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warns that the tribunal may not go ahead unless donor nations contribute more funds. "It has been quite a headache for me," he says. "Sometimes, I have even thought of letting it slide."
Later in August, on the 25th, the UN announces that is has appointed Michelle Lee, a Chinese national, as the chief administrator for the tribunal.
On 30 August the US provides the Documentation Centre of Cambodia with a permanent endowment of US$2 million. Interest from the endowment will be used to assist the funding of the centre.
2006 - In February it is reported that Ieng Sary, former Khmer Rouge foreign minister and 'Brother Number Three', is receiving treatment for a heart condition at a hospital in Thailand. His wife, Khieu Thirith, former Khmer Rouge minister of social affairs, is also hospitalised, for an operation on a broken hip.
Further progress is made towards the commencement of the genocide tribunal when 17 Cambodian and 12 foreign jurists are sworn in on 3 July. The swearing in is followed by a three-day workshop during which the jurists discuss the legal procedures to be used by the tribunal.
Later in July the Documentation Centre of Cambodia provides the tribunal with over 380,000 pages of incriminating Khmer Rouge documents in order to "help speed up the investigation process."
On 21 July, Ta Mok, one of the two the senior Khmer Rouge cadres being held in custody on charges of genocide, dies.
2007 - After much wrangling the Cambodian and international judges appointed to the genocide tribunal agree on the rules for the proceedings on 13 June. On 19 July prosecutors submit a list of five former Khmer Rouge leaders who they believe should stand trial. It is reported that those named are Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Kaing Khek Iev and Meas Muth, a son-in-law of Ta Mok.
Noun Chea is arrested at his home in Pailin Province and flown to Phnom Penh on 19 September. He is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including "murder, torture, imprisonment, persecution, extermination, deportation, forcible transfer, enslavement and other inhumane acts."
Ieng Sary and his wife, Khieu Thirith, are arrested on 12 November. Both are charged with crimes against humanity. Ieng Sary is also charged with war crimes.
Khieu Samphan is admitted to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh on 13 November after suffering from "numbness" after falling from a hammock at his home in Pailin. He is arrested immediately after his release from the hospital on 19 November and charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The tribunal gets underway the following day when a court is convened for a pretrial hearing of a bail application by Kaing Khek Iev. The application is denied.
Kaing Khek Iev is formally charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes on 12 August.
2008 - On 11 February 'The Independent' newspaper publishes an exclusive interview with Kaing Khek Iev.
"I and everyone else who worked in that place (Tuol Sleng) knew that anyone who entered had to be psychologically demolished, eliminated by steady work, given no way out," Kaing Khek Iev tells reporter Valerio Pellizzari.
"No answer could avoid death. Nobody who came to us had any chance of saving himself. ...
"It was Ta Mok who had ordered all the prisoners to be eliminated. We saw enemies, enemies, enemies everywhere. ...
"I was cornered, like everyone in that machine, I had no alternative. Pol Pot, the No. 1 Brother, said you always had to be suspicious, to fear something. And thus the usual request came: interrogate them again, interrogate them better.
"If I had tried to flee, they were holding my family hostage, and my family would have suffered the same fate as the other prisoners in Tuol Sleng. If I had fled or rebelled it would not have helped anyone."
2009 - Kaing Khek Iev's trial begins on 17 February with an opening procedural session. When the trial resumes on 30 March Kaing accepts responsibility for his crimes.
"I recognise that I am responsible for the crimes committed," he says. "I would like to express my regretful and heartfelt sorrow."
In a later session, Kaing blames the policies of the Nixon administration for the rise of the Khmer Rouge. "I think the Khmer Rouge would already have been demolished" by 1970, he says.
"But Mr Kissinger and Richard Nixon were quick (to back coup leader Lon Nol), and then the Khmer Rouge noted the golden opportunity. ...
"Prince Sihanouk called on the Cambodian people to go and join the communist Khmer Rouge in the jungle and that allowed the Khmer Rouge to build up their troops from 1970 to 1975."
Talking about the establishment of Tuol Sleng, Kaing says, "Pol Pot was the one who initiated the idea, Son Sen implemented it and Nuon Chea is the one who did the follow up. This is from my observation and from the surviving documents. ...
"The principle was that whoever was arrested and interrogated had to be smashed. That meant be killed. ...
"Everyone who was arrested and sent to S-21 (Tuol Sleng) was presumed dead already. ...
"No one was entitled to release them. Even Pol Pot, the most senior person in the Khmer Rouge, acknowledged that he had no right to release any people. That was the party line. ...
"Pol Pot was a murderer. He was the greatest criminal father of Cambodia. ... I did not think of Pol Pot as a patriot, he had blood on his hands."
Kaing Khek Iev's trial concludes at the end of November. On 26 July 2010 he is found guilty as charged and sentenced to 35 years jail. Sixteen years are deducted from the sentence for time already served.
Both the prosecution and defence lodge appeals against the sentence. The defence also seeks to have the conviction overturned.
The appeal ruling is handed down on 3 February 2012. Kaing Khek Iev's sentence is increased to life.
Meanwhile, the charges against Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Khieu Thirith are expanded to include genocide. The four are formally indicted on 16 September 2010. All claim to be innocent.
2011 - In November, Khieu Thirith is found to be suffering from dementia. She is declared unfit to stand trial but remains in custody. Opening statements in the trial of the remaining three defendants begin on 21 November.
"The accused cannot credibly claim they did not know and had no control over the crimes that occurred," says prosecutor Andrew Cayley. "These crimes were the result of an organised plan developed by the accused and other leaders. ... They cannot be blamed solely on Pol Pot as some of the accused may try."
Speaking in rebuttal, Noun Chea says the Khmer Rouge acted to save Cambodia from an invasion by Vietnam. "The Vietnam factor is the main factor that caused confusion in Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979," he says.
"(After the end of the Vietnam war) Vietnam's cadres still continued to remain discreetly on Cambodian soil in order to conquer this country in accordance with the ambition to occupy, annex and swallow Cambodia and rid Cambodia of her race and ethnicity."
"We wanted to free Cambodia from being a servant of other countries, and we wanted to build Cambodia as a society that is clean and independent, without any killing of people or genocide," he says.
Khieu Samphan says that US bombing of Cambodia led to the rise of the Khmer Rouge. "You seem to forget that between January 1970 and August 1973 - that is, the period of two and a half years - the United States carpeted the small Kampuchean territory with bombs," he says.
"Could you imagine what my country faced after such a bloody killing and war? Can you imagine what the situation was like for the Cambodian people and the country as a whole during such carpet bombings?"
When questioning of the defendants begins at the start of December, Noun Chea continues to blame Vietnam for the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge period. "These war crimes and crimes against humanity were not committed by the Cambodian people," he says. "It was the Vietnamese who killed Cambodians."
Others who knew him have elaborated on this description, calling Pol Pot calm, cold-blooded, extremely secretive, and above all paranoid - traits that allowed him to oversee the genocide of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
The last word here goes again to Sihanouk.
"Pol Pot does not believe in God but he thinks that heaven, destiny, wants him to guide Cambodia in the way he thinks it the best for Cambodia, that is to say, the worst. Pol Pot is mad, you know, like Hitler." |
cats everywhere are death-staring in envy at ryo yamazaki’s new line. the photographer has stumbled upon an idea so avant garde, so niche, so hashtag sartorial, that the cat garment industry, meme-culture, the fashion design world as we know it — all of it could finally be changing for the better.
the princess leia wig is bold
all images courtesy of ryo yamazaki
yamazaki’s take on the sleek, clean dunce cone is shocking; it challenges everything we once believed about timeouts. for years the intentions of lovable best friends have been misinterpreted, but knocking things over shouldn’t be a dodgy topic. now, finally, it isn’t. with these soft, inviting forms, timeout shaming is a thing of the past.
the dunce cones are chic
the boundaries of ironic feline disposition seemed to reach their height in 2012, during the ‘sail cat’ era, and have plateaued ever since. yes, more photos of cats appeared, and yes we laughed at them. videos of cats with children, with babies, with handsome men, and lonely singles, in catalogs and calendars, and facebooks and twitters, in memes, and such, but long has it been since the perfectly timed innovation of the sail cat. nothing truly new has come to the table until now. yamazaki has boldly showed us here that the suspicious self-awareness of cats can yet be further exploited, and in less harmful ways.
some critiques of the cat hat are confounded by glutinous high-luxury cat-wear
not everyone thinks the hats are harmless. some ignore the sustainability of the cat hats, finding the idea cat-nibolistic and wrong. yamazaki’s cats couldn’t agree and disagree more. trump tupes, princess leia wigs and whimsical wizard domes — yamazaki gives a nod to just about every millenary trend, but their forms may as well be after thoughts. it isn’t their fluffy forms that are making cats purr and people giggle, it’s the cat-ception, the fact that they are wearing their own fur on their head.
the traditional wizard cat hat is no more
trump toupe’ is all the rage in NYC
yamazaki’s signatrue cat hair horn hat
cats everywhere are death-staring in envy at ryo yamazaki’s new line
yamazaki has showed us here that the suspicious self-awareness of cats can yet be further exploited
but they can be exploited in harmless ways
the always in-style hershey’s kiss shape |
ST. PETERSBURG
Once a spot for croquet and presidential speeches, Williams Park has lost its luster.
It's a regular hangout for Charlie White, 55, who sat on a park bench one morning, a "buck-and-a-quarter" Styrofoam cup of coffee in one hand and a Remington cigar in the other. When it rains, he takes cover under the steps of the park's award-winning band shell.
Elaine Savastano, 56, is also homeless. She sat alone, wearing a winter coat on a humid day. She said she's been living in the park for two weeks.
Around them, pockets of other homeless people hugged the park's retaining walls or huddled in surrounding bus shelters. A police report for the past few months catalogs a grim play-by-play for the address: drugs, battery, trespassing, disorderly intoxication, armed robbery, brawls and suicidal threats among them.
Organizers of a recent "Take Back Williams Park" event say it's "wasted as a downtown city asset."
Parks and recreation director Michael Jefferis wants to change that. He envisions students from St. Petersburg College across the street going to the park to toss Frisbees, grab a bite from a food truck or even attend a class. To attract students, the city put in markers for a walking trail and created concrete paths near the band shell to accommodate food trucks.
"Mayor (Rick) Kriseman has really impressed on us the importance of programming in Williams Park," Jefferis said. "It's one of his initiatives to see that park utilized in the way it was designed to be used."
The college has taken the city up on its offer to embrace Williams Park.
"The students have made a commitment to use it at least once a semester," said Frank Jurkovic, student life and leadership coordinator for the college's downtown and Midtown centers. "Because it really is a nice park."
He added that being able to use Williams Park is "a huge advantage" to the urban campus, which expects about 3,000 students in the fall.
"We don't have any outdoor space," Jurkovic said.
"It definitely gives us more space to work with," said Alexis Clavizzao, student government president for the downtown center. Students recently have held events with food trucks, live music and games in the park.
Clavizzao, 23, who lives downtown and has a 2-year-old son, would like to add Williams Park as a destination for her family outings.
"We go to places like North Shore and Albert Whitted, but it really would be nice to have a place where you could have a picnic in the heart of the city," she said.
Other plans also are in the works that could make the park more welcoming. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is working with the city staff to change the current system that requires 21 routes to converge there. The numerous bus shelters have been blamed for adding to the park's problems.
A new program at the park this summer will offer art classes to the homeless. It's the idea of George Bolden, board president for Celebrate Outreach, an advocacy group for the homeless, and artist Catherine Weaver, who owns Uniquely Original Art Studio in Midtown.
They chose Williams Park because "that's traditionally where homeless adults have congregated," Bolden said. "But we also chose the park because we thought it would be a good opportunity to show that people experiencing homelessness can share the park in positive ways. We don't have to drive the homeless out. We can engage them in positive experiences."
What they are doing might come close to what Wayne Atherholt, the city's director of cultural affairs, has in mind.
"Williams Park needs to be cleaned up, everybody knows that," he said. "In my opinion, the best way is to fill it with events and people who are there for arts and cultural events."
He mentioned the resurgence of Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan as an example of what can happen.
"Now it is a tourist destination. Williams Park has the potential to be a tourist destination. It very well could be our Bryant Park," Atherholt said.
In fact, Williams Park has known its share of fame. Named after John Constantine Williams, one of city's founders, it became the city's town square, said Will Michaels in his book, The Making of St. Petersburg. People gathered to celebrate the end of World War I there. In the 1960s, it hosted love-ins. Presidents and vice presidents spoke there.
"It's historically significant," Jefferis said. "It's part of our fabric. It's who we are as a city."
Contact Waveney Ann Moore at [email protected] or (727) 892-2283. Follow @wmooretimes. |
On both sides of the Atlantic, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada is hugely controversial. A record 3.5 million people across Europe signed a petition against CETA and its twin agreement TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). European and Canadian trade unions, as well as consumer, environmental and public health groups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) reject the agreement. Constitutional challenges against CETA have been filed in Germany and Canada and the compatibility of CETA’s controversial privileges for foreign investors with EU law is likely to be judged by the European Court of Justice.
The controversy has also reached governments and parliaments. Across Europe, more than 2,100 local and regional governments have declared themselves TTIP/CETA free zones, often in cross-party resolutions. National and regional parliaments, too, worry about CETA, for example in Belgium, France, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In October 2016, concerns in four sub-federal Belgian governments (led by Wallonia) over the agreement’s negative impacts, and in particular its dangerous privileges for foreign investors, nearly stopped the federal government from approving the signing of CETA.
Over the past months, to salvage CETA’s ratification process, European and Canadian trade officials have gone into a massive propaganda mode. They have framed CETA as “a very progressive trade agreement” (European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström) which will “shape globalisation” along the principles of “fair trade” and in the interest of workers (Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier).
The latest PR move of the CETA supporters is a multitude of 39 declarations and statements accompanying the text of the agreement. These texts are designed to alleviate concerns amongst Social Democrats, trade unions, and the wider public who fear that CETA threatens public services, labour and environmental standards and undermines governments’ right to regulate in the public interest. But in fact, the declarations do nothing to fix CETA’s flaws.
Read the full report (also available in German, French, Finnish and Bulgarian) to see through the many swindles, which CETA supporters are currently engaged in, in order to win support for what is actually a major assault on democracy, workers, and the environment:
Swindle #1: CETA protects workers’ rights
Swindle #2: CETA is a good deal for the environment
Swindle #3: CETA’s investor rights safeguard the right to regulate to protect the environment, health and other public interests
Swindle #4: CETA protects public services like healthcare and water
Swindle #5: CETA establishes an independent court to settle investor-state disputes
Swindle #6: CETA will uphold standards to protect people and the environment
Full report: The great CETA swindle
Also available in German: Der große CETA Schwindel
Also available in French: Le monumentale arnaque de CETA
Also available in Bulgarian
Also available in Finnish: Suuri CETA huijaus |
James Wharton, the new minister for the ‘northern powerhouse’, admits the government has yet to decide where the north actually is
Where is the north of England? Don't ask the government
The government has been forced to admit it has yet to define the geographical location of George Osborne’s much-heralded “northern powerhouse” economic growth zone.
Nick Brown, the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East, asked James Wharton, the government’s newly minted “minister for the northern powerhouse” a parliamentary question on the subject. What geographic area is covered by the government’s northern powerhouse initiative? asked Brown.
Wharton’s reply:
The exact extent of the north in the context of the northern powerhouse is not prescribed by the government.
As the Guardian’s northern editor – a position which has only really existed since we stopped being the Manchester Guardian in 1959 and the overall editor moved to London in 1964 – I am often asked where my empire starts and ends.
I usually reply that the borders are hotly disputed and tend to be redrawn on a day-to-day basis according to the whims of my newsdesk (though I once threw my toys out of the pram after being asked to go to Northampton).
But really my north begins on the west where Wales ends, so that’s Cheshire and upwards until you hit Gretna. On the east it’s everything north of the Humber – plus all of Yorkshire, obviously. The bits in the middle are more problematic. Staffordshire and Derbyshire are officially in the Midlands, but they feel northern to me.
I think the north stops when you go far enough into the Midlands that people start calling you “babs” instead of “duck” or “love”. Or when people have dinner instead of tea and lunch instead of dinner. Or when chippies stop asking if you want gravy.
There are other ways to define the north of England. Earlier this year a petition demanding that the north join an independent Scotland suggested Scotland’s southern borders be extended along a line that runs between the mouth of the Humber and the Dee, which flows east from Wales via Chester and discharges to the sea between Wales and the Wirral peninsula in England. Some choose everything north of the Trent. In his excellent book, Pies and Prejudice, Stuart Maconie chooses Crewe.
I asked on Twitter how others would define the north. Here are some of my favourite responses so far:
Terry Fletcher, a former editor of the Dalesman magazine, referenced the northern powercut in his suggestion:
Terry Fletcher (@Agedcragrat) @helenpidd It's where the trains are clapped out and are going to stay that way - sorry,I meant, where improvements are 'paused'
Jan Meadowcroft reckoned it was all about terms of endearment:
jan meadowcroft (@janmeadowcroft) @helenpidd It's from where people call each other "duck" via "love" and as far as "pet".
Justin Clark drew me a handy map:
Bob Hardy, a Yorkshireman and bassist in Franz Ferdinand, went for a more cynical approach:
Bob Hardy (@B0bHardy) @helenpidd Highbury Corner to Potters Bar.
Cycling’s Ned Boulting – a Londoner – had another idea: |
The cold winters in recent years have led some people to question the reality of climate change. But the winters have come at times where the global temperature was at or near record highs—so the issue was how the cold was distributed around the globe as much as anything else.
At the same time, there have been some suggestive hints that climate change may be influencing that distribution, at least indirectly, through the loss of Arctic sea ice. The idea was very preliminary, however, and it was difficult to get data that conclusively supported it. Now, a group of Japanese researchers found evidence that the loss of sea ice makes cold winters in Eurasia twice as likely as they would be otherwise.
The challenge of attributing cold winters to the loss of sea ice is that both of these phenomena show strong year-to-year variability. Thus, in order to tease out a correlation, you need long-term data on both. But we've only had accurate satellite measurements of sea ice since about 1980. If there is a connection between the two, it should show up in climate models if they're fed sea ice conditions that match those of the present. But climate models show strong variability in the winter weather they generate, which again makes determining any correlations very difficult.
The Japanese team started with a weather phenomenon and worked backward. Cold Eurasian winters (with cold centered on eastern Russia and extending from Eastern Europe to China) tend to be associated with an anti-cyclone pattern centered over Eastern Russia. This draws cold air down across Eastern Europe while pushing warmer air into the Arctic, creating a "warm Arctic, cold Eurasia" pattern.
The authors reasoned that this blocking system would be most strongly influenced by the sea ice closest to it, which is in the Barents and Kara Seas north of Scandinavia and Russia. This helps the authors get rid of a potential source of variability: the distribution of ice within the Arctic. Even in years when the total ice is similar, it's likely to be distributed differently—more near Greenland one year, more north of Russia the next.
They then selected the 10 years in the satellite recorded with the least ice in this region, as well as the 10 with the highest levels of ice. These were then compared with the actual historic data for Eurasian temperatures and fed into a large ensemble of climate models.
The authors found a very strong correlation between the low sea ice years and a strong warm Arctic-cold Eurasia pattern. This pattern was enhanced by the phase of the Arctic Oscillation, a variable pattern of air pressure found in the Arctic. The warm Arctic-cold Eurasia pattern also showed up in climate models when they were fed the appropriate ice conditions, although it wasn't as intense as it is in the real world data. Overall, the results suggest a cold Eurasian winter is twice as likely in a low ice year than it is when ice cover is higher.
With sea ice expected to continue to decline, is this a pattern we should be expecting to persist? The authors show that the recent chills are superimposed upon a general warming within Eurasia. By the end of this century, climate models suggest that this warming should reduce the probability of cold winters, even as the sea ice continues to vanish.
This is a significant result in that it provides some indication of how to tease out a relatively difficult-to-spot trend within noisy data, but it only provides a partial picture of Arctic behavior. In addition to Eurasia, Western Europe and North America have experienced unusually cold winters as well. These have been blamed on a relatively weak jet stream, but the new study doesn't speak to whether that was a contributing factor or not. In other words, there's still quite a bit of work left to do on this topic.
Nature Geoscience, 2014. DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2277 (About DOIs). |
Photo
He calls himself the Weed Man, and he has become a familiar presence in Times Square, standing near Planet Hollywood and holding aloft a placard that stands out even in this part of the city.
“Help!” the sign, in green letters, reads. “I Need Money for Weed!”
The man, Joshua Long, has become a favorite of some tourists who pose for pictures with him and stuff dollar bills into his hand. But some police officers in Midtown have taken a dim view of his entrepreneurial spirit and, perhaps, the words that further it; they have arrested him several times while he was displaying his placard.
Once, he said, officers told him he was not welcome on Broadway because they objected to his message. When he asked those officers to identify themselves, he said, they replied by arresting him.
In July, Mr. Long sued the city and several police officers in Federal District Court in Manhattan, saying that he had been subject to illegal harassment and arrests “while lawfully begging and promoting marijuana tolerance.”
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On Monday, Judge Shira A. Scheindlin approved a stipulation in which the city agreed that the police would use their “best efforts” not to roust Mr. Long or arrest him without cause. The agreement does not end Mr. Long’s suit, in which he is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and lawyers’ fees. A spokesman for the Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. |
Confirming everyone’s expectations, Quentin Tarantino has officially cast Samuel L. Jackson in Django Unchained, with Jackson and Kevin Costner playing two of the most valued employees in Leonardo DiCaprio’s bustling slave-trading business. Indeed, with a team comprised of Jackson’s house slave and Costner’s sadistic trainer of “mandingo” fighters, as Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself—particularly when ‘success’ is defined as relentless slave abuse.” Anyway, while Jackson’s participation is not exactly a surprise, given the earlier speculation and the fact that Tarantino clearly sees Samuel L. Jackson as his on-screen alter ego, probably no one was expecting Gerald McRaney to join the cast, so there. Variety doesn't specify what role Tarantino has in mind for McRaney, but ideally he’ll be back in Deadwood mode, i.e. grizzled, intimidating, and casually racist. Either that or Major Dad mode, keeping slaves in line by letting them know that he’s not angry with them, just disappointed.
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ABC director of television Kim Dalton has questioned the government's prioritising the film industry ahead of the TV industry.
He has also questioned whether subscription television productions should receive government funding.
Dalton, presenting a keynote speech at a gala dinner celebrating the 30th year of the Screen Producers Association of Australia, also noted "a growing sense of urgency around the need for a national debate on the future of our broadcast sector" ahead of the federal government's proposed convergent media review.
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Dalton's most provocative statement was his suggestion Foxtel and Austar's Australian productions should not be eligible for government funding given their audience is only 30 per cent of the population.
He queried Screen Australia's process of "contestability" in choosing which projects to fund and argued "if changes in Screen Australia's approach result in lower licence fees and more publicly funded content shown behind a pay-wall then we need to squarely consider what this will mean in terms of a cultural return."
His comments came at the same conference in which ABC managing director Mark Scott revealed the ABC's success in aligning its aims with those of the government. "You've got to couch the arguments in terms of what we are in a unique position to deliver that is in the interests of the government of the day," he said.
The The Sydney Morning Herald, in an editorial, asked: "What does such self-interested alignment do to the ABC's independence?" and prompted ABC chairman Maurice Newman to defend Scott.
Dalton suggested subscription TV should not receive funding for programs when that money's "cultural return" would be far greater if given to the public broadcaster.
He added the ABC-Screen Australia agreement for its History Initiative should be continued.
"In the interests of reaching all Australians, of maximising audiences and of delivering certainty to producers, the ABC should be funded directly to curate a continuing slate of history programs," Dalton said.
His comments are the latest in the ABC's growing campaign to corral government funding, citing its broad reach as crucial in delivering more bang for its buck.
But Media understands the play to shut out Foxtel from funding has not been viewed favourably by Screen Australia.
Dalton also reiterated the call for the TV sector to receive a 40 per cent producer offset, up from 20 per cent, as in the film industry. He said television delivered far more effective returns than film.
Setting the agenda for Australia's $150BN agribusiness sector The program for Australia's premier agribusiness conference - The Global Food Forum - is set. Hear from more than 30 industry leaders including PepsiCo's CEO, Danny Celoni, Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of A2 Milk Company, Barry Irvin, Executive Chairman, Bega Cheese and Costco's Managing Director, Patrick Noone. Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park Book Now |
2017/2018 Brony@Home vs Team AnandTech!
Competing in the competition
To get started, just download and install the Folding@home software
Pick a username to fold under (it automatically registers it when setting up the software)
Set a quick little passkey (optional, but recommended)
Set the team to 212997 (very important, go pony power!)
In addition to installing the software, make a post in this thread saying "Hey! I love you guys (espically you tiwake!) and I want to join the competition. My folding name is SirFoldAlot even though my username on this forum is RainbowCrash41902."
About the Competition
set up the software several days before the competition starts.
List of Prizes
Competition will start at 18:00UTC December 1st 2017 and end 18:00UTC Febuary 1st 2018We are still accepting signups after the competition starts! Get your flank in here and join the troops.This is our first competition against another team ( Team AnandTech ), and we need all the help we can get.To easily keep track of how our two teams are doing, we made a graph updated every hour of the two teams. https://scootaloo.com/folding_competition The magic number to beat is 50million points in a day. This is AnandTech's peak last year about this time. Our current record for points in one day is 36,806,844: I think we can do better.It is not necessary to post in this thread if all you want to do is help the Brony@Home team beat Team AnandTech. It is necessary if you want to win a prize though.The Folding@home software is biological simulation software for research done at colleges across the world. It performs many calculations, and places a load on your system, causing hardware to heat up. While the Folding@home software is designed to go unnoticed by reducing its usage in real time to prevent disruptions to your own usage, you can also limit the maximum usage of the program to keep heat at a safe level. Monitor the first few minutes of running the software, and adjust accordingly, especially on laptops. In most cases, no adjustment is necessary though.Because Folding@home does not count bonus points unless you complete 10 work units or more, I highly suggest youWhen the competition ends you can of course stop the software, however you would be stopping your computer from doing research. The whole point of this competition is to get ponies running the software on their computers for ongoing biological research.If you want to donate something for a prize, please PM me the details with pictures/links for what it is.Prizes are distributed based on a raffle ticket system. The more you fold and get points, the more tickets you get.The first ticket drawn gets first pick and so on until there are no more prizes.Feel free to ask about anything if things are unclear.Cheers, and may the best pony win. |
Vincent Caravella has lost the thread regarding what he does anymore. He likes to mess with video a whole lot but he also likes to complain about not understanding the internet too. If there's one thing he's sure about it's that it's the best time to be playing video games and he also knows that if you say that enough times it will be right at least once.
Well, here we are, and never be it on me to say I told you so but best times... video games. You do the math. If you locked the doors, ripped out all the incoming communications, and nailed plywood to your windows, 2017 was an amazing year... in video games. Seriously though, I couldn't help but notice that most of the games I was into this year were themed around the ruins of collapsed empires or being the pinpoint of light in a sea of oncoming darkness. Maybe that's just video game stories 101 and I never really paid much attention to the unifying elements before now. Whatever the backdrop for all these games, they were damn good. There were good big games, good little games, good polished games, and even good unfinished games. All sorts and all sizes.
There are even games that seem pretty great that I didn't get to finish or get far enough into and had to be sidelined for this year's list. Games like Divinity: Original Sin II, Night in the Woods, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this I'm sitting playing at least some of them. There are also a bunch of other games that just didn't make the list. All the number 11s out there like Destiny 2, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, and Hollow Knight to name a few. Specifically three, because lists look good in threes.
Anyway, if you're on this site and reading this you know these games are fantastic. For the most part, the ordering of this list is still fluid in my mind. At some point I had to hit submit and that's the order that stuck. So here are ten games that really stood out to me in a year just overflowing with exceptional releases. What a year.
Previously, drafts of this part were about how different Assassin’s Creed games are for different people, and how the series has changed, and blah, blah, blah. Really though, I just didn’t like Origins when I started playing it. I still am not sure if I like it as an Assassin’s Creed game. I’m not into the loot drops, or the sterile way you get new moves through the upgrade tree. BUT… I am now having a lot of fun playing it. That stupid predator bow is so dumb, and I love it. I have upgraded my wrist blade enough to rarely give me problems assassinating targets, berserk and sleep darts are back, and I learned how to counter somewhere along the way. Also, I kind of enjoy being Bayek the Egyptian Super Cop. I do feel like I have murdered pretty indiscriminately for someone with a strong moral code of some sort, but I have also found pretty much all of the missing peoples of Egypt, so the balance probably works out.
A lot of what can make a game impactful, or have it rise above the din, is time and place. While most of the games on this list build their narratives on some world-ending fiction, the collapse of society, or being the last point of light in a blanketing darkness of subjugation by a foreign foe, Dream Daddy takes a different tack. It focuses on community, generally being supportive and positive to other members of that community, and going beyond first impressions to build meaningful relationships. I was hesitant to get into Dream Daddy as I thought it was going to a bit of a one-trick pony Dad Dating Simulator, getting by on some cheap and easy jokes. Instead, I found it genuinely heartwarming. There is one particular moment where your Dad attempts to remain involved in their daughter’s life, while also trying to give her space. It still gets me a bit weepy when I think back on it. While the game definitely leans into the goofy, there’s real heart there. I found the near-idyllic judgment-free world of Dream Daddy to just as appealing a piece of escapism as any of the other dystopian hero fantasties on offer this year.
This is another game which builds its premise on sifting through the remains of a collapsed society. While the setup might not be too cheerful, the game is a joy. This one scores direct hits on my most sensitive gaming pressure points. It has a meaningful and flexible upgrade mechanic tied to engaging collectibles. Ding. Backtracking, progress, and exploration rarely feel tedious as you move through because of the generous fast travel system and said upgrades. Ding. Ding. And… it’s all wrapped up in a decent little narrative. Dingdingding! You win.
So much has been said about NieR. I’ll cut straight to it: I think it’s pretty good but it didn’t change my life or shake me to my core. I thought the story was engaging, if also drawn out. The personalized interactions around the themes presented are more novel than the actual themes themselves, in my opinion. The game definitely has its moments, though, and many of them are from the side and smaller interactions. It also has an incredible soundtrack, which works exceptionally well as the backdrop to the unfolding events. It also has a combat system--again with flaws--in which I got fairly invested. Even with its troubles, it’s a journey worth taking. It delivers on the investments it asks of the players in unique, troubling, yet also satisfying ways.
It’s a damn good Mario game, and I like those. The worlds are unique and fun to explore, the moons you collect range from butt-stompingly easy to how-in-the-world-am-I-going-to-get-up-there-ingly challenging. It’s fun, it’s tight, it has a level of polish that lets you know you’re in a well-designed and meticulously crafted space. And that’s a good thing, because you’re going to be exploring those areas quite a bit, hunting down those moons. I also think the modifications to gameplay that Assist Mode make are incredibly smart. It was a great way to play with my kids, with a big thank you from me for getting rid of things like drowning. I’m not sure how much longer I can shelter them from the universal truth that all underwater levels are out there to cause them immense suffering, but I will try my best.
Last year’s rollercoaster ride for me was DOOM, and this year it’s Wolfenstein II. It’s pulp, it’s absurd, it’s hyperbole, but it also aims its power fantasy at the right target for a lot of people that are feeling overwhelmed by the less cartoonish versions of encroaching bigotry and hate. Even divorced from the times, it’s a gory but action-packed romp with an incredible cast of characters that are given more room to breathe than you would expect from the genre. And while I had similar complaints as others about the combat sections, only a few of them actually started to drag down my overall enjoyment of the game. I’ll usually suffer weaker gameplay elements over weak or missing narrative, and I really did enjoy the ridiculous tale the game was spinning.
What a weird and wonderful time it is to playing video games. Some might say it’s the best time. Here we are with a truly open-world, see-that-mountain-you-can-go-there Zelda game. It feels like it’s finally delivering on the real, hands and knees, pulling brambles out of your hair exploration that they’ve talked about building for ages. Then they put a loot system in with durability. FINE. WHATEVER. But why can’t the Master Sword just be above it all? Ugh. And the rain. The rain. Anyway, it’s a fantastic world that has you literally lifting up every rock and climbing every mountain. I also liked the story - even the photo hunt parts. There are flaws, but I loved what I played and it makes me very excited to see where they go from here.
I really fell for the world of Pyre hard. All of the characters, the backdrop, even the celestial basketball. I was all in. I was invested in all of the members of my wagon, and I felt like as I was progressing through the game, my relationship with each got more interesting as I got better with them during the gameplay bits. Obviously, not by coincidence. I’ve always enjoyed that sort of game, where you explore the stories of your team to uncover their unspoken histories, and Pyre is full of interesting backstories. I also really enjoy a game that delivers on laying out multiple paths for you and at the end giving you a satisfying and meaningful coda for your particular choices. It’s an amazing cast and collection of stories, set in a world that feels like it has actual history. Also, again, I even like the celestial basketball.
It’s one of those games that seem like once you get your hands on it, everything is going to suck. Or a game where the trailers and demos are just setting the whole thing up for failure. Somehow, it does all work, and even better than I could have hoped. When I was a kid/teen I wanted to be an animator. Granted I wasn’t a kid in the 1930s, but you might see where this is headed. The entire time I played Cuphead I was constantly in awe of what I was seeing. It’s really something. Also, I think I’m not half-bad at it, which feels good. That probably comes from my kids constantly wanting to play with me, which adds its own in-game challenges. I love the art, I love the music, and I love the gameplay. Nicely done, Cuphead.
I’m not very good at competitive games. I’ve always been more attracted to working on teams and playing support in games. I also like poking around in big worlds with just enough of a rule-set that leaves room for chaos. I found PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to get that mix just right for me. I was able to play on a team in a role that varied from support to lead, surrounded by a tension that came not only from the skill of the other competitors but from experimenting within the world. I felt like there was always a new tactic we could employ or a new approach to a situation that might catch the other players off their guard. A lot of those went down in hilarious failures, but they were still some of my favorite gameplay stories to share. It was great to chat with friends during the looting phases, until someone inevitably would whisper “Shhhhh, hear that?” into their mic. Usually, there was a binary outcome to the events that followed: universal celebration at how amazing we are at this game, or reloading into a new match.
It’s an experience I’ve gone back to time and time again, mainly having to do with some really great people to play and chat with. I do think the single-player is also an amazing time, but for my money I was mostly looking for duos and squads. Probably because I knew I was going to be leaning on other people that were way above my skill level, but also because it simply allows for stretches of time where you can just talk and catch up with friends.
Battlegrounds is certainly iterative in terms of past games in the genre, but the choices it makes are important. It peels away some of the levels of complexity, especially the crafting, that some of the more survival-oriented entries included. Whether by chance or design, it happened to get the mix just right for me, and apparently many, many others. I think we’ll be feeling the ripples of its success for a decent chunk of time and I’m curious and excited to see how things evolve from here. |
Retail pork products in the U.S. have a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) than previously identified, according to new research by the University of Iowa College of Public Health and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
MRSA can occur in the environment and in raw meat products, and is estimated to cause around 185,000 cases of food poisoning each year. The bacteria can also cause serious, life-threatening infections of the bloodstream, skin, lungs and other organs. MRSA is resistant to a number of antibiotics.
The study, published Jan. 19 in the online science journal PLoS ONE, represents the largest sampling of raw meat products for MRSA contamination to date in the U.S. The researchers collected 395 raw pork samples from 36 stores in Iowa, Minnesota and New Jersey. Of these samples, 26 -- or about 7 percent -- carried MRSA.
"This study shows that the meat we buy in our grocery stores has a higher prevalence of staph than we originally thought," says lead study author Tara Smith, Ph.D., interim director of the UI Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases and assistant professor of epidemiology. "With this knowledge, we can start to recommend safer ways to handle raw meat products to make it safer for the consumer."
The study also found no significant difference in MRSA contamination between conventional pork products and those raised without antibiotics or antibiotic growth promotants.
"We were surprised to see no significant difference in antibiotic-free and conventionally produced pork," Smith says. "Though it's possible that this finding has more to do with the handling of the raw meat at the plant than the way the animals were raised, it's certainly worth exploring further." |
When teaching the first half of world history, I always do a little section on Augustine. My focus is on how he was an important theologian who shaped Christian understandings of war and even influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as seen in his Letter from Birmingham Jail. The fact though is that I could have an entire course on Augustine, such was the breadth and depth of his thought. James K. Lee, in his new book Augustine and the Mystery of the Church (Fortress Press, 2017), explores one aspect of Augustine’s thought—his ecclesiology. In this carefully written and researched book, James shows how Augustine’s understanding of the church was Christ-centered, and as such, it was not simply an invisible communion of believers isolated from each other, but has a visible, communal aspect and is active in this world. This book is therefore highly suited to anyone interested in Augustine’s thought and ecclesiology, and would work well in a graduate seminar. |
Having surpassed gun homicides for the first time in 2015, the epidemic of heroin and opioid related deaths in the US continues to grow. Amid the dismal failure of the 'war on drugs', it seems US lawmakers are finally waking up to reality, and are pressing the nation’s drug czar for more data on the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl, including how it is trafficked and how many people it has killed, in the latest effort to thwart a spiraling drug crisis.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that nearly 5,000 more people died from opioids in 2015 than in 2014. Both heroin and opioid use have exploded in the US, after decades of doctors over-prescribing painkillers in the 1990s and 2000s. A report from the CDC released Thursday found that the drug problem has become so deadly that heroin deaths outnumbered gun fatalities last year for the first time in US history. Until 2007, gun deaths outnumbered heroin deaths five to one, according to the Washington Post. But 2015 saw 12,989 people die from heroin and 12,979 die from gun homicides.
And now, as The Wall Street Journal reports, America's politicians are finally spotting a problem with this trend. Last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators filed a measure, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act, that seeks to curb shipments of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl by tightening U.S. postal system requirements for packages coming from other countries.
“The national opioid crisis is being compounded by the re-emergence of illicit fentanyl and its analogues, which are synthetic opioids far more potent than morphine or heroin,” said Mario Moreno Zepeda, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Given the urgency of the opioid overdose epidemic, we will reply to the Committee’s inquiries promptly.” The four-page letter from the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, signed by bipartisan committee leaders and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, calls the fentanyl crisis a top oversight priority. Addressed to Kemp Chester, acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and sent Thursday, the letter includes 15 questions such as how much fentanyl comes into the U.S. through the mail and how many counterfeit fentanyl pills authorities have seized. “On top of opioid overprescribing and heroin overdoses, we believe the United States is now facing another deadly wave: fentanyl,” said Tim Murphy, (R, Penn.) and Diana DeGette (D., Colo), chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, in a statement. “We are urgently seeking answers to determine whether the federal government recognizes the unique threat of fentanyl.”
Fentanyl has emerged as the chief drug threat in many parts of the country. Authorities believe it is pouring into the U.S. from China, sometimes with a stop in Mexico. The drug appeals to traffickers because it is made only with chemicals, and not the poppy plants needed for heroin, making it cheap and easy to produce. The synthetic narcotic is also extremely potent, potentially 50 times the strength of heroin, ratcheting up the risks for users. Some take it unexpectedly because dealers may mix it into the heroin supply, or press it into fake versions of prescription pain pills that are supposed to contain a much less powerful narcotic. Fentanyl played a major role in driving opioid deaths in the U.S. up nearly 16% to 33,091 in 2015, according to the most recent federal data, and hard-hit states have reported even more grim statistics for 2016. |
We have all heard the old adage before: laughter is the best medicine. But, it might just be among the oldest medicine. In a report published by the University of Wolverhampton, and commissioned by the British television channel Dave, the world’s oldest joke can be traced back to 1900 BC. Not surprisingly, the list of the world’s top 10 oldest jokes includes the ever-popular bathroom humor and much sexual innuendo.
Empirical medical research confirms that people who smile and laugh are generally happy, and people who do not, are not. The benefits of humor and laughter as complementary medicine, as well as just a healthy life practice, are unequivocal. As far back as the second century AD, Greek physicians documented that people who developed certain diseases had “melancholic” personalities. More recent clinicians have produced anecdotal reports of people developing cancer during stressful life events. Humor can be used to decrease stress, reduce pain, and increase immune function, but just how laughter elicits a physiologic response is still under investigation.
Laughter is a naturally occurring response to humorous stimuli and is a rather easily implemented and cost-effective clinical tool. Some lay publications even report that laughter is equivalent to aerobic exercise. It is true that laughter can increase blood flow, stimulate circulation, contract muscle groups, and improve respiratory function. But, these effects are short-lived and laughter is followed by a period of muscle relaxation, decreased heart rate, slowed respiration, and decreased blood pressure. This period may last as long as 45 minutes. Some research has shown laughter causes a decrease in the levels of the stress hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. This may explain the relationship between laughter and increased immune function, which leads to overall health benefits. Scientific data supporting the extent and actual benefit of laughter is lacking, however, and some studies have yielded conflicting results.
So what is the oldest recorded joke? It is a saying of ancient Sumerians, who lived in what is now part of Iraq: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.” Something may have been lost in translation, but we can all have a little chuckle at that one.
The randy Anglo-Saxons come in at number 3 on the oldest joke countdown: “What hangs at a man’s thigh and wants to poke the hole that it’s often poked before? A key!” That may not really qualify as medicine, but it sure is funny.
References
M. P. Bennett (2006). Humor and Laughter may Influence Health. I. History and Background Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3 (1), 61-63 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nek015
M. P. Bennett, C. Lengacher (2007). Humor and Laughter May Influence Health: III. Laughter and Health Outcomes Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5 (1), 37-40 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nem041 |
Over the weekend, a barrage of tests proved what many of you had feared: Even if you use the Microsoft-sanctioned DisableGWX and DisableOSUpgrade registry settings, the KB 3035583 patch still installs all of the Get Windows 10 nagware. GWX and all of its components sit there, hidden, running in the background even if you can't see the Get Windows 10 icon in the system tray.
Microsoft's most-reviled patch for Windows 7 and 8.1 isn't going away anytime soon.
Last Friday I wrote about four Registry entries and how they served to keep Get Windows 10 at bay:
Back in August, Microsoft posted KB 3080351, a discussion of new Group Policy settings and two obscure registry entries -- DisableOSUpgrade and ReservationsAllowed -- that, taken together, are supposed to "prevent Windows 7, Windows 7 for Embedded Systems, Windows 8.1, and Windows Embedded 8.1 Pro clients from upgrading" to Windows 10. Yesterday my old friend and erstwhile co-author Ed Bott ran an article on ZDNet that explains how to change two different registry entries -- AllowOSUpgrade and DisableGWX -- to "block Windows 10 upgrades on your business network (and at home, too)."
In addition, last Friday Iain Thomson at The Register repeated the recommendations in KB 3080351, adding an important update:
A Redmond spokesperson today confirmed that support page is still valid -- its instructions still work even though it was quietly published a few months ago.
Several of us, sensing that the game was afoot, undertook a thorough examination of those four Registry entries to see what they really do. We found that, although the Registry entries succeed in keeping the most visible part of GWX from appearing -- the Get Windows 10 icon in the system tray -- they do absolutely nothing to keep GWX off of Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs. In fact, the phalanx of programs, settings, scheduled tasks, and automatic Registry-changers continue to work behind the scenes no matter how you jigger those settings.
I looked at installation of KB 3035583 on brand-spanking-new Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update 1 PCs. I adjusted the Registry settings as prescribed on fresh installs of Home and Pro. Then I ran exactly one update -- KB 3035583 -- on all of the PCs. Sure enough, the Get Windows 10 icon didn't appear in the system tray, but all of the Get Windows 10 accoutrements (described below) are installed and fully functional.
Frequent AskWoody.com poster PKCano ran a different set of experiments, mimicking Windows 7 installations that are found in the wild. She ran tests on a typical Win7 PC with DisableGWX set to 1. She, too, discovered that GWX was fully installed and running -- but the Get Windows 10 icon didn't appear in the system tray. Then she went back to a clean Win7 SP1 install and refrained from installing several patches that have been implicated in Microsoft snooping on Windows 7 PCs: KB 2952664, 3021917, 3068708, 3075249, 3080149, 3112343, 3102810, 3083710, 3083324, 3075851, 3065987, 3050265, and 2990214. She then brought KB 3035583 back up and installed it, without the DisableGWX key set in the Registry. Sure enough, she got the whole GWX package, and the Get Windows 10 icon appeared in the system tray.
Josh Mayfield, the inventor of GWX Control Panel, tried running different combinations of the four mentioned Registry keys. He found that one of the keys, ReservationsAllowed, has apparently fallen out of favor -- in fact, one of the background tasks that KB 3035583 installs actually turns that bit in the Registry off. Mayfield surmises that's because Microsoft isn't taking reservations for Windows 10 anymore.
Mayfield has posted a video on YouTube that shows the extent of the infec -- er, installation. It tracks my experiences and PKCano's experiences precisely:
KB 3035583 creates a new folder, c:\Windows\System32\GWX, which includes five GWX programs. The folder contains about 30MB.
Seven processes get scheduled to run in the Task Scheduler. Microsoft/Windows/Setup/gwx contains launchtrayprocess, refreshgwxconfig, refreshgwxconfigandcontent, and refreshgwxcontent. Microsoft/Windows/Setup/GWXTriggers includes refreshgwxconfig-B, ScheduleUpgradeReminderTime, and ScheduleUpgradeTime.
Launchtrayprocess runs whenever you log on or when you create or modify the task (as would be the case if you installed a newer version of KB 3035583).
Refreshgwxconfigandcontent runs every day at 8:00 PM. It, too, runs when you create or modify the task.
Refreshgwxconfig-B runs at 8:00 PM, then every 12 hours for a duration of one day.
Mayfield found that the DisableGWX Registry entry merely prevents the Get Windows 10 icon in the system tray from appearing. "Having this entry in place does not prevent the KB 3035583 patch from being installed, and it doesn't prevent the other background tasks associated with the patch from running."
More damning, Mayfield found that the refreshgwxconfig-B task resets the AllowOSUpgrade setting every time it runs. We don't know the full impact of having AllowOSUpgrade turned off (of course, none of this is documented anywhere), but it appears to involve moving from Win7 or 8.1 to Win10 via Windows Update.
Although refreshgwxconfig-B does not appear on every computer, I found it on my freshly installed Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs. PKCano found it on hers as well. The task runs two programs, GWXConfigManager.exe/RefreshConfigAndContent and GWXDetector.exe.
Most damning: Uninstalling KB 3035583 doesn't uninstall any of the files in the GWX folder or remove the scheduled tasks. Uninstalling it merely rolls you back to an earlier version of KB 3035583.
In short, I've never seen such a robust "Potentially Unwanted Program."
Last October, Windows head Terry Myerson promised us, "You can specify that you no longer want to receive notifications of the Windows 10 upgrade through the Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 settings pages." Now, with Microsoft poised to start rolling out Get Windows 10 as a "recommended update," we need that protection more than ever. But give Win7 and 8.1 customers a chance to say, "I don't want Windows 10 now, please call off the dogs."
Confidence and trust -- at least among the cognoscenti -- is withering away. |
Audio: CPR's Megan Verlee Profiles Sanders Supporter TC Bell
TC Bell, a Bernie Sanders supporter, stands in his home in Denver's Overland neighborhood. He's holding his daughter Emma. (Nathaniel Minor/CPR News) TC Bell, one of Sen. Bernie Sanders' most fervent Colorado supporters, doesn't have the past you might expect.
Sanders is a self-described socialist. Bell, on the other hand, voted Republican for years.
But more recently, he's spent hours training Sanders supporters on the ins and outs of Colorado's caucus system.
Who makes that kind of a switch -- and why?
Bell works as a cashier and raises his two daughters in Denver's Overland neighborhood. In an interview in his living room last month, he told me a little detail that sort of perfectly illustrates how crazy he is about politics: His oldest daughter, 6-year-old Dagny, was named after the main character in the iconic conservative novel "Atlas Shrugged."
"At the time we were these libertarian anarchists and I was like, 'What’s the most libertarian name I can come up with?' But by the time my second daughter was born, she’s actually named after Emma Goldman, who was a communist organizer," Bell said.
An Ex-Ron Paul Foot Soldier
Bell describes himself as a contrarian by nature. He was raised by a single mother who was, and is, a passionate conservative. Reminiscing about his high school days, Bell describes himself as a long-haired, pot smoking, semi-hippy kid. At the same time, he founded a Young Republicans club and liked to read the National Review.
Bell said his conservative past was a period of intellectual idealism. By 21, he was a foot soldier in the Ron Paul Revolution.
"My girlfriend had ‘Google Ron Paul’ painted on her windshield for literally 12 months," Bell said.
But the 2008 election shattered Bell’s political idealism. He was disgusted with the Republican establishment and its treatment of young activists like himself. Bell dropped out of electoral politics completely, writing in "Nobody" for president in 2012. He considered himself a "libertarian anarchist" -- ready to drown government in the bathtub and let capitalism run free.
But during this same time, things were happening in Bell's life that challenged his conservative beliefs. After his daughter was born he and his girlfriend split up and she applied for food stamps.
"I could see just the instant benefit, the shift of not having to stress of where food is going to come from," he said. "It was in that moment when I kind of was like, 'Oh, wait a minute. Not all of these big government programs are equivalent.' "
Swayed By Sanders
Bell’s own economic situation this past decade hasn't been great either. He couldn’t afford college and has been stuck in low-paying retail jobs. Today he makes little more than he did at summer jobs as a high school student. So it’s no wonder Bell was drawn to Sanders -- he’s living a lot of the campaign’s talking points.
Bell likes Sanders’ concrete recommendations for free tuition and universal health care. But what resonates most is Sanders’ diagnosis of the problem.
"It was really the idea of the class issue," Bell said. "How are we going to live amongst ourselves, the rich and the multitudes of the poor, because we're not doing a very good job right now."
By the time Bernie Sanders arrived on the national political scene, Bell’s pivot away from Ron Paul libertarianism was complete. And it may be less surprising than it seems that both of these men, so ideologically distinct, could arouse a similar passion in him. Both Paul and Sanders have demographically similar bases: young, white, more socially liberal, lower-income men -- the TC Bells of the world.
Both candidates revolutions also held the same radical promise: the potential to blow up a major political party from the inside. And in Bell’s mind, the parties are a big part of the problem.
"They're two zombies that are feeding off of each other and feeding off the fear of the American electorate," he said.
Life After Bernie
Bell used his organizing skills to train hundreds of other Sanders supporters how to navigate the March caucus. And it paid off. Colorado went for Sanders by almost 20 points. He's spent the last few months lobbying the state's Democratic super delegates to switch their allegiance away from Hillary Clinton, with less success. But as Sander’s winds down his campaign -- Bell is coming to accept the inevitable.
"Even though you're not allowed to do it within the Bernie movement, I know the writing's on the wall," he said. "Bernie's not going to win the nomination."
Bell says he no plans to check out on politics again, like he did after Ron Paul’s defeat. But he can’t say the same for younger Sanders supporters.
"What I fear is millions of people, who haven't had the same experiences as me, dropping out. And it's at that point that we really do lose," he said.
Bell hopes to rally those troops. If they can’t have Sanders as their president, Bell says he’ll commit to electing more Sanders-like politicians for local office. |
COMMENTARY
“The Celtics are a better team without Isaiah Thomas.”
This is a real thing suggested somewhere on TV or radio this past week during the All-Star point guard’s extended absence.
The funny part is Boston hasn’t even played well without Thomas. Granted they’ve been competitive. Granted Al Horford kind of blew the Houston game. Granted the Rockets, Thunder and Raptors are a combined 50-24 on the year – but at least Jimmy Garoppolo was winning during the crazy “Are the Pats better without Brady?” talk. The Celtics are 1-2 since Isaiah tweaked his groin.
But regardless of record, if you asked Brad Stevens this afternoon: “Hey Brad, you have a game tonight. Would you rather have Isaiah Thomas in uniform or in a suit at the end of the bench?” He’ll take Thomas every time. Obviously. Isaiah’s an All-Star. He scores 26 points a game. Russell Westbrook is the only player in the league who scores more in the fourth quarter.
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Are the Celtics a better team without Isaiah Thomas?
No.
End of conversation.
So, let’s have a different conversation.
Let’s say we go back a few years to the start of the 2013 season. Brad Stevens’ first in Boston. And let’s say we pull the coach aside again and ask: “Hey Brad, you have a game tonight. Would you rather have Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry in uniform or Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace and Marshon Brooks?”
With apologies to the Hump Daddy, Brad probably would’ve chosen Door No. 1. The Celtics might have been just a little better with Pierce, KG and Terry. But in that case, at that moment in history, there was a distinction between “what makes the Celtics better” and “what’s best for the Celtics.” The franchise was at a crossroads where real time success might impede potential. And right now, despite Isaiah’s talent and inspiration, Danny Ainge is approaching another intersection. It’s time consider whether Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics best player, might be best served as an asset.
***
Before we do that, let’s get this disclaimer out of the way.
Isaiah Thomas is a boss. Whatever the highest level of respect you can have for an athlete is, Thomas deserves it. He’s earned it. This guy could have played for Red Auerbach. He could play for Bill Belichick. Hell, the Pats could probably use him right now to return kicks. Thomas is pretty much an ideal athlete/role model – and not only for everything he’s overcome but for how he still carries himself after overcoming it. He says the right things and does the right things. You know this. You’ve watched him these last few years and fallen in love with everything.
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But take emotion out of it and consider this question:
Do you think the Celtics, while keeping this core in place, can win a title in the next two years?
Can they build a contender?
And I mean a real contender.
For instance, from 2008-12 the Celtics were real contenders. That core could have won three titles. They were also lucky to win one. So much happens every season and even more every postseason to the point where all you can hope for is to be in the conversation among the handful of teams with a shot – and the Celtics aren’t there right now. They’re not Cleveland. They’re not Golden State. They’re not the Spurs. They’re not the Clippers. And really, that’s it. That’s the list.
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The Celtics are still a player short. They’re a star short. In order to be taken seriously they need another guy who is a better all-around player than Isaiah. A better all-around player than Al Horford. Preferably a three or a four or someone who can play and guard multiple positions. Someone who is ready now – like Ray Allen was, like Kevin Garnett was, like Al Horford is – to compete on the biggest stage under the brightest lights.
But who is that player?
Does he exist?
Is he available?
Hmm.
Well, you can hope something goes horribly wrong with the Warriors and Kevin Durant decides to move again. Or maybe Blake Griffin gets sick of life in LA and wants a fresh start across the country. The only other two names for me are Paul George and Jimmy Butler, but they’re only be available via trade. And looking at the standings (the Bulls are 13-10, the Pacers 13-12) it’s unlikely either would be available until this summer, if at all. And even then, only if the Celtics hit it big with Brooklyn’s pick.
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Who else is out there? Not Gordon Hayward. Not yet at least. Paul Millsap is nice but he and Horford already tried this once. DeMarcus Cousins is a star but he’s not ready. He’s his own rebuild. He’s never even played in the postseason.
So basically, in order for the Celtics to contend at some point over these next two seasons they need to catch lightning in a bottle. The same way they did with Kevin Garnett in 2007 and the way they came so close to doing last summer. Although really, not to sound defeatist, but it sure feels like last summer was that lightning.
After a full year of everyone laughing at Boston for even thinking about Kevin Durant, the Celtics got themselves a meeting. They got an invite to the Hamptons. The same day – in Horford – they found their Ray Allen. For that one insane Tom Brady-laden afternoon, the stars aligned. It felt real. In fact, you can contend that if not for a historic collapse in the Finals by the best regular season team in NBA history, Kevin Durant might have actually picked the Celtics. At which point, Boston could’ve have swapped Jae Crowder and picks for Jimmy Butler. At which point—ok, enough of that. The point is, Danny Ainge took his chance. Again. He played it right. Again. This time the horseshoe fell out of his ass at the last second and I don’t know, what do you want to do? Fire Danny Ainge? You want to bring someone else in to run this team? Of course not. This is Danny’s team. There’s no one better to see them through whatever the future brings. Even if we still don’t know what the future will bring.
However, we do know this:
In the summer of 2018, at the end of next season, Isaiah Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent.
Marcus Smart will be a restricted free agent.
These guys are both starting NBA point guards and will both expect to be paid like it. When the time comes, Marcus will be 24, thankfully more mature, presumably much improved and just entering his prime. He’s a 6-4 man-child who can defend three positions. He’s an ever-evolving playmaker and a born leader.
Isaiah Thomas will be 29. He’ll likely command more money than Marcus. Thomas relies so much on quickness and athleticism to compensate for his size. He’s out there killing himself every single night (not that Marcus is taking it easy) to the point where you wonder how he’ll hold up. Thomas could very well play deep into his 30s based on shooting alone, but it’s a little crazy to think he’ll sustain this production. Especially when you talk about paying him upwards of $30M a year.
So, who do you want to build around? Who is your point guard of the future? And if you don’t think Boston can slap together a contender before the end of next season, at what point does the future become the present? If you want to roll with Marcus, at what point do you wonder, out loud, on the phone, to another GM, what they might be willing to part with for a 26-year-old All-Star point guard who scores 26 a game and makes less than seven million a year.
Hey Tom Thibodeau. You need an upgrade at point guard. You need some veteran leadership. Is Zach Lavine driving you crazy yet? You want some defense? How about Avery Bradley and you throw us Gorgui Deng?
Hey John Hammond, you’re the GM of the Milwaukee Bucks and your point guard situation is a little shaky, too. And yeah, we know, you want Giannis to play point. But then why are you still running Matthew Dellavedova out there for almost 30 minutes a game? You need a point guard, John. You’re also among the worst three-point shooting teams in the league. So how Giannis and Jabari Parker get along? Jabari and Jason Kidd? Talk to us, Johnny.
Hey there, Rob Hennigan. So, Frank Vogel’s bringing Elfrid Payton off the bench now, huh? DJ Augustin is your starting point guard? OK, OK. Let’s talk about Aaron Gordon, Rob.
Oh, hi, Dennis Lindsey, GM of the Utah Jazz. It seems you only have George Hill for the rest of this year and he’s only played 11 games as it is. Meanwhile Dante Exum doesn’t look ready, so . . .
Who knows what would come from these conversations or what one thing might lead to another. I mean, you deal Isaiah then you might as well deal Al Horford. You might as well say, “OK, we’re not sniffing a title until LeBron breaks down or the Warriors break up, so let’s take Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, maybe Zach Lavine or Jabari Parker (we’re talking ideals here) not to mention a very likely Top 3 pick in a super stacked draft – and let’s get ready to contend with the next wave.
It’s not what anyone wants.
Not Danny. Not Brad. Not Wyc. Not Gino.
It won’t make these Celtics a better team.
But if Banner 18 is the name of the game, it may very well be what’s best for team. |
Ebenezer St John's in Ballarat. Credit:Lachlan Bence Days later, the couple were summoned to Mr North's office and were told he would no longer marry them, nor would they be allowed to hold their ceremony at the church. In a letter to the bride, provided to Fairfax Media, Mr North said the views expressed in the Facebook post had "practical consequences" for the wedding. "After the pre-marital counselling that you attended and the sermons delivered at Ebenezer on this subject, you must surely appreciate that your commitment to same-sex marriage opposes the teaching of Christ Jesus and the scriptural position practiced by the Presbyterian Church of Australia and by me," he wrote. "This conflict of views has practical consequences in relation to your upcoming wedding.
Minister Steve North, pictured in 2014, refused to officiate the wedding and banned the couple from getting married at his church. Credit:Jeremy Bannister "By continuing to officiate it would appear either that I support your views on same-sex marriage or that I am uncaring about this matter. As you know, neither statement is correct. "Also, if the wedding proceeded in the Ebenezer St John's church buildings, the same inferences could be drawn about the Presbyterian denomination. Such inferences would be wrong." Minister Steve North pictured outside the church in 2014. Credit:Jeremy Bannister Fairfax Media has spoken to the couple but has agreed not to name them, in line with their wishes. The couple did not seek media attention about the case – Fairfax Media was informed by a friend of the family.
Ebenezer St John's did not return multiple calls. John Wilson, clerk of assembly at the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, said decisions about officiating marriages were at the discretion of individual ministers. He did not wish to comment further. But Presbyterian ministers and churchgoers are under clear directions to oppose same-sex marriage. Mr Wilson, who is also moderator-general of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, published a blog post committing the church to the "no" case and calling on attendees to campaign actively. "There are many powerful voices clamouring to tear down what God declares to be holy. The church must not be silent on this," Mr Wilson wrote. However, other church sources suggested the Ballarat experience was uncommon. Darren Middleton, convenor of the Church and Nation committee and a Geelong minister, said it was the first such case he had encountered. "This is a decision for individual ministers to make. My guess is most probably would have let the wedding go ahead," he told Fairfax Media.
"It's not normally a requirement to get married that you subscribe to particular views. I would want to talk to them about their views … but that wouldn't be a bar to them getting married. That's a separate issue in my mind." David Burke, moderator of the Presbyterian church in NSW, also said these were matters for individual ministers but his approach would be to talk it through with the couple. The Ballarat couple had already sent wedding invitations to friends and family, but were able to find an alternative, secular venue for their November wedding. The ceremony will be officiated by a retired minister. In an emotive written response to Mr North, the couple said they would no longer attend Ebenezer St John's church as a result of the minister's decision. "We feel this decision is absolutely disgraceful and is a disgrace to you and all the church, especially when we have been loyal and valued members of this congregation for 10 years," they wrote.
"You were made aware from the beginning of our proceedings that we had gay friends and also that people in our wedding party were gay. How could you assume that we would abandon them or degrade them with regards to same-sex marriage? "We understand we did agree with the teachings of the church in our marriage counselling but just because we agree with that for our own lives, doesn't mean that we have to push those beliefs onto others." The church's decision had caused "a great deal of stress and upset" to both families, the couple wrote. |
LONDON: Sikhs in UK have announced a massive campaign to oppose Britain’s plan to build a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at London’s Parliament Square The Sikh Federation (UK) has written to Britain’s culture secretary Sajid Javid who is leading the project.Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation in his letter to Javid called Gandhi “a blatant racist, a sexual weirdo or worse a child abuser and someone discriminating on the basis of the Hindu caste system, which is now outlawed in the UK”.Singh said “it would therefore be totally inappropriate to have a statue of Gandhi erected in Parliament Square”.The Federation has also written to Philip Jackson, the British sculptor who has been approached by the British government to begin work on Gandhi’s statue asking him to boycott the project.The Federation is also writing to anti-racists groups, campaign groups opposed to paedophilia and organisations that have been working in the UK to have caste discrimination outlawed in the UK.They are being urged to unite to oppose the statue and write to all UK politicians that support their causes “highlighting the other side to Gandhi’s life that many choose to turn a blind eye”.The plan to have a Gandhi statue at Parliament Square in London was announced by British foreign secretary William Hague and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Tuesday.They intend to have the monument in place early next year. Once installed, the statue will provide a focal point for commemoration next summer of the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa to start the struggle for self-rule, as well as the passing of 70 years since his death in 2018, and the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2019”.The memorial will stand alongside those to other international leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln.Hague said “Gandhi’s view of communal peace and resistance to division, his desire to drive India forward, and his commitment to non-violence left a legacy that is as relevant today as it was during his life. He remains a towering inspiration and a source of strength. We will honour him with a statue alongside those of other great leaders in Parliament Square”.Osborne added “As the father of the largest democracy in the world, it’s time for Gandhi to take his place in front of the mother of Parliaments. He is a figure of inspiration, not just in Britain and India, but around the world. New Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked his memory in his inaugural speech to Parliament. I hope this new memorial will be a lasting and fitting tribute to his memory in Britain, and a permanent monument to our friendship with India”.The Gandhi statue will be the 11th statue to be erected in Parliament square. |
Has the West's war with Iran already begun? Mystery explosions at nuke sites, 'assassinated' scientists and downed drones fuel fears covert conflict is under way
Iran moves long-range missiles to prevent them being targeted in an attack
Follows mysterious blasts at military base and uranium depot in last month
Expert says 'assassinations, cyber war and sabotage already under way'
Advanced CIA drone crash lands in mountains
Think-tank warns efforts to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapons could fail
UAE vice president insists Iran is not a threat to Israel or the West
U.S. insists Iran is becoming 'pariah' state for flouting international rules
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard today went on to a war footing as its commander upped his troops' readiness for operations.
The move by General Mohammed Ali Jaafari, coming after the shooting down of a U.S. drone and the ransacking of the British embassy in Tehran, will raise fears among citizens in the West that the Islamists are escalating towards major conflict.
But following on from mysterious explosions at Iranian nuclear sites, the kidnapping and assassination of scientists and possible sabotage of computers using a virus, an increasing number of experts are suggesting that combat has already broken out - a '21st century war'.
Operational status: Iran's Revolutionary Guard have been put on a war footing by the country's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over fears of an attack by the West on its nuclear facilities
The key area of dispute is Iran's rapidly expanding nuclear programme from which President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad insists he will not budge 'one iota'.
Sanctions and mounting international pressure appear to have failed to persuade the country to slow down its pursuit of uranium enrichment.
And many observers believe the blowing-up of facilities and targeting of key scientists is a more direct way of halting their ambitions.
Patrick Clawson, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said he was under no illusion as to what was occurring.
He told the Los Angeles Times: 'It looks like the 21st century form of war.
'It does appear that there is a campaign of assassinations and cyber war, as well as the semi-acknowledged campaign of sabotage.' What is not clear is whose hand is behind the 'attacks' on Iran's nuclear sites.
Under attack? A satellite image of the Revolutionary Guard base near Bid Kaneh taken in September. A mysterious explosion destroyed many of the buildings last month
Sabotage? The same base after the explosion on November 12, which some have claimed was the work of U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies
One retired U.S. official, with up to date intelligence, told the National Journal: 'It's safe to say the Israelis are very active.'
He added about U.S. efforts: 'Everything that [GOP presidential candidate] Mitt Romney said we should be doing - tough sanctions, covert action and pressuring the international community - are all of the things we are actually doing.'
On November 12, a huge explosion flattened the Revolutionary Guard base at Bid Kaneh, killing 17 people including a founder of Iran's ballistic missile programme.
A separate blast last week badly damaged the uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan.
Two nuclear physicists were killed and Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, were wounded by bombs attached to their cars or detonated near them last year.
Advanced: Iran claimed yesterday to have shot down a U.S. high-tech RQ-170 drone. There are fears the regime could gain stealth technology information if they have secured the drone
Mark Hibbs, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment in Germany, said the intensity of the covert war indicated that this is where the U.S. and Israel are putting their energy for now.
He said: 'If the U.S. or Israel were determined to take Iran’s nuclear installations out they wouldn’t be wasting time pinpointing individual scientists like this.'
But, he pointed out, Israel’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak reactor was also preceded by assassination attempts on Iraqi scientists.
Hibbs said: 'Some of the concern in the expert community is that in going down this route we’re unleashing forces we cannot control.' That is seen as a reference to the Stuxnet computer worm which infected the nuclear facilities in 2010, and was believed to be the work of U.S and Israeli engineers.
But a source senior within the Obama administration indicated that the U.S. was not involved in every action. He added: 'I wouldn’t assume that everything we do is coordinated.'
Tensions: Protesters set fire to the British and Israeli flags during demonstrations in the Iranian capital Tehran last week
Anger: A protester breaks the emblem of the British embassy in Tehran after a mob of students attacked the building
Abbasi-Davani accused Great Britain, Israel and the U.S. of conducting attacks on him and other Iranian scientists.
He told a news conference at the annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna: 'Six years ago the intelligence service of the UK began collecting information and data regarding my past, my family, the number of children.'
It was the IAEA which produced a report detailing how close Iran was to producing the bomb that has racheted up tension between Washington and Tehran in recent weeks.
It culminated last week with the storming of the British embassy, during which time staff were held hostage and more than £1 million of damage caused, and led Britain to expel Iranian diplomats.
Seeing pictures of the Royal Family torn and historic paintings broken only served to fuel the enmity between the countries.
Dominick Chilcott, Britain's ambassador to Iran who lost his dog in the incident, accused the Iranians of supporting it. That theory appeared founded when the handful of protesters arrested were released without charge earlier this week.
Damage: A shattered window in the office of the British Embassy. Several other countries withdrew their ambassadors after the attack last week, which came in response to further sanctions on Iran's nuclear programme
Then, on Sunday, Bahrain's interior ministry announced that an explosion occurred inside a minibus parked near the British Embassy. However, there were no injuries.
Furthermore, a plot to kill the Saudi Ambassador to Washington was uncovered and foiled in the U.S. with America blaming the Iranians, who were celebrating at the weekend the latest in the round of tit-for-tat propaganda victories with the downing on a U.S. drone so hi-tech that no pictures of it have ever been released.
'This is a big prize in terms of technology,' a senior U.S. military source said after the downing of the RQ-170 drone.
Defiant: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he country will not budge from its nuclear programme, which he insists is for peaceful means
The Iranian news agency said it was show down after illegally crossing the country's eastern border, although a U.S. military official said it had 'absolutely no indication' the drone was shot down.
Neither the Air Force nor manufacturer Lockheed Martin has released much information about the plane, which was dubbed The Beast of Kandahar in 2007 when its existence was finally confirmed.
Early reports suggested that the plane - which supposedly has a wingspan of about 65ft and can fly at around 50,000ft - would be made almost entirely without metal to help it dodge radar.
The White House declined to comment but officials did not seem unduly alarmed, suggesting that the drone's capture would not provide Iran with significant information about U.S. surveillance technology and techniques.
Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council in Washington, said the build-up of incidents 'add up to a very worrisome picture'.
This was, he said, in part because 'the Iranians are absorbing all of these assassinations without seeing the pace of their nuclear program slow down to the extent it would be acceptable to the West.'
But if Iranian retaliations grow serious enough, he said, they could provide 'the pretext for a much larger war' in which the Israelis, and possibly the Americans, launch a full attack on Iran.
Gen Jaafari responded by ordering Revolutionary Guard units to move long-range Shahab missile to prevent them being targeted.
A protest slogan opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. Many fear Israel could take preemptive action to halt Iran's nuclear programme
The Iranian air force has also been carrying out exercises to respond to any attack from the air and says it will deal seriously with any further incursions into its airspace.
Amid all this comes a report today compiled by the American Enterprise Institute for Publc Policy Research (AEI) that suggested Western efforts to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons had a real chance of failing.
The report says the U.S. would have to 'lead an international effort to contain Iran and deter the Islamic Republic from using its nuclear capability'. The conservative think-tank will release its report, 'Containing and Deterring a Nuclear Iran', later today.
Vice President Danielle Pletka told Foreign Policy Magazine: 'The report is very much an acknowledgement of the very real possibility of failure of the strategy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and any responsible party should recognise that failure is an option.'
The report says Iran could realise its nuclear ambitions before the 2012 U.S. presidential election, with the Obama administration reticent to sanction action before the November ballot.
But other Middle East countries have insisted Iran does not represent a threat to the West.
UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum told CNN: 'I don't believe that Iran will develop a nuclear weapon. Will they hit Israel? How many Palestinians will die? And you think if Iran hits Israel, their cities will be safe? They will be gone the next day.' |
Introduction
The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is a rare breed - it's small on the outside, but big on the inside. Packed with all the latest hardware and having only a small screen to power, Sonys latest super-mini may very well be the performance champion to beat. But whenever there is a superhero, there is a villain lurking in the shadows. So yes, the Compact has its own battle to fight thats not all about size or speed.
Three years ago, the first Xperia Z1 Compact did the unthinkable, taking the then flagship apart and putting it back together into a smaller, nimbler package. Economy? Absolutely not. It was the performance package.
Sony eventually pulled the brakes with the X Compact last season but the XZ1 Compact is trying to make up for it and get back in the fast lane: the latest Snapdragon 835 chip, the flagship-grade Sony IMX400 camera with 960fps slow-mo vids, the elegant waterproof design, and Android Oreo right out of the box.
With a screen that size, the XZ1 has no business in the resolution race and the performance has the biggest gain. The XZ1 Compact is shaping up to be what the iPhone SE was to loyal Apple users and we can't wait to take this little beast out for a spin.
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact key features
Body: 129 x 64 x 9.3mm, 140g of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic unibody, Gorilla Glass 5 front, IP65/68 waterproofing
129 x 64 x 9.3mm, 140g of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic unibody, Gorilla Glass 5 front, IP65/68 waterproofing Screen: 4.6" Triluminos display of 720p resolution (720 x 1,280px); 319ppi
4.6" Triluminos display of 720p resolution (720 x 1,280px); 319ppi OS: Android OS v8 Oreo with the Xperia launcher and Sony multimedia bundle
Android OS v8 Oreo with the Xperia launcher and Sony multimedia bundle Chipset: Snapdragon 835 chipset: octa-core Kryo 280 CPU (4x2.46GHz +4x1.9GHz); Adreno 540 GPU; 4GB of RAM
Snapdragon 835 chipset: octa-core Kryo 280 CPU (4x2.46GHz +4x1.9GHz); Adreno 540 GPU; 4GB of RAM Camera: 19MP, 1/2.3" Sony IMX400 camera, f/2.0 lens, predictive hybrid laser/phase detection/contrast AF, burst AF, IR sensor for white balance, LED flash, dedicated hardware shutter key;
19MP, 1/2.3" Sony IMX400 camera, f/2.0 lens, predictive hybrid laser/phase detection/contrast AF, burst AF, IR sensor for white balance, LED flash, dedicated hardware shutter key; Video recording: 4K video recording @30fps, 1080p @60fps, 720p @960fps, Steady Shot; Stereo audio recording;
4K video recording @30fps, 1080p @60fps, 720p @960fps, Steady Shot; Stereo audio recording; Selfie: 8MP, 1/4" front-facing ultra wide-angle camera with FOV120 and 1080p@30fps video
8MP, 1/4" front-facing ultra wide-angle camera with FOV120 and 1080p@30fps video Storage: 32GB of built-in UFS storage and a microSD card slot
32GB of built-in UFS storage and a microSD card slot SIM: Single and dual-SIM models (region specific)
Single and dual-SIM models (region specific) Connectivity: Cat. 15 LTE; Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo, Bluetooth v5.0; NFC, USB-C port with USB 2.0 support, 3.5mm headphone jack
Cat. 15 LTE; Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo, Bluetooth v5.0; NFC, USB-C port with USB 2.0 support, 3.5mm headphone jack Audio: Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic; 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio; S-Force Front Surround stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic; 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio; S-Force Front Surround stereo speakers Battery: 2,700mAh non-removable battery, QuickCharge 3.0 support, Qnovo adaptive charging, Battery Care smart charging
2,700mAh non-removable battery, QuickCharge 3.0 support, Qnovo adaptive charging, Battery Care smart charging Misc: Fingerprint sensor (market dependent), stereo speakers
Main shortcomings
Big screen bezels
No HDR screen
Low screen resolution
Although the Compact series have clearly evolved over the past few years, the screen resolution is still stuck at 720p. It's not that 319ppi is dismal but Sony shouldve moved on to 1080p instead of risk slipping behind the curve.
The generous screen bezels are something the entire Xperia XZ lineup needs to deal with. We wonder if theyre less annoying on a smaller scale, or is it one of those things that are easier for a mini to get away with than a flagship.
Anyway, the real question is, can the XZ1 Compact sell the super-mini concept to enough people in the times of borderless displays and pretty compact five-inchers? Lets see. |
Even as one faction of the American government, the military and the corporatocracy grow collectively more alarmed about the possibility of a US attack on Iran, the Bush/Cheney administration and its allies seem increasingly moving towards just such a new war.
Okay, so Sen. James Webb (D-VA) and 29 other US Senators who oppose such a mad plan have done what? They've written a letter to the president telling him that he cannot attack Iran without express approval in advance from the Congress.
A letter! Boy, that'll stop him.
What's the matter with these people?
A few months back, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution authored by war cheerleader Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to be a "global terrorist organization." In President Bush's pathologically twisted view of his power, that resolution gave him all the go-ahead he needed, because Bush and his legal apologists claim that back on Sept. 18, 2001, Congress, in passing an Authorization for Use of Military Force against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, were actually declaring a War on Terror--a conflict without end and without borders. Under this crazy logic, any attack on a terrorist or terrorist organization is simply another battle in that "war."
If Sen. Webb and his colleagues really want to stop the president from further murderous madness, they need only revoke that 2001 AUMF. A simple resolution declaring it ended, and stating that the war on terror is not a war would do the trick.
Why hasn't the Congress done this?
Are they afraid the president will call them "soft on terror"?
No doubt he would, but I think most Americans have grown weary of Bush's name calling. People are pretty aware now that the raised and lowered colored alert flags, the periodic dire warnings of impending doom, all conveniently timed to coincide with moments when the president or his allies are facing legal or political difficulties, are just cheap scare politics.
Any member of Congress with a scintilla of courage could easily make that case to constituents.
People know this president is a whack job and that the vice president is a liar.
So why doesn't someone propose revoking the 2001 AUMF?
The aircraft carriers, loaded with Tomahawk missiles and the largest bomber fleet ever assembled, are in place. Stealth bombers are being retrofitted to carry a new 15-ton bomb. The army has built a base right near the Iranian border in Iraq. There was the bizarre case of the six missing nuclear missiles. The verbal threats against Iran are increasing. US special forces are reportedly already operating in Iran, encouraging and perhaps participating in acts of terror against the regime and its military forces there.
Oil prices are starting to rise to unseen levels as commodities traders bet on the impact of a closing of the Persian Gulf to oil traffic.
Time grows short to stop a catastrophe.
If Congress doesn't act soon to pull the legal rug out from under the president, we could well see a catastrophe. If the US does attack Iran, the global economy will go into a tailspin as oil soars past $200/barrel. The war in the Middle East would become a vast regional conflagration. US troops in Iraq, already thinly stretched, would come under attack from all sides. A draft would certainly be required.
And if the Iranians respond to a US attack with asymetrical warfare by attacking targets in the US, we could see military rule at home.
This is no time for members of Congress to write letters to the president. It's time for them to revoke the 2001 AUMF and to tell the president that an attack on Iran would be an impeachable offense.
In fact, why wait? It's time for them to impeach him now! This is just his latest crime in the making. And even threatening a war of aggression against a nation that doesn't pose an immediate threat is a violation of the UN Charter, a treaty that the US signed years ago and is bound by.
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I am a huge Paul Simon fan, so I was delighted to find that his new album, So Beautiful or So What, is out.
… or is it? According to amazon.com, it came out just over a week ago, on 12 April; but amazon.co.uk says that it will be released in a couple of months, on 13 June.
As a long-time Paul Simon fan, I am presumably the core market that the album is aimed at. And it seems that the marketing strategy for reaching us is: If You Live Outside The USA, Screw You.
If you’re American, you’d be surprised what a common strategy that is. If you’re British, it won’t be news to you.
But really, what on earth can the label be thinking here? How can it be to their commercial advantage to prevent Brits from buying the CD? I know I complain about this kind of thing a lot (DVD Regions, inability to buy MP3s from America, unusable store credit, more on unusability of store credit), but this time around I truly am completely, completely unable to come up with a mental model of what the label is hoping to achieve.
Like every other Paul Simon fan in Britain, my choices are: (A) pre-order the CD or MP3s from Amazon.co.uk and wait for June, when they will actually become available; (B) buy the physical CD from Amazon.com, and wait for it to be shipped across the Atlantic; or (C) torrent the MP3s.
What do they think is going to happen?
Being the upstanding citizen that I am, I have gone for option (A+C): I’ve pre-ordered the CD from Amazon.co.uk, and rather than wait eight weeks for it to arrive, I have torrented the MP3s which I am now happily listening to. When the CD arrives, I’ll shove it on the CD shelf, probably still in its shrink-wrap, quite possibly never to be opened.
But now think of all the other people who, because of the unavailability of the CD in the UK, will also torrent the MP3s. Will they all buy the CD when it becomes available? Surely not all of them — so that’s a whole bunch of lost sales, right there.
And now think of everyone who torrents these MP3s as the only way to get the album without waiting, whether or not they subsequently buy the CD. How many of them are new to the world of torrents? How many of them will, thanks to the label’s bizarre policy, have been introduced to the world of free, easily accessible content for the first time? Is that what the label wants? Is it? Huh? Huh? Is it?
As I wrote once before:
In the end, it won’t be the greed and irresponsibility of listeners that brings the music industry down in great waves of “piracy”; it will be the industry’s own astonishingly consistent stupidity.
Not many of us will be weeping bitter tears when that happens.
—
Update (the next day)
There’s some good discussion of this on Hacker News.
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BRANDON, MAN.—The person expected to represent the Liberals in an upcoming federal byelection says he is not misleading voters through his online biography, where he lists experience as a senior executive at Facebook. Rolf Dinsdale, the only candidate so far for the Liberal nomination in Brandon-Souris, was never an employee of Facebook. He worked for a Toronto company called Segal Communications, which handled sales for Facebook advertising in Canada between 2007 and 2009.
Rolf Dinsdale worked for a Toronto company called Segal Communications, which handled sales for Facebook advertising in Canada.
“Well, maybe I better change a couple of sentences here, but I don't think I'm being misleading at all,” Dinsdale said Wednesday. “I'll be very clear. I never worked directly for Facebook. I was a third-party agent. But this is very typical when companies expand into Canada, in the media business, that they'll hire Canadian companies to represent them here.” Segal and Facebook formed a “partnership,” Dinsdale said, and he reported to a vice-president at Facebook.
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Dinsdale recently moved back from Toronto to Brandon, where his family history runs deep. His father, Walter Dinsdale, was the area's Progressive Conservative member of Parliament for 32 years. His grandfather, George Dinsdale, was a Brandon mayor and legislature member. The 47-year-old has experience in publishing and media sales. His campaign website says Dinsdale “became a senior executive at the leading social media network Facebook, and guided its Canadian business operations until 2009.” Unlike his father, Dinsdale has leaned Liberal. Until recently, he was a member of the punk rock band S--- From Hell, along with longtime Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella. The band's songs include “Horny Single Mom” and “Jesus Got Wood.” The video for the latter features a writhing woman and the lyrics, “Baby you're going to get impaled.” Dinsdale says the songs show his sense of humour and he considers his material pro-Christian. “If I'm guilty of anything, it's of having a sense of humour and enjoying playing loud rock 'n' roll with my friends.”
“Jesus Got Wood” is a Christian anthem, Dinsdale said. “Personally, I felt there needed to be a song like this that spoke to people who maybe don't get exposed to Christian rock . . . and it is funny in one sense.”
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Dinsdale may be in for an uphill battle in Brandon-Souris, a long-time Tory stronghold. In 2011, the Liberal candidate finished fourth, slightly behind the Green Party candidate. A date has not yet been set for the byelection, which must be held to replace Conservative Merv Tweed, who resigned last month. The Liberals have yet to set a date for their nomination meeting. Dinsdale originally faced a competitor, Frank Godon, but he dropped out of the race last week.
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DALLAS (Reuters) - When the bullet struck her leg during the protest in downtown Dallas, Shetamia Taylor’s first thoughts were for her four sons.
A makeshift memorial at Dallas Police Headquarters is seen one day after a lone gunman ambushed and killed five police officers at a protest decrying police shootings of black men, in Dallas. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Taylor tackled the nearest boy to the ground then looked up to see a police officer racing to shield them from the gunfire.
“That officer jumped on top of me and covered me and my son and there was another one at our feet, and there was another one over our head,” Taylor told reporters on Sunday.
“I’m thankful for all of them, because they had no regard for their own life.”
Pushed into the news conference at Baylor University Medical Center in a wheelchair and hospital gown, Taylor wept as she recounted seeing two officers shot in front of her.
One was a tall, white, bald policeman. “As he was going down, he said, ‘He has a gun. Run,’” she recalled.
Police said a military veteran killed five officers on Thursday in a rampage that was the most deadly day for U.S. law enforcement since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Taylor, 37, said when she first heard the gunfire, she thought it might be fireworks left over from Fourth of July celebrations. She said the attack left her hurt and angry.
“Why would he do that?” she asked of the gunman, identified by authorities as Micah X. Johnson, 25.
Johnson launched his ambush during a protest against the killing by police of two black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, one of a string of demonstrations nationwide.
Taylor had attended with her four sons, aged 12 to 17.
“I was scared, I really didn’t know what was going to happen,” Jamar Taylor, 12, told reporters, breaking into sobs as he described becoming separated from his mother.
Taylor said, in her opinion, the police were not all “out to get us” and that people should reserve judgment.
“Please, just stop and think,” she said. “I tell my kids all the time, you know, ‘Closed mouth, open mind will get you a long way in life.’ Sometimes, just be quiet and think first.”
Another of her sons, Wavion Washington, hailed the officer who shielded them as they escaped.
“He was really selfless and he put himself in harm’s way ... to protect us.” Washington told the news conference. “So, we understand that there are a few bad apples out there, but they don’t spoil the whole bunch.” |
The Four Horsemen of Gentrification
Then I saw when the Landlord broke one of the rent-controlled seals. I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Gentrify.” I looked, and behold, a green horse, and he who sat on it had a mason jar; and a fedora was his crown, and he went out pickling and to pickle.
— Millennials 6:1, New Standard Greenpoint Bible (NSGB)
Brine
Greenpoint biblical scholars from the early 21st century were the first to interpret this horseman as not only the emergence of artisanal pickle shops, but of all unnecessary goods. It is said that after Brine visits your village, products will be made out of coconut oil for no reason whatsoever. The horse’s green color represents the thousands of dollars that will soon be wasted on items like serrano pepper dishwashing liquid.
- - -
When He broke the second seal, another, a horse with tortoise shell glasses went out; and to the rider it was granted to take peace from the newly acronym-ed neighborhood, and that men would drolly insult one another; and a great Twitter account was given to him.
— Millennials 6:2, NSGB
Snark
Snark is thought to make his first appearance at a house party with a DJ who is “the truth,” where people say Vice showed up, even though Vice probably did not show up. Chalkboards will materialize outside of local stores as if from thin air, and they will have written on them a quote from Bill Murray or a reference to the chalkboard itself in an attempt to be what the experts call “meta.” Residents will be mocked for their inability to taste notes of stone fruit in single-origin Ugandan espresso.
- - -
The third seal was broken by Him, and verily there was a horse the color of poached egg; he who sat on it had a food and cocktail menu in his hands. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of mimosas for Denise, and three bellinis for Kyle; but do not separate the hollandaise.”
— Millennials 6:3, NSGB
Brunch
There are those who believe Brunch to be the most destructive of the horsemen. Once he takes hold, an underage girl will line the streets with vomit because she heard once that tomato juice cancels out vodka. Brunch is often followed by the demon Tapas who ensures appetites are never more than whet. Wine will be served out of thimbles and all will despair.
- - -
When the Landlord broke the fourth and final seal, a ravenous horse emerged; and he who sat on it had the name Whole Foods; and Urban Outfitters was with him. Authority was given to them over the remaining area, to kill with overpriced chicken breast and with Vampire Weekend vinyls and with alpine-style cheeses and by the small dogs of the purse.
— Millennials 6:4, NSGB
Whole Foods
As Whole Foods arrives, hope departs. Ethnic restaurants will be replaced with half an aisle dedicated to “international ingredients.” Greek will be the only variety of yogurt and the quality of kale will be as high as the rent for an alcove studio. Lana Del Rey will be elected to the city’s council. There will be a great migration of former residents to more affordable housing. As they are loading their U-Hauls, one of them, a man without a ukulele, will look to the heavens and ask “Why?” He will hear the voice whisper a single word: “Kombucha.” |
There's a new Hollywood movie coming out this week about a guy who watches a lot of porn. In "Don Jon,"the lead character's porn "experiences" outweigh his real-life sexual experience by a wide margin, causing him some confusion about what sex with real people is supposed to be like.
There are a lot of different types of porn, and a lot of very different feelings about it. But one thing's for sure: Pornography is more accessible than ever. With the right phone, you can even watch it on the bus to work. Many would argue that this has led to too many men expecting real-life women to behave like porn actresses, and to think something must be wrong if their own sex doesn't mimic the sex professional porn stars engage in on camera. (How do you feel about porn? Read both sides of the debate in Porn: Love It or Leave It?)
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Britain's Channel 4 hopes to start a dialog about this with its new show, "Sex Box." The show premieres in October and will feature three regular couples per episode (read: not actors, therapists, or sex workers) engaging in sex acts in a big box, in front of a studio audience. The sex will be followed by discussion among the participants and host. Executives for the show are clear in saying their show is not gratuitous or lascivious. They want to begin an intelligent dialog on sexuality.
"Sex Box" will feature couples of varying ages, races, relationship stages and orientations.
As fascinating as this concept is, the expected outrage is there. One pundit presumes the show is merely using sex to gain ratings, while another astutely points out that "people don't normally have sex in a box in front of an audience." How's that for stellar investigative journalism? The U.S.'s own"Good Morning America" discussed "Sex Box" on its show, beginning their coverage with the absurd phrase, "Just when America had recovered from Miley Cyrus' twerking ..." Isn't this the kind of exaggerated outrage that keeps us from having a civilized adult discussion about sex in the first place? Do we really need to "recover" from seeing a young girl dance on TV? Did it give us all the vapors? Is it any wonder that networks are trying to encourage mature discourse on something as simple and vital as sex?
The Guardian newspaper ran with coverage that began with the tagline "If we need Channel 4's 'Sex Box' to tell us how to have sex, we're better off not having it." Apparently, they missed the memo that "Sex Box" is not an instructional video. I won't be able to see it, since I'm on the wrong side of the pond and it's unlikely to be picked up by BBC America. That's a shame, because a concept this cool should be made available to everyone - especially guys like "Don Jon." |
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Antonio Brown and the Steelers are making up, wounds run deep in New England and trying to understand how Terrell Owens is not going to Canton.
1. Antonio Brown Gets Real
Antonio Brown is sorry.
The Steelers star receiver said it over and over again in a lengthy conversation with Bleacher Report. It wasn't programmed or fake. He wasn't apologizing because it was the political thing to do. As we talked about his controversial video of the Steelers' post-playoff win locker room celebration, and the subsequent reaction, Brown seemed genuinely regretful.
"It was a dumb mistake," Brown said. "Can't believe I did it, and it won't happen again. I promise you that."
Brown created a stir around the league when he streamed video on Facebook Live of Mike Tomlin's profanity-laced postgame locker room speech to the Steelers following their divisional-round win over the Chiefs in Kansas City. Though Tomlin's speech was intended to be private, his remarks about the Patriots, whom the Steelers were to meet a week later in the AFC title game, irked many in New England. Brown apologized to Tomlin, but Pittsburgh lost 36-17 in Foxborough.
"The big thing I learned is that I have some growing up to do, and I'm going to do it," Brown said. "I learned a lot from it and will keep learning. I'm going to rebuild the trust with my teammates and my coaches. I promise you that, too."
This was easily one of the most overblown stories of all time. What he did was wrong, but it's not like Brown shot someone. Or assaulted someone. Or put mayonnaise on a hot dog.
Brown made the mistake of thinking that in the closed, paranoid, militaristic (and as an Army vet, I use that word with pride) world of the NFL, you can SnapFace or TweetGram something live from a locker room.
Brown is a good dude. You don't hear stories about him having off-the-field issues. You know why? Because they don't exist. They never have.
Yet it's also true that in speaking with several Steelers players, it's clear some felt Brown's ego was starting to get out of control. They added that some coaches, including Tomlin, believed the same. Some in the organization thought Brown cared too much this season about his stats.
To be clear, Brown still has unbelievable support in the locker room, the Pittsburgh players explained, and they insisted he is still extremely well-liked and respected.
Most importantly, they think Brown learned from his mistake and the team is now fully behind him (post contains profanity):
To me, it appears the Facebook moment has shaken Brown a bit, and righted his course. We're going to see a new Brown next season, a player who realizes how rare it is to win, who knows statistics are important, but winning is utmost. See: Brady, Tom.
Will he play in Pittsburgh next season?
"I'm a Steeler for life," Brown said.
Of course, it isn't entirely up to him, but Brown is too good for the Steelers to let go. At least, for the moment, it seems that way.
"My goal is always to get better every day," Brown said. "No one will ever outwork me. That's how it will always be for me. That will never change."
And if he's true to his word, Brown next season may be better than he's ever been.
2. Brisk Market for Brown
This shouldn't come as a huge shock, but there are teams wondering if they can swing some type of trade for Brown.
I'm told several teams have asked the Steelers if Brown is available, and according to two teams, the Steelers have said hell no.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Getting Brown would be expensive, requiring, at minimum, a first-round draft pick. But Brown also is the first player since Marvin Harrison to catch at least 100 passes in four straight seasons. Harrison is in the Hall of Fame, and Brown will likely join him one day.
For now, Brown has one year remaining on a six-year deal that will pay him $4.71 million in 2017. It seems the Steelers will be happy to give him a new deal, which is likely to cost in the range of $14 million to $15 million per season.
Brown—who was made available to me as part of a promotion for the Visa payment ring, the first-ever NFC-enabled, tokenized wearable form of payment—made it clear to me he's not leaving Pittsburgh.
"Steeler for life," he reiterated. "For life."
3. Brady Keeps Going and Going and Going...
In a quiet moment away from the post-Super Bowl madness, I asked Patriots receiver Julian Edelman what was it, exactly, that made Tom Brady special. His answer was brilliant and instructive.
"It's the trust factor," Edelman told me. "You look at him before a play and know that you trust him, obviously, but also, he trusts you.
"You know that he works hard, but I don't know if people really understand just how hard. He takes nothing for granted. He works every second of every day he can on getting better at quarterback even though he's already the best ever. He does this while being a great husband and father.
"He's relentless when it comes to football, and that's one of the best qualities you can have as a football player."
4. Old Feuds Run Deep in New England
Michael J. Ivins/Getty Images
The Patriots are still angry with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The sentiment flowed as an undercurrent throughout Super Bowl week, but New England players and management mostly took the high road. Brady did as well, during the week and when Goodell handed him the Lombardi Trophy.
But some of that bottled-up hatred has poured out in the days after the Super Bowl. There was no better example of this than Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia leaving the team plane wearing a T-shirt that depicted Goodell as a clown.
This is a coach doing this, not a player.
It's one thing for owner Robert Kraft to take shots at Goodell. He's Goodell's boss. Plus, he's a billionaire. Billionaires tell people off all the time.
But assistant coaches? They're seen and not heard. For someone as respected as Patricia to target the commissioner shows just how much this organization dislikes Goodell.
5. Interesting Choice Awaits Super Bowl Champs
Chuck Burton/Associated Press
Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett said he'll skip the team's potential visit to the White House because of President Donald Trump.
Several players I spoke to around the league agree with Bennett. Several others hate the idea and think it's disrespectful to the office of the president.
Bennett isn't the only Patriot who will skip a possible White House visit, however. Devin McCourty said he won't go, either.
"Basic reason for me is I don't feel accepted in the White House," McCourty told Time magazine. "With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't."
6. Do the Pats Really Need Gronk?
Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end of all time. He's still one of the most devastating offensive players this league has ever seen.
Yet he'll be 28 in May, and because he takes some of the more vicious shots you'll ever see, I think he's beginning to quickly break down physically. He missed much of this past season with hamstring and back injuries.
Predicting when to keep a player and when to cut him is a particularly brutal aspect of the game, and few have balanced those decisions better than the Patriots. That's why it wouldn't shock me if they were considering trading Gronkowski. After all, they just won a Super Bowl without him, and they could get a number of draft picks in return.
7. Sorting out Matt Ryan's Legacy
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Ryan's role in the Falcons' demise Sunday is still being written.
And while he played well and certainly didn't lose the game, he also didn't win it. This has always been my issue with Ryan. He generates stats but not always big wins. I'm not the only one who believes this. A lot of people in football love Ryan, but they also acknowledge he lacks something.
What is that something?
The kind of mental toughness Brady displayed. Or Aaron Rodgers. Or Drew Brees. Or Eli Manning.
Ryan doesn't have that. I'm not sure it's in him.
8. The Terrell Owens HOF Debacle
Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
The three best receivers, to me, of all time:
1. Jerry Rice
2. Randy Moss
3. Terrell Owens
And I could argue Owens was better than all of them. I might lose the argument, but I'd hang in there.
I covered all of them in their primes; Moss and Owens from the time they entered the NFL until they retired. The stats Owens generated are, in themselves, enough for him to get in. But he was also the most physically dominant receiver I ever covered. Even more so than Moss.
Some of why Owens did not get voted into Canton feels personal. Owens could be nasty with the media, and he didn't always get along with teammates, but so what? It's not the Hall of Great Teammates or Media Good Guys. It's not middle school. It's the Hall of Fame.
And you cannot write the history of the sport without Owens.
9. A Lifetime of Brutality
Elsa/Getty Images
One of the toughest players I ever covered was Titans tight end Frank Wycheck. I saw him take amazingly brutal hits, then get right back up. And he did it again and again and again.
Recently, Wycheck told WZTV in Nashville he believes he has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). He estimated he was part of 297,000 collisions and suffered 25 concussions from a football life that stretched from the time he was five years old to 33. That's 28 years of head trauma. That's too much.
10. Way-Too-Early Super Bowl Prediction
It'll be the Patriots and Packers.
Sorry, Brady haters.
Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL. |
(08/31/15) - Rep. Todd Courser of Lapeer has released a 4,145 word statement Monday night in response to the findings of an House Business Office investigation alleging he used taxpayer dollars to cover up an affair with fellow Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat. The report claimed both lawmakers were deceptive, deceitful and outright dishonest.
Here is the full statement in Rep. Courser's words:
"My Initial Response to the House Report regarding alleged misconduct; and some ancillary background notes that people are asking me to comment on…
Nothing in this post negates my own responsibility or culpability for my actions – in my faith, to my family, to my constituents, and to you the public at-large, but some questions need to be asked about the players involved and the motives behind their actions. Some of you have already made up your minds and do not need any more information in the events surrounding these issues, but some of you may be asking if there is more behind all of the stories – you will have to decide if there are more questions to ask. Many of you have asked me to comment on the findings of the report, but despite assurances that I would be able to review the findings, I have not been allowed to see any of the evidence now being alluded to in the media and that will soon be given to the committee. Given I have not been able to see the evidence against me, I can’t really comment on it. I can only speak from what I know from the sanitized report that was just released and what I have heard in the media myself.
So it is a little confusing to read the abridged and doctored report that has been released - So if you water this all down, one thing that is striking to me, is that the report says I was apparently credible enough to “relieve these staffers of their employment,” and apparently justified in letting them go, but the report says I am untrustworthy and deceitful in explaining why I let them go? So which is it? So apparently, per the report, my assessment was good enough to have them removed, but it is now their word that is trusted? There were many legitimate reasons for their removal, which this report refuses to disclose; these former employees were not asked to cover up anything; they are simply disgruntled former employees, who are "former" for very legitimate reasons.
Regarding these former staffers it is best to take the word of the current staffers who worked with these former disgruntled staffers…their statements (if they are so willing) and mine should be released to the public so the public can just decide for themselves the voracity of the accusations that are being leveled by these former staffers.
Now what you do not find in the report today -
What has not been released, nor do I expect to see released, is any of the evidence that shows the truly egregious performance of these prior staffers over a long period of time, which has been attested to by other staffers. If it were released it would paint a much different picture than the one now being presented in the abridged report. The current staffers who witnessed the work performance of these 3 former staffers would be the best guide on whether or not they were removed, as has been portrayed, due to some cover up, or was it due to their egregious work performance. These current staffers witnessed the former staffers: their lack of attendance, their failure to come to the office, their habit of showing up late to work and leaving early, their refusal to complete tasks, their refusal to answer every phone call, their neglecting to inform me of invitations, their multiple failures in constituent follow up, their refusal to deliver tributes to ceremonies of a local business and Eagle Scout ceremony, their telling the constituent services in the house that I had no wish to develop activities for the district (I was unaware that these services were available to me), their refusal to complete projects with the schools, (one staffer left the office early to deliver a project to the local libraries, a project that should have gone out at least a month earlier, only to not deliver them and simply take them home and not say anything), a refusal to account for when or where they had been spending their time while employed and supposedly working as state employees and a refusal to discuss what they accomplished during the day. Nor do I expect to see released the testimony showing that these former staffers had pushed another female staffer to resign – removing her from the office. Also we are probably not going to see released is any mention of the now infamous scheduling failures which include sending me across the state to a meeting that had been canceled the week prior, in which my staffer told me he had confirmed the meeting the day before, and of course the release of information from the report will probably not show the pornographic cartoon made by one of these staffers during a staff meeting that was then left for female staffers to find. This will report will probably fail to disclose the electronic attendance in the state house of these employees, or better said their lack of attendance. The report will probably also leave out the fact that one former staffer had, a month prior to being let go from state employment, stolen the data from my databases, had my personal database put in his own name, and finally stolen the assembled data for the official House account – those items will probably be kept under wraps and out of sight, because it doesn’t fit the narrative that is being sold about the motives of these former staffers. The information released will probably not show the times that my staff met secretly with the Speaker’s Office, what were the details of those meetings and why were those meetings held without Human Resources, or myself, knowing or being involved in the meetings. Finally if the Speaker’s office was so concerned to secretly meet with these staffers back as far as January, and continue to secretly meet with them throughout my term, then why was I not informed or warned about what they are now claiming as such egregious behavior. Incidentally, these staffers didn’t note any of this in their exit interviews with Human Resources and their removal from state employment was approved by Human Resources and the Speaker’s Office.
Is this an investigation? Or is it only offering evidence that fits a desired outcome?
In the following points, I will lay out some of the items that are being missed in the media and you can then make your own determination…
First, I need to ask the question that I think is really important in this discussion. Am I being targeted as a form of political retribution? Only you can decide if that is the case. Given my Conservative record, in voting (one of the best voting records of any rep now or in the past – in both voting and sponsorships my record is among the very, very best in the legislature) and in sponsorships (I have actually sponsored more in my first half of my first term then either of the prior two reps from my district in the same time). Given my voting and my advocacy for conservatism are among the best in the legislature, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that I am singled out and put on the fast-track of expulsion. Quite honestly I am not surprised; I am pretty sure that there were nearly enough votes to expel me the day after I was sworn in.
Second, is this really now a political hit? Meaning is there a different standard being applied to me due to my lack of support for some of the leadership’s progressive steps? Only two others in the history of the legislature have been expelled from the state legislature: one for felony embezzlement of 24k from a client; the second for multiple DUI’s and allegations of spousal abuse. Does the evidence being provided against me rise to this standard or is another standard being applied here – if so why? Are there others who have violated the same rules, but who are far more connected politically, who are given a free pass? Think of the incidents of Bolger? Richardville? Banks? Smith? Scandal upon scandal, but no calls for expulsion? This all comes down to tapes made by disgruntled former staffers, possibly while working with the Speaker’s Office, that show conversations about family and conversations concerning politics; yes the public treasury should be protected and any offense should be investigated, but it is my understanding that normally if there are conversations about family or politics on state property, then a warning is given and then if it continues then a fine is assessed by the Secretary of State – if that is the case then it is time to look at putting these accusations over to the Secretary and allowing that process to commence to determine what if any fine is appropriate – right now we are wasting the people’s time and resources on something that would normally end up being an issue that would be handled by the Secretary of State. In this case, even though the Speaker knew, and was meeting with the staffers secretly, there were no warnings given and now they are pushing for an expulsion? Does the level of, even the alleged misconduct rise to expulsion? Why not a fine? Or censure? To me it is time to get back to taking care of the people’s business on taxes, spending, the roads, and a whole host of other areas that need addressing - if there is a violation then there are already proper channels thru the Secretary of State to handle such accusations. Does this really rise to the level of forming a committee and doing a house investigation? Or is there another purpose in doing so?
Third, what standard is the leadership using to judge my fitness to hold office? What standard of “qualification” is being employed? And is it different in my current situation than in these other incidents of men who went along with the progressive establishment? Is every member being scrutinized and held to the same standards, or are there members right now who could have the exact same charges, whatever they are, brought against them?
Fourth, does the alleged misconduct arise to the level of expulsion? Or should there be a censure? Or should the people decide in either a recall effort or in the next election? You will have to decide from the evidence put forward, that which has been neatly combed through, picking out anything that fits their agenda and disregarding all evidence to support me, whether the evidence supports a call from the leadership for expulsion or is there another penalty more appropriate. The Speaker’s office employs the staffers and places them in the representative’s offices. The staff works for the Speaker. The Speaker met secretly with the staffers who were secretly taping me and allowed the release of these state employees to take place. The Speaker now handpicks the evidence to be presented to the handpicked committee to make the decision if I should be expelled – I will be given little to no ability to defend myself in the committee action or to present any evidence to counter any allegations. I was never informed of any wrongdoing from the Speaker – in regards to the now alleged conversations surrounding family matters or in regards to any political conversations.
Fifth, why have I not been allowed to see what I'm accused of? The investigation has been finished. Why aren't they going to disclose the entire investigation? What are they trying to doctor up in their findings? I have not been allowed to see the evidence, so I am going from what I have been told; do “these state house tapes,” of conversations about family issues on state property + political conversations on state property = expulsion? I am waiting with the public on the full findings; I can only hope that all the other reps, who are delivering their political fundraising flyers throughout the house daily (oh, this is ok because their staffers are made to do it on their own time and it’s a complimentary invitation for other reps asking for campaign donations), have followed the rules that I will be accused of.
Sixth, from what I have heard through the media, the tapes give an account of hours of meetings – albeit taped during the time when I am eating my lunch; noting conversations that are of a personal family nature and some focused on political conversations. Also the staffers knew they were creating the tapes so they were tailoring the conversations and their comments to fit their final objective. Normally, one would think a rep, new to the house, would be warned by the house business office or the Speaker's office, if such a wrongdoing was taking place. But in this case, the Speaker's office, even though they were in constant secret communication with the staffers, who were actively acting in the effort to set up and tape the conversations, gave no such warning, while the staffers continued to tape and record.
The removal of these staffers was approved by both the house business office and the Speaker's office, even though the Speaker's office was constantly meeting with the staffers from as far back as the beginning of the term. No allegations of misconduct were brought up to HR in their employment files or in their exit interviews.
What we know, but still have questions about – not sure anyone will even ask these questions or care to consider these parts, but here is a short list…
1. 1. Was this really an attack on an activist legislator who was at odds with the leadership? (Look how I voted on issues on the Michigan Votes website) Many times I voted against my own party in favor of my constituent's wishes and had repeatedly challenged the progressive steps of leadership on both raising taxes and in every attempt to raise the spending of the state budget. Some have said I have not been effective as a legislator – well if you say effective is supporting more taxes, more spending and more progressive legislation, then you are right, but if you measure it by Conservative voting and sponsorships then I have been among the most effective anywhere.
2. Was this a case of a whistleblower or a political hit? Were these really innocent staffers trying to protect themselves or was there something more? Was there direction coming from the Speaker's office during these many months? Hours of tape, secret meetings by the taping staff members with the Speaker's office, no warnings provided to the new rep in regards to the alleged misuse of government resources – related to discussing family and political issues, no visits by the staffers to inform HR and nothing noted about these allegations of misconduct in their employment files or in their exit interviews? These staffers were not, as they are now claiming, forced to do non-governmental work on government time, they were not forced to do work for my law firm or campaign related work during their normal state employment – two of the former staffers operated a consulting business out of my law office, and they completed, off state time, work for me both for my business and politically; they kept their official business offices in my law firm and also operated other political campaign activities out of my facility. If these former staffers were doing political operations, for me or for other political figures, while on state time then it was a choice they were making and in no way was I aware of it, or forcing it, or in any way encouraging it. Many do not know that it is normal practice in Lansing for staffers to do outside political work by leaving the state office buildings and working on their lunches out of the state offices; these staffers did such activities both for me and for their own political operations for other clients and issues, while they were on state employment.
3. Why hasn’t the Speaker’s office given us a full account of which of my former staffers they had met with and when? We know the Speaker’s office is directing the investigation, but can they investigate their own conduct or misconduct of the issues related to the investigation? Did the office handle the issues as prescribed in official procedures or was their effort a form of political retribution? We know the Speaker's office has not released the evidence and has not allowed me to see the evidence against me, but has repeatedly alleged misconduct in the media. Does the report show the failures in the handling of the process by the Speaker's office?
4. Why the rush to judgment - We also know that there is a police investigation into the alleged extortion/wiretapping by the anonymous texter, which has not concluded. It is being reported that a phone was purchased in the name of “Todd Courser,” and a Post Office box in Detroit was used that was registered to a deceased person; shouldn’t there be time to allow the investigation into whether or not there has been an attempt to extort me and doesn’t this matter in the scope of any action to discipline me?
5. Is this fair arbitration of process or is this really a kangaroo court? I'm not sure if the process through this committee is intended to bring out the truth, or is a gripe session by former staffers who were let go, and whether the whole exercise is put in motion, not to get to the truth, but rather to get to a predetermined ending. We know, due to a voice vote being used, that the committee has been formed without subpoena power. We know in the committee as formed, that I, the accused representative, has no ability to bring evidence to defend myself or even to question the evidence or the witnesses being brought before me. How is this fair when people are not allowed to defend themselves and not allowed to see the evidence against them?
6. Has a thorough investigation of the tapings been done? I have heard hours of tapes have been provided noting a definite effort by the staffers and we know the staffers were in constant contact with the Speaker’s office – were these the only tapes? Do the staffers hold more? Does the Speaker’s office hold more? And who owns the tapes? Were they made in the course of the staffer’s employment at the Speaker’s direction? Are these tapes authenticated? And are these tapes already released and those not released state property? Has the investigation asked to have the original device to confirm that the tapes have not been altered? Has there been a determination of whether these tapes are state property made while being an employee?
7. Much has been made of the fact that the now fabled email was sent in some way using state resources – it was not. There is no way to say anything to justify sending it or making it; I will suffice it to say, I can’t really explain it away in any real way, but to say looking back it was a terrible choice made in some really trying circumstances and I am surprised even at myself in those moments. You may believe that there was an extortionist who was wiretapping, or not, but until you have that sort of pressure being applied in your life with confirmations about their access to your private info, and that they are going to bring that info out in the next moments, you’re not sure who it is our what they have or how they are connected, either to the leadership or to your own staff – not even knowing what info they have or don’t have, you can’t really say what you would do or not do. I have no words to justify my actions in those moments, but to say it was done in a really trying moment; under some difficult personal issues and with an incredible amount of personal stress, you can assign whatever motive you feel is appropriate to it – but it was and is a tremendous personal failure on my part.
To me the reason the extortion issue is important is because if this is the type of pressure that is and can be asserted in the background to require a rep to resign, then it can to a much lesser degree be applied to force a vote in a direction, or force a pledge of support, in a critical moment for anything that those who hold such power desire – if knowledge about a person or their family is known that would destroy the rep or their loved ones then it can turn into undue influence on the whole representative process. People always ask me, “Why do people turn to being progressive champions once elected?” Well, don’t wonder “why” anymore, because this is why.
That night when the now infamous tape was made, the meeting was off state time, off state property, and at a location that the staffer used as a contractor for his consulting business. He had worked out of that location for several years as a political consultant both for myself and for other candidates. He had been in the office literally hundreds of times in his role as a consultant both for me and for other clients, even sleeping in the office overnight on consulting projects. He used my computers for his business. This is the location where he kept his computer equipment and also where he registered his office was for his business. He had never come to that office as a staffer employed by the state – his contention that he came that night as a state employee isn’t supported by the facts from the prior 3 plus years and hundreds of stop ins as a political consultant.
8. The release of the partial report notes the use of a database called Nationbuilder – this database was set up to help administer the intake of constituent issues and is completely separate from my political database. It is a database to organize and assemble constituent issues related to the official office operation and to my knowledge is entirely separate from the political campaign database.
I have personally paid the cost of the database and it has cost the taxpayers nothing for its use – the database along with a series of excel spreadsheets and other software tools were used to create an organized framework for the administration of the office.
In closing I want to again thank all of you who have continued to pray for myself and my family. I really can’t thank you enough for your prayers. They have meant the world to us. God bless each of you!
Todd Courser
A confession of sorts - There has been mention of some odd parts that just don't make sense to people - me missing some of my committee meetings, wondering what was going through my mind the night of the now fabled email, and my lying down on the floor during a staff meeting. There are a few more incidents that appear odd if added into this conversation – sitting down in the hallway outside the committee hearing room and my lying down up in the corner of the gallery during a long session – they are all somewhat connected.
I have avoided sharing this even as I am working through it. It is not something someone would normally share in a political life, but it is probably time. I have a heart condition, for which I am seeing a cardiologist, it that allows me to maintain my blood pressure, even as my heart rate drops off in a moment by half or more and causes a feeling that I am in cardiac arrest, even as I appear to be functioning normally to everyone around me; this can last a few minutes or a couple of hours. In these moments, I will normally just find a spot to lie down until it passes, but sometimes that just has not been possible. It is something that has been with me for a long time.
This is what was happening during some of my missed committee meetings, also the now fabled night of the email, and the incident now recalled by a former staffer during his press conference.
I am not sure if the number of committees I have missed is more than other reps, I doubt it is, but someone can check that part out and I am sure they will. I know my missed votes are very low in total, both for committees and more importantly in the legislative sessions; I don’t think I have missed any votes on the floor due to this or any other reason."
Again In Christ Alone –
Todd |
On Sunday, Obama said that Clinton's situation was different from that of people who had intentionally taken classified material, placed it on a private computer and been prosecuted by federal authorities.
"We don't get an impression that here there was purposely efforts ... to hide something or to squirrel away information," he said.
While it is "important for her" to answer questions about the controversy "to the satisfaction of the American public," Obama said, the issue has been "ginned up" by the campaign season.
Obama's comments come as news of the controversy lingers through Clinton's presidential campaign. In September, the Pentagon said it had discovered previously undisclosed messages between Clinton and then-U.S. commander David Petraeus.
Now, a former congressional investigator is claiming a House committee examining the Benghazi, Libya, attack conducted a biased investigation of Clinton — who was secretary of state during the attack — after news of her email server broke. |
The Valley Line LRT is getting national attention from Renew Canada, a leading construction industry magazine, which has ranked the 27-kilometre development in its top 100 list of Canada's biggest infrastructure projects. Placing 25th, Edmonton's largest ever single infrastructure project will run low-floor, light-rail vehicles on segregated tracks along streets from Mill Woods in the southeast, through downtown, to Lewis Farms in the west end. The 13.1-kilometre southeast leg began construction in 2016.
Rendering of the Tawatinâ Bridge, to replace the Cloverdale Footbridge, image via TransEd Partners
One of the most visible signs of construction for the $1.8 billion project was the recent removal of the Cloverdale Footbridge that spanned the North Saskatchewan River. Despite calls from preservationists to save the structure, which has been rooted into the landscape for decades, crews started disassembling the bridge in December. For now, photographers itching for the wondrous skyline view the bridge afforded will have to wait until 2019, when the replacement Tawatinâ Bridge is scheduled to open. A multi-use path underneath the rail deck will provide the same connections the Cloverdale Footbridge had offered.
Heavy machinery stares down the Cloverdale Footbridge, image by Flickr user Mack Male via Creative Commons
When the first phase of the transformational transit project is complete in 2020, its terminus will be graced by a colourful assortment of Indigenous art. Intended to capture the area's rich cultural heritage, the Edmonton Arts Council has launched a public competition that will determine the fit and form of the paintings, photographs, drawings, or text that are to be converted onto the glass of the transit shelter. Artists have until January 12 to submit their creations, with the winning design to be selected in March.
Segregated tracks along the street will serve the LRT, image via TransEd Partners
Similar transit projects to make the list include Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT at 4th place, Calgary's Green Line LRT at 11th and the Ottawa LRT at 16th place. The $13 billion, 15-year refurbishment project of six Bruce Power nuclear reactors near Kincardine, Ontario, earned the top spot.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page. |
AMERICAN luxury travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler has ranked Perth as the second-friendliest city in the world.
That might come as a surprise to some, particularly any victims of a recent road-rage attack or drug-fuelled robbery.
But hundreds of thousands of readers voted in Conde Nast’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards, so who are we to disagree?
The concept of “friendliness” is not limited to the attitude of the residents. Safety, amenities and ease of navigation can also be taken into account.
It is a welcome salve for the pain of being named one of the world’s most dangerous cities by British newspaper The Sun.
The Sun’s list, released last month, was based on its own dubious research.
Perhaps that was why Perth found itself in the company of war-torn Raqqa and Mogadishu.
Back to Conde Nast.
It is not the first time an Australian city has made the list.
Sydney was the runner-up last year after claiming the top spot in 2015. Melbourne tied with Auckland for first in 2014.
This year’s winner was San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico.
Here is what the editorial team had to say about Perth’s debut.
“While Sydney and Melbourne have for ever got plenty of attention, Perth has put itself on the map in recent times becoming Australia’s rising star thanks to a boom of hip restaurants and lodgings,” they said.
“As one reader said, ‘I’ve never said wow so many times’. That alone says volumes.”
Jacques Pelissier has been driving tourists around the city for Perth Explorer for two years.
Originally from France, he had seen plenty of the world by the time he decided to stay in Perth in 1985. He said his customers were most impressed by the weather and cleanliness.
Tess Carlo is visiting from Canberra with her husband and his cousin from the Philippines.
She had a theory about why Perth seemed more welcoming than her home city. “There are more politicians in Canberra.” |
Written by Adam B. Blake and Alan D. Castel
Source: Peter Bernik/Shutterstock
We are very good at remembering the things that we see. We can recognize familiar faces, we can talk about the things we have seen, we return to places we liked, and we avoid places we did not. If you see something many times, over and over again, you should stand a pretty good chance of remembering it, right?
Perhaps not.
Consider an object that many people handle on a daily basis, the U.S. penny[1]. Though it is a common object, most people find it hard to explicitly describe all of its features or to pick out the correct representation of it among cleverly drawn alternatives with the features changed or moved (try it out with this demo).
Perhaps we forget the features of pennies because they are so small. Would our memory improve with highly visible objects? A recent study at UCLA tested people’s memory for the location of fire extinguishers.[2] Fire extinguishers are bright red and placed in highly visible locations, yet people in the study were not very good at remembering where the nearest one was, even though they often remembered the fact that they had seen it (often many times, and for some people, for more than 25 years). The researchers determined that seeing is not always the same as noticing.
Would we remember an object better if we physically interacted with it daily?
Not necessarily. Even interacting with objects does not ensure noticing and remembering them. For instance, without looking can you describe the features and spatial layout of the keys that surround the “T” key on your computer keyboard? Many people have trouble doing this very well. According to researchers at Vanderbilt and Kobe universities, even skilled typists had trouble giving explicit descriptions of the QWERTY keyboard.[3]
What might cause this poor memory of things that are highly available, very noticeable, or with which we frequently interact? Before going any further, try this short, fun demonstration—don’t worry, it will take less than a minute, and you can test yourself.
If you went to the site, you might have found yourself struggling to pick out the correct version of an incredibly common design—the Apple logo. Logos are specifically designed to be memorable and to convey certain qualities and values about a company. The Apple logo is among the most recognizable in the world. It has a simple set of features, following a minimalist design that evokes a stylish sense of ease. Though it is very simple and highly available, a very recent study at UCLA shows that people are not very good at elaborating and recalling the specific features of the logo (by drawing it).[4] And people had trouble identifying the correct logo from a set of alternatives.
We see the Apple logo all the time, but do we notice it? When we see things very often, we may reach what can be called attentional saturation. Through constantly seeing and attending to the same thing over and over again, our brains may learn that it is unimportant to remember specific details. This same principle can be applied to pennies, fire extinguishers, and keyboards. When we first encounter one of these things, we might have a very distinct representation of it in our . But with continued use, that distinct memory may blend with other experiences with the object to the point that we start to only really pay to the important characteristics: It helps me pay with exact change, my fingers need to do this to make this word, I need it to put out a fire, or it represents a popular brand (and not a counterfeit).
Strangely, we are largely unaware of this everyday phenomenon. In the study involving the Apple logo, participants were asked prior to drawing the logo how well they would be able to draw it. There was a striking discrepancy between participants’ prior to drawing the logo and how well they performed on the task. After the drawing task, there was a large drop in confidence, suggesting that the act of trying to retrieve the logo from memory was a good method of “updating” ideas of how available that memory was. This type of retrospective judgment of memory is widely-known in the literature to be superior to prospective judgments, and it applies to other types of memory as well.
If you want to really know how well you know something, the best thing you can do is to actually try to use that information in a meaningful way—it will probably be a telling experience.
References
[1] Nickerson, R. S., & Adams, M. J. (1979). Long-term memory for a common object. Psychology, 11, 287−307. doi: 10.1016/0010-0285(79)90013-6
[2] Castel, A. D., Vendetti, M., & Holyoak, K. J. (2012). Fire drill: Inattentional blindness and amnesia for the location of fire extinguishers. Attention, Perception,& Psychophysics, 74, 1391−1396. doi: 10.3758/s13414-012-0355-3
[3] Snyder, K. M., Ashitaka, Y., Shimada, H., Ulrich, J. E., & Logan, G. D. (2014). What skilled typists don’t know about the QWERTY keyboard. Attention, Perception,& Psychophysics, 76, 162−171. doi: 10.3758/s13414-013-0548-4
[4] Blake, A. B., Nazarian, M., & Castel, A. D. (in press). The Apple of the mind’s eye: Everyday attention, metamemory, and reconstructive memory for the Apple logo. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. doi: 10.1080/17470218.2014.1002798 |
Nearly everywhere on the planet the giant financial bubbles created by the central banks during the last two decades are fracturing. The latest examples are the crashing bank stocks in Italy and elsewhere in Europe and the sudden trading suspensions by three UK commercial property funds.
If this is beginning to sound like August 2007 that’s because it is. And the denials from the casino operators are coming in just as thick and fast.
Back then, the perma-bulls were out in full force peddling what can be called the “one-off” bromide. That is, evidence of a brewing storm was spun as just a few isolated mistakes that had no bearing on the broad market trends because the “goldilocks” economy was purportedly rock solid.
Thus, the unexpected collapse of Countrywide Financial was blamed on the empire building excesses of the Orange Man (Angelo Mozillo) and the collapse of the Bear Stearns mortgage funds was purportedly owing to a lapse in supervision.
So it boiled down to an injunction of “nothing to see here”. Just move along and keep buying.
In fact, after reaching a peak of 1550 on July 18, 2007, the S&P 500 stumbled by about 9% during the August crisis, but the dip-buyers kept coming back in force on the one-off assurances of the sell-side “experts”. By October 9 the index was back up to the pre-crisis peak at 1565 and then drifted lower in sideways fashion until September 2008.
The bromides were false, of course. Upon the Lehman event the fractures exploded, and the hammer dropped on the stock market in violent fashion.
During the next 160 days, the S&P 500 plunged by a further 50%. Altogether, more than $10 trillion of market cap was ionized.
^SPX data by YCharts
The supreme irony of the present moment is that the perma-bulls insist that there is no lesson to be learned from the Great Financial Crisis. That’s because the single greatest risk asset liquidation of modern times, it turns out, was also, purportedly, a one-off event.
It can’t happen again, we are assured. After all, the major causes have been rectified and 100-year floods don’t recur, anyway.
In that vein it is insisted that U.S. banks have all been fixed and now have “fortress” balance sheets. Likewise, the housing market has staged a healthy recovery, but remains lukewarm and stable without any signs of bubble excesses. And stock market PE multiples are purportedly within their historic range and fully warranted by current ultra-low interest rates.
This is complete daytraders’ nonsense, of course. During the past year, for example, the core CPI has increased by 2.20% while the 10-year treasury this morning penetrated its all-time low of 1.38%. The real yield is effectively negative 1%, and that’s ignoring taxes on interest payments.
The claim that you can capitalize the stock market at an unusually high PE multiple owing to ultra-low interest rates, therefore, implies that deep negative real rates are a permanent condition, and that governments will be able to destroy savers until the end of time.
The truth of the matter is that interest rates have nowhere to go in the longer-run except up, meaning that the current cap rates are just plain absurd. Indeed, after last’s week’s “bre-lief” rally the S&P 500 was trading at24.3X LTM reported earnings
Moreover, the $87 per share reported for the period ending in March was actually down by 18% from the $106 per share peak recorded in September 2014. So in the face of falling earnings and inexorably rising interest rates, the casino punters are being urged to close their eyes and buy the dip one more time.
And that’s not the half of it. This time is actually different, but not in a good way. Last time around the post-August 2007 dead-cat bounce was against $85 per share of S&P LTM earnings, meaning that on the eve of the 2008 crash the trailing multiple was only 18.4X.
That’s right. After the near-death experience of 2008-2009 and a recovery so halting and tepid as to literally scream-out that the main street economy is impaired and broken, the casino gamblers have dramatically upped the valuation ante yet again.
There is a reason for such reckless obduracy, however, that goes well beyond the propensity of Wall Street punters and robo-traders to stay at the tables until they see blood on the floor. Namely, their failure to understand that the current central banking regime of Bubble Finance inherently and inexorably generates financial boom and bust cycles that must, and always do, end in spectacular crashes.
Bubble Finance is based on the systematic falsification of financial prices. That’s the essence of ZIRP and NIRP.
It’s also the inherent result of massive QE bond-buying with central banks credits conjured from thin air. And it’s the purpose of the wealth effects doctrine and stock market puts. The latter are designed to inflate stock prices and net worths, thereby encouraging households to borrow (against rising collateral values) and spend on the expectation of permanently higher real wealth.
The trouble is, financial prices cannot be falsified indefinitely. At length, they become the subject of a pure confidence game and the risk of shocks and black swans that even the central banks are unable to off-set. Then the day of reckoning arrives in traumatic and violent aspect.
And that brings us to the father of Bubble Finance, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan. In a word, he systematically misused the power of the Fed to short-circuit every single attempt at old-fashion financial market corrections and bubble liquidations during his entire 19-year tenure in the Eccles Building.
That includes his inaugural panic in October 1987 when he flooded the market with liquidity after Black Monday. Worse still, he also sent the monetary gendarmes of the New York Fed out to demand that Wall Street houses trade with parties they knew to be insolvent and to prop up stock prices and other financial valuations that were wholly unwarranted by the fundamentals.
Greenspan went on to make a career of countermanding market forces and destroying the process of honest price discovery in the capital and money markets. Certainty, that’s what he did when he slashed interest rates in 1989-1990, and when he crushed the justified revolt of the bond vigilantes in 1994 with a renewed burst of money printing.
Ditto, when he bailed out Long-Term capital and goosed the stock market in the fall of 1998—-a maneuver that generated the speculator dotcom bubble and subsequent collapse.
And then he applied the coup de grace to what remained of honest price discovery on Wall Street. During the 30 months after December 2000, he slashed interest rates from 6.25% to 1.0% in a relentless flood of liquidity. The latter, in turn, ignited the most insane housing market bubble the world had ever seen.
During the second quarter of 2003, for example, as rates were brought down to a previously unheard of 1.0%, the financial system generated mortgage financings at upwards of a $5 trillion annual rate. Even a few years earlier, a $1 trillion rate of mortgage financing had been on the high side.
Needless to say, housing prices and housing finance costs were systematically and radically distorted. The crash of 2008-2009 was but the inexorable outcome of Greenspan’s policy of financial asset price falsification—–a policy that his successor, Bubbles Ben, doubled down upon when the brown stuff hit the fan.
So as we sit on the cusp of the next Bubble Finance crash, now comes Alan Greenspan to explain once again that he knows nothing about financial bubbles at all. According to the unrepentant ex-Maestro, it’s all due to the irrationalities of “human nature”.
Why, central banks have nothing to do with it at all!
“The 2000 bubble collapsed. We barely could see a change in economic activity. On October 19, 1987, the Dow Jones went down 23% in one day. You will not find the slightest indication of that collapse of that bubble in the GDP number – or in industrial production or anything else. So I think that you have to basically decide what is causing what. I think the major issue in the financial models has got to be to capture the bubble effect. Bubbles are essentially part of of the fact that human nature is not wholly rational. And you can see it in the data very clearly.”
No you can’t. As Doug Noland observed in his most recent post:
At their core, Bubbles are about Credit excess and market distortions. Major Bubbles almost certainly have a major government component. They are indeed toxic, seductively so. Had the Greenspan Fed not backstopped the markets and flooded the system with liquidity post the ’87 Crash, Credit would have tightened and bursting Bubble effects would have been readily apparent throughout the data. Instead, late-eighties (“decade of greed”) excess ensured spectacular Bubbles in junk debt, M&A and coastal real estate. It’s been serial Bubbles ever since.
Noland is completely correct. During the early part of the Bubble Finance era, the main street economy was goosed time and again by cheap credit, which induced household and business spending from the proceeds of steadily higher leverage.
At length, the American economy essentially performed an LBO upon itself. The historic leverage ratio of 1.5X total credit market debt to national income soared to 3.5X on the eve of the financial crisis. That meant that the US economy was lugging around $52 trillion of debt in December 2007——or $30 trillion more than would have been outstanding under the historic golden mean of 1.5X.
Needless to say, the one-time leveraging of the US economy’s collective balance sheet did indeed generate incremental GDP, albeit debt fueled spending growth that was unsustainable and ultimately stolen from the future.
Greenspan’s claim, therefore, that earlier bubble collapses did not cause GDP to falter gives sophistry an altogether new definition. In fact, the Fed just rolled one bubble into the next, making the eventual payback all the more traumatic and destructive.
Yet at the time, Greenspan even applauded the exploding and unstable leveraging of household balance sheets. He actually bragged about how he had induced higher consumption expenditures and GDP by encouraging American families to to refinance their castles and then spend the MEW (mortgage equity withdrawal) on a new car or trip to Disneyland.
Here is what happened to the household leverage ratio during Greenspan’s destructive MEW campaign. Does he really think that the nearly parabolic rise of the leverage ratio during his tenure to nearly double the stable historic average was due to the irrationalities of human nature?
In fact, the limpid recovery of household consumption spending even by the Fed’s Keynesian measuring sticks is not about human nature at all. It is the consequence of central bank policies that first drove the household sector to a unsustainable balance sheet condition of Peak Debt, and has now left it high and dry under a crushing debt burden of $14.5 trillion.
In short, by its very nature Bubble Finance impregnates the system with FEDs (financial explosive devices). And worse still, what Greenspan started in the US has been exported to the rest of the world.
In part that was owing to the emulation of Bubble Finance policies by all of the world’s central banks. And it was compounded by the often defensive rationalizations for money printing that has been forced upon them by the massive flow of excess dollar liabilities into the global financial system.
That we are now entering August 2007 redux is evident in the rapidly growing crisis in the Italian banking system. What happens near the end of a bubble cycle is that the high flyers that never merited their bloated valuations in the first place are finally abandoned by the punters, as happened with Countrywide and Bear Stearns in late 2007.
In the case of Italy’s third largest bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi Siena, the jig is now up. It is completely insolvent and has been for years. Yet as recently as two years ago it was trading at 225X its current virtually worthless stock price.
But the collapse shown below was not the market at work; it was merely the speculative ethers fueled by Mario Draghi’s printing press finally rushing out of the bubble.
BMDPF data by YCharts
Nor is this an isolated example. As we pointed out last week, the Italian banking system as a whole is the massively bloated and insolvent off-spring of Bubble Finance. Since the turn of the century, its footings have nearly tripled and now stand at an incredible EUR 4 trillion.
That happens to represent 2X Italy’s languishing GDP, and a full turn more than the approximate 1X ratio in the year 2000. Yet the only thing more off the charts than this kind of bank asset explosion is the degree to which bad assets were enabled to be accumulated in the banking system without a corrective crisis years ago.
In fact, there are now about $3 trillion of loans in the Italian banking system and upwards of 13% are non-performing. In relative terms, that is nearly 3X the bad debt ratio which prevailed in the US banking system at the peak of the subprime crisis.
Needless to say, these EUR 400 billion of NPLs are growing rapidly, but are not even close to being fully reserved. In fact, Monte Paschi, Unicredit and three other big Italian banks have EUR 119 billion of NPLs that areunprovisioned. That compares to total book equity of just EUR 125 billion in Italy’s entire banking system at the end of Q1.
Italian banks are essentially insolvent. That shares have been clobbered since the Brexit event, and are down by 50% to 70% since the beginning of the year is simply the belated recognition by speculators that neither the Italian government nor the ECB is in a position to do whatever it takes to sustain this particularly eregious Bubble Finance scam.
The former has come smack-up against the EU bail-in rules, while even the latter’s printing press will not be allowed by the Germans to extend QE to the EUR 187 billion of Italian bank bonds that are headed for a massive haircut.
Indeed, as recently as two years ago the traded equity and debt of the Italian banking system was valued at upwards of $400 billion. In fact, it is essentially worthless.
The battle of the Italian government to rescue this catastrophe from a complete meltdown will undoubtedly create the next crisis of governance and survival for the imploding EU. But even before that eventuality fully materializes, the larger point has already been proven.
To wit, like Countrywide and its 2007 compatriots, the implosion of the Italian banking system is not a one-off occurrence. Instead, it is the part and parcel consequence of Bubble Finance.
And there are a lot more Italian Banking Jobs still to come.
Originally published at David Stockman's Contra Corner |
THE LEFTOVERS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Blu-ray And DVD Release Details
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced the home video release of HBO’s thought-provoking series THE LEFTOVERS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD on October 6th. Head inside for the details!
From WBHE:
BURBANK, CA (June 18, 2015) – From Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of the hit series Lost, and acclaimed Oscar®-nominated novelist Tom Perrotta, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings the thought-provoking new HBO series The Leftovers to Blu-ray and DVD for the first time.Renewed for a second season,, this enticing new series captivated audiences with one of HBO’s strongest premieres of 2014. The series averaged over 2.5 million total viewers* and is the first Warner Bros. Television show ever to air on the HBO network. With the stellar starring cast of Justin Theroux (Mulholland Drive), Amy Brenneman (Private Practice), Christopher Eccelston (Thor: The Dark World), Liv Tyler (The Lord of the Rings films), Chris Zylka (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), Margaret Qualley (Palo Alto), Carrie Coon (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Emily Meade (Gimme Shelter), Amanda Warren (The Closer), Ann Dowd (Masters of Sex), Michael Gaston (The Mentalist), Max Carver (Desperate Housewives), Charlie Carver (Desperate Housewives) and Annie Q (Are We There Yet?), the series was created by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (Little Children), with Lindelof, Perrotta, Peter Berg (Lone Survivor, Friday Night Lights) and Sarah Aubrey (Lone Survivor, Friday Night Lights) executive producing. The Leftovers: The Complete First Season from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on October 6, 2015 for $44.96 / $39.98 SRP.
Based on the 2011 bestselling novel by Perrotta, The Leftovers is seen primarily through the eyes of police chief Kevin Garvey, played by Justin Theroux, as he experiences life post “the Departure.” After what can only be explained as an instance similar to the biblical rapture, the people of Mapleton, New York, are suddenly shaken to their core as many of their loved ones disappear into thin air. With roughly 140 million people actively missing — 2% of the world’s population — the world starts to question everyone and everything. Will people turn to cynicism, paranoia, and cult-like fanaticism, in order to survive? The eerie and thought-provoking series leaves viewers riveted, second-guessing theories from episode to episode.
“With the third strongest series premiere for HBO in 2014, we know fans are just as excited as we are to add The Leftovers: The Complete First Season to their collection.” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “Fans who were already hooked as well as those soon-to-be can now catch up or relive the mystery prior to the season two premiere.”
The Leftovers: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD includes all 10, hour-long episodes:
1 Pilot
2 Penguin One, Us Zero
3 Two Boats and a Helicopter
4 B.J. and the A.C
5 Gladys
6 Guest
7 Solace for Tired Feet
8 Cairo
9 The Garveys at Their Best
10 The Prodigal Son Returns
Special Features:
▪ Pilot Audio Commentary
▪ Making The Leftovers
▪ I Remember: A Season One Conversation with Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta
▪ Secrets of the Guilty Remnant
▪ Beyond the Book: A Look Ahead at Season 2
▪ Finale Audio Commentary |
The problem with public education as it exists in the United States right now is not only that it’s coercive, but that it is coercive on every level.
Firstly, it is coercive in that you have to attend. Unless your parents a) can afford the cost in time, money, and energy to take you out and b) choose to do so–you have no legal say in this decision–you are legally forced to attend.
Once you are in the school system, your schedule will be highly controlled. It will be decided for you at what times you may attend to basic bodily needs such as eating, drinking, sleeping, and using the restroom. You will have little choice in which people you get to interact with (overwhelmingly people in an artificially narrow age range), and which people you have to interact with (even if they are abusing you).
The subjects you will be learning will essentially be decided for you. The video “Don’t Stay In School” is an excellent takedown of how laughably arbitrary these subjects are. Which subjects you are interested in, feel ready to learn, or will be applicable to your particular life will very seldom be taken into account.
Once in the class, the way in which you learn the subject will be decided for you. You will probably be forced to learn the material via passively listening to lectures and performing repetitive exercises. You will have to participate in these activities or be punished via grading–the wrong grades will hurt your college prospects and may even prevent you from graduating from the only education system you were ever given the opportunity to attend. For the same reason, you will need to acquire, one way or another, the skills to pass tests that may not be suited to your abilities. You will have little room to pursue the aspects of the subject that seem most interesting or useful to you, and you probably won’t be able to access the material in the way that is easiest for you to process.
The way you will be forced to learn the material will likely extend to taking up many hours of your time outside of school, in which you otherwise might have been free to try to ameliorate the effects of all the above. Even if not, your time spent in school will likely leave you exhausted, with little energy to pursue your own education.
Reducing coercion at just one of these levels is still important progress. A government that offers real choice to students about what school, or none, they would like to attend would be progress; a parent who offers this same choice to one individual is also progress. A school that gives students a voice in deciding the curriculum would be progress; a teacher who refuses to hold grades over their students’ heads in order to force them to learn the material in a particular way is also progress. We’ve got a long way to go. |
Xiaofang Wang is continuing his extensive studies in the world of stem cell research. He is now looking to utilize stem cells to treat MS patients.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease where the body accidentally damages neurons and affects the communication between the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. Severe cases of MS result in paralysis or the inability to speak. The incurable disease affects over 2.3 million people worldwide.
Xiaofang Wang and his team of scientists replicated the first experiment that cloned human embryos capable of producing embryonic stem cells using DNA taken from infants. A month and a half after that, Wang and his team reported that human embryonic stem cells might have the ability to treat multiple sclerosis in humans after successful trials on mice.
The researchers took cells from frozen human embryos and transformed them into an immature cell called a mesenchymal stem cell. This type of cell could potentially help treat multiple sclerosis after the researchers found that they appeared to travel to the damaged tissues in mice and helped mitigate the immune system response that affected the neurons' health.
"Untreated mice were suffering. They are paralyzed. They on their backs. They are dragging their limbs. They are in really sad shape. Treated animals, they are walking and jumping around just like normal mice," said Dr. Lanza, a supporting scientist involved in Wang's research, in this NBC News article.
The study, "Human ESC-Derived MSCs Outperform Bone Marrow MSCs in the Treatment of an EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis," was published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research in the journal Stem Cell Reports on Thursday.
The new stem cells helped reduce the symptoms of the MS-like disease in the mice and also prevented further damage to the brain's nerve cells. Such testing on humans is many months away Lanza said, but he believes if all goes as planned, human embryonic stem cells will be able to match any patient with the disease and they will not need to use controversial cloning technology that puts the political world up in arms. |
Everton attempted 600 passes to Leicester’s 336 but could only muster a similar amount of shots as The Foxes.
As usual, yellow dots= goals, blue dots saved attempts and black dots were blocked/off target:
My ExpG model says Leicester created the best chances in total. There was only an 11% chance Everton would score twice (both absolute peaches) from their shots. There was around 19% chance that Leicester would score twice from theirs.
It was really interesting (for this geek) to see Leicester’s technical set up, laptops out, sat right next to manager Nigel Pearson. One wonders if they helped influence the second half.
Algerian Riyad Mahrez really stepped up to the plate in the second half and was able to get firmly in Everton’s grill, forcing the previously marauding Baines and Pienaar backwards and Barry into fouling him.
It was Mahrez who played in Schlupp for the glorious chance he blazed over and Mahrez’s shot which led to the botched clearance for Wood’s equaliser. Here’s his halves compared attack-wise:
In contrast, here’s how Baines fared attack-wise in both halves:
The Baines and Pienaar axis which had caused havoc in the first half was pegged back and Pienaar eventually got taken off.
Two more notable things for me. First, Stones not looking comfortable defensively at right back or even on the right of three centre backs. Schlupp’s chance in the channel came when the youngster switched off. Wood was also left alone on the back stick to slide past Howard. Concentration and communication with Jagielka? He wasn’t helped by McGeady drifting centrally a lot either. The Irish international has previously spoken about defensive instruction from Martinez.
Lastly, corners. Under and over-hit from Everton with no short ones taken. Defending them appeared to be zonal but with no one attacking the ball. Frustrating!
Follow me @footballfactman on twitter.
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It might not be enough to keep us all from crunching them underfoot, setting traps, or calling pest control, but scientists have discovered that cockroaches have personality.
Roaches may not make fascinating dinner guests (unless you’re an entomologist perhaps,) but researchers say that they do possess character traits — and that some are more outgoing than others.
Scientists studied how different members of this “gregarious species” — periplaneta americana, or the American cockroach — behaved when seeking shelter from out in an open space. Noting consistent difference among individuals in how quickly they skittered to shelter, how much they explored their environment, and how long they stayed hidden overall, researchers found broad differences.
© Flickr/ Gustavo Fernando Durán Cockroaches were of particular interest in studying personality because - unlike other “gregarious insects” such as ants - they don’t have hierarchies or social structures within their social groups.
“We have categorized the observed personalities. We call them ‘shy or cautious’ and ‘bold or explorers’,” researcher Isaac Planas Sitjà of the Université libre de Bruxelles told the Guardian. His team published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
“Shy individuals are those that spend more time sheltered and explore less the arena or the surroundings. Instead, bold individuals are those that spend most part of the time exploring the surroundings and spend less time sheltered.”
The presence of a variety of personalities within a species is thought to be an evolutionary advantage in the case of a widespread crisis or threat. Different personalities mean a variety of responses to catastrophe and an increased likelihood that at least one of those responses will lead to survival.
“Shy or cautious” individuals may be better at avoiding predators, or the swift thud of a human foot, but “bold or adventurous” roaches may be better at seeking out new food sources.
Even Bold Roaches Don't Stray
The research team placed radio transmitters on the backs of 304 roaches and released them in groups of sixteen into an open “arena,” kept dark during the experiment, to study their movements as they sought out plastic shelters that had been set up for them.
A group dynamic or “collective personality” also came into play, however, and despite individual differences in behavior — observed when a cockroach was isolated — the group would always end up together under the same shelter eventually.
“There is a collective dynamic — a social influence — that dilutes the individual personality differences,” said Planas-Sitjà. “So in the group, you end up with a similar behavior in everyone.”
Planas-Sitjà said cockroaches were of particular interest in studying personality because — unlike other “gregarious insects” such as ants, for example — they don’t have hierarchies or social structures within their social groups.
“They are all independent, even though they are gregarious,” he says.
“Shy” or “bold” — something to consider the next time a roach flits under the fridge or takes a moment to stare you down first. |
Never mind the social strife and political stability that has long been widespread across the Middle East. Many countries across the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region are notorious for having painfully slow bureaucracies, as well as suffering from epic corruption and a lack of transparency. Add low oil prices and their impact on national budgets, and one would wonder why anyone in the clean-energy sector would want to do business in this region.
But despite the challenging economic and political environment, renewables -- especially solar power technologies -- are enjoying a surge, from the Mediterranean shores of North Africa to the posh cities within the oil-rich Gulf nations. Add Iran, which is slowly becoming more integrated in the global economy as more sanctions are lifted, therefore sparking the interest of overseas investors seeking to harvest its abundant sunshine.
Of course, just because the skies are often clear does not mean solar is a no-brainer. First, the sandy dust endemic in the region can coat solar panels and reduce their efficiency on the best days; the fierce winds that can blow from the Arabian Peninsula can also knock them out of service. The Middle East’s scorching heat can actually reduce solar cells’ performance as well. Furthermore, the lack of skilled workers in the region, compared to North America and Europe, also affects the speed with which renewables can scale throughout the Middle East.
But in countries lacking energy resources, such as Egypt and Jordan, clean energy is a way to keep the lights on and reduce the need for expensive imported fossil fuels such as diesel. Nations abundant in oil, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have an opportunity to diversify their economies and, pragmatically, sell petroleum to countries abroad instead of squandering it on subsidized energy at home.
So as these nations try to transform their economies and adjust to 21st-century realities, renewables have garnered more interest from government officials at home and investors abroad.
In the UAE, while Abu Dhabi scores plenty of attention due to its investment in Masdar, nearby Dubai is holding its own with massive investments in solar power. The emirate’s Dubai Energy and Water Authority (DEWA), for example, has announced that it received a record-low bid of $2.99 per kilowatt hour for the third phase of a huge solar park. Originally targeted to generate 1 gigawatt of power, DEWA now plans for this facility to produce 5 GW of clean power annually by 2030. Dubai World, which operates the city’s ports, is also on a solar binge, with a huge rooftop solar project in the Jebel Ali district that could add up to 40 GW of solar power to the local grid by the end of this year.
For Dubai, investment in renewables makes sense. The city of 2.5 million has arguably become the Middle East’s leading business center in the wake of the Arab Spring. Nevertheless, the emirate has few oil reserves (Abu Dhabi has 94 percent of the UAE’s oil), and the city’s unwieldy real estate market has become an expensive place in which to conduct business.
For the poorer Middle Eastern states, solar and wind power present a tactic to shield citizens from volatile energy prices. In Jordan, the government welcomed investors to build solar installations across the country, largely through a feed-in tariff program. Fossil fuel imports, reports The Economist, generate 96 percent of Jordan's energy at a cost of 10 percent of the nation’s GDP. To the southwest, Egypt has received generous foreign aid from the UAE in the form of new solar installations that have appeared across the country. Meanwhile, an international consortium led by Terra Sola is undertaking projects that will add 2 GW of solar power in the Arab world’s most populous country.
Even Iran, which has a reputation for providing its citizens with some of the most generous subsidies on Earth, is looking to solar as it implements reforms. German investors have shown interest in developing the country’s tiny renewables sector, and news reports suggest that Italian companies are behind a plan to install 1 GW of solar power over the next decade.
For many Middle Eastern countries, the windfalls enjoyed from oil and natural gas have sometimes been a blessing, but often a curse. But despite the fall in oil prices, the combination of cheap solar power, lower operational costs and political will present new opportunities for these nations to expand energy access, diversify their economies and provide new careers for their citizens. And considering many of these nations have the most rapidly growing populations in the world, renewables are a path toward energy security and, therefore, domestic security.
Image credit: DEWA |
UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ says the university is committed to protecting free speech. | Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo UC Berkeley says 'Free Speech Week' events with Yiannopoulos, Bannon in doubt
BERKELEY, Calif. — More than a month after a conservative student organization announced it would sponsor campus talks by a trio of controversial speakers on the right — including Steve Bannon, Milo Yiannopoulos and Ann Coulter — University of California Berkeley representatives insist the group has repeatedly failed to comply with requests to facilitate the late September “Free Speech Week” events.
UC Berkeley assistant vice chancellor for communications Dan Mogulof told POLITICO Tuesday that the student organization Berkeley Patriot — whose membership is estimated by Mogulof at between 5-10 members — “still has not completed the critical steps” necessary to arrange venues for the events it announced with fanfare last month.
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The conservative students' group had said it planned speeches from Sept. 24-27 at Sproul Plaza, Zellerbach Hall and other major locations on campus, but it has failed to provide requested information needed to provide security for the events, “nor has it confirmed the list of speakers and when they intend to schedule events with those speakers,’’ Mogulof said.
Political leaders, including Berkeley Mayor Jesse Areguin, have asked UC Berkeley to cancel the events, expressing concern about the potential for violence and confrontations from protesters drawn by the presence of Yiannopoulos, an author and political provocateur, as well as former Trump senior adviser Bannon and best-selling author Coulter. A February event with Yiannopoulos, which was called off, drew crowds of violent protesters on both sides.
Yiannopoulos, in an email response to questions from POLITICO, insisted that the events are still scheduled. “Ann, Steve and I will be speaking on the final night, Sept 27, in Zellerbach Hall on campus. [Breitbart News editor in chief] Alex Marlow will also appear on stage the same night,’’ he wrote. Yiannopolous said he had no comment on the questions raised by the UC Berkeley spokesman.
A representative of Berkeley Patriot, Bryce Kasamoto, responding to a request for comment, told POLITICO via text message that "we are working diligently to answer any requests that the university might have...we will work to get all of this clarified in a good faith and collaborative manner.''
"I can confirm that Milo Yiannopolous and Steve Bannon will be speaking at our Free Speech Week,'' though he provided no other details as to time or place. "We are still working with the university and law enforcement to finalize those specifics,'' he said.
In a statement released today, Mogulof said that as part of the events, “Milo Yiannopoulos and Stephen Bannon have said publicly that they will be speaking on our campus during that time, along with “more than 20 additional speakers,” as per Mr. Yiannopoulos’s statement.”
But he noted neither side has addressed issues that include security matters or apparent conflicts between the schedules provided by Yiannopoulos and the student group. He said, “we have repeatedly asked representatives of the Berkeley Patriot to confirm that contracts have been completed between the student organization and each of these speakers; to date they have not.”
Conservative writer Ben Shapiro is scheduled to speak on campus this Thursday at Zellerbach Hall in the heart of the campus, and that event sponsored by the Young America's Foundation is expected to have police and security presence, organizers said.
This article tagged under: Berkeley
University Of California |
Boyd Gordon celebrates his first period goal on Monday. (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)
The Washington Capitals got their first hockey (non-shootout) win of the season on Monday, beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. The game, though, was a bit of a mirage. While the power play got back on track with two goals, their struggles at early in the game– especially at even strength– are a massive problem for the team. The Caps were outshot 10-3 in the first period despite playing against arguably the worst defensive team in the league. While the Washington media corps overlooked this in their post-game questions, Adam Oates understands the trend is glaring hole for the team.
“I’m taking suggestions right now,” Oates joked when I asked him how he thought the team could fix its liability. “We addressed it, we talk about it, and hopefully we’ll conquer it. We gotta find a way to just keep focused earlier.”
The team has been outscored 9-4 by their opponents in the first 20 minutes. If you ignore the first period, the Caps’ goal differential is just -1. Some of the opening frames have been mesmerizingly awful, like the home opener versus the Flames. Interestingly, the team’s biggest structural problem, defensive depth, isn’t necessarily the cause for this. Sure, they give up goals, but the team can’t score any either. Instead, sloppy passes doom the Capitals as they try to break out of the defensive and neutral zones. Those easily turn into odd-man rushes going the other way.
“The biggest thing that’s frustrating is the passing for me,” Oates said, still talking about the team’s poor starts. “You pass it to your buddy and you put it at his feet, you put him in a difficult situation.”
“Every team has good players on their team that want capitalize on mistakes,” he added. “You know what, there are on certain areas of the ice you just can’t do that. It’s a recipe for disaster. That’s probably the only time I get frustrated in a game.”
Troy Brouwer, often the man to call out his team for mistakes, agreed.
“We’re a high-speed team,” the forward told me. “We like to create off the rush a lot, but sometimes we got to understand if a play’s not there, a play’s not there.”
Despite Monday’s win, there’s still a lot to worry about. While there are individual highlights (Ovechkin’s nine points, Backstrom’s eight), the vast majority of that has come on the power play. If not for their excellent man-advantage unit, the Caps could be 0-5. Nevertheless, the early sloppiness at 5-on-5 is correctable — now the Caps have to find out how to do just that.
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The city of Akron will pay tribute to one of its favorite creative sons when it presents the key to the city to artist and DEVO founder Mark Mothersbaugh on Saturday, May 28, at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
The 2 p.m. ceremony is in conjunction with the opening of “Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia,” complementary exhibitions of his work that runs concurrently at the Akron Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland.
“It is a privilege to honor such a gifted Akron native in this way,” said Akron mayor Dan Horrigan in a May 16 news release announcing the ceremony. “Mark has shone a spotlight on the creative and innovative spirit of our city.”
The May 28 event the Akron library, 60 S. High St., also will feature a conversation with Mothersbaugh and “Myopia” curator Adam Lerner. Tickets, available online, are required and cost $10 for Akron Art Museum and MOCA Cleveland members and $20 for nonmembers.
Following the talk, “Myopia” opens at the Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., with a free celebration featuring Mothersbaugh, music and art activities. The exhibit opens Friday, May 27, at MOCA Cleveland, 11499 Euclid Ave., with a free party starting at 7:30 p.m. Mothersbaugh and a DJ will perform on Toby’s Plaza in front of the museum.
“Myopia” spans more than four decades of the Akron native’s career as a visual artist, musician and composer, and includes paper works, sculptures, installations, music and videos. The Akron Art Museum and MOCA Cleveland collaborated on the exhibitions and will each showcase a different aspects of Mothersbaugh’s work, according to the release.
Both venues will present visual and sound work, but each will have its own emphasis. MOCA Cleveland will focus more strongly on sound, and works will include early performance photographs and film (including photos of Mothersbaugh as his DEVO alter-ego, Booji Boy), manipulated musical instruments and excerpts from his soundtracks for film and TV.
In Akron, the exhibition will focus on Mothersbaugh’s visual art, including an installation of 30,000 postcard-sized drawings, mirror-image photographs and “Roly-Poly” ceramic sculptures.
“Myopia” runs through Aug. 28 at both venues. |
Growth hormone (GH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) secretion decline with advancing age and are associated with the symptoms of aging. Yogic texts claimed that regular practice of yoga may restore and maintain general endocrinological properties in the human body.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:
To observe the effect of yogic training for twelve weeks on basal level of GH and DHEAS in middle aged group.
METHOD:
Forty-five untrained volunteers were divided into two groups, that is, yoga practicing (experimental: male 15, age 42.80 ± 7.43 yrs; female 8, age 44.75 ± 8.40 yrs) and waitlisted control group (male 15, age 41.67 ± 7.87 yrs; female 7, age 45.43 ± 7.00 yrs). The experimental group underwent combined yogic practices daily in the morning for 6 days/week for 12 weeks, whereas control group continued their usual routine activities. Standing height, body weight, body mass index, and basal level of GH and DHEAS were measured before commencement and after six and twelve weeks of yogic training period. The repeated measure ANOVA was used for data analysis.
RESULTS:
12 weeks of yogic training produces a significant increase in GH and DHEAS for both male and female groups as compared to their baseline data, whereas no as such changes were observed in the control group.
CONCLUSION:
Combined approach of graded yogic training may be beneficial for maintaining the basal level of GH and DHEAS in the human body, thus promoting healthy aging. |
Mr Saraswati was allegedly attacked by a mob
One person was killed and more than 25 injured in the violence in the Kandhamal area on Tuesday, police said.
Christians said it was sparked by Hindus objecting to a performance they were staging to celebrate Christmas.
But a Hindu group said it began when Christians tried to attack a local Hindu leader on Monday, Christmas Eve.
It said a group of people surrounded the vehicle carrying Swami Laxamananda Saraswati as he was on his way to the area. He was taken to hospital but was not seriously hurt.
Now 'under control'
However it started, the violence appeared to culminate in the attacks on churches on Christmas Day.
Christians were chased out of several churches - in many case just mud huts with thatched roofs - before they were set alight, officials said.
One person was reported killed in the violence, but it was unclear whether that was a Hindu or a Christian.
Hundreds of police were deployed following the violence, which had largely died down by Wednesday, a local government official said.
"The situation is tense but under control," said BB Mishra, a state inspector-general of police.
Orissa, which is mainly Hindu and has a tiny Christian minority, has seen violence between the two communities in the past.
The state has a law obliging people to ask for police permission before changing religion - thought to be a measure aimed at Christian missionaries.
Hindus have accused Christian groups of forcing low-caste people to convert.
Christians say they often convert willingly because of their treatment as outcasts. |
Updated at 6:10 p.m. ET
(AP) WASHINGTON - A man suspected of shooting and wounding a security guard in the lobby of a Christian lobbying group had been volunteering at a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
A law enforcement official has identified the suspect arrested in Wednesday's shooting as Floyd Corkins II of Herndon, Va. Investigators were interviewing his neighbors.
Another official says the shooter made a negative reference about the work of the Family Research Council before opening fire. The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
David Mariner is executive director of The DC Center for the LGBT Community. He says Corkins had been volunteering at the center for about the past 6 months. Mariner describes Corkins as "kind, gentle and unassuming."
While police have not yet stated what motivated Corkins, a coalition of 25 gay rights groups released a statement through GLAAD condemning the shooting.
"The motivation and circumstances behind today's tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident," the statement read.
The guard, who was an employee of the FRC, was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
"Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today," the group's president, Tony Perkins, said in a statement.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement that he was appalled by the shooting. "There is no place for such violence in our society," he said. "My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today's horrific events."
The headquarters of the Family Research Council is in the city's bustling Chinatown neighborhood, near the Verizon Center, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and several museums, restaurants and shops.
Amy Biondi and her husband Steve were visiting Washington from Long Island with their daughter and a friend and tried to ask officers for help with a parking meter when they were told there was a situation they had to deal with. The door to the FRC was opened, and an officer repeatedly shouted, "Put the gun down, put the gun down."
"Next thing you know there are police officers swarming the area," said Biondi, 45, a massage therapist from St. James, N.Y.
The family didn't get a close look, but they said the man officers were talking to seemed to comply with the orders immediately.
The Family Research Council advocates conservative positions on social issues and strongly opposes gay marriage and abortion.
Perkins was an outspoken defender of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's public stand against same-sex marriage, which made the fast-food chain a flashpoint in the nation's culture wars. The Cathy family foundation has funded the Family Research Council.
"He's taking a bold stand," Perkins said after Cathy's comments were reported. "Chick-fil-A is a Bible-based, Christian-based business who treats their employees well. They have been attacked in the past about their stand. But they refuse to budge on this matter, and I commend them for what they are doing." |
Binturongs smell like popcorn. Or popcorn smells like binturongs. I guess it depends on your perspective. Either way, when I stopped by the enclosure of the large, blue-grey bearcat at the San Diego Zoo last month, the warm, buttery scent was unmistakable. What I heard celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna say on television for so many years was true – the big viverrid smelled like a movie theater lobby.
Binturongs, a cousin of civets and found in the rainforests of Asia from Nepal to Java, aren’t the only mammals with perplexingly familiar scents. Before I started wondering about butter-scented binturongs, my attention was drawn to the pee of maned wolves. The urine of these stilt-legged canids is redolent of marijuana. The reason why has to do with organic compounds called pyrazines which are often used for communication in both plants and animals – in milkweed and maned wolves alike, pyrazines create long-lasting, smelly “Get lost!” signals. After I caught a whiff of the captive binturongs, I wondered if something similar might be behind their unique odor.
Finding a precise answer has been difficult. Everyone knows that binturongs smell buttery, but the relatively small literature on their scent primarily deals with behavior rather than chemistry. While not the first to identify where the scent emanated from, in 1945 zoologist H. Elizabeth Story described the binturong’s anal glands as the major odor-producing centers in the almost-euphemistically-titled “The External Genitalia and Perfume Gland in Arctictis binturong.” (Names can make all the difference. The reaction to “anal glad” is “EWWW!”, while “perfume gland” sounds fairly pleasant, as if the animal exuded a scent concocted by Calvin Klein.)
A diagram of binturong genitals and scent glands. The dashed line in the male (a, b) and female (c) represents the location of the "perfume gland." From Story, 1945.
Story’s paper was an effort to set naturalists straight on binturong anal glands. Three decades earlier, British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock described and illustrated the genitals and scent glands of the bearcat, but, when Story looked at several dead animals donated to the Chicago Natural History Museum by the Chicago Zoological Society, she found that “[Pocok’s] drawings, admittedly somewhat diagrammatic, prove to be extremely misleading.” Likewise, other previous studies had suggested that the position of the anal glands shifted as the animals grew up. Story did not find evidence of any change in placement among the specimens in her collection, and she lamented “The problems arising from the confused state of the literature on the civets.” Was there no respect for the anatomy of viverrid rumps?
In both male and female binturongs, Story found, the “perfume gland” was only visible as a swelling in the vicinity of the genitals. In males, the gland was a U-shaped pad which sat between the penis and scrotum, and in females the gland was divided into two halves – which looked like a pair of parentheses – underlying either side of the vulva. And, in both sexes, the ducts of these glands led to openings on either side of the anus. That’s where the popcorn scent is coming from.
Devra Kleiman described how binturongs went about applying this scent in a 1974 paper based on observations of a captive animals at the National Zoo. The keepers wanted some baby binturongs, but couldn’t figure out how to get their animals to show anything more than a passing interest in each other. The paper came out of observations of the binturongs after one female had been given pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin – a substance extracted from the blood of gravid horses used to stimulate the ovaries of other animals – in an effort to pique her interest in her potential mate.
Kleiman pointed out that binturongs left scent behind while climbing and sitting, but the mammals also engaged in deliberate scent-marking behavior. Whether on the ground, upside down, or hanging vertically, the binturongs scuffed their feet on the surface they were about to mark and then dragged their anal gland over the surface. (Kleiman called the inverted behavior “an upside-down perineal drag,” which also sounds like a suitable alternate description for an excruciatingly boring event. “Hey, did you catch the latest Republican debate?” “Ugh, it was such an upside-down perineal drag.”) All of this is advertising. You might leave a business card; a binturong drags their ass over whatever it is they want to carry their message.
Based on Kleiman’s observations, binturongs seemed to take almost any excuse to scent mark. That pole not as stinky as it used to be? Scent mark. Feeding time? Scent mark. An unfamiliar human comes by? Scent mark. Smell is essential to these animals, and that’s especially true during the mating process.
Chris Wemmer and James Murtaugh described how binturongs get ready for business time in a 1981 paper, also based on observations of captive animals. The zoologists collated data about binturong reproduction from 47 zoos around the world and observed captive animals over several years at Front Royal, Virginia’s Conservation and Research Center. While males and the more dominant female bearcats usually avoided each other most of the time, when females came into estrus the males started tailing them. Both sexes called to each other with peculiar, “single blowing sound.”
During this time, the enclosures of binturongs must smell particularly buttery. Wemmer and Murtaugh reported that females in heat typically “secreted a profuse mucus” from their vulva, “which, together with perineal gland secretions, presumably was responsible for a strong odor resembling cooked popcorn.” We can’t read what these scent signals mean – thank heavens for that – but, to a male binturong, the odors carry essential information about the female’s reproductive cycle. Males nuzzle right up to the pungent orifices and sniff to their heart’s content while the female binturongs let out a “coarse purring sound” labeled “geckering.” The Act itself often required acrobatic skull. Most of the copulations, Wemmer and Murtaugh reported, happened off the ground, and females often wrapped their prehensile tails around the midsections of their mates.
(For what happens later, when the little baby binturongs come along, see today’s Friday Weird Science by Scicurious. When it comes to teat ownership, those bitty bearcats are vicious.)
Sadly, though, I’m not any closer to understanding why binturongs smell like popcorn in the first place. Is the smell created by a chemical compound, or something else? I don’t know. Hopefully someone with the means and know-how will be able to sniff out the cause. Just remember, should you catch a waft of popcorn at the zoo, you may be catching a hint of binturong on the air.
[Many thanks to Scicurious for encouraging me to venture further afield from paleo to write today's post.]
References:
Kleiman, D. 1974. Scent marking in the binturong: Arctictis binturong. Journal of Mammalogy. 55 (1), 224-227
Story, H. 1945. The external genitalia and perfume gland in Arctictis binturong. Journal of Mammalogy. 26 (1), 64-66
Wemmer, C., and Murtaugh, J. 1981. Copulatory behavior and reproduction in the binturong, Arctictis binturong. Journal of Mammalogy. 62 (2), 342-352 |
Bernardo Alberto Houssay (April 10, 1887 – September 21, 1971) was an Argentine physiologist who, in 1947, was a co-recipient of a Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the role played by pituitary hormones in regulating the amount of blood sugar (glucose) in animals. He was the first Latin American Nobel laureate in the sciences. He shared the prize with Carl Ferdinand Cori and Gerty Cori, who won for their discoveries regarding the role of glucose in carbohydrate metabolism).[1][2][3][4]
Biography [ edit ]
Early life [ edit ]
Bernardo Alberto Houssay was born in Buenos Aires, to émigrés from France, Albert and Clara Houssay. A precocious youngster, he was admitted to the Pharmacy School at the University of Buenos Aires at 14 years of age and subsequently to the Medical School of the same University from 1904 to 1910, beginning when he was only 17 years old. While a third year medical student, Houssay took up a post as a research and teaching assistant in the Chair of Physiology.
Career [ edit ]
After graduating, he quickly developed and presented his M.D. thesis on the physiological activities of pituitary extracts, published in 1911, a theme he would pursue for the rest of his scientific career. Since 1908 he was already an assistant lecturer in the same department, and immediately after his doctorate he took up the post of Professor of Physiology in the University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Simultaneously, he started a private practice and as assistant physician at the municipal hospital of Buenos Aires. In 1913 he became Chief Physician at the Alvear Hospital, and, in 1915, Chief of the Section of Experimental Pathology at the National Public Health Laboratories in Buenos Aires.
In 1919 Houssay was appointed to the chair of physiology at the University of Buenos Aires Medicine School, and, until 1943, he transformed and directed it into a highly respected research department in experimental physiology and medicine of international class. In that year, however, the military dictatorship deprived him of his university posts, due to his liberal political ideas and Houssay was forced to re-establish his research lines and staff at a privately funded Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. This situation, reinforced by a second dismissal by the Peronist government in 1945, was prolonged until 1955, when Peron was ousted from power and Houssay was reinstated in the University of Buenos Aires, where he remained until he died. After this he was also director of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, from 1957 on.
Houssay's worked in many fields of physiology, such as the nervous, digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, but his main contribution, which was recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine of 1947, was on the experimental investigation of the role of the anterior hypophysis gland in the metabolism of carbohydrates, particularly in diabetes mellitus. Houssay demonstrated in the 1930s the diabetogenic effect anterior hypophysis extracts and the decrease in diabetes severity with anterior hypophysectomy. These discoveries stimulated the study of hormonal feedback control mechanisms which are central to all aspects of modern endocrinology.
Houssay's many disciples along his years of activity became also influential by themselves as they spread around the world; such as Eduardo Braun-Menéndez, and Miguel Rolando Covian (who went to become the "father" of Brazilian neurophysiology, as chairman of the Department of Physiology of the Medical Faculty of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo). Houssay wrote with them the most influential textbook of Human Physiology in Latin America, in Spanish and Portuguese (the latter was translated by Covian and collaborators), which, since 1950 has been published in successive editions and used in almost all medical schools of the continent. Houssay published more than 600 scientific papers and several specialized books. Besides the Nobel, Houssay won many distinctions and awards from the Universities of Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford and Paris and 15 other universities, as well as the Dale Medal of the Society for Endocrinology in 1960.
Houssay was also very active as a scientific leader and promoter of the advancement of scientific research and medical education, in Argentina as well as in Latin America. Houssay was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) in 1943.[1]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ] |
Rutgers engineers have developed a breakthrough device that can significantly reduce the cost of sophisticated lab tests for medical disorders and diseases, such as HIV, Lyme disease and syphilis.
The new device uses miniaturized channels and valves to replace “benchtop” assays – tests that require large samples of blood or other fluids and expensive chemicals that lab technicians manually mix in trays of tubes or plastic plates with cup-like depressions.
“The main advantage is cost – these assays are done in labs and clinics everywhere,” said Mehdi Ghodbane, who earned his doctorate in biomedical engineering at Rutgers and now works in biopharmaceutical research and development at GlaxoSmithKline.
Ghodbane and six Rutgers researchers recently published their results in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal, Lab on a Chip.
The Rutgers lab-on-a chip is three inches long and an inch wide - the size of a glass microscope slide. Photo: Courtesy Mehdi Ghodbane High Res
The lab-on-chip device, which employs microfluidics technology, along with making tests more affordable for patients and researchers, opens doors for new research because of its capability to perform complex analyses using 90 percent less sample fluid than needed in conventional tests.
“A great deal of research has been hindered because in many cases one is not able to extract enough fluid,” Ghodbane said.
The Rutgers breakthrough also requires one-tenth of the chemicals used in a conventional multiplex immunoassay, which can cost as much as $1500. Additionally, the device automates much of the skilled labor involved in performing tests.
“The results are as sensitive and accurate as the standard benchtop assay,’’ said Martin Yarmush, the Paul and Mary Monroe Chair and Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering at Rutgers and Ghodbane’s adviser.
Until now, animal research on central nervous system disorders, such as spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease, has been limited because researchers could not extract sufficient cerebrospinal fluid to perform conventional assays.
“With our technology, researchers will be able to perform large-scale controlled studies with comparable accuracy to conventional assays,” Yarmush said.
The discovery could also lead to more comprehensive research on autoimmune joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis through animal studies. As with spinal fluid, the amount of joint fluid, or synovial fluid, researchers are able to collect from lab animals is minuscule.
A schematic drawing of the Rutgers lab-on-a-chip. Image: Courtesy Mehdi Ghodbane High Res
The Rutgers team has combined several capabilities for the first time in the device they’ve dubbed “ELISA-on-a-chip” (for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). A single device analyzes 32 samples at once and can measure widely varying concentrations of as many as six proteins in a sample.
The researchers are exploring the commercial potential of their technology.
Other members of the research team are Elizabeth Stucky, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, and assistant research professor Tim Maguire, associate research professor Rene Schloss, professor David Shreiber and associate professor Jeffrey Zahn, all in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research and Corning, Inc. provided funding for the research. |
The Pixel C tablet is something of a forgotten product. That has a lot to do with where Android tablets are right now: the category is all but dead by this point. The space has been taken over by cheap Chromebooks, many of which can now run Android apps and operate in tablet mode.
It's a shame because the Pixel C was actually a very good piece of hardware. The premium device was fast, responsive, and had a beautiful screen. We noted in our review that it was probably supposed to run Chrome OS, and it's Android itself that lets the tablet down most. That and the price. While Android on tablets probably hasn't improved that much in the 2 years since the Pixel C was launched, the price has finally dropped to a more palatable level, at least in the UK.
It's currently out of stock in the US, and still showing up as $599, but in the UK the Google Store is now offering the 64GB model for just £299. It started out at £479, so that's a considerable saving that might just make it a worthwhile punt for someone who really wants an Android tablet with decent specs. The keyboard attachment is also down to £73 from £119. Stock is likely to be pretty limited, so you'd best be quick. New stock for the Pixel 2 and 2 XL seems to have arrived on the store, too. |
The global viral worm dubbed “conficker” was revealed to be a clever bit of viral marketing today when the virus’ dreaded April 1st payload was discovered to be nothing more than a demo for an soon to be released game by an unknown startup Russian game developer Viral Craft Studios.
Yuri Demitri, a vice chancellor for the company who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed earlier today that the widespread conficker viral worm was in fact a “rather aggressive” game demo that was “distributed using non-traditional means”. When asked about the global panic caused by the company’s viral marketing campaign, Yuri replied “Our demo was distributed to over 5 million households worldwide. We believe this is a world record for a small startup like ours and we are going to pursue recognition of this feat with the Guiness Book.”
While some have suggested that the negative backlash that the unconventional marketing campaign might generate against the product or the company would outweigh any benefit, Mr. Demitri shrugged it off saying “Our company is small and we have no marketing budget. A lack of interest or awareness by potential customers should not be an impediment to successfully bringing a product to market. We believe we are pioneers in this area.”
Byron Dingum, the chief forensics officer for savemynetwork.com an Internet Security company based in Muncie, Indiana sees it differently. “This is absolutely inexcusible! Cornficker is only going to be available on the Windows platform, yet the “demo” was distributed to many Macintosh and Linux workstations. These users are hardly going to be interested in a PC game”.
The company acknowedged the global disruption that their demo caused and plans to make amends by donating up to 10% of all game revenue to the International Virus Research Lab, a not-for-profit malware production organization.
Pricing is reportedly set on a sliding scale based on the customer’s credit worthiness and available credit limits. |
Roseville woman dies after being run over by own SUV
A Roseville woman died after she was run over by her own vehicle, police said Thursday.Bernadette Ann Richardson, 54, put her 1997 Ford Explorer in park with the engine still running at about 8:20 a.m. Friday on the level ground of Rosemary Court.According to Roseville police, Richardson got out of the SUV, which had no passengers inside, to get a bicycle out of the back seat.For an unknown reason, the vehicle rolled backward and knocked Richardson to the ground, trapping her underneath, officers said.Richardson was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center where she died Wednesday as a result of her injuries.Police are still investigating Richardson's death.
A Roseville woman died after she was run over by her own vehicle, police said Thursday.
Bernadette Ann Richardson, 54, put her 1997 Ford Explorer in park with the engine still running at about 8:20 a.m. Friday on the level ground of Rosemary Court.
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According to Roseville police, Richardson got out of the SUV, which had no passengers inside, to get a bicycle out of the back seat.
For an unknown reason, the vehicle rolled backward and knocked Richardson to the ground, trapping her underneath, officers said.
Richardson was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center where she died Wednesday as a result of her injuries.
Police are still investigating Richardson's death.
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A construction worker on his second day on the job died Thursday after falling from the 53rd floor of the Wilshire Grand Center tower and landing on a passing car in downtown L.A. in an incident that the construction company said was "not work-related."
The worker fell from the under-construction building, located in the 600 block of South Figueroa Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters were called to the scene about 12:07 p.m., according to an LAFD spokeswoman.
The victim's body landed on a car that was traveling on Wilshire Boulevard, just west of Figueroa Street, aerial video from Sky5 showed.
The worker was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not immediately identified.
Police and state workplace safety investigators confirmed the incident was "not work-related," according to Turner Construction Co.
Asked what "not work-related" meant, a spokeswoman for the company told KTLA that she could only say that the man who died was "not performing any functions related to his employment or his work" when he died.
She said the company could not comment more specifically until the coroner's investigation was complete and the man's family had been notified.
"Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased," Turner Construction Co. said in a statement. "We are also sending our deepest sympathies to our loyal and dedicated workers for whom today’s tragedy is deeply saddening."
The female driver of the white hatchback, which appeared to have out-of-state plates, was taken to a local hospital where she was in stable condition, and Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Barry Montgomery said.
The worker's body had landed on the back end of the car, witnesses said.
A Los Angeles Times staff photographer was on assignment on the tower’s 71st floor when he heard a loud thump and saw the man's body below, the newspaper reported.
"It sounded like a bag of cement fell off the edge of the building," photographer Mel Melcon said.
A woman riding by the area saw something falling from the building, but had no idea it was a person.
"I thought that it was a piece if metal that they had dropped from the building," witness Alesia Lewis said.
A stretch of Wilshire Boulevard was closed off in both directions shortly after 1 p.m., aerial video showed. Traffic was also shut down on Seventh, Figueroa and Flower streets, according to the Times.
Officials from the county coroner's office and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, aka Cal/OSHA, were on scene.
Work on the building been going on for about three years, with some 1,000 men and women employed on site every day, said Chris Martin, CEO of architecture firm AC Martin and Martin Project Management, both of which are involved in the development.
Martin spoke with reporters at the scene, saying that the worker was on his second day at the site, where he was employed as an electrician. It was not clear why he would have been doing electrical work at the edge of the building, Martin said.
Work on the project was stopped Thursday and will be stopped Friday, Turner Construction Co. said. Counselors were set to be made available for workers.
“We have confirmed with CalOSHA and LAPD that the incident which occurred at the Wilshire Grand project site today was not work-related," Turner's statement read. "After an initial onsite investigation, Cal OSHA has confirmed that no fall-protection violations were observed."
Turner is the general contractor on the project, while AC Martin is the architect, and Martin Project Management is the project manager, according to a spokesman for Turner.
The 1,100-foot tall skyscraper had just "topped out" at 73 stories four days before the death. The structure, when completed, will overtake the U.S. Bank Tower as the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
KTLA's Feven Kiflegiorgis contributed to this story.
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Yahoo has said that all of its three billion user accounts were affected in a hacking attack dating back to 2013.
The company, which was taken over by Verizon earlier this year, said an investigation had shown the breach went much further than originally thought.
The stolen data did not include passwords in clear text, payment card or bank account data, it added.
Previously the internet giant had said "more than one billion" of its accounts had been hit.
Yahoo said that while its latest announcement did not represent a new "security issue" it was sending emails to all the "additional affected user accounts".
The company added that it was "continuing to work closely with law enforcement".
New AOL-Yahoo company to be called Oath
'One billion' affected by Yahoo hack
Verizon: Yahoo data breach may hit deal
Yahoo's takeover by the huge US telecoms firm Verizon was completed on 13 June.
The deal was first announced last year when the struggling company agreed to sell its main internet business to Verizon for $4.8bn.
That figure was later cut to $4.5bn after Yahoo disclosed that it had been the victim, in 2013 and 2014, of two huge security breaches.
Verizon has combined its AOL subsidiary and Yahoo into a new business called Oath.
In Tuesday's statement Verizon's chief information security officer Chandra McMahon said: "Verizon is committed to the highest standards of accountability and transparency, and we proactively work to ensure the safety and security of our users and networks in an evolving landscape of online threats."
"Our investment in Yahoo is allowing that team to continue to take significant steps to enhance their security, as well as benefit from Verizon's experience and resources." |
Update, 9:20 a.m. Saturday: Only Gators' Adam Silverstein, usually very much on point with Florida's uniforms, reports that the Gators are actually going with their traditional blue tops and white pants tonight.
Though Florida marketing is encouraging fans to wear orange, #Gators never announced such jerseys this week. UF will wear blue & white 2nite — OnlyGators.com (@onlygators) September 13, 2014
Update, 10:10 a.m. Saturday: Uniform Nation's since explained its reporting.
Earlier this week, a source informed us that Florida was planning to wear orange jerseys as part of a stadium-wide orange-out of Kentucky. — Uniforms Nation (@uniformsnation) September 13, 2014
However, the Gators have opted to stick with their standard home look for the game against UK: https://t.co/NB8GL3Bx0C — Uniforms Nation (@uniformsnation) September 13, 2014
I trust this source, but must note that Florida has the final say in what the team wears each Saturday, not my source. — Uniforms Nation (@uniformsnation) September 13, 2014
Original post follows.
Florida wears blue. Kentucky wears blue. But Florida wears orange, too — so there's something unusual for the Gators to do on Saturday against the Wildcats. And according to SB Nation's Uniform Nation, the Gators will wear orange jersey tops as part of their uniforms against Kentucky.
Florida breaking out orange jerseys against Kentucky: pic.twitter.com/Uw80lSOtkX — Uniform Nation (@sbnuniforms) September 9, 2014
Florida's worn orange jerseys three times since 2005:
In the 33-29 loss to LSU in 2010 depicted above
In the 41-3 win over Florida Atlantic that doubled as the opener of the Will Muschamp era in 2011
And in the 27-20 win over Louisiana in Florida's 2012 Homecoming game
Florida doesn't keep official records of uniform selection going back beyond 2005, but the Gators wore orange primary uniforms regularly prior to Steve Spurrier's arrival in Gainesville, with virtually all of Emmitt Smith's most memorable moments in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium coming in orange tops.
Florida might well give Kentucky quite a fright on Saturday night. Now, they will reportedly do so in shirts ready made for Halloween. |
NEW YORK: Consumer Reports and its team of expert evaluates test and analyse virtually every car sold in the United States every year. Out those cars, there are a select few that stand above the rest and join the vaunted group of vehicles known as Consumer Reports Top Picks. For 2015, Consumer Reports has selected 10 cars ranging from an environmentally friendly hybrid to a family minivan. Of the 10 cars selected, six come from Japanese manufacturers, three come from American firms and one hails from Germany. To become a Top Pick, a car must excel at the publication’s track tests, offer average or better reliability and perform effectively in government or industry crash tests.
Best Compact Car, Subaru Impreza Price as tested $21,345.
In a segment filled with big names and even bigger reputations, the Subaru Impreza manages to take the top spot on the list with a strong overall package. The publication was impressed by the Impreza’s great interior, quiet ride, strong handling, and value for money.
Best Midsized Sedan, Subaru Legacy Price as tested $24,837.
Like its Impreza sibling, the Legacy also bested some of the most popular cars in the business to become a Top Pick. Consumer Reports found the Subaru to offer a quiet and comfortable driving experience, along with the best ride quality in the segment.
Best Large Car, Chevrolet Impala V6 Price as tested, $39,110.
The Chevrolet Impala is proof that General Motors can still build a great family car, Consumer Reports automotive content specialist Mike Quincy told Business Insider. |
More than 2.4m gun background checks were initiated in January, topped only by last December's 2.7m
Americans are lining up to buy guns in unprecedented numbers in the wake of the Newtown school shooting and the debate around tightening gun controls, with federal background checks on prospective buyers running at record levels.
New figures released by the FBI show that 2,495,440 gun background checks were initiated in January. That is the second highest number since records began in 1998, and is exceeded only by the entry for December 2012, which reached a peak of 2,783,765.
The Newtown shooting, in which 20 young children and six of their school carers were killed in Connecticut, took place on 14 December.
Since 1998, anyone wanting to buy a firearm from a licensed dealer such as a gun shop must undergo a federal background check to ensure that they are not a criminal, mentally ill or otherwise disqualified from ownership. The check is carried out in reference to a national database, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, operated by the FBI.
Richard Feldman, president of the Independent Firearm Owners Association, said the explanation for the dramatic spike in moves to buy guns was self-evident. "This one's easy. If the American population thinks that a product that they want – whether firearms or DVDs – may not be available in the near future, they will go for it."
In this case, what appears to be sparking a degree of panic buying are the proposals emanating from the White House and a bipartisan group of US senators to ban a range of military-style assault weapons including the kind of AR-15 used by the Newtown shooter at Sandy Hook elementary school. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, has proposed reinstating the 1994 assault weapons ban that lapsed in 2004 with stronger wording that would take 158 specific models of semi-automatic assault rifles, shotguns and pistols off the market.
The FBI's latest list of the top 10 highest days since 1998 in terms of the number of gun background checks initiated tells a dramatic story. The record was set with 177,170 requests for NICS checks on Friday, 21 December – exactly one week after the Newtown massacre.
Of the top 10 entries, all but two have been recorded on or since the day of the Newtown shooting.
The surge in gun buying is paradoxical, as President Obama appears to be softening his stance on an assault weapons ban in the face of considerable opposition from Republicans in the Senate and, crucially, the House of Representatives, where the GOP holds the majority. In a speech on Monday in Minneapolis, Obama merely said that a revised ban "deserves a vote in Congress, because weapons of war have no place on our streets".
The White House strategy seems to be to put most political capital on achieving a background check on all gun sales, which is seen as having better prospects of achieving congressional approval. At the moment, private gun sellers working at gun shows or through the internet do not have to put their customers through the NICS database.
Advocates of greater gun controls point to that loophole as a major weakness in US defences against guns falling into the wrong hands. About 40% of all gun sales are classified as private and therefore not subjected to FBI monitoring. |
A relatively simple DNA test can be used to diagnose infectious disease. The technique, called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), makes use of what we know about the genome sequences of disease-causing microbes.
In short, an appropriate patient sample -- e.g., blood, saliva, skin, etc. -- is taken. The sample is chemically processed to extract DNA. The DNA then undergoes "PCR," which is a process that amplifies a highly specific sequence of DNA. ("Amplifies" means that the target DNA sequence is increased from one molecule to billions of copies.) In the case of diagnostics, clinicians select a DNA sequence that is unique to the microbe of interest. A patient who has the disease would therefore provide a sample that, after PCR is performed on it, would yield billions of copies of a highly specific DNA fragment that is unique to a particular microbe -- indicating a positive reaction. The DNA is visualized by adding a dye, such as SYBR Green, which binds to double-stranded DNA.
This is a well-established biomedical technique. The trouble, however, is in developing countries, which often lack electricity or the equipment necessary to perform PCR. The amplification of DNA requires a machine capable of cycling high temperatures (203 degrees F, 140 degrees F, 162 degrees F) over and over again. This is an energy-intensive process.
Now, researchers from Cornell University have created a portable device that utilizes sunlight and an iPhone to amplify DNA and diagnose disease. (See image.)
Sunlight is focused onto a microfluidic chip that is designed in such a way that samples swirl around inside, being heated and cooled to the appropriate temperatures. After several cycles, the DNA has been amplified. It is then removed from the microfluidic device and mixed with SYBR Green dye. Finally, it is added to a small chip and illuminated with an iPhone-powered blue light. (The dye will absorb blue light and fluoresce green.) An iPhone app then detects the amount of green light emitted. (See image.)
As shown in Panel B, samples #1 and #2 glow green. Panel C depicts a screenshot of the iPhone app that detects the green light and declares the samples "positive" for the microbe of interest.
Even better, the device consumes a mere 80 milliwatts (mW) of power and could be very useful to clinicians who practice in poverty-stricken parts of the world. A very clever invention!
Source: Li Jiang et al. "Solar thermal polymerase chain reaction for smartphone-assisted molecular diagnostics." Scientific Reports 4, Article number: 4137. Published 20-February-2014. doi:10.1038/srep04137 |
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a four-part series from Special Forces veteran Kevin Flike. These posts originally appeared in the blog Wounded by War and are presented here with the permission of the original author. You can read Part I here.
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I tried to lighten the mood at my support by fire (SBF) position by showing the Commandos a picture of my wife and me atop the Space Needle in Seattle, WA. The picture was creased and dirty because I kept it folded in the grenade pouch attached to my body armor. I low-crawled to each Commando machine gun to show them the picture.
Both Commandos pointed to my wife’s auburn hair and gave me a thumbs up while mumbling something. The shit-eating grin on their faces told me all that I needed to know.
As the temperature decreased, the Taliban onslaught increased. Rockets, mortars and RPGs accompanied the small arms fire. About an hour and half before our designated pick up time, the remaining assault force moved from the village to our designated pick up zone. After the assault force was in place, my team sergeant came over the radio and asked if I would be able to break contact back to the designated pick up site. I replied, “We’ll see.” Even though the conditions were terrible, the Commandos were particularly lethargic. I told the interpreter, “Get the fucking Commandos moving and by the way what the fuck is their problem today?” (for some reason I did not think that 130 degree heat, no water and 10 hours of fighting qualified as a reason for lethargic behavior). He replied “I am trying man, but they are being assholes today” I said, “It’s a great fucking day to be an asshole.”
Eventually, we came up with a plan and I asked the Commandos if they were good, they simply replied “Commando, no problem.” I ran around the mound of dirt while the two Afghan machine gunners provided covering fire for me. Once I was behind the mound, I let them know that I was set and crawled up the mound. Once in place I provided covering fire for one of the machine gunners to move to cover. When he was safe, I crawled down the mound and up the other side and repeated the process. We caught our breath and moved back to the pick up zone via a foot wide goat trail. One slip of the foot and we would have been in for a world of hurt. Bullets whizzed overhead every thirty seconds, adding even more stress to our movement.
There was no time to rest when we reached our destination because the intensity of the enemy attack continued to grow. Johnny Mac came down from the casualty collection point to help out. We set up machine gun positions on the ridgelines to protect the rest of our element. RPGs began to explode overhead while rockets and mortars landed close by. Our machine gun positions had rounds impacting all around them. While I was in the process of moving from one machine gun position to another, Johnny started screaming my name. I thought that he or one of the Commandos was wounded, it was worse; Johnny was out of Copenhagen.
Addiction does not end for a ten-hour firefight, so before moving to the head machine-gun position I ran to Johnny and gave him a can of Copenhagen. The lead Afghan Commando machine gun was firing erratically, so I took over his machine gun and started to lay down accurate fire. One of the members of the incoming team and some of the Afghan Commandos began to launch mortars. At this point, a member of the incoming team said, “Our landing zone is in reach of rockets and mortars, we need to find a new one.”
We broke down our machine gun positions and moved back to the main element. We dropped off some of the guys, informed the command that we were going to survey a new landing zone and took off. We decided upon a new site and relayed the coordinates to the command. We stayed at the site and pulled security until everyone moved to the new site. By this point, people were exhausted and on the verge of collapsing. However, the enemy was not done with us for the day and I learned a valuable lesson: it aint over until it’s over. Taliban members moved up the mountain and re-occupied our old fighting positions. As the helicopters were only a few minutes out, enemy forces opened up on us again.
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SEA Rising: An Analysis of Orange August 11th, 2013 14:54 GMT Text by phantasmal The International 3
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SEA Rising:
An Analysis of Orange By phantasmal
After Saturday’s performances, I felt I had to write a little tribute to Orange. (For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I've Slardar in the International playoffs and actually won. Will wonders never cease?
Orange are in the Top 3! Orange are in the Top 3!
When they’re in their comfort zone, Orange is outright amazing, but the challenge they face today is that Na`Vi will be the next opponent they face in a rematch of the only playoff series that Orange has lost this year. Their chances will rest heavily on getting one of their signature lineups through the draft intact, and Puppey will not make that easy for them. For an idea of what they’re facing, let’s look at the heroes Orange has used so far.
A lot has already been said about the diversity of Mushi. He has run 19 different heroes so far, and while I can’t say with certainty if that’s a record for this tournament, the entire squad for iG used 28 in the prelims. Three other squads used 30 or less.
The problem for Orange is that for all the diversity Mushi brings, their other players are a bit more predictable. XtiNcT is an astonishing 11-2 on Visage, but Chen is the only other hero he’s played more than once. On top of that, Orange is only 4-8 in games where he’s not playing Visage.
XtiNcT's reaction upon being picked Visage yet again. (Via XtiNcT's reaction upon being picked Visage yet again. (Via m00nieian
Ohaiyo is the other character specialist. 20 of the 25 games Orange has played have featured him on Nature’s Prophet, Dark Seer, or Batrider. When he’s playing Prophet or Dark Seer, Orange is 12-4; when he’s playing anyone else, Orange is 3-6. What makes matters worse is that Na`Vi are also Dark Seer specialists, and in all three of their previous matches Orange was forced to spend an opening ban on one of their own signature heroes.
Since that unfortunate Na`Vi series, Orange has gone 6-2. The good news is that their wins have been impressive, with disciplined drafts, amazing coordination, and a perfect sense of urgency when facing lineups that would beat them in a longer game. The bad news is that their winning drafts are unsurprisingly quite predictable, and therefore at risk of being banned out.
Three of their playoff wins have come off drafts where they’ve managed to grab both Nature’s Prophet and Visage, including their sole victory over Na`Vi. If Orange can grab both of those heroes then they’re in dreamland. Mushi and kYxY can play an almost endless list of complements, so their draft past that point is relatively unconstrained.
Their other four wins have all come off the back of excellently coordinated AoE teamfight combos. The first of these was against Fnatic, where Orange used Magnus and an Empowered Battlefury Anti-Mage to take the game late. DK featured Orange’s stunning Slardar-Dark Seer-Shadowfiend lineup. Vacuum into Slithereen Crush provided ample initiation for Mushi’s Shadowfiend to clean up. Following that, they closed the series with an Ursa-Magnus combo and some game-changing Reverse Polarities. Finally, we have the opening game of the TongFu series where Orange won with the only Sven pick of the tournament proper whose cleaves were set up yet again by Dark Seer Vacuums.
So if you’re Orange, you’ve got a bit of a predicament. You have this set of strategies that your team is really good at executing, but your strategies are dependent on a small set of heroes (Visage, Dark Seer, and Magnus) and thus are vulnerable to early bans. If you’re Orange how do you get what you want past Puppey’s first set of bans?
The first thing you might need to do is stop banning Dark Seer. Yes, you don’t want Funn1k to have his Dark Seer, but your team is straight up less versatile then theirs. Is Na`Vi having Dark Seer really worse than Na`Vi having the Puck-Lifestealer combo that they beat you twice with? Or the Chen-Pudge combo that can create a highlight reel of your worst nightmares? If Na`Vi get Dark Seer, the rest of their draft is predictable, at least as predictable as Na`Vi drafts get. At the same time, Na`Vi has shown a strong preference for Radiant throughout the entire tournament. This includes allowing Orange to have first pick in every game of the previous series. This means that if Na`Vi continue to ban Batrider and Visage, Dark Seer can be grabbed with the first pick, and that drastically opens up your draft possibilities.
Orange may stand a shot with one of their Magnus lineups, but it’s risky and might not work as well against the style Na`Vi plays in general. An Anti-Mage-centered lineup is also a possibility, as he has been on a 6-1 tear in playoff matches between Upper Bracket teams. Aside from that, if Na`Vi continues to ban Visage, Orange should really target Bane, Nyx Assassin, and Naga Siren for their supports. They all are a certain degree of situational, but they’re also the supports Orange has looked most comfortable on. Finally, expect Chen to once again play a big role. Besides Visage, Chen is the only hero that XtiNcT has played more than once this tournament, so robbing him away from Na`Vi might prove invaluable if Na`Vi continues to ban out Visage.
Of the remaining three teams, I still consider Orange as the underdogs, but they’ve put in an amazing performance just getting to this stage. Best of luck to both teams, and I look forward to an exciting series.
CREDITS
Writers: phantasmal
Gfx: riptide, Heyoka
Editors: Firebolt145
Photography and art via
Writers: phantasmalGfx: riptide, HeyokaEditors: Firebolt145Photography and art via Valve and R1CH
After Saturday’s performances, I felt I had to write a little tribute to Orange. (For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I've already written about Alliance and Na`Vi drafts .) Not because they knocked out the last two remaining Chinese teams and guaranteed themselves a top 3 finish, though they do deserve credit for that and their impressive streak in surviving four elimination series to make it here. But no, I’m writing this because they ranin the International playoffs and actually won. Will wonders never cease?When they’re in their comfort zone, Orange is outright amazing, but the challenge they face today is that Na`Vi will be the next opponent they face in a rematch of the only playoff series that Orange has lost this year. Their chances will rest heavily on getting one of their signature lineups through the draft intact, and Puppey will not make that easy for them. For an idea of what they’re facing, let’s look at the heroes Orange has used so far.A lot has already been said about the diversity of Mushi. He has run 19 different heroes so far, and while I can’t say with certainty if that’s a record for this tournament, the entire squad for iG used 28 in the prelims. Three other squads used 30 or less.The problem for Orange is that for all the diversity Mushi brings, their other players are a bit more predictable. XtiNcT is an astonishing 11-2 on, butis the only other hero he’s played more than once. On top of that, Orange is only 4-8 in games where he’s not playing Visage.Ohaiyo is the other character specialist. 20 of the 25 games Orange has played have featured him on, or. When he’s playing Prophet or Dark Seer, Orange is 12-4; when he’s playing anyone else, Orange is 3-6. What makes matters worse is that Na`Vi are also Dark Seer specialists, and in all three of their previous matches Orange was forced to spend an opening ban on one of their own signature heroes.Since that unfortunate Na`Vi series, Orange has gone 6-2. The good news is that their wins have been impressive, with disciplined drafts, amazing coordination, and a perfect sense of urgency when facing lineups that would beat them in a longer game. The bad news is that their winning drafts are unsurprisingly quite predictable, and therefore at risk of being banned out.Three of their playoff wins have come off drafts where they’ve managed to grab both, including their sole victory over Na`Vi. If Orange can grab both of those heroes then they’re in dreamland. Mushi and kYxY can play an almost endless list of complements, so their draft past that point is relatively unconstrained.Their other four wins have all come off the back of excellently coordinated AoE teamfight combos. The first of these was against Fnatic, where Orange usedand an Empowered Battlefuryto take the game late. DK featured Orange’s stunninglineup. Vacuum into Slithereen Crush provided ample initiation for Mushi’s Shadowfiend to clean up. Following that, they closed the series with ancombo and some game-changing Reverse Polarities. Finally, we have the opening game of the TongFu series where Orange won with the onlypick of the tournament proper whose cleaves were set up yet again byVacuums.So if you’re Orange, you’ve got a bit of a predicament. You have this set of strategies that your team is really good at executing, but your strategies are dependent on a small set of heroes () and thus are vulnerable to early bans. If you’re Orange how do you get what you want past Puppey’s first set of bans?The first thing you might need to do is stop banning. Yes, you don’t want Funn1k to have his Dark Seer, but your team is straight up less versatile then theirs. Is Na`Vi having Dark Seer really worse than Na`Vi having thecombo that they beat you twice with? Or thecombo that can create a highlight reel of your worst nightmares? If Na`Vi get Dark Seer, the rest of their draft is predictable, at least as predictable as Na`Vi drafts get. At the same time, Na`Vi has shown a strong preference for Radiant throughout the entire tournament. This includes allowing Orange to have first pick in every game of the previous series. This means that if Na`Vi continue to ban Batrider and Visage, Dark Seer can be grabbed with the first pick, and that drastically opens up your draft possibilities.Orange may stand a shot with one of theirlineups, but it’s risky and might not work as well against the style Na`Vi plays in general. An-centered lineup is also a possibility, as he has been on a 6-1 tear in playoff matches between Upper Bracket teams. Aside from that, if Na`Vi continues to ban Visage, Orange should really targetfor their supports. They all are a certain degree of situational, but they’re also the supports Orange has looked most comfortable on. Finally, expectto once again play a big role. Besides Visage, Chen is the only hero that XtiNcT has played more than once this tournament, so robbing him away from Na`Vi might prove invaluable if Na`Vi continues to ban out Visage.Of the remaining three teams, I still consider Orange as the underdogs, but they’ve put in an amazing performance just getting to this stage. Best of luck to both teams, and I look forward to an exciting series. Writer |
Fred Jackson is deadly serious about suiting up for Sunday's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The evolution of the NFL:
Take a look at how the NFL has evolved from its humble roots, and the efforts being made to ensure it continues to grow.
The Bills running back returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a groin injury in Week 7, per the team.
The setback was initially expected to keep Jackson sidelined for up to four weeks, but he did light work on Tuesday before returning to action today. The 33-year-old back ran with the starters in warmups and looked nimble on his feet in footage released by the team.
Jackson's availability for Week 10 will be more clear after Thursday's session. With C.J. Spiller not expected back before the season finale -- if at all -- Jackson's return would boost a ground game that saw Anthony Dixon pile up just 44 yards off 22 carries in Buffalo's last tilt, a 43-23 win over the Jets in Week 8.
The Bills' offense later took a hit when rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins suffered a groin injury and left practice, accoording to WGR-550. Watkins did not finish practice but NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that it was a precautionary move and the injury is believed to be minor.
Here's the rest of Wednesday's injury-related news:
1. Anxious Lions fans will be happy to hear that Calvin Johnson told reporters he will play this week against the Dolphins after being hampered the last few weeks by a high ankle sprain. Coach Jim Caldwell confirmed he anticipates Johnson playing. Megatron was a full participant in practice, along with Reggie Bush (ankle), and LaAdrian Waddle (concussion), according to the team.
2. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo didn't practice in London on Wednesday but did go through a brief walk through. Romo received treatment on his injured back at the Cowboys' hotel during practice. Along with Romo being out, linebacker Rolando McClain (knee/groin) and defensive tackle Nick Hayden (shoulder) didn't participate in practice. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens (chest) was limited. Update: Romo practiced Thursday.
3. Eagles running back LeSean McCoy isn't practicing due to an illness, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He should be back tomorrow and ready for Monday night's game against the Panthers.
4. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David (knee) and defensive end Michael Johnson (hand) were among those that were limited during practice for Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Running back Charles Sims (ankle) was also limited.
5. Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis (ankle) was a full participant in practice, though he's still on the IR-recall list. Wideouts Cecil Short and Marqise Lee were both limited as quarterback Blake Bortle continues to lead a team without all of their best offensive options.
6. Aaron Rodgers was a full participant in practice for the Packers, which supports coach Mike McCarthy's claim Tuesday that the quarterback "looked good."
7. The Bengals' injury report has running back Giovani Bernard (hip/clavicle) listed as doubtful for Thursday after he did not practice Wednesday. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict (knee) was ruled out, as well as cornerback Leon Hall (concussion).
8. Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) was ruled out for Thursday's game while wideout Andrew Hawkins (thigh/knee) did not practice and is deemed questionable to play.
9. The Ravens had a few starting offensive linemen out of practice on Wednesday. Center Jeremy Zuttah (ankle) and guard Marshal Yanda (knee) both did not participate. Zuttah told the Baltimore Sun his injury isn't serious.
10. Giants running back Rashad Jennings (knee) and defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (knee) did not participate in practice.
11. Jets receiver Percy Harvin is with a new squad, but injury problems have seemingly followed him to New York from Seattle. Harvin was limited in practice with a heel injury.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews Browns-Bengals and returns the game "Win Gregg's Toaster." Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW. |
An article by Robert Fleck of Clemson, forthcoming in the International Review of Law and Economics, presented a theoretical case that price gouging restrictions can be value-enhancing under certain conditions. I was skeptical, but Fleck is careful in building his case.
The key qualifier above is under certain conditions. In “Can Prohibitions on ‘Price Gouging’ Reduce Deadweight Losses?” Fleck agreed it is obvious price caps can cause shortages, and price caps designed to apply specifically during emergencies can create shortages at times during which shortages are especially harmful to consumers
But he found a special case for which such laws may be on net beneficial, namely: when consumption of the good creates external benefits, and the price gouging limits are foreseen to create shortages under unpredictable high demand conditions, and production is fixed in the short run, and resale of the good among consumers is impossible, then the policy can induce consumers to buy larger amounts of the external-benefit generating good.
His primary illustration was flu vaccinations, for which production is completed before the flu season type is revealed to be either “high demand” (flu epidemic) or “low demand” (normal). In the absence of shortage-inducing price limits, consumers wait for realization of the flu season type before deciding whether to get a flu shot. Given a price gouging-based price cap and resulting predictable shortage, Fleck explained, more consumers buy a vaccine production prior to the flu season (i.e. before revelation of the flu season type). Because by assumption consumption of the good has external benefits, inducing greater consumption can create net increases in overall economic value.
Fleck clearly stated that his result doesn’t generalize to all price gouging restrictions. While he suggested a few light stories of the potential external benefits associated with drinking water, gasoline, home electrical generators, and chain saws, he didn’t play these alternatives up. (For good reason, too. Unlike flu vaccinations “consumed” at point of retail purchase, these other consumer goods are readily resold. A resale market undermines consumer incentives to purchase the good before the demand type is known and so does not lead to an increase in overall consumption.)
He concluded by raising the possibility the widespread adoption by states of price gouging proscriptions might reflect growth of relatively efficient types of regulation at the expense of less efficient regulation, or perhaps the laws persist because they are not as costly as they otherwise may seen. On this point I remain skeptical.
As Fleck emphasized early in the paper, the model shows that price gouging limits may be on net beneficial, but it does not conclude they must be on net beneficial. In addition, even when the policy may be on net beneficial it will fail to maximize total benefit, and so in theory there are better policies. Finally, he said, the laws would have to be tailored to apply mostly under the restrictive conditions set out above. Price gouging restrictions under other conditions will reduce overall surplus. Fleck suggested (for Hayekian knowledge problem reasons) it was unlikely that policymakers would be so well informed as to be able to identify just which products and at which times the laws should apply.
Overall he has a unique and interesting theoretical case built with traditional microeconomic tools. Other attempts at providing an analytic foundation for price gouging laws are ad hoc and unpersuasive (comments on Rotemberg here, comments on Rapp here and here). But despite Fleck’s offering an efficiency-based justification for price gouging limits, the relatively strict conditions for his theoretical case make the model an unlikely base of support for any existing price gouging policy. |
Bratton says ‘hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance’. Thousands prepare for memorial services for Wenjian Liu, the second officer killed in ambush
As thousands of mourners prepare to attend the wake and funeral of a second New York City police officer killed in an ambush shooting, police commissioner Bill Bratton is urging the rank and file to refrain from making political statements.
“A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance,” Bratton said in a memo to be read to all commands at roll calls on Saturday, the day Officer Wenjian Liu will be remembered at a wake.
“I issue no mandates, and I make no threats of discipline, but I remind you that when you don the uniform of this department, you are bound by the tradition, honor and decency that go with it.”
Bratton’s comments referred to hundreds of officers who turned their backs to TV monitors showing Mayor Bill de Blasio a week ago as he spoke at the funeral for the other officer who was killed, Rafael Ramos. That gesture mimicked one made by police union officials outside a hospital two weeks ago when the officers were killed.
Union officials, who are negotiating a contract with the city, have said the gestures were made out of frustration with the mayor. They say de Blasio helped foster an anti-police atmosphere by supporting demonstrations following the chokehold death of an unarmed black man on Staten Island who resisted arrest.
Liu and Ramos were ambushed sitting in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street by Ismaaiyl Brinsley. Brinsley had made references online to the killings of unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers, vowing to put “wings on pigs.”
Investigators say Brinsley was an emotionally disturbed loner who started off his rampage by shooting and wounding an ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. He later killed himself.
The police killings ramped up emotions in the already-tense national debate over police conduct. Since Ramos and Liu were killed, police in New York have investigated at least 70 threats made against officers, and more than a dozen people have been arrested.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and others have urged calm and asked all sides to tone down the rhetoric. Earlier this week, the mayor met with police union leaders.
Liu’s wake will be at the Aievoli Funeral Home in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. His funeral is scheduled for Sunday with a Chinese ceremony led by Buddhist monks to be followed by a traditional police ceremony with eulogies led by a chaplain. Burial will follow at Cypress Hills Cemetery.
The 32-year-old officer had been on the police force seven years and had gotten married two months before he died. His widow, Pei Xia Chen, gave a tearful statement days after the shooting.
The funeral for Ramos was held last Saturday. Tens of thousands of officers and other mourners went to a church in Queens to pay their respects. Liu’s funeral arrangements were delayed so his relatives from China could get travel documents to the U.S. and fly to New York.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charity created after 11 September 2001, has said it will pay off the home mortgages of the two slain officers. |
Logz.io, an Israel-based data analytics and security startup, announced today it raised a $16 million Series B funding round and recently relocated its New York office to Boston.
Boston-based OpenView Venture Partners led the funding round. Earlier investors 83North and Giza Venture Capital also chipped in. Logz.io, which is based in Tel Aviv, has raised $24 million altogether since it was founded in late 2014 by Israel natives Tomer Levy (pictured above, left) and Asaf Yigal (right).
Logz.io helps companies track what’s going on behind the scenes with websites, apps, and other software, in order to help them avoid costly outages and other malfunctions. Every machine that runs software—computers, smartphones, tablets, smart watches, servers, and more—keeps a running log of every action it takes. But with the flood of data that has accompanied the rise of mobile apps and cloud computing, it has become difficult for IT departments to effectively monitor these logs without help.
Logz.io is one of the companies that sells software to track and analyze all of this activity for businesses, ideally helping to make their operations more productive and secure. Related companies include Splunk and Sumo Logic.
Logz.io’s approach uses open-source software—specifically, the Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana (ELK) stack—and offers it as a cloud service for analyzing enterprise companies’ logs. In addition, Logz.io has developed machine learning algorithms that study interactions users have with their log data and searches the Web for known software bugs, with the goal of parsing out the log events that are actually important for companies and their IT departments to know about.
Since launching its service last year, Logz.io says it has signed up more than 1,000 companies in 80 countries. In an interview, Levy says “a few hundred” of those companies are paying customers. Those clients include Electronic Arts, British Airways, and Dyn, a New Hampshire-based firm that helps manage Internet performance.
Levy wouldn’t share details, but Logz.io says it helped Dyn respond to a recent cyber attack that temporarily shut down or slowed many popular websites and applications, including Twitter, Spotify, Reddit, and others.
“Being actively involved with Dyn, I saw firsthand how instrumental Logz.io was in our ability to quickly respond to and mitigate the recent unprecedented DDoS attacks we experienced, helping us assess the source, target, and protocols used,” said Jim Baum, an OpenView venture partner and Dyn’s executive chairman, in a prepared statement. Baum is joining Logz.io’s board as part of the funding deal.
Logz.io employs 55 people and is hiring, Levy says. The Tel Aviv office houses the engineering team and some sales and marketing staff members, while the downtown Boston office focuses on sales, marketing, and “customer success,” he says.
The company recently hired Bridget Gleason as vice president of sales. She was previously vice president of corporate sales and executive advisor at Sumo Logic.
Jeff Engel is Deputy Editor, Tech at Xconomy. Email: jengel@xconomy.com Follow @JeffEngelXcon
Trending on Xconomy |
Terry Folb will become the first driver for the newly formed Sébastien Loeb Racing Junior World Rally Championship programme.
Having announced the team would be heading in to the FIA World Rally Championship with a J-WRC team two weeks ago, Sébastien Loeb revealed the reasons behind choosing the Alsace-born driver.
“We’re delighted to welcome Terry to our team” said Loeb. “He’s young, he’s experienced with both the DS3 R3 Max and the J-WRC and, on top of that, he’s from Alsace too. So he’s got the perfect profile!”
The Alsace-based team was formed four years ago and has been involved in Sportscars and Touring Cars since, the J-WRC programme is the teams first foray in to a very familiar territory for the team’s founder.
“He’s consistently improved since his debut in rallying and the season he completed in 2015 speaks for itself: great results and a very convincing second part of the championship. That’s interesting for what’s to come. It’s also a responsibility for us as Terry is ambitious.” added Loeb.
“We need to enable him to take the next step. Our initial discussions have been positive and constructive. We share the same views on many aspects, in terms of how to approach things or regarding our ambition… He’s a young driver with a good head on his shoulders. He knows where he wants to go. It was important for Dominique and me to choose an all-round driver, i.e. with great qualities behind the wheel and beyond.”
Co-founder Dominique Heintz along with Loeb have employed the services of former co-driver Daniel Elena as they look to take Folb to the top of the class that he finished third in last season.
“I’m simply really looking forward to starting working with the Sébastien Loeb Racing” said an excited Folb. “In 2015, the aim was to improve and to move up a notch by entering in the J-WRC, and I think I did a good job.
“I didn’t necessarily expect to join a team like that of Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz, but I’m very happy! There cannot be any better teacher than Sébastien himself. It’s a fantastic opportunity for a driver, and even more so coming from Alsace. I’m convinced that I’m going to learn a lot.
“Sébastien will be a real asset to my progress. The team is very professional and well-structured. Fortunately I already know a couple of its members. Usually there’re supposed to be one year to learn then one year to win. We’re sharing the same ambition!”
The 25-year-old will be joined by regular co-driver Frank Le Floch as they undergo preparation for the first round of the championship in Portugal in May (20-22). |
22-year-old Oakland resident Amer Sinan Al Haggagi has been charged with plotting several terrorist attacks in San Francisco that targeted gay bars in the area.
Unearthed audio recordings and texts strongly suggest he aimed to pack several Bay Area clubs and bars with explosives, sell strychnine-laced cocaine, and set numerous brush fires in the Berkeley Hills.
“I live close to San Francisco,” he texted an undercover federal agent that he believed was an Islamic State operative.
“That’s like the gay capitol [sic] of the world. I’m going to handle them right. LOL. I’m going to place a bomb in a gay club… I’m going to tear up the city. The whole Bay Area is going to be up in flames. My ideas are genius. LMAO.”
According to authorities, Al Haggagi seeked employment with the Oakland Police Department to steal weapons.
His attorneys claim he was just a swaggering ass. To paraphrase.
“There is a bit of a disconnect between Mr. Al Haggagi’s words and his actions,” says Hanni Fakhoury, who wisely isn’t representing him anymore. “Very stupid and very inappropriate and very disturbing puffery.”
His new lawyer Mary McNamara claims Al Haggagi dropped the subject and several months went by where, like, he wasn’t going around talking about killing hundreds of people.
“Mr. Al Haggagi ran away when he believed that things had gone beyond talk with the undercover agent,” she tells KQED.
She claims he “never re-engaged with him and never took any steps to commit any violent act.”
“He is a peaceful, sociable and well-liked person.”
“He is also young and naïve. It appears that he allowed himself to be drawn into conversations that he should have been far more suspicious of.”
A classic case of blame the undercover federal agent.
h/t: NewNowNext |
even more
Google:
"Wave is a new model for communication and collaboration on the web, coming later this year. Here's a preview of just some of the aspects of this new tool."
Prosumer Takeaways:
A next-level conversational experience. Reduced app switch-through time. One-stop shop. Ideal for collaboration. Big time saver.
More organized personal data. Relevant past items will pop up in appropriate new "waves" automatically. Big time saver. Powerful memory aid.
A big improvement in personally relevant search. If you opt in, the social-info graph cobbled together by Wave will increase your Google search efficiency. Time saver. Intelligence amplifier. A centralized application through which you can monetize your scattered content in a variety of ways via the ever-evolving AdSense. Essentially a better way to monetize prosumer value creation and behavior. Gradually more $$$ in your pocket.
Steve Ballmer woke up thinking this was going to be a good day...For those of you wondering why Google hasn't beenaggressive in its development of the already best-in-show Gmail platform via the integration of its diverse web app suite, the answer appears to lie in a forthcoming product called Google Wave , announced just an hour ago, that takes all-in-one, customizable webapp integration to the next level to consolidate all of your Google-based conversation, collaboration, gaming and geo-spatial interaction into discrete "waves" of information.In other words, rather than continuing to build onto a focused and already successful email product, potentially 1) overcomplicating it for certain users and 2) remaining stuck in an old product frame, Google Wave will sit atop apps like Gmail, Chat, Status Messages, Docs, Widgets, Friend Connect, Blogger, Calendar, Reader, Maps, Earth and perhaps even Facebook competitor Orkut, allowing you to mix the info flows in one central location.Here's a snapshot of one version of the potentially revolutionary Wave interface:It's no accident that Google's Wave announcement was made simultaneous to Microsoft's unveiling of its new Bing search engine, which is getting " nice improvement, but I'll stick with Google " reviews. My bet is that Wave will mark a far more disruptive forward step in the web experience because of its focus on fundamentally better user:info interaction.Google's message rings loud and clear: "Microsoft, while you're playing catch-up in search, we're utilizing our already massive and debugged app suite to develop entire new products and integrated search data. Spend all the money you want on Bing marketing, it's going to take you years to develop the structured prosumer data necessary to meaningfully compete."Of course, the message actually posted was far more Googly:Further adding strength to the oncoming Wave is the fact that it's being released as an open model, similar to mobile phone OS Android ( 18 different Android phones will be released in 2009 , others are using it for netbooks) and Chrome (already superior in speed and function to Internet Explorer), that developers can modify and integrate into their own sites. By keeping its great googly eye on the information prize and relinquishing development sovereignty and near-term income, Google seems to be out-futuring its competitors on most fronts.So what will Wave mean for you?I think it's fair to assume that Steve Ballmer and a host of other social media execs are having a bad day.Update: Here's a solid description of the philosophy behind the service by Google's Lars Rasmussen.Update #2: TechCrunch has a great vid interview up featuring the founding Wave developer team.Update #3: Google founder Sergei Brin, who's working hands-on with Wave, believes the product will do very well, creating a new "benchmark for interactivity". The stickier it is, the better for the Big G. |
Spoiler: 2/17/2015 Umbra of Shadows said: INTJ - Ivysaur
Initially, it seems like the INTJ group is very diverse (with mains for Ice Climbers, Ivysaur, Mewtwo, Marth, Fox, and Mario).
However, it may be possible that the reasoning for playing these characters is similar: INTJs may choose characters that are often seen as unconventional (Ice Climbers, Ivyasur, Mewtwo) in hopes of using the unique aspects of those characters to their advantage by having a unique playstyle and making innovations. Alternatively, they may choose characters that are more often seen as conventional (Marth, Fox, Mario) in order to play those characters in an unconventional and innovative way, thereby giving them a unique and advantageous playstyle. In both cases, the INTJ players, myself included, would be driven to win by using strategies that others may not see as viable despite making perfect sense to the people of this personality group, causing INTJ players to play fairly differently from other players.
I would suggest that each person that takes this poll and replies to this thread explains why he/she plays his/her character, as it may allow for better analysis of data and trends to determine if one's personality type does in fact affect his/her main.
So, to begin, I chose to play as Ivysaur because I enjoyed the unconventional (yet effective) playstyle I could employ with Ivysaur, including Razor Leaf and F-Air approaches, Seed Bomb applications (keeping foes back and vertical attacking), Down Throw combos, and the strategic timing of Synthesis and Solar Beam, just to name a few aspects of it.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on my hypothesis? Click to expand... Shockbound said: I have the same understanding about finding satisfaction in being unconventional. My type was INTP, but the difference between that and INTJ isn't all that big. To me, the potential for widespread playstyle diversity is one of the most appealing qualities of Project M. It's one of few games where I've been rewarded for trying to be unique, but it's been the only game in which I've been rewarded enough for it to actually be comparable to using the more mainstream methods of play.
My preference for unconventionality manifests itself in several ways, but the most evident one comes from the fact that I play Mr. Game & Watch competitively. The sheer variety of uses that each of his moves carry is what makes him so appealing to me; his moves don't have sweetspots or sourspots, but they have sweet or sour "times" where the same move can range from being very strong to very weak the longer the hitbox stays out. Proper timing of these moves results in outstanding combos that are different every time. His neutral may be weak, but I've always preferred careful planning and setup for huge payoffs over ones that are drawn out over time. Additionally, the fact that nobody in my region has any idea what this character is supposed to do just makes it all the more satisfying to blather endlessly about his massive supply of unique features and quirks.
Thank you for bringing this up, this reminded me of the reason why I decided to keep the results hidden while the survey was still open. I had the same thought you did, so I knew that many people who play a particular character like to think that they are "special" because of it (and they often are when only considering their local environment). If I had the results visible while these people were still submitting entries, it could potentially discourage them from admitting who they really play if they get the impression that everybody and their mother plays the same thing. This could heavily affect the results of the survey since it would not accurately reflect the amount of people who play certain characters. Click to expand... the survey is closing TODAY at 12:00 PM (PST) . If you or somebody you know has not yet submitted an entry, do it right this instant since you will not get a chance to do so afterwards. Once the survey has closed, I will begin working on crunching the numbers into a presentable format since they will have finally stopped changing. This could take a good deal of time, and I cannot guarantee that I will get all of it done until later tonight. Rest assured that the results will become public as soon as I am done with all of the compiling.
In the meantime, I'd like to see everyone's thoughts about what Umbra posted. Why do you think you play your character? . If you or somebody you know has not yet submitted an entry,since you will not get a chance to do so afterwards. Once the survey has closed, I will begin working on crunching the numbers into a presentable format since they will have finally stopped changing. This could take a good deal of time, and I cannot guarantee that I will get all of it done until later tonight. Rest assured that the results will become public as soon as I am done with all of the compiling.In the meantime, I'd like to see everyone's thoughts about what Umbra posted. Why do youyou play your character?
Spoiler: 2/13/2015
To put it simply, we need a lot more people to complete the survey in order to attain reliable results. 1,505 is impressive to be sure, but it just isn't enough for what is trying to be accomplished. 25,000 would be the ideal goal, but I don't feel like it's much of a realistic one given the available timeframe; I feel like it could be possible to make it to 5,000 by the closure date.
However, I don't see this happening either judging by the steadily dropping rate of new respondents. If you want to see more reliable results for your dearly treasured minorities, this survey needs to spread around until it eventually gets noticed by some of them. This does not mean that you should present the survey directly to those you believe are minorities. It should instead be presented to large communities that contain a healthy variety of PM smashers so that the results can stay as unbiased as possible.
The results are starting to look very interesting, so I'd like to see this get more exposure. The survey fell off of the front page of the PM Reddit, so it's time to start looking in other places. Huge thanks go out to everybody helping me with this.
eideeiit said: An INTP with a PM Squirtle and Melee Marth and Sheik here. Woah. Someone should really do this for Melee too. Click to expand... As a quick update for all of you, the survey has been completed by 1,505 people thus far. The amount of data received is starting to become significant, but splitting up all of the people into their respective groups leaves certain minorities lacking in the way of a statistically reliable sample pool. I would elaborate further, but I fear that doing so would affect the results of the survey.To put it simply, we needmore people to complete the survey in order to attain reliable results. 1,505 is impressive to be sure, but it just isn't enough for what is trying to be accomplished. 25,000 would be the ideal goal, but I don't feel like it's much of a realistic one given the available timeframe; I feel like it could be possible to make it to 5,000 by the closure date.However, I don't see this happening either judging by the steadily dropping rate of new respondents. If you want to see more reliable results for your dearly treasured minorities, this survey needs to spread around until it eventually gets noticed by some of them.It should instead be presented to large communities that contain a healthy variety of PM smashers so that the results can stay as unbiased as possible.The results are starting to look very interesting, so I'd like to see this get more exposure. The survey fell off of the front page of the PM Reddit, so it's time to start looking in other places. Huge thanks go out to everybody helping me with this.I'm considering it. It'll definitely have to be after this survey closes, though. Staying on top of all of the trends in the data is proving to be a lot of work.
Shockbound said: The plan right now is to release the % distribution of personality types on a single chart and a separate chart will display % distribution of character popularity. These first two charts will be independent of one another.
After these two charts are presented, each personality type will have a chart of their own that provides a % distribution of character popularity specifically for that personality type. After all 16 of these charts are presented, another set of charts will display the % distribution of personality types for each individual character.
After this, further information about the frequency of each letter will be applied to all of the smashers that made a submission (as in what % of them have the Introverted trait) as well as to certain characters (for instance, what % of Luigi players have the Introverted trait). Other features will be announced later. Click to expand...
will not be considered
[collapse="2/11/2015"]Yesterday I came across an interesting online test that categorizes those who take it into 16 different groups of personalities; this was the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator , the classic psychometric questionnaire dating all the way back from 1962. Someone (Shadow293903) posted a link to this in the Project M chat at Anther's Smash Ladder and suddenly everybody was sharing their results with each other.After looking at my own results, I found a statistic claiming that my personality type encompassed only 3% of the world's population. However, after looking at the chat I could see that there was at least one other person who got the same result as I did. It may have just been one person, but it made me think, "what are the odds of that?"I began thinking that my personality type could possibly be more common among smashers like myself, which is obviously a far smaller pool than the entire world's population. Soon afterwards, I began wondering whether it could be possible that a vastly different distribution of personality types existed within the smash community as compared to the entire world.This same diversity reminded me of how some characters are more commonly played than others. Delving deeper into this, I wondered if there was even more diversity among those who played particular characters.So I've developed a theory, and I need the Project M community as a resource to begin verifying it.The basis of this theory was developed on a post I had once seen on Smashboards, which was something along the lines of, "Is it just me, or are all the Ice Climber mains just homies?" I was reminded of this when I learned that the character that I main was also the main of the person in the ladder chat that shared my personality type. Now what are the odds ofI've created a survey to try and figure this out. It requires that you know your personality type before you answer anything on it, so you might as well get that out of the way before starting.You can take it here:As is true of all surveys, the results will not be made public until after a certain amount of time has passed. I will be editing this main post with the results on February 17th (I may or may not close the survey at the same time, we'll see). It would be helpful and very much appreciated if those of you who are also curious about the results could spread this survey around the internet a bit so that the data can be as accurate as possible.I'll also be editing this post later with what exactly my theory is and how I plan to lay out the results for it. Feel free to post what character and personality type you entered for the survey on this thread in the meantime.Please remember to fill out questions 3 and 4! Lots of people seem to be getting the impression that they don't need to fill these out since questions 1 and 2 asked for the exact same thing.. You should be putting in the same answers for 3 and 4 as you did for 1 and 2. If you didn't fill out questions 3 and 4, then your datawhen everything is compiled. |
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EVERETT — The Majestic Cafe shut down just before Christmas, announcing the closure by thanking patrons with a note on the door and a posting on Facebook.
The restaurant had been open for 9 1/2 years in downtown and served more than 400,000 meals, first on Hewitt Avenue and later at 2929 Colby Ave.
“Restaurants are a difficult businesss to run and more was going out than was coming in,” owner Scott Lord said Tuesday.
The restaurant had been struggling for months, because downtown Everett can be up and down, Lord said. The construction of the Courtyard by Marriott — and the loss of parking around the area — made the situation more difficult.
“I think I kept the business open longer than I should have,” Lord said. “I’m in a pretty deep hole.”
Some employees are angry about the timing and handling of the closure and the lack of wages.
Blake Faircloth, 26, the bar manager, said he learned about the closure while visiting family in California when he checked his schedule on Christmas Day using an online system for tracking employee hours.
Lord held a meeting with employees in early December about the financial issues and told them he was working on finding an outside investor, Faircloth said.
“He said we were in a financial thing, but he said everything was going to work out and he would give us notice if the company was going to shut down,” Faircloth said.
Jeremy Smith, 39, of Everett, said he is owed wages for 96 hours of work. He worked the Monday before Christmas.
“I was there the last time that restaurant was open,” Smith said. “I put up the chairs for the last time, although I didn’t know it then.”
Smith, a server and buser, said it’s been difficult paying bills and rent. He was forced to withdraw from Everett Community College.
Smith and Faircloth said they felt the restaurant was popular.
“Business was good as far as I could tell,” Smith said. “The last night we were opened, we were slammed.”
Lord said operating expenses had been far more than income. He said he poured everything he had into the business.
“I’m looking at 52 years old without anything,” Lord said.
Andrew Greulich, 27, a floor manager and bar tender, said Lord called him on Christmas Eve to let him know he was shutting down the Majestic.
He said it’s difficult, but he understands that small businesses can struggle.
“I was more upset than angry,” Greulich said. “It was a blow. That was a huge part of all of our lives. We were a family there. I was really upset that we weren’t going to come back and see the regulars.”
He said he was proud of their work, adding that the Majestic never skimped on ingredients. He said the loss of wages is difficult, but he still respects Lord.
“If he found a way to open it tomorrow, I would be there dressed and ready to work,” Greulich said. |
Borders which link up to territory occupied by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants should be closed as part of international efforts to defeat the group, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview with Al Arabiya News Channel on Friday.
In the interview, which aired the same day, Kerry said that the U.S. had secured “significant guarantees” from American allies in the Middle East.
“We must shut borders,” he said. “There are guarantees to help on foreign fighters, on financing, on borders – border control, on military, on aid, training, and even on direct military action.”
Kerry also praised Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who he described as being “absolutely critical” in the fight against ISIS.
“Baghdad and others within Iraq as a whole should say thank you to the Peshmerga who have been essential in the fight of taking back Mosul Dam, of holding the line so that ISIL couldn’t go to Erbil,” he said.
Iran and ISIS
On the role that Iran could play in combating ISIS, Kerry said: “We welcome whatever Iran chooses to do or thinks it can do to deal with ISIS,” and added that while the U.S. remained “open to communication,” it was “not in a position right now” to coordinate with Tehran.
Kerry re-emphasized the Obama administration’s line that a solution to the three-and-a-half year Syrian conflict must be political, rather than military.
“We do not believe there is a military solution, ultimately, to Syria. You have to have a political solution, and that is a political solution that protects all of the interests of everybody – minorities all have to be protected,” he said.
The U.S. top diplomat’s comments came the same day that France joined U.S. forces acting in Iraqi skies, destroying a logistics depot.
A day earlier, Obama praised France’s decision to join American forces in conducting air strikes against ISIS, as part of his plan to construct an international coalition of over 40 nations to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the extremist group.
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Story highlights Guardian reports that Trump will delay trip over fears of protests
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would welcome Trump canceling the visit
Washington (CNN) The White House has denied a report that US President Donald Trump plans to delay his state visit to the United Kingdom over fears of potential protests and his perceived unpopularity.
According to a report by the Guardian on Sunday , Trump revealed his unease during a conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May in recent weeks, according to a Downing Street adviser who was in the room.
But a senior Trump administration source denied that the subject ever came up when Trump and May spoke on Friday in the aftermath of the British general election.
"The President has tremendous respect for Prime Minister May. That subject never came up on the call," the official told CNN.
JUST WATCHED London mayor: No time for Trump's tweet Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH London mayor: No time for Trump's tweet 01:12
A second senior US administration official also dismissed the Guardian report, acknowledging that Trump may never be popular in London and isn't fazed by that.
Read More |
Galak-Z developer 17-bit's turn-based strategy game Skulls of the Shogun is getting an animated series.
Hosted by Nerdist, the show will star John DiMaggio (Bender from Futurama, Marcus Fenix from Gears of War) as General Akamoto, an Edo-era military general betrayed by his comrades on the eve of his greatest victory. It will also co-star Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks) and Jessica Chobot (Mass Effect 3) along with director F. Ryan Naumann.
Our Chris Donlan boldly claimed that Skulls of the Shogun "earns its place amongst the genre's greats."
"Fast, compact and yet consistently thoughtful, there's nothing else quite like Skulls of the Shogun," he wrote in his glowing Skulls review upon its arrival on Xbox 360 in 2013. It's also available on PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Windows Phone, and iOS and Android platforms.
The Skulls of the Shogun animated series will premiere Tuesday, 11th August at 6pm UK time. Here's a preview: |
In recent years, chip makers have conlcuded that the race to produce ever faster circuits is a fool’s game. As the clock speed increases, the amount of energy lost as heat becomes too large to dissipate efficiently and in any case, the waste is unjustifiable.
That raises some interesting questions about the human brain, says Jan Karbowski at the Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology at the California Institute of Technology. Karbowski points out that the problem of heat transfer could be a serious factor shaping brain evolution and so has embarked on a program to determine the relationship between brain temperature, its size, cerebral power generated and neural activity.
The question on Karbowski’s mind is whether there is any thermodynamic limit on brain size. And if so, does 5 kg, which Karbowski says is the mass of the largest mammalian brain, approach that limit?
Karbowski points out that brain cooling is not a classic problem of surface-area to volume. Instead, brain cooling is more closely comparable to that in a combustion heat engine where a liquid coolant removes heat.
“In the brain, the role of the coolant is played by the cerebral blood, but only in the deep region because there blood has a slightly lower temperature than the brain tissue,” says Karbowski.
But in the regions closer to the surface, it is the oter way round: brain tissue is colder than the cerebral blood which warms the brain.
This implies that the thermodynamics of heat balance does not restrict the brain size. And this in turn suggests that brains could be heavier than 5 kg, says Karbowski.
(And of course they do get bigger than this. The sperm whale’s brain can be 9 kilograms).
That leaves plenty of growing room for humans which have brains of only 1.5 kilograms on average.
Ref: http://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3690: Thermodynamic Constraints on Neural Dimensions, Firing Rates, Brain Temperature and Size |
Malcolm Turnbull wants to make sure celebrants don't have to preside over same-sex weddings and religious organisations don't lose charity status if they believe marriage should only be between men and women.
The prime minister will support changes to same-sex marriage legislation - similar to those moved unsuccessfully by Attorney-General George Brandis - for these religious protections when the bill comes before the lower house this week.
But he acknowledges the legislation put up by Liberal senator Dean Smith, which has passed the Senate, doesn't have anything in it that would force celebrants to oversee weddings against their will or strip charities of their legal status.
"A lot of the amendments we're talking about are really providing assurance that things that are unintended consequences are not going to occur," Mr Turnbull told Sky News on Sunday.
"(We should) make it clear there is nothing in the bill that prevents or inhibits or hinders anyone from expressing their views about what is the ... morally right form of marriage."
The same-sex marriage bill passed the Senate 43-12 last Wednesday.
Debate on it is expected to dominate the lower house's program for the entire next sitting week, the final one scheduled for the year. |
Here is the full transcript of Al Arabiya News Channel’s Nadia Bilbassy-Charters interview with Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday.
Read also: Exclusive: Kerry slams ‘disturbing’ Khamenei speech
Read also: Watch full Al Arabiya interview with Secretary of State John Kerry
AL ARABIYA: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for your time.
SECRETARY KERRY: My pleasure. Thank you.
AL ARABIYA: You are about to meet your GCC counterparts. What are you going to tell them that they have not heard from you before about the agreement?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I am going to go through in great detail all of the ways in which this agreement, in fact, makes the Gulf states and the region safer. I will also discuss with them at great length the things that the United States of America is going to do, working with them, in order to push back against the terror and counterterrorism efforts and other activities in the region that are very alarming to them.
So I think it will be very reassuring. I think it will be specific and detailed. But most importantly, it's a chance for them to ask me any misgivings they have or any questions they have about the agreement itself.
AL ARABIYA: I mean, to be blunt, sir, many people in the region, especially your allies, they worry about asymmetrical war with Iran through the proxies than how many centrifuges you have dismantled. Can the United States stop the nefarious activities of Iran in four Arab capitals?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, let me ask you a question.
AL ARABIYA: Please.
SECRETARY KERRY: Is it better to push back against those activities against an Iran with a nuclear weapon or an Iran without one? Obviously, without one. So you have to begin somewhere.
We have begun at the most critical place vis-a-vis Israel, the region, and the potential of the nuclear arms race with a nuclear weapon. But we have not for an instant stopped focusing on counterterrorism, on the nefarious activities, particularly proxies. And we think there is a great deal more that the region can do to deal with proxies. And that’s a lot of conversation that we’re going to be having in some detail, not just in my meeting, but over a period of time.
AL ARABIYA: So what – how are you going to help them? I mean, some will say Iran with cash, $100 billion that's going to go – part of it to the Revolutionary Guard, it's going to go to Soleimani, and it's going to fund Hizballah and Houthis and Assad regime. So I mean, you understand this point. So what exactly -
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I do understand it. But let me ask you something.
AL ARABIYA: What are you going to offer them?
SECRETARY KERRY: Let me ask you a simple question: Who has more cash? Saudi Arabia and the Emirates and Qatar, or Iran?
AL ARABIYA: Yeah, but --
SECRETARY KERRY: I think we know.
AL ARABIYA: -- they don't fund activities in the region. That's the difference.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, maybe they need to become more proactive in pushing back against activities so people understand they don't have a free playing field on which to deal.
The point I'm making is that $100 billion is nothing compared to what gets spent every year in the region. Iran's military budget is $15 billion. The Gulf states' military budget is $130 billion. So I am saying – we are saying in the United States we think things can be done far more effectively to push back against proxy activities. And most importantly, we would like to encourage people to find an alternative to any of these activities, and we believe there are ways to try to bring about a different set of relationships and, ultimately, absolutely protect the region's security and interests.
AL ARABIYA: So you don't think that Iran can pose a threat to the Gulf allies through conventional weapons now?
SECRETARY KERRY: Obviously, there are a lot of conventional weapons in the region. But my belief, and I think President Obama's belief and our military assessments, our intelligence assessments are that if they organize themselves correctly, all of the Arab States have an untapped potential that is very, very significant to be able to push back against any of these activities. And I am convinced that, with the right kind of effort, we can find a very different set of arrangements that begin to give people comfort that they really don't need to fear that the agreement itself is going to change anything.
The agreement gets rid of the nuclear weapon potential. But if we do the right things in all of these other sectors, then I believe the Gulf states and the region can feel much more secure than they do today. Obviously, we have to end all of these proxy initiatives, and there are ways to do that.
AL ARABIYA: Now, since you have this agreement, you have political capital. Can you exercise some kind of pressure or exert some kind of pressure on Iran, who has immense influence over the Assad regime, to try to have some kind of a political process where Assad is not part of it? Do you think you will be able to do that? Are we going to see Geneva 3
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I can't speak to Iran because we --
AL ARABIYA: But you can have – put some pressure on them.
SECRETARY KERRY: We negotiated with Iran on the nuclear, not on all these other issues.
AL ARABIYA: Sure.
SECRETARY KERRY: But President Rouhani indicated in his comments welcoming the agreement that he would be interested in seeing a different set of relationships in the region. And I have been working very closely with our friends in Saudi Arabia, with former Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal – God rest his soul – and with the current foreign minister and with the crown princes. We’ve been talking about ways in which we might try to approach Syria and we’ve been talking with the Russians. And I had several conversations – one with President Putin, several with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – about how we might try to deal more effectively with Syria.
So my hope is that something could change with Syria if we could all begin to coordinate and bring our best thoughts to the table.
AL ARABIYA: Without President Assad, of course? You said that.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I don’t see – yes, without President – and ultimately, ultimately, without him, because I don’t see how the violence stops or the foreign fighters stop pouring with President Assad there. It’s very hard to see how the war stops as long as President Assad remains the magnet who is attracting all of these foreign fighters.
AL ARABIYA: The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said – made a statement. They were very negative. And he basically is saying that he want to stay at war with the United States, et cetera, and he will still support the proxies. How do you read his statements?
SECRETARY KERRY: I don’t know how to interpret it at this point in time, except to take it at face value, that that’s his policy. But I do know that often comments are made publicly and things can evolve that are different. If it is the policy, it’s very disturbing, it’s very troubling, and we’ll have to wait and see. But that’s one of the reasons for my meeting with all of the Gulf States; it’s one of the reasons for our being very attentive to guaranteeing the security of the region. And we are not kidding when we talk about the importance of pushing back against extremism, against support for terrorism and proxies who are destabilizing other countries. It’s unacceptable.
AL ARABIYA: So in this case, do you trust that President Rouhani is able to implement the agreement?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I – none of this agreement is based on trust. It’s based on specific steps that have to be implemented, specific timetables. And we will measure this agreement by its implementation. So it’s not a question of trust. It’s a question of when we reach a certain point in time, certain things have to happen. Obviously, Congress has to review this over 60 days and nothing begins to be implemented until that process is over.
AL ARABIYA: Right. So that would be the road map, we’re waiting for Congress. What if they rejected it? Would the President veto, as he said?
SECRETARY KERRY: Absolutely.
AL ARABIYA: And when you take it back, this is the people representative that they vetoing a very important --
SECRETARY KERRY: That’s our constitutional system. For some of them, it’s a vote they can take knowing the President will veto, so we’ll see what happens.
AL ARABIYA: Right. Do you think that, after 15 years, that Iran might pursue a military nuclear ambition in this domain?
SECRETARY KERRY: I think this: Iran has said it won’t, but again, it’s not words that matter, it’s not a statement; it’s acts, it’s actions that you have to measure. And what I do know is that there are very specific inspection and accountability measures that are part of the agreement forever – not for 15 years or 20 years, but forever. Iran has to live by what’s called the Additional Protocol, which provides additional access. Iran has to live by agreements it made with us in this agreement that go to 25 years and for lifetime. So I believe that whatever Iran does, that these years of transformation of their program are going to provide insight to the program and accountability over that program, and we will know what Iran is doing. Iran is limited in its stockpile, in its enrichment, and many other things.
So, what our intelligence community tells us is this is not based on a wish or based on a hope or a prayer; this is based on the structure of the agreement which will allow inspections, which will allow us to know what is happening well after 15 years.
AL ARABIYA: Do you think they will cheat?
SECRETARY KERRY: I have no idea. I’m not going to accuse somebody of cheating before somebody does, but I will tell you that this agreement is built so that you’re not surprised, so that you know you have the mechanisms in place to prevent it.
AL ARABIYA: My time is running out. I have one final question about Yemen. How long does the military campaign can go the way it is before both the Houthis and President Hadi can sit down the negotiate a political --
SECRETARY KERRY: I don’t know. You have to ask them. I mean, we’re urging the Hadi government and we’ve urged the Houthis, through some of their friends, to try to sit down as soon as possible. We think that this is only subject to come kind of political resolution, and we’re urging all of the backers behind the different parties, whether it’s Iranian or Saudi or Emirati or whoever, we urge them to try to engage with the United Nations because the people, broadly, of Yemen are obviously suffering enormously at what is happening there.
But last time we tried to have a pause, the Houthis didn’t keep the pause. They moved people, they attacked, they did different things, so they’ve given people a lot of reason to be suspect of their intentions. Obviously, it would be better to have a political resolution, but you have to have people willing to sit down and negotiate.
AL ARABIYA: Great. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY KERRY: My pleasure. Thank you so much.
AL ARABIYA: Thank you. Thank you.
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Last Update: Tuesday, 21 July 2015 KSA 15:39 - GMT 12:39 |
About This Game Love is the one thing that will never hurt anyone. ＜STORY＞ This is a story of the distant future.
An immense war left the world broken and torn.
Ashes covered the sky, the land was stripped of vegetation, and water dried up.
As a result, the human population drastically decreased.
The remaining humans huddled together to survive.
During this time, an emotions-capable robot known as a Phiroid woke up in a decayed factory.
Prior to the war, science created these human-like robots capable of feeling emotion.
As new partners for the humans, the Phiroids promised better lives for all of humanity.
However, upon waking, this Phiroid soon realized that its emotions were not functioning.
Its right hand lacked artificial skin and the mechanical parts showed how its production likely went unfinished.
This young male Phiroid had an innate desire to be with humans.
And so it began a journey to obtain its lost emotions, and wandered across this devastated world.
One day, the Phiroid was discovered by a young girl.
Thinking he was a human, she began to look after him.
She brought him to a small, but pleasant town.
While living with the young girl, the Phiroid slowly learned about emotions.
What is Kinetic Novel?
A new form of entertainment for the sole purpose of storytelling -- not a novel, not an anime, not a game -- Kinetic Novel.
Made with the goal of providing the reader with an unprecedented sense of presence and empathy for the characters through the use of a high-quality scenario, graphics, music, and other production values. ＜CHARACTER＞ “The Emotionless Mechanical Boy” Rei
This young boy awoke to find himself in the remains of what seemed to be a factory.
His right hand lacks artificial skin as he had been abandoned mid-production. A glove always covers the exposed machinery.
He wandered the ravaged landscape, following an innate desire to be with another human. Until one day, he was found by a young girl named Shiona.
Shiona gave him the name Rei.
“The Girl who Sings her Feelings” Shiona（CV：Kaori Mizuhashi）
Shiona is the young girl who discovered Rei. She lives in a church located in one of the makeshift towns of this devastated world.
Next to nothing can erase the smile from her face, and she is often found consoling others.
She frequently refers to the feelings and emotions of people in terms of shapes and colors, which can be difficult to understand.
She loves to sing and often performs in the church or the town square.
“The Blue Little Lady from the Library” Tipi（CV：Misaki Kuno）
This young girl lives in the town's library. For some reason, she is often found crying.
In age of digital books, this strange place for storing physical copies still exists.
Shiona calls her the “blue girl”.
Although the townsfolk know about her, few venture anywhere near. ＜STAFF＞ Character Design & Original Art : Itaru Hinoue.
Scenario : Tsuzuru Nakamura / Kai
Music : Shinji Orito / Ryo Mizutsuki
Theme Music : “Todoketai Melody”
Lyrics : Kai
Composition : Shinji Orito
Arrangement : Yuichiro Tsukagoshi (NanosizeMir)
Vocals : Ayaka Kitazawa
Insert Song : “Towa no Hoshi e”
Lyrics : Kai
Composition : Tomohiro Takeshita
Arrangement : Meeon
Vocals : Haruka Shimotsuki |
Making coffee to drink
For the agricultural and industrial processes for producing whole coffee beans, see Coffee processing
Filter coffee being brewed
Coffee preparation is the process of turning coffee beans into a beverage. While the particular steps vary with the type of coffee and with the raw materials, the process includes four basic steps: raw coffee beans must be roasted, the roasted coffee beans must then be ground, the ground coffee must then be mixed with hot water for a certain time (brewed), and finally the liquid coffee must be separated from the used grounds.
Coffee is usually brewed immediately before drinking. In most areas, coffee may be purchased unprocessed, or already roasted, or already roasted and ground. Coffee is often vacuum packed to prevent oxidation and lengthen its shelf life.
Roasting [ edit ]
Dutch coffee-roasting machine, c. 1920
Roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans. When roasted, the green coffee bean expands to nearly double its original size, changing in color and density. As the bean absorbs heat, its color shifts to yellow, then to a light "cinnamon" brown, and then to a rich dark brown color. During roasting, oils appear on the surface of the bean. The roast will continue to darken until it is removed from the heat source.
Coffee can be roasted with ordinary kitchen equipment (frying pan, grill, oven, popcorn popper) or by specialised appliances. A coffee roaster is a special pan or apparatus suitable to heat up and roast green coffee beans.
Grinding [ edit ]
An old-fashioned manual burr-mill coffee grinder
Wheel coffee grinder
Coffee grinder
The whole coffee beans are ground, also known as milling, to facilitate the brewing process.
The fineness of the grind strongly affects brewing. Brewing methods that expose coffee grounds to heated water for longer require a coarser grind than faster brewing methods. Beans that are too finely ground for the brewing method in which they are used will expose too much surface area to the heated water and produce a bitter, harsh, "over-extracted" taste. At the other extreme, an overly coarse grind will produce weak coffee unless more is used. Due to the importance of a grind's fineness, a uniform grind is highly desirable.
If a brewing method is used in which the time of exposure of the ground coffee to the heated water is adjustable, then a short brewing time can be used for finely ground coffee. This produces coffee of equal flavor yet uses less ground coffee. A blade grinder does not cause frictional heat buildup in the ground coffee unless used to grind very large amounts as in a commercial operation. A fine grind allows the most efficient extraction but coffee ground too finely will slow down filtration or screening.
Ground coffee deteriorates faster than roasted beans because of the greater surface area exposed to oxygen. Many coffee drinkers grind the beans themselves immediately before brewing.
Spent coffee grinds can be reused for hair care or skin care as well as in the garden. These can also be used as biodiesel fuel.[1]
There are four methods of grinding coffee for brewing: burr-grinding, chopping, pounding, and roller grinding.
A burr grinder interior
Turkish manual coffee and pepper grinders
Various grinders for coffee and spices
Burr mills use two revolving abrasive elements, such as wheels or conical grinding elements, between which the coffee beans are crushed or "torn" with little frictional heating. The process of squeezing and crushing of the beans releases the coffee's oils, which are then more easily extracted during the infusion process with hot water, making the coffee taste richer and smoother.
Both manually and electrically powered mills are available. These mills grind the coffee to a fairly uniform size determined by the separation of the two abrasive surfaces between which the coffee is ground; the uniform grind produces a more even extraction when brewed, without excessively fine particles that clog filters.
These mills offer a wide range of grind settings, making them suitable to grind coffee for various brewing systems such as espresso, drip, percolators, French press, and others. Many burr grinders, including almost all domestic versions, are unable to achieve the extremely fine grind required for the preparation of Turkish coffee; traditional Turkish hand grinders are an exception.
Burr grinders are of two types-conical burrs and flat wheel burrs. Both of them grind coffee bean consistently and with uniform size. Almost every burr coffee grinder grinds at low noise, offer large hopper for storing whole coffee bean, easy to use with portafilter for espresso grind, body made with stainless steel or ceramic with modern design as well as slow operating system ensures find grind all the time.
Chopping [ edit ]
A blade or propeller grinder
Coffee beans can be chopped by using blades rotating at high speed (20,000 to 30,000 rpm), either in a blade grinder designed specifically for coffee and spices, or in a general use home blender. Devices of this sort are cheaper than burr grinders, but the grind is not uniform and will produce particles of widely varying sizes, while ideally all particles should have the same size, appropriate for the method of brewing. Moreover, the particles get smaller and smaller during the grinding process, which makes it difficult to achieve a consistent grind from batch to batch.
Blade grinders create “coffee dust” that can clog up sieves in espresso machines and French presses, and are best suited for drip coffee makers. They are not recommended for grinding coffee for use with pump espresso machines.[2]
Pounding [ edit ]
Arabic coffee and Turkish coffee require that the grounds be almost powdery in fineness, finer than can be achieved by most burr grinders. Pounding the beans with a mortar and pestle can pulverise the coffee finely enough.
Roller grinding [ edit ]
In a roller grinder, the beans are ground between pairs of corrugated rollers. A roller grinder produces a more even grind size distribution and heats the ground coffee less than other grinding methods. However, due to their size and cost, roller grinders are used exclusively by commercial and industrial scale coffee producers.
Water-cooled roller grinders are used for high production rates as well as for fine grinds such as Turkish and espresso.
Brewing [ edit ]
Coffee can be brewed in several different ways, but these methods fall into four main groups depending on how the water is introduced to the coffee grounds: decoction (through boiling), infusion (through steeping), gravitational feed (used with percolators and in drip brewing), or pressurised percolation (as with espresso).
Brewed coffee, if kept hot, will deteriorate rapidly in flavor, and reheating such coffee tends to give it a "muddy" flavour, as some compounds that impart flavor to coffee are destroyed if this is done. Even at room temperature, deterioration will occur; however, if kept in an oxygen-free environment it can last almost indefinitely at room temperature, and sealed containers of brewed coffee are sometimes commercially available in food stores in America or Europe, with refrigerated bottled coffee drinks being commonly available at convenience stores and grocery stores in the United States. Canned coffee is particularly popular in Japan and South Korea.
Electronic coffee makers boil the water and brew the infusion with little human assistance and sometimes according to a timer. Some such devices also grind the beans automatically before brewing.
The French press is considered one of the oldest and simplest methods to brew coffee. Despite its simplicity, it can be a little tricky. The most important part of the process is to not leave the coffee in the French press for too long after pressing.[3]
Boiling [ edit ]
Boiling, or decoction, was the main method used for brewing coffee until the 1930s[4] and is still used in some Nordic and Middle Eastern countries.[5] The aromatic oils in coffee are released at 96 °C (205 °F), which is just below boiling, while the bitter acids are released when the water has reached boiling point.[6]
The simplest method is to put the ground coffee in a cup, pour hot water over it and let cool while the grounds sink to the bottom. This is a traditional method for making a cup of coffee that is still used in parts of Indonesia. This method, known as "mud coffee" in the Middle East owing to an extremely fine grind that results in a mud-like sludge at the bottom of the cup, allows for extremely simple preparation, but drinkers then have to be careful if they want to avoid drinking grounds either from this layer or floating at the surface of the coffee, which can be avoided by dribbling cold water onto the "floaters" from the back of a spoon. If the coffee beans are not ground finely enough, the grounds do not sink.
"Cowboy coffee" is made by heating coarse grounds with water in a pot, letting the grounds settle and pouring off the liquid to drink, sometimes filtering it to remove fine grounds. While the name suggests that this method was used by cowboys, presumably on the trail around a campfire, it is used by others; some people prefer this method.
The above methods are sometimes used with hot milk instead of water.
Turkish coffee (aka Arabic coffee, etc.), a very early method of making coffee, is used in the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, and Russia. Very finely ground coffee, optionally sugar, and water are placed in a narrow-topped pot, called an cezve (Turkish), kanaka (Egyptian), briki (Greek), džezva (Štokavian) or turka (Russian) and brought to the boil then immediately removed from the heat. It may be very briefly brought to the boil two or three times. Turkish coffee is sometimes flavored with cardamom, particularly in Arab countries. The resulting strong coffee, with foam on the top and a thick layer of grounds at the bottom, is drunk from small cups.
Steeping [ edit ]
A cafetière, or French press, is a tall, narrow cylinder with a plunger that includes a metal or nylon fine mesh filter. The grounds are placed in the cylinder, and off-the-boil water is then poured into it. The coffee and hot water are left in the cylinder for a few minutes (typically 4–7 minutes) and then the plunger is gently pushed down, leaving the filter immediately above the grounds, allowing the coffee to be poured out while the filter retains the grounds. Depending on the type of filter, it is important to pay attention to the grind of the coffee beans, though a rather coarse grind is almost always called for.[7] A plain glass cylinder may be used, or a vacuum flask arrangement to keep the coffee hot; this is not to be confused with a vacuum brewer—see below.
A recent variation of the French press is the SoftBrew method. The grounds are placed in the cylindrical filter, which is then placed inside the pot, and very hot to boiling water is then poured into it. After waiting a few minutes, the coffee can then be poured out, with the grounds staying inside the metal filter.
Coffee bags are less often used than tea bags. They are simply disposable bags containing coffee; the grounds do not exit the bag as it mixes with the water, so no extra filtering is required.
Malaysian and some Caribbean and South American styles of coffee are often brewed using a "sock," which is actually a simple muslin bag, shaped like a filter, into which coffee is loaded, then steeped in hot water. This method is especially suitable for use with local-brew coffees in Malaysia, primarily of the varieties Robusta and Liberica which are often strong-flavored, allowing the ground coffee in the sock to be reused.
A vacuum brewer consists of two chambers: a pot below, atop which is set a bowl or funnel with its siphon descending nearly to the bottom of the pot. The bottom of the bowl is blocked by a filter of glass, cloth or plastic, and the bowl and pot are joined by a gasket that forms a tight seal. Water is placed in the pot, the coffee grounds are placed in the bowl, and the whole apparatus is set over a burner. As the water heats, it is forced by the increasing vapor pressure up the siphon and into the bowl where it mixes with the grounds. When all the water possible has been forced into the bowl the infusion is allowed to sit for some time before the brewer is removed from the heat. As the water vapor in the lower pot cools, it contracts, forming a partial vacuum and drawing the coffee down through the filter.
Filtration methods [ edit ]
Single serve Vietnamese drip filter
Drip brew coffee, also known as filtered coffee, is made by letting hot water drip onto coffee grounds held in a coffee filter surrounded by a filter holder or brew basket. Drip brew makers can be simple filter holder types manually filled with hot water, or they can use automated systems as found in the popular electric drip coffee-maker. Strength varies according to the ratio of water to coffee and the fineness of the grind, but is typically weaker in taste and contains a lower concentration of caffeine than espresso, though often (due to size) more total caffeine.[8] By convention, regular coffee brewed by this method is served by some restaurants in a brown or black pot (or a pot with a brown or black handle), while decaffeinated coffee is served in an orange pot (or a pot with an orange handle).
A variation is the traditional Neapolitan flip coffee pot, or Napoletana, a drip brew coffee maker for the stovetop. It consists of a bottom section filled with water, a middle filter section, and an upside-down pot placed on the top. When the water boils, the coffee maker is flipped over to let the water filter through the coffee grounds.
The common electric percolator, which was in almost universal use in the United States prior to the 1970s, and is still popular in some households today, differs from the pressure percolator described above. It uses the pressure of the boiling water to force it to a chamber above the grounds, but relies on gravity to pass the water down through the grounds, where it then repeats the process until shut off by an internal timer. Some coffee aficionados hold the coffee produced in low esteem because of this multiple-pass process. Others prefer gravity percolation and claim it delivers a richer cup of coffee in comparison to drip brewing.
Indian filter coffee uses an apparatus typically made of stainless steel. There are two cylindrical compartments, one sitting on top of the other. The upper compartment has tiny holes (less than ~0.5 mm). And then there is the pierced pressing disc with a stem handle, and a covering lid. The finely ground coffee with 15–20% chicory is placed in the upper compartment, the pierced pressing disc is used to cover the ground coffee, and hot water is poured on top of this disk. Unlike the regular drip brew, the coffee does not start pouring down immediately. This is because of the chicory, which holds on to the water longer than just the ground coffee beans can. This causes the beverage to be much more potent than the American drip variety. 2–3 teaspoonfuls of this decoction is added to a 100–150 ml milk. Sugar is then sometimes added by individual preference.
Another variation is cold brew coffee, sometimes known as "cold press." Cold water is poured over coffee grounds and allowed to steep for eight to twenty-four hours. The coffee is then filtered, usually through a very thick filter, removing all particles. This process produces a very strong concentrate which can be stored in a refrigerated, airtight container for up to eight weeks. The coffee can then be prepared for drinking by adding hot water to the concentrate at a water-to-concentrate ratio of approximately 3:1, but can be adjusted to the drinker's preference. The coffee prepared by this method is very low in acidity with a smooth taste, and is often preferred by those with sensitive stomachs. Others, however, feel this method strips coffee of its bold flavor and character. Thus, this method is not common, and there are few appliances designed for it.
The amount of coffee used affects both the strength and the flavor of the brew in a typical drip-brewing filtration-based coffee maker. The softer flavors come out of the coffee first and the more bitter flavors only after some time, so a large brew will tend to be both stronger and more bitter. This can be modified by stopping the filtration after a planned time and then adding hot water to the brew instead of waiting for all the water to pass through the grounds.
In addition to the "cold press", there is a method called "Cold Drip Coffee". Also known as "Dutch Ice Coffee" (and very popular in Japan), instead of steeping, this method very slowly drips cold water into the grounds, which then very slowly pass through a filter. Unlike the cold press (which functions similar to a French Press) which takes eight to twenty-four hours, a Cold Drip process only takes about two hours, with taste and consistency results similar to that of a cold press.
Pressure [ edit ]
A variation on the moka pot with the upper section formed as a coffee fountain
Espresso is made by forcing hot water at 91–95 °C (195–204 °F) under a pressure of between eight and eighteen bars (800–1800 kPa, 116–261 psi), through a lightly packed matrix, called a "puck," of finely ground coffee. The 30–60 ml (1–2 oz) beverage is served in demitasse cups; sugar is often added. It is consumed during the day at cafes and from street vendors, or after an evening meal. It is the basis for many coffee drinks. It is one of the most concentrated forms of coffee regularly consumed, with a distinctive flavor provided by crema, a layer of flavorful emulsified oils in the form of a colloidal foam floating on the surface, which is produced by the high pressure. Espresso is more viscous than other forms of brewed coffee.
The moka pot, also known as the "Italian coffeepot" or the "caffettiera," is a three-chamber design which boils water in the lower section. The generated steam pressure, about one bar (100 kPa, 14.5 psi), forces the boiling water up through coffee grounds held in the middle section, separated by a filter mesh from the top section. The resultant coffee (almost espresso strength, but without the crema) is collected in the top section. Moka pots usually sit directly on a stovetop heater or burner. Some models have a transparent glass or plastic top.
Single-serving coffee machines force hot water under low pressure through a coffee pod composed of finely ground coffee sealed between two layers of filter paper or through a proprietary capsule containing ground coffee. Examples include the pod-based Senseo and Home Café systems and the proprietary Tassimo and Keurig K-Cup systems.
The AeroPress is another recent invention, which is a mechanical, non-electronic device where pressure is simply exerted by the user manually pressing a piston down with their hand, forcing medium-temperature water through coffee grounds in about 30 seconds (into a single cup.) This method produces a smoother beverage than espresso, falling somewhere between the flavor of a moka pot and a French Press.
Extraction [ edit ]
Proper brewing of coffee requires using the correct amount of coffee grounds, extracted to the correct degree (largely determined by the correct time), at the correct temperature.
More technically, coffee brewing consists of dissolving (solvation) soluble flavors from the coffee grounds in water. Specialized vocabulary and guidelines exist to discuss this, primarily various ratios, which are used to optimally brew coffee. The key concepts are:[9]
Extraction Also known as "solubles yield" – what percentage (by weight) of the grounds are dissolved in the water. Strength Also known as "solubles concentration", as measured by Total Dissolved Solids – how concentrated or watery the coffee is. Brew ratio The ratio of coffee grounds (mass, in grams or ounces) to water (volume, in liters or half-gallons): how much coffee is used for a given quantity of water.
These are related as follows:
Strength ∝ Brew ratio × Extraction
which can be analyzed as the following formula:
dissolved solids/water = grounds/water × dissolved solids/grounds
A subtler issue is which solubles are dissolved – this depends both on solubility of different substances at different temperatures, and changes over the course of extraction. Different substances are extracted during the first 1% of brewing time than in the period from 19% extraction to 20% extraction. This is primarily affected by temperature.
Brewing guidelines are summarised by Brewing Control Charts which graph these elements, and center around an "ideal" rectangle indicating the target brewing range. The yield in the horizontal (x-axis), the strength is the vertical (y-axis), and a given brewing ratio determines a radial line, since for a giving brewing ratio the strength is directly proportional to the yield.
Ideal yield is widely agreed to be 20±2% (18–22%), while ideal strength for brewed coffee varies. American standards for "ideal strength" are generally considered to be between 1.25±0.10% (1.15–1.35%), while Norwegian standards are about 1.40±0.10% (1.30–1.50%). European standards fall in the middle range at 1.20–1.45%.[citation needed]
These are most easily achieved with a brewing ratio of 55 g/L (55 grams of coffee per litre of water) for American standards, to 63 g/L in Norwegian standards, yielding approximately 14–16 grams of coffee for a standard 240 ml (8.1 US fl oz) cup. These guidelines apply regardless of brewing method, with the following exceptions:
Espresso is significantly different – it is much stronger, and has more varied extraction. Seven grams of grounds are used to make a 25-ml shot of espresso (this comes to 280 g/L, but the amount of water used is actually more than 25 ml because some stays with the grounds). Espresso has about 212 mg caffeine per 100 g as compare to around 40 mg per 100 g of normal coffee. [13]
Dark roast coffee tastes subjectively stronger than medium roasts. Standards are based on medium roasts,[ citation needed ] and the equivalent strength for a dark roast requires using a lower brewing ratio.
Separation [ edit ]
Coffee in all these forms is made with roasted and ground coffee and hot water, the used grounds either remaining behind or being filtered out of the cup or jug after the main soluble compounds have been extracted. The fineness of grind required differs for the various brewing methods.
Gallery of common brewing methods [ edit ]
Pressure:
Gravity and steeping:
Instant coffee [ edit ]
Instant coffee is made commercially by drying prepared coffee; the resulting soluble powder is dissolved in hot water by the user, and sugar/sweeteners and milk or creamers are added as desired.
Presentation [ edit ]
For a more comprehensive list, see List of coffee beverages
Also see the article Coffee culture.
Hot drinks [ edit ]
Espresso-based, without milk [ edit ]
Cappuccino
Espresso: see above under heading Pressure .
. Ristretto is an espresso drink where the weight of the ground coffee is equal to the weight of the brewed shots. The result is a "shorter" shot that is sweeter and more flavorful.
Bica is a Portuguese espresso, longer than its Italian counterpart, but a little bit softer in taste. This is due to the fact that Portuguese roasting is slightly lighter than the Italian one. "Bica" is thus similar to "Lungo" in Italy.
Lungo is different from an Americano. It is a "longer" espresso run through the machine; all the water runs through the beans, as opposed to adding water. With Italian roasting it extracts more bitter flavours.
Americano style coffee is made with espresso (one or several shots), with hot water then added to give a similar strength (but different flavor) to drip-brewed coffee. [14]
Long black is similar to Americano, but prepared in different order (a double shot of espresso is added to water instead of vice versa); most common in Australia and New Zealand.
Espresso-based, with milk [ edit ]
Caffè breve is an American variation of a latte: a milk-based espresso drink using steamed half-and-half (light - 10 per cent - cream) instead of milk.
Caffè latte or caffè e latte is often called simply latte , which is Italian for "milk", in English-speaking countries; it is espresso with steamed milk, traditionally topped with froth created from steaming the milk. A latte is made of one-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk. More frothed milk makes it weaker than a cappuccino. A latte is also commonly served in a tall glass; if the espresso is slowly poured into the frothed milk from the rim of the glass, three layers of different shades will form, with the milk at the bottom, the froth on top and the espresso in between. A latte may be sweetened with sugar or flavored syrup. Caramel and vanilla and other flavors are used.
is often called simply , which is Italian for "milk", in English-speaking countries; it is espresso with steamed milk, traditionally topped with froth created from steaming the milk. A latte is made of one-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk. More frothed milk makes it weaker than a cappuccino. A latte is also commonly served in a tall glass; if the espresso is slowly poured into the frothed milk from the rim of the glass, three layers of different shades will form, with the milk at the bottom, the froth on top and the espresso in between. A latte may be sweetened with sugar or flavored syrup. Caramel and vanilla and other flavors are used. Caffè macchiato, sometimes Espresso macchiato or "short" macchiato — macchiato meaning "marked" — is an espresso with a little steamed milk added to the top, usually 30–60 ml (1.0–2.0 US fl oz), sometimes sweetened with sugar or flavored syrup. A "long" macchiato is a double espresso with a little steamed milk. This differs from a latte macchiato which is milk "marked" with espresso. A macchiatto may be 'traditional' or 'topped up' (extra milk added) depending on strength preferences.
Cappuccino is equal parts of espresso coffee and milk and froth, [ citation needed ] sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon or powdered cocoa.
sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon or powdered cocoa. Flat white is one part espresso with two parts steamed milk, usually served in a cappuccino cup with the foam decorated with a motif (e.g., fern or heart). This is a speciality of Australia and New Zealand.
Galão is a Bica (Portuguese espresso) to which is added hot milk, tapped from a canister and sprayed into the glass in which it is served.
Latte macchiato is the inverse of a caffè macchiato, being a tall glass of steamed milk spotted with a small amount of espresso, sometimes sweetened with sugar or syrup.
Mocha is a latte with chocolate added.
Café con leche is espresso with steamed milk ("leche" is Spanish for "milk"), usually half coffee and half milk, similar to latte but less frothy.
Cortado is espresso with a small amount of very lightly foamed milk added, in contrast to a macchiato's more frothy texture. In Spain when served with condensed milk, this is called "cafe con leche condensada", or "Bombon".
Brewed or boiled, non espresso-based [ edit ]
Cream being poured into drip-brewed coffee
Black coffee is drip-brewed, percolated, vacuum brewed, or French-press-style coffee served without cream. Some persons who drink coffee this way add sugar to it.
White coffee is black coffee with unheated milk or creamer added to it; this is the most popular way of drinking coffee in the United States. Some persons who drink coffee this way add sugar to it. (Note: though having a similar term, this is not to be confused with the Beirut herbal tea from Lebanon or the Malaysian Ipoh white coffee.)
Café au lait is similar to latte except that drip-brewed coffee is used instead of espresso, with an equal amount of milk (but it should be noted that, in France, this term refers to a milk coffee that is generally made using espresso coffee that is not dissimilar to a café con leche).
Kopi tubruk is an Indonesian-style coffee similar in presentation to Turkish coffee. However, kopi tubruk is made from coarse coffee grounds, and is boiled together with a solid lump of sugar. It is popular on the islands of Java and Bali and their surroundings.
is an Indonesian-style coffee similar in presentation to Turkish coffee. However, kopi tubruk is made from coarse coffee grounds, and is boiled together with a solid lump of sugar. It is popular on the islands of Java and Bali and their surroundings. Indian filter coffee, particularly common in southern India, is prepared with rough-ground dark roasted coffee beans (e.g., Arabica, PeaBerry), and chicory. The coffee is drip-brewed for a few hours in a traditional metal coffee filter before being served with milk and sugar. The ratio is usually 1/4 decoction, 3/4 milk.
Greek coffee is prepared similarly to Turkish coffee. The main difference is that the coffee beans are ground into a finer powder and sugar is added during the process. It does not contain other flavors, and is usually served without milk. Greek coffee is served in a small cup with a handle, sometimes accompanied by a small cookie, and always with a glass of water. A similar method to the Greek preparation is used in Colombia to make "tinto," strong black coffee that is often brewed with panela, a sugarcane juice concentrate in cake form. A muslin or fine-cloth bag is used to strain the grounds.
the process. It does not contain other flavors, and is usually served without milk. Greek coffee is served in a small cup with a handle, sometimes accompanied by a small cookie, and always with a glass of water. A similar method to the Greek preparation is used in Colombia to make "tinto," strong black coffee that is often brewed with panela, a sugarcane juice concentrate in cake form. A muslin or fine-cloth bag is used to strain the grounds. Indochinese-style coffee is another form of drip brew. In this form, hot water is allowed to drip though a metal mesh into a cup, and the resulting strong brew is poured into a glass containing sweetened condensed milk which may contain ice. Due to the high volume of coffee grounds required to make strong coffee in this fashion, the brewing process is quite slow. It is highly popular in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Fortified coffee [ edit ]
Red Eye is one espresso shot added to a cup of coffee (typically 210-480 ml, 7-16 oz). Some add milk or sugar.
Black Eye is two espresso shots added to a cup of coffee (typically 210-480 ml, 7-16oz). Some add milk or sugar.
Flavored coffees [ edit ]
Madras filter coffee, still in its dabarah and tumbler
Flavored coffee: In some cultures, flavored coffees are common. Chocolate is a common additive that is either sprinkled on top or mixed with the coffee to imitate the taste of Mocha. Other flavorings include spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or Italian syrups. In the Maghreb, the orange blossom is used as a flavoring. Vanilla- and hazelnut-flavored coffees are common in the United States; these are usually artificially flavored.
Turkish coffee is served in very small cups about the size of those used for espresso. Traditional Turkish coffee cups have no handles, but modern ones often do. The crema or "face" is considered crucial, and since it requires some skill to achieve its presence is taken as evidence of a well-made brew. (See above for preparation method.) It is usually made sweet, with sugar added after the brew process begins, and often is flavored with cardamom or other spices. In many places it is customary to serve it with a tall glass of water on the side.
or "face" is considered crucial, and since it requires some skill to achieve its presence is taken as evidence of a well-made brew. (See above for preparation method.) It is usually made sweet, with sugar added after the brew process begins, and often is flavored with cardamom or other spices. In many places it is customary to serve it with a tall glass of water on the side. Chicory is sometimes combined with coffee as a flavoring agent, as in the style of coffee served at the famous Café du Monde in New Orleans. Chicory has historically been used as a coffee substitute when real coffee was scarce, as in wartime. Chicory is popular as an additive in Belgium and is an ingredient in Madras filter coffee.
Alcoholic coffee drinks [ edit ]
Alcoholic spirits and liqueurs can be added to coffee, often sweetened and with cream floated on top. These beverages are often given names according to the alcoholic addition:
Black coffee with brandy, or marc, or grappa, or other strong spirit.
Irish coffee, with Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream. There are many variants, essentially the same but with the use of a different spirit: Café au Drambuie, with Drambuie instead of whiskey Caribbean or Jamaican coffee, with dark rum; a similar drink exists in northern Germany, called Pharisäer Gaelic or Scotch coffee, with Scotch whisky Kahlúa coffee, with Kahlúa coffee liqueur
Café royal, with a flambéd and slightly caramelised teaspoonful of sugar and cognac
Kaffekask, a Swedish variant where some coffee is added to a cup of brännvin
Cold drinks [ edit ]
Iced coffee is a cold version of hot coffee, typically drip or espresso diluted with ice water. Iced coffee can also be an iced or chilled form of any drink in this list. In Australia, iced coffee is cold milk flavoured with a small amount of coffee, often topped with ice cream or whipped cream, and served in a tall glass.
Frappé is a strong cold coffee drink made from instant coffee and in Greece it is consumed more than the Turkish coffee (which the Greeks refer to as "elliniko" or "greek" after the Greek-Turkish dispute over Cyprus in 1974). Frappé was created in Greece in 1957 in the city of Thessaloniki when a businessman taking part in the open, international trade exhibition there, couldn't wait for hot water for his coffee. His idea spread instantly to all Greece. Preparation: one spoonful of instant coffee (and sugar if one wishes) in a shaker with some water (and milk). It is shaken hard enough for one minute, then icecubes are added and it is served with a drinking straw because of the "foam" that is produced.
Ice-blended coffee (trade names: Frappuccino, Ice Storm) is a variation of iced coffee. The name Frappucino (a portmanteau of frappé and cappuccino ) was originally developed, named, trademarked and sold by George Howell's Eastern Massachusetts coffee shop chain, The Coffee Connection, which was purchased by Starbucks in 1994. Other coffeehouses serve similar concoctions, but under different names, since "Frappuccino" is a Starbucks trademark. One commonly used by many stores is Ice Storm. Another prominent example is the Javakula at Seattle's Best Coffee. A frappuccino is a latte, mocha, or macchiato mixed with crushed ice and flavorings (such as vanilla/hazelnut if requested by the customer) and blended.
(a portmanteau of and ) was originally developed, named, trademarked and sold by George Howell's Eastern Massachusetts coffee shop chain, The Coffee Connection, which was purchased by Starbucks in 1994. Other coffeehouses serve similar concoctions, but under different names, since "Frappuccino" is a Starbucks trademark. One commonly used by many stores is Ice Storm. Another prominent example is the Javakula at Seattle's Best Coffee. A frappuccino is a latte, mocha, or macchiato mixed with crushed ice and flavorings (such as vanilla/hazelnut if requested by the customer) and blended. Thai iced coffee is a popular drink commonly offered at Thai restaurants in the United States. It consists of coffee, ice, and sweetened condensed milk.
Igloo Espresso a regular espresso shot poured over a small amount of crushed ice, served in an espresso cup. Sometimes it is requested to be sweetened as the pouring over the ice causes the shot to become bitter. Originating in Italy and has migrated to Australian coffee shops.
Cold brew coffee is a process of brewing coffee slowly (12 hours) with cold water to produce a strong coffee concentrate, often served diluted with water or milk of choice. A common commercial example is Toddy coffee, which is a drip system.
Affogato is a cold drink, often served as dessert, consisting of a scoop of ice cream or gelato topped with an espresso shot. Often, the drinker is served the ice cream and espresso in separate cups, and will mix them at the table so as to prevent the ice cream from entirely melting before it can be consumed.
Confectionery (non-drinks) [ edit ]
Chocolate-covered roasted coffee beans are available as a confection; eating them delivers more caffeine to the body than does drinking the same mass (or volume) of brewed coffee (ratios depend upon the brewing method) and has similar physiological effects, unless the beans have been decaffeinated.
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ] |
As the poll results came in the evening of Election Day, it was clear Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler would not take the Democratic nomination for governor.
But losing the race doesn't just mean Kessler won't be moving into the governor’s mansion in January, it means the end of his legislative career, at least for now. Kessler sat down with West Virginia Public Broadcasting to discuss his legacy after nearly two decades in the statehouse. These are some of the thoughts he shared.
LISTEN: Abbreviated Q&A with Senator Jeff Kessler
About the Campaign Trail
It was a grassroots campaign. I was way under-funded. I spent maybe $250,000. I know some of that was money I carried over from old campaigns; I fundraised myself maybe $100,000. Obviously Mr. Justice spent $2.5 million and he won. I’m comforted by the fact that in the areas that know me best, I won.
I gave it my best shot. The message I was espousing is the truth - if you think whoever is going to take office and not raise some taxes, you’re fooling yourself. My message: investing in people, education, substance abuse programs, and infrastructure - roads, highways, and most particularly broadband? That’s our path forward. Whoever is going to be in that governor’s office, if we are going to move ourselves forward, that’s really what we’re going to have to do.
In Good Hands? Justice v. Cole
I don’t know. I’m concerned.
I’ve seen Senator Cole and while I like Bill personally, I think [republicans] are taking us down the wrong path. I’ve seen the radical republican agenda they’ve been running, whether it’s raw milk or RFRA … and it appears to be based not so much in sound public policy, but in an attempt to consolidate political power.
I haven’t heard anything out of Mr. Justice that would cause me to believe that he truly believes in a lot of the Democratic ideals and values. He’s been very silent during the campaign. I know he’s been a recent convert to the party, having switched to being the Democratic Party back in February of 2015 - then in May filed pre-candidacy to be the governor. I’ve yet to hear a lot of specifics out of him that would lead me to believe he’s going to have a progressive and inclusive agenda that will really attack the issues and double down on the things we need to do.
On the Budget
I predict they’re going to do exactly what I’ve been telling them they’re going to HAVE to do: we have to raise some taxes. Governor Tomblin is now going to advance several revenue enhancement measures. Cigarette tax, probably a consumers’ sales tax, possibly a gasoline tax, a cell phone tax - you’re going to see a cafeteria menu of new tax measures. And we’re going to have to pass at least some of them to raise a couple hundred million dollars, or we’re not going to balance the budget.
We’ve cut 20-25 percent of the budget in the last three or four years. There’s no fat left. You are now going to be cutting into programs that truly will hurt our people: free health clinics, state police barracks, libraries. And cutting funding to education is so counter-productive? I don’t think the senate Democrats will go along with it. I can assure you I’ll rant and rail against it.
Winning the War on Coal
You’ve got to be honest with people and show them a path forward. We need to invest in our people to build our workforce. The biggest challenge we have in our state is we have a low workforce participation rate which means we have so few of our people working. Why? Because they don’t have the skill sets or education to do the jobs that the world is moving into. Research and development, healthcare, things of that nature.
We have to redefine ourselves as a state. We’ve been a coal-dependent economy for 100 years. I tell folks when I walk in a room: “What’s been the most dominant industry in the history of the state?”
"Why are we diverting so much energy into winning a war that, even if you win, you're still last!?" Kessler asked. "It's nonsense."
They’ll say, “COAL!”
I’ll say, “Well is there a war on coal?”
They’ll say, “HELL YEAH!”
"Well let me ask you a question: During coal’s heyday was West Virginia’s economy in the top five, middle five, or bottom five, nationally?"
They’ll scratch their head and say, “Probably the bottom five.”
Why are we diverting so much energy into winning a war that, even if you win, you’re still last!? It’s nonsense.
We need to redefine ourselves like they have in Pittsburgh where they lost their steel industry and became a research and commerce center, an education Mecca for higher education. We’ve got WVU, Marshall, West Liberty, Wheeling Jesuit, we’re right next to Carnegie Mellon, we’ve got the research corridor in north central West Virginia, we’ve got a growing Eastern Panhandle. And yet to continue to pound the drum that we’ve got to have pick and shovel coal mining in order to bring our economy back is just a terrible fallacy.
Lessons from the North for the South
We went through the steel mill shut down and contraction and that's why I've told the folks in the southern coal fields: Don't tell me I haven't seen it before. When I first went to the senate in 1997 the leading employer in the state was Weirton Steel. Second was Wheeling Steel. There were 27,000 people working.
And we were going to SAVE the steel industry, by golly. We marched on Washington and had all the politicians on a stage caravans and buses... and guess what? Wheeling Steel doens't exist anymore and Weirton Steel has about 700 people there. We couldn't stop it.
Same with Pittsburgh! It was a steel town. You know how many steel mills it has today? Zero. But look at their sky line. It's all commerce and banking and industry and research and education. Those are the kinds of things we can do.
What’s Next for Jeff Kessler
I’ve been in this legislature for 20 years. You can burn out on doing it. I’ve done everything I can do in that venue. I’ve appreciated my opportunity to serve the people of the state but it was time for me to move up or go home. I’ve got five kids, three of them are at the ages of 10, 7, and 2. I’ve decided that being gone two and three months a year at the legislature living out of a hotel room it just wasn’t fair to them anymore.
I decided we’re going to live under the same roof somewhere. At the end of the day I’ll return to my practice of law, probably make more money, and get to spend more time with my family and wife. Not a bad fall back!
Final Thoughts
I love my state. I’ve given it my all and laid it all on the field and we lost. I’m a big sports fan. Sometimes the best team and the best player doesn't always win.
It’s been an honor and I’ll continue to help in any way I can to help move my state forward. I do love my state. I truly do. I only want what’s best for it. |
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More than half of GOP voters now view the outspoken billionaire in a good light, a Washington Post-ABC News survey released Wednesday found.
Fifty seven percent of Republicans see Trump favorably, versus 40 percent who do not.
The sampling also discovered that most voters still view the New York business mogul negatively.
Approximately 61 percent view Trump negatively, pollsters found, compared with 33 percent who do not.
Those results still show that Trump’s stock is rising, the Post said on Wednesday. He initially earned a 16 percent favorable rating, the newspaper noted, with 71 percent viewing him unfavorably, upon launching his campaign in June.
Trump entered the 2016 presidential race amid international controversy last month. The reality TV star sparked outrage by sharply criticizing Hispanic immigrants and Mexico during his announcement speech on June 16.
“They’re sending people who have a lot of problems,” Trump said during the address at Trump Tower in New York City.
“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” he added. |
A 2013 banner at Chongqing Nankai Secondary School announcing it as an examination venue for the 2013 National Higher Education Entrance Examination
Supporters outside Beijing Bayi Middle School during the 2016 National Higher Education Entrance Examination
The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), commonly known as Gaokao (高考; gāokǎo; 'High[er Education] Exam";), is an academic examination held annually in the People's Republic of China (except Hong Kong and Macau, which have their own education systems).[note 1] This Standardized test is a prerequisite for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level. It is usually taken by students in their last year of senior high school, although there has been no age restriction since 2001.
The exams last about nine hours over a period of two days, depending on the province. The Standard Chinese language and mathematics are included in all tests. An English test was formerly required of all students, but now Japanese, Russian or French may be taken instead. In addition, students must choose between two concentrations in most regions, either the social-science-oriented area (文科倾向) or the natural-science-oriented area (理科倾向). Students who choose social sciences receive further testing in history, politics and geography (文科综合), while those who choose natural sciences are tested in physics, chemistry and biology (理科综合).
In 2006, a record high of 9.5 million people applied for tertiary education entry in China. Of these, 8.8 million (93%) took the national entrance exam and 27,600 (0.28%) were exempted (保送) due to exceptional or special talent. Everyone else (700,000 students) took other standardized entrance exams, such as those designed for adult education students. In 2018, it was reported that 9.75 million people applied for tertiary education entry.
The overall mark received by the student is generally a weighted sum of their subject marks. The maximum possible mark varies widely from year to year and also varies from province to province.
Generally, the modern College Entrance Examination takes place from 7 to 8 June every year, though in some provinces it can last for an extra day.[1]
History [ edit ]
A banner on the HUST campus in Wuhan congratulates top exam score achievers from the university-affiliated high school
The National Higher Education Entrance Examination was created in 1952.
The unified national tertiary entrance examination in 1952 marked the start of reform of National Matriculation Tests Policies (NMTP) in the newly established PRC. With the implementation of the first Five Year Plan in 1953, the NMTP was further enhanced. After repeated discussions and experiments, the NMTP was eventually set as a fundamental policy system in 1959. From 1958, the tertiary entrance examination system was affected by the Great Leap Forward Movement. Soon, unified recruitment was replaced by separate recruitment by individual or allied tertiary education institutions. Meanwhile, political censorship on candidate students was enhanced. Since 1962, criticism of the NMTP system had become even harsher, because it hurt benefits of the working class. On July 1966, the NMTP was officially canceled and substituted by a new admission policy of recommending workers, farmers and soldiers to college.[2] During the next ten years, the Down to the Countryside Movement, initiated by Mao Zedong, forced both senior and junior secondary school graduates, the so-called "intellectual youths", to go to the country and work as farmers in the villages. Against the backdrop of world revolution, millions of such young people, some full of religious-like fervor, joined the ranks of farmers, working and living alongside them. However, they were soon disillusioned by the reality of hard conditions in the countryside.[citation needed]
In the early 1970s, Mao Zedong realized that internal political struggle had taken too big a toll on him as well as the nation and decided to resume the operation of universities. However, the students were selected based on political and family backgrounds rather than academic achievements. This practice continued until the death of Mao in September 1976. In late 1977, Deng Xiaoping, then under Hua Guofeng, the heir apparent of Mao, officially resumed the traditional examination based on academics, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, which has continued to the present day.
The first such examination after the Cultural Revolution took place in late 1977 and was a history-making event. There was no limit on the age or official educational background of examinees. Consequently, most of the hopefuls who had accumulated during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution and many others who simply wanted to try their luck emerged from society for the examination. The youngest were in their early teens and the oldest were in their late thirties. The questions in the examinations were designed by the individual provinces. The total number of candidate students for the national college entrance exam in 1977 was as many as 5.7 million. Although the Ministry of Education eventually expanded enrollment, adding 63,000 more to the admission quota, the admission ratio of 4.8% was the lowest in the history of the PRC, with only 272,971 students being admitted.[3]
Starting from 1978, the examination was uniformly designed by the Ministry of Education and all the students across the country took exactly the same examination.
However, reforms on the content and form of the exam have never stopped, among which the permission for individual provinces to customize their own exams has been the most salient. The Ministry of Education allowed the College Enrollment Office of Shanghai to employ an independent exam in 1985, which was the beginning of provincial proposition. In the same year, Guangdong was also permitted to adopt independent proposition. Starting from 2003, Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang were allowed to adopt independent propositions. Till now, there have been 16 provinces and municipalities adopting customized exams.
Although today's admission rate is much higher than in 1977, 1978 and before the 1990s, it is still fairly low compared to the availability of higher education in the Western world. Consequently, the examination is highly competitive, and the prospective examinees and their parents experience enormous pressure. For the majority, it is a watershed that divides two dramatically different lives.
In 1970, less than 1% of Chinese people had attended higher education; however, university admissions places are less than 1/1000 of the whole population of China. In the 1970s, 70% of students who were recommended to go to university had political backgrounds reflecting the political nature of university selection at the time. At the same time, the undergraduate course system narrowed down the time from 4 years to 3 years. According to incomplete statistics, from 1966 to 1977, institutions of higher learning recruited 940,000 people who belonged to the worker-peasant-soldier group.
For most provinces, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination is held once a year (in recent years some of the provinces in China hold examinations twice a year and the extra one is called the Spring Entrance Examination). The previous schedule (before 2003) of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination was in July every year. It now takes place in June every year. Partial Provincial administrative units determine the schedule of the exams on the 7th and 8 June.
2017 Gaokao [ edit ]
9.40 million students attended Gaokao in 2017, 7 million of whom were admitted by colleges and/or universities.[4] The percentage of first-class admission (Yi Ben, deemed as good universities in China) varied from 9.48% to 30.5%[5],with the lowest admission rates in Henan province and Shanxi province, at less than 10%.
the changes of the exam scope in 2017 (in most areas of China, where the students use the Nationwide Exam Papers in Gaokao)
Chinese
All the exam contents are set into compulsory examination scope.
Mathematics
Elective Course 4-1 (Selection of Geometric Proof) is removed from the elective examination scope.
English
No changes.
Physics
Elective Course 3-5 is changed from the elective examination scope into the compulsory examination scope.
Chemistry
Elective Course 2 (Chemistry and Technology) is removed from the elective examination scope.
Biology
Topic 3 (Tissue Culture Technology of Plants) is removed from the elective examination scope of Elective Course 1 (Biotechnology Practice).
Politics
No changes.
History
Elective Course 2 (Democratic Thought and Practice in Modern Society) is removed from the elective examination scope.
Geography
Elective Course 5 (Natural Disasters and Prevention) is removed from the elective examination scope.
2018 Gaokao [ edit ]
9.75 million students attended Gaokao on June 7th and 8th.[4] A citizen from Zhihu reported that Guangdong Donghua School had leaked some questions a day before Gaokao. The article was subsequently deleted by Zhihu.[6]
[7] Acceptance rate for each year [ edit ]
Year Number of students taking the exam (in millions) planned accepted students (in millions) acceptance rate 2018 9.75 - - 2017 9.40 7.00 74.46% 2016 9.40 7.05 75% 2015 9.42 7.00 74.3% 2014 9.39 6.98 74.3% 2013 9.12 6.94 76% 2012 9.15 6.85 75% 2011 9.33 6.75 72% 2010 9.46 6.57 69% 2009 10.20 6.29 62% 2008 10.50 5.99 57% 2007 10.10 5.66 56% 2006 9.50 5.46 57% 2005 8.77 5.04 57% 2004 7.29 4.47 61% 2003 6.13 3.82 62% 2002 5.10 3.20 63% 2001 4.54 2.68 59% 2000 3.75 2.21 59% 1999 2.88 1.60 56% 1998 3.20 1.08 34% 1997 2.78 1.00 36% 1996 2.41 0.97 40% 1995 2.53 0.93 37% 1994 2.51 0.90 36% 1993 2.86 0.98 34% 1992 3.03 0.75 25% 1991 2.96 0.62 21% 1990 2.83 0.61 22% 1989 2.66 0.60 23% 1988 2.72 0.67 25% 1987 2.28 0.62 27% 1986 1.91 0.57 30% 1985 1.76 0.62 35% 1984 1.64 0.48 29% 1983 1.67 0.39 23% 1982 1.87 0.32 17% 1981 2.59 0.28 11% 1980 3.33 0.28 8% 1979 4.68 0.28 6% 1978 6.10 0.402 7% 1977 5.70 0.27 5%
Procedure [ edit ]
The National Higher Education Entrance Examination is not uniform across the country, but administered uniformly within each province of China or each direct-controlled municipality. The National Higher Education Entrance Examination is graded variously across the country. It is arranged at the end of the spring semester and secondary school graduates across the country take the examination simultaneously over a three-day period. Prior to 2003, the examination was held in July, but has since been moved to the month of June. This move was made in consideration of the adverse effects of hot weather on students living in southern China and possible flooding during the rainy season in July.
In different places and across different time in history, students were required to apply for their intended university or college prior to the exam, after the exam, or more recently, after they learned of their scores, by filling a list of ordered preferences. The application list is classified into several tiers (including at least early admissions, key universities, regular universities, vocational colleges), each of which can contain around 4-6 intended choices in institution and program, though typically an institution or program would only admit students who apply to it as their first choice in each tier. In some places, students are allowed to apply for different tiers at different times. For example, in Shanghai, students apply for early admission, key universities and regular universities prior to the exam, but can apply for other colleges after they learned of their scores.
The exam is administered for two or three days. Three subjects are mandatory everywhere: Chinese, Mathematics, and a foreign language—usually English, but this may also be substituted by Russian, Japanese, German, French or Spanish. The other six standard subjects are three sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and three humanities: History, Geography, and Political Education.[8] Applicants to science/engineering or art/humanities programs typically take one to three from the respective category. Since the 2000s, an integrated test, science integrated test, humanities integrated test or wider integrated test has been introduced in some places. This integrated test may or may not be considered during admission. In addition, some special regional subjects are required or optional in some places. Currently, the actual requirement varies from province to province.
However, the general requirements are as follows:
Abide by the Constitution and laws of the People's Republic of China. Have a high school diploma or equivalent. Be in good health. Have read carefully and are willing to abide by the rules of the Register and other regulations and policies of the Institutions of Higher Learning and the Office of Admissions Committee about the enrollment management. If foreign immigrants who settle down in China conform to the enlists condition of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, they can then apply for the National Higher Education Entrance Examination with the foreign immigrants’ resident certificate, which are sent by the Provincial Public Security Department at the location that is assigned. If willing to apply for the Military Academy: students who are going to graduate this year and have studied in high school for the first time can not be older than 20 years of age and unmarried; willing to apply for the Police Academy, and students who are going to graduate this year and have studied in high school for the first time can not be older than 22 years of age and unmarried; willing to apply for the foreign language major in Police Academy, and students who are going to graduate this year and have studied in high school for the first time can not be older than 20 years of age and unmarried. If students from Juvenile Classes want to take the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, their schools need to pre-select, send certification of approval, inform the exact required courses, and clarify the offices of Admissions Committee where they will take the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. After doing so, the students can then give the application. After the Office of Admissions Committee reviews and approves, the students can apply for and attend the National Higher Education Entrance Examination at the right location. Students who apply for Shao Nian Ban must be part of the small percentage of the population. They must have very high IQ, their grades must be excellent, and they must study at a secondary or high school under the age of 15 (not including those who are going to graduate this year and has studied in high school for the first time).
The following groups are prohibited from taking the exam:
Students who are currently studying higher education. Students at high school who are not supposed to graduate from high school at the present year, but pretend to be graduates in order to attend the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. Students whose files are incomplete, such as no school status. In practice, this prohibition serves to exclude millions of children whose parents violated the one-child policy. One who is serving a prison sentence or is being prosecuted for violating Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China.
Applicants to some specialist programs are also screened by additional criteria: some art departments (e.g. audition), military and police schools (political screening and physical exam), and some sports programs (tryout).
Scores obtained in the examinations can be used in applying universities outside mainland China. Among all the places, the counterpart Hong Kong is on their top list. In 2007, 7 students with overall highest score in their provinces entered Hong Kong's universities rather than the two major universities in mainland China. In 2010, over 1,200 students entered the 12 local institutions which provide tertiary education courses through this examination. In addition, City University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong directly participate in the application procedure like other mainland universities.
The examination is essentially the only criterion for tertiary education admissions. A poor performance on the test almost always means giving up on that goal. Students hoping to attend university will spend most of their waking moments studying prior to the exam. If they fail in their first attempt, some of them repeat the last year of high school life and make another attempt the following year.
Subjects [ edit ]
The subjects tested in the National Higher Education Entrance Examination have changed over time. Traditionally, students would undertake either a set of "arts" subjects or a set of "science" subjects, with some shared compulsory subjects. The subjects taken in the Examination affected the degree or career paths open to the student. In recent years, different provinces have included different subjects in the Examination, or implemented flexible systems for selecting the subjects to be tested, resulting in a number of different systems.
"3+X" system (Being phased out) [ edit ]
As a pilot examination system used in order to promote education system reform, this examination system has been implemented in most parts of the country, including Beijing City, Tianjin City, Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, Anhui Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province, Jiangxi Province, Henan Province, Shandong Province, Hubei Province, Shaanxi Province, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, Shanxi Province, Chongqing City, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. In the context of the reform of the National College Entrance Examination, this program will be suspended in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and Hainan provinces from 2020, and will be suspended in most provinces and cities in China from 2021. It will cease across Mainland China by 2022.
"3" refers to compulsory subjects, including "Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language (mostly English, and Japanese, Korean or Russian are also accepted; choices differ in different regions)", each of which accounts for 150/750 in total score.
"X" means that students can choose, according to their own interests, one subject from either Social Sciences (including Political Sciences, History and Geography), or Natural Sciences (including Physics, Chemistry and Biology), which accounts for 300/750 in total score.
If a student chooses Natural Sciences, then he or she will take a relatively harder mathematics test as well, including Curves and Equations, Space Vector and Solid Geometry, The Concept of Definite Integral, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Simple Application of Definite Integral, Mathematical Induction, Counting Principle, Random Variable and Its Distribution.
For candidates of minor ethnic groups in Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai and Jilin, their Literature score consists of an easier Chinese Literature test and an optional subject on Tibetan, Mongolian, Uyghur and Korean Literature, each counting for 75 points.
Compulsory Subjects Score Time Elective Subjects Score Time Social Sciences Chinese, Mathematics (not including Curves and Equations, Space Vector and Solid Geometry, The Concept of Definite Integral, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Simple Application of Definite Integral, Mathematical Induction, Counting Principle, Random Variable and Its Distribution) and a foreign language (mostly English) 450/750, 150 each 150 minutes for Chinese (9:00 to 11:30 on June 7th), 120 minutes for Mathematics (15:00 to 17:00 on June 7th) and the foreign language (15:00 to 17:00 on June 8th) Political Sciences, History and Geography 300/750, 100+100+100 150 minutes (9:00 to 11:30 on June 8th) Natural Sciences Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language (mostly English) 450/750, 150 each 150 minutes for Chinese (9:00 to 11:30 on June 7th), 120 minutes for Mathematics (15:00 to 17:00 on June 7th) and the foreign language (15:00 to 17:00 on June 8th) Physics, Chemistry and Biology 300/750, 110+100+90 150 minutes (9:00 to 11:30 on June 8th)
"3+2" system [ edit ]
"3" refers to three compulsory subjects, including "Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language". "2" refers to selecting two subjects either from Politics, History or Geography for arts students, or from Biology, Chemistry or Physics for science students.
This system used to be employed in Jiangsu Province, but has been replaced by another system in 2020.
"4+X" system [ edit ]
This system was used after the New Curriculum Reform being employed in Guangdong province, and now it has been abandoned.
"X" means that according to their own interests, candidates can choose one or two subjects either from arts subjects, including Politics, History and Geography (Politics and Geography cannot be chosen simultaneously), or from science subjects, including Biology, Physics and Chemistry (Physics and Biology cannot be chosen simultaneously).
Chinese and a foreign language are compulsory. Two separate Mathematics tests are designed respectively for arts students and science students.
In addition to three compulsory subjects and X subject, arts students have to take comprehensive tests of arts, and science students have to take comprehensive tests of science.
"3+1+X" system [ edit ]
This system has been implemented in Shanghai since the employment of comprehensive courses, now abandoned.
"3" refers to three compulsory subjects "Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language", with 150 scores for each subject.
"1" refers to one subject that candidates choose according to their own interests and specialty from "Politics, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry and Biology". This subject accounts 150 scores when admitted by universities and colleges at undergraduate level. The score is not included in the total score when admitted by vocational and technical colleges. Therefore, candidates can give up this subject when applying for colleges at vocational and technical level.
"X" refers to comprehensive ability test, which is categorized into arts tests and science tests. Arts students can either choose one subject from Politics, History and Geography, or take an arts comprehensive test when giving up "1' subject. Science students can either choose one subject from Physics, Chemistry and Biology, or take a science comprehensive test when giving up "1" subject. Regardless of arts and science categories, all the comprehensive ability tests cover knowledge of six subjects,including Politics, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In the first volume of the arts test, number of questions related to arts subjects exceeds science questions, and vice versa; the second volume of the two tests are the same.
"3+2+X" system (Ready to disable) [ edit ]
This is a pilot college entrance examination system implemented by the Jiangsu Province in 2003 after examining other testing systems, but it was replaced by "3+2" system in 2008. Subject tests will take turns into the embrace of National Standard. A new policy is expected to substitute the old one in 2021.
"3" refers to three compulsory subjects "Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language", which are recorded in the total score.
"2" refers to choosing two subjects from the following six areas "politics, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology", which are not recorded in total score but a class like A+, A, etc. will be recorded.
"X" refers to a comprehensive science or liberal arts exam, which is not recorded in the total score, only for university admission reference.
"3+X+1" system [ edit ]
This is part of the curriculum reform in China.
"3" refers to Chinese, Mathematics and a foreign language, which are compulsory testing subjects for each candidate.
"X" means choosing one of the two comprehensive tests in either sciences or liberal arts, according to the student's interest.
"1" refers to a basic proficiency test on skills that high school graduates needs and should have in order to adapt to social life. This college entrance examination system was implemented for the first time in Shandong in 2007.
The examination system in Shandong Province reverted to the "3+X" system as of the most recent testing in June 2014.[ citation needed ]
Reform of the National College Entrance Examination [ edit ]
"3+3" system
Summary of information about this program,see the Education of Sina . [9]
This system has been implemented in Shanghai and Zhejiang since the employment of comprehensive courses since September 2014.
All students participating in the National College Entrance Examination must take Chinese, mathematics, and a foreign language (a choice of one from English, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Spanish). They also take three subjects of their choice from physics, chemistry, biology, geography, politics and history.
Since 2017, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Hainan have begun to use this program. Since 2018, about 7 Chinese provinces and Chongqing City have started to use this program. This system will apply for the rest of the country starting from 2020. Provinces and cities that were originally scheduled to start The Reform of the National College Entrance Examination in 2018: Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hubei, Chongqing, Hunan, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Guizhou, Anhui, Tibet. Henan, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Jilin, Guizhou, Anhui, Tibet were evaluated by the Ministry of Education of PRC, and their conditions did not meet the start-up requirements and were required to be postponed. Among them, it will apply in Anhui since 2019. Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hubei, Chongqing, Hunan, Hebei, Liaoning reached the start condition and were approved to start in 2018.
Originally, the original intention of the reform was to let the students develop their strengths and avoid weaknesses, but the students were rushing to the high-scoring subjects. This has resulted in very few people in certain subjects, such as physics.
In the calculation of the scores of the other, 70 points (in Shanghai) or 100 points (in Zhejiang) for each of the subjects, according to the levels like A+, A, B+, ..., D, E, etc (Divided into 21 grades in Zhejiang, 11 in Shanghai; 3 points between every two grades). According to the published news, Beijing and Tianjin indicated that their plan is similar to the Zhejiang plan, and Anhui's request for comment is similar to Zhejiang, too [10] ; Shandong is divided into eight grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, and E. According to the original scores and equal conversion rules of the candidates, they are converted to 91-100, 81-90, 71-80, 61-70, 51-60, 41-50, 31-40, 21-30 eight score intervals, get the grades of candidates. [11] [12] '
; Shandong is divided into eight grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, and E. According to the original scores and equal conversion rules of the candidates, they are converted to 91-100, 81-90, 71-80, 61-70, 51-60, 41-50, 31-40, 21-30 eight score intervals, get the grades of candidates. ' Another point to be concerned is that candidates who want to take the college entrance examination must first take the Qualifying Exam of the Academic Proficiency Examination for Senior High School Students(普通高中学业水平考试). The results are credited as "qualified" and "failed".
Criticisms [ edit ]
Independent proposition [ edit ]
Regional imbalance of social and economic development has resulted in a disparity in education levels across China, which gives rise to provincial proposition. However, provincial governments have to increase budget on education in order to offset the declining credibility of the exam caused by lack of experienced proposition experts and management personnel, which will, more or less, cause a repetitive investment in Human Resources, finance or material. For example, the exam in Jiangsu is totally a different from others. It only counts the scores of the three major subjects, which means the total cents are decreased largely. To compete in a narrow range of score, students must focus on the study of the three. The other two subjects are not recorded in total score but a class will be recorded, and universities have a requirement of an exact class. Different from the folk, the assessment is according to the percentage of students' examination results. Moreover, independent proposition covers regional discrimination generated by a huge disparity of cut off scores between different provinces.[citation needed]
Academic segregation [ edit ]
Chinese students are required to choose either Social Sciences (political science, geography, and history) or Natural Sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology). This happens particularly at the end of the first year of high school, when students are mostly 15-16 years old. Once they make their decisions, they start preparing for the subject tests, and no longer take classes for the other three subjects. This decision will determine which college entrance test they will take at the age of 18, as well as influence their college majors and future career path.[citation needed]
Regional discrimination [ edit ]
A university usually sets a fixed admission quota for each province, with a higher number of students coming from its home province. As the advanced educational resources (number and quality of universities) are distributed unevenly across China, it is argued that people are being discriminated against during the admission process based on their geographic region. For example, compared to Beijing, Jiangxi province has fewer universities per capita. Therefore, Jiangxi usually receives fewer admission quotas compared with Beijing, which makes a significantly higher position among applicants necessary for a Jiangxi candidate to be admitted by the same university than his Beijing counterpart. The unequal admission schemes for different provinces and regions might intensify competition among examinees from provinces with fewer advanced education resources. For example, Beijing University planned to admit 1800 science students from Beijing (with 80,000 candidates in total), but only 38 from Shandong (with 660,000 candidates in total). This is not similar to the practice of regional universities in other countries which receive subsidies from regional governments in addition to or in place of those received from central governments, as universities in China largely depend on state budget rather than local budget. However, this regionally preferential policy does provide subsidies to minority students from under-developed regions that enjoy limited educational resources, such as Tibet and Xinjiang.
The regional discrimination can be proved by the disparities between ratios of a province's enrollment of students to the total number of candidate students of the province. In 2010, the acceptance rates for students from Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong and Henan who applied for universities of the first-ranking category were 20.1%, 18%, 7.1% and 3.5% respectively. High acceptance rates are likely to appear in the most and least developed cities and provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai or Qinghai. In contrast, acceptance rates remain relatively equal among provinces of the average developmental level.
In recent years, varied admission standards have led some families to relocate for the sole purpose of advancing their children's chances of entering university.[13]
In addition, regional discrimination is not only restricted to the ratio for admission. This is best illustrated with an example of the Hubei Province, where students' exam scores have been higher than other provinces for a long time. A score for a Hubei student to just reach the admission cut-off line for a key university may be enough for a student from another province to be admitted by a much better university, and even enough for a Beijing student to be admitted by top universities like Tsinghua University and Peking University.
Some local students in Hong Kong complained that it was unfair that the increasing intake of Mainland students who have performed at a high level in this examination increases the admission grades of universities, making it harder for local students to get admission. In 2010, more than 5,000 out of the 17,000 students who achieved the minimum university entry requirement were not offered places in any degree courses in the UGC-funded universities.
Special concessions [ edit ]
There are special concessions for members of ethnic minorities, foreign nationals, persons with family origin in Taiwan, and children of military casualties. Students can also receive bonus marks by achieving high results in academic Olympiads, other science and technology competitions, sporting competitions, as well as "political or moral" distinction. In 2018 NPC, the government admitted to cancel all bonus scores from competitions.
Psychological pressure [ edit ]
Because Gaokao is one of the most influential examinations in China and the fact that students can only take the test once a year, both teachers and students undergo tremendous pressure in preparing for and taking the exam. For teachers, because the society focuses on the rate of admission into universities, teachers have to pay more attention to each student's ability to take the exam. Because of this, teachers would like to give students more and more practice for exams. This teaching methodology, colloquially referred to as "cramming", involves students memorizing large volumes of information fed to them by teachers and undertaking many practice exercises in order to optimize exam writing ability. One of the disadvantages of this method is the lack of focus on teaching critical thinking and ignoring students' emotions, values and personalities. Many examinees suffer from severe nervousness during the test. In some cases, examinees may faint in the examination room.[14]
Further and deeper stemming criticisms have been leveled that the testing system is the "most pressure packed examination in the world."[15] Behaviors surrounding the testing period have been extreme under some reports, with doctors in Tianjin purportedly prescribing birth control pills to female students whose parents wanted to ensure the girls were not menstruating at the time of examination.[15] Testing pressure, for some critics, has been linked to faintings, increased drop out rates, and even increasing rates of teenage clinical depression and suicide in China.
Impact [ edit ]
The Gaokao tends to rule the lives of most Chinese teenagers and their parents. In Zhengzhou (Henan), the local bus company parked a 985 number bus outside a Gaokao center for parents to wait in, the number reflecting a popular enrollment program number for university entrances.[1]
[16] Examination scope [ edit ]
The following are the exam scope for Gaokao in 2019 in most areas of China, where the students use the Nationwide Exam Papers in Gaokao, not including some areas that have their own exam scope. The contents refer to the textbooks from People's Education Press.
Compulsory Course 1 Unit 1 Modern Poetry Unit 2 Ancient Narrative Prose Unit 3 Narrative Prose Unit 4 News and Reportage
Compulsory Course 2 Unit 1 Modern Scenery Lyric Prose Unit 2 Book of Songs, Chu Ci, Poetry of Han Wei and Six Dynasties Unit 3 Ancient Lyric Prose Unit 4 Speech
Compulsory Course 3 Unit 1 Novel One Unit 2 Tang Poetry Unit 3 Ancient Prose Unit 4 Works of Popular Science
Compulsory Course 4 Unit 1 Chinese and Foreign Drama Unit 2 Song Yuan Song Unit 3 Papers and Essays in Social Sciences Unit 4 Biography of Ancient People
Compulsory Course 5 Unit 1 Novel Two Unit 2 Ancient Lyric Prose Unit 3 Literature and Art Thesis Unit 4 Natural Science Paper
Elective Course (Appreciation of Ancient Chinese Poetry and Prose) Unit 1, 2, 3 Poetry Unit 4, 5, 6 Prose
50 ancient poems and articles in junior high school
Students in some schools also take other Elective Courses (such as Study of Chinese Cultural Classics, Appreciation of Chinese Novels) because Chinese does not have an exact exam scope.
Mathematics [ edit ]
Currently, in the area of implement the Reform of the National College Entrance Examination, all high school students use such mathematics textbooks. Because the textbooks associated with this reform are still being written and not put into use.
Compulsory Course 1 Chapter 1 Concept of Set and Function Chapter 2 Basic Elementary Function (I) Chapter 3 Application of Function
Compulsory Course 2 Chapter 1 Space Geometry Chapter 2 Positional Relations Between Points, Lines and Planes Chapter 3 Straight Line and Equation Chapter 4 Circle and Equation
Compulsory Course 3 Chapter 1 Algorithm Preliminary Chapter 2 Statistics Chapter 3 Probability
Compulsory Course 4 Chapter 1 Trigonometric Function Chapter 2 Plane Vector Chapter 3 Trigonometric Identity Transformation
Compulsory Course 5 Chapter 1 Solving Triangles Chapter 2 Sequence of Number Chapter 3 Inequality
[18] for Social Sciences [ edit ]
Besides Compulsory Courses, the compulsory exam scope for Social Sciences contains the two Elective Courses of series 1. Most contents in Elective Courses of series 1 are also contained in Elective Courses of series 2, but some contents in Elective Courses of series 2 is not contained in Elective Courses of series 1. This makes Mathematics exam easier for Social Sciences than for Natural Sciences.
Elective Course 1-1 Chapter 1 Common Logic Terms Chapter 2 Conic Sections and Equations (not including Curves and Equations *) Chapter 3 Derivative and Its Application (not including The Concept of Definite Integral *, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus *, Simple Application of Definite Integral *)
Elective Course 1-2 Chapter 1 Statistical Case Chapter 2 Reasoning and Proof (not including Mathematical Induction *) Chapter 3 Extension of Number System and Introduction of Complex Number Chapter 4 Block Diagram
The contents with * are not for Social Sciences.
[19] for Natural Sciences [ edit ]
Besides Compulsory Courses, the compulsory exam scope for Natural Sciences also contains the three Elective Courses of series 2, so the Elective Courses of series 2 are regarded as compulsory courses for Natural Sciences. Most contents in Elective Courses of series 1 are also contained in Elective Courses of series 2, but some contents in Elective Courses of series 2 is not contained in Elective Courses of series 1. This makes Mathematics exam easier for Social Sciences than for Natural Sciences.
Elective Course 2-1 Chapter 1 Common Logic Terms Chapter 2 Conic Sections and Equations (including 2.1 Curves and Equations *) Chapter 3 Space Vector and Solid Geometry *
Elective Course 2-2 Chapter 1 Derivative and Its Application (including 1.5 The Concept of Definite Integral *, 1.6 Fundamental Theorem of Calculus *, 1.7 Simple Application of Definite Integral *) Chapter 2 Reasoning and Proof (including 2.3 Mathematical Induction *) Chapter 3 Extension of Number System and Introduction of Complex Number
Elective Course 2-3 Chapter 1 Counting Principle * Chapter 2 Random Variable and Its Distribution * Chapter 3 Statistical Case
The contents with * are not for Social Sciences.
Elective [ edit ]
At least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 4-4 (Coordinate System and Parameter Equation) Chapter 1 Coordinate System Chapter 2 Parametric Equation
Elective Course 4-5 (Selection of Inequalities) Chapter 1 Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities Chapter 2 The Basic Method of Proving Inequality Chapter 3 Cauchy Inequality and Sequence Inequality Chapter 4 Proving Inequality by Mathematical Induction
Compulsory Course 1（Book 1） Unit 1 Friendship Unit 2 English around the world Unit 3 Travel journal Unit 4 Earthquakes Unit 5 Nelson Mandela – a modern hero
Compulsory Course 2（Book 2） Unit 1 Cultural relics Unit 2 The Olympic Games Unit 3 Computers Unit 4 Wildlife protection Unit 5 Music
Compulsory Course 3（Book 3） Unit 1 Festivals around the world Unit 2 Healthy eating Unit 3 The Million Pound Bank Note Unit 4 Astronomy: the science of the stars Unit 5 Canada – "The True North"
Compulsory Course 4（Book 4） Unit 1 Women of achievement Unit 2 Working the land Unit 3 A taste of English humour Unit 4 Body language Unit 5 Theme parks
Compulsory Course 5（Book 5） Unit 1 Great scientists Unit 2 The United Kingdom Unit 3 Life in the future Unit 4 Making the news Unit 5 First aid
Elective Course 6（Book 6） Unit 1 Art Unit 2 Poems Unit 3 A healthy life Unit 4 Global warming Unit 5 The power of nature
Elective Course 7（Book 7） Unit 1 Living well Unit 2 Robots Unit 3 Under the sea Unit 4 Sharing Unit 5 Travelling abroad
Elective Course 8（Book 8） Unit 1 A land of diversity Unit 2 Cloning Unit 3 Inventors and inventions Unit 4 Pygmalion Unit 5 Meeting your ancestors
Students in some schools also take Elective Course 9, 10 and 11 because English does not have an exact exam scope.
Elective Course 9（Book 9） Unit 1 Breaking records Unit 2 Sailing the oceans Unit 3 Australia Unit 4 Exploring plants Unit 5 Inside advertising
Elective Course 10（Book 10） Unit 1 Nothing ventured, nothing gained Unit 2 King Lear Unit 3 Fairness for all Unit 4 Learning efficiently Unit 5 Enjoying novels
Elective Course 11（Book 11） Unit 1 New Zealand Unit 2 Detective stories Unit 3 Finding the correct perspective Unit 4 Legends of ancient Greece Unit 5 Launching your career
Natural Sciences [ edit ]
Compulsory Course 1 Chapter 1 Description of Motion Chapter 2 Research on Uniform Variable Rectilinear Motion Chapter 3 Interaction Chapter 4 Newton Laws of Motion
Compulsory Course 2 Chapter 5 Curvilinear Motion Chapter 6 Gravitation and Spaceflight Chapter 7 Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Besides Compulsory Courses, the compulsory exam scope also contains Elective Course 3-1, Elective Course 3-2 and Elective Course 3-5, so Elective Course 3-1, Elective Course 3-2 and Elective Course 3-5 are regarded as compulsory courses for Natural Sciences.
Elective Course 3-1 Chapter 1 Electrostatic Field Chapter 2 Steady Current Chapter 3 Magnetic Field
Elective Course 3-2 Chapter 4 Electromagnetic Induction Chapter 5 Alternating Current Chapter 6 Sensor
Elective Course 3-5 Chapter 16 Law of Conservation of Momentum Chapter 17 Wave-particle Dualism Chapter 18 Atomic Structure Chapter 19 Nucleus
Elective [ edit ]
For Natural Sciences, at least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 3-3 Chapter 7 Molecular Dynamics Theory Chapter 8 Gas Chapter 9 Solid, Liquid and Physical State Changes Chapter 10 Law of Thermodynamics
Elective Course 3-4 Chapter 11 Mechanical Vibration Chapter 12 Mechanical Wave Chapter 13 Light Chapter 14 Electromagnetic Wave Chapter 15 Introduction to Relativity
Compulsory Course 1 Chapter 1 From Experimental Chemistry Chapter 2 Chemical Substances and Their Changes Chapter 3 Metals and Their Compounds Chapter 4 Nonmetals and Their Compounds
Compulsory Course 2 Chapter 1 Material Structure Periodic Law of Elements Chapter 2 Chemical Reaction and Energy Chapter 3 Organic Compound Chapter 4 Chemistry and Exploitation and Utilization of Natural Resources
Besides Compulsory Courses, the compulsory exam scope also contains Elective Course 4 (Chemical Reaction Principle), so Elective Course 4 (Chemical Reaction Principle) is regarded as a compulsory course for Natural Sciences.
Elective Course 4 (Chemical Reaction Principle) Chapter 1 Chemical Reaction and Energy (contains Section 1 Chemical Reaction and Energy Change, Section 2 Heat of Combustion Energy, Section 3 Calculation of Chemical Heat of Reaction, which are not in Chapter 2 of Compulsory Course 2) Chapter 2 Chemical Reaction Rate and Chemical Equilibrium Chapter 3 Ion Balance in Aqueous Solution Chapter 4 Electrochemical Basis
Elective [ edit ]
For Natural Sciences, at least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 3 (Material Structure and Properties) Chapter 1 Atomic Structure and Properties Chapter 2 Molecular Structure and Properties Chapter 3 Crystal Structure and Properties
Elective Course 5 (Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry) Chapter 1 Understanding Organic Compounds Chapter 2 Hydrocarbon and Halogenated Hydrocarbon Chapter 3 Oxygen Derivatives of Hydrocarbons Chapter 4 Basic Organic Chemicals in Life Chapter 5 Into the Era of Synthetic Organic Polymer Compounds
Compulsory Course 1 (Molecules and Cells) Chapter 1 Close to the Cell Chapter 2 Molecules Forming Cells Chapter 3 The Basic Structure of Cells Chapter 4 Cell Material Input and Output Chapter 5 Energy Supply and Utilization of Cells Chapter 6 Cell Life Course
Compulsory Course 2 (Heredity and Evolution) Chapter 1 Discovery of Hereditary Factors Chapter 2 Relationship Between Genes and Chromosomes Chapter 3 The Nature of Gene Chapter 4 Gene Expression Chapter 5 Gene Mutation and Other Variants Chapter 6 From Cross Breeding to Genetic Engineering Chapter 7 Modern Biological Evolution Theory
Compulsory Course 3 (Homeostasis and Environment) Chapter 1 Internal Environment and Homeostasis of Human Body Chapter 2 Regulation of Animal and Human Life Activities Chapter 3 Hormonal Regulation of Plants Chapter 4 Population and Community Chapter 5 Ecosystem and Its Stability Chapter 6 Protection of Ecological Environment
Elective [ edit ]
For Natural Sciences, at least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 1 (Biotechnology Practice) Topic 1 Application of Traditional Fermentation Technology Topic 2 Cultivation and Application of Microorganism Topic 4 Research and Application of Enzymes Topic 5 DNA and Protein Technology Topic 6 Extraction of Effective Components From Plants
Elective Course 3 (Modern Biotechnology Topics) Topic 1 Genetic Engineering Topic 2 Cell Engineering Topic 3 Embryo Engineering Topic 4 Safety and Ethical Issues of Biotechnology Topic 5 Ecological Engineering
Social Sciences [ edit ]
Compulsory Course 1 Chapter 1 Planet Earth Chapter 2 The Atmosphere on the Earth Chapter 3 Water on the Earth Chapter 4 Shaping the Surface Form Chapter 5 The Integrity and Diversity of Natural Geographical Environment
Compulsory Course 2 Chapter 1 Demographic Change Chapter 2 City and Urbanization Chapter 3 The Formation and Development of Agricultural Regions Chapter 4 The Formation and Development of Industrial Regions Chapter 5 Transportation Layout and Its Influence Chapter 6 Coordinated Development of Human and Geographical Environment
Compulsory Course 3 Chapter 1 Geographical Environment and Regional Development Chapter 2 Regional Ecological Environment Construction Chapter 3 Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Regional Natural Resources Chapter 4 Regional Economic Development Chapter 5 Inter Regional Ties and Regional Coordinated Development
Geography in junior high school
Elective [ edit ]
For Social Sciences, at least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 3 (Tourism Geography) Chapter 1 Modern Tourism and Its Role Chapter 2 Tourist Resources Chapter 3 Appreciation of Tourism Landscape Chapter 4 Tourism Development and Protection Chapter 5 Be a Qualified Modern Tourist
Elective Course 6 (Environmental Protection) Chapter 1 Environmental and Environmental Problems Chapter 2 Environmental Pollution and Prevention Chapter 3 Utilization and Protection of Natural Resources Chapter 4 Ecological Environment Protection Chapter 5 Environmental Management and Public Participation
Compulsory Course 1 Unit 1 The Political System of Ancient China Unit 2 The Political system of Ancient Greece and Rome Unit 3 The Establishment and Development of Modern Western Capitalist Political System Unit 4 The Trend of Anti Aggression and Democracy in Modern China Unit 5 From the Theory of Scientific Socialism to the Establishment of Socialist System Unit 6 Political Construction in Modern China and Reunification of the Motherland Unit 7 External Relations in Modern China Unit 8 The Multi Polarization Trend of the World's Political Structure Today
Compulsory Course 2 Unit 1 The Basic Structure and Characteristics of Ancient China's Economy Unit 2 The Formation and Development of the Capitalist World Market Unit 3 The Change of Economic Structure in Modern China and the Tortuous Development of Capitalism Unit 4 The Road of Socialism With Chinese Characteristics Unit 5 Vicissitudes of Social Life in Modern China Unit 6 Adjustment of World Capitalist Economic Policies Unit 7 Socialist Construction in the Soviet Union Unit 8 Globalization of World Economy
Compulsory Course 3 Unit 1 The Evolution of the Mainstream Ideology of Chinese Traditional Culture Unit 2 The Origin and Development of Western Humanistic Spirit Unit 3 Science and Technology and Literature and Art in Ancient China Unit 4 The History of Scientific Development in the World Since Modern Times Unit 5 The Trend of Ideological Emancipation in Modern China Unit 6 Major Ideological and Theoretical Achievements Since Twentieth Century Unit 7 Science and Technology, Education and Literature and Art in Modern China Unit 8 World Literature and Art Since Nineteenth Century
Elective [ edit ]
For Social Sciences, at least one of the following Elective Courses must be elected.
Elective Course 1 (Review of Major Reforms in History) Unit 2 Shang Yang Transformation Unit 3 Emperor Xiaowen's Reform in Northern Wei Dynasty Unit 4 Wang Anshi Reform Unit 7 Russian Serfdom Reform in 1861 Unit 8 Meiji Restoration Unit 9 Reform Movement of 1898
Elective Course 3 (War and Peace in Twentieth Century) Unit 1 The First World War Unit 2 The World Under the Versailles Washington System Unit 3 The Second World War Unit 4 The Cold War and Peace Under the Yalta System Unit 5 The War of War Unit 6 Peace and Development
Elective Course 4 (Commentary on Historical Figures at Home and Abroad) Unit 1 Politicians in Ancient China Unit 2 The Sages of the East and West Unit 3 Outstanding Figures in the European and American Bourgeois Revolution Era Unit 4 The Pioneer of Asian Awakening Unit 5 Proletarian Revolutionist Unit 6 Outstanding Scientists
[26] Ideology and Politics [ edit ]
Compulsory Course 1 (Economic Life) Unit 1 Life and Consumption Unit 2 Production, Labor and Management Unit 3 Income and Distribution Unit 4 Developing Socialist Market Economy
Compulsory Course 2 (Political Life) Unit 1 Citizens' Political Life Unit 2 A Government Serving the People Unit 3 Developing Socialist Democratic Politics Unit 4 Contemporary International Society
Compulsory Course 3 (Cultural Life) Unit 1 Culture and Life Unit 2 Cultural Inheritance and Innovation Unit 3 Chinese Culture and National Spirit Unit 4 Developing Socialist Culture With Chinese Characteristics
Compulsory Course 4 (Life and Philosophy) Unit 1 Life Wisdom and the Spirit of the Times Unit 2 Explore the World and Seek Truth Unit 3 Ways of Thinking and Innovative Consciousness Unit 4 Understanding Society and Value Choice
Current politics Major domestic and international events (April last year to march of the examination year) The basic line and major policies of the communist party of China and the Chinese government at the present stage
The types of the exam questions (in most areas of China, in 2018) [ edit ]
Chinese [ edit ]
I.modern article reading (36 scores)
(I) discussion text reading (3 questions, 9 scores)
question 1 to 3 (3 scores for each) : single choice questions with four options
(II) literary text reading (3 questions, 15 scores)
question 4 (3 scores) : single choice question with four options
question 5 (6 scores) : non choice question
question 6 (6 scores) : non choice question
(III) practical text reading (3 questions, 12 scores)
question 7 and 8 (3 scores for each question) : single choice questions with four options
question 9 (6 scores) : non choice question
II.ancient poetry and article reading (34 scores)
(I) classical Chinese reading (4 questions, 19 scores)
question 10 to 12 (3 scores for each question) : single choice questions with four options
question 13 (10 scores) : translate 2 sentences
(II) ancient poetry reading (2 questions, 9 scores)
question 14 (3 scores) : single choice question with four options
question 15 (6 scores) : non choice question
(III) write famous sentences from memory (1 question, 6 scores)
question 16 (6 scores) : sentences from 64 poems and articles (14 in senior high school and 50 in junior high school)
III.language use (20 scores)
question 17 to 19 (3 scores for each question) : single choice questions with four options
question 20 (5 scores) : non choice question
question 21 (6 scores) : non choice question
IV.writing (60 scores)
question 22 (60 scores) : at least 800 characters
Mathematics [ edit ]
I.choice questions (12 questions, 5 scores for each, 60 scores in total)
question 1 to 12 : single choice questions with four options
II.fill-in-the-blanks questions (4 questions, 5 scores for each, 20 scores in total)
question 13 to 16
III.answer questions (70 scores in total)
(I) compulsory questions (60 scores in total)
question 17 to 21 (12 scores for each)
(II) elective questions (10 scores in total, one of the questions must be elected)
question 22 (10 scores) : Elective Course 4-4 (Coordinate System and Parameter Equation)
question 23 (10 scores) : Elective Course 4-5 (Selection of Inequalities)
English [ edit ]
I.listening (30 scores)[27]
(I) (5 questions, 1.5 scores for each, 7.5 scores in total)
question 1 to 5 : single choice questions with three options
(II) (15 questions, 1.5 scores for each, 22.5 scores in total)
question 6 to 20 : single choice questions with three options
II.reading comprehension (40 scores)
(I) choice questions (4 articles, 15 questions, 2 scores for each, 30 scores in total)
question 21 to 35 : single choice questions with four options
(II) choose five from seven sentences (5 questions, 2 scores for each, 10 scores in total)
question 36 to 40 : five blanks in an article
III.application of linguistic knowledge (45 scores)
(I) cloze (20 questions, 1.5 scores for each, 30 scores in total)
question 41 to 60 : single choice questions with four options
(II) fill in the blanks (10 questions, 1.5 scores for each, 15 scores in total)
question 61 to 70 : ten blanks in an article, which need to be filled with a word or the correct form of the word in the parentheses
IV.writing (35 scores)
(I) error correction (10 questions, 1 score for each, 10 scores in total)
Ten errors in an article need to be corrected by adding, deleting or modifying a word. Each sentence has at most two errors.
(II) written expression (25 scores) : about 100 words
Natural Sciences [ edit ]
I.choice questions (13 questions, 6 scores for each, 78 scores in total)
question 1 to 6 : single choice questions with four options of Biology
question 7 to 13 : single choice questions with four options of Chemistry
II.choice questions (8 questions, 6 scores for each, 48 scores in total)
question 14 to 21 : choice questions with four options of Physics, including single choice questions and multiple choice questions[28]
III.non choice questions (174 scores in total)
(I) compulsory questions (129 scores in total)
question 22 to 25 : questions of Physics
question 26 to 28 : questions of Chemistry
question 29 to 32 : questions of Biology
(II) elective questions (45 scores in total, one of the questions in each subject must be elected)
question 33 (15 scores) : Elective Course 3-3 of Physics
question 34 (15 scores) : Elective Course 3-4 of Physics
question 35 (15 scores) : Elective Course 3 (Material Structure and Properties) of Chemistry
question 36 (15 scores) : Elective Course 5 (Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry) of Chemistry
question 37 (15 scores) : Elective Course 1 (Biotechnology Practice) of Biology
question 38 (15 scores) : Elective Course 3 (Modern Biotechnology Topics) of Biology
Social Sciences [ edit ]
I.choice questions (35 questions, 4 scores for each, 140 scores in total)
question 1 to 11 : single choice questions with four options of Geography
question 12 to 23 : single choice questions with four options of Politics
question 24 to 35 : single choice questions with four options of History
II.non choice questions (160 scores in total)
(I) compulsory questions (135 scores in total)
question 36 to 37 : questions of Geography
question 38 to 40 : questions of Politics
question 41 to 42 : questions of History
(II) elective questions (25 scores in total, one of the questions in each subject must be elected)
question 43 (10 scores) : Elective Course 3 (Tourism Geography) of Geography
question 44 (10 scores) : Elective Course 6 (Environmental Protection) of Geography
question 45 (15 scores) : Elective Course 1 (Review of Major Reforms in History) of History
question 46 (15 scores) : Elective Course 3 (War and Peace in Twentieth Century) of History
question 47 (15 scores) : Elective Course 4 (Commentary on Historical Figures at Home and Abroad) of History
Core literacy [ edit ]
Chinese [ edit ]
Language Construction and Application
Development and Promotion of Thinking
Aesthetic Appreciation and Creation
Cultural Inheritance and Understanding
Mathematics [ edit ]
Mathematical abstraction
Logical reasoning
Mathematical modeling
Intuitive imagination
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Data analysis
foreign languages [ edit ]
Language ability
Cultural awareness
Thinking quality
learning ability
Physics [ edit ]
Physical concept
Scientific thinking
Scientific inquiry
Scientific Attitude and Responsibility
Chemistry [ edit ]
Macro-identification and Micro-analysis
Change Concept and Balance Thought
Evidence Reasoning and Model Cognition
Scientific Inquiry and Innovation Consciousness
Scientific Attitude and Social Responsibility
Biology [ edit ]
Life concept
Scientific thinking
Scientific inquiry
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Politics [ edit ]
Political identity
scientific spirit
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History [ edit ]
Historical materialism
Concept of time and space
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Family feelings
Geography [ edit ]
Harmony between man and land
Comprehensive thinking
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Information technology (in some areas) [ edit ]
Information consciousness
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General technology (in some areas) [ edit ]
Technological consciousness
Engineering thinking
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Graphic expression
Physicochemical ability
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
References [ edit ] |
Last week the Chico Police Officers Association (CPOA) sent a letter to the Chico City Council saying in no uncertain terms that police officers will not recognize the city’s recently adopted ordinance on the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana.
That ordinance, which was adopted on July 5 and is set to go into place the first week of August, includes the allowance of two dispensaries up to 10,000 square feet in size within the city limits. That provision has been brought to the attention of federal law enforcement, which does not recognize the state’s medical-marijuana law.
Will Clark, CPOA’s special-projects coordinator, points out in the letter that all Chico police officers are required to take an oath prior to their employment with the city, but that oath includes a promise to support both the city charter and the U.S. Constitution. The letter goes on to point out that the city’s municipal code says a function of the Police Department is to “Prevent crime and maintain law and order in the city by enforcing the laws of the United States, the state and the city.”
At a press conference held in front of council chambers on the day the letter was delivered, Clark said, “We are understaffed and this ordinance will only bring more problems to the community.”
It’s not the only letter to the council questioning the ordinance.
A few days before the council approved the ordinance, Mayor Ann Schwab received a letter from U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner, who said he had concerns with it—particularly those relatively large dispensaries. The letter says his office will “vigorously” enforce federal laws against those involved in the manufacturing and distribution of marijuana, even if such activity is permitted under state law.
At that council meeting, Schwab and Councilmen Mark Sorensen and Bob Evans pulled the ordinance from the consent agenda, where it was set to be passed. They all had objected to the size of the dispensaries. The matter was discussed and then passed on a split vote of the council, with Schwab, Sorensen and Evans remaining in opposition.
City Attorney Lori Barker said her office has always been up front with both the council and the public that the ordinance is a land-use issue and may not meet state or federal laws. And in reality, she said, the police do not enforce land-use regulations; that job is up to the city’s code-enforcement officers.
That hasn’t deterred the CPOA, which has been at odds with the council since last fall when the city asked all employee bargaining units, including the police, to take a 5 percent cut in pay, switch health-insurance companies and pay for more of their job benefits.
All but the police union agreed. As a result, the city laid off five officers, and the contract negotiations went to an arbitrator. During those tense days, the CPOA put out postcards featuring the faces of the council members the union saw as against them. A compromise was reached at the beginning of the year and the officers were rehired, but bad blood remained. Some of the targeted council members saw the postcards as wanted posters.
Councilman Jim Walker was angered by the CPOA letter and the press conference.
“I know they have concerns about enforcing federal law,” he said. “I wish they’d had the decency to call me up and say, ‘We have concerns about this.’ I would have given them a sympathetic ear.”
Walker doesn’t disagree with the CPOA’s message, but he doesn’t appreciate its medium.
“They just use poor judgment in the way they go about expressing these things,” he said. “The leaders of the Chico Police Officers Association are playing politics. I’m talking about the leaders, not the department. They are outstanding, but the leadership does them no good.”
Walker noted how during the last month the medical-marijuana issue has evolved statewide, with threats from the federal government putting people, including city staff, at risk of prosecution.
“That was not so evident when we first made the decision, but now it sure is,” he said.
City Manager Dave Burkland said he understands the CPOA concerns.
“In the bigger picture they are just sharing their concerns about their potential involvement,” he said. “But I completely agree with Lori [Barker], as far as the police officers having little involvement here. The police chief or someone from the management group would do the background checks [on those applying to run the dispensaries].”
Burkland said he met with U.S. Attorney Wagner a few weeks ago.
“It was a pretty concerned tenor at the meeting, and you got the feeling that this was not just a casual reminder here,” he said.
“They take it as an insult that we’re adopting an ordinance that allows for 10,000-square-foot dispensaries,” he continued. “In Oakland, they have 400,000-square-foot dispensaries. Wagner said his office was getting a lot of pressure from Washington, D.C., to do something.”
The ordinance is set to go into effect Aug. 4, two days after the next council meeting. At that meeting, the panel has a number of options to consider. It can go ahead and adopt a fee schedule to implement the ordinance, not implement it, repeal it entirely or modify it. |
"Basically, the people of Britain voted to leave the EU because the EU and national freedom don’t mix. And now the government and people of Ireland are learning that the hard way."
Of course, freedom shouldn't be confused with anarchy. And that means when a society legitimately agrees on certain laws and rules, that society can and should punish offenders. But the problem with big centralized and unelected powers like the EU is that the people in many of the countries have not legitimately agreed to that level of governance. And, all too often, when those people have complained about that, they've been ignored, dismissed, or slammed with even more autocratic dictates than they suffered with before. And so, the people of Britain voted to leave that kind of abusive arrangement and now the people of Ireland may do the same — if they're smart.
If any of this EU chicanery and power-hungry madness has my fellow American readers feeling somehow smug and superior to our European counterparts, take a look in the mirror. Because when it comes to hypocrisy in international trade and politics, the U.S. government is definitely a contender for the world title. The U.S. continues to maintain just about the highest corporate tax rate in the world. And the real reason Treasury Secretary Jack Lew opposed this EU move to grab more taxes from Apple is because the U.S. considers those potential taxes to be ours!
But that's not all. Despite massive increases in federal tax revenues to record highs, Lew has made an annoying habit of wailing about corporate tax inversions that cost the Treasury a pittance compared to those record trillions the Treasury has been taking in lately.
Presidents and even presidential candidates from both parties routinely complain about foreign-currency manipulation when no one country has manipulated its currency more than the U.S. from the moment we took the dollar off the gold standard 45 years ago to every Fed interest-rate move and comment up to today.
There's simply not a lot of room for freedom when the world's governments are too busy fighting over how much money they can take from those who create the wealth in the first place. There was once a time when sales taxes and customs duties were enough to fund the engines of state from Europe to the New World. But now we've somehow come to a place where corporate taxes are not only an accepted policy, but we actually hear from politicians and economists who argue no country should have the sovereign right to charge its own corporate tax rate … because that wouldn't be "fair" to the other countries who want to charge more. The strong argument many have made to abolish corporate tax rates altogether to boost economic growth all over the world isn't even making it into this current Apple/Ireland/EU kerfuffle, and we're all the poorer for it.
The EU and "progressive" groups that call for uniform tax rates are actually right when they say economic freedom does not produce "fair" results. That's what makes freedom what it is. But the alternative, as Ireland and Apple know all too well now, is allowing someone you don't know and certainly didn't elect to decide what's fair for you and everyone else. That's not fair either. That's something else we call "tyranny."
Commentary by Jake Novak, supervising producer of "Power Lunch." Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. |
The man who served as Barack Obama's former press secretary said using fake news to attack someone's credibility is not anything new — noting specifically that President Trump has been a fake-news purveyor for years.
Josh Earnest was referring to the birther movement, which coalesced around the conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. Trump renounced the theory last fall during his presidential campaign, but only after years of claiming that Obama is not a U.S.-born citizen despite evidence to the contrary.
"This is something Republicans have been engaged in, and one Republican in particular has been very focused on for a long time," Earnest told Stephen Colbert on Tuesday on CBS's "The Late Show."
Last September, Trump acknowledged for the first time that Obama was born in the United States. But in doing so, he also claimed credit for ending the false theory that he was born elsewhere. And on more than one occasion, he sought to place the blame on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
"You know who started the birther movement? You know who started it? Do you know who questioned his birth certificate, one of the first? Hillary Clinton. She's the one who started it. She brought it up years before it was brought up by me," Trump said in a May 2016 interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
[Trump admits Obama was born in U.S., but falsely blames Clinton for starting rumors]
Although there's evidence that some of Clinton's supporters circulated anonymous emails questioning Obama's citizenship in 2008, when the two Democrats were vying to be the party's presidential nominee, there was no proof that Clinton herself or her campaign made such statements, according to The Washington Post's fact-checker, Michelle Ye Hee Lee.
Trump started talking publicly about the birther theory in 2011, making several television appearances in which he repeatedly questioned whether Obama was actually born in Hawaii. At times, Trump referenced anonymous sources — the very action that he has denounced when criticizing negative stories about the administration.
"Why doesn't he show his birth certificate? There's something on that birth certificate that he doesn't like," he said on ABC's "The View" in March 2011.
On "The Laura Ingraham Show" that same month, Trump said: "There's something on that certificate that is very bad for him. Now, somebody told me — and I have no idea if this is bad for him or not, but perhaps it would be — that where it says 'religion,' it might have 'Muslim.' And if you're a Muslim, you don't change your religion, by the way."
In August 2012, more than a year after Obama released his long-form birth certificate, Trump tweeted that somebody had told him the birth certificate was a fraud.
An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
Several Republicans also have publicly questioned Obama's citizenship — a problem that dogged Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in 2012.
Former congressman Cliff Searns (R-Fla.) did so at a town hall meeting in March 2012 and told reporters that same month that he was not convinced Obama's birth certificate was valid.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) said in April 2012 that she had "a lot of doubts" about whether the birth certificate is real.
"I don't understand why he didn't show that right away. I mean, if someone asked for my birth certificate, I'd get my baby book and hand it out and say 'Here it is,'" she said, responding to a constituent's question at a town hall.
Perhaps one of the more adamant believers is Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who advocated for the theory even after Trump had abandoned it. He announced in December that a five-year investigation had found that Obama's birth certificate was, in fact, forged. In a presentation in front of journalists, he and a member of his Sheriff's Office's Cold Case Posse highlighted what they called "9 points of forgery" on the document, the Arizona Republic reported.
On the "Late Show," Earnest, who was the White House press secretary from 2014 until Obama left office, said Republicans have sought to delegitimize Obama for the last eight years by spreading the fake news that he wasn't born in the United States. Trump has repeatedly used the term "fake news" to describe several negative stories about his administration.
Many Republicans, however, have distanced themselves from the birther theory.
Donald Trump spent a lot of time raising doubts over President Obama's birth certificate in 2011. He finally admitted Obama was born in the U.S. on Sept. 16, but falsely accused Hillary Clinton's campaign of starting the rumor. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
In 2011, for instance, Arizona's then-governor, Jan Brewer, vetoed the so-called "birther bill" that would have required presidential candidates to provide documentation proving they were born in the United States to get on the state ballot.
Last September, Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, told reporters that he believed Obama was born in Hawaii, even as Trump at that time avoided renouncing the theory. Former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson told CNN's Jake Tapper then that it would be a "good idea" for Trump to apologize for pushing the birther theory.
Earnest also spoke briefly about his counterpart in the White House, Sean Spicer, and the Trump administration's relationship with the press.
"There's supposed to be friction and tension between the White House press corps and the White House," Earnest said. "The day that there is no friction and tension between the White House press corps and the White House is the day that the press corps has stopped doing their job."
[President Trump just hung Sean Spicer out to dry. Again.]
Asked about Spicer's first news conference in January, when he read a prepared speech berating the press for reporting on the size of Trump's inauguration crowd, Earnest said it was "a strange way to start." Spicer falsely claimed that Trump's crowd size was the largest ever for an inauguration.
"One of the things you have to recognize about being the White House press secretary is, your job is to go out there every single — it's a job not unlike yours, you have to go out there every single day and speak to the press corps on live television," Earnest said. "You have to keep that in mind. And so spending all the credibility he spent on the very first day I think was a little short-sighted."
Earnest also said it's "entirely fair" for media organizations to criticize the White House for excluding news organizations, notably CNN, the New York Times, Politico and others, from an off-camera press briefing. Spicer denied doing so in an interview on Fox News Insider, saying the pool of media members rotates every day and the said news organizations were not part of the pool.
"I think any assertion that they were banned or whatever is completely ridiculous," Spicer said.
READ MORE:
Trump’s press secretary lashes out at press, calling crowd coverage ‘shameful and wrong’
Sean Spicer defends Trump by ignoring what the president actually said
Sean Spicer at press briefing: ‘Our intention is never to lie to you’ |
The 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion, who last year finished runner-up in the points race for the fourth time, said that he expects all four Penske drivers to be in contention for the title.
He told Motorsport.com: “If you look at the drivers, Simon [Pagenaud, reigning champion] will be as strong as ever, obviously. Last year the season really flowed for him. He had his bad times, too, but he was on top of things in every respect so obviously he’s the benchmark for everyone going into this season.
“Then Helio [Castroneves] is always a threat on any type of track we run on. Still really quick. And Josef [Newgarden, Penske’s replacement for Juan Pablo Montoya] is definitely going to have a shot at the title. The way I look at it, he was a contender for most of 2016 even before he joined Penske, so it’s logical he’s going to be even stronger now he's with us.
“So I still think our team is the best, and I think opposition-wise, it really depends on how much progress Honda has made with its engine this off-season. If they’ve only matched Chevy’s progress, I think it’s going to be hard for anyone to contend with Penske, at least, over a whole season. I think we could even get a 1-2-3-4 in the championship. We got 1-2-3 last year, and in 2014 we had a 1-2-4...
Asked if he thought opposition from Chip Ganassi Racing would be tougher or weaker as a result of switching from Chevrolet to Honda, Power said: “I don't know. It's an interesting situation for Ganassi, isn’t it? Honda has some good stuff and their kit is light, but I still think it’s probably too draggy on the road and street courses and short ovals.
"To be fair, I think having a team like Ganassi running Honda will be the first time we’ve had a true indication of where Honda are, relative to Chevy. And everyone knows that Ganassi is one of those teams that's great at adapting quickly to a new situation, like having a new engine and aero.
"But I think that when the margins are as tight as they are in IndyCar, you don’t need to be off by much to be nowhere, and we’re not allowed much testing this off-season. So I reckon there might be days when it’s tough for them to even be the best Hondas, at least in the early part of the season, because you’ve got Rahal and Schmidt who can be very strong, too.
“So, yeah, I’d say we should still have the advantage over Ganassi.”
Personal preparation back to normal
Last season, illness forced Power to miss the opening race after setting pole position, and left him without the energy to do much gym training. It was a situation that affected his performance in a few key races, due to the huge amounts of downforce and lack of power-steering in the current IndyCar.
But as his health improved, so too did his results. Power took four victories from mid-season and came within 20 points of teammate Pagenaud with three rounds to go. However, two DNFs spelt the end of his championship challenge.
Nonetheless, Power refused to say that the illness was the reason he lost title.
“We’ve had a close look at where our weaknesses were,” last year. “It’s definitely not a situation where we just blame the illness. We definitely have found a few areas where we fell short and we understand why. There’s always things that you can improve upon.
“For example, at Sonoma, we got some things wrong in qualifying which is why we were only fourth, behind our teammates. There was a bit of a brake balance issue, but we also headed in the wrong direction with another setup change that we’d made to deal with the wind direction. In fact, if we’d just stuck to what we had in the test a week earlier, we’d have been in better shape.
“It’s getting those little things wrong that can make the difference when you’ve got three strong teammates and they get it right.”
A busy but fit daddy
Since becoming a father last month, Power said he was “keeping busy” looking after baby Beau, but that it hadn’t affected his season’s physical preparation.
“Nah, fitness-wise, it's night and day different from last year – which isn’t hard! Gym training has gone well, I feel really good – on a good diet, a good program.
“And then, like I say, me and Dave [Faustino, his race engineer] have just been looking at the areas we need to improve. Like at Indy, we have to get better, because we know Honda turned up last year with very good horsepower there, and there are a couple of characteristics of the track that make it good for them. So when they supply half the field – more than half the field this year – we know we’re gonna have a lot of opposition there. For our #12 team, I’d say we need to find a bit more in ever single aspect of the car there.”
Aside from trying to score Team Penske’s 17th Indy 500 win, Power singled out two other venues where he’s particularly keen to find Victory Lane.
“Mid-Ohio is one that I’ve been trying to win for so long, man,” he said. “We’ve had three second places there, a couple of poles, but never got the job done. And that’s definitely one that got away last year when we were leading and I was asleep on the final restart.
“And I haven’t won at Long Beach for a few years… always cool to win there.
“But I’m just saying I want to win them, not that I have to win them. I don’t like setting targets like that. When you do that, you always fail because you’ve brought in this extra pressure which you don’t need if you’re already trying to win at every race you go to.” |
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For two weeks, the extreme right has been forced to listen to party sages blame the 2012 election loss on them. Todd Akin! Richard Mourdock! Demographic apocalypse! The 47%! Now they’re fighting back:
“The moderates have had their candidate in 2008 and they had their candidate in 2012. And they got crushed in both elections. Now they tell us we have to keep moderating. If we do that, will we win?” said Bob Vander Plaats, president of the Family Leader. ….Ted Cruz, a tea party favorite, trounced Texas’s establishment candidate in a primary on his way to becoming the second Hispanic Republican in the Senate, and the battle he waged in the Lone Star State epitomizes the fight between the two sides. Although he is considered a rising star with a personal biography that GOP leaders wish to promote, Cruz falls squarely in the camp that thinks Romney was not conservative enough and did not fully articulate a conservative contrast to President Obama, except during the first presidential debate. “It was the one time we actually contested ideas, presented two viewpoints and directions for the country,” he said at the Federalist Society’s annual dinner in Washington. “And then, inevitably, there are these mandarins of politics, who give the voice: ‘Don’t show any contrasts. Don’t rock the boat.’ So by the third debate, I’m pretty certain Mitt Romney actually French-kissed Barack Obama.”
I think that Vander Plaats is selling himself short. Given the fact that conservatives eventually decided that George Bush was nothing more than a big-spending, Latino-pandering RINO, they could argue that moderates lost two elections for them (1992 and 1996), won two elections but destroyed the party brand in the process (2000 and 2004), and then lost two more elections (2008 and 2012). So that’s a full 24 years that moderates have been screwing things up.
Will this narrative gain traction? I don’t know. But I could definitely see things playing out this way. One possibility is that the extreme right has one last big hurrah, nominating someone like Rick Santorum in 2016, and then gets absolutely blown out of the water due to a combination of a toxic candidate, changing demographics, and an economy finally in pretty good shape. And that will be their Waterloo. Cooler heads will finally prevail and by 2020 we’ll have two relatively sane political parties in America.
I have no idea if things will really play out like this. But it’s certainly a possibility. |
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