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Are you a developer considering a move to Canada if Trump is elected? If so, Sortable wants to hire you! The Kitchener, Ont., startup launched a cheeky recruiting campaign this week offering "a safe place for smart, nice people in the technology industry who are already starting to look for alternative living arrangements in anticipation of a Donald Trump presidency." The company rolled out the targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram, featuring Trump's image and text asking "Thinking of moving to Canada?" or "Missing home?" If the answer is yes, Sortable is hiring. "The campaign is all very much tongue in cheek. Us saying we have sort of a refugee program for tech workers is obviously us just having fun," Sortable founder Christopher Reid said in an interview with CBC News. "We are an advertising business, right? So we understand ads, we understand how to get distribution and get ads in front of people." Luring tech talent back home He said the company has been watching the lead up to the election with interest and it inspired them to get creative with their hiring campaign. "It's bizarre and it's funny and we thought, why not use that as an opportunity to sort of promote the fact that we're hiring aggressively and we're looking globally," Reid said. "We're doing it because we need to find people and it's fun." The company recently raised $1.4 million in funding, and went from three employees in 2015 to 24 in 2016, with the hope of hiring another 25 employees – predominantly developers – in the near future. He said the campaign is targeted not just to American citizens, but foreign workers and Canadian expats. "It's a bit of a sore point that so many American tech companies syphon off the talent from the University of Waterloo. I think outside of Stanford, University of Waterloo is the number one school that Bay-area tech companies hire from," Reid said. They're happy with the response so far. Reid said the advertisements they've posted on Facebook have been commented on, and shared — a rare feat for an ad which, he said, is normally ignored. |
Published: 22.11.2018 01:24 Last updated: 04.02.2019 04:09 Vivianite is found in many geological environments. Its great blue-green crystals are very rare and very popular among collectors. Also vivianite filled fossil shells are among very interesting and popular collectors items. Vivianite distinguishing characteristic is that it permanently changes color with exposure to light, changing from a colorless or pale green transparent mineral to an opaque one in various shades of blue, then darker green, brown, purple and purplish-black. John Henry Vivian, mine-owner, mineralogist and politician living in Cornwall, southwest England, discovered the mineral at St. Agnes, Cornwall and a German contemporary, Abraham Gottlob Werner, named it after Vivian in 1817. Crystal Structure of Vivianite Vivianite is a hydrated iron phosphate mineral, Fe2+Fe2+ 2 (PO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O. The Fe2+ is written twice in the vivianite formula because the iron occupies two different structural positions in the mineral lattice. In one site, the Fe2+ is surrounded by 4 waters and 2 oxygens, forming an octahedral group; in the other, the Fe2+ is surrounded by 2 waters and 4 oxygens, forming another octahedral group. The oxygens themselves are part of tetrahedral phosphate groups. These octahedra and tetrahedra form chains within sheets weakly bonded to each other, producing excellent cleavage between them. Great cluster with vivianite crystals from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 12 x 12 cm, Alfred Schreilechner collection. Photo: Albert Russ Vivianite is a member of the monoclinic system. The mineral usually occurs as prismatic crystals, sometimes vividly colored. Crystals can also occur as star-shaped aggregates; as bladed, fibrous encrustations; or as tabular, micaceous, nodular, concretionary, earthy or powdery masses. Equant crystals are rare. Elongated crystals may show some flexibility, and may be bent. Fibrous varieties are sectile. Excellent vivianite crystals from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 5 x 7 cm (left) and 3 x 4 cm (right). Alfred Schreilechner collection, both photos: Albert Russ Manganese (Mn2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) may substitute for iron (Fe2+) in the structure. Phosphorus in the anion group can be replaced by As5+. These two substitution paths lead to a large number of recognized variations of vivianite group minerals. It is a family of minerals with the general formula A 3 (XO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O, where A is a divalent (2+) transition metal cation and X is either phosphorus or arsenic. Twinned group of vivianite crystals from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 4 x 4 cm. Photo: Albert Russ Well known members of vivianite group are green annabergite Ni 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O and purple erythrite Co 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O. Common iron arsenates are monoclinic parasymplesite and triclinic symplesite, both Fe2+ 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O. Metavivianite (Fe2+ 3-x ,Fe3+ x )(PO 4 ) 2 (OH) x .8-xH 2 O, which vivianite readily alters to, is not a member of the vivianite group because it contains trivalent Fe3+ cations. Physical Properties of Vivianite Pure fresh vivianite is colorless, but ranges into shades of green, bluish green, greenish-blue, indigo-blue, grayish-blue, purplish-black or black, depending on the level of self- oxidation described earlier. Luster ranges from pearly on cleavage surfaces to vitreous or dull elsewhere. Its hardness is variable (1.5 - 2.0), with a white streak that will degrade to dark blue or brown, and a density of 2.68. By weight, vivianite is 42.97 % FeO, 28.30 % P 2 O 5 , and 28.73 % H 2 O. Nice vivianite crystal on matrix from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 4 x 5 cm. Photo: Albert Russ The color change is remarkable because it is the result of internal oxidation. That is, no molecule of water or oxygen enters the mineral lattice from outside, and none leaves. Instead, a visible light photon enters the lattice, knocks a proton from a water molecule, and creates an unbalanced hydroxide ion (OH-). To compensate, one of the contained Fe2+ iron ions gives up an electron to become Fe3+, balancing the charge. The result is a darkening and permanent color shift in the mineral. Ultimately, the specimen will convert much of its Fe2+ to Fe3+, lose 1 of its 8 H 2 O, and morph into metavivianite, ideally Fe2+Fe3+ 2 (PO 4 ) 2 (OH).7(H 2 O), also known as kertschenite. The technical term for the process of proton loss is deprotonation. Cluster of vivianite crystals on matrix from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 8 x 6 cm, Alfred Schreilechner photo. Photo: Albert Russ Because vivianite is notorious for darkening upon exposure to light, this instability is reason enough to keep all valued specimens in darkness, and only expose them to light during the short period of time in which they can be admired. Origin Vivianite is a secondary mineral found in a number of geologic environments: in phosphate-rich granite pegmatites, in clays and glauconitic sediments, and in Recent alluvial deposits where it replaces organic material such as peat, lignite, bog iron ores and forest soils. Vivianite also replaces teeth and bones buried in peat bogs, and can nucleate within the shells of bivalves and gastropods. The best crystal specimens featuring a gem-quality green color are recovered from hydrothermal vein systems. Nice vivianite crystal on matrix from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 8 x 6 cm. Photo: Albert Russ Applications There are almost no current practical uses of vivianite. There are 3 feebly documented applications: There is a suggestion that painters may have used powdered vivianite in blue oil paints in 17th century Baroque and Rococo painting to allow the sky tones to deepen into darker blues (through self-oxidation), rather than rely on powdered azurite, which slowly alters a sky to malachite green. Vivianite crystals from Oruro department (left) and Potosi department (right), Bolivia. Size: 3.5 x 7 cm (left) and 4 x 6 cm (right). Both specimens from Alfred Schreilechner collection. Both photos: Albert Russ In modern times, there has been at least one attempt, reported in Spain in 1991, to apply vivianite as a soil amendment to combat iron deficiency in calcareous soils. (Vivianite has been tried, from time to time, as a phosphate soil amendment). Aside from issues of cost and application, the question not pursued in the research was whether the vivianite amendment could promote the release of Fe over several growing seasons. Vivianite from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 5 x 4 cm. Photo: Albert Russ Finally, there has been abstract speculation that the free migration of the liberated proton (in self-oxidation) might permit vivianite to be considered for use in hydrogen fuel cells, since other proton-transmissive lattices are studied for the same purpose. Occurrence The type locality for vivianite is Wheal Kind, St Agnes District, Cornwall, England. The world's largest vivianite crystals (more than a meter long) were recovered in Cameroon. Classic vivianite localities are in sedimentary iron ores and in fossil shells in the Kerch and Taman Peninsulas on the Black Sea. Spray of dark vivianite crystals from Kerch Peninsula. Size: 7 x 6 cm. Photo: Albert Russ Recently, the best specimens on the market are from Bolivia: Vivid green prisms (~ 5-6 cm) embedded in altered red sandstone, were discovered in 2004 in Tomokoni Mine, Machacamarca District, Potosi Department. Crystals to 10 cm occur at the Siglio XX tin mine and transparent bottle green crystals to 10 cm came from the San Jose/San Firmin vein, Llallagua, Potosi Department. In general, the vivianite occurs as prismatic crystals on a matrix of botryoidal goethite derived from the alteration of pyrite and marcasite. Numerous occurences are in Brazil: Cigana Mine, Galileia, Minas Gerais, with muscovite and pyrite. Typically wedge-shaped crystals of vivianite to 11 cm across, smoke-blue color and good transparency on a matrix of sharp silvery muscovite plates, some with druses of pyrite microcrystals. Blue vivianite is common in the phosphate aplite from Silbergrube quarry near Waidhaus, Bavaria, Germany. Photo: Zbyněk Buřival Vivianite occurs in the limonitic ores in Amberg-Auerbach and in the pegmatites of Hagendorf-Pleystein area, Bavaria, Germany. Trepča Mines, Stari Trg, Kosovo, produced prismatic crystals up to 10 cm long and 2 cm thick. Deep green in color and transparent, commonly resting on pyrrhotite or pyrite. Vivianite was found along fractures in rocks rich in graphite, pyrite and pyrrhotite at Nagasawa, Iwama-machi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is intimately associated with pyrite and occurs as very thin tabular crystals, up to 10 cm in length. Blue-green gem-quality crystals to 8 cm long came from the San Antonio Mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. Bog iron at Côte St Charles, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Montérégie, Québec, Canada, has some vivianite too. Nice vivianite crystals from Oruro department, Bolivia. Size: 3 x 4 cm (left) and 3 x 3 cm (right). Both photos: Albert Russ Vivianite occurs at many sites in the USA: In diatomite in a Tertiary lake bed near Burey, Shasta County, California. In green (glauconite) sand at Middletown, New Castle County, Delaware. Other sites include Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho. Crystals in shades of pink, green, grayish blue, purple and purplish black, as well as colorless. The unique deep purple color of some Blackbird mine specimens is characteristic of the locality. Some single crystals have both purple and green zones. Vivianite crystals from the Blackbird Mine are usually elongated and blade-like, occurring as singles and groups on dark altered schist and on white quartz. Vivianite is abundant in the pegmatites of Newry, Maine. |
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) U.S. champion Nathan Chen opened the Grand Prix season by beating Olympic gold-medal favorite Yuzuru Hanyu. Chen, 18, held off Hanyu at Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, totaling 293.79 points to win by 3.02 over the Japanese megastar. Russian Yevgenia Medvedeva easily won the women’s title despite a rare fall in her free skate. Medvedeva is undefeated since 2015 Rostelecom Cup. Full scores are here. Chen landed four quadruple jumps in a strong but imperfect free skate for his first Grand Prix title in his second senior international season. “I got a little tired halfway through the program and started faltering a little bit on the second quad toe – that was a big mistake,” Chen said, according to the International Skating Union .”I can’t let things like that happen in the future. But this is my first Grand Prix win, and I’m very happy with that.” Hanyu outscored Chen in the free skate, but the American benefited from his 5.69-point lead from Friday’s short program. Hanyu, the reigning Olympic and world champion, has never won his opening Grand Prix start in eight tries. He did three quadruple jumps in Saturday’s free skate rather than the planned five, but did not fall as he did in the short program. Chen has now outscored Hanyu in three of their last four head-to-head events dating to February. Hanyu got the better of Chen at the most important event — winning the world championships, where the American was sixth. In the women’s event Saturday, Medvedeva fell on her very last jump, a double Axel, and appeared to smile and laugh it off. Victory — her 10th straight internationally dating back two years — was already assured by that point. “It was a kind of moral weakness – I let out my joy too early,” Medvedeva said, according to the ISU. “But it was a useful mistake, and I will learn from it.” The 17-year-old distanced Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner of Italy by 15.23 points despite breaking a streak of 14 straight programs without a fall. Japan’s Wakaba Higuchi was third. That meant Russian Yelena Radionova (the only woman to beat Medvedeva in senior international competition) missed the podium for the first time in nine Grand Prix starts (not counting Grand Prix Finals). Mariah Bell and Mirai Nagasu, who went three-four at last season’s U.S. Championships, labored to sixth- and ninth-place finishes in Moscow. They’ll look to improve the rest of the fall and at January’s nationals, after which the three-woman Olympic team will be named. Also Saturday, two-time world medalists Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani won the ice dance with 189.24 points, sweeping both the short and free programs. The siblings and U.S. champions have now won four straight Grand Prix titles (not counting the Grand Prix Final). They won by 4.5 points over Russians Yekaterina Bobrova and Dmitry Soloviyev. The world’s top two couples were not in the field — Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and France’s Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. Russia swept the pairs podium, led by world bronze medalists Yevgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov. The top pairs teams from the rest of the world — including world champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong — were not in the field. The Grand Prix season continues next weekend with Skate Canada, headlined by three-time U.S. champion Ashley Wagner and three-time world champion Patrick Chan. OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us! MORE: Figure skating season broadcast schedule Rostelecom Cup Men 1. Nathan Chen (USA) — 293.79 2. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) — 290.77 3. Mikhail Kolyada (RUS) — 271.06 11. Grant Hochstein (USA) — 206.09 Women 1. Yevgenia Medvedeva (RUS) — 231.21 2. Carolina Kostner (ITA) — 215.98 3. Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) — 207.17 6. Mariah Bell (USA) — 188.56 9. Mirai Nagasu (USA) — 178.25 Ice Dance 1. Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) — 189.24 2. Yekaterina Bobrova/Dmitry Soloviyev (RUS) — 184.74 3. Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS) — 179.35 7. Rachel Parsons/Michael Parsons (USA) — 148.75 Pairs 1. Yevgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) — 224.25 2. Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS) — 204.43 3. Kristina Astakhova/Aleksey Rogonov (RUS) — 199.11 7. Marissa Castelli/Mervin Tran (USA) — 170.53 |
CALGARY – In a blockbuster shake-up of Canada’s mobile phone industry, cable and Internet giant Shaw Communications is buying upstart WIND Mobile in a deal valued at about $1.6 billion. If approved by regulators, the deal could go a long way toward helping the federal government meet its stated desire for a fourth national wireless carrier to challenge the market dominance of Rogers, Bell and Telus. READ MORE: 5 things you should know about CRTC’s new cellphone contract rules “This transaction represents a transformational step in the history of Shaw and we are excited about our future growth prospects in mobile,” Chief Executive Officer Brad Shaw said in a statement released late Wednesday. “This growth will be accelerated by combining Shaw’s existing customer relationships, trusted brand and wireline and WiFi infrastructure with WIND’s impressive asset base.” WIND is Canada’s fourth-largest wireless services provider, serving approximately 940,000 subscribers across Ontario, BC and Alberta. WATCH: Shaw Communications CEO Brad Shaw spoke with Global’s Gord Gillies regarding Shaw’s blockbuster acquisition of WIND Mobile. The move by Shaw comes as a surprise, since the Calgary-based company had announced in 2013 that it was abandoning plans for a cellular division and would focus instead on cheaper Wi-Fi options for mobile customers. READ MORE: Global News SkyTracker Weather app FAQ Earlier this year, it sold its unused wireless spectrum to rival Rogers for $100 million. To receive regulatory approval for the transaction, Rogers agreed to transfer some of its spectrum to WIND, strengthening the competitive ability of the company which is now being acquired by Shaw. WATCH: Wind Mobile CEO Alek Krstajic speaks to Global’s Gord Gillies after reaching a deal with Shaw Communications to purchase the company. WIND’s current management team, led by CEO Alek Krstajic, will remain with the Company and lead the wireless division. “We believe the combination of Shaw and WIND creates a wireless leader with immediate benefits for our customers and employees, giving them more choice, capabilities and opportunities to stay connected,” said Krstajic. Shaw Communications is the parent company of Global News. |
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Rémy Cabella from Montpellier By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor Newcastle United have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Rémy Cabella from Montpellier. The 24-year-old French international, who can play on either flank or in a central role, has put pen to paper on a six-year contract at St. James' Park and arrives for an undisclosed fee. Born in Corsica, Cabella joined Montpellier at the age of 14 and progressed through the ranks at the Stade de la Mosson. He made his professional debut in December 2010 during a season-long loan spell with Arles Avignon, before his Montpellier bow followed in August 2011. From there, Cabella established himself as a regular in La Paillade's midfield, gaining Champions League experience as well as lifting the Ligue 1 trophy in May 2012. Cabella was part of the France squad which reached the quarter-finals of this summer's World Cup in Brazil, and said: "It is great to finally be a Newcastle player. "This is a move that I really wanted to make, as I have heard nothing but good things about Newcastle United from everyone I spoke to. "I wanted to join a great English club and that is why I have arrived here. I'm looking forward to pulling on the shirt and playing in this magnificent stadium, and I will give this Club my maximum." Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said: "Remy is a player who has been on our radar for a while and we are delighted to bring him to the Club. "He is a player who I am sure will excite our fans. He has flair, hard work and commitment, and is going to bring a talent, energy and quality to St. James' Park that our supporters will enjoy. "Remy has great ideas when the ball comes to him, and along with Siem de Jong is going to improve an area where we definitely needed some help." Newcastle United season tickets for the 2014/15 campaign are now on sale. To secure your seat at St. James' Park, click here. |
ICAC: Upper House MP Marie Ficarra calls own evidence 'unknowingly wrong', defends schnauzer quips Updated New South Wales Upper House MP Marie Ficarra has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that some of the earlier evidence she gave was "unknowingly wrong". Ms Ficarra has been accused of soliciting a $5,000 illegal donation from developer Tony Merhi, which was then channelled through alleged slush fund Eightbyfive. She stood aside from the parliamentary Liberal Party and has been sitting on the crossbench since the allegations against her were aired at the opening of the ICAC inquiry into alleged Liberal slush funds and donation for favours. On Thursday Ms Ficarra and Mr Merhi gave almost totally conflicting evidence about how he came to make a $5,000 payment to Eightbyfive, leading counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC to accuse of her "fibbing" and making up evidence as she went along. He told the hearing that details Ms Ficarra gave in support of her evidence contradicted what she had said when giving private evidence in July. Ms Ficarra explained away the changes by saying her memory had been jogged by a diary note about her sick miniature schnauzer. On her second day in the witness box, Ms Ficarra conceded that some of her earlier evidence had been incorrect. "Now I know it to be wrong ... but it was unknowingly wrong," she said. Mr Watson then suggested that Ms Ficarra's story was not at all truthful and that she knew Eightbyfive was a slush fund. "You knew that it was a means of collecting money from otherwise prohibited donors," Mr Watson said. "Absolutely not," Ms Ficarra replied. "You knew that it was a scam when you did it, didn't you?" he asked. "Absolutely not," she replied. "You knew Eightbyfive had emerged from the office of [former energy minister] Chris Hartcher," he said. "Absolutely not," Ms Ficarra replied. On Thursday Mr Merhi said Ms Ficarra had recommended Eightbyfive as a lobbying service, and that he had been "set up". But Ms Ficarra insisted she had simply told Mr Merhi his "community" might like to help out the Young Liberal Flying Squad and put him in touch with Young Liberal vice president Charles Perrottet. Yesterday the MP also rejected Mr Watson's suggestion that she was trying to drag down the reputation of Mr Perrottet in order to "save her own skin". Asked how Mr Merhi's money had ended up in the Eightbyfive account, Ms Ficarra said: "Somehow it ended up there, someone was responsible, but it wasn't me". Also making an appearance at ICAC on Thursday was the former head of Australian Water Holdings (AWH), Nick Di Girolamo. In the lead up to the 2011 election, AWH made regular payments to Eightbyfive but Mr Di Girolamo denied it received favours in return. He conceded he had a hand in drafting a press release issued by Mr Hartcher's office about a site AWH had an interest in, but said he could not see anything wrong with doing so. Mr Di Girolamo, who was also the man who gave a now infamous bottle of Grange Hermitage to former premier Barry O'Farrell, also told ICAC he could not remember if he had organised for Mr Hartcher to ask questions in parliament which would benefit AWH. Topics: corruption, state-parliament, government-and-politics, urban-development-and-planning, nsw First posted |
When last we left our intrepid Oath of the Gatewatch design team , we learned that the second set in the Battle for Zendikar block had been built around Kozilek, an Eldrazi titan that everyone had assumed had left the plane of Zendikar. Instead, he had burrowed underground and was returning to the aid of his trapped fellow titan, Ulamog. The team came up with the idea of having Kozilek's reality-warping ability reflected by having colorless mana as a cost requirement. This resulted in us coming up with a new symbol for colorless mana as well as creating a new basic land, Wastes. The problem was that the story was only partly about Kozilek. It was also the set where a collection of Planeswalkers were going to band together to form a team to fight threats like the Eldrazi. The design was on the hook for mechanically representing that aspect of the story as well, something the team didn't realize until halfway through the design. Today's story is about how the team accomplished this task. Come Together At the very next meeting (after the brand team asked us to highlight the new super group), Ethan came to the design team with our new goal. The set would still have the Kozilek stuff, but in addition, we needed to have some mechanical elements that communicated the forming of the Gatewatch. We did some brainstorming to figure out what that might mean: Mechanics that involved cooperation between players Mechanics that rewarded combinations Mechanics that built things up Mechanics that allowed creatures to help one another The common bond we found was twofold. First, we liked the idea that some group of things, be it players or creatures, created a beneficial relationship with each other. Second, we saw coming together as a team as being symbolically represented by building up and becoming stronger. These were the threads we started with. A Surge in the Polls A very common thing to do when using a brainstorm to come up with new mechanics in design is to start with some of the more "out there" suggestions. Going down paths you've trod numerous times will only result in you remaking mechanics you've already made, but starting somewhere fresh allows you to explore places that perhaps you've never visited before. Because of this, the first idea we explored was that of a mechanic that helped you help another player. Many years ago, Unglued was the first Magic set to ever play in this space, with a cycle of five cards that acknowledged players other than your single opponent. Magic is a multiplayer game, but we've always worded black-border cards so that they made sense in a two-player game. As such, we've avoided putting words like "teammate" in rules text. But this was going to be a set all about a team coming together. Maybe we could bend the rules here to reinforce this theme. The problem, of course, was that we didn't want to print cards in black borders that were meaningless in two-player play. So how could we care about teammates in a way that mattered and was relevant but didn't render the card obsolete in a traditional two-person duel? The solution to this problem was to find a way to care about something that teammates could help with but that didn't necessarily require them. What exactly fit that description? After some talk, it was clear that one of the easiest things to care about was spells being cast. It's something that other players do that you also do. Ari suggested a card that somehow cared if a spell had been previously played this turn. It could be a spell you played or it could be a spell that a teammate played. Interestingly, this mechanic—minus the teammate part—was something we explored during Odyssey design many years ago. (Ari was unaware of this; the more design I do, the more I observe parallel designs where two different people/groups end up with the same design.) The big question was how exactly the spell was affected by having another spell previously cast. We toyed around with the idea that it enhanced the spell, either making it have a bigger effect or possibly having a second synergistic effect. In the end, we decided that it was more important to make sure you could cast it. After all, in a two-player game, you had to have cast another spell—and thus didn't have a lot of mana. This led us to decide to make the benefit a reduced cost. Surge was a little controversial because of the inclusion of the word "teammate" in the ability's reminder text. The design team's stance was this: Part of making sets have an identity is finding places to push in directions we don't normally go. Yes, we didn't want to start using the word "teammate" in every set, but in the set all about a team being formed, we felt it was an acceptable bend. We stressed to the development team that the mechanic still worked if you took off the teammate part, so they would have the ability to test it, and if they found the "teammate" inclusion too problematic, it would be easy to remove it later. Another side effect of including this mechanic was we decided it would be fun thematically to push the Two-Headed Giant format with the release of the Oath of the Gatewatch. We don't often have a mechanic like surge that calls out teammates, so as part of the larger theme we were working for, we suggested Organized Play support some Two-Headed Giant play. As such, both design and development playtested the set in the Two-Headed Giant format, something we don't normally do. I'm happy to say that when the dust settled, it was decided that design's instincts were correct and the teammate component stayed as part of the surge mechanic. Thank You for Your Support The next place we started exploring was the idea of your creatures helping out one another. It was quickly pointed out that the Gatewatch was a collection of Planeswalkers, so maybe we could also find a way to help out planeswalkers. We knew that just helping out planeswalkers wasn't something we'd do at common, and we were interested in finding a mechanic we could use at common—which meant we also wanted to help out creatures. Art by Kieran Yanner We started with the idea of figuring out how a player could help both creatures and/or planeswalkers. We realized that the help fell into a couple categories: You could help make it easier to get creatures/planeswalkers onto the battlefield You could make creatures/planeswalkers more powerful on the battlefield You could protect creatures/planeswalkers, making it harder for opponents to get rid of them Surge was already an alternate-cost mechanic, so the first option wasn't something we were interested in. We also felt that the third felt more indirect than the second, as preventing harm wasn't as clean and clear as helping. The new question was, how could we help both creatures and planeswalkers? Planeswalkers were a more complex problem, so we started there. Planeswalkers on the battlefield mostly cared about loyalty. The obvious way to help them would be to grant them extra loyalty. The problem, though, was that creatures don't have loyalty. We took a step back and thought about loyalty more abstractly. Planeswalkers have a resource represented by a counter. Creatures could also do that through the use of things like +1/+1 counters. We've learned through the proliferate mechanic that we can tie +1/+1 counters and loyalty together by caring about counters. Since we were interested in the flavor of helping out one another, perhaps the mechanic could add counters—loyalty counters for planeswalkers and +1/+1 counters for creatures. We explored different options, but in the end decided to make it a keyword action. This action was something you could do, as a spell, as an "enter the battlefield" effect, wherever we felt it made the most flavor sense and played the best. As we were trying to create a sense of teamwork (support was originally called teamwork), we liked the idea that if you got to distribute more than one counter, you had spread it around to multiple creatures and planeswalkers. This way you wouldn't just stack everything on one creature but rather build up your whole team. The mechanic passed from design to development, and for most of development all was well. Late in the process, though, it became clear that putting loyalty counters on planeswalkers created a number of developmental problems. It was so late in the process that there wasn't time to do extensive reworking of the mechanic, so unfortunately the only option was to remove the loyalty-granting part of the ability. Luckily, the change had very little impact on Limited, where the mechanic was made to shine. Interlude: More Changes to the Status Quo Before I can continue on with my story, I must first explain another curveball thrown to the Oath of the Gatewatch design team. (If I haven't made it crystal clear, the design team had a lot more issues to deal with than an average small-set design team.) Magic is currently 22 years old, and as such has a certain rhythm of how things work. Since Magic Origins, we have been making major changes to break that rhythm and try different things. Rather than one block a year, we're doing two. Instead of three sets in a block, there's two. Core sets are gone. We've doubled down on our story and have created whole new ways to tell it and express it through the cards. Well, once you start making changes as big as these, you're open to making other big changes. What is the number one most common request we've gotten about small sets over the years? Any ideas? The answer is that players really want to play more of it when the set comes out. We've altered how many packs you play with at the Prerelease, but the audience wanted something more substantial. Why couldn't drafts with a small set have two packs of the small set and just one of the large set? Why can't drafting have more of the new cards in it? Skitterskin | Art by Michael Komarck For years we've ignored this suggestion, because we believed that the smaller card pool would lead to a less robust drafting experience. But in the spirit of change, we decided to finally question our assumptions. Instead of asking "Should we do this?" we asked instead, "What would we need to change if we did do this?" The Oath of the Gatewatch design and development teams spent time on this problem and then came up with a number of suggestions for how to do it correctly. One of those suggestions was to increase the set size. Another was being a bit more proactive about making sure that the newer set evolved how certain block elements played. This latter decision will become important in a moment. Happily, we think we figured it out—and moving forward, small sets will draft Small Set/Small Set/Large Set. Finding Cohorts The design team was trying to be more proactive about changing up block elements. The Ulamog-flavored mechanics were giving way to the Kozilek mechanics, so the Eldrazi side was having a fundamental shift. That meant the design team had to do the same for the Zendikari side. The plan to do this was to introduce a new Ally keyword mechanic. The design team experimented with numerous different designs, but ended up with something we called breakthrough. Breakthrough was a mechanic that said, "At the end of combat, if any of your Allies dealt combat damage to an opponent, TRIGGER EFFECT." The mechanic aimed to show the Allies becoming aggressive in trying to stop the Eldrazi, and so shifted to a more combat-centric focus. The mechanic made it to development, but it was there that it was decided the mechanic too heavily pushed all-out aggression. The Allies in Battle for Zendikar had also been pretty aggressive, and there was interest in coming up with an Ally mechanic that might shift the Ally strategy in a new direction, away from just being aggressive. As is often done in development when there is a need for a new design, a mini team was put together. This team was run by Ethan Fleischer and their goal was to find a mechanic that pushed Allies in a new direction. The team came up with a number of different options, but the one the development team liked most was cohort. Cohort is an ability word on creatures that requires tapping that creature and another Ally. The mechanic was based on designs from Onslaught that required tapping a certain number of a particular creature type. The idea behind the mechanic was that it represented the Allies working together, and it had a bit more of a combo feeling that encouraged building up rather than all-out aggro. Also, as each effect could be different, it allowed for the mechanic to support various strategies. Interestingly, the one big sticking point with the mechanic was trying to choose how to best represent it. The original design copied the Onslaught cards and just said, "Tap two Allies you control." The concern was that many players might not understand whether you could use cohort to tap a creature on the turn you cast it. (Yes, you can, but only for a different Ally's cohort ability; summoning sickness prevents using a tap symbol, but not tapping a permanent as a cost.) The editing team and development tried various different versions and finally settled on the version where it's a tap ability and requires the tapping of one other Ally. Making an Oath The final piece to the puzzle was my biggest contribution to the set. We were talking about capturing a team coming together, and I flashed back to a comic from my youth: the Justice League. The Justice League is the biggest superhero group from the DC Comics universe and has over the years included all the major superheroes from that comic line: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and more. I was a huge Justice League fan growing up, and I went out of my way to read all the early issues of the comic. The original team started with seven members, and then every once in a while the team would add a new member. Whenever a new member was added, the comic would most often end with them taking an oath to uphold the principles of the team. I liked the imagery and thought having our characters take an oath would be a nice visual. Mechanically, I thought we could make a cycle of Oath cards that would represent who exactly was joining the team. This would also help in the future as other Planeswalkers joined the Gatewatch. The question was how we could mechanically represent the Oaths. I knew we wanted the names to be "Oath of PLANESWALKER," which implied to me they'd be enchantments, as it felt like something permanent. We gave each Oath a good enters-the-battlefield effect to make sure they would be worth playing, and then we granted each one a static ability that would be beneficial to any other planeswalkers you had. In our original version, we had the static ability grant all your planeswalkers a new loyalty ability, but development pointed out that this would make all planeswalkers more similar and would create repetitive gameplay. Also, they would be hard to balance, and if we wanted the ability to make many Oaths in the future, it would leave limited design space. In the end, it was decided to go a little broader with the static ability and have it help planeswalkers in different ways. The cycle, by the way, is actually not a full cycle, as there are only four colors represented. There was no black-aligned planeswalker interested in joining the Gatewatch. (Ob Nixilis being the only candidate on Zendikar, and he's not really a team player.) The one last change made by development was making the Oaths legendary, both to allow them to push the cards a little power-wise and to keep from having too many of them clogging up the battlefield. And now I give you Oath of Gideon: That's all I have for today. As always, I'm eager to hear any feedback on either my column or the new set. You can send me an email or contact me through any of my social media accounts (Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Instagram). Join me next week when I start telling some card-by-card stories about the set. Until then, may you find some people who you can team up with. "Drive to Work #292—Dragons of Tarkir, Part 4" This podcast is part four of my six-part series on the design of Dragons of Tarkir. "Drive to Work #293—Dragons of Tarkir, Part 5" This podcast is part five of my six-part series on the design of Dragons of Tarkir. |
U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to a public crowd Sunday in Prague that the United States was ready to take the lead in battling climate change after some prodding by EU leaders to adopt their ambitious goals to combat global warming. “To protect our planet, now is the time to change the way that we use energy. Together, we must confront climate change by ending the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, by tapping the power of new sources of energy like the wind and sun, and calling upon all nations to do their part,” Obama said to the crowd gathered outside the medieval Prague Castle . “I pledge to you that in this global effort, the United States is now ready to lead,” he said as cheers erupted from the crowd of tens of thousands of people. The Europeans seem to be taking well to the latest position on climate change that Obama layed out. The change of policy from the stance of his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, is something that the EU was looking to see. The EU has been waiting for the U.S. to make substantial commitments toward cutting its greenhouse gas emissions. “We welcome the steps taken by the new American administration and the increasing convergence between the European and U.S. position on that matter,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. “Only together we can convince others to join our common effort to fight climate change.” EU nations have agreed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, rising to 30 percent if the rest of the developed world — mainly the United States and Japan — agrees to do so. French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants Obama to lead by example and cause other developing powerhouse nations to follow suit. “While we’re happy that the Americans want to take the lead in the fight against climate change, they have to convince more than just the Europeans,” Sarkozy said in comments to AFP. “I told President Obama that it was very important that the United States does more so it would persuade the world, notably China and India, to follow suit.” |
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan recently told ESPN.com he studies Drew Brees and several of the other elite quarterbacks around the league. Ryan's words were relayed to Brees via conference call Wednesday as the Saints prepare to face the Falcons Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Brees' response showed how much respect he has for Ryan's game. "First of all, I'm humbled by that," Brees said of Ryan studying him. "I think Matt Ryan is an exceptional player. I think he belongs in the elite category in this league. I think he's been extremely consistent and has played at a very, very high level ever since he's been there." Like Ryan, Brees does his share of studying the great quarterbacks. "I think the guys who I study, a lot of the guys are pretty obvious ones," Brees said. "The (Tom) Bradys, the Aaron (Rodgers), Peyton (Manning). "Here's the thing: I'm a fan of the game. ... There are certain offenses I like watching when you're about to play the next week's opponent and you're kind of looking at the list of games of who have they played recently. You're excited about watching certain games to see certain quarterbacks, certain offenses, certain coordinators; that kind of thing. Not that you're measuring yourself against them, but you're picking up on little things here and there that you feel like they can help you become a better player." |
I arrived back today to find a parcel outside my door. It was a bit bashed in so I was worried when I opened it, hoping it wouldn't be delicate and broken. I got a giant surprise when I opened it to find this terrifying severed head staring out at me! It really creeps me out, great trick! Of course the first thing I had to do was lie in wait for my boyfriend who I knew would be on his way back from the shops and would need me to open the door for him. He claims he wasn't scared but I don't believe him :P It's now hanging in the spare room of my flat with the lights off so it should scare the life out of one of my flatmates any minute now... Also in the box were some delicious sweets and 3 scary movies. Me and the girls love horror films and we haven't seen these so we can't wait to sit down in a couple of weeks (after assignments are over) to watch them all :) Awesome gift, I can't believe how amazing it is. Thank you so much, best Halloween yet :) x |
The state’s judicial watchdog censured Orange County Superior Court Judge Scott Steiner for having sex in his chambers on multiple occasions with two of his former law students. The California Commission on Judicial Performance also disciplined Steiner for trying to help one of his sex partners get a job at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, failing to disqualify himself in a case involving a longtime friend, and other rules violations related to conflicts of interest. “Engaging in sexual intercourse in the courthouse is the height of irresponsible and improper behavior by a judge,” the commission wrote in an agreement approved Aug. 20 and announced Tuesday. “It reflects an utter disrespect for the dignity and decorum of the court, and is seriously at odds with a judge’s duty to avoid conduct that tarnishes the esteem of the judicial office in the public’s eye.” The panel also said Steiner’s behavior could create a hostile work environment at the courthouse. Steiner’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer, said his client is sorry. “Judge Steiner cooperated fully in the investigation. He apologizes and appreciates the commission’s thorough review and fair findings in this matter,” Meyer said. The censure, while a public rebuke, allows Steiner to remain on the bench with full pay and benefits. His salary is listed as $181,292 per year. Soon after allegations against Steiner arose in early 2013, he was moved from the central courthouse in Santa Ana to the Fullerton courthouse, where he has been hearing criminal cases. The commission has disciplined three other Orange County judges since 2012, including one who was removed from the bench. Statewide, the commission disciplined 30 judges in 2013, mostly with advisory letters. A former prosecutor, Steiner was elected to the Superior Court bench in 2010, after the retirement of longtime Judge Margaret Anderson. He was endorsed by a virtual who’s who of county government, including Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Steiner’s term expires in 2017 and it’s unclear if he’ll run again. Fred Smoller, associate professor of political science at Chapman University, said that while the censure certainly wouldn’t help Steiner in any re-election bid, it isn’t an automatic end to his political career. “My guess (is) if he admits it by 2017, and if no one runs against him, he’ll be OK.” A criminal investigation into Steiner’s practices ended with the state attorney general declining to file charges. The main allegation was that Steiner engaged in sex three times in 2012 in his chambers, twice while the courthouse was open. His partners were former students he’d taught at Chapman School of Law. Steiner remains on leave from Chapman while the university conducts an internal investigation. One of Steiner’s partners was a practicing attorney. The commission found that Steiner violated regulations after he began recusing himself from the attorney’s cases and sending them to other judges, instead of allowing the presiding judge to decide where the cases should go. The commission found no evidence that the attorney engaged in sex with Steiner in exchange for help in “obtaining employment.” Another partner once worked as an intern for Steiner. The commission found that Steiner improperly inquired with his former colleagues at the District Attorney’s Office on behalf of the former intern – who was seeking employment there. According to the commission, Steiner talked to two people at the District Attorney’s Office, after the former intern was denied the job. He asked whether they had seen his letter of recommendation, and what she could do to improve her application. “Well, I guess writing a letter of recommendation means nothing,” he said during one of the conversations. Steiner did not ask directly that she be hired, the commission said. While judges are allowed to provide references or write letters of recommendations, Steiner’s actions crossed the line of proper conduct, the commission wrote. Besides the allegations involving the two women, Steiner failed to disqualify himself from cases involving a close friend, the commission found. Steiner had mistakenly concluded that disclosing the relationship was enough to take care of any legal concerns. “Disclosure is not sufficient when disqualification is required,” said the commission. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@ocregister.com |
Coming Out, a Second Time Courtney Jensen Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jul 19, 2016 This is new, and scary…but welcome to life! This year has been one of transition. The hardest ‘transition’ of my life to date, and I can’t keep quiet about it any longer. I am a Mormon. GASP While that may not be a big surprise, considering it is the faith I grew up in, to me it is a BIG FAT DEAL. But as you are reading this, I can see the confusion growing on some of your faces. Wait…isn’t she married? To a woman? The answer to is no, not anymore. DOUBLE GASP. Have no fear. Rachelle and I are happy, full of hope, and faithful. Neither of us would be where we are without the other, and we are still and will forever be a support system for each other. As I have gone through this process of conversion, I continue to get this feeling. Share your story. So here I am. I will do my best to share my thoughts, struggles, and life revelations here. I have resolved to be a tool in the Lords hands. I want nothing more than to bring people happiness. And one thing I have learned this year is that lasting joy and happiness can only be found in truth. And as it turns out…the church is true. I know this. I’m a big fan of cliff hangers, so I will leave it at that for now. But come back soon for more eternal thoughts. |
If the floor of his race shop isn't swept to his satisfaction, Joe Nemechek sweeps it. If parts need to be fetched from a vendor for either his Sprint Cup or Nationwide series cars, Joe Nemechek will likely be the one doing the fetching, unless he's busy updating his website with bylined news releases. Or unless he's under a deadline machining parts for the Super Late Model car his son, John Hunter, will drive on a given weekend. And then there are sponsor calls. Lots of them. Times are better, financially, for the 49-year-old driver/owner/everything else, but that doesn't mean they're easier, he said. Such is the life of the modern NASCAR driver/owner/hustler. Few in NASCAR do both as vigorously and consistently as Nemechek in the shadows of the megateams that rule the sport. Joe Nemechek remains a popular underdog to root for among NASCAR fans. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway "Every day is a challenge and I look at it as an opportunity," Nemechek said. "We have a small group of guys [at NEMCO Motorsports]. We're in a partnership this year with Jay Robinson and we've been able to run all the Cup races so far. We're building." It's a slow process, often measured not so much by on-track performance but by the ability to get there. "We basically have three cars that are finished. That's all we have," he said of his Cup fleet. "Compared to the big teams, we're so far behind. You can't even compare it. But we're working really hard to get our stuff better every week, actually working on building a couple new Cup cars. "The Nationwide cars are mostly the stuff they just updated from last year, and we've been running well with that." Nemechek won the 1992 Nationwide championship as a driver/owner and has 16 career wins over 24 seasons and 397 starts in the second-tier series. He has four wins in 625 Cup starts over 21 years, most recently at Kansas Speedway -- site of this week's event -- in 2004. He is nothing if not a survivor, and there is the feeling that he isn't going anywhere. His endurance and survival instincts have helped place him fourth all time in starts in NASCAR's top three series, with 1,029. He is in elite company, trailing just seven-time series champion and all-time wins leader Richard Petty (1,182), Mark Martin (1,120) and Michael Waltrip (1,059). Nemechek has maintained some semblance of his own organization even while racing for others, including Hendrick Motorsports and the now-defunct MB2 Motorsports and Ginn Racing (MB2 changed its name to Ginn Racing, and a subsequent merger folded Ginn into Dale Earnhardt Inc.). Nemechek's mother, Martha, was a proud and ever-present extension of her son's sponsor relationship with the U.S. Army at MB2 and Ginn, wearing fatigues and other camouflage apparel to races. His younger brother, John, was killed in a 1997 Truck series crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Joe is a racer and that's what he and his family are good at it," said ESPN analyst and former Cup champion Dale Jarrett. "They have experienced highs, and obviously a terrible low in the sport. It's amazing to see them run these two operations and make it all work. They show up every week and put fast race cars out there, and they know when they can race, and they try to make the points and try to make a good showing on the days they can. |
The Chicago-based megachurch leader with serious ties throughout Florida and in Broward has lost his flock due to a sex scandal. Since the '60s, Bill Gothard has been preaching a submit-to-authority brand of Bible that excoriates rock music and free thinking: Listen to your parents, obey your husband, toe the line, etc. From his perch at the Institute in Basic Life Principles, the preacher has given millions of seminars across the country on his value system. Red-state poster people Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin are fans, not to mention the walking birth-control advertisement known as the Dugger family from TLC's 19 Kids and Counting. And a decade back, Gothardism was pretty popular across Florida. In the Gothard cosmos, divine authority is a trickle-down setup. We suckers on the bottom, we've got to obey our parents, husbands, bosses, political leaders and such because they derive their moral juice from God himself. |
Known as one of the great American sports cars, Corvettes aren’t always cheap cars to get into. This 1975 car is a little rough around the edges, but appears relatively complete, and the engine and bay are particularly clean. With a $500 opening bid and no reserve, this Chevrolet may be a sweet deal. Check it out here on ebay out of Miami, Florida. With a 350 V8 and a 4 speed manual, this seems like a hot ticket to some fun. The engine is simply described as “good” and overall the engine appears clean. The thermostat housing area is a bit chalky, but otherwise this engine looks fair, and is equipped with air conditioning. Despite the exterior appearance, the interior doesn’t look too bad. The driver seat has some splits near the stitching, and there is apparently a box of parts in the passenger seat. Although all of the glass is removed, the dash and carpet look great. At some point in time this was someones toy, as the sweet long tube headers appear to be of quality. The biggest downfall of this Corvette is the paint. My guess is the factory burgundy like color faded, peeled, and chipped, to where the car was then primered black. Looking beyond the primer, there appear to be no cracks in the body work, making this car seem all the more reasonable. With some paint and general elbow grease, this Corvette could be a sweet deal depending on the outcome of the auction. What would you pay for this American classic? |
Retired general John F. Kelly has kept a low profile in his first weeks as White House chief of staff. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) High-ranking military officials have become an increasingly ubiquitous presence in American political life during Donald Trump’s presidency, repeatedly winning arguments inside the West Wing, publicly contradicting the president and even balking at implementing one of his most controversial policies. Connected by their faith in order and global norms, these military leaders are rapidly consolidating power throughout the executive branch as they counsel a volatile president. Some establishment figures in both political parties view them as safeguards for the nation in a time of turbulence. Trump’s elevation of a cadre of current and retired generals marks a striking departure for a country that for generations has positioned civilian leaders above and apart from the military. “This is the only time in modern presidential history when we’ve had a small number of people from the uniformed world hold this much influence over the chief executive,” said John E. McLaughlin, a former acting director of the CIA who served in seven administrations. “They are right now playing an extraordinary role.” In the wake of the deadly racial violence in Charlottesville this month, five of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were hailed as moral authorities for condemning hate in less equivocal terms than the commander in chief did. President Trump has surrounded himself with generals and pledged to revamp veterans' care, while also belittling the service of his opponents. Here's a look at his track record with the military. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) On social policy, military leaders have been voices for moderation. The Pentagon declined to immediately act upon Trump’s Twitter announcement that he would ban transgender people from the armed forces, instead awaiting a more formal directive that has yet to arrive. Inside the White House, meanwhile, generals manage Trump’s hour-by-hour interactions and whisper in his ear — and those whispers, as with the decision this week to expand U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, often become policy. At the core of Trump’s circle is a seasoned trio of generals with experience as battlefield commanders: White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and national security adviser H.R. McMaster. The three men have carefully cultivated personal relationships with the president and gained his trust. Critics of the president welcome their ascendancy, seeing them as a calming force amid the daily chaos of the White House. “They are standouts of dependability in the face of rash and impulsive conduct,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “There certainly has been a feeling among many of my colleagues that they are a steadying hand on the rudder and provide a sense of consistency and rationality in an otherwise zigzagging White House.” [‘It’s a hard problem’: Inside Trump’s decision to send more troops to Afghanistan] William S. Cohen, who served as defense secretary under President Bill Clinton, said that Trump “came in with virtually no experience in governance, and there’s no coherent strategic philosophy that he holds. There has been a war within the administration, and that has yet to be resolved. . . . The military has tried to impose some coherency and discipline.” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, like other retired generals in the administration, sees guiding the president away from bad decisions as part of his role. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), an Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, praised Trump’s circle of generals and recommended McMaster and Kelly for their posts. He said the impression in some quarters that military leaders are hawks by definition is misguided. “What many people in Washington don’t understand is that generals are usually the most reluctant to commit troops to combat because they are the ones who have to write letters home to parents when they have fallen,” Cotton said. Among some on the right, however, the view is more suspicious. Some Trump supporters, for example, worry about blurring the line between military and civilian leadership, as exemplified by recent headlines at Breitbart News, the conservative website run by Stephen K. Bannon, Trump’s former chief White House strategist, who clashed with several military leaders over policy. Trump’s announcement Monday that he would escalate troop levels in Afghanistan was covered on Breitbart with alarm. Headlines warned of “unlimited war” and “nation-building” led by military leaders without links to Trump’s base. Commentator and Trump ally Ann Coulter tweeted Monday, “The military-industrial complex wins.” [‘It’s a coup d’etat’: Antiwar conservatives decry Trump’s Afghanistan surge] The concerns extend to the political left as well. At ThinkProgress, a liberal website, recent articles have rapped Trump for having a government that benefits “military insiders.” One headline this month declared: “Military figures are taking over Trump’s administration.” Trump has revered military brass since his youth, when he attended a New York military academy. He holds up generals as exemplars of American leadership and views them as kindred spirits — fellow political outsiders. “To some degree, Trump is playing president, and I think the whole idea of being able to command a group of warriors is deeply satisfying to him,” McLaughlin said. Robert M. Hathaway, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said: “It should not surprise us. Candidate Trump suggested he would defer to the people he called ‘my generals’ on a whole host of issues, and they are doing just that.” Trump idolizes swaggering commanders, such as the cinematic portrayal of George S. Patton Jr., the World War II general. But R. James Woolsey Jr., a former CIA director and undersecretary of the Navy who advised Trump during last year’s campaign, said a better comparison to Kelly, Mattis and McMaster would be George C. Marshall Jr., the Army chief of staff during World War II who went on to serve in President Harry Truman’s Cabinet. “I think these guys are more Marshall-like than Patton-like,” Woolsey said. “They have distinguished combat records, but they’re the sort of career military men who have the intellectual capability and propensity to deal with civilian matters.” [Trump loves the sheen of the brass, but generals come with some fixed views] Kelly, Mattis and McMaster are not the only military figures serving at high levels in the Trump administration. CIA Director Mike Pompeo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke each served in various branches of the military, and Trump recently tapped former Army general Mark S. Inch to lead the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Together with other allies in the administration, Kelly, Mattis and McMaster see their roles not merely as executing Trump’s directives but also as guiding him away from moves that they fear could have catastrophic consequences, according to officials familiar with the dynamic. But if a narrative takes hold that these generals are manipulating the president, Trump could rebel. He chafes at any suggestion that he is a puppet and at the idea of his advisers receiving credit for his decisions. He reacted angrily in February when Time magazine put Bannon on its cover with the headline “The Great Manipulator.” In his first month as chief of staff, Kelly has kept a low profile, sitting for no major interviews and discouraging aides from self-promotion. Democratic lawmakers are quick to criticize Trump on just about every issue, but they hold back when it comes to the preponderance of military figures in traditionally civilian positions. “There might be a temptation to be critical of the president in this context, but I for one am glad they’re there — because they’re thoughtful . . . because they’re lawful and because they’re rational,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said in an interview. “I feel like the concern about the need to maintain civilian oversight of the military is a totally legitimate one, but that concern should be addressed at a later time. In the meantime, we should be reassured that there are competent professionals there who want to make smart choices.” That position is shared by many figures in the Republican establishment who worry about Trump’s ideas and temperament. “The only chance we have of trying to keep this thing from blowing apart is some military discipline,” said Peter Wehner, who served in the three Republican administrations prior to this one and who opposes Trump. “It’s not military rule or a military coup.” [National security adviser attempts to reconcile Trump’s competing impulses on Afghanistan] Although Trump mostly has been following the military’s guidance, he easily could turn away from his generals if new problems emerge, according to people close to the president. They described Trump as with the military in spirit but guided more by his transactional instincts. They pointed out that it took weeks for him to go along with a watered-down version of the initial proposal from Mattis and McMaster on additional troops in Afghanistan. Trump has also had a strained relationship with McMaster for months, in part because of stylistic differences between the two men. The president has little patience for the methodical and consensus-oriented policy process that McMaster employs at the National Security Council, which counts two other generals on the senior staff. “When you look at the president’s tensions with McMaster, you can see how he could move away from them if things don’t improve in Afghanistan over the next six months,” said a senior White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share a candid assessment. “He’s not giving them some sort of blank check.” One example is retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who lasted a mere 24 days in his job as national security adviser. Trump fired him in February after Flynn was allegedly not truthful with Vice President Pence about communications with the Russian ambassador during the transition. “Individuals can be corrupt or incompetent, and that extends at times to people in the military,” Wehner said. “Things can go wrong with anyone.” |
Sins of Omission: What's Wrong With Gruber's Health Care Reform By Bryan Caplan Given my interest in health economics and graphic novels, I was initially hopeful about Jonathan Gruber‘s graphic novel, entitled Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary, How It Works. But in all honesty, the book is awful. Gruber crafts his argument like a salesman, not an economic educator. He’s careful to avoid outright mistakes, and makes a couple of awkward disclosures. Yet he omits a long list of crucial, damaging points. 1. Gruber explains the basic facts about health care costs: they’re rising, and government picks up much of the tab. But he almost totally neglects the connection between the two. Medicare and Medicaid vastly increase demand for health care. There’s no denying it. Imagine how much more affordable health care would be if these programs had never been adopted – or if they were abolished. 2. Gruber doesn’t just ignore the indirect effects of Medicare and Medicaid on health costs. He repeatedly panders to the populist view that near-total insurance is good. He brags that Obamacare will close the “enormous gaps” in many private insurance policies. He frowns on insurance policies that place any ceiling on annual or lifetime payouts. He even reassures readers that, under Obamacare, the government’s “comparative effectiveness research” cannot legally be used by private insurance companies to restrict health insurance coverage. Gruber’s happy to blame “Cadillac” health insurance policies for raising medical costs. But private insurers’ many efforts to restrain spending earn nothing but criticism from him. 3. More generally, Gruber ignores almost everything government does to increase the cost of health care. There’s no discussion of medical licensing versus certification. There’s no discussion of the regulatory barriers to low-cost, high-deductible policies. There’s no discussion of medical liability. He mentions the high cost of “free” emergency room care, but fails to mention that this is a side effect of long-standing populist policy: government forces emergency rooms to treat people even if they certainly won’t pay. 4. There’s zero discussion of moral hazard – the unhealthy lifestyles that many people choose despite the risks. For Gruber, or at least Gruber the graphic novelist, bad health is something that “just happens to you.” Sigh. Insurance companies aren’t omniscient, but they could do a lot more to tailor rates to risks – if it were legal to do so. And maybe people would respond to those incentives by living healthier lives. 5. Gruber fails to counter “You can’t put a price on safety” populist rhetoric with the basic economic logic of risk. Namely: There’s a trade-off between risk and other goods – and no person or society can afford perfect safety. Indeed, he panders to the populists. Gruber mentions people who “think they don’t need insurance because they are healthy” – then condescendingly adds, “They don’t realize that if they do get sick, they won’t be able to afford the care they need.” Yes, or maybe they’ve weighed the risks and reasonably decided to take their chances. 6. Gruber never mentions health economists’ consensus that health care is vastly overrated. Differences in medical treatment explain at most a tiny fraction of (a) why we’re so much healthier than we used to be, and (b) why the rich are so much healthier than the poor. Gruber does admit that a lot of health care spending is pure waste. But he neglects one of the best explanations: We waste a lot of health care because patients overrate its effectiveness. 7. Gruber is quick to praise the wonders of Romneycare in Massachusetts. But he doesn’t mention the fact that Massachusetts already had extremely high coverage: coverage increased from 94% to 96%. (Gruber says 98%, but I’ll go with Wikipedia). Achieving Massachusetts-level coverage at the national level, where coverage rates are markedly lower, will be far more expensive. 8. Gruber studiously avoids the most remarkable health care system on earth: Singapore’s. While it’s far from laissez-faire, it’s amazingly cheap and effective, and relies very heavily on individual incentives. Why should anyone “learn from Massachusetts” when they can learn from Singapore? 9. Gruber praises the CBO’s “evidence-based estimates of how legislation will impact our nation,” including its estimates of the budgetary effects of Obamacare. But he never mentions the crucial caveat: the CBO takes politicians at their word. If legislation says that it’s going to reduce Medicare reimbursements, CBO assumes those cuts will actually happen – even though Congress habitually reverses its cuts before the day of reckoning arrives. CBO’s estimates are about as “evidence-based” as the statement “If my father was a king, I’d be a prince.” 10. To his credit, Gruber carefully explains (a) the indirect consequences of banning pre-existing conditions clauses, and (b) how the individual mandate mitigates these indirect consequences. Unfortunately, he doesn’t take this chance to explain that, contrary to most economists and econ textbooks, insurance companies are quite good at solving adverse selection problems – unless regulations prevent insurers from charging riskier people higher rates. 11. Gruber ignores the disemployment effects of fining employers who fail to provide coverage for their employees. He just panders to populist prejudice: Obamacare gives small firms a tax credit, and big corporations can easily afford to pay. (“Companies of that size should be offering insurance, or contributing to their employees’ coverage.”) Never mind the unemployment rate – or nominal wage rigidity. 12. Gruber’s book begins and ends with the high cost of medical care and what to do about it. But what does Obamacare really do about costs? Not much. Right now the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission gives “nonbinding” recommendations to Congress. Under Obamacare, the new IPAB gives recommendations that Congress legally has to “respond to.” In my book, that’s still “nonbinding.” 13. Gruber emphasizes how “complicated” cost control is. But we should support Obamacare anyway: To not support this bill because it doesn’t “do enough” on cost control is like criticizing a baby for not going directly to long-distance running. In reality, cost control is simple. Everyone knows how to do it: Austerity and incentives. Government needs to spend less, and stop using regulation to discourage frugality. Alas, these realistic solutions are extremely unpopular. Gruber is too technocratic to go full populist and say, “We should spend as much as it takes to give the best possible health care to every American.” But in the end, that’s the philosophy behind Obamacare: Do whatever it takes to cover everyone, and hope the American public one day sees the wisdom of austerity and incentives. |
[Article updated on 24 February 2019] Source: Pixabay Our and teachers did their best to stop us from swearing. Yet, even as adults, nearly all of us resort to foul language, often several times a day. And our parents and teachers probably did too, albeit (mostly) under their breath or behind our backs. Here are the 7 reasons why: 1. Pain relief — Swearing activates the 'fight or flight' response, leading to a surge of adrenaline and corresponding analgesic effect. Richard Stephens of Keele University found that people who swear are able to hold their hands in ice-water for twice as long. But this only held for people who swear a few times a day, not 'chain-swearers'. Presumably chain-swearers are desensitized to their swearing and no longer aroused by it. It remains unclear whether some swear words are more effective than others, though it does seem very likely, and we each have our own personal gradation of swear words. 2. Power and control — Swearing can give us a greater sense of power and control over a bad situation. By swearing, we show, if only to ourselves, that we are not passive victims but empowered to react and fight back. This can boost our and and motivate and mobilize us to take corrective action. As Mark Twain put it, "When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear." 3. Non-violent retribution — Swearing enables us to get back at bad people or situations without having to resort to violence. Instead of punching someone in the face or worse, we channel and disarm our by swearing instead. True, swearing can also be hurtful, but better a few sharp words than a cold dagger. Swearing can also serve as a warning signal or marker of rank and authority, a bit like an animal's growl says: "Watch out. Stop it. Or you're damn well going to pay the price." 4. — When among , swearing can be a source of mirth. In such circumstances, it represents a release from normal social constraints or, like play-fighting, makes light of a potentially threatening person or situation, and, to some extent, also of ourselves. In that much, swearing, and humour in general, can help to restore perspective on a certain person or situation. 5. Peer and social — Swearing can show that we belong in a certain group, that we are able to be ourselves and wholly comfortable and secure with the members of that group. If done correctly, it can also signal that we are open, honest, self-deprecating, easygoing, and fun-loving. 6. — Swearing can be a way of signalling that we really mean something, or that it is really important to us. That's why swearing is so much a part of any sport. It also broadens our register and makes us more lively and interesting, being used, for example, to add emphasis or 'punch' to our speech. Shakespeare often used foul language, albeit more inventively than most: "Away, you starvelling, you elf-skin, you dried neat’s-tongue, bull’s-pizzle, you stock-fish!” Inversely, swearing can also be a way of showing that something really means something to us. The philosopher Paul Feyerabend made this point very profoundly: "...when sophistication loses content then the only way of keeping in touch with reality is to be crude and superficial." 7. Improved psychological and physical — The health benefits of swearing include increased circulation, elevated endorphins, and an overall sense of calm, control, and well-being. The key is to do it sparingly and not to get angry at the same time, which would be very bad for you — as well as terribly vulgar. If you can think of any other good reasons for swearing, please be sure to add them in the comments section. Neel Burton is author of Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions and other books. |
A flood of money is pouring into the state’s top schools as the University of Chicago and University of Illinois have landed some of their largest-ever single donations within a week of each other. Ken Griffin, the richest man in Illinois, committed $125 million to U. of C.’s economics department, university leaders will announce Wednesday. It is the second-largest gift in the university’s history, officials said, behind the $300 million from David G. Booth to the business school in 2008. Last week, Larry and Beth Gies gave $150 million to Urbana-Champaign’s business school, which will be renamed in their honor. That is biggest gift in the university’s history. And those gifts, coming amid a sustained economic expansion and as equities markets set records seemingly every day, are just the latest in what has become a cascade of private money for top universities. In 2017 alone, the Duchossois family donated $100 million in May for research to University of Chicago Medicine — the medical school’s largest ever donation — and Amy and Richard F. Wallman gave the university’s Booth School of Business $75 million in October. The recent mega gifts shows several factors at work, experts say. The University of Illinois, University of Chicago and Northwestern University all are in the midst of multibillion-dollar fundraising campaigns, which tend to attract prominent donations. Experts also say it is common for large gifts to be revealed in the fall, close to homecoming celebrations. Nationally, data show significant growth in gifts and commitments to higher education institutions even as donations in the high eight figures or even nine figures remain relatively rare. Additionally, public universities are becoming more ambitious and successful in fundraising, routinely generating outside donations comparable to top private institutions. The University of Illinois at Chicago, for example, announced its own $750 million fundraising campaign on Saturday. “It’s not just because everyone wants to be in the ‘three comma’ club of billion-dollar campaigns,” said Jim Moore, Jr. president and CEO of the U. of I. Foundation. “The reality is that the funding model for public higher education is changing. The public funds are just not there like they once were. Private support is going to continue to play a greater and greater role in the current and the evolving funding model for these institutions.” Griffin’s gift will support scholarships for third- and fourth-year economics majors through the university’s Odyssey program, which eliminates loans and work-study requirements for low- and middle-income students. It also will help launch the Kenneth C. Griffin Applied Economics Research Incubator, school leaders said. The economics department will be named for Griffin, who also is a member of the board of trustees. In an interview, Griffin said he wanted to help continue U. of C.’s advances and achievements in economics. Richard H. Thaler won the 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences last month, the university’s 28th award in that category. “I am proud to support the incredible economics department at the University of Chicago,” Griffin said. “So many of the great thought leaders that have shaped economics — Gary Becker, Milton Friedman — what an unbelievable success story they’ve had in their field.” Griffin also said he wanted to support the university’s need-blind admissions, in which a candidate’s ability to pay is not considered in the admissions process. “As Americans, I think we really believe that with the meritocracy that exists in our country, the equality of opportunity is so important to the foundation of our culture and our society,” Griffin said. Amanda Woodward, interim dean of the social sciences division, said there is a growing desire within the field of economics to do more research involving field experimentation and big data analytics. “Both of those research endeavors are expensive,” Woodward said. “They take a lot of work to do well and to develop. “There’s just a need to support this kind of research that isn’t filled in any other way. This kind of gift really enables that, and that will be much of the effort of this research incubator.” The Gies family gift will be used to create graduate programs and make the course offerings more accessible to students, regardless of location or economic status, leaders said. Before this, U. of I.’s top gifts were $100 million from Thomas M. Siebel in 2007 and from the Grainger Foundation in 2013. The Gies gift was announced as University of Illinois was starting the public phase of a five-year, $3.04 billion fundraising campaign, the system’s most aggressive effort ever. Within a year of Northwestern’s public fundraising launch to raise $3.75 billion, the university secured a record $101 million donation from Roberta Buffett Elliott, then a $92 million gift from alum Louis Simpson and his wife, Kimberly Querrey. U. of C. opened a $4.5 billion campaign in 2014, the biggest in the Chicago area, later raising the target to $5 billion. Only 13 other schools have secured donations of $100 million or more in 2017, according to a database of large gifts compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Only six universities received gifts equal to or larger than $150 million this year. A 2017 study by Marts & Lundy, a fundraising consulting firm, show the dollar value of education gifts above $10 million increased from $5.57 billion in 2015 to nearly $6.2 billion in 2016, an 11 percent jump. There were fewer gifts of at least $50 million, but the cumulative value of those donations grew from $2.94 billion to $3.21 billion, according to the study. One factor driving the largesse, one expert said, is the expanding economy and soaring equities markets. “There’s always been a strong correlation between major gifts and the market,” said David Bass, senior director of research for Council for the Advancement and Support of Education in Washington, D.C. “The fact that there are a lot of people with a lot of appreciated assets, it can be a very desirable things to say you’re going to cash out now. When people think of their financial planning, it’s a good moment to make those kinds of gifts.” |
K.T. McFarland, President Donald Trump’s deputy national security adviser, on Sunday said “there are changes coming” to the National Security Council. “The President and I have had a number of conversations over the last two months, really, about what my role would continue to be and where I could be best used,” McFarland said on “Fox News Sunday.” “So I can tell you we talked about it again last night, and there are changes coming, but I’m not going to tell you what they are.” Bloomberg News reported last week that McFarland was asked to leave her position as Trump’s deputy national security adviser. The council has seen its share of shake-ups in the first months of Trump’s administration. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn left his own position in February after reports revealed that he spoke about sanctions in a call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump’s inauguration, and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was removed from his position on the Principals Committee earlier in April. |
Oil spill an inside job? If Rush Limbaugh was on the far left, he'd be a 9/11 truther. As it is, he's on the far right, and has decided to become an oil-spill truther: I want to get back to the timing of the blowing up, the explosion out there in the Gulf of Mexico of this oil rig. ... Now, lest we forget, ladies and gentlemen, the carbon tax bill, cap and trade, that was scheduled to be announced on Earth Day. I remember that. And then it was postponed for a couple of days later after Earth Day, and then of course immigration has now moved in front of it. But this bill, the cap-and-trade bill, was strongly criticized by hardcore environmentalist wackos because it supposedly allowed more offshore drilling and nuclear plants, nuclear plant investment. So, since they're sending SWAT teams down there, folks, since they're sending SWAT teams to inspect the other rigs, what better way to head off more oil drilling, nuclear plants, than by blowing up a rig? I'm just noting the timing here. Is there literally nothing this man can say that will convince Republicans to disavow him? Photo credit: By Ron Edmonds/Associated Press |
President Barack Obama addresses a get-out-the-vote campaign rally at the University of Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 AP After House Minority Leader John Boehner chided him for using the term "enemies"in a conversation last week with Univision Radio, President Obama offered an explication for his remark in an interview today with talk radio host Michael Baisden. Following is Mr. Obama's "enemies" quote from the Univision interview: "If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna punish our enemies, and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us' -- if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election -- then I think it's going to be harder. And that's why I think it's so important that people focus on voting on November 2nd." Here is what Boehner said about Mr. Obama's use of the word "enemies" in prepared remarks for a speech Monday night. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a president in the White House who referred to Americans who disagree with him as 'our enemies.' Think about that. He actually used that word. When Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush used the word 'enemy,' they reserved it for global terrorists and foreign dictators -- enemies of the United States. Enemies of freedom. Enemies of our country. Today, sadly, we have president who uses the word 'enemy' for fellow Americans -- fellow citizens. He uses it for people who disagree with his agenda of bigger government -- people speaking out for a smaller, more accountable government that respects freedom and allows small businesses to create jobs. Mr. President, there's a word for people who have the audacity to speak up in defense of freedom, the Constitution, and the values of limited government that made our country great. We don't call them 'enemies.' We call them 'patriots.'" Mr. Obama told Baisden that he should have used the word, "opponents," rather than "enemies" (see below). According to his language parsing, presumably some Republicans candidates are "opponents," not "enemies," of provisions, such as comprehensive immigration reform. Understood? "And you know, it's interesting right now, there was a -- I had a conversation with a Hispanic radio outlet, Univision, and during the course of that conversation, one of the things that I had to say to the Latino community, which is frustrated that we haven't seen progress on immigration reform, was that they can't sit out of this election. There were arguments being made that because Democrats hadn't gotten this done, that Latinos should vote against Democrats or just sit out the election." "And I said, well, you can't punish your friends when -- the folks who've been supporting it. Now, I did also say if you're going to punish somebody, punish your enemies, and I probably should have used the word, "opponents" instead of enemies. Now the Republicans are saying that I'm calling them enemies. What I'm saying is you're an opponent of this particular provision, comprehensive immigration reform, which is something very different." |
Wales captain Sam Warburton will; miss the summer tour to South Africa after dislocating his shoulder in the 51-3 win over Scotland. Warburton suffered the injury towards the end of the game in Cardiff. He is to have an operation to repair the damage and will be out of action for up to four months. Warburton's Cardiff Blues team-mate Leigh Halfpenny will miss the rest of the season and has already been ruled out of the South Africa tour. The 25-year-old full-back has had surgery on the right shoulder he injured during Wales' 29-18 defeat against England at Twickenham. Defeat at Twickenham had ended Wales's title hopes and coach Warren Gatland admitted his side had been inconsistent during the campaign. But the New Zealander was pleased with the performance in their final game, their third home win of the championship. George North and Jamie Roberts both scored two tries as Wales celebrated their biggest-ever win over Scotland. "We've been very honest with ourselves and we know in this tournament we've been a little bit inconsistent," Gatland said. "Again I thought the players responded exceptionally well today and it was a good display out there." The Wales head coach said the first half sending-off of Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg was the correct decision by referee Jerome Garces. The referee initially showed Hogg a yellow card for a late shoulder charge on Wales fly-half Dan Biggar, but changed it to a straight red after watching a replay on the stadium screen. Gatland said there was no malice in Hogg's challenge but Wales took full advantage against 14-man Scotland. "You've got to feel sorry for Stuart - he's not that sort of player at all. It's a rush of blood to the head and he's made a mistake," Gatland added. "I don't think you'll see that from him again. It was just a mistake. From our point of view, there's no hard feelings. "You've got to be ruthless and I think we were ruthless from that point on. Even before that, I thought we were reasonably comfortable with the way the game was going. "I don't think Scotland could cope with our physicality, whether it was in attack or in defence." |
Disunion follows the Civil War as it unfolded. In late December 1861 Abraham Lincoln issued a directive that, had it been vigorously pursued, might have brought the Civil War to a rapid end: An order, via Gen. James Ripley, the Army’s ordnance chief, for 10,000 Spencer repeating rifles. Because Ripley resisted the order for months and did nothing to help put the rifles into volume production, initial deliveries didn’t start until about a year and a half after Lincoln first tested the rifle. Consequently, Union soldiers had to fight with less efficient weapons, handicapping them and greatly lengthening the bloody conflict. Library of Congress Even though Civil War era muzzleloaders had rifled barrels that much improved their range and accuracy, the Army’s standard issue muzzleloaders would have looked familiar to soldiers who fought under George Washington: they were loaded by a ramrod, through the end of the barrel, one bullet at a time. After firing, the entire sequence had to be repeated before taking another shot. Under the best circumstances, muzzleloaders could discharge no more than three bullets a minute, more likely only two in the heat of combat. In contrast, Spencer repeaters, which had been patented almost two years earlier by a 28-year-old inventor named Christopher Spencer, contained a seven-shot magazine loaded with prepackaged shells and could fire eight rounds in a mere 20 seconds. Gen. James Wilson, whose Union cavalry won victories against the legendary Confederate leader Nathan Bedford Forrest late in the war, said: “There is no doubt that the Spencer carbine is the best fire-arm yet put into the hands of the soldier … Our best officers estimate one man armed with” a Spencer is “equivalent to three with any other arm.” At least two repeating rifles were patented before the war. One was the Spencer, which, in the form of a shorter, cavalry carbine, would become the more popular during the war. The other, invented by Benjamin Tyler Henry, enjoyed less use during the war but, after evolving into the Winchester ’73, became the iconic weapon of the Western frontier. Both weapons were produced in New England, thereby rendering the technology unavailable to Confederates. Even before Spencer and Henry repeaters were developed, breech-loading carbines and rifles, like the Sharps and the Burnside, were commercially available for years prior to the war. Though they were loaded one shell at a time, they could fire three times faster than muzzleloaders. Many, including President Lincoln, immediately saw the importance of upgrading to repeaters and breechloaders. A small order for 700 Spencers was placed by the Navy only two months after Sumter. Lincoln personally tested the Spencer and Henry in the summer of 1861, possibly as early as June, and he was responsible for prompting all breechloader orders placed by the Ordnance Department that year. He wasn’t alone: a three-man military board that included the soon-to-be general in chief, George McClellan, recommended quick adoption of the Spencer. The problem was General Ripley, the Army’s ordnance chief. By then 67 years old, Ripley was hostile to all breechloaders, which he considered “newfangled gimcracks.” But he had a special complaint about repeaters. Astoundingly, he concluded that the weapons would encourage soldiers to waste ammunition. Library of Congress Because Ripley reported to the secretary of war, not a general, he was immune from the board’s orders. Even after Spencer persuaded Lincoln to intervene, Ripley dragged his feet: despite having autocratic control over the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts and other weapons-making facilities, he refused to help Spencer develop a process for volume production of the rifle. Spencer was an inventor, not a production engineer, and deliveries quickly fell behind schedule. The first shipment did not arrive until the end of 1862, and they weren’t supplied for general use until early 1863. Ripley’s unwillingness to lend production assistance also led to delays in shipments for single-shot breechloaders like the Sharps. By the end of the war Spencer had delivered fewer than 60,000 repeaters, and Henry fewer than 13,000. In contrast, the number of muzzleloaders, like the Springfield and Enfield, used by Union troops alone totaled more than two million. Nevertheless, where new rifles were employed, they played a decisive role: Gen. John Buford’s Sharps-equipped cavalry was able to hold off a larger number of Confederate infantry during the opening phase of Gettysburg in July 1863. The most impressive example of repeaters’ effectiveness came two months after Gettysburg, at the Battle of Chickamauga. During the first day of the two-day fight, a gap opened in the eastward-facing Union line. Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood soon began pouring through it, gradually turning, and then threatening to unravel, the northern flank of the Union Army’s southern branch. Panicked Yankees rallied briefly in a shallow ditch on the Viniard farm with a single reserve brigade behind them. Related Disunion Highlights Explore multimedia from the series and navigate through past posts, as well as photos and articles from the Times archive. See the Highlights » But it was no ordinary brigade. Its commander, Col. John T. Wilder, had equipped his soldiers with 1,400 Spencer repeating rifles, purchased at their own expense. Nearly everyone else had muzzleloaders. Before the Confederates could get across the farm, Wilder’s concealed brigade opened fire. Almost immediately, the Confederates became the ones desperately crowding for cover. Such concentrated and rapid rifle fire was unprecedented; as Wilder himself later commented, “it seemed a pity to kill men so.” The Confederates “fell in heaps; and I had it in my heart to order the firing to cease, to end the awful sight.” Hood’s troops were being slaughtered and had to withdraw. By sundown it was evident that Wilder’s single brigade had prevented a split in the Union lines that might otherwise have resulted in the destruction of the Union army’s entire southern wing. Lincoln eventually became fed up with Ripley’s foot dragging; the old general was put out to pasture shortly before Wilder’s Chickamauga experience. Unfortunately, Ripley was replaced by Col. George Ramsay, who had long been at odds with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Although Ramsay was more approving of repeaters and breech-loaders, he proved an ineffective manager and was replaced a year later. Could widespread adoption of repeating rifles have shortened the war? Leaders on both sides seemed to think so. One Confederate general who faced enemy breech-loaders reckoned the war would have been lost in the first year had Union troops been so equipped at the start. The engineer turned Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Robert Bruce concluded: “If a large part of the Union Army had been given breech-loaders by the end of 1862, Gettysburg would certainly have ended the war. More likely, Chancellorsville, or even Fredericksburg would have done it.” Follow Disunion at twitter.com/NYTcivilwar or join us on Facebook. Sources: Glenn Tucker, “Chickamauga: Bloody Battle in the West”; Steven E. Woodworth, “Six Armies in Tennessee”; Robert V. Bruce, “Lincoln and the Tools of War.” Phil Leigh is an armchair Civil War enthusiast and president of a market research company. |
By Theodore Shoebat The Muslim refugees that are invading Europe are now persecuting Christians. They are forcing Christians to convert to Islam and when they refuse, they are throwing them out of the refugee camps. I did a whole video on this with lots of commentary: According to Fr. George W. Rutler: This past year, 120,000 Christians were driven from the Nineveh Plain in Iraq with no possessions. During more than four years of civil war, the ancient Christian community in Syria is being destroyed. Christians are not a significant part of the immigrant tide flooding Europe from the UN camps in Syria, Jordan and Turkey because Islamic terrorists have driven them out of those camps for refusing to convert. An Hungarian bishop rightly insisted, and was criticized for it, that to most of the migrants, Christians are second-class citizens. Europe and our own administration in Washington are virtually ignoring their plight, refusing to acknowledge that their Christian faith is the essential fact in the calculus of their suffering. When Coptic Christians were slain in Egypt, our government avoided calling them anything other than “Egyptian citizens.” As Father Kiely has said, “Political correctness is not only a new form of totalitarianism, it is dangerous to national security.” Europe and America are not accepting Christians. They are accepting Muslims into their lands under the guise of “compassion.” Lets have real compassion and save our Christian brethren from persecution. THERE ARE SO MANY CHRISTIAN SUFFERING IN PAKISTAN. HELP US RESCUE CHRISTIANS FROM ISLAMIC PERSECUTION. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION THAT WILL SAVE CHRISTIAN LIVES FROM MUSLIM TERRORISTS FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER print |
Hi there! I’m Kori. I’m a community educator living in Sinixt Territory in occupied British Columbia, Canada. I am a non-binary genderqueer trans person with more than a decade of community facilitation experience. I have specialized in sexual health, harm reduction, community organizing, technical knowledge exchange and radical approaches to wellness. I use “they/them/their” pronouns. Recently I left my non-profit job in favour of exploring independent work as a community educator and personal coach. For me this work involves: It is my goal to incite revolution through imagination and play. So, do you want to play with me? How exactly does one come to do this work? This is a bit of my story of how I got here. As I blog about some of these things I will link in these stories in more detail. I grew up in a fairly conservative protestant church in a pretty quaint neighbourhood in a small city on an island in the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people. As a kid I was really involved in organizing amongst my peers and in church. When I was 17 I left home for a year on an international exchange, started reading and exploring outside the small world I had come from. I learned to drink and kiss girls and question authority. Within a few years of that I had lived on the road, had my first group sex experience, started exploring psychedelics and was on my way towards the words I would later mind comfort and identity in. Words like trans, genderqueer, queer, pansexual, polyamourous, butch, femme, non-binary, gender rebel, psychonaut, and witch were all around the next bend. I spent most of my twenties organizing and facilitating as a volunteer or non-profit employee, with a big focus in sexual health and harm reduction workshops. I’ve struggled with mental illness, explored gender transitions, explored fertility + pregnancy, lived with a connective tissue disorder, and pursued healing in many modalities including recovering from being hit by a car on my bike. I’ve loved, I’ve lost, I’ve hurt and been hurt, I’ve fucked up and I’ve tried to keep learning. Nerding out on learning has actually been a huge focus in my life. You can learn more about where I did all this learning by reading the list at the bottom of this page. Now I am really stoked on finding ways to share the tools I have collected with people who are seeking them. I am really excited to work with people who are on journeys of self discovery including psychedelic awakenings, gender explorations + transitions, coming out and other big life changes. Valued learning spaces I hold appreciations for: Teachers, ancestors and leaders of path including: I have over a decade of experience of facilitating groups of all sorts, from after school groups, anti-homophobia/transphobia workshops, sexual health and harm reduction presentations and using popular education and Theatre of the Oppressed practices. Including I have presented at conferences + gatherings including I have played a leadership role in the delivery of ANKORS harm reduction services at Shambhala Music festival since 2013, including training volunteers in best practice and service delivery of educational info, re-agent tests and destigmatizing conversations about recreational, medicinal and ceremonial substance use. I have also facilitated workshops with college students, health care service providers, teachers, youth leaders and queer community groups. I am a complainant on the BC Human Rights challenge aiming to change gender markers on birth certificates with lawyer barbara findlay. I have community based experience in personal coaching and support, specifically around gender, sexuality, healing, political work and substance use including harm reduction and psychedelic support. I produce a weekly community radio show/podcast called Sex, Drugs and How We Roll. I have also written for websites like scarleteen.com with my partner and collaborator Andi Grace. |
Russia on Sunday freed a convicted opposition activist who has accused authorities of torturing him in prison. Ildar Dadin, 34, emerged from a Siberian penal colony after spending about 15 months behind bars for helping organize more than one unsanctioned rally against President Vladimir Putin's rule. "I will continue to fight against Putin's fascist regime," Dadin said in footage broadcast online by the independent Dozhd channel on Sunday. "I will fight so that human rights are respected in Russia." Rights groups such as Amnesty International, which called Dadin a prisoner of conscience, had pleaded his case, arguing that he had only taken part in nonviolent protests. Last fall, he said prison guards had tortured, beaten and threatened to rape him. A prison pioneer In 2014, the government enacted Article 212.1 as the latest Kremlin tool for curbing dissent in the wake of the massive protests that preceded Putin's return to the presidency in 2012, as well as the 2014 demonstrations that brought down Ukraine's Russia-backed ruler. Article 212.1 increased punishment to a maximum of five years in jail for anyone caught holding unsanctioned demonstrations more than twice in six months - and Dadin became the first, and ultimately only, person prosecuted under the law. Dadin originally received three years in prison, though the court later reduced that to two and half. On Wednesday, however, the Supreme Court overturned Dadin's December 2015 sentence and ordered him freed. He had six months to go. The decision to release Dadin came after the Supreme Court criticized the harsh punishments against peaceful protesters - sparking hope among rights groups that authorities might no longer enforce such disproportionate sentences. mkg/tj (AFP, AP) |
0 SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Whatsapp Pinterest Print Mail Flipboard House Republicans are foolishly about to try to repeal Obamacare for the 61st time. The Hill reported that this pointless exercise in futility is coming from Rep. Paul Ryan’s Ways and Means Committee, “The measure would repeal ObamaCare’s individual and employer mandates for obtaining and providing insurance, along with two major taxes used to pay for the health care law: A 40 percent tax on high-cost health plans, called the “Cadillac Tax,” and a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices.” According to Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee here are a few of the achievements that Republicans are looking to roll back by repealing Obamacare: – 17.6 million uninsured Americans have gained health insurance coverage since enactment of the Affordable Care Act. – The rate of uninsured has dropped to historic lows – currently just 11.4%. – As of March 31, 2015, 10.2 million consumers had coverage in Health Insurance Marketplace plans. – 50,000 lives have been saved due to a reduction in hospital-acquired conditions, such as infections – The private sector has added 13 million jobs. – Americans have saved $9 billion since 2011, because of the new requirement that insurers have to spend at least 80% of every premium dollar they receive on quality health care. – $19.2 billion has been recovered for taxpayers from stepped-up anti-fraud efforts in Medicare and other health programs under the ACA. House Republicans are returning to repealing Obamacare because they can’t agree with each other on passing anything. The 61st attempt to repeal the ACA will end up the same way that the other 60 attempts did. Since Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass the repeal, the bill will get to President Obama’s desk. However, the President will promptly veto the bill, and Republicans will have once again accomplished nothing. The American people should get used to this sort of behavior because it is going to happen even more in the post-Boehner House. Mitch McConnell is already using the tactic of bringing up defeated bills for votes repeatedly, and the extremist Republicans in the House believe that if they keep passing Obamacare repeal bills eventually the President will sign one of them. Of course, this is never going to happen, but their belief that it might is one of the reasons why Republicans have turned Congress into a joke. If you’re ready to read more from the unbossed and unbought Politicus team, sign up for our newsletter here! Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: |
Chapter 33 ~ Point of no Return ~ "Elsa's gone to Weselton to wage war!" Gerda said. Anna stared up at the heavens. She couldn't understand what was happening. It was all surreal, like a dream she could not wake up from. Something pricked her cheek and slid down. Snow. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Thirteen years fell away in an instant. She was a little girl again, staring up at Elsa's door. She could knock ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, but it wouldn't matter; the door would never open again. She wedged her eyes shut, fighting back tears. She was back at the coronation, seeing Elsa's back shrink into the night. I couldn't reach my sister. No matter how hard I tried. Useless. Helpless. Weak. That's all I ever amounted to. Gerda staggered forward and squeezed her. "Anna, Gods! Anna, where did you go? Elsa wouldn't say anything besides 'Sven took you', and then those louts threw Kristoff into the dungeons, and now this? Please, just tell me what's going on! Why– why–" The plump woman could no longer articulate words as she fell into sobs. Another servant came forward and helped her away. Fearful cries of 'war' and 'snow' came up. Kristoff was yelling for a ship. The guards stood still, glancing about helplessly. They were a leaderless kingdom now. Their queen was gone yet again. No. Anna's hands coiled into fists. It's time for the little girl to grow up. She took a deep breath, and wore her queen's voice for the first time. "Lily!" She called to the closest maid. "We got wounded out here. Get Markus, or any other doctors you can find." She turned to her guards. "You're Torvos, right? Help me get Kai, Lord Louis, or any other minister in the castle. You five, I need you to spread out; calm the townspeople down, and help whoever needs helping. The rest of you, get warm soup and blankets from the castle. Go!" Her subjects split up in twenty different directions. Just then, Kai Anderson came out of the castle. He trotted to her and clasped her hands. "Your Highness, I've no words to describe how pleased I'm to see you. Please try not to scare us so again. Next time, I might just get a heart attack." Despite the situation, Anna allowed herself to smile, so pleased was she to see her royal butler safe. "I'll try. When did Elsa leave? Did she say anything at all?" "Queen Elsa left but eight hours ago. Ever since you disappeared, her mind was set on nothing but the invasion. Admiral Vigard insisted that his ships weren't ready, but she only gave him a day to prep before setting off." Kai grimaced. "She took half of the guards, and two-third of the royal navy. The rest she set to patrol our borders. Our people are restless. Many fear this attack would lead to retaliation. The ambassadors from Edenlands, Manbul, and other kingdoms allied with Weaseltown are in the castle, demanding an audience." Kai leaned in and whispered, "We tried to dissuade your sister, but she wouldn't listen, no matter what. Did you find out why is she acting so?" "Because it isn't her." Anna's heart seized. "It's Freya." His eyes went as wide as saucers. "The demon you mentioned? Oh Lord. No, I can't believe this. Could someone have made a mistake? Maybe your sister had her reasons. It has to be." "Kai, you know better." He gripped tight his bowtie. "When did this happen?" "Ever since the Eternity returned, it's always been Freya. My sister's fighting back, but she…" Anna couldn't say it. She's dying. Despite everything, we might never see Elsa again. He seemed to understand, and his voice was raw with pain. "I… will tell Gerda." Anna nodded, fighting down the tremble in her throat. No more little girl. Be the ruler they need. She stepped up onto the ledge of a fountain. A thousand eyes were looking at her. "People of Arendelle! You know who I am. The second-born, the spare, the one who rather spends her time playing in the fields than to sit on the throne. But I am also your princess, and I know one thing. This is not who we are! We do not attack other countries, or steal their land! As my father, King Agdar, decreed twenty-two years ago– We are a kingdom of peace! "Our ships have set out for Weselton. I came too late to stop them. And this snow's likely to worsen. I know, winter wasn't supposed to come so soon, and you think it's the coronation all over again. I know that some of you are scared. You are confused. You are angry. It's not fair, I agree. But what has happened has happened! All we can do now is to take care of one another, as we always have, as we always will. If you need any help, come to us. The castle is always open." The next part she said for herself as well. "I swear on my life, I'll do whatever it takes to stop this war." Murmurs of agreement fanned through the crowd. Then a call began to rise, "Princess Anna! Princess Anna! PRINCESS ANNA!" Her royal butler looked at her with wonder. "We are yours to command, Your Highness." "Kai, my parents never really taught me on how to rule, and well, I didn't read all the books Elsa wanted me to. If I screw up an order, tell me right away." He nodded. "Have Isabelle do a sweep of the town and the outskirts villages. Ensure that everyone has food, and other provisions to survive a prolonged winter; she's to have as many guards and servant as needed. Have Finn do a stocktake of our own supplies. Oh, have Oddvar and Nafaneius attend to the ambassadors too." "Minister Isabelle's at the town square; I shall summon her right away. As for Minister Oddvar and Minister Nafaneius, you do know those two have never been on Elsa's side, or yours. Perhaps it'd be wiser to meet them yourself." Anna bit back her agreement. "I don't… like them. But I trust them. We need diplomacy now, and those two talk better than most. If need be, have Lord Louis mediate. You mentioned a third of the navy stayed. Who's the next ranking officer in Arendelle?" "Commodore Jephen. Will you recall those ships?" "No. Word of the invasion would've spread. What if Weselton counterattacks from North? And God knows who else might join in. Edenlands. Southern Isles. Pirates even. We can't fight a war on two fronts. Send a pigeon, tell Jephen the navy is to patrol our shores, and not to join the invading fleet no matter what." She bit her lips. "What else did I miss?" Kai closed his eyes as he sucked in deeply. When he opened them again, he beheld her in a way he never had before. "You are our queen now." "I am not!" Heads snapped toward Anna, and she realized with a flush of shame she'd shouted. The next words she forced herself to whisper, "I am not. My sister is still alive, and I will save her, or die trying. Please, Kai, don't bring this up again." He nodded, his lips pressed in a tight line. Snow was piling around Anna's feet, and her belly ached from hunger. Still, she made herself stay put for her people. "Have you seen Markus? Kristoff's hurt." "Already here, Your Highness," came Markus's voice. "Let me look at you in a sec. From what your fiancé says, you had quite the fall." Kristoff was seated on the curb, fussing against two maids as the physician bounded his arm with a bandage. Two guards approached, supporting Eirik between them. She'd never seen him in such a state before; his lips were bloodied, his hat was missing, and his usually-pristine uniform was crumpled. Markus swore aloud when Kristoff leapt to his feet. "You dare show your face here! After you try to kill me!" Eirik pushed off the two and stumbled towards her. Kristoff stood between them with raised fists. Anna nudged him aside. "Is it true?" She had no idea what to make of this. She knew Eirik had a dark past; though he'd never been friendly to Kristoff, they were at least cordial to each other. "Your Highness, let me say first how glad I'm to see you well." "Save it," Kristoff snapped. "You came at me with a sword." Eirik met her eyes. "Pardon me, Your Highness, but I was only acting in your best interest. You were missing; I had to get your whereabouts from Kristoff. Then, he spread lies about Her Majesty." "What lies?" Anna said. "A wild tale involving the prisoner you set out to save from Weselton." The contempt was thick on Eirik's tongue. "Her Majesty tasked us to imprison Kristoff after he attacked her. And here he was, weaving lies after lies to save his own skin. Don't you see? I had to protect her honour, and yours." "Did she tell you to hurt Kristoff? To interrogate him?" Anna said. Eirik clammed shut. "So, you took things into your own hands. That's how it is, isn't it? You wanted to punish him." "He betrayed Queen Elsa! He had to be taught a lesson–" She slapped him. "How dare you." Anna winched when his lips split again, but she hardened her expression right after. "Eirik Ingegerd, you have acted beyond your authority, and grossly failed in your judgement as captain." The guards tensed. She knew how much they respected him, but he'd went too far. "I hereby relieve you of your duties. As of now, you are no longer guard captain, or a guard of the crown. Do you have anything to say?" Eirik's fists clenched and unclenched, the loathing in his eyes for Kristoff chilled her. Would he lash out? Anna watched with bated breath as he closed his eyes. "…I understand. My fate is in your hands." "I should jail you, you know? Or at the very least, deport you." Eirik bowed his head, the blood dripping down his chin. She allowed herself a bit of glee at seeing his sorry state. "But I'm not going to do that. If the war spreads here, then we need every hand we can get. You are a capable man, Eirik. Go to Kai, see if he has any task for you." The former guard captain gaped at her. "I… thank you, Your Highness." "Prove that my faith in you isn't misplaced." He wavered in spot. "What about Queen Elsa?" Eirik's loyalty was ironclad. If only Anna had realized earlier how far he'd go to defend his monarch's name. "Kai will explain everything. Go." "It isn't over between us, Eirik. Not by a long shot," Kristoff growled. "Now, where are the prisoners?" The Weseltoners! Anna had nearly forgotten them. She ordered their release immediately. The merchants were led out first, then the sailors, and finally the mercs, who had to be escorted by two guards each. Anna went to each in turn, apologizing and promising full restitution. Li Hua hugged her fiercely, more glad to be freed than anything else; while Thomas laughed and clapped his prodigious belly, proclaiming all was forgiven. The others were more shaken than angry; it was more than she could hope for. Eleven were suffering from frostbite, but most were none the worse for their captivity. Freya had indeed spared them torture, all except one. Rasmus looked as though he'd aged twenty years. "Well met again, Princess Anna. I did not think I would see you again under such circumstances." "Mayor, what did she do to you?" Anna held his arm, afraid he'd collapse. "Oh, we had a talk, that is all. One that is fifteen years overdue, courtesy of that damnable prison." Rasmus leaned against her. His stench was overwhelming. "You know which prison I mean." "You know about Freya?" "I know that my countrymen are doomed." The old man shook his head. "And sometimes I wonder if this is what Belking deserves. Maybe. Heh." Anna found herself unable to refute him, and that frightened her more than anything else. He was still cackling as Thomas helped him away. There was so much more she needed to ask, but he needed medical attention right away. "Anna." She let the cold air fill her lungs before turning around, and instantly wished she'd locked Eirik up after all. Kristoff's wounds were worse than she'd thought. One arm was hooked around Sven's neck for support, the other was smouldered in bandage from wrist to shoulder, and brown paste had been smeared over his thigh and waist. Even his face wasn't spared; a bruised eye, bloodied nose, and a gash inches below his eye. "Gonna keep staring?" He smiled. "By the way, that was a great speech. To our people I mean." "Thanks. You need to lie down," she said. "I'm surprised Markus didn't send you to the infirmary." "He tried. Now, why didn't you tell them about Freya? Isn't it time they– Oh." His eyebrows knitted up. "You're trying to protect them. If Freya knows Arendelle knows, she'd destroy everyone." Would she? Despite everything, Anna rather believed Freya retained enough good in her not to do so. But it was a risk she was unwilling to take. "All this wouldn't matter if we don't bring Elsa back, would it? What did Grandpabbie tell you?" Anna told him of how Sven brought her to the valley, of the trolls healing her, of her lashing out at them, and of Pabbie revealing that Elsa's soul had held on. "Of course she did," Kristoff whispered. "I always knew she had it in her. So, what are we waiting for? Let's go save Elsa." "How?" Anna had her answer already, but she wanted to hear his. "We need to reach out to her somehow. The same way you did at the waterfall." "And if we fail?" "We won't. Elsa needs us now, more than ever. If there's anyone in the world who can save her, it's her little sister." He held her shoulders, and the determination in his eyes reminded Anna of why she'd fell for him in the first place. It's nearly time. Anna glanced around. Kai, Sorby and Eirik had ushered the swelling crowd into several lines, one to receive food from Gerda, another to be examined by Markus, and a third to speak to Louis. Servants streamed in and out of the castle, carrying clothes and firewood. Several guards stood sentry near her, while the rest were helping people at random. Arendelle was working as one, and she couldn't be prouder of them. Her fingers shifted to her chest by itself, and she gripped the object under the cape. "What's that?" Kristoff said. Anna hugged her cape close. She was afraid he'd ask. "Grandpabbie said this would help me stop Freya." "A weapon?" She held his gaze. "That's no easy way to say this. Kristoff, I need you to stay in Arendelle." "Tell me you are joking." "I'm not." Kristoff gritted his teeth. "No. No. How about this? I will go to Weselton, and you stay here where your kingdom needs you. I'll come back with Elsa, I promise." "Please, don't make this harder than it needs to be. If I don't return, it's up to you to take care of everyone. Think of Sven. Think of your family." "I am thinking of you! We are doing this together. That's no way in hell I'm letting you–" Anna snatched him into a hug, and pressed their lips together. Gasps filled the air, but she didn't care. She wanted– needed the world to see this. To behold this man, who'd risk his own life and happiness without hesitation, all so she could find hers; this man whom she could entrust her future to. His hands curled around her waist, and she pressed into his chest, feeling the beating of his heart, his warmth, his smell. Anna pulled back from the kiss; it was altogether too short. She held his cheeks, running her fingers over his stubble, mapping out the contours of his face. His breaths fluttered on her lips, and there was such confusion in his eyes. "Anna?" "I'm sorry," she whispered. She shoved him away. "Guards! Hold him!" "Your Highness, are you sure–" "DO IT!" They acted far too slowly – so great was their shock – but it was nothing compared to Kristoff's. He went utterly limp as they grabbed his arms. The look on his face broke her heart. "Why?" His voice was strained and choked. "Why?" "I can't lose you as well," she said. "I can't… I just can't… I am sorry." That snapped him out of his trance, and it was all the guards could do to restrain him. "No! Anna! Don't do this! It's too dangerous! Let me go!" Forgive me. Gerda, Sorby, Kai and Sven trotted to her. "Anna! What's going on?" Gerda said. "I'm transferring emergency powers to Kai. Hold Kristoff in the castle, keep him safe. Don't let him follow me, no matter what. Can you do that?" "You aren't making sense!" Gerda said, then she gasped when Anna hugged her. "Thank you for everything. If– if I'm not back in three days, then Kristoff will be in charge of Arendelle. I want you guys to guide him, especially Lord Louis." "No!" Gerda whipped around. "Say something! All of you!" "Your Highness." Kai was trembling. "Your kingdom needs you. We need you." "Anna, please," Gerda said. "For the love you bear us. Stay." Anna swept her gaze through her servants, guards, townspeople, and most of all, Kristoff. This could well be the last. He stopped thrashing against the guards, and his eyes found hers. She tore her gaze away, lest she lose her will. "I must go." Her voice cracked. "There's a million people in Weselton… Men, women, children, babes at their mothers' breasts. They will all die if I do nothing. I can't, I can't let that happen to my sister. Do you understand? I can't let the death of innocents be on Elsa's hands!" Understanding dawned on their faces, and they bowed their heads. Sorby stepped forward. One look, and she knew he was ready. "Sorby." Anna steeled her voice. "You are captain of the Eternity now. We are going to Weselton." It began with a whisper. A chill in his spine. An ache in his joints. Winter's come a month early, Qarlbo thought. He pulled the hood over his head with one hand to protect his freezing ears, while the other fumbled with a stack of shipping logs. "Harbourmaster, it's all in order, ain't it? Come now, I must go." Qarlbo glared at the sailor. His captain was in such a hurry to leave he couldn't even come down himself. He was tempted to hold up this ship just to see their faces. Damn Southerners. They feast like vultures on our gold, but now that rumours of an attack blow by, they flee like rats! And there were many rats indeed. All around, purple flags, red flags, rainbow flags, and a dozen others were being pulled down. Qarlbo let out a snarl and pushed the papers into the sailor's chest. "Take it and go. Don't expect reduced taxes from us again. Go!" Ships after ships pushed off the harbour. Thirty years in this harbour, and Qarlbo had never seen it so empty. It made him miserable. They'd regret this, oh yes. Once this had blown over, all these fools would come crying back, and then Weselton would have its pick of friends. After all, what have they got to fear from a few rickety Arendelle boats? The privateers had long proved their standing from centuries of navel combat. Qarlbo swelled with pride as peered up at the gold flags of Weselton with their bear-and-wolf mark. He made a mental note of the few other kingdoms beside, for loyalty should be rewarded. A gush of wind rattled the poles and stung his eye. One flag tore right off its ropes. His eyes followed it to the sky, and goosebumps raced up his shoulders. The clouds roiled above him, black and ash pulsing with lightning. The sun winked out, and the world was dark and cold. Terror filled him. This was no ordinary storm. The stories of Arendelle's queen… "Sorcery!" someone cried. The storm clouds cleared. But what was left behind was no better, for now the sky was as pale as death. A hundred trails of white gushed from breaks in the clouds. The snow gathered high above, whipping into an orb. A shrill whistle pierced Quarlbo's ears, and instinct led him to raise his hands. It exploded with a crack, and shards of blue streaked across the sky. The sheer force toppled stalls and people alike. Qarlbo was hurled back into a tent. Something shattered against his back, and his breakfast came up his throat. He would've laid still if not for the cacophony of thumps and splashes. Qarlbo struggled free of the canvas to see chunks of ice cascading everywhere. One crushed a melon next to him. Hail. Whimpering, he flung the canvas over himself and wrapped his arms over his skull. Screams filled the air, and he muttered every prayer he ever knew for this hell to end. Uuuuuuuuuhoooooooooooo— The alarm! The royal army knows! Qarlbo peeked out. It was utter chaos. Men and women alike were crying, "We are under attack!" Someone knocked into a pole, sending an entire shop front collapsing. A girl yelped as the mass of running bodies shoved her off the pier into the water. Guards stomped past, tossing their weapons aside as they fled for dear life. "Look!" Everyone came to a halt and turned. Fingers pointed towards the sea. A line of ships was approaching, as wide as the horizon itself. The masts were unmistakable– purple-and-green with a crocus in the middle. Where are our ships? Wet warmth ran down Qarlbo's pants. Why aren't they intercepting? The leading Arendelle ship flashed. A nova erupted from it like a tsunami, freezing over the sea and turning the shore white. "Run!" That jolted Qarlbo to his senses. He didn't know who was shouting and what was going on. All he knew was to obey the call. "Run for your–" the cry cut off, but he barely registered it. They've lost. To stay was to die. He spun… and nearly tore his own feet off. Frost was creeping up his legs. Oh God. Oh God no… Qarlbo opened his mouth to scream, and the ice fingers dug in. |
Here is a description of the Sun square Saturn planetary aspect. To find out if you have this aspect in your chart, you can use this widget to generate your own comprehensive natal chart with detailed info on all your planetary placements. You can also read about other planetary aspects here. Sun Square Saturn Natal Aspect Individuals with Sun square Saturn aspect in their natal chart may experience difficulty in regard to structuring their lives. Clashes with authority and antisocial behavior may be something they contend with throughout childhood and young adulthood. Their need for self expression may often feel inhibited or discouraged by the powers that be. They may find themselves in places and positions where their creativity or authentic sense of self is stifled, not appreciated or allowed to come through. There may also exist some kind of rift between the individual and the parents particularly the father. They could struggle with a desire to make the father proud but often feel unable to do so. A sense of failure could be a persistent bane that haunts them throughout their lives in respect to living up to the expectations placed on them by others especially those they look up to. The father may have been an imposing presence – perhaps a staunch disciplinarian or authoritative figure. Individuals with Sun square Saturn may be driven to come up from out of the shadow of the father especially if the father is a prodigious and highly accomplished person. People with this aspect may undergo many hard lessons in life. Personal growth and development may come at a costly price and it may threaten to break them if they cannot absorb the lessons of prudence and organization. In the course of the tribulations they go through, their self esteem and confidence can sustain serious damage and become scarred by it. They may feel frustrated by setbacks and obstacles that thwart them and prevent them from doing what they want to do and becoming who they want to be. The Sun square Saturn woman or man may be a person who possibly limits themselves with self imposed rules or suffers from self doubt, or feels not at liberty to express their true selves. They may also feel boxed in and forced to conform to a standard that represses their true personality. Saturn Square Sun Transit Aspect During a Saturn square Sun transit, run-ins with the law and legal troubles may become an issue. It may feel like society has it out for you and is always blowing the whistle on your every move. Nothing seems to go right, even well organized plans manage to break down and unravel. During this period, individuals may feel oppressed and held back particularly in regard to their personal growth and any progress they are working towards. Their confidence may be hampered and their sense of identity put into question. Perhaps they will suffer the consequences of having been overly confident and arrogant and now face a humbling lesson by the universe. Or it might be that they have been over-working themselves to the bone without adequate rest and and now they are suffering from the effects of stress and burnout. They may experience excessive weight loss and malnutrition due to over restriction in their diet and lifestyle for whatever reason perhaps from poor advice. Resolutions may be achieved during this period although they may not be satisfactory to everyone involved. Sun Square Saturn Synastry Aspect In a relationship where one person’s sun is square with the other’s saturn, there may exist a type of turbulent mentor-like or tutelary dynamic between the two individuals. The Saturn person may be seen as being overly conservative and overbearing from the perspective of the Sun person. The Saturn person may be attempting to shoe horn the other person into their prescribed way of doing things, or trying to shape their way of thinking and living in general. The Sun person may feel their sense of integrity is being compromised by this person and will likely push back against Saturn’s restrictive attitude. They may feel Saturn is too rigid and stodgy in it’s application and/or over-reliance upon structure and procedure. The Sun in part represents the ego and wants to be who it is and be true and authentic to itself and depending on the strength of how it is placed, will resist outside efforts to subjugate it’s will. The Saturn person may find the other to be very selfish or undisciplined and Saturn’s motives although usually well-intentioned may often come across too heavy-handed and domineering. Saturn’s perspective is very risk averse and so they may be trying to protect Sun’s interests by saving them from undue heartache or trouble perhaps from similar mistakes they once made. The sun person will likely be overall unreceptive to this however and will insist on being their own person and being free to experience and make their own mistakes. Please share this post and subscribe for future updates 🙂 Like this: Like Loading... |
We’re a generation of multi-device users. But even though many of us use more than one device throughout the day, it’s still really difficult to get a single app working perfectly when pivoting between a phone and a tablet. That’s the problem Cyanogen and Nextbit have teamed up to resolve. Cyanogen makes the popular Android fork CyanogenMod. Nextbit is a San Francisco-based start-up that focuses on mobile cloud solutions. On Monday, the two companies announced Baton, a new synchronization platform baked into the latest version of CyanogenMod. Florence Ion This built-in feature lets you tap to send an app’s current state to any of your linked devices. Baton essentially syncs a “snapshot” of the app you’re using on one device, uploads it into the cloud, and then immediately loads up that state and launches it on the other device. “It combines all the things in Apple’s Handoff with the best things in Chromecast,” said Mike Chan, co-founder and CTO of Nextbit. Data syncs over Wi-Fi by default, and it looks at activity and time stamps to load the correct saved state. “We put a lot of thought into how you manage different devices,” says Tom Moss, Nextbit CEO and co-founder. “When we can intelligently pick the right version, we do that, and if you want a different version we offer you a prompt.” Synchronization is executed at the operating system level rather than with a built-in API, so you also don’t have to worry about whether a third-party app supports the feature—it just works right out of the box. But because Baton relies on the cloud to fire up the app from where you last left off, the feature won’t work unless you’re connected to the Internet. I had a chance to see Baton in action. Chan showed me how he effectively “pushed” a half-done drawing from an app on his smartphone, the OnePlus One, over to a second-generation Nexus 7 running the latest version of CyanogenMod. The hand-off happened quickly and seamlessly, and it made me wish that I had the feature now. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to play Disco Zoo on my tablet instead of my smartphone, but couldn’t because the cloud saves wouldn’t sync up correctly. Unfortunately, the Baton feature is currently limited to CyanogenMod users and devices that come standard with the software, like the OnePlus One. Small, but significant steps for both companies Baton is more than just a neat feature for Cyanogen devotees—it’s a prime example of how the company plans to entice users to its platform with built-in features that you can’t get on Google’s stock Android. And now with wearables and buzz-wordy “Internet of Things” devices permeating our computing universe, there’s a greater need for native operating system solutions that save developers the hassle of rewriting their apps. As for Nextbit—a company staffed with former Googlers who worked on Android back in 2010—it’s optimistic that its cloud-based features will appeal to a broad spectrum of users. The startup also has plans to introduce a Backup and Restore feature that syncs all the apps and data on your phone or tablet into the cloud, so that it’s easier to migrate between devices. “For Nextbit, the next big step is just scratching the surface at what’s possible to bring infinite resources to the cloud,” said Moss. “It’s pushing computing itself forward—not just building an app.” The company is also developing its own cloud-storage service (the name of which has yet to be decided). Baton will first be available for CyanogenMod users, who will have to request to be invited into the beta. The feature will launch fully later this year. This story, "Cyanogen joins forces with Nextbit to improve synchronization between Android devices" was originally published by Greenbot . |
Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption The judgement relates to the case of a hairdresser fired while he was sick A Paris tribunal has ruled that calling a male hairdresser a "faggot" is not homophobic - "because hair salons regularly employ gay people". The case relates to an employee at a salon who was fired after failing to turn up for work while sick. His boss accidentally sent him a text using the slur, so the hairdresser took him to an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal. French Labour Minister Myriam el Khomri called the judgement "shocking". The text from the salon boss read: "I am not going to keep [the employee]... I don't have a good feeling about this guy. He's a faggot," according to Liberation. They used the French term "PD" which translates as the term "faggot". 'Brainless' In the reasoning, the tribunal said: "If we put it in the context of the field of hairdressing, the council considers that the term 'faggot' used by a manager cannot be considered as a homophobic insult, because hair salons regularly employ gay people, notably in female hairdressers, and that poses no problem at all." It agreed the word was insulting, but it fell short of being considered discriminatory. Social media users have called the ruling scandalous. One gay rights group called the tribunal "brainless", warning it was trivialising homophobia. Reporter Mathieu Brancourt, who tweeted the tribunal's finding, wrote: "You are a hairdresser, you get called a faggot, and that's OK because hairdressers are often gay right. Thanks, tribunal." Ms Khomri told RTL radio that, though she was not familiar with the details of the case, she found the ruling "deeply shocking". The employee was awarded €5,000 in damages ($5,700; £4,000) but will appeal the tribunal's decision. |
Ninety minutes of kicking a ball around a pitch has been the last thing on the mind of Wolves' supporters in recent weeks, writes Tim Spiers at Gresty Road . The players have had plenty to think about too, as of course has Kenny Jackett. But Wolves didn't look distracted at Gresty Road. In fact it was very much job done in their first friendly of what promises to either be a momentous or a frustrating, and possibly traumatic, summer. Job done in the sense that plenty of first-teamers got 90 minutes under their belt. They also picked up no injuries, something Jackett really cannot afford at the moment. But the beleaguered head coach will also have been pleased with a fairly comfortable clean sheet, and some promising performances from some, such as Jed Wallace, Dominic Iorfa and James Henry. There are glaring weaknesses in his squad - he doesn't need reminding of that - but what more can he do other than prepare this young, hard-working and honest bunch as best he can, whatever lies around the corner. Advertising Jackett sprang a surprise with his starting XI by selecting Kevin McDonald in midfield. The Scot last featured in Wolves' first team in early March but despite appearing close to a switch to Fulham earlier this week he started alongside Jack Price. At a sunny Gresty Road the game began at a typical pre-season pace. Wolves soon took charge and seconds after James Henry's shot had been expertly tipped over the bar, they edge in front. Advertising Crewe failed to clear their lines and the ball came back into the box via Mason for Iorfa to coolly beat keeper Ben Garratt from close range. Wolves are enduring a striker shortage and the right back seemed to be auditioning for the role - bursting forward a few minutes later and driving low at Garratt with his left foot. Jed Wallace should have doubled the lead sooner after when Wolves broke in numbers, but after receiving Price's pass he shot far too close to the keeper. McDonald appeared to be trying to put Fulham off when he sent an almost vertical shot over the stand and into the streets outside. And then George Saville met a Henry cross to nod at Garratt just before half time. Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan made his first appearance in Wolves colours, replacing Carl Ikeme in the only half time change. But he had little to do, with Wolves continuing to create the better opportunities. The impressive Wallace nicked the ball off a dithering Crewe midfielder and stormed forward, playing in Henry who blazed over when well placed. Joe Mason should have done better with a wayward 15 yard shot and Saville headed another teasing Henry cross over as Wolves dominated. As the second half wore on the chances dried up, with many players understandably beginning to flag in their first official friendly of the summer. Conor Coady made a shock appearance at right back, Aaron Hayden looked comfortable at centre half, and there were cameos from Nathan Byrne, Lee Evans and Bright Enobakhare, the latter of whom went on a mazy late run to liven up a dull last 20 minutes. Then with just a minute left Mason doubled Wolves' advantage and gave the scoreline a fair reflection. Lonergan's long kick evaded everyone and Mason was clean through, dinking over Garratt with a nice finish that ended the night on a positive note. Wolves: Ikeme (Lonergan, 45); Iorfa (Coady, 45), Batth (c), Hause (Hayden, 60), Doherty; Wallace (Byrne, 71), McDonald (Evans, 76), Price, Saville; Henry (Enobakhare, 82), Mason. Subs not used: Odoffin, Leak, O'Hanlon, Ronan, Ennis, Wilson. Attendance: 1,880 (650 away fans) |
Image copyright Parks Trust Milton Keynes Image caption The peregrine pair set up their home at stadiummk in an abandoned crow's nest A pair of peregrine falcons has set up home in an old crow's nest at a football stadium in Milton Keynes. The world's fastest predatory birds have also produced a chick that has just fledged from stadiummk. Martin Kincaid, biodiversity officer at The Parks Trust, said: "The great news is that the fledgling peregrine has flown the nest this July. "This is a first for Milton Keynes and only the second known breeding site in Buckinghamshire." A single bird was spotted at the stadium in 2013 and gave a high speed display during an MK Dons game by attacking a flock of pigeons. It has now been joined by a mate and the result is the chick that fledged this month. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The stadium was built in 2007 "It's really exciting that these spectacular birds have chosen to nest in stadiummk and have successfully raised their first chick," Mr Kincaid, from the trust, said. "We look forward to working with MK Dons to ensure that they can nest safely in years to come." The Parks Trust was created in 1992 to care for green space in Milton Keynes and was granted a substantial property and investment portfolio to ensure it was entirely self-financing. Mark Thomas, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "Peregrines are doing really well in urban areas but I think this might be the first ever pair to breed on a football ground, something for everyone to cheer." Later this year, a nesting platform will be installed in the stadium offering the birds an improved nesting site. Buckinghamshire Bird Club will help to monitor the birds and ring the young each year. The peregrine falcon is the world's fastest predatory animal reaching speeds of 200mph (320km/h) in dives. In the 1960s and 1970s, peregrines were close to extinction in England largely as a result of egg collectors and DDT poisoning. The birds are a fully protected species in Europe. Peregrines feed exclusively on other bird species, notably pigeons and song birds. Source: Parks Trust Milton Keynes |
AUSTIN, Texas -- Charlie Strong wanted to try something new to stop the run last week against UTEP. So he unleashed the player Texas teammates call their "mad man." Sophomore defensive end/linebacker Breckyn Hager was put in the role he was born to play. He’d creep up to the line of scrimmage and attack mercilessly. "He told me, 'Go hype everyone up,'" Hager said. "'Get everyone excited. I put you out there for a reason. Just go do your thing.'" He responded with a team-high eight tackles and teamed with fellow "Fox" defensive ends Naashon Hughes and Malcolm Roach to wreak havoc on UTEP's run-heavy offense in a 41-7 win. When Strong got started at Texas in 2014, he wanted a multiple defense capable of producing a lot of different answers and threats. He has the personnel he needs now to start experimenting, like the front he showed UTEP: three down linemen, two linebackers in the middle, two more standing up at the edge. "We mixed it up," Strong said. "They give you that multiple look because they are kind of hybrids." He’s letting Hager, a 6-foot-3 and 245-pound missile with endless energy, stick to what he knows: chasing the ball and the quarterback. The kid loves to punish. Hager proudly tells the story of the time he knocked a quarterback out cold when he was a second-grader. He argues the targeting rule is ruining the game, and says he specializes in a style of football -- "blowing people up" -- that’s being forgotten. Texas' Breckyn Hager had a team-high eight tackles against UTEP. AP Photo/Eric Gay Teammates call him "Wild Man" and "Kamikaze." He’s been growing out his long blonde hair for the past year, and vows he won’t cut it until Texas wins a Big 12 title. He wishes he had his dad’s Fu Manchu, but he can’t grow facial hair. Hager picked up his first personal foul penalty of the season early in the first quarter of the opener. He was flagged for a facemask penalty, but says he did rip the Notre Dame player’s helmet off, then added: "He deserved it." "He’s really cool off the field, a really chill guy," Texas offensive lineman Patrick Vahe said. "As soon as I see Breckyn hit the field, that boy has a mean look the whole entire time." The son of Texas legend Britt Hager grew up in Austin, but never thought he would get to be a Longhorn. The three-star recruit went to a junior day event in the spring of 2014 and wasn’t sure anybody there knew his name. He committed to Baylor that spring, but hoped the Longhorns would eventually notice him. Four weeks into his senior season, after a whole bunch of "blowing people up," Texas' staff figured him out and persuaded him to flip. "It was a dream come true," Hager said. "It still is. I still thank God every day that I’m here." He’s a favorite in the locker room, even if players say Hager consistently makes that room messier. He quickly won over Strong last fall with his crushing hits in practice, and he’s a headache for whomever he’s hunting down off the edge. The Hager-heavy front might not be a fit this week when Texas faces the Davis Webb-led Cal offense that just threw the ball 72 times in a loss to San Diego State. But don’t be surprised if Strong breaks it out again down the road in Big 12 play. Strong has all the talent he needs now to field a loaded defense that plays sound and stout against any offensive scheme. But sometimes, you just need to let the mad men loose. "I love it," Hager said. "Just fly to the ball and go." |
Alabama has pulled yet another elite linebacker out of Auburn's backyard. Markail Benton became the 12th player to join Alabama's 2017 recruiting class when he slipped on a black Crimson Tide 2015 national championship hat in front of his family, friends and coaches at Central-Phenix City High School Friday. "When I took the visit to Alabama the last time I had a great time at the camp," Benton said. "They have great coaches, great facilities. You can't get better coaching at Alabama with Coach (Nick) Saban." Though he never named a leader or favorite, many believed Auburn was the team to beat for the majority of Benton's recruitment. The Plains are just a short drive up U.S. 280, and he was a frequent visitor to the campus. He also has a former teammate, cornerback John Broussard, on the Auburn roster. "Auburn's a great school, don't get me wrong," Benton said. "They have a great facility too, and it's like 30 minutes up the road so I would take a visit to Auburn every weekend. But I mean, Alabama's got better coaching." Benton is now the third elite linebacker in the area to pick Alabama over Auburn in the last three years. Former five-star prospects Reuben Foster and Rashaan Evans, who both played at Auburn High School, did the same in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Benton's relationship with Foster played a factor in his decision. "Alabama wins championships," he said. "They win games... The times that I go up there now, (Foster) told me to stay focused and if I want to win championships and games, come to Alabama." Benton's family is a mix of Alabama and Auburn fans and he said he would "toss and turn" at night between the Tide and Tigers. He didn't know which school he would pick until Friday morning. Central head coach Jamey Dubose praised Benton's maturity and the way he handled his recruiting process. Alabama's late push also caught him by surprise. "I'm going to be honest with you, I would have bet a month and a half, two months ago it would have been Auburn," Dubose said. "That's me. He changed along the way... I talked to him at one point and Auburn was so close and he likes going to colleges and seeing things. "He had a strong relationship with the coaching staffs both at Auburn and Alabama. Alabama was so far away, they couldn't get around quite as much, and maybe that's why he didn't have as much a tie or seen as much on campus there." Benton said the Tide like him as an inside linebacker on first and second downs and as a pass rusher on third downs. He is the No. 3 recruit in the state and the No. 6 outside linebacker in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. |
Permaculture Voices: Who We Are I started Permaculture Voices from scratch in 2013. I started it with nothing. No follower, no sponsors, limited funds. But I had a goal. A goal to go out and change the world in a way that resonated with me. Along the way, others who shared this same vision came along and have shown their support both emotionally and financially. Together we have made big changes in the world and more importantly (at least to me) we have all made big changes in our own lives. Thousands have attended the live Permaculture Voices conferences and tens of thousands of listeners tune to each of the podcasts. The impact is being felt and we are making a difference. The spirit of the conference lives on via the podcast and my YouTube channel. I truly hope that these resources help you to live the life that you want to live. But I can’t do it all, the next step is up to you. Crush it. |
New York renters would be the first to tell you that rents go in only one direction: up. But after a long and relentless climb to historic highs, the momentum has stalled. With renters unwilling, or unable, to pay ever higher sums, rents have largely flatlined. And it seems we have come to the year of the renter’s market. In Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, inventories and vacancies are up, and landlords are offering new tenants discounts, like several months of free rent and no broker’s fee. In the Bronx and Staten Island, rents are holding steady because those boroughs did not experience the same rapid rent escalations or volume of new development. But that could change when new rental buildings open in both boroughs this year and in 2018. The biggest deals are happening at the top of the market, where some luxury developments are offering as much as four months of free rent on a two-year lease. But deals are to be had in older, less expensive buildings, too. Despite these concessions, some apartments linger vacant for months. Worried that a slowdown will continue, many landlords are not raising the rent when leases come up for renewal, and some are even throwing in perks like gift cards. |
Matthew Keys, a journalist, was found guilty on Wednesday of three counts of criminal hacking. He faces up to 25 years in prison, but officials are expected to seek less than five years. When asked via a Twitter direct message if he would appeal, he told Ars: "Yes," adding, "It's bullshit." On Twitter, his lawyer, Jay Leiderman, who has represented other Anonymous-related cases before, concurred. Further Reading Reuters social media editor charged over Anonymous hack of LA Times Keys worked previously as an online producer for KTXL Fox 40, a Sacramento, California-based television station. Prosecutors argued that in December 2010, shortly after his dismissal he handed over login credentials to a Tribune Media content management system (CMS), which allowed members of Anonymous to make unauthorized changes to a Los Angeles Times story. (At the time, both companies were both owned by Tribune Media.) The charges were not filed until March 2013. Keys’ lawyers forcefully argued that this was a low-level prank, and not a serious crime that merited prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. That federal law, which was passed in 1984, was what the late activist Aaron Swartz was prosecuted under. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama called for Congress to expand prison sentences for those found guilty under this law. Dueling narratives According to the 2013 criminal indictment, Keys was invited to join the IRC channel where LulzSec, the group perpetrated the HBGary hack, originated. On or about December 8, 2010, individuals identifying themselves as members of Anonymous had a conversation in an IRC channel known as #internetfeds in which one conspirator expressed a desire to gain unauthorized access to computer systems of Fox, a media outlet. Defendant MATTHEW KEYS, using the nickname AESCracked, responded that “it takes a while to grant one username permission to every site. I’m doing that now. Thereafter, KEYS was invited to join the IRC channel #internetfeds. Defendant MATTHEW KEYS then told the unidentified individuals that he was a former employee, proceeded to give them a username and password, and told them to “go fuck some shit up.” Between on or about December 8, 2010 and on or about December 14, 2010, at least one member of the conspiracy used the anon1234 username and corresponding password to reconnoiter the Tribune Company CMS to ascertain how it worked and how best to accomplish the objectives of the conspiracy. But, in a phone interview with Ars shortly after the verdict was announced, Keys flatly denied this entire narrative. As Keys tells it, he was merely gathering information as a journalist about Anonymous, but did not have his IRC handle registered—so, he supposes, someone else, using an entirely different IP address, was using that nickname instead. As part of a broader investigation into anonymous, the FBI apparently came knocking at his door. “The FBI asked me if they could scan my computer and when I told them no, then a few months later, they bring a criminal investigation against me? That's total bullshit,” Keys said. “[AESCracked] was the name that I used, and other names in observing not just them but other hackers within Anonymous, and I admit that I didn't know very much about IRC back then. That was one of several names that I used, but it wasn't locked down, it wasn't registered and it looks like somebody did use it. It was connected to an IP address that wasn't mine. The FBI agent admitted that he didn't have any records of [that IP address].” He also notes that by December 2010, he hadn’t worked for Tribune Media in three months, and had no access to their system after his departure. “This case is about a journalist who wasn't complicit with the feds when they asked,” Keys added. “There is no question about what this case is, none. This is about them approaching a journalist and then deciding to profile that journalist as a criminal. And it's bullshit, it's absolute bullshit. Meanwhile whatever attack occurred against Tribune, not a single thing is done. As a journalist that should frighten the hell out of you.” Leiderman, one of Keys' lawyers, also told Ars that in the appeal phase, he would argue that no real damage was done to the Tribune's systems. "Here, they can click a button and click revert to backup story, so we're asserting that there's no damage under the meaning of the CFAA— that's probably our main argument at this point," he said. "It was brought up in court, but this case got so dry and technical, and it really became about other things, that I think that got lost on the jury," he continued. "It's a pure legal argument. If someone goes ahead and erases stuff since the last time you saved, you can revert to your backup, you can go back. That costs you one click of your life. It's not sane to say this is three federal felonies." Keys will be sentenced January 20, 2016 in a federal courtroom in Sacramento, California. |
The second day of the film festival to mark the 100th year of Indian Cinema at the Nehru stadium here reverberated with the tunes of Kannada music and dance. More than 200 professional dancers showcased Kannada cinema which was the highlight of Sunday’s event. Yesteryear actor Saroja Devi was the star among the 50 film artistes, directors, producers and film personalities of south India who graced the occasion. Actors Kamal Haasan, Ramesh Arvind, Sivarajkumar, Karnataka Home Minister K V George and Minister for Women and Child Development Umashree were also among the audience. The auditorium, with a capacity of more than 8,000 seats, was packed to capacity not only by Kannada-speaking people but also by the locals, who cheered all the programmes right from the beginning. However, spectators were disappointed by the absence of their favourite actors, including Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj and Arjun. “We have organised a total of 72 programmes which include dance, comedy skit, felicitation to cine artiste and screening Kannada cinema clippings,” noted director and the organising chief Rajendra Kumar Arya told Deccan Herald. “The reception and atmosphere was excellent. It was a great platform to showcase our performance,” he said. However, the director was also upset by the absence of Rajinikanth and Prakash Raj. “They might be busy with their schedule,” he added. Arya rued that the time was too short to showcase the performance. The same evening, the venue was taken over by the Telugu film industry as the artistes from the neighbouring state assembled together to celebrate their success. On Monday, the members of the Malayalam film fraternity will come together for a mega entertainment programme, which will be presided over by Union Minister for Overseas Indians Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Kerala Rural Development Minister K C Joseph. |
Most of us assumed it was only a matter of time before Google released the Now launcher that debuted on the Nexus 5 to the Play store. Now that day has come... provided you're the owner of a Nexus or Play Edition handset that runs KitKat. The new homescreen is the one you've already come to know and love on the newest Nexus phone, complete with the ability to say "Ok Google" from any home screen to automatically launch Now's voice command functions. Breaking the launcher out from the core Android code also means it'll be easier for Google to update and add features to it going forward, without having to release an entirely new version of the OS. Now the next step will be getting the launcher on more phones, even if it still requires you to have KitKat. Though, as the internet giant successfully breaks its own apps and services away from the Android core, the Nexus program becomes less and less important. |
“Heart & Slash's tight combat system, amazing upbeat soundtrack, and sheer commitment to providing gear that's fun to use sucked me in straight away.” 80% – Destructoid “Do yourself a favor and pick up Heart & Slash. Especially if you are a retro gaming fan, the graphics, art, and difficulty curve will keep you coming back for more to clean up the Robopocalypse.” 95% – Gamer Assault Weekly “With tight refined combat, a charming visual style and an endearing main character that reminds me of an anthropomorphic companion cube, Heart & Slash’s throwback difficulty won’t be for everyone but, if you like your games to push back a little and not hold your hand, you’ll find Heart & Slash a rewarding experience that’s well worth the effort.” 4/5 – Impulse Gamer About This Game Heart&Slash is a 3D brawler that is set in a world where machines are all that remains from the Human civilization. You play as Heart, an innocent robot fighting to escape the grip of the evil and all seeing machine QuAsSy (Quality Assurance Systems). But make no mistake Heart&Slash is a hard game. Every death is permanent and means a new randomly generated level for you to start over with a different set of weapons and items you can use, new enemies to fight and secrets to explore. Heart&Slash is an indie game developed by a small but passionate team. We have a tiny budget but big hearts, and we are giving it all to make this game (our first) the best we can. Features (on final release): -3 worlds to explore and fight in. Each world includes its unique enemies an bosses. -Dozens of different weapons and equipment pieces (more than 100 in total) to customize Heart and your play style. -Perma-death, but a persistent progression system that gives you more options as you play the game. We hope you enjoy Heart&Slash as much as we enjoy making it! Welcome! |
Date Title Country/Organization Notes 1996–2001 All Afghanistan During the five-year reign of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, Western technology and art was prohibited and this included all films.[1][2][3][4] 1980–1990 Pas vdekjes (After Death) Albania Banned for ten years.[5] 1963 The Silence Banned because of "obscenity".[10] 1976 The Great Dictator (1940) Banned under Videla's regime during Argentina's last-civil military dictatorship (1976-1983), for mocking dictatorships.[10] 1978 Looking for Mr. Goodbar Banned under Videla's regime during Argentina's last-civil military dictatorship (1976-1983), for being "pornographic".[10] 1978 Pretty Baby Banned under Videla's regime during Argentina's last-civil military dictatorship (1976-1983), for being "pornographic".[10] 1979 Coming Home Banned under Videla's regime during Argentina's last-civil military dictatorship (1976-1983), for its anti-war message.[10] 1979 The House on Garibaldi Street Banned under Videla's regime during Argentina's last-civil military dictatorship (1976-1983), because it depicts the hunt for Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann.[10] 1985 Je vous salue, Marie (Hail Mary) Banned due to blasphemous and sexual content.[14] 1976–2000 In the Realm of the Senses Banned because of obscenity, though a censored version was made available in 1977. Only in 2000 did it finally become available in its complete cut.[22][23] 2003 Ken Park Banned and refused classification in 2003 for graphic depictions of teenage sex, incest, and auto-erotic asphyxiation.[30] 2011 Hostage (Azerbaijani) Azerbaijan Banned because the plot presents Armenians in a positive light.[31] 2007 The Kingdom Bahrain Banned because of an inaccurate depiction of a 1996 bombing in Saudi Arabia.[32] 2014 Noah Banned due to depiction of prophets.[33] 1940–1945 La Kermesse Heroïque (Carnival in Flanders) (1935) Belgium Banned in Nazi-occupied Belgium by Joseph Goebbels because of its pacifist themes. The director, Jacques Feyder, was later hunted down for arrest but managed to hide in Switzerland.[34] 1976–1994 In the Realm of the Senses Banned on its initial release because of its graphic sex scenes, being the last film subject to censorship in the country.[35] It was the only European country at that time where the film was banned.[36][37] Since 1994 [38] the ban is no longer in effect.[39] 2011 A Serbian Film Banned due to it being an "apology for pedophilia".[41] 1967–1990 Privarzaniyat balon (The Tied Up Balloon) Bulgaria Banned during the Communist era for criticizing the communist leaders during World War Two.[42][43][44] After Bulgaria became a democratic nation again, in 1990, the ban was lifted.[42][44] 2007 The Simpsons Movie Burma Banned over the "juxtaposition of the colors yellow and red", which is seen as support for rebel groups.[45] 2008 Rambo Banned for negative portrayals of Burmese soldiers.[46] 2015 Fifty Shades of Grey Banned for "insane romance, numerous sex sequence, the use of violence during sex" and for being "entirely related to sexual matters that are too extreme for Khmer society".[48][49] 2015 No Escape Banned for its "negative portrayal of local culture".[50][51] 2017 Kingsman: The Golden Circle Banned for portraying Cambodia as a base for the movie's antagonists.[52] 1982 Boat People Banned in the Republic of China (Taiwan) because it was filmed on Hainan, an island in the People's Republic of China.[54][55] 1984 Yellow Earth Banned upon initial release.[56] 1985 Back to the Future Banned because of time travel.[9] 1986 The Horse Thief Banned upon initial release.[56] 1990 Ju Dou Banned upon initial release, but lifted in 1992.[56][57] The Chinese government gave permission for its viewing in July 1992.[58] 1991–1994 Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Banned upon initial release, released three years later.[56] 1993 The Blue Kite Banned for being "offensive". Its director, Tian Zhuangzhuang, received a 10-year ban from making films.[59] 1993 Farewell My Concubine Banned for a while due to its homosexual themes and negative portrayal of communism. After the film gained acclaim in other countries and won the Palme d'Or in Cannes, it was allowed screening in China too.[60] 1994 To Live Banned due to its critical portrayal of various policies and campaigns of the Communist government. In addition, its director, Zhang Yimou, was banned from filmmaking for two years.[56][61][62] 2005 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life Banned for its unflattering depictions of Chinese society (never given permission to screen).[63] 2006 The Da Vinci Code Banned because of blasphemous content.[21] 2006 The Departed Banned for a line suggesting that the government intends to use nuclear weapons on Taiwan (a sensitive political issue – never given permission to screen)[64] 2009 Shinjuku Incident Banned for being "too violent" when director Derek Yee refused to edit this content down.[65] 2014 Noah Banned for the depiction of prophets.[21] 2016 Deadpool (2016) Banned upon initial release due to explicit content.[56][66] 2016 Sausage Party Banned self-inflicted by the Taiwanese distributor in order to not have to deal with angry parents mistaking it as a family-friendly movie.[67] 2018 Christopher Robin (2018) Banned due to comparisons of President and Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping to main character Winnie-the-Pooh.[68] 2015 L'Homme Qui Repare Les Femmes (The Man Who Mends Women) Congo Banned without a reason given. The documentary is about Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, whose hospital treats rape victims.[69] 1966 The Hand Czechoslovakia Banned under the Communist regime for depicting a restrictive environment, which was similar to living under the regime.[70] 1966 Daisies Banned under the Communist regime for "depicting the wanton".[71][72] The film's director, Věra Chytilová, was forbidden from working again until 1975.[72][54] 1966–1988 A Report on the Party and the Guests Banned under the Communist regime from 1966 to 1968 because the film is an allegory of totalitarian regimes. After a short release during the Prague Spring, it was banned again for the next twenty years. In 1974, director Jan Němec was forced to leave the country.[73] 1967 The Firemen's Ball Banned by the Czech Communist government in 1968 for its satire of the East European communist system.[73][74][ better source needed ] 1968 Deserters and Pilgrims (also known as The Deserters and the Nomads) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] 1969–1990 All My Compatriots (also known as All My Countrymen) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] Its director, Vojtěch Jasný went into exile. 1969–1990 Birds, Orphans and Fools Banned by the Czech Communist government for depicting three people orphaned by political violence and trying to mentally survive, despite not being free.[73] 1969–1989 Dull Sunday Banned by the Czech Communist government for twenty years, with its director, Drahomíra Vihanová, being banned from making new films until 1977.[73] 1969–1989 The Cremator Banned by the Czech Communist government from 1969 until 1989 because this black comedy depicts a crematorium director who enjoys burning people and sides with the Nazis during the Holocaust. Apart from this theme, the story can be interpreted for remaining true to individual morality, something that was a dangerous message.[75][76][77] 1969–1990 Larks on a String Banned under the Communist regime from 1969 until the fall of the regime in 1990.[78][79] 1969 Mourning Party (Smuteční slavnost) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] 1969 The Seventh Day, The Eighth Night (Den sedmý, osmá noc) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73][80] 1970 Hlídac (Prison Guard) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] 1970–1989 Ucho (The Ear) Banned by the Czech Communist government until 1989, because the story depicts a couple who think they are under government surveillance.[73] 1970 Fruit of Paradise Banned by the Czech Communist government for its shocking content. Its director, Vera Chytilová, was forbidden from making new films for eight years.[73][81] 1970 Witchhammer Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] 1971 Nahota (Naked) Banned by the Czech Communist government.[73] 1972 Case for a Rookie Hangman Banned by the Czech Communist government for its satirical depiction of Czech society, which meant the end of the director Pavel Juráček's career.[73][82] 1972 Leonardo's Diary Banned by the Communist government for depicting life in Czechoslovakia in a critical light. Its director, Jan Svankmajer, was banned from working for five years. When the ban was lifted, he was only allowed to make adaptations of literary works.[83] 1975 The Apple Game Banned by the Czech Communist government. The director, Věra Chytilová, personally asked for more information at the censor board and heard that the Soviet embassy felt the subject matter was "too heavy-duty".[73] 1977–1990 Castle of Otranto Banned by the Czech Communist government after its director, Jan Svankmajer, refused to change anything about the film. Government censors objected to its mockumentary tone, which could undermine peoples' faith in the TV news. Svankmajer himself was banned from making films for eight years.[84] 1982 Dimensions of Dialogue Banned because the Communist government censors didn't like its criticism of consumerism. The ban was more than likely also a result of its director, Jan Svankmajer, having been banned twice before in the past.[83] 1983–1996 Straka v hrsti (A Magpie in the Hand) Banned by the Communist government because the film was based on a script by Antonín Přidal, an author who was banned by the regime, and because it featured the subversive rock band Pražský výběr.[77] 1930 The Skeleton Dance Denmark Banned initially in 1930 because the censors deemed the film "too macabre".[85] Today the ban is no longer in effect. 1965–1990 Das Kaninchen bin ich (The Rabbit Is Me) Main article: Film censorship in East Germany Banned by the East-German Communist government for its criticism of everyday life in the country. While not directly referring to politics it still was perceived as dangerous criticism of the system.[86] Due to the film's infamy all banned films in the DDR were referred to as "rabbit films". The film remained banned until Germany was unified again in 1990.[87][87][88] 1965–1990 Denk bloss nicht, ich heule (Just Don't Think I'll Cry) Banned by the East-German Communist government for its criticism of the regime.[87] 1966–1989 Spur der Steine (Trace of Stones) Banned by the East-German Communist government.[87] 1968–1989 Die Russen kommen (The Russians Are Coming) Banned by the East-German Communist government because of its theme where a young Nazi lives in fear of the approaching Russian army. Even though the Russians are eventually portrayed in a sympathetic light, the plot was too controversial, especially three years after the Prague Spring.[87] 1968 Funny Girl Egypt Banned because the Egyptian Muslim lead (Omar Sharif) is portrayed in a romantic storyline with Jewish actress Barbra Streisand. Streisand's political support for Israel at the height of military tensions between Egypt and Israel was also a factor.[89][90] 2006 The Da Vinci Code Banned because of blasphemous content.[21] 2014 Halawet Rooh (Sweetness of Soul) Banned right after screening the film in cinemas, after criticism over scenes deemed sexually provocative. The movie was criticized for copying Giuseppe Tornatore's movie Malena (2000) starring Italian actress Monica Bellucci.[91][92] 1930–1952 Battleship Potemkin Finland Banned out of fear of inciting a Communist revolution.[9][93] 1943–1945 Mrs. Miniver Banned during World War II.[94] 1943–1950 Johnny Eager Banned during World War II and finally released on March 31, 1950.[95] 1955–1959 Rififi Banned for its depiction of cracking security safes. The government feared it might inspire copycat crimes. The ban was lifted after five years.[15][ better source needed ] 1962–1986 One, Two, Three Banned for 24 years due to its political satire, which could offend their ally and neighbouring country, the Soviet Union. (Finland had a policy of Finlandization).[96][97] 1980 Cruising Banned on its initial release.[20] 1980–2000 Friday the 13th Banned on its initial release until a law change in 2001 when it automatically reverted to a K18 (adults only) classification.[102][103] 1981–1991 Dead & Buried Banned on its initial release. A considerably shortened version was allowed in 1991 with a K16 classification (allowed for persons over the age of 16).[104] 1986–2000 The House on the Edge of the Park Banned for violence in 1986; it took six years after the film's release for any distributorto even try to get a classification. A law change in 2001 finally lifted the ban.[105] 1976–2000 Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma Banned in 1976 for moral, mental health and appropriateness reasons. The banning renewed again in 1984 with the defined exception of two specific screenings by the Finnish Film Archive. Finally a law change in 2001 removed the ban.[106] 1972 Dirty Harry Banned on Feb-1972 for violence and mental health reasons. The distributor challenged the banning and took the decision to ban to Finnish Supreme administrative Court which ruled against banning. After minor cuts, it was banned again. A second round of court cases (again, won by the distributor) forced the banning authorities to allow the film to be distributed. They did so but only after mandatory cuts of over three minutes. Finally in Jan-1973 the butchered film premiered in Finland.[107] 1986 Born American Banned on Jan-1986 for its violence and for political reasons.[108] The political reasons were that the movie was "potentially harmful to international relations". A court appeal to Finnish Supreme administrative Court decided against the banning (after some cuts would be made) and authorities were forced to dismantle the ban (with more cuts) and the movie premiered in late Dec-1986 after a struggle of almost a year. 20 years after the movie was banned, it was revealed (by a politics researcher and academic Juhani Suomi in his book "Kohti sinipunaa") that the authorities were in fact "instructed" to ban the film and that the banning was dictated by the Soviet Union's ambassador Vladimir Sobolev.[109] Born American was the last movie in Finland to suffer banning for political reasons. 1971–2000 The Devils Banned on its initial release in 1971 for violence and content which could potentially be hazardous to mental health. The decision to ban was ultimately taken to highest available court which did not lift the ban. A second round of banning was then seen in 1985 and the government officials used the same exact phrasing in their decision to ban as was done 14 years earlier. The ban was finally automatically lifted after a law change in 2001.[110] 1982 Just Before Dawn Banned for violence for 4 months until a cut version (around 2 minutes of cuts) was allowed with a classification of K18 (adults only).[111] 1925−1953 Battleship Potemkin France Banned due to fears that it could inspire revolution.[112] 1930 L'Age d'Or Banned in Paris by the police prefect "in the name of public order."[113] 1933–1946 Zéro de Conduite Banned because of a plot where pupils take over a repressive school. The ban remained in effect under Nazi occupation for the same reason.[114][115] 1943 Le Corbeau Banned from 1945 until 1947, because the film was produced under the Nazi regime with financial support too. It was also seen as a negative portrayal of French people and accused of harboring sympathies for the Vichy regime. After two years, however, the ban was lifted again.[15][ better source needed ][116] 1950–1990 Afrique 50 Banned for criticizing the French colonial rule. Its director, René Vautier, was condemned to one year in prison.[117][118] 1954 Avant le déluge Banned due to it controversial criminal content.[118] 1955–1957 Bel-Ami Banned on its initial release. Released after two years in a censored version.[118][120] 1954–1981 Carmen Jones Banned due to a technicality in copyright laws on order of the estate of composer George Bizet (on whose opera Carmen the film was based).[121][122][123] 1955–1980 Le Rendez-vous des quais Banned for representing dockers who refused to dispatch military supplies for use in the Indochina War.[118][124] 1957–1975 Paths of Glory Banned in France for two decades because of its critical depiction of the French army during World War I.[125] 1960 Le Petit Soldat Banned on political grounds; the ban was lifted in 1963 with re-editing.[10][126] 1961 Tu ne tueras point Banned for two years because it depicts a soldier during World War II who has conscientious objections.[10][127] 1965–1971 The Battle of Algiers Banned for six years because of its pro-Algerian and anticolonial message.[10] 1974-1977 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Banned for its violent and sadistic content.[40] 1977 Camp de Thiaroye Banned for criticizing the colonial system.[129] 2000 Baise-Moi Banned from French cinema screens in 2000 after being given an X-rating.[130][131] Eventually, in August 2001, it was reclassified from age bracket 16 to 18.[132] 2016 Antichrist Banned on February 3, 2016 over sexual and violent content, despite being allowed on its initial release in 2009. The ban was a result of the Catholic traditionalist pressure group Promouvoir who wanted the 16 rating to be reclassified to prevent minors from seeing it. A French court ruled in their favor. As a new certificate is being decided the film is now banned from all cinemas, TV broadcast and video release.[133] 1920−1945 Anders als die Andern (Different from the Others) Germany Banned due to homosexual themes. During the 1920s, it was restricted for viewing to doctors and medical researchers only. After Hitler came to power in 1933, it was banned again and mostly destroyed by the Nazis.[134] The film was later partially reconstructed.[135] 1929 The Barnyard Battle (1929) Banned initially because the cats in this Mickey Mouse cartoon wear helmets that resemble German pickelhaube.[85][136] Today the ban is no longer in effect. 1930–1931 and again from 1933 to 1945 All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) Banned in 1930 after protests but then re-admitted in a heavily censored version in 1931 after public debate.[137] After 1933, it was banned by the Nazi regime for its anti-militaristic themes [138] and being "anti-German".[139] Erich Maria Remarque's novel was also banned as well, and was among the "anti-German" books burned in bonfires.[140] At the Capitol Theatre in West Germany in 1952, the film saw its first release in 22 years. 1932–1945 Kuhle Wampe Banned because it depicted the government, legal system, and religion in a negative light. Eventually, the ban was lifted due to protests and the film was released in a severely edited version. Six months later, Hitler came into power, causing the movie to be banned again under the Nazi regime until the end of the war. Its director, Slatan Dudow, was arrested for being a member of the Communist Party and banned from entering the country again.[87] 1933–1945 All movies starring the Marx Brothers. Banned in Nazi Germany because the comedy stars were Jewish.[141] 1933−1945 Battleship Potemkin Banned in Nazi Germany due to fears it could inspire Marxism.[112][142] 1933−1945 Ecstasy Banned in Nazi Germany because of the erotic content.[143] 1933–1945 Mädchen in Uniform. Banned in Nazi Germany because of its lesbian theme.[87] 1933−1945 The Mad Doctor Banned in Nazi Germany, because of the horror atmosphere in this Mickey Mouse short.[144] 1933−1945 Mysterium des Geschlechtes Banned in Nazi Germany because of the erotic content.[143] 1933−1945 Vier von der Infanterie (Westfront 1918, also known as Comrades of 1918) Banned in Nazi Germany for being a pacifist war drama.[87] 1934−1945 Nana Banned in Nazi Germany because of its plot, depicting a soldier visiting a prostitute, which violated the military's sensibilities and honor code.[87] 1934−1945 The Testament of Dr. Mabuse Banned in Nazi Germany for "presenting criminal acts so detailed and fascinating that they might tempt copy-cats". It also had an anti-authoritarian tone and certain dialogue of Mabuse was lifted directly from Mein Kampf.[21][115][147] 1936−1945 The Bohemian Girl Banned in Nazi Germany, because the positive depiction of gypsies "had no place" in the Third Reich.[148] 1936–1956 Modern Times Banned in Nazi Germany for advocating Communism.[149][150] 1937–1945 La Grande Illusion Banned in Nazi Germany for its anti-war message. Head of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels named its director Jean Renoir "Cinematographic Enemy Number One".[151] 1938–1950 A Prussian Love Story Banned in Nazi Germany because the plot of a love affair between the Emperor and an actress was too similar to Head of Propaganda Goebbels's own affair.[152] Even after the war it took until 1950 before the film saw a release. 1939–1977 Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) The first anti-Nazi movie made in Hollywood before the start of World War II, Adolf Hitler banned it and all Warner Bros. films from exhibition throughout the remainder of his tenure as German chancellor. He reportedly planned to execute the makers of this film upon winning the war.[153] It was not publicly screened in Germany until 11 March 1977. 1939–1945 Kitty und die Weltkonferenz (Kitty and the World Conference) Banned in Nazi Germany despite an initially successful box office run. Following the outbreak of the Second World War that same year, Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels withdrew it from cinemas as he felt it presented a too favourable view of Great Britain.[154] 1939–1978 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Banned in Nazi Germany because it showed democracy working well.[155] 1940–1945 The Great Dictator Banned in Nazi Germany for mocking Nazism and Hitler. During World War II, it was once shown to German soldiers in 1942: In German-occupied Yugoslavia, local guerillas sneaked a copy from Greece into an army-cinema in an act of cultural sabotage. After half of the film had been shown, German officers stopped the screening and threatened to shoot the Yugoslavian projectionist. Apparently, the film was ordered by the Reich Chancellery.[9][156] It was first shown in West Germany as late as 1958. 1940–1945 La Kermesse Heroïque (Carnival in Flanders) (1935) Banned in Nazi Germany and Belgium by Joseph Goebbels because of its pacifist themes. The director, Jacques Feyder, was later hunted down for arrest, but managed to escape to Switzerland.[34] 1943−1949 Titanic (1943) Banned in Nazi Germany by Joseph Goebbels because some of the scenes could demoralize the audience, despite being made by the Nazi propaganda department itself. The Allied Control Council banned the film after the war too, because of its Nazi propaganda. After the end of the occupation, the German Motion picture rating system classified it to age 12 or older and to age 6 or older with parental guidance. It was sometimes shown on German TV after the war and a censored, low quality VHS copy was released in 1992[ citation needed ]. 1944−1945 Große Freiheit Nr. 7 (Great Freedom No. 7) Banned in Nazi Germany. It had its premiere in occupied Prague in December 1944.[157][158] 1945 Auf Wiedersehn, Franziska! (Goodbye, Franziska!) Banned by the Allied Forces after World War Two, because of its ending, which reminded the viewers to support the war effort. It was eventually allowed back after director Helmut Käutner was able to convince officials that the propaganda sequence was no reflection of his political ideology and was added at request of Nazi censors. Since the rest of the film was fairly a-political it was brought back in circulation, with only the propaganda end sequence removed.[158] 1945- Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew) Banned since 1945 because of its anti-semitic Nazi propaganda content. It is exclusively allowed for use in college classrooms and other academic purposes; however, exhibitors must have formal education in "media science and the history of the Holocaust." Public use is prohibited as of 2013.[159] 1945- Jud Süss (1940) Banned in 1945 from German exhibition by decree of the Allied Military Occupation.[160] Director Veit Harlan was required by court order to destroy what was then believed to be the only remaining negative of Jud Süß and he reportedly did this in April 1954. A few years later, however, copies of the film began to turn up to the embarrassment of the West German government. After a lengthy investigation, it was determined that another negative existed in East Germany and it was used it to make prints that were dubbed in Arabic and distributed in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Lebanon. Though that negative has never been located, it has been widely suspected that this version was produced and distributed by the Stasi or the KGB in order to arouse anti-semitism among Egyptian and Palestinians against the US backed Israel (and henceforth, support for the Soviet backed Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser).[161][162][163] The copyright of the film is held by the government-owned F.W. Murnau Foundation. The Foundation only permits screenings of the film when accompanied by an introduction explaining the historical context and the intended impact.[164] 1951 Der Untertan (film) (The Kaiser's Lackey) Banned in western Germany because of "anticonstitutional" content.[165] Uncut version released in western Germany in 1971. 1956 Du und mancher Kamerad Banned in western Germany because of "anticonstitutional" content.[165] 1956 Thomas Muentzer (film) (Thomas Müntzer) Banned in western Germany because of "anticonstitutional" content.[165] 1958 And Quiet Flows the Don (film) (And Quiet Flows the Don (1958)) Banned in western Germany because of "anticonstitutional" content.[165] Part 1 was released in western Germany in 1959, Parts 2 and 3 were first broadcast in western German television in 1968. 1960–1965 Higher Principle Banned in western Germany until 1965 because of "anti-German" content.[166] 1974−1978 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Banned in western Germany due to extreme level violence.[101] 1992 Braindead Banned due to gory violence.[167] Although the uncut version remains banned, there are numerous DVDs of the film in circulation in Germany, most of which are heavily cut.[168] 2010 Zidan ("Prison") (1974) Although currently the ban is not in effect, Zindan, directed by Remzi Jonturk, remains the only Turkish movie title to have ever been banned in Germany due to gore, violence and cruelty.[169][ unreliable source? ] 2010 Saw 3D Banned because Tiergarten AG has noted that several scenes in the movie violate the violence act §131 StGB. Private copies are still legal to own and personal use is not punishable; however any public show of the movie is highly prohibited and punishable act. There is a censored "Keine Jugendfreigabe/ No youth admitted" version, but it has all the violent scenes cut out. Retailing this copy is still legal, since "KJ" rated movies cannot be indexed/banned.[170] 2015 Rape Story Banned because of a rape allegations involving Karl Schmidt a real life convicted rapist from Germany who starred as the rapist in the movie [172] 1955 Les Maîtres Fous Ghana A documentary about the religious rituals of the Hauka tribe. Banned in Ghana and several other French and English colonies in Africa at the time because of the Africans' blatant attempts to mimic and mock the "white oppressors". On the other hand, African students, teachers, and directors found the film to perpetrate an "exotic racism" of the African people. [173] [174] 1914 Golfo (1914) Greece Banned for its royalist sentiments.[175] 1967–1974 Z (1969) Banned under the colonel's regime, for being critical of the junta.[176] 1945 Jud Süss (1940) Hungary Banned since the end of the World War II due to its anti-Jewish and pro-Nazi content. 1947–1979 Song of the Cornfields Banned for being ‘clerical’, depiction of the controversial issue of Hungarian prisoners held by the Soviets and depicting religious values.[177] 1956–1986 Keserű igazság (Bitter Truth) Banned for criticising the forced industralisation of Hungary.[177] 1956–1989 Eltüsszentett birodalom (An Empire Sneezed Away) Banned for depicting a monarch sharing similarities with the dictatorship of Hungarian communist leader Mátyás Rákosi.[177] 1957–1984 A Remarkable Case Banned for depicting the corruption of the dictatorship of Hungarian communist leader Mátyás Rákosi.[177] 1969–1981 A tanú (The Witness) Banned under the Communist government for almost a decade, because it satirized the regime.[178][179] 1974–1984 Bástyasétány ’74 (Bastion promenade ’74) Banned for unclear reasons.[177] 1983–1989 Dream Brigade Banned for being too radical.[177] 1985–1999 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Iceland Banned due to high level of violence; a censored version was later released.[101] 1987 Nekromantik Banned due to its transgressive subject matter (including necrophilia) and audacious imagery[ citation needed ]. 1992 Cannibal Holocaust Banned due to very high impact violence and offensive depictions of both human and animal cruelty. Still banned.[101] 1976 Max Havelaar Indonesia Banned for its parallels between the anti-colonial story and the then present-day regime.[10] 1982 The Year of Living Dangerously Banned for its criticism of Sukarno's regime. The ban was lifted in 1999.[180] 1994 Schindler's List Banned for being sympathetic to the Jewish cause.[181][182] 2007 Long Road to Heaven Banned on the island of Bali, as local politicians worried that the film, which about the 2002 Bali bombings, might promote hatred and intolerance.[183] 2014 Noah Banned because of its depiction of the prophets.[185] 1969 Gaav (The Cow) Iran Banned briefly by the regime of The Shah, due to what was perceived as the film depicting Iran as a rural, culturally backwards society. The film would later be allowed to screen on the condition that the film would begin with a disclaimer explaining to audiences that the film is set several decades ago, and does not reflect a modern Iran.[188] 1980 Cruising Banned on its initial release.[20] 1981 Bita Banned under the censorship act of 1981 because it criticized exploitation of women by men.[54] 1981 Ghaire aze Khoudo Hitch Kass Naboud Banned under the censorship act of 1981 because it depicts a lesbian relationship and a controversy.[54] 1996 Gabbeh Banned for being "subversive".[189] 1996 Nūn o goldūn (A Moment of Innocence) Banned because of its theme that different people can experience the same incident in a different way .[190][191][189] 2001 Zoolander Banned for perceived support of gay rights.[192] 2004 Marmoulak Pulled from cinemas two weeks after its premiere in Iran due to the film mocking conservative attitudes of the clerics in Iran.[193] 2010 300 Banned for its negative portrayal of Persian military.[194] 2012 Argo Banned for its negative portrayal of Iran.[195] 2015 American Sniper Banned for being an "insult to the population".[196] 1931–2000 Monkey Business Main article: Film censorship in the Republic of Ireland Banned on its initial release for fear that its anarchic style of comedy would inspire societal upheaval. The ban was only officially lifted in 2000.[197] 1943 The Outlaw Banned due to sexual references.[198][199] 1945 Brief Encounter Banned, as it was considered too permissive of adultery.[198] 1946 The Big Sleep Banned due to sexual references.[198] 1950 Outrage Banned due to its theme of rape.[198] 1967–2000 Ulysses Banned for three decades. The film was not approved for general release until 2000.[200] 1971−2000 A Clockwork Orange Banned due to its extreme depictions of violence and rape. In 2000 the ban was lifted.[101] 1978, 2010 I Spit on Your Grave Banned due to its scenes of graphic violence and lengthy depictions of gang rape. In 2010, the movie was released uncut on DVD and Blu-ray and the ban was renewed by forbidding retailers to sell it.[201] 1979–1987 Monty Python's Life of Brian Banned because of its blasphemous content. Ban lifted in 1987.[101] 1983–1990 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Banned because of its blasphemous content. Ban lifted in 1990.[202] 1994 Natural Born Killers Banned out of fear for copycat killings.[40] 1948 Oliver Twist Israel Banned on its initial release, because the character of Fagin was deemed to be anti-semitic.[205] 1957 The Girl in the Kremlin Banned because it may have harmed Israel's diplomatic relations with Moscow.[206] 1957 China Gate Banned for indulging in excessive cruelty. The Israeli film censorship board indicated the film depicted Chinese and Russian soldiers as "monsters".[207] 1965 Goldfinger Banned after it was revealed that one of the main actors, Gert Fröbe, had a Nazi past. The film had only run for six weeks in the theaters.[208] It was unbanned a few months later when a man went to the Israeli Embassy in Vienna and told the staff that Fröbe hid him and his mother from the Nazis (which may have saved their lives).[209] 1973 Hitler: The Last Ten Days Banned because the censorship board unanimously felt that the portrayal of Hitler was "too human".[211] 1988 The Last Temptation of Christ Banned on the grounds that it could offend Christians.[214] 2004 Jenin, Jenin Banned by the Israeli Film Ratings Board on the premise that it was libelous and might offend the public; the Supreme Court of Israel later overturned the decision.[213][215] 2004 Shrek 2 Banned briefly in 2004, though not for the film itself, but because of the Hebrew dub. A joke about Israeli singer David D'Or's high voice was added, in which one character threaten to emasculate another by saying "Let's do a David D'or on him". This remark prompted the artist to take legal action.[216] 1933–1945 Duck Soup Italy Banned under the regime of Benito Mussolini for poking fun at dictators and war.[141] 1955 Totò and Carolina Banned on its initial release for poking fun at the police.[217] 1962 Jules and Jim Banned initially for its sexual attitudes, but after protest this ban was quickly lifted.[15][ better source needed ] 1972−1986 Last Tango in Paris Banned from 1972 to 1986 for being "obscene".[101] 1982–2009 Lion of the Desert Banned from 1982 until 2009 as it was considered damaging to the honor of the Italian Army.[218] 1999 Li chiamarono... briganti! Banned from theatrical release and still not available on VHS and DVD, because of its critical viewpoint about the Italian unification.[219] 1939–1946 The Mikado Japan Banned until after World War II because could be construed as disrespectful towards the Emperor of Japan.[220] 2014 Stories of Our Lives Banned because this documentary about being gay in Kenya "showed obscenity, explicit scenes of sexual activities" and promoted homosexuality.[224] 2004 Fahrenheit 9/11 Banned for being critical of the Iraq war and being an insult to Saudi Arabia's royal family.[226][227] 2007 The Kingdom Banned for being a "false depiction" of a 1996 bombing in Saudi Arabia.[32] 2017 Beauty and the Beast Banned due to homosexual references that were found to be offensive.[228][229] 2007 Persepolis Banned initially after some clerics found it to be "offensive to Iran and Islam." The ban was later revoked after an outcry in Lebanese intellectual and political circles.[230] 2008 Waltz with Bashir The film is banned in Lebanon, with the most harsh critics saying the film depicts a vague and violent time in Lebanon's history. A movement of bloggers, among them the Lebanese Inner Circle, +961 and others have rebelled against the Lebanese government's ban of the film, and have managed to get the film seen by local Lebanese critics, in defiance of their government's request on banning it. The film was privately screened in January 2009 in Beirut in front of 90 people.[231] Since then many screenings have taken place. Unofficial copies are also available in the country. 2017 Wonder Woman Pulled from distribution before premiere on account of that film's lead star Gal Gadot's service in the Israeli Army, leading to a campaign against her and in accordance with a decades-old law that boycotts Israeli products and bars Lebanese citizens from traveling to Israel or having contacts with Israelis. Lebanon is at war with Israel. However, that film will be viewed online and available on DVD instead.[6] 1993 Schindler's List Banned initially; the Malaysian Film Censorship Board described the film as “propaganda with the purpose of asking for sympathy.”[232] A heavily censored DVD version was later released in 2004. 1994 Pulp Fiction Banned due to intense violence, drug abuse, explicit nudity, and scenes of sexual violence.[233] 1998 Barney's Great Adventure Banned because the censors found it to be unacceptable for children to watch, without providing any further explanation.[234] 2001 Zoolander Banned for its negative portrayal of Malaysia. In this comedy film, the title character visits Malaysia which is depicted as an impoverished country, dependent on sweatshops. Malaysia's censorship board deemed it "definitely unsuitable".[235] 2013 The Wolf of Wall Street Banned due to its strong sexual content, drug abuse and offensive language.[236] 2014 Noah Banned due to religious content and its depictions of the prophets.[185] 2015 Fifty Shades of Grey Banned due to its strong sexual content and graphic nudity.[49] 2015 The Danish Girl Banned due to sexual and nude content as well on grounds of moral depravity.[238] 2017 Beauty and the Beast Banned due to homosexual references in the movie. Disney rejected the Film Censorship Board's cuts.[239] Released without any cuts.[240] 1932 Scram! Netherlands Banned on its initial release because of a scene where Laurel and Hardy sit on a bed with a woman to whom they were not married. Censors felt this was "indecent". Today the film is not banned.[241] 2010 Maladolescenza Banned since 25 March 2010 by the court of Alkmaar, which classified several scenes as child pornography.[242][243] The decision therefore means that possession, distribution and knowingly gaining access to the movie is prohibited.[244] 1980, 2006 Cannibal Holocaust Banned due to its extremely violent content and actual on-screen killings of animals.[245] (also refused release in 2006) 1981 Mad Max Banned in 1979 because of a graphic violent death.[246] (VHS release was later approved[247]) 2004 Puni Puni Poemy Banned on the grounds that it "tends to promote and support the exploitation of children and young persons for sexual purposes, and to a lesser extent, the use of sexual coercion to compel persons to submit to sexual conduct."[248] 2007−2008 Hostel: Part II Banned due to one scene that "fuses an act of extreme violence with sexual gratification". This scene's inclusion led to the film being classified as objectionable under s3(2)(f) of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 on the grounds that it "tend[s] to promote and support acts of torture and the infliction of extreme violence and extreme cruelty",[249][250] thus making it illegal for the film to be displayed publicly. Sony Pictures initially refused to remove the scene. However, on 29 January 2008, after the scene was excised, the film was rated R18 for "torture and sadistic violence".[251] 2005 Vase de Noces Banned because the film "promotes and supports bestiality".[252] As of 2017, it is still banned.[252] 2010 I Spit on Your Grave (2010 remake) Banned "because it tends to promote and support the use of violence to compel any person to submit to sexual conduct."[253] 2010 Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny Banned on the grounds of sexual exploitation of children. Due to the reaction from New Zealand film authorities, distributor Madman Entertainment chose not to release the remaining volumes there.[254] 2011 Megan Is Missing Banned for its sexual violence involving young people.[255] 2011 The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) Banned due to its gore, violence and sexually explicit content.[256] 2012 A Serbian Film Banned by the government on May 25, 2012 due to "objectionable content" (offensive depictions of sexual violence, pedophilia, extreme violence, necrophilia and/or other content that is offensive and abhorrent) [257] 2013 Maniac Banned from theatrical and home video release; the OFLC felt that "the tacit invitation to enjoy cruel and violent behavior through its first-person portrayal and packaging as entertainment is likely to lead to an erosion of empathy for some viewers".[258] 2014 High School DxD Banned on the grounds of sexual exploitation of children. The OFLC stated in their report publications were banned if containing what the board felt was "to reinforce the notion that young persons are sexually desirable and available".[259] 2009 District 9 Nigeria Banned due to accusations of being xenophobic and racist towards Nigerians.[260] 2009 2012 Banned because the year 2012 coincides with Kim Il Sung's 100th birthday. The year had also been designated "the year for opening the grand gates to becoming a rising superpower."[262] Thus, a movie which depicts the year in a negative light was found to be offensive by the North Korean government. Several people in North Korea were reportedly arrested for possessing or viewing imported copies of the movie and charged with "grave provocation against the development of the state."[263] 2014 The Interview (2014) The government of North Korea believes that the film, about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, represents "dangerous filmmaking, which justifies and encourages terrorism," according to a statement made by the North Korean embassy in Russia.[264] 2015 Child 44 (2015) Banned since 15 April 2015, when the Russian film distributor Central Partnership announced that the film would be withdrawn from cinemas in Russia, although some media stated that screening of the film was blocked by the Russian Ministry of Culture.[265][266][267] The decision was made following the press screening the day before. The Ministry of Culture and the Central Partnership issued a joint press release stating that the screening of the film before the 70th anniversary of the Victory Day was unacceptable.[268] The Ministry of Culture claimed that it received several questions on the film's contents, primarily concerning "distortion of historical facts, peculiar treatment of events before, during and after the Great Patriotic War and images and characters of Soviet people of that era".[268] Russian minister of culture Vladimir Medinsky welcomed the decision, but stressed that it was made solely by the Central Partnership. However, in his personal statement Medinsky complained that the film depicts Russians as "physically and morally base sub-humans", and compared the depiction of Soviet Union in the film with J. R. R. Tolkien's Mordor, and wished that such films should be screened neither before the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, nor any other time.[269] However, he also stated that the film would be available in Russia on DVD and online.[270] As a result of the decision the film was also withdrawn from cinemas in Belarus,[271] Ukraine,[272] Kazakhstan,[273] and Kyrgyzstan, while release of the film has been postponed until October in Georgia.[274] 1964–1971 491 Norway Banned due to homosexual themes; a censored version was later released.[275] 1972 Pink Flamingos Banned on its initial release until the 1980s.[20] 1974−1997 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Banned due to high impact scary violence. Ban lifted in 1997 and re-released uncut with an 18 (Adults only) rating.[101] 1979–1980 Monty Python's Life of Brian Banned due to jokes deemed offensive to religious people. In Sweden the film was allowed for release and even screened with the tagline "The film so funny that it got banned in Norway".[276] In 1980 the Norwegian ban was lifted.[101] 1987 Nekromantik Banned outright by the Norwegian Media Authority due to outrageous, offensive & abhorrent content (Necrophilia, extreme violence, animal cruelty, and/or other material that is disgusting & abhorrent). 2009 Ichi The Killer Banned due to high impact violence and cruelty. In January 2009, The Norwegian Media Authority classified the film as "Rejected" and banned the film outright in Norway after the government learned of an incident at the Stockholm Film Festival where two people both vomited and fainted while watching the film. The film remains strictly prohibited in Norway.[101] 2011 A Serbian Film Banned due to violation of criminal law sections 204a and 382 which deal with the sexual representation of children and extreme violence. Still Banned.[101] 1979 The Deer Hunter Banned under the regime of Alfredo Stroessner for "danger of being misunderstood".[10] 1980 The Blood of Hussain Main article: List of films banned in Pakistan Banned by General Zia ul-Haq, after he seized power in a coup de état in 1977, as the film portrays a fictional military coup in an unfavourable light.[278] 2006 The Da Vinci Code Banned because of blasphemous content.[21] 2016 Sarabjeet Banned because of blasphemous content and excessive controversial depictions. 1977 Hubad na Bayani Philippines Banned.[281] Depiction of human-rights abuses during the martial-law era[ citation needed ] 1998-? Total ban of every film starring Claire Danes All of Danes' films were banned in Manila due to disparaging comments made by her about the city. The ban would only be lifted if she sincerely apologized.[282] 2000 Toro/Live Show Banned for explicit sexual content.[283] 2003 Imelda Banned, after Imelda Marcos, on whom the biopic is based, filed a lawsuit.[284] 2006 The Da Vinci Code Banned because of blasphemous content.[21] 1930 All Quiet on the Western Front Poland Banned because censors felt it was "pro-German". Ironically enough it was also banned in Nazi Germany for being "anti-German".[139] 1946 Australia Marches with Britain Banned without a reason given.[285] 1946 Men of Timor Banned without a reason given.[285] 1967–1985 Ręce do góry (Hands Up!) Banned under the Communist regime for 18 years for depicting the Stalinist era.[286] Its director, Jerzy Skolimowski, was so outraged he left his country and moved to the West. 1972 Diabeł (The Devil) Banned under the Communist regime because of its political anti-war theme.[287][288] 1973–1981 Opowieść o człowieku, który wykonał 552% normy (A Story of a Man Who Filled 552% of the Quota) Banned under the Communist regime for being a documentary unveiling the Stalinist past. It was only released after the director, Wojciech Wiszniewski, died in 1981.[286] 1975–1981 Wanda Gościmska. Włókniarka (Wanda Gościmińska. A Weaver) Banned under the Communist regime for being a documentary unveiling the Stalinist past. It was only released after the director, Wojciech Wiszniewski, died in 1981.[286] 1976–1981 Elementarz (The Primer) Banned under the Communist regime for being a documentary unveiling the Stalinist past. It was only released after the director, Wojciech Wiszniewski, died in 1981.[286] 1976–1980 Spokój (The Calm) Banned under the Communist regime for four years because the plot is about a strike.[289][Note 1] The film was finally shown on Polish television for the first time on 19 September 1980. In 1981, The Calm received the Polish Film Festival Special Jury Prize.[291][292] 1977–1981 Indeks. Życie i twórczość Józefa M. (The Index) Banned under the Communist regime for four years, because it depicted the 1968 protests.[293] 1981–1988 Kobieta Samotna (A Lonely Woman, also translated as A Woman Alone) Banned under the Communist regime for its political criticism.[294] It remained banned for seven years, until 1988.[295][296] 1981–1984 Wahadełko (Shilly Shally)[297] (Shilly Shally) Banned under the Communist regime for three years, because the story is set during the Stalinist era.[286] 1981–1987 Wielki bieg (The Big Run, also translated as The Big Race) Banned under the Communist regime for six years for criticizing the regime.[295][296] 1981–1987 Blind Chance Banned by the Communist government because of one storyline in this anthology film where Communism in Poland is overthrown.[298][299] 1981 Był Jazz (There was Jazz) Banned by the Communist government.[294] 1981 Człowiek z żelaza (Man of Iron) Banned under the Communist regime for its political criticism and for depicting the labour union Solidarity.[294] 1981–1984 Dreszcze (Shivers) Banned by the Communist government. The film is a satirical story about a teenager imprisoned at an indoctrination camp.[300][301] 1981 Gorączka (Fever) Banned by the Communist government, because of its brutally realistic portrayal of the occupying Soviet forces.[302][303][303] 1981 Jak żyć (How to Live) Banned twice in one year by the Communist government.[294] 1981–1983 Wojna światów – następne stulecie (The War of the Worlds: Next Century) Banned under the Communist regime for depicting a futuristic society which showed parallels with the political situation of Poland at that time. It remained banned until 1983.[286] 1981 Kobieta Samotna (A Lonely Woman) Banned under the Communist regime for its political criticism.[294] 1982–1989 Przesłuchanie (Interrogation) Banned under the Communist regime for seven years because of its criticism of Communism. Despite the film's controversial initial reception and subsequent banning, it garnered a cult fanbase through the circulation of illegally taped VHS copies, which director Ryszard Bugajski secretly helped to leak out to the general public.[304][305][306] 1982–1987 Matka Królów (The Mother of Kings) Banned under the Communist regime without even being released for its political criticism.[294] It remained banned for five years, until 1987.[295] 1983–1988 Niedzielne igraszki (Sunday Pranks) Banned under the Communist regime for five years.[297][307] 1970 Catch-22 Portugal Banned under the Marcelo Caetano regime for a scene depicting a character sitting naked in a tree,[45] though the fact that the film satirizes the military may also have been a factor. 1972−1974 Last Tango in Paris Banned for its strong sexual content (unbanned in 1974).[101] 2014 Noah Qatar Banned for depicting the prophets.[33] 2008 Saw IV Banned upon release. Later reclassified and prohibited only to minors.[308] 2009 Milk Banned upon release. Later reclassified and prohibited only to under-15s.[308] 2014 Nymphomaniac: Vol. II Classified by the National Cinema Center's rating commission as a film "forbidden to minors under 18 and banned from public screening" due to explicit content.[310] After outrage at decision in mass media and on social networking websites, the commission allowed cinemas to run the film for audiences over 18.[308] 1966 Andrei Rublev Russia Banned in the Soviet Union for its themes of artistic freedom, religion, political ambiguity, autodidacticism, and the making of art under a repressive regime. Because of this, it was not released domestically for years after it was completed, except for a single 1966 screening in Moscow.[15][ better source needed ][311] 1968 Korotkie vstrechi (Brief Encounters) Banned by the Communist government.[312] 1971 Dolgie Provody (Long Farewells) Banned by the Communist government for its negative view of a mother-son relationship.[312] 1984-1987 Repentance (Long Farewells) Banned for its semi-allegorical critique of Stalinism.[313][314] 2009 Milk Banned, originally without being given a reason.[317] Later, it was explained that the censors deemed it "inappropriate and contradictory to Christian beliefs and Samoan culture": "In the movie itself it is trying to promote the human rights of gays." The sex scenes in particular were considered inappropriate by the Samoan Censor Board.[318] (see Censorship in Samoa for details) 2004 Fahrenheit 9/11 Saudi Arabia[320] Banned for being critical of the Iraq war and being an insult to Saudi Arabia's royal family.[226] 2013 King of the Sands Banned for depicting the Saudi Arabia country founder Ibn Saud. 2014 Noah Banned for depicting the prophets.[21] 1977 Ceddo Senegal Banned for its presentation of the conflicts between Islamic and Christian religions and ethnic and traditional beliefs.[10][322] According to another account reported in The New York Times in 1978, the banning was not "because of any religious sensitivity, but because Mr. Sembene insists on spelling 'ceddo' with two d's while the Senegalese Government insists it be spelled with one."[323] 1977 Camp de Thiaroye Banned for criticizing the colonial system.[129] 1971−2011 A Clockwork Orange Singapore Banned for over 30 years, before an attempt at release was made in 2006. However, the submission for a M18 rating was rejected, and the ban was not lifted.[101] The ban was later lifted, with film was shown uncut with an R21 rating on 28 October 2011, as part of the Perspectives Film Festival.[324][325] 1973 The Exorcist Banned upon initial release, and subsequently rated M18 with cuts made to "a scene of a disfigured statue of the Virgin Mary, and a scene of the possessed girl stabbing herself in the crotch with a crucifix while uttering “Jesus f**k you!”...[for] “films that denigrate any religious group” and “language that denigrates religion or is religiously profane”".[101][326] 1973 Last Tango in Paris Banned for its strong sexual content.[101] 1974−2004 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Banned for 30 years.[101] Passed uncut after 2004 with an M18 rating for violence.[327] 1980 Cannibal Holocaust Banned for graphic violence.[329] 1980−2006 Saint Jack Banned for the "excessive edits required to the scenes of nudity and some coarse language before it could be shown to a general audience," the film was reclassified to an M18 rating in 2006.[330] 1981 The Evil Dead Banned since its release in 1981; authorities disallowed it for "excessive graphic violence and gore". Ban lifted in 2011 and reclassified R21.[331] 1995 A Night on the Water Banned for strong sexuality.[334] 2001−2004 Zoolander Banned without a reason given, though the plot is about a man who is brainwashed to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia, a neighbouring country, which also banned the film.[335] Passed uncut after 2004 with an NC16 rating.[336] 2004 Formula 17 Banned because it "portrayed homosexuality as normal, a natural progression of society."[337] 2005–2009 Singapore Rebel Banned for being a political film, which is not allowed in Singapore. In 2009 the film was reviewed by the Political Films Consultative Committee (PFCC) and unbanned, with an M18 rating.[338] 2006 Shortbus Banned because of pornographic content.[21] 2007 Solos Banned for pervasive explicit homosexual scenes.[339] 2007 Following Desire Banned for "excessive sexual acts and stage performances of a sexual nature which are prolonged, gratuitous and exploitative".[340] 2007 Zahari's 17 Years Banned because, according to the Government of Singapore, it is "against public interests".[341] 2008 A Jihad for Love Banned for an imbalance depiction of Islam as being intolerant. The interviewees also tried to use religion to justify their homosexuality.[340] 2008 David the Tolhidan Banned for its "sympathetic portrayal of an organisation viewed as a terrorist organisation by many countries".[340] 2008 Arabs and Terrorism Banned for its "sympathetic portrayal of an organisation viewed as a terrorist organisation by many countries".[340] 2008 Bakushi Banned for its "several prolonged and explicit sado-masochistic sequences, demonstrating how the rope masters tied up nude women and subjected them to various degrees of physical abuse and sexual degradation, for the erotic gratification of their audience".[340] 2009 Female Games Banned for its "explicit lesbian sex acts".[340] 2009 Boy Banned because it "romanticizes and promotes homosexual relationships. The sexual sequence is prolonged, intense and titillates".[340] 2009 Brides of Allah Banned because it "promotes and justifies the act of terrorism, and uses religion to justify its cause".[340] 2009 Transgressor (School of the Holy Beast) Banned because it "portrayed nuns as lesbians with depictions of sadomasochism as well as bondage in many of the scenes".[340] 2010 Dr Lim Hock Siew Banned due to similar reasons for the film Zahari's 17 Years[342] 2012 Sex. Violence. Family Values Banned because of Porn Masala, the second story in Ken Kwek's compendium of three short films. It was deemed "racially offensive and demeaning to Indians" by the Board of Film Censors.[343] The ban was subsequently lifted and the film's Singapore version released with edits in March 2013.[344] However, the film had not completed its Singapore theatrical run when it was banned by the Malaysian Board of Film Censors, who found it "obscene" and "insulting to local cultures".[345] The film was also withdrawn from the Asean International Film Festival & Awards, where it was due to be screened from Mar 28–30, 2013.[346] 2014 To Singapore, With Love Banned because it allegedly undermined national security as "the individuals in the film have given distorted and untruthful accounts of how they came to leave Singapore and remain outside Singapore," and that "a number of these self-professed 'exiles' were members of, or had provided support to, the proscribed Communist Party of Malaya."[347] 1964 Zulu Banned under the apartheid regime from screening to black South Africans, because it depicts a Zulu uprising in the 19th century. Whites were allowed to see it in their own segregated cinemas.[349] 1971–1984 A Clockwork Orange Banned under the apartheid regime for 13 years, then released with one cut and only made available to people over the age of 21.[350] 1978 Up in Smoke Banned under the apartheid regime because it "might encourage the impressionable youth of South Africa to take up marijuana smoking".[351] 1978–1983 Pretty Baby Banned under the apartheid regime until 1983.[350] 1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Banned under the apartheid regime because of blasphemous content.[40] 1980 Cruising Banned under the apartheid regime on its initial release.[20] 1988 Mapantsula Banned under the apartheid regime for criticism of apartheid.[349] 1989 Cry Freedom Banned under the apartheid regime for being a biopic about anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.[10] 1995–1997 Kids Banned for two years and only unbanned in 1997 on appeal with a no-under 16 age restriction.[352] 2013 Of Good Report Banned in the entire country because it has a storyline where older men abuse young girls, with scenes deemed "child pornography" according to the censors.[353] 1973 Last Tango in Paris Banned for its strong sexual content.[101] 1975–1981 Ban Geum-ryeon Banned for six years, was released with 40 minutes cut.[354] 1979 Apocalypse Now Banned under President Park Chung-hee's regime, the importation of the film was on hold because of its anti-war theme.[355] 1992 Braindead Banned for gory violence.[167] 1927–1975 Battleship Potemkin Spain Banned under the regime of Francisco Franco out of fear of inciting a Communist revolution.[9][93] 1961−1977 Viridiana Banned under Franco's regime, although the Film Institute of Spain approved the film's submission to the Cannes Film Festival. After the Catholic Church expressed its indignation, the head of the Film Institute was fired and the film was banned for sixteen years.[357] 1981 La Petición (The Engagement Party) Banned initially, but finally released under media pressure to reconsider its artistic merit. The film is about a woman involved in sadistic and ultimately fatal sexual relationships with men.[54] 2009 Saw VI Banned from regular, non-adult cinemas because of the "X" rating.[358][359] 2010 A Serbian Film Banned due to extreme violence (contains a lot of sexually violent content).[360] 2006 Aksharaya (Letter of Fire) Banned for dealing with issues of incest, murder, and rape.[361] 1974–2001 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Banned due to high gore violence and cruelty.[101] Ban lifted in 2001. 1981 Mad Max Banned because of violent content.[362] 1984–2005 Tenebre Banned because of high impact scary violence. Re-released in an uncut version in 2005.[365] 1997 Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation Banned because of high impact scary violence and cruelty. Sony Pictures later released the film on DVD.[367][368] 1957-1970 Paths of Glory Switzerland Banned for its critical depiction of the French army during World War I.[125] 1968–1975 Rondo Banned for its critical look at the Swiss prison system, implying that for the Swiss incarceration as a form of punishment and means of deterrence is more important than integrating released prisoners back into society.[87] 2012 The Dictator Tajikistan Banned because of subversiveness.[9] 2014 The Route Tanzania Banned because this documentary about human trafficking and sex slavery in Africa "showed too much sex and nudity" and thus was a "threat to Tanzanian culture." [224] 1956 The King and I (1956) Thailand Banned because could be construed as disrespectful towards the King of Thailand.[369] 1999 Brokedown Palace Banned because of its negative portrayal of Thailand with narcotics smuggling - especially with the views of the Thai judicial system despite parts of the film shot on location by the second unit (the majority of the film was filmed in the Philippines).[370] 1999 Anna and the King Banned because could be construed as disrespectful towards the King of Thailand.[371] 2007 Halloween (2007 remake) Banned due to depictions of violence.[372] 2008 Frontier(s) Banned due to violence.[373] 2009 Zack and Miri Make a Porno Banned by the Ministry of Culture due to sexual content (characters showing how to make their own pornographic video; teens may try to mimic).[374] 2008 Zack and Miri Make A Porno Trinidad Banned because the censors worried that teenagers would mimic the plot and make their own porn movies.[40] 1969 Bir Çirkin Adam (An Ugly Man) Turkey Banned for its revelations of the social conditions in the country.[10] 1979 Yorgun Savaşçı (The Tired Warrior) Banned because it was written by Kemal Tahir, who opposed the regime, and because the story casts doubt on the uniqueness of Kemal Atatürk's contribution to the struggle for the republic in the 1920s.[10] 1987 Su da Yanar (Water Also Burns) Banned because it dealt with the banned communist poet Nazim Hikmet.[10] 1972–1979 All foreign films Uganda President Idi Amin banned all foreign films in 1972 on the grounds that they contained "imperialist propaganda".[376] 2014 The Wolf of Wall Street Banned, like in most other African countries.[377] 2005 Hostel Ukraine Banned because it depicts Eastern Europe as a region where people are tortured for money. Owning the movie in private is still legal.[378] 2006 Land of the Dead Banned due to high level violence and blood and gore. The movie also depicts the suffering and the agony of people who were forced to eat human flesh in Kharkiv during the German attack there in 1943.[379] 2007 Hostel: Part II Banned for the same reason as Hostel. People are allowed to own it on private DVD.[380] 2009 Brüno Banned for its homosexual themes.[381] 2009 Saw VI Banned because of scenes of brutal gory violence and torture. In the context of the Saw franchise, this is the only part that is banned. Thereby it is illegal to sell or distribute it, since visa is not given.[382] 2013 Evil Dead (2013 film) Banned due to high level violence and blood, sexual content and gore.[ citation needed ]. 2010 My iz budushchego 2 (We Are from the Future 2) [ further explanation needed ][383] 2018 Hunter Killer Banned for demonstrating the might of the army of the aggressor country of Russia.[384] 2010 Lamhaa United Arab Emirates Banned because of its "objectionable content"; it did not receive a clearance certificate from the UAE Censors Board and was pulled from all UAE cinemas. This is the first Bollywood film to be banned in the UAE.[385] 2014 Noah Banned for depicting the prophets.[33] 1973–1999 A Clockwork Orange Not banned per se, but withdrawn in the United Kingdom two years after its release by Warner Bros. following a request for this action from its own director, Stanley Kubrick. This was not because of the alleged copycat violence inspired by the film contemporaneously reported by the media, as commonly believed,[ citation needed ] but because Kubrick had received death threats against his family. It was not allowed to be shown again in the UK until after his death in 1999 and before the release of Eyes Wide Shut, his last film. 2001 Green Dragon Vietnam Banned as of 2002.[386] 2002 We Were Soldiers Banned as of 2002.[386] 2010 Sex and the City 2 Banned because of a conflict of "cultural values".[388] 2012 The Hunger Games Banned because of extreme violence and killing.[389][390] 2012 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Banned because its international distributor, Sony Pictures, did not accept the requirement by the Vietnamese National Film Board of cutting out some sensitive scenes.[391] 1937 La Grande Illusion Yugoslavia Banned in 1937 for its anti-war message.[151] 1952−1977 Ciguli Miguli Banned under the regime of Josip Broz Tito for its satire of socialist bureaucracy. Issued a license for public showing only in 1977.[392] 1986 Jock of the Bushveld Zimbabwe Banned because of its South African origins. At the time Zimbabwe boycotted South African products because of its apartheid regime.[349] 2010 Lobola Concerened with the custom of lobola, the film was banned because it "doesn't really portray African custom when it comes to marriage, since one does not get married while drunk." Another objection is a scene where a young couple kisses in front of their parents, as well as the "abrupt ending".[395] 2014 Kumasowe Banned because it depicts violent clashes between members of an apostolic sect in the country and Zimbabwe Republic police officers.[396] |
University of Nevada senior pitcher Trevor Charpie has signed with the Tamp Bay Rays after completing his final season with the Wolf Pack in 2017. Charpie was not drafted in the last week’s MLB draft and was inked by the Rays. Charpie was a 2017 preseason All-Mountain West selection and a second-team All- MW pick his senior year. The Pack’s Friday night starter this past season he went 3-7 with a 5.23 ERA. He pitched in seven one-run games and was the loser in four of those contests. His 96.1 innings pitched was second on the team and he topped the Pack with 69 strikeouts. In his two seasons he was 8-11 with a 4.58 ERA pitching 171 innings. He struck out 121 with 69 coming this past season. Opponents hit just .273 in his two seasons at Nevada and .220 his junior year. A Wolf Pack Scholar Athlete he was two-year letter winner at Nevada. |
Does virus vaccine increase the risk of cancer? The swine flu vaccine has been hit by new cancer fears after a German health expert gave a shock warning about its safety. Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg is a politician and a specialist in lungs, hygiene and environmental medicine. He is the chairman of the health committee in the German parliament and European Council. More news The Berlin Wall The photos we must never forget August 13 will be the 48th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall – and a new book of photos takes a look at the cruel barrier we must never forget. Lung specialist Wolfgang Wodarg has said that there are many risks associated with the vaccine for the H1N1 virus. He has grave reservations about the firm Novartis who are developing the vaccine and testing it in Germany. The vaccination is injected “with a very hot needle”, Wodarg said. The nutrient solution for the vaccine consists of cancerous cells from animals and "we do not know if there could be an allergic reaction". But more importantly, some people fear that the risk of cancer could be increased by injecting the cells. The vaccine - as Johannes Löwer, president of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, has pointed out - can also cause worse side effects than the actual swine flu virus. Wodrag also described people’s fear of the pandemic as an "orchestration": “It is great business for the pharmaceutical industry,” he told the ‘Neuen Presse’. Swine flu is not very different from normal flu. “On the contrary if you look at the number of cases it is nothing compared to a normal flu outbreak,” he added. The chairman of the health committee in the European Council has urged for a careful and calm reaction to the virus. Up until now, the producers of the vaccine did not know how many orders they would have by the autumn, but the German Government is now a guaranteed customer. Even the pharmaceutical companies are trying to exploit the fear of the swine flu pandemic. Related news The WHO has issued a grim warning that the swine flu pandemic will explode in the coming months. More news The anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall is approaching, and a new book has been released with pictures we must never forget. |
One of the most innovative and influential bands in rock history has no mainstream American profile whatsoever. Brazil's Os Mutantes has affected rock bands for four decades now, inspiring players from Caracas to Istanbul to the cooler parts of current Brooklyn. Serving as South America's answer to the Beatles, Mutantes swirled together psychedelia, electronic music, samba, bossa nova, garage rock, opera and pop styles with thrilling abandon. Though they created their seminal works in São Paulo in the '60s, and fell apart by the early '70s, they re-formed two years ago — first for a tour and, later, to create some worthy new music. The band's legend earned a key boost after Kurt Cobain talked them up in the '90s. They gained an even bigger profile in 1999, when David Byrne's Luaka Bop label curated an apt compilation: "Os Mutantes: Everything Is Possible." Now, a new tribute CD should spread the word further. For its roster, the 18-track disk culled the cream of Latin alternative rock, from Colombia's Aterciopelados to Mexico's Café Tacuba. But it also features lesser-known groups, like Argentina's Manuel Onis and Uruguay's Carlos Casacuberta. In all, five South American countries are represented. To all these players, Os Mutantes had just as rousing and politically potent an effect as Santana did in America, providing a virtual blueprint for all Latin alternative rock to come. Despite the artists' clear reverence for the band, there's rarely anything literal about their interpretations. (This, despite the participation of key original member Sergio Dias). In the opening cut, "Ave Lucifer," Argentina's La Manzana Cromatica Protoplasmatica uses the original version's zany theremin work as just a jumping-off point. In the end, they give all their instruments an equally warped and spooky sound. Fito Paez risked real rebuke by deleting the trademark, fuzz-toned psychedelic guitar hook from one of the band's best loved songs, "A Minha Menina." Instead they favor a jazzy funk take. All the groups sing in their native Spanish, rather than the Mutantes' Portuguese, which adds more fresh inflections, and underscores the set's particular triumph: All these bands isolate what made Os Mutantes great — their ravenous creativity — then make it more crazed and hungry still. |
A home owner in Apple Valley shot and killed an intruder he believed was going to invade his home at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Patrick Healy reports for the NBC4 News at 5 on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. (Published Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016) The fatal shooting of a man inside an Apple Valley home by the homeowner is still under investigation, but after being interviewed by detectives, the homeowner is not being held Wednesday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The shooting occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. inside a ranch-style house in the 16700 block of Pauhaska Road. The deceased was an intruder shot during a home invasion, one neighbor said she was told by a deputy. But as of Wednesday evening, investigators had yet to determine exactly what happened, said Sheriff's spokesperson Cindy Bachman. The dead man has yet to be positively identified. Investigators are trying to determine "if there was any sort of relationship between the deceased and the homeowner," Bachman said. "They don't want to release any details until they have confirmed information." The house remained an active investigation scene Wednesday evening. The homeowner was not identified and could not be reached for comment. |
0 The acclaimed Fox sci-fi drama series Fringe simultaneously comes to a close while celebrating its 100th episodes with its series finale. Exploring the human condition through the prism of parallel universes, unexplainable phenomena and unimaginable threats, the show’s five seasons were possible thanks, in large part, to its devoted and loyal fan base. Now, it is reaching its epic climax with a two-hour finale that promises to be a satisfying conclusion. During this interview with show star Joshua Jackson, he talked about what he’s going to miss most about the show, what Peter’s role will be in the finale, what he will take away from this experience as an actor, how involved he was in the conversations about what the final season would be, the fact that he didn’t think to take anything from the set as a memento, why he feels Fringe was able to engage an audience at a time when people have such short attention spans, how the finale experience compares to the finale experience he had on Dawson’s Creek, what he sees for the legacy of the series in television history, and how much he loves the ending to Peter’s journey. Check out what he had to say after the jump. Question: What are you going to miss the most about Fringe? JOSHUA JACKSON: The thing you end up missing the most is not actually what gets put on the screen. The hardest thing to walk away from, over a long-form TV show, is the comradery of the company, both with the crew and the group of actors. Creatively, I feel like this show came to a natural and satisfactory ending. I hope that people will be satisfied with the way that we put the story to bed. I feel like, instead of either stretching the show on for too long or having it cut off in an abortive way, we got to tell the ending of our story. For that, I’m really satisfied. But, I will miss the people that I was working with, for the last five years. What is Peter’s role in the final two hours? JACKSON: Well, the first of the two hours really deals with Olivia’s story, almost exclusively. It gives us, in a very Fringe-y way, a final insight into where she is or has been, over the course of this season. So, nobody other than Olivia has much of any role in that story. But then, in the finale, as much as Walter may be called on to make a sacrifice and the gang, in general, is trying to implement Walter and Donald’s plan, at least in the script, it read pretty fairly spread across all of the players. Everybody has their piece in the story. And then, ultimately, Peter’s role, as it has always been, is to be the dutiful son and the husband and father. That plays itself out in a really specific way. I don’t want to tell you how it plays itself out, but everybody is pretty engaged in the finale. What will you take away from this experience, as an actor? JACKSON: As an actor, I don’t know what the take-away is, only one month removed. I can tell you that the thing that’s most satisfying to me, as an actor, is the work that John [Noble] and I did, with Jeff Pinkner and Joel Wyman, to try to keep the father-son relationship as honest and dynamic as we could, in the center of this very, very large, crazy science fiction story. That was always really a point of focus for me. I had the chance to be on a serialized TV show and to tell my piece of it, which was the story of the prodigal son who starts off doing everything he can to get out of this world, and then eventually gets drawn in through the love of his father, and then falls in love with a woman, and then, over the course of the seasons, completely reverses to now because a dedicated son and solid and reliable boyfriend, and then husband and crazily protective father. I think that’s an interesting journey to go on. For me, as an audience member, I’m always most engaged by serialized storytelling, so as an actor, the thing that I take away from it is how much fun it is to perform a serialized story. What is your take on Peter’s journey? Were you involved in any of the conversations about what you’re playing out in this final season? JACKSON: To a greater extent than in any time in the prior seasons of the show, I was involved in the initial conversations about what Season 5 would be. Wyman was incredibly open this year, not just with myself, but with all of the actors, about what their characters would be and with what their final arcs would be. He gave all of us the signposts of what our season would be, in a way that hadn’t happened before. It gave us all the opportunity to plot out exactly how we thought we should be playing each of our individual characters. From that standpoint, it was actually tremendously satisfying. I felt like the Peter as Observer arc was quite interesting this year. What was always interesting to me about Fringe was that, even though the larger story was as big as it could possibly be, like saving the universe and dopplegangers, and all the rest of it, the beating heart of the story was always this family tale. So, I really enjoyed the fact that, at the center of what was driving Peter and Olivia this year, was both the recovery and loss of their child, and being a couple trying to grapple with that, both individually and together. I think we did a really good job this year of having the larger story driving forward, but having the smaller interpersonal story be honest. And as always, Peter and Walter are inextricably linked. Peter mirrored all of the mistakes that his father had made, all those years ago, in regards to his own child. So, I felt it was a very satisfying story, and a proper way for our show to end. With the Observer arc, you got to do a bit of an alternate version of Peter. Was that something that you actively wanted the opportunity to do? JACKSON: I was never too concerned about doing an alt version. As much fun as it seemed like it was for the people who had done it, it wasn’t something that I felt was necessary for me to do to feel like I had been a part of Fringe. What was more important to me was to find what would be an honest and satisfying story, and then conclusion to the story, for the Bishop family. Neither Wyman nor myself were interested in having another season of Peter and Olivia, will they are won’t they. So, it was more interesting to have them be still a couple and still a married unit, but that was deeply, deeply, deeply damaged by the loss of their child, and to have Peter mirror the mistakes that Walter had made. The becoming an Observer portion of it was just a natural outcropping of Walter’s great sin breaking the universe to save his child because there was no place that was too far for him to go. And in the version of the story that we were telling, the most outrageous thing that Peter could do would be to become the enemy to destroy him. I thought that was actually a fairly natural outcropping, and it also gave Peter and Olivia an interesting arc to their story, as they tried to figure out how to be together again, instead of being alone together, after the loss of their child. Did you take anything from the set as a memento to remember the series? JACKSON: You know, people ask me that all the time. Maybe I’m just not very imaginative, but it didn’t even cross my mind while I was there. So, the answer sadly is no. How do you feel about the way Fringe engaged its audience, in today’s TV world that makes it easy for people to disengage? JACKSON: In the true way of popular media, some of it was intentional. I know, from the very beginning, Bad Robot wanted to put a second layer beyond just watching the show. And I know that Fox was really keen on that, too, as a way to deepen people’s experience of Fringe. And the audience itself took that and ran with it in a way that went beyond the wildest imaginations of anybody who was engaged, in the beginning. As much as every TV show is trying to reach out to its audience, it really is the audience itself, in our case, that continued to drive their own interest and continued to keep each other engaged. As much as we tried to help them along, the community of Fringe became totally self-supporting. When you talk about Fringe, not just as a narrative experience on screen, one of the more interesting thing that’s come out of it is that community built around the show and how powerful that can be in tipping the scales towards the show surviving or failing. By traditional metrics, our show would have been off the air at least last year, but probably two years ago, except the passion of our fan base made it impossible for our show to be dismissed, in the way that, even 10 years ago, science fiction shows were quite often lost. The fan base and the passion of the fan base is a large part of the story of the show Fringe. Even though they’re very different shows, you’ve been through a series finale before, with Dawson’s Creek, which had an equally emotional impact with its fans. How would you compare the two experiences that you’ve had with these finales? JACKSON: There are oddly a lot of similarities. Clearly, I’m a decade, or maybe even more, older than I was when we finished Dawson’s, but I’ve had the good luck, on both of the TV shows that I’ve worked on, to know, going into the last season, that it was the last season. That gives you an opportunity on set to properly say goodbye to the people that you’re working with, and it also has a really good way of focusing the mind on trying to make sure that, no matter how hard it is and no matter how tired you are, you give everything that you have to those last shows because there is no tomorrow. You want to make sure that you go out on the highest note possible. So, the feeling on set, both times, was quite similar. It’s an almost carnival-like feeling, as you get towards the end of this huge experience in everybody’s lives. It’s a very cathartic thing. At the end, you look around at this group of people who you’ve spent 70 hours a week with, for nine months out of the year, for the last four or five years, and you have a chance to just take stock and go, “Oh, my god, I can’t believe we did this!” And at the same time, creatively, because you know it’s the end, you have the opportunity to finish it on your own terms, which is not often the case in television. With Dawson’s Creek, I wasn’t a fan of 90210 and that wasn’t particularly my genre of show. Fringe, on the other hand, is right up my alley. I probably have more of a personal stake in the climax of this show and making sure that it is a satisfactory end to the journey the audience has been on. I hope we achieve that. Do you have a personal favorite episode of Fringe? JACKSON: I’ve been asked that question before, and I have a couple of pat answers, but the truth is that there’s no specific episode that would jump out to me because the experience of making this show is so different from the experience of watching this show. The things that I will take from the experience are not specific episodes or even specific scenes, but storylines and great days at work. The thing that is probably the most cherished piece of the experience for me is the ability to have this long-form story with John Noble, and the work that we did to try to make that father-son dynamic work. This show has always been critically acclaimed, but hasn’t received the level of viewership that it deserved. How do you think will Fringe be viewed, in the future? What will its legacy be, in television history? JACKSON: This is a topic that I could talk about for a couple of hours because I find it really fascinating. A brief version of my answer to that is that I feel like Fringe and its afterlife is a test case for the new way that television works. Fringe, in an odd way, started its afterlife while it was still on the air. The community of the show is currently strong and vibrant, and I have a funny feeling that the afterlife of this show, as much as we who have been making it for the last five years are finishing our portion of it, will live on in that community. How that manifests itself, I don’t know. I think there will probably be a lot of fan fiction. Maybe there will even be some sort of filmed addendum to this show, whether television or podcast, or however it manifests itself. But, I feel like the afterlife of Fringe is the test case for how modern cult shows are going to live on, after they go off the air. What would you like to see happen with Peter, in the future beyond the end of the series? JACKSON: The proper ending that for the Peter that we’ve known on screen for the last five years actually happens in the finale. I love the ending. I think it makes really good sense and it wraps up his story in a way that is intertwined with all of the characters around him, but specifically with Olivia, Walter and Etta. I think it is a proper ending to the person and the story that we’ve been watching for the last five years. And I feel that way, truthfully, for Olivia, Walter and Peter. Olivia and Peter end in a proper space. Olivia, Peter and Walter end in a proper space. And Peter and Walter get to the place that they need to be. So, for our story, it ends tonight. But, the beauty of what Wyman has done is that he allows the space for people to live on with these characters, should they desire to. I know that’s a pretty fuzzy answer, but I don’t want to give away any of the plot details of the finale. |
The way the frigid water meets the craggy shore of the Norwegian coastline, evokes a powerful feeling from you. There is an epic flavor to the felt experience of its sight. There is a cruelty to its beauty that both beckons and warns. If one understands the way that vibrational reality works, it is no surprise that people are a vibrational match to the land that they call home. You could tell the story that the people are altered by the land and in time come to reflect it. You could tell the story that the land is altered by the people and in time, comes to reflect them. But I prefer a more romantic story. That the two are drawn together because they are already a match to one another. Like soul mates, inexplicably led by a subconscious drive for belonging toward one another. Having exposed myself to what remains of the Viking people (as well as their living progeny) I can say that like soul mates, this Norse land and the Vikings reflect one another. There was an alluring cruelty to them that just like the landscape here, both beckons and warns. I do not have a lengthy, cerebral opinion to share about the Vikings. It was a culture that like a unique and powerful flavor must be felt in silence. The heart can comprehend it and the mind cannot. I will say that it is such a dense energy, with such an edge, that the thought forms associated with it are still alive and well. They are strong enough that the years have not caused them to dissolve. The Vikings did not identify their belongings as different to themselves and as a result, part of their consciousness still clings for dear life to the items. It clings with the tenacity that Vikings are so famous for around the world. The powerful identification with those items, binds their memories to this physical world. I could only stay with it for 20 minutes or so before the room began to spin and I started to feel sick and drained. In general, I love visiting museums and ancient sites. I find history entertaining. It is a rich feeling experience that puts your own life into perspective. But I often begin to deteriorate when I’m around historical energies for too long. There is a reason that it is so common for people to become drained or start feeling ill when they visit museums or areas where history is concentrated… Earth can be seen as a platform for the expansion of universal consciousness. This is the unifying thread between creationism and evolution because both are true and instead of contradicting one another, they compliment one another. But you are now living in the manifestation of the expansion of what has come before you. You are the culmination of every life you have ever lived. You are also the culmination of all of your ancestors. You are the culmination of everything up to this point. Everything you experience causes you to form preferences; the wanted and the unwanted. When you know what is wanted, you will gravitate in that direction and eventually your reality and the world at large will become a reflection of those things. This is how species evolve; it is also how society evolves. So essentially, you are living in a modern world that is the current culmination of what previous cultures have desired over the course of their life experience. In general, the vibrational frequency of earth’s time-space reality has been rising. So we are in fact living at a higher frequency than ever before. When we step into a museum (or place of concentrated historical energy) we are literally stepping back into what has already been expanded from. We are interacting with a lower frequency. Many of us experience this on a more practical every day level when we revisit our childhood homes or families. By virtue of living through the contrast of those early experiences, we gave rise to powerful preferences and since then, have lived into the expansion. Going back home is like going back into that contrast and thus doing that will quickly deprive the body of energy. The two best ways to ‘combat’ this effect, is to either stay completely present with yourself in the modern day here and now, observing the artifacts instead of allowing yourself to be taken into the experiencing of them. Or to hold such positive focus towards whatever you are observing that you remain in alignment with a higher frequency while experiencing the artifacts. This is what most ‘history buffs’ are doing. But I must tell you (for those of you who are brave when it comes to being willing to feel) that letting the experience and thought forms of the past absorb you into them as if they were happening in the here and now, is one hell of a way to experience history. All perspectives are valuable to the expansion of our consciousness, including the perspective of the past, the now and the future. In my opinion, the true ‘masters’ of consciousness are adept at going in and out of perspectives and timelines as if they were a change of clothes. If I really need to understand the consciousness of a specific people in the past, I prefer the approach of completely allowing myself to surrender to the experience of the past. Letting go of the “tether” to the here and now (the modern perspective) allows you to fully experience the past in a way where compassionate understanding and awareness can then bloom within you. I am flying back to the United States today. Leaving Europe to fly back home always makes me feel like I am flying ‘home’ to a foreign land. In truth I have not yet lived somewhere that I felt was home. I feel a sense of belonging in Europe. I feel cut from the same stone as both the land and the people. I feel like I am leaving my family behind when I leave. One could say that it is the goings that makes the comings sweet; in the same way that one could say it is the hunger that makes food taste good. But I must confess in all honestly that I am secretly hoping we desire our way out of the experience of separation in the future as a species so I never have to leave anything or anyone behind in body, mind or emotion. At this time of year in Oslo, the sun begins to rise at 4:00 am. Unable to sleep, I sat on the high-rise balcony of the apartment watching the city sleep below. This trip to Oslo has highlighted for me, the way that the unwanted circumstances of our past, prevents us from moving forward with our lives… or even from being present with what is. But sitting on the balcony this morning, I became even more affirmed that an often-overlooked fact is that our fantasy about what we wished would have happened also prevents us from moving forward with our lives and from being present. If we build our life on fantasies of what could have been, we are stuck in life. We have no stable foundation for creating a life that we enjoy. We continue to try to turn our parents into what we wish they would have been, we continue to try to achieve the successes that we wished we would have achieved. This is a painful state of desperation. It is “living in the past” to the exact same degree as we do when we are haunted by the reality of what actually happened. Subconsciously, you think that if you achieve that fantasy, your past will be remedied and healed and you can be complete. But if we have any hope of healing, moving forward or being fully present with all of our energy in the here and now, we must stop trying to chase and create that fantasy. Instead, in order to work with what we identify as “real” we must bury our fantasy of how we wish the past had gone. For that reason, I want to re-introduce a process I used to teach, that will help you immensely. To begin this process, I want you to close your eyes and connect with your heartbeat. If it helps, place your hands over your chest and imagine it beating. Do nothing more than listen and feel for its pulse. Breathing in and out deeply and naturally. Continue to do this for approximately 4 minutes. When you feel yourself settling into the experience, think back on the parts of your past that caused you pain. Instead of deliberately going looking to remember specific events, let them surface of their own accord, trusting that the ones that surface are the parts of you which are eager to be released. As if you were looking backwards and observing over your life, where do you feel stuck? What, if you were being honest, could you never really get past? Maybe you were given up for adoption Maybe you were abused Maybe your parents got a divorce Maybe one or both of your parents did not love you like you needed to be loved Maybe you did not fit in with your family Maybe you were bullied at school Maybe you got hurt Maybe you got sick Maybe you missed a crucial opportunity Maybe someone who you loved, died Maybe you struggled for money Maybe you didn’t feel seen or significant Maybe you felt jealous because of what someone else had Maybe you lost a job or didn’t get a job you desperately wanted. I want you to take out a piece of paper and write down these past events and think about how you would have wanted them to go differently. I want you to write down your fantasy for how you wanted your life to go and how you wanted the people in it to be. For example, Imagine your parents keeping you instead of giving you up for adoption. Imagine your parents deciding not to get a divorce, but instead loving each other. Imagine your fantasy father exactly how you would wish him to be. Imagine your fantasy mother exactly how you would wish her to be. Imagine you taking that opportunity and becoming an instant success. Imagine yourself being popular in school and the other children including you and wanting you to play. Imagine yourself as rich as a prince or princess. Imagine your life exactly how you would have wanted it to be. And then, imagine a coffin or a funeral pyre. One by one, imagine laying each fantasy in that coffin or on that pyre. If you feel like it, once you have collected everything you want to put into that coffin or funeral pyre, mentally say a eulogy, which will help you to release these fantasies… Something like “I hereby lay to rest my fantasy of the childhood I wanted. It wasn’t in the cards for me. It did not happen and it wasn’t my fault. I am ready to release you now and live my life from this day forward; doing what I can with what I have from where I am.” Now, mentally close the lid and place a flower on top and go through the entire process of burying it in the earth. Or light a match and imagine setting the funeral pyre ablaze and watching all of it turn to ash. Feeling grief during this process is natural. Let yourself cry if you feel like you need to cry. Let yourself sink to the floor. Let yourself get angry. Be present with whatever happens inside you emotionally, without trying to change it. And when you feel like you are ready to come back to the here and now, wiggle your toes and fingers and take three deep breaths before you open your eyes. After you open your eyes, take the sheet or sheets (plural) of paper that you wrote all of your negative experiences and fantasies on and find a secure place to set them on fire. Watch the fire consume the words on the paper, knowing that they are now released back to source. You are now free. You are no longer burdened by these past events or weighed down by fantasies that did not come true. I know that some of you might be confused about why I am introducing this technique seeing as how I teach that mind creates reality and that you could technically manifest anything you like. The thing is, if we are completely honest, we do differentiate between our fantasy and what we know actually happened. The minute we differentiate the fantasy from the reality, we acknowledge the fantasy as not true and the reality as true. You cannot actually lie to yourself that something is or could be true if you don’t believe it is true or don’t believe it could be true. Lying to yourself keeps you in a state of self-hate and self-distrust. If we keep trying to undo what was done, we miss opportunities in the here and now. We may not even see them. And when it comes to people, if we keep trying to turn them into what we always wished they would be, we are running into a dead end. We inevitably find out that we have no control over them and that they constantly disappoint us. The reality of who they really are and how they really act is constantly shattering the fantasy we have of how we want them to be. As morbid as it is, think of being attached to the fantasy of how we wish the past had gone like trying to revive a dead body. It is much the same because we are trying to revive a dead past. How long are you going to prop this dead body up at your dinner table and talk to it and give it baths and pretend it is alive, before you admit to yourself that you know (but don’t want to face) that it isn’t alive. How long before you let the body go? How long until you decide to own up to what was and what is and grieve your losses and set yourself free to move forward with what you do have from where you actually are? You may feel like doing this process alone, but I have also found that doing this process in groups can be particularly healing, especially if you share your process with each other afterwards and collectively burn your lists. It is natural to grieve the death of a fantasy. And so it is a good idea and healing in and of itself to support one another as you move through this process. This symbolic burial is a perfect way to put to rest the “if onlys”. After all, chasing a fantasy wreaks havoc in our lives. And it prevents the universe from bringing us the beautiful, feel good reality that we have been looking for. If you choose to do this exercise, I’d love to hear about your personal experience with it in the comment section below this blog! |
As the burden of carrying the Hillary Clinton campaign shifts to Tim Kaine, it appears that he’s already having a hard time bearing the load. Kaine is rallying at this hour with supporters at a Dayton, Ohio high school and photos show a small crowd as it gets under way. Jeff Hirsh of Local 12 tweeted a photo from the rear of the audience that shows U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland addressing a small crowd: Fmr Gov. & current Sen. candidate Strickland addresses Dayton crowd before VP cand Kaine speaks @Local12 pic.twitter.com/dwm7hnqrf6 — Jeff Hirsh (@local12jeff) September 12, 2016 The crowd wasn’t much bigger when Kaine took the stage: Another tweet from WLWT’s John London showed the small room before attendees filtered in: With Hilary temporarily sidelined, stage set for Tim Kaine's appearance at Stivers High in Dayton pic.twitter.com/f7DhO6UjQ4 — John London (@JohnLondonWLWT) September 12, 2016 Developing… |
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